Over the Top

  Jake shook his head at his youngest brother. “My client didn’t recognize the guy who choked out your deputy, and he has nothing to say to you. The fifth and all that.”

  Somehow, although it seemed impossible, Quinn’s anger swelled hotter and higher. “This is not okay,” he snapped through gritted teeth.

  “Totally agree,” Jake said, cutting a hard look at Colton and Hawk. “But the law isn’t going to deal with these two.”

  Quinn smiled then, and it wasn’t pretty. Not by a long shot. “That would leave us, then.”

  “Yes.” Jake nodded. “Now, Sheriff Lodge, since you lack probable cause to arrest my dumb-ass clients, I ask that you leave us alone to talk.”

  Quinn’s chin lowered.

  Jake’s lifted. “You’re the sheriff, Quinn. You have to go.”

  “You can’t be here, either,” Colton said quietly.

  Jake leveled him with a look. “I’m under an obligation, as an officer of the court, to report any bodily harm crime one of my clients is planning to undertake. Since I don’t have a client about to break any fucking law, I can be here. Got it?”

  Both Colton and Hawk held firm, their expressions not giving an inch.

  Reese cleared his throat, his gaze on Hawk. “My men have intel, or they will soon, about a drug storage facility outside of Wyoming. When they get the info, I need to go in and finish the organization. Even if Meyer is long gone, we can hurt him by dismantling everything he has built. You in?”

  Hawk stilled. “Yes.”

  A muscle pounded in Quinn’s jaw. “Reese? I have no doubt you haven’t been released from the hospital. Get up, and I’ll take you back.” Quinn eyed Jake. “If you get any news, if anybody goes anywhere, I expect a phone call.” He turned to Hawk. “Let Reese’s men handle Meyer. He’s probably out of the country, and you can just stay here.”

  “Yes, sheriff,” Hawk drawled. According to the moron in the hospital, Meyer was halfway around the world at that point. It was a good thing Hawk had gotten a chance to talk to Reese’s former employee. Dickhead.

  Melanie cleared her throat. “Ah, Reese? It’s nice to see you here in Maverick County.”

  Reese grinned. “Thank you.”

  She rubbed her belly, her gaze going from the serious brothers to Reese. “Doesn’t he fit right in?”

  Reese chuckled. “I am not moving to Maverick County.”

  “Famous last words,” Melanie said with a smile.

  Jake clapped Quinn on the shoulder. “Give dad a call, Quinn. He’s probably heard about everything and will be heading this way if he doesn’t hear from everybody.”

  “Fine.” Quinn glanced at Dawn. “She stays out of it. Any of it.”

  “My word.” Hawk’s posture straightened. He and Quinn shared some man-look that did nothing but irritate Dawn, but enough was enough, and she kept quiet for the moment.

  Reese met Quinn at the door, and Quinn swung under his friend’s arm to help him to the car. “You’re as much of a dumb-ass as the rest of them,” Quinn could be heard grumbling before the front door closed.

  Jake turned to eye Colton and Hawk. “Well? Where’s Meyer and does he know Hawk lives here?”

  …

  Dawn paced by the fireplace, her mind spinning, her stomach lurching. The guys had left shortly after noon, and they hadn’t called through dinner or even after. It was almost ten at night, and no word from them was about to kill her.

  Melanie sat behind her, quietly contemplating the crackling fire. “How can they still be at the sheriff’s station running down leads?” Dawn muttered for at least the tenth time.

  Melanie shrugged, appearing calm, but lines cut into the sides of her mouth.

  A knock sounded on the door, and Dawn hustled to open it. She stood to the side—okay, so maybe some of Hawk’s wariness was rubbing off on her—and checked the peephole. On the porch stood one of Hawk’s ranch hands, loaded for bear, along with Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Poppins. She undid the locks and dragged open the storm door.

  “Oh my. Men with guns,” Mrs. Poppins twittered, pushing inside, a crinkling brown bag in her hands. Her track outfit was lime green with orange sparkles, and even her puffy white coat had been bedazzled down one arm. “We had Kurt drop us off on his way home from making coffee.”

  Dawn helped Mrs. Hudson, who glittered even more than Mrs. Poppins, inside before nodding to the ranch hand. His lips twitched, but he closed the door.

