Dixie Lynn Dwyer (2 page)

“She’s timid around us, but look at her with that guy Turner. She should be wary of him. He’s the one who starts fights and gets drunk on a regular basis. I don’t get it. She flirts a little bit, she smiles wide, but the moment she’s finished with work, her entire demeanor changes. It leaves me with a lot of questions. Especially since her friends, Susanna, Paula, and Alexa, had some problems in their pasts as well. I want to know everything about her,” Carl said.

“I agree with you a hundred percent. We could find out what we need to, but it just doesn’t seem fair.”

“Not only is it not fair, but it may stir up trouble she’s trying to hide from. Perhaps asking Susanna would be our best bet.”

“This is ridiculous. In the past we’ve always just taken what we wanted. Our women knew we were into sharing, and if the sparks flew, then it was a done deal. This is so complicated.”

“That’s because we actually have strong feelings for Juliet already. If we can get her to relax around us, then maybe we can work on bringing her out on a date or something.”

“A date? What the fuck is that? I’m a soldier. I’ve planned and completed missions most people would shudder over. I think I can handle one pint-sized, sexy young female who’s playing hard to get.”

“She’s special. We both agree on this, so let’s make our move and start infiltrating her defenses. Think of it like a mission, but one that if accomplished will bring us ultimately everything we’ve ever hoped for.”

* * * *

Paula and Susanna looked out over the private balcony. It was another busy night at Dixie Chix.

“London had to leave. Juliet thinks she’ll be out a few days. She said that London didn’t sound well.”

Paula nodded her head. “Poor girl. London’s been trying to save up for her college tuition. I think I’ll talk to her when she returns. Perhaps give her a little loan so she won’t have to overwork. She’ll need time to study so that she can get the most out of her money.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Juliet paid her first semester for her. London’s trying to save up for the rest.”

“Seriously? Juliet paid for London’s first semester?” Susanna asked, and Paula smiled as she nodded her head.

Susanna looked out toward where Juliet was working. She wasn’t behind the bar at the moment. She was personally handling a small private party toward the side of the bar. Paula and Susana both caught the potential problem immediately. Some guys were trying to start a fight, and Juliet placed herself in between them.

“Is she crazy? Those guys are huge!” Paula exclaimed. Susanna picked up the phone to call G-Force, but then she saw him headed that way.

* * * *

“Okay, guys, let’s settle down now. It really isn’t anything to fight over. You’re cousins for crying out loud,” Juliet exclaimed as the two very large monstrosities prepared to fight, but she wedged herself between them.

Her hands were on one guy’s chest as the guy behind her kept bumping her. Juliet’s head hardly reached the guy’s chest.

“Please settle down!” she yelled at him. When the guy in front of her smiled down at her then placed his hands on her hips, she released her hold of him and stepped back. His hands fell from her hips.

“You sure are cute, Juliet.” He reached up and gently tugged her pony. “She’s really good looking, isn’t she?” the cousin behind her stated as he placed his hands on her hips.

She placed her own hands over his and pressed them away. Their friends chuckled, apparently enjoying the scare their buddies gave her.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and gave Zeek a dirty look. She should have known that he and his cousin, Darien, were fooling around.

“That wasn’t very nice. You scared me,” she stated, and Zeek placed his fingers under her chin to tilt it up toward him. “It was fun.” Again she felt Damien’s hands on her waist from behind her. “Especially when she’s wedged in between us.”

She felt her chest tighten, and that uneasy feeling crept into her body. These guys were harmless. She had to remind herself.

“What the hell is going on over here?” G-Force demanded as he pulled Juliet away from Zeek and Damien and right behind him.

She grabbed on to his arm as Zeek and Damien tried to explain.

“It’s okay, G. They were just teasing. It’s all over,” she stated over G’s extremely large biceps. He glared at Zeek and Damien. “Settle down or you’re all outta here.” He turned, taking Juliet’s hand and leading her back toward the bar.

