Animal Instincts [The Andersons 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (23 page)

“
How
’
s that?
”

“
Too severe. Loosen it up and leave some hanging down. Much better,” she said as readjustments were made. “Have you left me any hot water for a shower?
”

Samantha grinned at Ramona in the mirror.
“
Sorry. Since you
’
re living at the vets, why don
’
t you go and ask Rex if you can share his shower?
” Ramona’s expression was gleeful, her cheeks turned pink, and Samantha’s grin faltered. “I knew it!
You
’
ve had more than a shower with him, haven
’
t you? You
’
ve had sex with him.
”

“
Yep, and it was hotter than this weather.
”
Ramona decided not to tell Samantha the whole story, argument and all. There would be plenty of time for that. She was more interested in talking about Danny Ferris. She walked over and placed her hands on her sister’s shoulders.
“
Don
’
t worry, Sammy. Your time will come.
”

“
But when?
”

“
With the way Danny Boy was looking at your earlier, then it will be sooner than you think. He has a serious case of the hots for you.
”

“
You think?
”

“
I know. Need any advice?
”

“
Which department?
”

“
Take your pick. Foreplay. Erotic massage. Positions. Oral.
”

“
Oral.
”

“
If you want Danny, or any man for that matter, to be like putty in your hands then suck on his balls. And for guaranteed explosive results, press your finger up against his perineum while sucking his cock. It will drive him wild.
”

“
Mark was wild.
”

Noting the downcast eyes and feeling the shudder beneath her fingers, Ramona gave her sister a loving hug.
“
Oh, Sammy. Not all men are like Mark. Danny certainly isn
’
t. Remember your description of Rex? ‘Nice, kind and tall.’ Well, Danny’s got those qualities, too. You know he has. He
’
s the man for you.” She grinned as a thought occurred to her. “Who’d have thought it? My big sister is gonna be a cradle-snatcher.”

A bubble of laughter escaped from Samantha.
“
He
’
s only three years younger,
”
she pointed out.

“
What’s a little math?” Ramona got to her feet and ambled over to the doorway.
“
I think I will take that shower with Rex.
”

“
You will be back for dinner though, won
’
t you?
”

“
Wouldn
’
t miss it. And I
’
ll be staying the night, too. After your first date, I want all the goss. I’ll bet Danny
’
s one helluva kisser.
”

“Date?”

“Yes, date. After dinner. At Rustlers. Danny did say he was buying.”

“But—”

“I’m not playing gooseberry. It will be just you and him. Very cozy.”

“Oh, right. But he
’
ll never kiss me.
”

“
Then kiss him. And don
’
t forget what I told you about fingering his perineum.
” Ramona smiled as she descended the stairs. Fingering Rex’s perineum had definite appeal. She quickened her steps, flung open the front door and smacked straight into Matt.
“Jeez, what’s your hurry?” she said.

“What’s yours?” she refrained from answering and went to go around him, but he planted his right arm across the jamb, barring her way. A set of scratches scored red on his forearm. “You’ll never guess who I’ve just arrested.”

Something in Matt’s over-the-top enthusiasm and the scratches suggested she’d want to know. “Who?”

“The model Stacey Davenport. Is it true she and Rex were married?”

Were
being the operative word, but worry still clenched her stomach. Rex’s ex-wife was here in Silver Creek? Or rather, locked in the town’s police station’s cell. Had that been the reason for Rex’s flinty tone on the phone? Had he seen her? Argued with her? Reconciled with her? Ramona dismissed that thought immediately. But if Stacey had hurt Rex, in any way, then she and her were going to have serious words. “Yes. They divorced about eight months ago. What happened?”

Matt’s shrug was so nonchalant Ramona could have slapped him. “Rex was arguing with a woman outside Bob Cannell’s store on Second. I went over, see what the problem was. He left. She wanted to go after him. I stopped her. She threw a hissy fit and used her inch-long nails on me. Hurt like a bitch I can tell you.”

“What were they arguing about?”

“Look, I’ve already said too much. You know I’m not supposed to discuss cases. Oh, all right!” Matt conceded when Ramona went to pinch his scratches. “Anything to keep the peace. I don’t think Ms. Davenport liked being an ex.” He lifted his arm. “Tell Rex to drop by the station. I need a statement.”

Ramona nodded, got in her truck, and drove home like a madwoman. She found Rex in the rear garden murdering the lilac. He was bare chested, his T-shirt snagged on the swing seat. Sweat glistened between his shoulder blades and his biceps corded and bulged as he hacked at the branches, with an axe, no less.

For a full minute, she watched him, fascinated. The heavy scowl and the determined set of his rugged, unshaven jaw added attitude to his glaring anger. But she wasn’t frightened. No matter how angry Rex got, he would never turn that anger onto her. Not even Stacey. Indeed, he wouldn’t strike any woman or man. He would channel his anger in other ways, like he was doing now.

