The Edge Read online

  Leaning against his bedroom doorframe was none other than Patrick Meyers. Ron double-checked the security of the towel before wiping his hand under his nose.

  “This a new thing now? The cops in town are doing B&Es?”

  “What did you do to my sister?”

  Patrick didn’t smile, only rested his hand on the butt of his service weapon. Ron swallowed. Okay, so it wasn’t a social call.

  “I haven’t seen her at all for a couple of weeks.” He crossed his arms over his wet chest. “Why? Did something happen?”

  He couldn’t ignore the worry that bloomed in his gut with Patrick’s question.

  “She’s miserable.”

  Patrick stated it as if that made all the sense in the world. Ron shrugged.

  “I fail to see how this has anything to do with me.”

  “Really?” He shifted his weight. “Not at all?”

  “No reason to. We’re not a couple. I don’t control her happiness.”

  “Bullshit, cut the crap, Ron. I know you’ve been fucking my sister and trust me, that’s going to be a discussion for another time, but right now, she needs you to take back whatever it was you said or did. So she can smile again.”

  “I don’t have that much power.”

  She was miserable like him. Good.

  “What did you do to her?” Patrick’s tone dropped further and he took three steps toward Ron.

  “Nothing.”

  He went to move past Patrick but the man slapped his hand on the other side of the hall, stopping him from reaching his bedroom. Ron arched an eyebrow as he held his angry gaze.

  “Why do you assume I did something to her? And I’m dripping here.”

  “Because she’s miserable and you’re the guy. We are always the ones who fuck up.”

  His smile was less than pleasant. “Look, I asked her about being in a committed relationship. She said no. End of story. She left and I’m trying to move on.” He stepped closer to Patrick. “So, before you come in here accusing me of doing something to her, perhaps you should go ask her what she did to sabotage a relationship she was in.”

  Patrick frowned and dropped his hand. Ron moved by and swiped his sweats, dragging them up under the towel before he removed it. He tossed it over his shoulder and turned back to Patrick.

  He remained there. A frown still in place.

  “What?” Ron looked around for his shirt.

  “Did she say why she didn’t want a relationship?”

  “Nope, just that she was fine fucking.”

  Okay, that had been crass and uncalled for but, damn it, he wasn’t in the mood to be reprimanded by her sibling as if he’d been the one at fault. How was it his? He wanted a relationship with her. Still did, but he wasn’t going to put his heart out there knowing full well she just wanted sex. She could find that with someone else.

  A low rumble of anger poured from him at the thought of another man touching anything on her body. Shoving it back down, Ron shook his head. He wasn’t about to become the latest gossip fodder for the quilting club.

  “I don’t want to hear about you and my sister with the word ‘fucking’ in the same sentence.”

  Ron shrugged. “I don’t give a fuck. We’re both consenting adults. I can say we fucked and there’s not anything you can do about it.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “You’re in uniform and holding a gun. The words ‘police brutality’ mean anything to you?”

  Patrick shrugged and undid his utility belt, removing his gun, and hung it on the doorknob. Then he removed the badge from his shirt. “There, no longer on duty.”

  “So, what happens now?” Ron rolled his eyes at the dramatics.

  “This.” Patrick punched him in the face.

  Chapter Five

  Mary readjusted her purse as she walked beyond the sliding glass doors of Ike’s, the only grocery store in town. The list was in her pocket and while she just wanted to get home to rest or head to the clinic, she was here helping out since Sissy’s son was under the weather so she wasn’t at the house today.

  Swiping a cart, she put her purse in and removed the list from her pocket. As she headed for the bread section, she gazed around. Everyone fell silent as she passed, and they were gazing at her as if she’d grown two heads.

  Okay, not sure what this is about. Self-conscious, she glanced down at her attire. Was she wearing her breakfast? Can they see my underwear? She didn’t see anything there to warrant such looks. It continued as she filled the cart. It didn’t matter which aisle she was in, the odd yet silent inquires kept coming, preceded by the silence.

  As the butcher cut up the steaks for her, he grinned.

  “What’s going on, Tom?”

  “Is there an extra one for Patrick in there?”

  She wasn’t following. “Sure?”

  “I’m sure he needs it for his eye.” He handed over the white packaging.

  Putting that in the cart as well, she gave him a shaky smile and continued. Standing before the frozen section, she thought maybe some ice cream for her father would be nice, so she searched for his favorite kind, black cherry. There in the back she found a quart.

  Bending over, she grabbed it and backed out. Turning around, she drew up to find three of the women in the quilting club standing there. They had on their fancy hats and each had a cart in front of them.

  “Morning, Ms. Ella, Ms. Grace and Ms. Jeanne.”

  “I’m surprised that you’re here in town today after that ruckus yesterday.” Ms. Jeanne, the leader of the club, dabbed a kerchief at the corner of her mouth.

  She placed the ice cream in the cart. “Ruckus? What ruckus?”

  “Why the fight, my dear,” Ms. Grace said, touching her chest with a lace-gloved hand. “The one that ended up in hospital visits and lots of broken glass.”

