Faded Cotton (Erotic Romance) (28 page)

He turned to Jen. “I’m sorry, Jen. I’m glad
that we could help you put the case to rest. I’ll update you as I
get new information. You and Laurel will be called as witnesses and
expected to testify.”

Ben exhaled. He figured that report was one
of the most difficult he had ever given. The implications for Jen
and for Laurel were enormous.

Jen sat down in a big leather chair. Laurel
propped herself on the arm and put her hand on Jen’s back in an
effort to comfort her.

“It’s over, Jen.” Jen nodded. She felt as if
a dark shroud had been dispelled from her world. A tired calm came
to her. “I hope you can forgive me for not putting two and two
together a long time ago.” Laurel slumped.

Adam was giving information to another team
member and stopped when he saw Jen sit down hard. He went to her,
sitting across from her.

“It’s over, Jen. Now we can move
forward.”

“We?”

“You, me, everyone here.” Adam had meant
we
to begin with, but he knew she might not be ready to deal
with any more than the here and now. She nodded and looked up.
“Laurel, do I wish we’d found out a long time ago? Yes. Do I hold
it against you that they picked you and your farm to execute their
fraud? No. Not for a second.”

Laurel moved to Jake.

“Jake, I want to celebrate Friday night. A
big party, I wonder if everyone can stay until then. Jen deserves a
celebration. A celebration of closure.” Laurel didn’t just want a
party; she wanted everyone to put this whole ordeal to rest.

“I think we can arrange that, sweetheart.”
Jake grinned at her, understanding.

__________________________

Luckily, for the guests of Siddy Creek, it
was one of the drier weeks of the Missouri summer, still not quite
dusty, and the evenings had been tolerable. Early July was like
everything else weather-wise in the state: a crapshoot. Luck was
with them, and the evening was perfect.

As the sun went down and guests arrived, the
temperature moderated into the mid-seventies. A perfect night for a
summer party, Laurel observed. Long white tables and chairs
garnered from City Creek’s catering business were covered with
white tablecloths that fluttered in the light breeze. Candles sat
in small glass globes hanging from handmade iron holders. Guests
were greeted by bar staff that offered water, soda, mixed drinks,
or beer.

“People need to dress up once in a while,
even country folk.” Laurel grinned as she surveyed the guests from
the deck.

“I’m glad it’s still barbeque, though.” Adam
grinned.

“Me too.” Jake and Jess chimed in
simultaneously.

Shannon MacClain beamed as she opened the
French doors and stepped out onto the deck. Their heads turned to
her. “Oh, wow Shannon, you look absolutely incredible!” Laurel
smiled at her.

Jess wasted no time stepping to her to offer
his hand. The woman took his breath away.
Incredible isn’t the
half of it,
he thought. The strapless emerald-green dress
suited her; the deep V showed gentle cleavage, her soft skin
glowed. Matching her dress, Shannon’s eyes looked like shiny liquid
pools of emerald. Her energy of her eyes sparkling from under the
protection of long lashes.

Flaring at the hips to an easy swishing
skirt, the dress she wore accentuated every curve and bared her fit
long legs—a perfect fit. Jess couldn’t miss the sexy silver heels
that revealed feminine brilliant red painted toes. Her hair was
swept up with a few blonde tendrils framing her face. Jess was
lost.

“Incredible doesn’t touch it.” Jess stared.
He still couldn’t believe she’d said yes. Finding a little touch of
chivalry from days gone by, he gave her a crooked grin with a
twinkle in his eye for later and Jess offered up his arm for her
hand, “Shall we?”

She easily took his arm, smiling sweetly as
her eyes met his, “Yes, we shall.” The two stepped off, leaving
Adam, Laurel, and Jake to meet the rest of the guests.

Jake thought Shannon looked just like Laurel
at that age, albeit a little taller. No wonder Jess finally
admitted to being head over heels for her, he thought. He had
watched Laurel beam when Shannon took Jess’s arm. Jake wished for
them that their love would go the distance and, at the same time,
wondered if the love between him and Laurel would rekindle as he’d
hoped.

