Love Me, I Dare You! (Hell Yeah!) Read online

  Without looking up, Isaac automatically grabbed his leather jacket from off the back of his desk chair and dug in the pocket. He had it halfway lifted out when he jerked his head around and jumped up. “Good Lord, Nanette Beaureguarde, where did you come from?” Isaac grabbed his chest while the rotund matron laughed so hard she cried. “You’ve got to stop doing this. My heart just can’t take it.”

  “Oh, you big bad Dom, you. Don’t tell me a Badass like yourself is scared of an old granny witch like me?”

  “Are you kidding?” Isaac breathed. “You’re one of the original things that go bump in the night. I look over my shoulder all the time just to make sure you’re not following me.” He smiled at the jovial black woman who settled herself gingerly into a chair in front of his desk. “Can I get you a drink? Water? Wine? Home-brew with eye of newt?”

  Nanette shook her finger at him. “Haven’t you ever wondered why this type of stuff fascinates you so?”

  Isaac shook his head. “It doesn’t. Oh, I used to love the ghost stories Daddy told around the campfire, but you and Cady’s family are the only connection I have to the twilight zone.”

  “No, it’s not. You’re sensitive.”

  Barking out a laugh, Isaac leaned back in his chair. “Do you know me? Sensitive is the last word anyone would use to describe me. I’m hard, tough and unrelenting.”

  “Yes, you are.” Nanette nodded. “But you’re also aware, empathetic, and tuned in to everyone you love like a radio antenna. Nothing escapes you. Haven’t you ever noticed that you’re almost always a step ahead of things? You’re there to catch people when they fall. Aron may be the rock that you all lean on, Jacob may be the umbrella that shelters you from the storms but it’s you, Isaac, that hones in on the problem. Your bullshit meter is calibrated to filter through nonsense and cut right to the chase. And while part of this is instinct, part of it isn’t.”

  “What do you mean?” He knew better than to question Nanette. He might be wary of her but he’d seen what she and her family could do. Witch might not be the most correct term, but the whole family had powers that went beyond his understanding.

  “You’ve got a gift.”

  Isaac threw up his hands. “I’ll give it back. Where do I send it?”

  “Hush your mouth, boy.” Nanette fussed. “You don’t give back gifts your Maker sees fit to bestow upon you. He gave them for a reason.”

  “So, what’s my gift?” Isaac wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

  “I wouldn’t call it prophecy; I’d call it clair cognizance.”

  “Claire who?”

  “Clair cognizance, when you just know something down deep and you have no clue to where the knowledge is coming from. It’s sort of a manly term for clairvoyant.”

  “I’m a damn fortuneteller?” Isaac nearly came out of his seat.

  Nanette slapped the desk. “You’re going to have a knot on your head if you don’t sit still and listen to me. I know about the break-in.”

  Isaac stilled. “How? Did Avery call you? Cady?”

  “No, I just knew.”

  Isaac rubbed his eyes. “Of course you did.”

  “And you did too, if you think about it.”

  “No, I…” He stopped and looked thoughtful. “As a matter of fact, about the time they said the break-in was happening, I couldn’t sleep. We were out in Colorado, staying in a beautiful cabin at the base of a mountain. I got out of bed and took a walk, I had the oddest compulsion to call home, but I brushed it off as a response to a bad dream I’d had.” He met Nanette’s hard stare. “Well, I’ll be damned…”

  “Yes, and if you were to look back over your life, I’d say this has probably happened more often than you’d care to admit. Before your parent’s death? Before Joseph’s accident? Before Aron went missing? Before Avery was taken by Ajax?”

  A cold chill struck him like a bolt of lightning. His mind flew back over time, remembering odd hunches, nightmares, weird feelings that he couldn’t shake. But each and every time, the real event and the necessity of acting in the face of a crisis would push any foreboding he’d had from his mind.

  “I brought you something.” She held out a small white flannel bag.

  “What is this?” Isaac took it from her hand.

  “A mojo bag, surely you’ve seen Cady use one.”