  Mary waited but the gossiping biddies didn’t say anything else. Of all the times to keep your traps shut. “I’m sorry, could I have a bit more information on what you’re talking about? I wasn’t in town at all yesterday.”

  “Everyone’s talking about it. Everyone knows about it.” Ms. Ella clucked her tongue.

  “Apparently not everyone.”

  “Don’t get impertinent,” Ms. Jeanne reprimanded.

  “Who was fighting?” She struggled to retain control of her temper.

  “Your brother Patrick and your young man.” Ms. Grace imparted that as if it were common knowledge.

  “She doesn’t have him as a young man anymore, remember, Grace. He dumped her because she couldn’t let go of the one who cheated on her.” Ms. Ella waggled her finger at Grace.

  Mary wished the ground would open her up and swallow her whole. How the hell did they know she’d been cheated on? Who told them she’d been dumped?

  Goddamn small towns.

  Biggest question of all was why Patrick and Ron had been fighting.

  “That’s right,” Jeanne said. “She’s single again, and with her temper, it’s bound to be that way for a while.”

  “Excuse me, before you ladies completely dissect my life, what injuries are you talking about?”

  “The ones from the broken glass of course,” Ella said, shaking her head. “Poor dear, she’s confused.”

  Her head hurt, horribly. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she took a deep breath. “I wasn’t dumped and I’m not holding on to my cheating ex.”

  All three sent her sympathetic looks and she knew right then they didn’t believe her. She wanted to stomp her feet and scream. Instead, she pushed around them and left them there talking about how old she was going to be before she had her first child. Those glances followed her through the checkout line. No one else said anything to her and as soon as she got out she headed home.

  “Mom?” she called when she entered the house.

  Her mom was in the kitchen putting away clean dishes. “Yes, honey?”

  “Where’s Patrick?”

  “Not sure, haven’t seen him all day. Did you call
him on his phone?”

  “Not yet, but trust me, I will. Right after I put this away.”

  “Nonsense, you shopped, I’ll put away. Go find your brother.”

  She intended to. Immediately calling him when she stepped outside, she waited for him to pick up.

  “Hello?”

  Fuck, he sounded hungover.

  “What the fuck did you do to Ron?”

  “Morning to you too, sis. Love those dulcet tones swearing in my ear.”

  “Cut the crap, Patrick. I want to know, and I want to know now.”

  “God, you’re like a screeching harpy. I’m at the police station. Come down here and we’ll talk.”

  “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right there.” She ended the call and ran for her vehicle.

  She pushed the speed limit to get there. I better not get a fucking ticket for speeding to the police station. Squealing to a stop, she then killed the engine, hopped out and marched up to the door. Kicking it open, she hollered, “Patrick!”

  “Christ, can you tone it down a bit here?”

  She found him sitting at his desk with something pressed to the left side of his face. Mary slammed down her hands. He looked at her and she shook her head. Holding his wrist, she pulled his hand away and inhaled sharply.

  “You look like shit.” He did. He had a black eye, some lacerations on his cheek and a busted lip. His knuckles were all scarred at well.

  “You should see the other guy,” he said.

  Ron. Her heart seized. “What the hell happened between you two?”

  “He made you unhappy. I’m your older brother. It’s my job to protect you.”

  “I don’t need your protection and goddamn it, if I had my bat here I’d use it on you.”

  “Your temper, Mary. How the hell do people see you as the sweet one?”

  She smiled and batted her eyes. “Because I am.”

  “Like hell.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I’m your brother. Shouldn’t you be concerned about me and not that firefighter?”

  “Where. Is. He?” She stood upright and crossed her arms. “Don’t forget I can drug you and remove vital parts of your anatomy.”

  He blanched and she cocked her head to the side.

  “Where?”

  “See if I try to help you again. He’s at the fire station. Or was last I knew.”

  * * * *

  He heard voices but didn’t even try to crack open his eyes. Not that he would be able to do that with them both, but he didn’t try for the one that still had the ability. The sound faded then grew louder once more.

  Someone kicked his rack and he grumbled, yanking his blanket over his head. That should get the point across.

  It didn’t. They kicked it again. And again.

  Rolling over with a swear word, he sat up. “What?”

  Peering through his one good eye, he sucked in a deep breath. Mary stood there, flames were alive in her eyes as she glared down at him.

  “Mary,” he said.

  “Holy Christ. What the hell did the two of you do?”

  Yep, she’d heard about it. “Hi.”

  “Don’t you ‘hi’ me. What happened between you two?”

  He almost reached for her but stopped himself. “What’s it look like?” How come he couldn’t keep his voice from sounding so deep and desperate? Oh, because he wanted her back in his life.

  “It looks like you and he were stupid as shit.”

  “Then it should be easy for you to pick up and move back to wherever you are at now.”

  Pain flashed over her features. For a moment he regretted his words. He didn’t want to hurt her, but damn it all, he’d been hurt too.

  “For your information, this is my home now. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Hope erupted in his chest but he tamped it down. “How nice for you.”

  “Is that all you have to say to me?”