  “Let me take your coats,” Dawn said, manners drummed into her from day one. She took both jackets and hung them on hooks by the door. Mrs. Hudson set down a big bag in order to hand over the coat, and then picked it back up. “How is Mr. Bullton?”

  “Stubborn as a bull.” Mrs. Hudson smiled widely. “But he gets to come home tomorrow. I may, ah, stay over and help him to recuperate.”

  Dawn hid a smile. “That would be mighty nice of you.”

  Melanie struggled to reach her feet. “May I offer you ladies some tea or cookies?”

  “No.” Mrs. Hudson waved Melanie back down. “You sit, dear. The babies will be here soon, and you’ll forget how nice it is to sit.” She turned, a glimmering vision of vibrant purple. “We brought some gifts for Dawn.”

  Dawn swallowed and waited until the ladies had taken seats before sitting. They’d probably brought more food. “I can’t give Hawk food and pretend I made it.” If nothing else, the guy knew her cooking.

  Mrs. Poppins sadly shook her head. “Oh, honey. We’re past the rule about trying to get to his heart through his stomach.”

  Mrs. Hudson set down her bag and cleared her throat. “Nearly killing him took the bloom off that rose.”

  Melanie coughed. “Um, what’s going on?”

  Mrs. Poppins swung toward her. “Dawn hasn’t told you about our plan?”

  Mel cut her a look and then shook her head. “Ah, no.”

  Mrs. Poppins twittered and dug in her shiny jean purse to draw out a photograph. “We stitched this pillow for Dawnie so she’d know how to get a man. More specifically, Hawk. It’s time that boy settled down.”

  Melanie took the picture and read. She pressed her lips together. Tight.

  Dawn breathed in evenly through her nose, trying to avoid panicking. If Melanie laughed, Dawn would join in, and she wouldn’t be able to stop. “I’ve broken almost all the rules,” Dawn said, trying to keep the laughter at bay.

  Melanie smiled, her body shaking just enough. “You’ve broken them all.”

  “Not the last one,” Mrs. Hudson countered. “You can still give him control and then chase him ’til he catches you. Trust us.” Her bony fingers wrapped around the brown bag.

  Dawn stilled. “Um.”

  Mrs. Poppins stared out from coke-bottle glasses. “Now, a good sex life is nothing to be ashamed of, Dawn Freeze. Even if you did start too early with Hawk and not wait for the ring. We can fix this.”

  “We surely can.” Mrs. Hudson reached into her bag and drew out some bright red straps with a harrumphing flourish. “These are, ah, restraints.” She peered closer to read a tag on one end. “I think they go under the bed and have cuffs.”

  Melanie lost it. Holding her belly, she threw back her head, and her entire body gyrated with laughter.

  Dawn’s mouth dropped open, and she started to pant. Oh God. This wasn’t happening.

  Mrs. Poppins frowned and squinted. “Surely you’ve read current romance novels, dear.”

  Dawn slowly shook her head. “No, ma’am. Not lately.” The straps were red and looked strong.

  Mrs. Hudson set them on the couch and reached into the bag again.

  Dawn couldn’t help it. She leaned forward, morbid curiosity propelling her. “Where did you ladies get this stuff?”

  “Sex shop north of Billings,” Mrs. Poppins said, smiling when Mrs. Hudson brought out a large, black, bulbous looking thing. “Now that’s kinky.”

  Dawn frowned. “What is that?”

  “Butt plug,” Mrs. Hudson said.

  Melani
e’s laughter increased so hard she shook the entire couch. Pillows fell to the floor.

  Dawn’s ass clenched. “Oh, hell no.” No way would that fit in somebody’s butt. “That’s crazy.”

  Mrs. Hudson held the bulb up and frowned. “Maybe you’re supposed to start with a smaller size.”

  “Oh God, oh God, oh God.” Tears actually coursed down Melanie’s face.

  Dawn cut her a hard look. “I can’t, I mean, this is, I, ah—”

  Mrs. Poppins pulled out a paddle. Bright green with hearts cut into it, the word SPANK ran down one side. “This looked kinda pretty.”

  Dawn sat back, her mind spinning. Melanie slapped a hand over her mouth but continued to snortle over it.

  Mrs. Poppins whacked the paddle against her brown-spotted hand, and Dawn jumped. “This could do some damage.” The elderly lady squinted toward Dawn. “Do you think Hawk knows how to spank a girl? We wouldn’t want him to hurt you.”