“Go ahead,” Adam called over his shoulder as
he stepped toward the house. “I’m going in to check on Jen.”

__________________________

He knocked on the master bathroom door where
Jen was keeping herself, “Jen, are you okay?”

She opened the door and turned away from him.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she choked out.

He stepped inside putting his arms around
her. Looking in the mirror over her shoulder at her blotchy red
face, he knew she was upset. “What’s wrong?” He asked gently.

“I don’t know how to walk away,” she said in
a rush.

Adam frowned for a moment considering the
implications, “From?”

“Police work. I made Captain and very young.
It was a big achievement for me, especially since I’m a woman. I
hate the idea of just giving it up, but at the same time, I just
want to be here. Is that silly?” Jen frowned at herself, growing
more confused. “Adam, what are you going to do when your leave is
up?”

“Well first of all, no, you’re not silly.
You’ve been through hell, and Mom’s place is a safe haven of sorts.
At least, I’d like to think of it that way. And I don’t know what
I’m going to do. I’ll have a new assignment at the end of my leave,
but after that, I don’t know. Why?” Was she asking him for a
commitment? Adam wasn’t used to thinking in those terms, but he was
ready to entertain the thought.

“Would it bother you if I stayed here for a
while?” Jen didn’t want to tell him that her heart had told her she
was falling for him, while her brain was telling her to avoid
relationships. She needed time to think and the city wasn’t the
place for her to do it. She knew she would just bury herself in her
work to keep from thinking. She didn’t want to be far from him
either. It scared her and thrilled her at the same time. They
hadn’t made love—yet. She wasn’t sure if that a good sign or a bad
one.

“Stay. Take it one day at a time. Lean on
Mom, she’s a good listener. I’ll give you space if you need it. I
can always go spend some time with Dad before we have to get back
to work. I really like you—really, really like you, but the last
thing I want to have happen is for you to run off because you think
I’m pressuring you. After all of this, you need a little time, I
think, before you make big decisions.” She nodded.

__________________________

Just as the dinner prayer was being offered,
Jen and Adam finally joined the group. It allowed them to sneak in
quietly, without a lot of questions. Jen had done her best to cool
her face and touch up her makeup. Smoke from the grill was making
stomachs rumble, and the crowd was growing anxious.

Jess stood and scanned the crowd to make sure
everyone was there before he started. “Before we eat, I have
something to say.” He removed his hat, tucking it under his arm.
Everyone’s eyes were on him and a hush fell. Usually a man of few
words, most knew what he had to say was going to be
interesting.

Shannon was sitting next to him with her
hands folded in her lap and smiling up at him. What a man he’d
become from the boy she knew. He looked down at her and smiled
thinking that she positively glowed.

Jess thanked everyone for coming, thanked
those that had volunteered time at the farm for the safety of
others and all the work that had been done to put a couple of
powerful scumbags behind bars. “I’d also like to extend an
invitation to everyone here, but I need to ask a question
first.”

He reached in his pocket to pull out the
small box he’d been shuffling in his fingers all evening. “Shannon
Ann MacClain,” he started, bending to one knee, handsome in his
dress whites. Opening the brilliant green box, he finished, “I’ve
already asked once, but you know I’m all about the details and I
want to make it official. Will you marry me?”

She stood up from her chair and his eyes
questioned her, eyebrows raised, she reached down to pull him up to
her, glowing with joy, a brilliant widespread smile on her face and
dancing eyes.

“I already said yes!” Shannon threw her arms
around him and pulled him as tight as she could. “That was sneaky,”
she whispered in his ear. She smiled at him and then kissed him
passionately.

The clapping and commotion was thunderous,
but neither paid attention as they pulled apart and he slipped the
ring on her finger. He’d had a setting done just for her; a large
marquee surrounded by stunning emeralds to match her eyes. The
unusual shape left a slot for the wedding band to slip into.
Shannon stared at it and back at him, speechless and teary at
first.

“I love you. It’s perfect, you’re perfect,”
she said into his ear as he held her tight, not wanting to let go.
Jess was speechless, holding her, his face buried in her hair.