  He held it, testing its weight, passing his thumb over the uneven texture. There was a sharp pungent, not unpleasant, smell emanating from it. “I’ve always tried not to notice the weird things Cady does. I respect her and you, but… What’s it for?”

  “Keep it on you all the time. Wear it around your neck on a piece of leather cord. This bag will protect you.”

  His eyes hardened. “I don’t need protection.”

  “What you have that needs protecting is not your body, Isaac, but your heart and soul. If you lose Avery, it will kill you. This bag will be like a compass. Wear it and you’ll know.”

  “Know what?” He felt dizzy and a little overwhelmed.

  “When it’s time.”

  “Damn, I’m tired of you talking in riddles! Time for what?”

  “I can’t tell you that.”

  Fuck! “If you’re as powerful as you play like you are, why don’t you just lay all your cards on the table. Tell me what’s going to happen. Tell me where the danger is. Tell me what I’m supposed to do.”

  “It doesn’t work that way, sweet Isaac.” Nanette looked at the big biker with affection in her eyes. “Love clouds our vision. I’ve never been able to use what I know as effectively to help me and my family as I have others. I guess that goes back to the old rule about profiting from your power. It’s against the rules.”

  “Whose rules?” Yea, he was angry.

  “The creators. The architects of the universe. The mother and father of all life.”

  “Don’t start casting any spell on me.” He spoke almost weakly, as if what he now knew to be true was almost too heavy to bear. “Why can’t I just take Avery away, hide her, keep her safe?”

  “Because Avery is like you, she would never want to quit living her life just to escape danger. Just be ready to fight the evil when it appears.”

  * * *

  “You seem to have a certain spring in your step, cowboy?” Doris said to Joshua as he entered Hardbodies. The band was louder tonight than usual and she had to step closer to be heard.

  “I’m feeling pretty spry, ma’am.” His eyes automatically went to the bar. Emma was performing her usual magic and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her slide a glass down the slick surface of the counter right to the waiting recipient. He’d waited until almost closing time to come tonight. After leaving Tebow, Josh had gone home to work on that surprise gift for her. Now, he had another surprise in mind. “Do you think I could see Isaac for a few minutes?”

  “Sure. You’ve got the same glint in your eye that my husband gets after taking one of those little blue pills. Follow me.”

  “Well, I don’t need a little blue pill.”

  “No, you’ve got a certain redhead to fire your blood. You two don’t have me fooled.” She led him back to Isaac’s office, stepped in, then right back out. “He seems to be on the phone, but if you’ll wait a couple of seconds you can go right in.”

  “Thanks, Doris.” He tipped his hat as she left.

  Joshua stood there a moment, not eavesdropping, but unable to miss that Isaac was on the phone with Sheriff Saucier. The news of what he and Lance had found at Tebow traveled fast. As soon as the conversation was over, he moved to the door. “Isaac, you got a few minutes?”

  “Yea, sure, I’m glad you’re here. What did you make of that mess on the ranch?”

  Joshua sat down in the chair and crossed one booted foot over his knee. “I don’t know. Mischief. Kane says they caught two teenagers over near Hunt who were vandalizing some businesses. He seems to think they may’ve been the culprits who broke in here and scared Emma.”

  “What do you think?” Isaac met his
gaze levelly.

  “I don’t know, Isaac. This looked personal to me. I don’t think I’d take ‘A McCoy Will Die’ lightly.”

  “I’m not.” He stood and walked around the desk to look out the window. “I’m going to make some phone calls. I think we need backup. Somebody watching the ranch and somebody watching the bar.”

  “Who’re you gonna call?”

  “Well, I’ve already been paid a visit by the Ghostbusters.” He laughed wryly. “When we’ve got time, sometime, remind me to tell you about Nanette Beaureguarde, Cady’s godmother, she’s a hoot and a half. Scary shit.” He pulled out the vacant chair next to Joshua and sat it in backwards. “I’m going to talk to Aron, but I think we should call in Roscoe and Vance.”

  “Are those guys still around?”