When Rex paused to wipe sweat from his brow, Ramona stepped forward and tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you the
Seeker
? And is that the
Sword of Truth
?” she asked, referring to Terry Goodkind’s
The Sword of Truth
novels.

He spun around, the axe hit the ground, and he cursed a blue streak that easily rivaled one of hers at it landed mere millimeters from separating his toes from his feet. She couldn’t stop the giggle that bubbled up, making the scowl deepen until his brows covered his eyes.

“Dammit, Ramona! Don’t ever sneak up on me like that again.”

“I wasn’t sneaking. In fact, I never sneak. I prefer ‘in your face.’” He grunted and turned back to the decimated lilac. “I heard what happened. You know, with Stacey.”

“Town this small and news will travel fast. Or did Matt tell you?”

“Stupid question, but are you okay?”

Another grunt. “Fan-fuckin’-tastic.”

“Rex?” Ramona placed a hand on the knotted muscles of his right upper arm and turned him back around. “What did she want?”

“A second chance.”

“And?”

“And what, Ramona? I told her to fuck off.” His eyes narrowed, the dreamy toffee-brown color dark and as hard as stone. “Why, what do you think I did? Welcomed her back with open arms? Not a chance in hell.”

“What if I told you Stacey’s sitting in a police cell?”

His eyes widened with surprise. “Matt arrested her?”

“After you left, she went to go after you, but Matt stopped her. She assaulted him. Nasty set of claws your ex has.”

“Perfect. Ah, I mean not perfect as in that Matt got hurt, but perfect that Stacey’s sitting in a police cell.”

“You really don’t care, do you?”

“How many more times, Ramona? I don’t give a fuck about Stacey. She’s my past.” His anger cooled, the tension left his jaw, and his eyes softened. “You’re my future.”

Her heart jumped at the subtle declaration of love. Ramona held her excitement in check, though. She had to let Rex finish.

“I should have told you this morning, Ramona, but you were angry, understandably so. That was my fault. I was a jerk. I should have never jumped to the wrong conclusion. It’s a mistake I never intend to make again, I want you to know that.”

“I made a mistake, too. I walked out on you.”

“You had every right.”

The excitement was just too much. “So do you… Are you…?” She bit her bottom lip, the words suddenly failing her.

“What, in love with you?” he offered.

“Yes.”

“No.” Her crestfallen expression made his lips twitch. “Ramona, I don’t just love you, I adore you. Have done since the moment I first saw you and mistook you for the receptionist.”

Ramona whacked Rex in the chest for his smug smile, and he grabbed her wrists and pulled her into his embrace, safe and secure. “You smug SOB!”

“Yes, I am. And you’re never going to change that.”

“Why would I?” She gazed up into his toffee-brown eyes that were now darkened with desire.
“
It
’
s one of the things I love about you.
I love you, Rex.”

“There’s something else you should know, Ramona. My feelings are never going to change. And every day for the rest of my life, I’m going to tell you how much you mean to me.” He inclined his head and gently nudged noses with her. “You’d call it twenty questions. I’d say I’m curious. When did you know you loved me?”

“
I had my suspicions when you had your hand stuffed up Storm
’
s ass.
”
She laughed at his expression of yuck.
“
As you know I don
’
t do romance, but can I tempt you into staying by my side forever?
”

“
Are you asking me to marry you?
”

“
Yeah, I guess I am.
”

“
Shouldn
’
t it be me asking you, darlin
’?”

“
Rex, darlin’, that
’
s sooo old-fashioned,
”
she said, mimicking his Southern drawl to perfection.

“But,
Ramona, that
’
s sooo romantic,
”
he drawled right back. He got down on one bended knee, her hands in his, and grinned up at her.

“
I said I don
’
t do romance, so if you want hearts and flowers, then you
’
re proposing to the wrong twin.
”

“
I
’
m not down here to propose, Ramona. I
’
m down here to lick you into a frenzy. Your howling drives me wild. Wild for your animal instincts.
”

WWW.BOOKSTRAND.COM/MARIE-JERMY

Hmm, let’s see. Well, I was born on August 1, 1972, which makes me a Leo. So am I a lioness? Yes, although I only show my claws when provoked. I am married to Richard and have three children, collectively and affectionately known as “The A-Team,” so called because their first names start with an “A.” I would consider myself to be quite crafty, a trait inherited from my late father, and clever (well, I like to think so!). I also have a sarcastic, sometimes dirty sense of humor, and because of my time employed by the police, I am completely unshockable. When I’m not writing or looking after the kids, I can be found with my nose stuck between the pages of a romance novel or a book about the
Titanic
.

Siren Classic
: Secret Eyes

Siren Classic: The Andersons 1:
Together Forever

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