Chapter Six

Dusk was chasing away daylight when Jess’s friends eagerly converged on him. Knowing he needed help it was a no-brainer they’d jumped into the thick of things. Plus, it was an opportunity for some well-deserved razzing considering each of them had been on the receiving end of his relentless harassment when they’d done something ludicrous. And, lo and behold, he’d jumped right into the ludicrous pool with them, making a complete jackass of himself. That was bad enough, but even worse was dragging Belle into the brainless scheme. He was just asking for payback and the woman could hardly wait.

She and Cooper were the first to arrive. Stopping in the driveway, he watched his wife rubbing her hands in gleeful anticipation and scowled. “You’re really looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

Sassy green eyes flashed with retribution. “You’re darn tootin’ I am! Jess Harper deserves everything he’s got coming to him.” Shaking his head in sympathy for his friend, Cooper got out in time to see Cory Dugan whip into the driveway. Now Jess has double-the-trouble. Maybe he should give him a bulletproof vest.

Cory, youngest of Inez and Hank McCullen’s four children, had gleaned the horrible details of Raine’s marriage from her mother and would definitely help. Cory also knew firsthand what an angry man was capable of when out of control and had scars no one knew about to prove it. She’d endured a living hell at the hands of her abusive ex-husband. But, she gloated in satisfaction, her daddy’s shotgun had convinced him to leave her alone.

“Hey girlfriend,” Cory stepped alongside Belle. Well aware of Jess’s crazy escapade, she barely contained her own glee. “I can’t wait to see the fireworks. This is going to be fun.”

Earlier in the week they’d met for lunch and Belle had told her of the crazy stunt Jess had pulled. The man, nowadays their favorite topic of conversation, was crabby as hell and his horrible attitude made both women want to smack him. Believing Raine still married, and reconciling with the abusive man when he was released, he’d gone over the edge resorting to the harebrained idea involving Belle. “I could’ve cheerfully kicked him off his chair.”

“Sounds like the feisty Ms. Andrews did it without even lifting a foot. I don’t even know her, but I’m tickled she isn’t taking any guff off the cantankerous man.”

“Oh, he was cantankerous all right, and he looked like a guilty hound dog with his tail tucked between his legs when she walked out without a backward glance. I wish I’d recorded it.”

“I’d have loved to have seen that. Man, the love-bug sure did take a mighty big chunk out of Jess. And him always bragging there wasn’t a female worth her salt would ever set a permanent foot on the place!” She’d affected a mimicking deep voice. “Well now that he’s come to his senses, he needs to pop the question and get some little Harper off-shoots started.”

Now Belle whispered gleefully, “And the fun begins.”

Watching from the porch, Jess sighed in resignation. From the expressions on their faces, he was in deep doo-doo. What on earth had ever possessed him to use Belle to make Raine jealous? It had to be the stupidest stunt he’d ever pulled and given the sparks shooting from Belle’s vibrant green eyes he was about to pay hell to the curly-haired piper.

Cooper shot him a pitying look. “Sorry ole buddy.” The poor schmuck should’ve known better than to mess with Belle. Since meeting Raine Andrews the steady-as-a-rock man had been knocked off kilter. But, Cooper had to admit, it was an experience he was thoroughly enjoying and with Belle primed to unload both barrels full of grief at him, let the fun begin!

Nailing Jess with a scorching look Belle didn’t disappoint either. Emerald green eyes flashed retribution—and mischief. He rolled his eyes. Yep! He was in deep doo-doo. The petite package with a sassy mouth and mass of dark curls tumbling down her back had blood in her eyes. He threw up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. Get it over with. Rake me over the coals for being a jackass.” The second she opened her mouth he knew he’d been spot-on.

“Jackass is right, Jess Harper! You should be ashamed of yourself pretending we were on a date so you could make her jealous! I should’ve dumped your plate on your head! It would’ve served you right. Actually, she should’ve done it. And when she did, I would have cheered her on with great big pom-poms.” Glancing at the other two, Belle smirked. “You should have seen the hang-dogged look on Mr. Macho’s face when the lady left without a backward glance. I half-expected him to run after her whining and licking those shiny black boots she had on.” Jess narrowed his eyes as she continued dishing more grief. “I was beginning to wonder about you. Pretty face, supreme bod, but nothing up here.” She thumped his head like a watermelon.

“Let me tell you, buddy-boy, I could’ve drop-kicked you into the next universe and I’d bet she wanted to do more than that, so you deserve a lot more than just a little ragging. You should be ashamed of yourself using me like that.” This time she punched him on the shoulder. He winced. Damn! For a little thing she packed one hell of a wallop. A skeptical brow lifted. “And, you nut-head, please tell me you cleared up the mess you created? I’d hate for her to come after me.”

This time it was Jess who did the head-thumping on hers. “Don’t worry, Miss Smarty-Pants, you’ve nothing to worry about. She knows you were an innocent party to my shenanigans. Raine Andrews is the sweetest, most forgiving woman I’ve ever met, and, luckily for me, there’s not one spiteful bone in her gorgeous body.” Instantly he wanted to cut out his tongue for he’d handed them more ammunition and it started firing immediately.

“And just how do you know her body’s gorgeous?” Cooper waggled his brows wickedly, getting in on the fun and receiving a dirty look for it.

“Shut up, Cooper! You’re not helping here. