Saving Grace (13 page)

Epilogue

Carlos Beaumont lives. If you can call it that. Manning
comes down in the middle of his own investigation, wondering if Beaumont has
anything to do with his case, but reports the man has completely lost touch
with reality. Hearing that, I roll my eyes. My term is better—
batshit
crazy--and more accurate.

We’re all gathered around the deck table, stuffed from
dinner, and having a beer.

“So Beaumont shot Grace?” Walker asks.

“Looks like. We’ll know for sure when the ballistic test on
the rifle we found in his car comes back.” Manning shakes his head. “He’s not
very coherent. He goes from admitting he shot Grace to denying it. In between
ranting about you, of course.”

“It doesn’t make much sense for him to hire Grace and then
try to kill her,” Walker says.

Manning--who is crashing in our spare room before heading
back to Birmingham in the morning and ain’t that odd?-- shrugs. “Who knows what
makes sense to a crazy man? We didn’t get anything out of him, but it seems
clear enough he knew you two were involved. Maybe he planned to use her against
you before he came completely unhinged.” He shudders and stares at the river.
“And the gator got him.”

I turn to look too and see nothing. The state game wardens
have come and gone looking for Roscoe, but he’s disappeared. They haven’t even
been able to track down his nest. It is like he never existed. Except I know
better. I will probably have nightmares for years.

Trace and Lynn stand, and claiming fatigue step off the
porch and walk to the path that meanders alongside the river and leads back to
their house. I smile. I’m not fooled. Trace has that hot carnal gleam in his
eyes I’ve learned to recognize over the past few weeks. I turn back to our
guest and Walker, who has a similar gleam in his. My pussy clenches in anticipation
of what the night has yet left in store for me.

“I can see I’m on my own tonight,” Manning says dryly.

“Y’all clean up, will you? I’m going to bed.” I kiss Walker
lightly on the lips before going inside and to the shower in our room. I turn
the knobs to adjust the water and strip while it heats up, pausing only briefly
to examine the ugly scar left by the bullet. I’ve started to believe it
compliments my others. Walker certainly isn’t complaining.

I test the water and step into the shower right under the
spray. I tilt my head back, letting it sluice over me and smiling when I feel a
whisper of cool air flow in, then his hard body presses up to my back. He wraps
his arms around me, cupping my breasts in his palms, teasing my nipples with
his fingers. Breath whispers over me as he lowers his head to kiss the
sensitive hollow between neck and shoulders. I sigh. Content. Happy. I’ve
finally found what I wasn’t even aware I was looking for. Home. Strong arms to
hold me. Someone to lean on. The love of my life.

About the Author

Elle
Wylder
lives and writes in
the balmy South. When she isn’t gardening, cooking, or herding kids she dreams
of the good life on the beach. Little drink umbrellas and hot cabana boys
required. You can find her at
http://www.ellewylder.com
, on
Facebook
, or join her
 
newsletter
.

Read an excerpt of Claiming Honor

Bad Boys of River City
Three--Coming Spring 2015

Chapter One

Honor

“I’m telling Walker. He’ll go to Hunter if you won’t.”

I glare at my sister. My
twin
. She’s supposed to be
on my side, not throw me to the wolves.

“No you aren’t,” I say. That’s the last thing I need.

“It’s one thing to have an admirer, Honor. It’s another
entirely to have a drug dealing stalker. Hunter has guys he hires out as
bodyguards.”

Yeah, that’s true enough. But if I go to him with this he
won’t let one of those guys near me. He’ll insist on doing it himself and that
is a major problem for me. Because hello. Smoking hot bad boy? My mind says no
way but my body says sign me up! I’m having a hard enough time resisting him as
it.

“I think she’s right,” Faye says. Great. Another traitor.

“Right about what?” Lynn asks sliding into the seat next to
me. We’re meeting for our regular Friday lunch and it’s definitely going to be
an alcohol one. Thank God I already ordered a beer.

“Honor has a stalker and the police won’t do anything.”

Lynn frowns and turns to look at me. “You reported it?”

“Yeah.” I shrug. “I have no proof.”

“I thought Hunter already had someone watching you. Because
of the shooting.”

I shake my head. I was furious when I heard about that but
since the shooter was caught I insisted he drop the guard. Before Lynn can
respond to that, and I can see she wants to, I hear a voice behind me.

“Hello ladies.”

I look up to see Ryder Malone and Hunter’s new guy,
Roddy
Daniels sit at the table next to us and narrow my
eyes. I’m not sure if
Roddy
is here to protect
Grace--Walker is a wee bit overprotective--or if Ryder is here to watch me. I’m
betting on the latter. Damn Hunter.

“What are you doing here?”

Yeah I sound like a bitch. No I don’t care.

“Having lunch?” he offers with that charming smile of his.

I want to smack him upside the head but don’t. This isn’t
his doing. Hunter on the other hand might have to die. Lynn, still scowling,
ignores them both.

