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After showers and breakfast, everyone met downstairs. Wyatt was

dressed in his uniform, ready to give her a ride to the restaurant.

Charlie stopped by before she left.

He took her into his arms, kissed her then gave her a playful slap

across her butt.

“Hey!” she exclaimed as she pulled away, smiling.

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He shook a finger at her. “You watch how friendly you get with

the guys in town, or I’ll be spanking that ass until it’s pink.”

Anna laughed at him. He couldn’t be serious. She looked at

Wyatt, then at Ben, for confirmation that Charlie was teasing, but the

seriousness in their eyes told her otherwise. She swallowed hard. The

thought of them spanking her should have been frightening. Instead,

she felt the dampness between her legs, and the temperature seemed

to heighten.
Yikes!

“You better stop giving those looks, darling, or you’ll miss your

first day at work,” Ben teased then kissed her just as thoroughly as

Charlie.

Anna smiled then waved good-bye as she got into Wyatt’s truck.

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Chapter 12

Anna guzzled down the cold glass of lemon water as the last set of

lunch orders left the kitchen. What a day it had been. The owners of

Francine’s, Mary and Jack, had said it was the busiest lunch crowd

they ever had.

“Hot damn, woman, you sure can cook. I’m going to give you a

raise and provide full benefits for you all.”

“That’s great, Jack. I appreciate it.” Anna was relieved. She had

wanted to stop by Doc Jones to ask how much she owed him for his

medical services.

“Man, I’m so glad that went well. I was jumpy as spit on a hot

skillet!” he exclaimed, and Anna laughed. Jack was full of crazy

Texas slang, and she loved it.

“You laughing at me again, girl?” he teased, then winked. Anna

shook her head, then turned toward the kitchen crew.

“Thanks, everyone. We worked well together our first day.” She

smiled.

“You bet ya, Anna. It was our pleasure,” Miguel replied, and the

others made similar comments.

Anna held her ribs, feeling the achiness increase the longer she

stayed on her feet.

“How them ribs feeling, honey?” Mary asked as she joined them

by the prep tables.

“I’m okay, just a bit tired.”

“Well, why don’t you call it a day. It’s nearly four in the

afternoon. I swear we will just have enough time for Cody to come in

and cook all that food you prepped for the dinner crowd. It was an

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awesome lunch menu you prepared. Maybe when you’re feeling

better and all healed up, you’ll be able to work the dinner shift as

well,” Mary stated then winked.

“That would be great. This place will be roaring with business.

With cooking like Anna’s, the Food Network will be stopping by to

check Francine’s out.”

Mary laughed as she gave Jack a shove, then helped clean up the

kitchen.

Anna finished up then grabbed her things.

“Can I use your phone? I need to call Stacy for a ride.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that, honey. The sheriff

checked in twenty minutes ago and said he’ll meet ya here.”

“Thanks, Mary.” Anna smiled as she took her purse and headed

outside to the main dining area.

Anna exited the doors, walking slowly. The more she walked, the

more her ribs ached. She had been on her feet since nine in the

morning, and now, she paid the price. She was certain if she had taken

the time to pop some ibuprofen she would be feeling less achy.

“Hey, Anna, you feeling all right?” Stew asked as Anna held on to

the counter for support.

She smiled, trying to brush off his concern.

“I’m good, just a bit tired.”

“I would imagine so. I ain’t never seen Francine’s so crowded.

You are an amazing cook,” Stew stated as he walked closer to her. He

was a little older than the Cantrells but just as attractive. She heard

Beth, one of the waitresses, pining over him.

She smiled.

“That’s nice of you to say.” Anna took a seat near the counter.

Stew stood next to her and a bit close for her comfort.

She looked toward the door, hoping that Wyatt would get there

soon. She wanted to take a long, hot bath in their fancy tub.

“So, did you learn how to cook back in New York?” he asked,

leaning toward her and brushing a finger over her arm.

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137

“Yes. I worked at a bunch of places there.” He was making her

feel uncomfortable, and she sensed his attraction to her. This wasn’t

good.

“Is it true that you all are staying with Stacy and her men?” he

asked, inching closer and touching her arm again.

“Hey, Stew, can you give me a little space? Are you writing a

book or something?” she asked, and his eyebrows crinkled.

He put his hand on her knee, and when she tried to move, he put

pressure there. Anna began to panic.

“I’m just wondering if you’re fucking all the Cantrells, including

Stacy’s men.”

“That’s enough, Stew. If I were you, I’d hightail it outta here

before the sheriff shows up. She’s off limits, and unless you want to

wind up in a heap of trouble, you’ll stay clear,” Jack stated as he

approached the counter and pointed toward the door.

Stew stood up then placed his hand against Anna’s cheek.

“Another time and another place, darling.” He tipped his hat and

headed toward the door.

Just then, the sheriff arrived.

“Stew.”

“Sheriff.”

Anna took a deep breath as she looked at Jack. She hoped he

wouldn’t say anything to Wyatt.

He gave her a wink, and Wyatt approached.

“He ain’t causin’ no trouble is he, Jack?” Wyatt asked as he tossed

a look over his shoulder after Stew.

“Nahh…just shooten the shit, that’s all.”

He smiled.

“How’s my woman?” he asked as he leaned down and gave her a

kiss on the lips, pulling her from the seat. Anna cringed at the pain.

“She did real good. I’m sure you seen how crowded the joint

was?”

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“Sure did. They got tons of calls from people unable to find

parking spots. Pretty interesting,” Wyatt replied, then winked at Anna.