  This wasn’t happening. It really wasn’t.

  Mrs. Hudson smacked Mrs. Poppins on the arm. “Of course Hawk knows how to spank a girl. I mean, it’s Hawk.” She arched white eyebrows. “Right, Dawn?”

  Dawn made a strangled sound. Heat flared into her cheeks, and her eyes actually stung. “I can’t believe this.”

  Mrs. Hudson pulled out a plastic covered package. “This is a pocket rocket. Now, it’s for clitoral stimulation.” She nodded solemnly. “That’s important, you know.”

  Dawn dropped her head to her hands. “Kill me. Just kill me.”

  A knock sounded on the door. “Melanie, it’s Quinn.” His deep baritone wound through the night.

  Panic ripped through Dawn, and she lunged for the bag, throwing everything inside it. No way in hell could Quinn, her older brother, see this stuff.

  The elderly ladies helped her pack up, twittering anxiously.

  Melanie snorted. “Throw the bag in the guest room. Hurry.”

  Dawn nodded and ran for the room to toss the bag on the other side of the bed. She returned just in time to see Quinn stomp inside. “Hi,” she said.

  “I got notice from one of Hawk’s men that Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Poppins were here. I’m here to take them home.” He frowned, studying his sister. “You okay? You’re flushed.”

  Yep. She could die just right there.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Love can’t work without trust—make sure you give and get that.

  ~ The Lady Elks Secret Archives

  An hour after Quinn had taken the crazy elderly women home, Dawn curled up on the couch, her gaze on the fire. Her fingers played with the soft silk scarf around her neck. It matched her sweater and made her feel more put together. “Have you ever seen a butt plug like that?”

  Melanie chuckled. “No. I just wish I could’ve been in the store when they’d gone shopping. Can you imagine?”

  “No.” Dawn didn’t want to imagine. Ever. Quinn had taken the ladies home, and Dawn had made a quiet dessert for Melanie, who was having all sorts of aches and pains, probably from laughing so hard earlier. “I wish the guys would get home.”

  The sound of a truck finally echoed up the drive.

  Minutes later, the door opened, and Colton tromped inside, followed by Hawk.

  “We think we traced a private plane to Canada, of all places,” Colton said without preamble. “Meyer headed north instead of south. We lost him there, although I’m thinking he moved on.”

  “I guess Zonas was telling the truth,” Hawk said, nudging the door closed. “Meyer is long gone. Asshole.”

  “It makes sense.” Colton shook snow from his hair. “You guys won’t stop hunting him, so why not get a good head start?”

  Dawn shivered.

  Melanie tugged Colton down to sit on the couch. “Enough of this, guys. We have a right to know what’s going on.”

  Dawn lifted her chin and crossed her arms. “Who exactly is Meyer?”

  Hawk eyed Colton and then grimaced. “Meyer was an explosives expert on my first tour. He was a great soldier who discovered a fast way to make money by funneling drugs. I caught him and turned him in. Unfortunately, he was brought home to be tried, and he escaped.” Hawk tugged out a worn picture of three soldiers with whom he’d served. “Meyer is in the middle.” About six feet tall, brown hair, dark brown eyes. “He could’ve done anything, and instead chose to run drugs. The guy next to him was a friend of mine who Meyer stabbed. I promised I’d make things right.”

  “Meyer put you in the hospital last year?” Melanie asked.

  Colton rubbed her belly and shook his head. “No. Apparently that was Meyer’s guys, but not him. He was elsewhere, and we’re not sure where yet.”

  Hawk shook snow off his jacket and unzipped it to hang by the door. “Reese hired me eight months ago to find Meyer.”

  Dawn frowned. “Wasn’t the government looking for him?”

  “Yes, but certain contacts in the government were all right with hiring outside contractors who weren’t, ah, restricted by the constitution. Or laws.” Hawk pushed up the sleeves of his green shirt. “I found him and brought him in, thinking that would be it. But he always was a talented asshole. He escaped custody and now is on the run.”

  Dawn shook her head. “So the guy in the hospital gave you his current location, which led you to Canada, and now he’s gone.”

  “Long gone,” Colt said. “Damn it.”

  “So we’re in the clear?” She focused completely on Hawk.