“Who is this guy?”

Shit. If we have this conversation with big ears sitting
right there Hunter will be so far up my ass I’ll never get away. The visual
that accompanies that thought makes my stomach do a slow flip flop.

“Wayne Cox,” I keep my voice down but Ryder still hears me.

The charming rogue is gone when he looks at me and I’m
reminded exactly how dangerous this guy can be. “What about him?” he asks.

“He just seems to be around a lot lately.”

If possible he gets even more grim. “He bothering you?”

I shake my head. Fuck. I’m so screwed.

“It’s probably nothing,” I say because hell maybe I’m
imaging things?

Maybe it really is just coincidence. He starts tapping a
text on his phone and I sigh. Where’s my drink? The waitress arrives at the
same time as my cell rings. I don’t have to look at the display to see who it
is. I glare at Ryder while I answer.

“What?”

“So rude, sweetheart.” Hunter
tsks
.
“Where are you?”

“Like you don’t know,” I snap. I take a long drink, then
stand and walk away a few feet but I stay within sight of Ryder when he stands
as if to follow. I scowl and point my finger at him. “You stay there.”

“Excuse me?”

“I was talking to your guard dog. Who you were supposed to
call off,” I hiss into the phone.

“But then I wouldn’t have heard about this. Tell me about
Cox. Is he bothering you?”

I know I have to tread very carefully here. I could get a
man killed with the wrong words.

“It’s probably nothing. I just keep running into him”

“I’ll talk to him.”

That is the absolute last thing I need or want.

“No, Hunter. It’s nothing okay? Just let it go.” I know he
can hear the alarm in my voice.

“Worried what I might do, sweetheart?” he asks softly. I
think of this as his bedroom voice and shiver.

“Maybe,” I say and want to kick myself for giving him that
much. I refuse to get any more involved with him than I already am. He’s River
City’s version of a crime boss for
crissakes
. But I
know I’m getting sucked in. It’s only a matter of time before my resistance
fails and I fling myself at him.

“I didn’t know you care,” he murmurs.

“I don’t,” I answer immediately. I feel like I’ve walked
into a hole and I’m sinking fast. “Hunter leave it alone. Please.”

“What are you doing after lunch?”

I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. I should have
known he’d ignore me.

“Errands.”

He sighs. “Honor.” The warning is clear in his tone.

“I have to go by the printer’s and pick some things up for
Mark’s house party this weekend.”

“Ryder’s going with you.”

“No,” I say emphatically. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Honor, sweetheart, don’t do this me,” he groans softly.
“Take Ryder with you. And I want to see you tonight.”

Oh no. No way.

“Ryder can tag along but that’s it.”

He chuckles. “One of these days I’m going to wear you down.”

I know he is and it scares the crap out of me.

“Not today,” I say primly and hang up.

Ryder doesn’t say a word when I return to the table but he
stands and motions me over. “Sit over here, Honor.”

He wants to position me in the corner. I shake my head and
return to my chair. Our food arrives but my appetite is completely gone. I push
pasta around on my plate while the others eat and chatter. The hell with this.
I pull a twenty out of my wallet and lay it on the table.

“I need to get going,” I say, standing. Ryder reluctantly
does the same and points to my full plate.

“You know I’m gonna get yelled at for that, don’t you?”

Oh good God. Hunter is bad enough. I’m not putting up with
this crap from one of his guys. I roll my eyes.

“You’re a big boy. I’m sure you can handle it.”

He cocks his eyebrows and follows me into the parking lot.

“No one handles Hunter,” he says taking my keys from me. He
opens the passenger door and steps back to let me enter. I don’t even bother
protesting. I know I won’t win this one. I’ve never met a man who doesn’t
insist on driving.

“Except maybe you,” he muses once he’s behind the wheel.

Yeah right. If I could handle Hunter, Ryder wouldn’t be
driving my car. He comes in handy though. It takes a couple hours but I pick up
the new brochures and party supplies. Ryder helps me haul two cases of beer, a
case of wine, and what seems like dozens of party platters into Mark’s house.
Mark gives me an odd look and I know he’s wondering what I’m doing with the
dangerous looking man at my side. I shake my head to indicate he shouldn’t ask.

“Need anything else?” I ask him before I leave. “I can help
with the party.”

“No,” he says emphatically. “Take the weekend off.”

I sigh. I don’t want time off. I want to stay so busy I
don’t have time to think about Hunter. Tired enough I don’t dream about him
though I haven’t managed that one yet.

“Well have a good time,” I say and turn to leave.

“I’d say the same to you, but I know I’d be wasting my
breath.”

Sad but true. It’s been way too long since fun was a word in
my repertoire. I drop Ryder back at his car and he follows me home. I wave at
the door, and once I step inside I hear him pull away. It’s early afternoon and
I have nothing do. The weekend stretches out before me. Empty. What the hell am
I going to do? My stomach grumbles reminding me I didn’t eat lunch.

