Janie's Tempting Submission [The Men of Treasure Cove 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (21 page)

“Fine.”

“The ranch?”

“Good.”

“Staying out of trouble?”

“Yep.”

“Anymore run-ins with the law?”

“Nope.”

“Are you going to respond with one word answers?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You’re being a child, Caleb. I raised you better than that,” she chastised.

“The fuck you did! You ran off with the foreman after Dad died. You left Jeff to raise me and Annie. You never came back. So don’t you sit there and tell me how you raised me. You didn’t do shit but get drunk, whore around, and bleed dad dry!” Caleb shouted in anger.

“Well, I see you two are getting along better,” Jeff said sarcastically, walking in the room with Janie on his arm.

Just looking at Janie made him feel better. Caleb walked over to her and kissed her cheek. He needed to be close to her, because if he had to stay in that room one more minute with the evil troll bitch, he was going to strangle her.

“Margaret, this is Janie, our future wife,” Jeff said determinedly, looking at their mother, challenging her to say something wrong.

As she rose to her feet, Caleb flinched as the evil troll put on her happy face and oozed nicety as she extended her hand. “Hello, my dear. It is nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Hicks.” Janie smiled kindly.

“Oh, just Margaret will do. Besides, I have a feeling you and I are going to be good friends soon.” Margaret smiled coolly.

“Over my dead and decomposing body!” Caleb said angrily, moving Janie behind him. He may have had to be birthed from the evil bitch, but he would be damned if he was going to let her anywhere near Janie.

Caleb watched as Margaret looked at Jeff. “This isn’t going to work if he won’t let me near her. I thought you said you were going to talk to him.”

“I’ll take care of Caleb. You just keep your end of the bargain. I mean it, Margaret. You step out of line just once, and you won’t get shit. Are we clear?” Jeff demanded.

“I understand, Jeffery. I will behave.” She smiled.

“Good. I’ve had your bags sent over to the foreman’s house. You will be more comfortable there. The only time you’re allowed in this house is if Caleb or I are both gone. We leave for work around five in the morning, and we’re home by six. You will stay here. You will not talk about the past or why you left. You will help Janie and that’s it. If she needs to go into town, you will drive her. You will not stop and chat with old friends. You are here only to help Janie. She is your priority. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Jeffery.”

“Good, now grab your purse, and I will walk you to the foreman’s house,” Jeff ordered.

“I know the way. Thank you.” Margaret smiled and grabbed her bag. Turning, she looked directly at Janie. “It was nice meeting you, my dear.” And with that, she walked out.

“What the fuck is she doing here!” Caleb shouted furiously.

* * * *

Janie watched as the tall, graceful, beautiful woman left. She was amazed at the resemblance between her and Jeff. Margaret’s jet-black hair was graying a little, but not much. Her high cheekbones set off her brilliant blue eyes. She was slim but not too skinny. She didn’t look old enough to be their mother, but what worried Janie the most what the sadness she saw in her eyes.

Oh, she hid it well, smiling and trying desperately to please her sons, but Margaret Hicks was a lonely woman. Janie wondered at what caused the friction between mother and sons. She hoped it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be fixed.

Growing up without a mother, Janie would have welcomed the opportunity to be close to the boy’s mother, but from their reactions she knew they wanted nothing of the sort.

She watched as Jeff and Caleb left the room, talking quietly among themselves as the wheels began turning in her mind.

Heading for the coffeepot, Janie couldn’t get the sadness in Margaret’s eyes out of her head. If she didn’t know any better, Janie would bet that whatever had happened, Margaret was remorseful and wanted another chance, and Janie was of mind to help her, not only for Margaret’s sake but for her, because she desperately wanted a relationship with Margaret.

Filling two cups of coffee, Janie went in search of the lonely woman.

Janie found Margaret sitting on the couch in the two-bedroom ranch house. It was a small place, but more than enough for the lead foreman, who just happened to be away on a family matter.