She blushed at his dimples. Unlike his brother, he had dimples in

both cheeks, and even with the shadow of a beard, he looked lethal.

She came to realize it only took until about noontime for Wyatt to

start growing whiskers.

He helped her down, and she tried her hardest to cover the

achiness.

Waving good-bye, they exited the restaurant, and he drove her

home in the sheriff’s truck.

* * * *

“You all tired, honey?” he asked as he squeezed her hand and held

it against his thigh while he drove.

“Yes,” she replied as she leaned her head back.

“I have a couple of more hours of work, and Ben and Charlie

won’t be in until supper time, so you can lie down if you want.”

“I think I would love to take a long, hot bath in that delicious tub

of yours.”

“That sounds perfect. Don’t y’all worry about dinner tonight.

Stacy and the guys are throwing a little barbeque.”

Anna smiled.

* * * *

Anna got the bath ready, adding some bath salts and bubbles

Wyatt got from Stacy. He was so sweet, and she was certain she

wasn’t fooling him by hiding her sore ribs.

Slowly, she got undressed then carefully unwrapped the bandages.

One glance in the mirror and she could see how red and bruised they

were. The discoloration was fading, but at least she was healing.

Today was the first day she was active all day and on her feet. She

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pushed it too far. Anna was certain after the bath that she would feel

better.

She held the towel around her as she tested the water.

“Hey, Anna?”

She smiled as she heard Charlie’s voice.

“I’m in here.”

Charlie opened the door with a scowl on his face.

“Are you okay?”

She put her hands on her hips and nearly dropped the towel.

“Wyatt call you?”

“Should he have called me?”

Charlie walked closer and placed his hand against her cheek. She

closed her eyes and leaned into his hand.

“You look tired.”

“Mmmm.”

“Let me take a look,” he stated, and before she could protest, he

pushed the towel away from her body.

He gently glided the palms of his hands over the bruising and

around her waist. It was slow and felt so good.

“I think you overdid it today.”

When she opened her mouth to argue, he placed his finger over

her lips.

Charlie leaned down and kissed her lips then drew her naked body

against his chest.

His hands roamed over her backside then squeezed before he

tapped her cheeks.

“Get in the tub, and I’ll help wash you.”

Anna’s stomach clenched at the thought of Charlie bathing her,

especially when he tapped her ass that way. It was light and quick but

still potent.

He helped her into the tub.

She released a relaxing sigh as the warmth of the water encased

her aching body.

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She leaned back and closed her eyes.

Damn, she was tired. But the longer she lay still, the better she

began to feel.

Anna hadn’t even heard Charlie until she sensed the water moving

around her. When she opened her eyes, he was sinking into the tub to

join her.

“Come here, baby. Let me help you relax,” he whispered as he

leaned back and gently pulled her toward him. As she moved across

the tub, his erection hit her belly before she shifted so that her back

wedged against his stomach. She settled in between as Charlie’s legs

encased her body.

* * * *

Charlie soaped up the washcloth and slowly began massaging

Anna’s arms. She had placed her hair up on top of her head in a wild

style that would keep it dry during the bath. It left her neck open for

his pleasure as he kissed along her collarbone. He liked the texture of

her skin and the small freckles along the back of her neck right below

the hairline.

He kissed each one as he cupped her breasts, massaging the soap

over each nipple and areola.

“You have these three tiny freckles back here.”

“I didn’t know that,” Anna moaned softly.

“It’s like they’re here just for me to feast on,” he whispered, then

nibbled along her neck. Anna giggled. The sound immediately tugged

at his heart. She was so petite and feminine. He could crush her if he

weren’t careful, and the thought stirred such a protective feeling

inside him. After the talk he had with Ben, he felt more protective. He

didn’t want Anna to suffer or to keep having nightmares because of

New York. They had to get her to open up and share more details so

Wyatt could investigate and make some calls. But pushing Anna

wouldn’t be smart.

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He couldn’t resist pulling on her nipples, tugging and rubbing,

then tweaking, them. Her body arched at his touch, and his cock

hardened against her back. He desired her all the time. Even on the

ranch today, he missed her and wished she was nearby so he could

check on her and of course make love to her.

He pushed his hand lower, reaching her belly button then lower

between her thighs. Immediately, she parted for him, and he smiled

triumphantly. His Anna wanted him as much as he wanted her.

When she parted her thighs and raised her knees above the water,

his cock hardened.

Charlie pressed a finger into her channel, and Anna moaned. Her

body arched, and her head tilted back until she reached his lips.

One look and that was it for both of them. Anna turned around

slowly and straddled his hips. They sought the other’s mouth and

kissed then locked their bodies together.

She opened her eyes and began rubbing her hands over his chest

hairs, tweaking his nipples before leaning forward to nibble on one.

“Oh, baby, that feels so good.”

He felt her trace along his chest, and his stomach tightened. He

hated his scars.

Rougher than he intended, he took her wrists to stop her from

tracing the scars.

“Charlie, tell me how you got those?” Her soft voice eased his

mind, but his fear of talking about the war after so many years made

him uptight.

“Naw, baby, you don’t want to hear all the gory details.”

He released her wrist to rub a hand up her arm over her shoulder,

then neck, to pull her down to him for a kiss.

She held her hands against his chest.

“Being a soldier is part of who you are, Charlie, and I want to

know more about you.”

He closed his eyes and released a sigh then pressed her head to his

chest as he rubbed her back, then her backside, below the water.

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“I served three tours, baby, in Afghanistan and a slew of other

desert shitholes. I’m a Marine, honey. A medic and expert sniper by