Relentless Pursuit (15 page)

“I didn’t!”

Marcy and Neely Grace joined them in the living room. She met their shocked faces with a large smile on her face. “Oh please, I’m a mother of six. I know everything. Now sit back and learn.” Marcy shot them a sly grin and then gasped. She tapped Tammy’s arm and laughed, “Oh, how positively wicked! Well, when in Greece, right?” Marcy tittered.

“What is this about?” Neely Grace asked as she turned her back to the men all staring at them to lean in closer to the tight group of women gossiping.

“Men, dear. See, Tammy here has been in love with my son for two years.” Tammy thought she’d burst into flames at the mortification of this conversation. “And my son has been too dumb to realize a good thing right in front of his face. For two years, he’s been fluttering around with, frankly, bimbos. Tonight I’m putting a stop to it.”

“You? We’re putting a stop to it,” Katelyn whispered while she kept a smile on her face.

“Well, watch and learn, ladies. It’s not as if I went up to Jake and put some of my fried chicken in front of him to win him over. Nope, forty years ago he was the catch of the town. I haven’t forgotten all my mama taught me,” Marcy winked.

“And you’re hooking me up with Henry as a distraction?” Neely Grace asked with slight confusion in her perfectly smooth Southern voice.

“Oh, that was just a perk. No, I think you’re great for each other. Henry is like a puppy dog. He just needs someone with a firm hand on the leash to train him to be the perfect husband. I bet you find a loyal and loving man as soon as you break through that unfortunate exterior.”

“For some reason, I believe you. You were always nice to me, even if my mom didn’t like you after you left the Belles. Although, I don’t even like my mom much, hence, why I live in Lexington,” Neely Grace said sadly.  “Well, it’s not like I can just go home with him. That would stroke his ego and I don’t know any other way to get to know him better.” The change of subject gave a clear indication she didn’t want to talk about the past.

“As I said, leave it to me.” With a wink, Marcy straightened up and gasped, “Neely Grace! That’s horrible. Cars these days, they just don’t run like they used to. You shouldn’t be driving in the dark with the battery acting up. Maybe Annie and Cade can give you a ride home?” Marcy looked pointedly at Annie.

“Oh! Normally we'd love to, but it’s Sophie’s bedtime and I don’t know how comfortable you'd be in the backseat with a car seat digging into you,” Annie said apologetically.

Henry stepped forward from the crowd of men. “I can take her home. I’m, um, heading to Lexington anyway to go to the office store.”

“Oh! That would be perfect. Thank you for being such a gentleman, Henry.” Marcy smiled at him and then turned back to the group.

“See, men are so easy. Tammy, dear,” she said more loudly this time, “did you put that new deadbolt on your door yet?”

“Well, no. Do I need one?” Tammy asked with real confusion.

“Certainly! With all this horrid stuff going on, I can’t stand the thought of you at your apartment all alone with only a flimsy lock to keep you safe.” Marcy looked affronted by the question.

Pierce strode into the room, looking worried. “You don’t have a lock on your door?”

“Sure I do, it’s in the knob. I don’t need anything more.” Tammy suddenly felt defensive about her poor door.

“Sure you do.” Pierce turned to his mother and squeezed her shoulder gently, “Don’t worry, Ma. I’ll follow Tammy home and put in a deadbolt tonight. I’ll make sure she’s safe.” Tammy almost melted on the spot at the sizzling protective look in his eyes.

“Oh, thank you! I’ll rest a lot easier now.” Marcy patted Pierce’s hand as Pierce turned to say good-bye to the men.

Marcy winked at the room full of girls. “And, ladies, that is how it’s done.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Tammy looked in the mirror of her tiny bathroom and pushed up her breasts. Okay, she could do this. She was a sexy siren. She applied the red lip gloss and rolled her skirt once to show more leg. As she came out of the bathroom, she eyed Pierce with a drill as he made a hole for the deadbolt.

Tammy sat on the couch and waited while he worked. Maybe it wasn’t sexy just sitting there? She crossed her legs and arched back against the couch. No, she just looked like she threw out her back. She leaned over and used her arms to push up her breasts. Nope, now she just looked cold. Maybe if she sat at the edge of the couch and crossed her legs and shifted,
thunk
! She fell with a complete lack of grace and landed on the floor. She scrambled up just as Pierce turned off the drill and slid the deadbolt into place.