“G, really it was no big deal.”

“Well the bosses upstairs thought so. They watch you like a hawk,” he stated, and she wondered who he meant.

“Susanna and Ava?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“Your two bodyguards, Carl and Richie.” She swallowed hard. She had been avoiding them for quite some time. She liked them, and the attraction was mutual, but she still lived in fear. Danny was dead because of her, and she vowed to never love another.

“They’re just doing their job.”

G raised his eyebrows at her. “Sure they are, baby. You keep telling yourself that.” He winked at her then looked over her shoulder. She turned and her eyes widened with concern. Richie was there, and he looked pissed off. He stormed toward her and paused mere inches in front of her. His eyes glanced over her breasts, and she shifted uncomfortably. It wasn’t like she enjoyed showing off her assets. She was a woman, despite her petite size and the way Carl and Richie treated her like their kid sister. That irked her, but it was safer that way. She adored them, and she feared them.

“You and I in the back room now,” he stated firmly, and then grasped her elbow and arm before he led her through the crowd.

Richie was almost as tall as G-Force. Six feet at least, black hair, cut short in a military style to match his authoritative, military attitude. He was a boss, the man in charge of surveillance and security at Dixie Chix. No one messed with him, and even though he remained hidden, Juliet knew he was there watching. It made her belly quiver and her nipples harden. Everything about him turned her on, made her feel feminine, and yet, his lack of interest in her was the best medicine for her psyche. He was off-limits, and so was his equally intimidating, sexy, badass brother, Carl.

Her cowgirl boots clicked and clacked on the hardwood floors as they exited the dance floor and ate up the distance between the hallway and the staff lounge. Now he was closing the door. They were alone, in an empty lounge room, and the look in his eyes was intimidating to say the least.

He appeared to be having difficulty breathing. He was really upset.

He pointed at her with one finger as the other remained on his hip. He was red in the face.

“If I ever, ever see you place yourself in between two men like that again, or even look as if you’re about to stop a fight, I swear, Juliet, I will drag your ass out of there, throw you over my knee, and spank your ass.”

She gave herself a little mental shake. Was he out of his mind? Who did he think he was?

“Calm down, Richie. I’m a big girl, and I know what I can and can’t handle. They were only fooling around.”

He stepped closer, and she immediately took a step back. He advanced until her shoulder blades hit the wall behind her. Shocked at the intensity in his expression and something deeper, darker in his eyes, she was forced to look up until her head tilted as far back as it could go.

She jumped when she felt his very large hand on her waist.

“You are not listening to me, Juliet. Don’t do it. Don’t push Carl or me. We are responsible for your safety. G-Force, Big Dog, and Clyde are in charge of breaking up fights and handling potential situations. Not you.”

His teeth were clenched. She took an uneasy breath. Juliet had never seen Richie so angry.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have just called G. It won’t happen again.”

His expression softened, and he stepped closer. Her belly hit the belt buckle on the waist of his dress pants. One hand squeezed her hip a little harder as he raised his other hand and ran his fingers through her hair. It felt different than the way other men gave her hair a tug or teased her about being cute. His touch was different. It was coated with sexual pull and she felt it straight between her legs. She took a short, uneasy breath as she locked gazes with him. She saw something different. It was something dark, a hungry expression that instantly put her entire body on alert as well as her pussy. She felt it shimmer over her skin. Her breathing hitched, and she thought for a moment that he might try to kiss her. The panicky feeling increased. It flowed from where his dark eyes bore into hers and straight through every inch of her body. She began to shake, and sensing it, his expression changed. He gently pulled her ponytail closer to his nose and inhaled, but then seemed to recover from his intimate move and dropped it.

Stepping back, he released his hold and gave the distance she so badly needed but also regretted.

“And quit letting other guys yank that ponytail. It aggravates the crap out of Carl and me.”

