Under the Covers

Chapter Six

The morning sun trickled weakly through the heavy clouds, promising a rainstorm. Quinn wound twine around the post, snipping the ends into smoothness. The heated summer-storm season was about to hit, and the ranch wasn’t prepared. “You’re lucky I didn’t have my gun on me last night,” he muttered at his brother.

Colton chortled and kicked a rock into place to secure another post. “From what I saw, you didn’t have anything on you.”

Quinn threw the ball of twine at the dumbass. “You’re a moron.”

“Maybe.” Colton tugged his Stetson down against the piercing wind. Even so, his multicolored hair blew around his neck. “But I would’ve kept the woman all night and not driven her home before midnight.”

Jake glanced up from where he pounded in a new post.

Irritation whipped through Quinn stronger than the damn wind. “I haven’t kicked your ass in a while, little brother, but don’t think I’m opposed to the idea.”

The smart-ass grin Colton shot him nearly guaranteed a beating. “Sounds like fun. I haven’t just been studying animal science the last three years, you know.”

“Don’t think the MMA crap you’ve been doing comes close to special-ops-training, Colton Freeze.” Sure, Quinn was proud of his little brother. That didn’t mean he couldn’t beat the shit out of him now and then.

Jake threw the hammer into the back of the battered Ford where it clanked across the faded metal. “I’m fairly certain the sheriff shouldn’t commit battery—especially during an election cycle.”

“Stop sounding like a lawyer,” Quinn snapped.

“I am a lawyer.” Jake grabbed a fence-hole digger and plunged the blades into the moist earth. “As much as it pains me to admit this, I agree with Colt. Your reputation of lovin’ ’em and leavin’ ’em is ticking off Mom. Let a woman stay the night once in a while.”

“Love ’em and leave ’em?” Quinn hefted a fence pole from the back of the truck. “I don’t even date anybody in town.”

“You don’t date, period.” Colton moved out of the way for Quinn to shove the pole in the ground. “You have sex and leave. Unfortunately, the city isn’t far away from our small town.”

Jake angled around and grabbed part of the pole to plunge down. “I think Mom has Tom geared up to talk to you. Just a heads-up.”

Quinn groaned. While he loved his stepfather and appreciated him becoming a father to Quinn and Jake when they were young, he didn’t need a fatherly talk about sex. “Tom has enough to worry about with Dawn.” The youngest of them all, little Dawn was plain wild…and in love with the wrong man. “We all have enough to worry about with Dawn.”

Colton shoveled dirt around the post. “Nah. The last time Hawk came home on leave, they didn’t even talk to each other. She’s over him.”

Quinn cut his eyes to Jake, who shrugged. “That would be excellent news.” Not that he didn’t like Hawk, because he did. They’d all grown up together and were good friends. But Hawk’s time in the military was wearing on him, and Dawn was way too young to get serious over a man. “What about you, Colton Henry Freeze?”

Colt grinned. “I’m not in love, don’t plan on being in love, and am ready to graduate and head home. In fact, I’m going to build over on the east side of the ranch, near the falls.”

Quinn yanked his leather glove off to rub his chin. “What about Melanie?”

Jake snorted. “Dumbass here hasn’t figured out Mel’s a girl.”

Colton tossed the post digger onto the truck bed. “Mel’s been my best friend since kindergarten. Of course, I know she’s a girl.”

“And?” Quinn asked.

“And nothin’.” Colton jumped to sit on the tailgate. “We’re friends. She’s dating some banker from Missoula. The guy wears three-piece suits. Three piece.” He shook his head.

Colt was a moron when it came to women. But, on the other hand, the place he wanted to build would be perfect for a ranch house. When their mom had married Tom, they’d had Colt and Dawn. When the Lodge boys were old enough to make the decision on their own, they’d combined the Lodge and Freeze acres into one sprawling ranch they all worked. Any profits were split evenly. His father had been dead for many years, but Quinn was sure he’d be pleased with how things had turned out. “How is Melanie’s grandpop doing?”

Colton shook his head. “Not good. The doctors say he’s terminal.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Quinn ripped off his hat to wipe his forehead.

Jake reached for a thermos and poured coffee for all three of them. “Somehow we got off the subject of Casanova here and Juliet Montgomery.”

“We’re finished with that subject.” Quinn took a deep drink of the unloaded brew and grimaced. Another seven months until Sophie’s baby was born, damn it. Jake had switched them all to decaf because he was too lazy to make two pots.

“I know why you either leave or kick a woman out of your bed, Quinn,” Jake said quietly.

Of course he knew why. They’d gotten drunk, really drunk, about two years ago and told each other everything they’d seen, everything they’d done, while in service for their country. Then they’d never spoken about it again, which worked just fine for Quinn.

“So do I,” Colton murmured.

Quinn narrowed his focus on his brother. “You don’t.”

Colt shrugged. “I may not know the details, but I know you’ve struggled with PTSD. That’s the only thing that would make you kick Juliet Montgomery out of your bed. Period.”

Sometimes Quinn forgot his youngest brother was a freakin’ genius. Smart as hell, and nothing got past him. “You don’t understand.”

“I’m not pretending to understand. But, I also know you’d err on the side of caution so as not to hurt somebody, when really you should be taking a chance. That woman is worth the risk.” Colton took a gulp.

Jake staggered back. “Did you just get relationship advice from numb-nuts here?”