“May I come in?” Janie spoke softly, trying not to startle the woman. When Margaret’s head popped up, Janie saw her swollen red eyes.

“Yes, please.” Margaret smiled through her tears.

Carefully holding the cups of coffee, Janie opened the screen door and walked in. She had never been in the foreman’s house. It was modest, but had everything anyone would need to be comfortable.

“I brought you a cup of coffee. It’s black. I hope you like it that way,” Janie offered, handing Margaret the cup.

“Thank you, Janie. This is very kind of you,” Margaret replied, taking a sip. “It’s good. Please sit with me. It’s been a long time since someone made me coffee and stayed to drink it with me.”

Doing as requested, Janie sat down in the small chair across from Margaret. For the next few minutes, they quietly drank their coffee, looking at each other. Janie still couldn’t get over the resemblance. So much of Margaret was in Jeff. Not only looks, but seeing her hold her cup, the way her mouth turned up when she smiled, the twinkle of light in her eye when someone did something nice for her, she was all Jeff.

They were both content to be quiet and observe. Happy with silence, they were quiet souls, but each longed for something out of reach. The two were more alike than either believed.

“Does Jeffery know you’re here with me?” she asked, setting down her cup.

“No. He was arguing with Caleb quite loudly when I left.” Janie grinned.

Margaret smiled. “Yes, I’m sure they were. Those two never could discuss anything without shouting it out first.”

“So, can you tell me why you’re here to babysit me?” Janie asked bluntly but kindly.

She watched as Margaret stiffened and then very quietly set her cup on the coffee table. Taking a deep breath, Margaret whispered, “No.”

Janie knew she wasn’t going to tell her. Jeff made it perfectly clear what would happen if she did, but Janie tried anyway. Figuring it was best to leave it alone for now, Janie tried another approach.

“My parents were killed in a car accident when I was five,” she began. “My baby sister and I were the only survivors. After our parents’ death, we were immediately put into foster care. We stayed together till I was about seven, then I woke one morning to find Charlie gone. After that I was alone. I never knew what it felt like to grow up with a mother’s love or a father, for that matter.

“I was shuffled around a lot when I was younger, till I ended up with the Wilcox’s. They were okay, but they never loved me like my parents did. All they wanted was the money they got from the state. I stayed out of their way and they stayed out of mine. There was never any love in that house. No birthdays, no Christmases, no laughter.

“After high school, I left. I never told them, just left in the middle of the night. I was accepted at the University of Montana and got my degree in literature. Soon after graduating college, Treasure Cove offered me the position at the library, and I accepted. I lived here for almost a year before I met your sons. They are wonderful men, very caring and understanding. They have been patient with me like no other has before. And I want you to know that I love them very much, with all my heart.”

“Thank you for that, Janie. And I am sorry about your parents.” Margaret smiled.

“It’s all right. like I said before, I barely knew them.”

“Where do we go from here?” Margaret asked, looking for some guidance on how to proceed.

Getting to her feet, Janie smiled warmly. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I have things that need to get done today. But first, I need to run into town, and since I don’t know how to drive, that leaves you, Mrs. Hicks. So, would you mind taking me into town?”

Margaret grinned. “I would love to.”

Jeff was going to kill his mother, beat the crap out of Caleb, and whip Janie’s ass red!

For the last week, those three had done everything in their power to drive him absolutely crazy. They never listened, they did what they wanted, and they disregarded his advice for safety.

Thanks to Caleb’s big mouth, the cat was out of the bag concerning Janie. In turn, Janie chewed his ass for not warning her, and then to make matters worse, Janie decided that his mother was getting a bum deal and asked her to stay in the main house. Of course, Margaret accepted even after Jeff vehemently refused. That set Caleb off, who was now living in the foreman’s house, refusing to leave until the troll bitch left, which upset Janie, who had gotten quite attached to Margaret. Now, thanks to his mother’s influence, Janie agreed that until they were married, Jeff needed to return to his bedroom. So now, his brother wasn’t talking to him, Janie had kicked him out of his bed, and his mother seemed to be holding all the strings.