  “Yea, they don’t just work for us, but we have them on retainer and keep them pretty busy. Hold on.” He picked up the phone and punched a contact button. “Let me alert Terrence.”

  Joshua waited while Isaac informed Terrence to be on special alert. “I know you never let your guard down, but we’ve got a threat here. Couple this with the mess that went on here the other night and some vandalism we had at the ranch, we’ve got trouble. I want you to question everything you see.”

  As soon as he disconnected the call, Isaac rested his head on the back of the chair. “Have you ever felt helpless, Long?”

  “Sure.”

  “Of course you have.” Isaac sighed. “When your family fell apart and your father died, you felt like shit. I remember. I was there. Do you ever hear from your mom?”

  “Not in a long time.” Joshua admitted. “She remarried, found a man who’d be true to her, unlike Dad. She’s got a new life. I probably remind her of times when she wasn’t so happy.”

  “That sucks, brother.”

  “Yea, I’ve also lost control of my life, Isaac. I was on top of the world and let it all go to hell. I should’ve quit when I was ahead. Before Keira. Before Army Tank.”

  Isaac folded his hands and surveyed his friend, taking in the tired look on his face. “My mother would say that things generally work out for the best.”

  Joshua considered his friend’s wisdom. Things had turned about better than he’d feared. And if he put meeting Emma in the mix, well, he knew he wouldn’t have missed this for the world – no matter how it all ended up. “Your mother might be right.”

  “She was seldom wrong.” Isaac stood. “I just want to gather my whole family together and protect them, but like Nanette told me earlier, we can’t quit living. If we bow to fear, it wins. All I can do is keep Avery close and vow to destroy anything that threatens her.”

  If we bow to fear, it wins.

  Joshua pondered Isaac’s declaration. He was right. Joshua had been living in fear that his life was over, that he’d never be accepted in his own hometown, that no woman would ever care enough to peer beneath the surface of his life to see the real Joshua Long, not the public face of a Rodeo Romeo with nothing to offer but a good time.

  “What did you need, anyway?” Isaac asked, bringing Joshua out of his reverie.

  “Well, considering all of the serious things we’ve been talking about, I almost hate to introduce the topic.”

  “No.” Isaac rose and returned the chair to its former position. He sauntered back behind the desk, reclaiming the big leather chair. “I’d love to think of something else for a bit.”

  “Okay.” Josh shifted in his seat, a bit uncomfortable with the topic. “I was wondering if you might give me a few sex tips.

  “You coming to me for advice on sex and women?” Isaac pretends shock. “Is the world coming to an end?”

  “Someday it will, but until then I’d like to know a little bit about the spanking bench. Emma has expressed a little interest in it.”

  “Do tell?” Isaac grinned broadly. “Lucky devil. The spanking bench is the perfect height to bend your lady over and make her feel really good. It gives her support, but leaves places open and accessible for you to play, if you know what I mean. You can restrain her if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. The same with safe words, you can go that far or you can just use it to have fun. As far as what you use to spank her, there are myriad things to choose from. A quirt, a flogger, a paddles – your hand. Lady’s choice. Something like this is one way to introduce you and your lady to BDSM. If this is something you both like, you might choose to learn more. Many elements of the lifestyle are enjoyed by most people, tying your lover up, using things like feathers, candle wax, blindfolds. Really, it’s more about the power exchange. There’s nothing headier than your lover putting their full faith and trust in you. Is there?”

  “No, there isn’t.” He knew what Isaac said was true. When Emma gave herself to him, placed her hand in his, let him lead her – the pride and fulfillment he felt was amazing. Josh stood and removed his wallet from his pocket. He pulled out four twenties and put them on Isaac’s desk.

  “What this for?”

  “I used a bottle of your champagne the other night in a little erotic adventure and I’d like to prepay for another.”

  Isaac picked the money up. “You got it. Make yourself at home. I trust you. I always have. Hey, my wife has been bugging me about us all going out to eat together. How about it?”

  Josh considered it for about half a second. “Sure, just let me know when. I think Emma would like that.”