  He shoved a bandaged hand through his hair. His jaw ached from Patrick’s punches last night but he didn’t rub it. Instead, he looked back to the blue eyes of the woman who’d charmed her way into his heart.

  “I said what I needed to last time we talked. From your words, you did too.”

  She rubbed her hand over her lower jaw and shifted on her feet. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”

  “Should I?”

  “Yes,” she said, sinking to her knees. “But that’s my selfishness speaking.”

  She rested her hands on his thighs and held his gaze. Mary stared at him for a moment then shook her head.

  “I told you about how I found my ex in bed with some woman. It’s hard for me to trust, but that’s not fair to you. I know this, and I heard you when you said your piece the other day. I wasn’t ready to hear it, but I did.”

  That hope wouldn’t die. It dug in roots and began to grow.

  “What are you saying, Mary?”

  She inched closer, pushing herself between his open legs. Ever so slow, as if she were mindful of his cuts and bruising, she cupped his cheeks.

  “What I’m saying is this. I want to try this with you. I want to do more than just sex.”

  He saw behind her that Lucas and two others were standing there, listening, with shit-eating grins on their faces. Flipping them off, he returned his attention to the woman there.

  “Sex is nice,” he said with a grin.

  “Our sex is way more than nice.” She glanced over her shoulder. “That’s a rumor you can spread around town.”

  They whooped and hollered. Ron turned her back to him and wrapped his hands in her long, thick black hair. Tugging her close, he leaned toward her mouth. She slipped her hand between them.

  “That’s not the point, Ron. What is, is that I know I hurt you when I said what I did. It took my pain-in-the-ass brother coming to do whatever the two of you did for me to realize it isn’t your fault. This is my issue and if you’re willing, I’d like to try again.”

  Holding her steady with both hands, he bent in close to her face and kissed the tip of her nose.

  “It’s our issue. Yes, I want to do this again. I want to do it right.”

  “I thought we had it right at least for some parts.”

  He smiled and kissed her again. “We did, but I want to make sure all those busybodies know we’re a couple.”

  “That would be nice. I’d really prefer not to be blindsided in the grocery store again.”

  He ran his gaze over her features a few more times, needing to memorize her. Putting his thumbs on her lips, he then skimmed along them.

  “Are we done talking? Can we move on to the kissing?”

  She kissed him and backed off, lightly biting his lip as she did. “Are you sure you want to start that now, or would you prefer to go somewhere else to do that?”

  His cock pushed against his jeans. “Somewhere else.”

  “Can you leave your truck here? I’ll drive.”

  “Absolutely.”

  As they walked out of the room, the others cheered and shouted inappropriate comments. Mary laughed. He promised retaliation to the others.

  He held her hand as she headed her Durango toward his house. She parked in the garage and he got out first, before moving around to her side. Keeping her close, he entered the kitchen and drew her close.

  “Let me check your injuries.”

  “Did you check your brother?”

  “I actually threatened to neuter him if he didn’t tell me where you were.”

  He laughed so hard his side hurt. She pushed him back and got him a new ice pack for his eye. Mary checked his hand and each laceration he had gotten earlier received a kiss.

  “I have a cut here too,” he said, gesturing to his lower lip.

  “I see it. I’m getting there.” She looked around and he was glad he’d managed to clean up most of it before he’d left for the station. “Stay put,” she ordered when he tried to sit up.

  “I want to hold you.”

 
“Let me finish.”

  He settled against the couch and closed his one swollen eye. It didn’t take too long and she curled up against him, pressing her curves to him. Sex was something he craved, but right now, having her with him once more and beside him was enough.

  CUFFED AT THE EDGE

  Book four in The Edge series

  Sometimes the connection is there before you realize it’s cuffed you.

  Patrick Meyers had come home to The Edge and had taken over the role as sheriff. One rainy night he pulls over a woman and puts her in jail. Turns out, not only is she a great friend of his sister, but she’s also the woman who’d rocked his world one night at the Chicago Pier.

  Ainsley Milne was cursing the day she ever agreed to come visit her friend in northern Wisconsin. She was sick, exhausted and now in jail like a common criminal. Who to blame? The hot-as-sin sheriff who makes her think about kissing him in her cell.

  Once they figure out their past connection, everything is different. The sparks that had been there sizzle even hotter. Will they find a way to make it work?

  Dedication

  Thank you to Totally Bound for allowing me to share my small town with everyone.

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Toyota Tercel: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha TA Toyota Motor Corporation

  Ford Bronco: Ford Motor Company

  Boy Scouts: Boy Scouts of America Corporation

  Chapter One

  Patrick Meyers clucked his tongue as he watched the gray Toyota Tercel swerve a bit more before correcting its course again. Could it be the rain? Sure. But he took his job of protecting the residents of The Edge seriously.

  It wasn’t someone from town. He knew all their vehicles. The slow pace had taken some getting used to when he’d come home a year ago because of his father’s stroke. He’d taken a leave of absence from his role in the Chicago Police Department to be home, helping out. That had turned into taking over as sheriff.