My house is only a couple years old and is what they call
garden style. The front door opens into the living room and a small dining area
and kitchen are next to it. I drop my purse and keys on the table and go into
the kitchen to make a sandwich. I go for the peanut butter and decide screw it.
Leaning against the counter I eat a few bites off a spoon. Now what? Faye
invited me to go out with her tonight but that’s hours from now and I’m just
not in the mood. I think I’ll get comfy and curl up with a good book.

But when I open my bedroom door I freeze. My heart races as
I look around. There are roses everywhere. The mix of red and black turns my stomach
and gagging, I rush to the kitchen and splash water on my face. Surely that’s
enough to convince the police I really do have a stalker. But they can’t
protect me can they? What good is a protection order against someone like this?
I only know one man who can keep me safe. Only one, who despite knowing better,
I trust. I grab my purse and get the hell out of the house. I know exactly
where to find him and I have a damn good idea what’s gonna happen when I get
there.

Hunter

“Where is he?” I snarl at Dan Phillips while swinging at
Lake.

He’s the only one who can handle me in this mood and I’m not
pulling punches. The hit staggers him but he keeps his feet. If Dan is bothered
by the violence he doesn’t let it show.

“I have people looking for him. He’s all yours when they
find him,” Dan promises.

I’m furious someone is stalking Honor, even more so at her
for not telling me. She’ll be seeing me later whether she likes it or not. This
threat against her won’t survive the night. Not that I’m telling her that. Hell
no. I’m not giving her another excuse to keep this wall up between us. I am
going to use Wayne Cox to get closer to her though. She’s caught. She just
doesn’t realize it yet.

The front door opens and Ryder walks in, which means Honor
has been safely delivered home. I’ll give her time to settle in then I’m going
to get her. Trouble seems to follow her family around like a lost puppy. First
Lynn tangled with Tim Monroe, thankfully now in prison. Phillips took over his
drug business which is why I called him in today. I don’t mess with that shit
but anyone dealing in River City or the surrounding area has to go through Dan.
Then Grace got herself in a mess with Carlos Beaumont, now also out of the way
locked up on the crazy farm. It’s like Honor feels duty bound or some shit to
be the next magnet for disaster.

Ryder joins us and leans against the rope to watch the fight
and Dan excuses himself. Good. He has a man to hunt and I want him on it. I’ll
owe him after this but I don’t give a flying fuck. I’ll do whatever is
necessary to protect Honor. Including claiming her as my own. No one will dare
mess with her then. But first I have to work off some of this aggression. She
can’t handle me in my current state.

“Heard from Mercy lately?” Ryder asks about my baby sister.

He does it to jerk Lake’s chain and it works. I land an easy
kick to his thigh. He recovers quickly, I have to give him that. He seems to
think I don’t know he has a thing for Mercy. I know alright. If I thought he
had a chance in hell with her, I’d even encourage him. Lake is solid and
reliable and tough. Tough enough to take on Mercy, which is saying something,
and exactly why she won’t get involved with him.

It takes me a minute to register the sudden silence in my
men. I look up to see Honor has entered and is walking towards us. I’d stop the
fight but this is a part of my life she needs to start getting used. And then
she draws close and I get a good look at her. She’s pale. Trembling. She shakes
her head when I start to climb out of the ring.

“No. Finish here.”

She’s already calming down, her eyes brightening, and I
realize with a jolt of shock she isn’t bothered by the fighting. She’s turned
on by it. Hell, I wish I’d known this before. I would have used it to my
advantage. No time like the present, right? Lake and I go at each other and
this time I’m pumped for a very different reason. I want to impress her. When
was the last time I wanted to impress anyone much less a woman? I don’t know. I
don’t care.

I just want to feed that flushed look on her face, the
feverishness in her eyes. So later she’ll let me strip her slowly and worship
her beautiful body. Bury my cock in her hard and fast enough she’ll stop
denying this thing between us. I’m crazy for her. There’s nothing I won’t do to
claim her. Unfortunately, if I don’t get my head back in the game I won’t be
much use to her. I swivel just in time to miss Lake’s punch and it glances off
my kidney. He and Ryder are both smirking. That just ain’t right. They’re
making me look bad in front of my woman.

I don’t think so. I grin at Lake and he has the sense to
look a little worried. I’m not much interested in just whaling on something
anymore. I want to finish this fast, grab Honor, and go home. I go for Lake’s
pretty face. He won’t like it and he’ll get sloppy. I’m right. Once I bust his
lip he gets too close. It’s easy to trip him. I could go in for the kill, in a
real fight I would, but this is one of my best men. I’m not damaging him if I
don’t have. I reach for his hand and pull him up and together we climb out of
the ring.

Where Honor is waiting. This beautiful, brilliant woman.
Mine. I don’t even try to fight that primitive inner claim anymore. She owns a
piece of my soul and I’ve accepted it. But her showing up now is not a sign of
the capitulation I long for and that worries me.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Did something happen?”