Colton laughed and jumped from the truck. “I may be younger, and I may not have fought overseas, but you know what? I’m right.”

…

Juliet brushed her hair, satisfied with her sparkling-clean apartment. The tiny, three-room apartment above the gallery was both quaint and easy to maneuver. She tried not to wriggle on the seat of the vanity in her bedroom.

Her rear end hurt. Mainly from the darn horse ride, but her hips showed slight bruises from the sheriff’s grasp.

The thought brought a smile to her face. The man was passionate and explosive, and he’d stopped treating her like glass. Thank goodness.

The phone rang, and her fingers trembled before she answered. Was the sheriff calling?

A throat cleared. “Um, Juliet?”

She exhaled. “Hi, Sophie. What’s up?”

“Um, well, don’t freak out, okay?” Sophie said.

Juliet’s blood pressure rose. “Okay.”

“The good news is that the Western Pacific Art Council is sending dignitaries to the art showing, and if they like the paintings, they’ll give us a grant for the gallery,” Sophie said, her words rushing together.

Hope bloomed in Juliet’s chest. “That’s amazing. How did you—”

“The bad news is I told them we could have the showing Saturday in order to meet the deadline for the grant process,” Sophie interrupted.

Panic cut off Juliet’s breath. She wheezed out. “Saturday is in three days.”

“I know, but I’ve finished all the paintings, and even the charcoals are ready to be hung. We can do this. I promise,” Sophie said.

That was crazy. But a grant from the WPAC would guarantee the gallery remained open, even if Juliet had to leave. Sadness compressed her lungs—she thought she’d have more time with Quinn. She sucked in air, sprinkled with courage. “Okay. We can do it.”

Sophie’s happy squeal ripped through the line, and Juliet held the receiver away from her ear. “We need to get to work.”

“After the trail ride today, I promise we’ll come help you hang the art. We can also send out an e-mail blast and make some flyers for town,” Sophie said.

Juliet shook her head, even though nobody could see. “I’m not riding today.”

“I know. Quinn asked me to pick you up, and we’re on our way now. His mom and I are driving up to the lodge for the picnic. Wasn’t that sweet of him?”

“Humph.” Yes, it was sweet to get her a ride, and now she could relax. But she was still uncomfortable about the sheriff. “I’ll be outside in a few minutes.” After saying good-bye and hanging up the phone, Juliet finished with her makeup. She couldn’t leave town until after the showing, but a few days wouldn’t make a difference.

The phone rang again, and she rolled her eyes. What bombshell would Sophie ring down now?

“Hello?” Juliet chuckled.

Silence.

“Hello? Sophie?”

More silence. Then something shuffled. Somebody breathed. Heavy and somehow ominous.

Juliet cleared her throat. “If this is Tommy Nelcome, your mother told you to stop making prank calls. I’m calling her right now.”

The caller hung up.

Okay. That was just a kid. Nothing to worry about. Though he’d been calling a lot lately. Juliet dialed her neighbor, Judy Nelcome, to rat out Tommy. Unfortunately, Judy reported that Tommy was visiting his grandparents in Oregon, and they’d gone to the ocean for the day. So the caller wasn’t Tommy.

Juliet hung up and took several deep breaths. Just because the caller wasn’t Tommy didn’t mean another kid wasn’t goofing off. She’d been careful, and she was safe. Her family couldn’t find her. An illogical and disastrous need filled her to call the sheriff and ask for help.

It was just a prank call, for goodness’ sake. Yet another prank call.

She yanked on cowboy boots, pleased they matched her long skirt. Since she wasn’t riding a raging beast, she didn’t need to change. After adding several pieces of silver Celtic jewelry, she whipped through the apartment, grabbed her purse and coat, and headed down to the gallery. Tucking her arms in the sleeves, she stepped outside the main door, making sure to secure the locks.

A chilly wind scattered leaves down the quiet street. Their rustling scraped against crumbling asphalt.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She glanced at the still storefronts. Her breath burst out in pants. There was nobody there. Her mind was playing tricks on her from a silly prank phone call. An SUV turned the corner, and she sighed in relief at Sophie in the driver’s seat, her blond hair up in a ponytail.

Loni Freeze, Quinn’s mother, waved from the passenger seat.

Juliet waved back and jumped into the backseat. “Thank you for picking me up.”

“Of course. You look lovely today, Juliet,” Loni said.

“Thank you.” Juliet fought to keep from blushing, considering Loni’s son had bent Juliet over a table the other day and made her see stars. “So do you.”

Loni smiled. Definitely petite, it was a surprise the woman had birthed and raised three large sons. Quinn had inherited her dark eyes and angled Native American features, but his size must’ve been his father’s.

Sophie signaled and pulled into the street. “Sorry about the huge car. I wanted to bring the smaller one, but you know how Jake gets.”

“Yes.” A pang of jealousy smacked Juliet between the eyes. What would it be like to have an overprotective husband who cared so much? Sophie had been in a car accident a couple of months ago, and Jake was a bit obsessive about making sure she drove around in something close to a Sherman tank. “This way we get to stretch out, anyway.”

Loni laughed and glanced out the window. “A storm is coming. I hope the rain misses the riders today.”

Juliet followed her gaze as they drove through an intersection. A black SUV waited at a stop sign, the windows tinted. She focused, seeking the license plate. There wasn’t one.

The vehicle pulled into the road behind them.