She watched him as he headed toward the door. His shoulders were wide and muscular. She could see the definition, despite the dark dress shirt. His narrow waist, enhanced by the tailored dress pants and designer belt, made him appear sophisticated and sexy. Again, her body reacted in a way she thought she would never feel.

“Be safe, take a few minutes’ break. Remember that we’re watching you. Be smart, Juliet. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He opened the door and exited.

Juliet placed her hand over her belly. She could still feel his large hand against her hip and the way he ran his fingers gently through her hair and inhaled its scent. Carl and he always tugged gently on her hair. It was brotherly, fun, and they enjoyed teasing her, but for some odd reason, tonight it felt different. He had gently caressed her hair and then lifted it to smell the strands as if he had been waiting to do that. It was way different than what she felt when anyone else yanked her pony. He had caressed her hair, held her expression with deep, mysterious eyes, and she felt it to her core.

She couldn’t accept his attraction. She wouldn’t take a chance like that. Not when the man who took everything away from her ran free and was living the perfect life while she suffered in continuous torment.

Robert Sinclair sat in front of his boss’s desk. For the past five years he had stood by and watched this man get away with some pretty bad stuff. Pierce Mellbrook was a conniver, a manipulator, and a shrewd businessman to the extent of murder as a final resort to get what he wanted. He was a modern-day business gangster, and Robert sat there agreeing with his latest venture. He was wealthy beyond belief and so was Robert.

Robert jotted down notes as his boss continued on his rampage about expanding his investments. He was a greedy son of a bitch. He was evil, and now, so was Robert. After working for Pierce and doing his dirty work, Robert was drawn into a life of murder, crime, and money. He was rich, too, and the laws didn’t apply to him. Robert wasn’t afraid to die, and he sure had no remorse in taking another human life when he was asked to. Yeah, it seemed money was the ultimate power.

“I want you to look into this new place, Dixie Chix, outside of Dallas in a town called Delite.”

Pierce picked up the magazine and a file that sat together on the desk.

“It has made the top-ten lists of numerous elite social magazines. The best atmosphere, the best dance floor, the best service, yadda, yadda, yadda. I want to know more about this place, and I want you to go scope it out and get me info on the owner.”

Pierce glanced down at the article again. “It states that it is a co-ownership, so you may need some help. Do it whichever way you want, but get the info to me pronto. The private jet is fueled and ready.”

The buzzer sounded on the desk, and Pierce cursed. He hit the button.

“I said no interruptions. What don’t you get about that?” he yelled at his secretary.

“I’m sorry, sir, but Felix is on the line. He said to tell you that someone is out of the hospital. He wasn’t specific.” He hit the button and cut off his secretary in midsentence. He turned to look out the window. A great view stood before them, and he sighed then turned to Robert.

Before the words left Pierce’s lips he was standing.

“She’s out of the hospital. Take care of it before you head to Delite.”

Robert nodded his head as he grabbed his papers. Shelly was a bitch. Her red hair was the only similarity to Juliana. His boss should just give up on finding Juliana and even trying to replace her. She was long gone and perhaps already dead because she was too naïve to survive on her own. Plus, with her good looks and great body, Juliana wouldn’t have lasted long on the streets with no money and no place to go. She was either hooking or six feet under.

* * * *

It was Wednesday morning, and Juliet was jogging down the road on the way back to her house. She heard the car coming down the street but didn’t bother to look. She was out of breath and ready for the few hundred feet until she reached her driveway. The car didn’t pass. Instead it slowed down, and she panicked. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Carl behind the wheel. Her belly clenched. She sped up and reached the driveway then walked back and forth as Carl parked the car. She glanced at her watch, noted the good time she’d made, but her body began to shake. Why was Carl here? He and Richie were really starting to lay on the flirtatious comments, and she knew with every feminine instinct she had that they were interested in her. But she remained distant. She had to. She wasn’t even able to get a decent night’s sleep. Her nightmares awoke her often, and now thoughts of Carl and Richie flirting with her added to her sleepless nights.