“I’m guessing the invitation was to your
wedding?” Jake laughed, his voice booming over the crowd. “Well I’m
hungry, so.... Good God, good food, good grief—let’s eat!” Laughter
bounced merrily among the hungry guests accompanied by hearty
applause.

Congratulations, hugs and kisses were given
to the happy couple as everyone lined up to fill their plates. Men
in uniform or slacks, button down shirts and exotic skin boots
dominated the crowd. The gentlemen were all accompanied by lovely
women in evening dresses and heels. There would be time to shuck it
all later for more comfortable dress.

As the evening wore on, the heels came off in
favor of flip-flops, glasses of wine were traded in for beer, dress
uniforms and dress slacks came off in favor of shorts and t-shirts
and dinner sax was traded for Shannon’s iPod mix—a little Brad, a
little Trace and a lot of Blake.

Laurel already knew, as did the immediate
family, that Jess had asked Shannon to marry him and that she’d
said yes. Only Laurel knew more details than that. She hugged her
beaming daughter, “You look so happy, babe! I’m so happy that Jess
is the one putting a ring on your finger. I know he’ll treat you
right.” Somehow, she knew that was the truth.

“I know, Momma. I love him so much and he
loves me. I think we were meant to be together, no matter what. Now
after all these years, we know we belong to each other. I am so
happy. I wish daddy was here.”

“I know, baby. Me too. Me too.” She pulled
back and smiled at Shannon. She looked at the glowing face of her
daughter, and gently brushing back a stray strand of Shannon’s
hair. She put her hand on Shannon’s cheek.

“Love him completely. Know that he is going
to piss you off sooner or later. It happens; just don’t let it come
between you. He’s a good man, Shannon.”

Laurel gave Shannon a bear hug before letting
her go.

Shannon started to walk away, hesitated, and
turned back to Laurel.

“—But Mom...it’s ok that you’re with
Jake.”

Later, she watched them on the dance floor.
Jess was holding Shannon close, dancing to a slow song meant for
lovers.
So much in love,
she thought. She radiated joy and
he was lost in her. She knew Shannon and Jess couldn’t have been
happier at that moment.

Laurel thought about her own words,
“...don’t let it come between you”.
Jake was a good man, and
the error of youth still came between them. She had to let go, she
knew. It was her barrier, not his. It was time to work on their
friendship, if nothing else. If Jess and Shannon were going to be
married, she and Jake would at least need to build something of a
friendship, even if the passion end of things didn’t work out.

“Let’s go for a walk.” Jake had found her
alone and deep in thought. He watched for a while and then walked
up next to her, smiling. He opened up his hand stretching his broad
palm under hers, lifting her hand. He watched their hands
intertwine as she slid her fingers between his, wrapping his strong
hand gently.

“Where are we going?”

Jake winked at her. “The old red barn.”

Faded Cotton inspired…

Laurel and Jake decide whether or not they
want to be each other’s future. Jen and Adam gain steam. Shannon
and Jess find out life and love—don’t always go as planned.

Expected on Amazon Kindle—Late Fall 2013

Check for updates!

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© 2013 Lara Lee Sweety

If you like marg’s you’ll love this one, by
all means, indulge before you open the book!

In your blender, mix the following
ingredients:

Tequila 1 cup

Triple Sec ¼ cup

Sugar ½ to 1 tablespoon

Fresh Strawberry’s 2 1/2 cups cut up (most of
a 1lb clamshell)

Ice Cubes 12 cubes (depends on size)

Frozen Limeade 2 cups frozen (frozen in
advance, made half strength)

Fresh Lime Slices 1-2 slices squeeze to
taste

Salt 1-2 dashes to taste

This is such a wonderful recipe that I had to
share. The taste is incredible. Fresh and sweet, without being over
powered by any one ingredient, it hits the spot. I add a shot glass
of Tequila to my 8 oz. glass if I’m feeling sassy. You’ll have to
play with it, depending on your ingredients, but you’ll soon be
saying, “aahhhhhh”!

Enjoy!