It was no use. She was not sexy. Pierce moved quickly as he tightened the screws and tested out the new bolt. Happy with his work, he stood up and dusted off his pants. “All done.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it,” Tammy smiled, but she was just hoping he’d hurry up and leave. She was failing miserably at this sexy thing. The fancy panties weren’t even helping.

“Tammy, there’s something I have been meaning to talk to you about.” Pierce looked a little nervous as he started talking to her. “I know I have been running hot and cold, but it’s not because of you.”

Tammy’s heart sank even lower than it was already. He was breaking up with her before they even started dating. Worse, he was using the “it’s not you, it’s me” line. How depressing is that? “Of course not. Well, thanks for telling me and for installing the deadbolt. Good-bye, Pierce.”

“Good-bye?” Pierce reached out and grabbed her arms and brought her lithe figure against his. “Tammy, I’m trying to tell you that the reason is because I care for you and, quite frankly, I just don’t know how to handle it. If it were up to me, I’d just kiss you and let my feelings speak for themselves. But I’m afraid I might scare you away. You’ve been waiting two years and you deserve something special.”

“Oh, Pierce! Shut up and kiss me!” Tammy smiled as her heart pounded.

Pierce returned her smile. “Yes, ma’am.” He bent down slowly as Tammy raised her chin to meet his lips. They were soft and gentle as he brushed them against hers. Slowly he applied more pressure, his hands wrapping around her and holding her loosely as he deepened the kiss.

Tammy felt the kiss down to her toes. Her body tingled and she leaned against him. The hardness of his body excited her more.  Pierce bent down and picked her up in a swift move. His lips never left hers as he carried her into the bedroom. He placed her gently on the small double bed and stood between her legs looking down at her. Tammy bit her lip gently as she unbuttoned his shirt and praised herself for not just ripping it off. When his shirt dropped to the floor, he leaned over her and placed a kiss on her lips as he worked her skirt over her hips.

Tammy ran her hands over his bare chest. She explored its ripples and expanse, before lifting her arms over her head so that he could slowly pull off her top before dropping it blindly to the ground.

“If I had known you were wearing these under your clothes, I would have stripped you down long ago,” Pierce growled as he stalked her onto the bed. “But now it’s time to take them off.”

*     *     *

Pierce grinned and sent a wink to Tammy as he leapt onto the bull. The buzzer sounded, the gate opened, and Pierce held on with all he had as the bull tried to throw him to the ground.

Pierce had woken Tammy up early that morning and driven her to the Keeneston County Fair to watch him compete in the bull-riding contest. He had loved showing her off to his friends and competitors. They had their bleach-blonde groupies and he had the real deal.

The buzzer sounded again and Pierce leapt off as the clowns raced out to herd the bull away from where he landed. He had stayed on for the full 8 seconds and had moved up to first on the leaders’ board when the judges’ scores were revealed. Damn, it was a great day. A win and the girl—it couldn’t get any better.

“You did great!” Tammy squealed as she jumped into his arms.

“Thanks. Now, I want to go show you off for a bit. Some of the guys and their gals want to check out the rest of the fair. Are you up to it?”

“Sure!” Tammy said excitedly. She loved fairs. She was the master at all games. When she was growing up, she went to the fair every day for a week to avoid being at home.

“Great. Let me show you how to win at these games. Maybe I’ll even win you a bear.” Pierce slung his arm over her shoulder and led her over to the waiting group of friends.

Tammy and Pierce teased each other as they made their way through the fair. All the men enjoyed showing their dates how to hold the water gun or how to throw the dart. The girls tittered away and pouted when they lost. Tammy, however, just smiled and quietly won game after game.

“Oh! Ring toss! Let’s see if I can win!” one of the women called out as she dragged her date with her.

“I guess I don’t need to teach you to play this. I wouldn’t mind winning one of our matches,” Pierce laughed as he juggled the huge teddy bear, cotton candy, and a stuffed horse that was big enough for his niece or nephew to ride.

“Well, ring toss is my worst game,” Tammy teased.

Pierce set down her winnings and pulled her back against his chest as they stood watching the others play first. He bent his head and placed a kiss on the curve of her neck as he squeezed her hips with his hands. “Let’s put a wager on this round, you up for it?”

