Free Jamie Hill Triple Threat by Jamie Hill Page B

“Where is what , you damned…?” She let her curse go unfinished. She couldn’t think of a word bad enough for someone who would do this.
    Jack helped her gather everything, adding their toothbrushes to the pile going next door. He took a moment to stop and pull her into his arms. “We’re going to get through this.”
    “I know we will. I’m just not thinking very clearly right now. I can’t begin to fathom what the future holds for them…” She looked into his eyes. “Or for me…”
    He kissed the tip of her nose and whispered “Join the club. Come on, I don’t like leaving them alone, even though they’re right next door.”
    “Crappy locks,” she muttered, remembering what he'd said the night before.
    He chuckled and loaded his arms with stuff. “Hate to break it to you, sweetheart…Crappy neighborhood.”
    Crystal laughed and followed him out.
    The boys thought sleeping on Crystal ’s floor was quite an adventure. And to have Jack on the sofa next to them—what could be better? He shoved her furniture around until there was room for the mattress. “Nice end table,” he teased, about the oversized cardboard box between her sofa and easy chair.
    She smiled and shrugged. “I got a new TV a couple months ago. We set the box there while we hooked it up, and I just never moved it. Started putting stuff on it and forgot about it.”
    He glanced at her. “You and Dave?”
    She shrugged again. “We spent time together. We’re neighbors, help each other out and all that neighborly jazz.” She tried not to get defensive, remembering he was there to help.
    The boys watched in awe as Jack unloaded his service revolver and put it in a lockbox. He stuck it on top of the fridge, placing the key in his pocket.
    Crystal wasn’t thrilled with the gun, but the lockbox put her somewhat at ease.
    Even knowing she wouldn’t like it, Jack was insistent. “I’m not sure my truck is going to be there in the morning. I damn sure want to know where my gun’s going to be.”
    “Understood.” She helped him make up the boys’ mattress with fresh sheets and then found pillows for them. With the kids tucked in and the lights turned out, she and Jack sat in the kitchen drinking coffee by the glow of the nightlight. She opened the window so she could smoke.
    Jack stretched his legs out. “Lovely out here on the veranda this evening.”
    “Yes, darling,” Crystal spoke in a haughty accent and motioned with her cigarette for emphasis, “but please remember to tell the stable boy not to bring the horses through here when he puts them up for the evening. They leave such a stench, you know.”
    Jack chuckled and stood up to close the window. “Horses would smell better than what your neighborhood has going on out there. I think that’s called ‘eau de homeless person who hasn’t showered in a month’.”  He sat back down and kicked his legs up on another chair.
    She grinned and hurried to finish her cigarette. “Sorry.” She waved the smoke away from him.
    He reached out and rubbed his thumb over the palm of her hand. “It doesn’t bother me. Cigarettes have never tasted better than when I taste them on you.”
    She ground the butt out in her ashtray and stood up in front of him. Jack lowered his legs and Crystal straddled him in the chair. “I know I need to quit. Smoking, I mean.”
    He slipped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. She was wearing a button-down blouse, and he undid the top button to reach more of her neck. “I told you it doesn’t bother me,” he repeated, his lips marking a warm path along her skin.
    Crystal wriggled her butt into his lap and could feel his rigid erection through both of their jeans. She moaned as he strained upwards to press himself into her center. “God, Jack,” she whispered at the exquisite feelings, and he groaned his agreement. She tugged at his shirt, popping some of the buttons and loosening the rest. Her hands ran up his bare chest and she