It was the biggest clusterfuck on the planet!

He was frustrated, angry, and horny, and if something didn’t change soon, blood was going to be spilled.

Walking out of the barn, he grabbed his phone. Punching in the numbers harshly, he let his anger roll over him. He needed to vent, and by God, this fucker started all this shit. Listening to the ringing, he thought of ways to torture those three, that was, until Janie stepped out on the front porch wearing a pretty purple dress. She looked so pretty. She had left her hair down, and the wind caught it. Jeff smiled as Janie desperately tried to grab it all before it got out of hand. Just then, his mother stepped out, rushing over to her and helping her contain the wild hair. Jeff’s smile faded, and fury replaced his happy moment. “Fucking bitch,” he muttered.

“Well fuck you, too, asshole,” the laughing voice said in his ear, bringing him back to the present.

“Tell me you found this asshole and he is in custody, Braxton?” Jeff demanded harshly.

“Not yet. Sorry, man. I’m working on it. Brannon and I have some leads and were working with the Feds on this one. We don’t like having an arsonist around any more than you do.”

“I don’t give a shit. I want Margaret gone! I want my life back to normal, and until you do your goddamned job, my life is in the crapper. You want to know what the fuck has been happening around here? It ain’t fucking pretty! I’ve been kicked out of my own bedroom, Braxton. She kicked me out because Margaret said it wasn’t proper for an unmarried woman to be sleeping in a bed with a man till they were married. And don’t even get me started on Caleb. He’s losing it, man. I am warning you. I won’t stop him if he acts up. I am going to let him loose on the whole damn town if you don’t find this person today!” Jeff shouted in frustration.

“You’re getting married. Congrats, Jeff!”

“That’s all you heard! You’re an asshole, Braxton. I hope one of these days someone comes along and turns your fucking life upside down. Let’s see how well you handle that, Mr. I like everything neat and tidy!” Jeff fumed, shutting his phone and wanting desperately to throw a temper tantrum.

The sound of his truck starting had him turning just as Janie jumped up into the passenger seat.

Fuck! Where are they going now?

* * * *

“Are you sure about this, Margaret? I don’t want to upset Jeff any more than he already is. I’m afraid this would send him over the edge,” Janie asked worriedly.

“Oh, please. That boy needs to have his feathers ruffled every now and then. It keeps him sane,” Margaret advised.

“All right, but if he yells at me, I’m pointing my finger at you.” Janie laughed.

Margaret grinned. “Fair enough. Let’s do this.”

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” she whispered as she sat next to Margaret.

“What I can’t believe is that you’ve survived this long without doing this.”

“It’s not so bad. It’s really not as hard as it seems. I just learned to manage my time better,” Janie explained.

“Oh please, darling. You’re going to marry my sons. They have jobs, and so do you. It’s time you learned to drive. I’m not going to stay here forever.”

“I wish you would stay,” Janie whispered as her breath hitched.

“Oh, sweetheart, I would love to, but I have my own life to live, and you, well, Janie, you’re going to want some privacy. Not some old woman hanging around you,” Margaret said, embracing her in one of the tightest hugs she had ever received.

Having the boy’s mother around was heaven for Janie. She was learning so much and couldn’t wait to spend time with her. Absorbing everything the woman said, Janie loved her vibrancy, her tenacity for life, and her strength. She was everything she hoped her own mother would have been.

“I want you to stay. Please stay,” Janie begged as Margaret held her tighter.

“Oh, you sweet girl, my boys sure did well when they claimed you. You are so smart, Janie, and I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter. You have been through so much in your life and in a short time no child should ever have to go through. But you persevered and you survived,” Margaret said, releasing her and wiping away her tears. “Now, take a deep breath ’cause you’re driving me into town today.”