“Of course. What should we wager?” Tammy asked on a heavy breath.

“If I win, I get to find out which sexy undergarments you’re wearing under those tight jeans that are tormenting me. And if you win, I’ll give you a very sensual massage and pleasure every inch of you.” Pierce whispered in her ear before nipping gently on her lobe. Tammy felt the shiver go down her back as his lips trailed down her neck. “Looks like it’s our turn. Ladies first.”

Tammy looked at the ring and tried to decide which was better. They both seemed to be a win for her. As she tossed the ring and it rattled over the bottle, she grinned. She could never lose on purpose, even if it was to Pierce.

Pierce gave a very satisfied grin as he grabbed the pink stuffed unicorn she had just won. “Well, let’s get back to your apartment. I have a bet I'm eager to fulfill.”

Tammy woke to the ringing of her phone early the next morning. She would've answered it if she didn’t have a large masculine arm wrapped tightly around her. It was a pretty easy decision: lying naked in bed with Pierce or answering the phone at this ungodly hour. The phone silenced and Tammy wiggled her bottom against Pierce, eliciting a groan and a kiss on the neck. Now this was a way to wake up.

Tammy slid her hand down his leg and the phone rang again. “Don’t you think you should get the phone?” Pierce whispered into her ear as his hands cupped her breasts.

“Not particularly,” she panted as the blasted phone rang again and again.

“I think you should. It could be important.”

“Fine,” she signed as she picked up the phone.

“Tammy, get up. We need to find Pierce and get to the Lexington Police Station immediately. Do you have any idea where he is?” Henry barked into the phone.

Pierce rolled her nipple between his fingers. “Mmm, he's staying above Southern Charms.”

“He’s not there and we need to find him!”

“Maybe he’s exercising. I’m sure I can find him. I’ll head out and look for him and then meet you at the office,” Tammy said as she tried to control her breathing.

“Hurry!” Henry yelled a second before the line went dead.

Pierce ran a hand over her hip and Tammy smacked him. “I have to find you. The police want to talk to you.” Pierce nibbled his way down her neck and rolled her over. He used his knee to spread her legs as he settled over her.

Tammy looked up into his face and smiled. “We need to get going,” Tammy said half-heartedly.

“I’m supposed to be exercising. I should be hot and sweaty when you find me and bring me in. You wouldn’t want me to lie, would you?” Pierce bent his arms and leaned down to give her a searing kiss to end all discussion.

Pierce opened the door to Henry’s office and followed Tammy inside. He couldn’t get this silly little grin off his face. Pierce was thinking of their morning and wasn’t paying attention when he ran into Tammy. Looking up, he saw why she had stopped in her tracts. His whole family, Kenna, Will, Dani, Mo, Ahmed, and Bridget stood in the office waiting for them.

Every pair of eyes went from him to Tammy and back again. Cade snickered and Annie smacked him before Mo elegantly cleared his throat and stepped forward. “We all wanted to be here to show our support of your innocence. Besides,” he shrugged smoothly, “I might already have a public apology in the works providing the evidence comes back as we think it will.”

Ahmed gave Pierce and the rest of the guys a slight nod to his head before Morgan spoke up. “And I’m ready with a statement for the media as soon as the charges have been dropped,” she said, winking to the girls.

Marshall slapped Pierce on the back. “Annie, Bridget, and the guys have been doing our own investigation. We don’t have any leads to give them yet, but we do have a lot of names to cross off the suspect list."

“I have a feeling you’ll get more leads soon,” Morgan said with confidence as she straightened her suit coat. “Let’s go clear your name.”

Pierce sat quietly between Henry and Tammy as the detectives read the DNA report. “Well, it appears your memory was correct. The evidence shows the blood wasn't yours.” Detective Basher tossed the folder onto the table. “It looks like we owe you an apology. Surely you understand we were just doing our job.”

“Was it your job to parade me past the television cameras and give damning press conferences, Detective Cowell?” Pierce said with contempt.

“The public has a right to know, Mr. Davies.”

“And so they shall. Detective Cowell will be giving a press conference shortly declaring your innocence and apologizing for any hardship to you and your family,” Basher told Pierce.

“I will not!”

“It’s a direct order from the mayor, Cowell. The governor of our Commonwealth called and personally demanded it. You’re doing it,” Basher said forcefully.