  * * *

  “A date?” Emma sat very still, making sure she’d heard Joshua clearly. “You want to take me on a date?” She started to remind him of their agreement, but this was one thing she didn’t dare to do. Instead, Emma just decided to count her blessings.

  “A double-date, yes.”

  “I’d love to.” Elation rose in her body so fast she shivered.

  “Good, I’ll let them know. Tomorrow’s your day off, right?”

  “Yes. I’m supposed to take Fergus into town for his check-up, other than that I’m free. Doris is giving me a ride. Maybe we’ll have time to shop for a new dress for me.”

  Joshua could see how excited she was. “Come here.” He sat down on the worn green sofa and tugged her down into his lap. “Are you tired?”

  “No,” she said, then embarrassed herself when she yawned right after. “I’m too happy to be sleepy.”

  He pushed up her shirt and placed both hands around her waist. He noted how near his thumbs came to meeting, now he could make sure the belt he was making would fit. It was almost done, all he had to do was cut it the right length and affix the buckle. He hoped to give it to her tomorrow to wear to their dinner with Isaac and Avery. Fergus, unwilling to be left out, climbed on the couch beside them and laid a big paw on Joshua’s shoulder. “Kane said that he thinks they found the boys responsible for scaring you. They’re in custody for vandalism and a couple of break-ins.”

  “Okay. I should be able to stay in the trailer tomorrow night then.”

  That wasn’t the reason he’d told her. “No, it will be late when we get through with dinner. Let’s plan on coming back here.”

  “Okay, I’ll just run home long enough tomorrow to get ready. All of my makeup and jewelry are there.” She jumped a little in his lap, enough to nudge his sex with hers. Just that fast he was erect and throbbing.

  “Sounds like a plan, but right now…I have other things on my mind.”

  “Like what?” She was letting her fingers do the walking, from the middle of his shirt down to his belt buckle. “You want to make hay while the sun shines?”

  “What?” he laughed, standing up, holding her in his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on tight. “You’re so silly.”

  He walked to the bedroom, blowing raspberries on her neck. Josh couldn’t ever remember having this good of a time with a woman before. With a careful precise move, he tossed her to the bed where she landed with a bounce.

  Then, he pounced on her. “Are you ticklish?”

  “Yes!” she screamed. “Stop. Stop. Stop.” Em
ma giggled so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.

  “Do you want me to stop?” Josh pulled back, watching her face. “Or do you want me?”

  “I want you, Joshua Long. Don’t ever doubt it.” She pushed him to his back and proceeded to show him how much.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Whistling, Joshua pushed open his front door and let himself into his home. He felt like a million dollars. Cady had been right; his leg was almost a hundred percent. Looking back at the pain he’d felt, he had to admit the woman was a miracle worker. She insisted he visit a doctor and get an official medical opinion and he would, if for no other reason than to satisfy Cady. At the moment, he was more interested in taking a shower and heading back to pick up Emma. The plan was for them to meet Isaac and Avery at Legends on the square. As he made his way through the living room, he started peeling off clothes. He was hot, dusty and sweaty. Being back in the saddle was exhilarating, but he smelled like the trail. Flipping on the TV as he passed, he listened to the news, something about the presidential race. Blech! He ignored the news pundits and let his eyes wander around his home. Funny. When he’d first moved in, all he could see was his mother’s touch, memories of her presence and happier times vied with images of his folks fighting and then the nights when he’d be alone – his mother gone and his father out on the town. Even though Emma had only been with him for a few days, he could see the little changes she’d made.

  Since Emma’s view of the world was limited to what she could feel or hear, she’d set out to learn every facet of his home. With dust rag in hand, she’d touched every dish, every photo, every pillow, every book, asking him questions, learning about his life. In the process, she’d rearranged, refocused, brought out things that were more his style, items that reflected his personality and the few good memories he wanted to hold on to. Using no money, only her heart and hands, she’d made this old house into a home for him.

  Pushing open his bedroom door, he tugged off his boots and socks and tossed them to one side. After a quick shower, he’d be on the road again.