  “I hope so. When I took him in, it wasn’t pretty.” Hawk reached to the side and locked the door. “I’d feel better if we stayed vigilant until we catch him, just in case. I’ve sent a rotation of ten men to watch your folks, five to Jakes, and they’ll rotate tomorrow to watch this place. We have two men scouting outside here tonight. Quinn is working, so Juliet is at Jake’s. We’re covered for now.”

  Melanie struggled to her feet, frowning when Colton had to give her a gentle push. “You guys hungry?”

  “No. We caught something on the way home.” Colton stood and took her hand. “Let’s get some sleep.”

  Melanie turned to Dawn, opened her mouth, and shut it again. “Guest room is off the kitchen.”

  Dawn knew that, considering she’d stashed the sex toys there earlier. Geez. Her face heated until her cheeks hurt.

  Melanie bit her lip and obviously avoided looking at her husband. “Awkward,” she mumbled.

  Colton turned toward the stairs, definitely not meeting anybody’s eyes. “Woman, you’re a pain in my ass,” he muttered, a smile in his voice. “Let’s get some sleep while we can.”

  They disappeared upstairs, and Dawn hugged her arms around herself. “Well.”

  Hawk didn’t move her way. “Well.”

  She swallowed as tension, all Hawk-like and masculine, wandered over and licked her skin. “It’s weird, right? You and me, here at Colton’s.” She started babbling and couldn’t stop. “I mean, we’ve stayed together, all of us, before, but—”

  “Dawn.” The green of his eyes darkened to a hue holding danger. “Come here.”

  She didn’t take orders well, if at all, and so when her body kicked into gear, her mind barely had time to catch up before she reached him. She faltered, and he snaked out a quick arm to tuck her into his side. Dawn drew in his scent. Yummy, masculine, and free. She smiled against his shirt. “So. What now?”

  …

  Hawk swung her up, smiling at her surprised eek. Dawn filled out his arms nicely, all womanly curves and warmth. The idea, the very idea, that she had to hide out from a drug dealer in order to protect him pissed him off until he couldn’t see straight. So he set it aside, holding onto what mattered.

  Dawn Eleanor Freeze.

  All woman, all brain, all sass. She was the entire package, and she was smart enough to know it.

  But she didn’t know him. Not all of him.

  He carried her through the living room and into the guest room, one he’d stayed in more than once. A hand-stitched coverlet, older th
an them both, covered a sprawling bed that was piled high with pillows. Melanie loved pillows and always had.

  Holding Dawn with one arm, Hawk swept the majority of the pillows to the floor. “Now we have a minor discussion, a little argument, and then I’ll make you come hard enough you forget you’re pissed at me.” In a move that made her gasp, he flipped her around and took her shirt and pretty scarf with him.

  She landed on her back, eyes wide.

  Yeah. He could be smooth. His chuckle matched hers, even as his body began to tighten. Dawn Freeze, in a pretty bra and jeans, spread out on a bed. Two strides took him to the door so he could engage the lock.

  Even not touching her, he could see the shiver wind through her sweet body.

  “Why are we going to fight?” she asked.

  He liked that she made no effort to cover the lacy white bra or her bare midriff. He liked it a lot. “All of the Lodge-Freeze women are taking a nice spa vacation starting tomorrow.”

  She blinked.

  He slowly began unbuttoning his shirt, waiting for the explosion.

  “Who’s payin’?” she asked.

  He lifted an eyebrow. “I’m fine footing the bill.” Although Reese had offered to cover the expenses from his company. “So you’re going?”

  She rolled to the other side of the bed to stand. Something crinkled, and she shifted her feet. “No.”

  He dropped his shirt to the ground. “Wrong answer.”

  She lifted a smooth, very creamy and delicious looking, shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere, and I doubt my sisters-in-law are, either. We’re not the type to run and hide from a fight, Hawk, and you know it.”

  His body clenched. “The fact that the fight might come to Mineral Lake is my fault, and I’ll take care of it.”

  Color bloomed beneath her fine cheekbones, hot enough to burn, if he had to guess. “You’re stunning when you’re angry,” he whispered.

  “Then I’m about to be fucking gorgeous.” She pressed both hands on her hips.

  He shook his head. “There you go with that mouth again.” She was amazing, and he really wanted to—

  His pocket buzzed, and his shoulders stiffened. Keeping her gaze, he drew out his phone and read the text. Then he read it again. “Dawnie?”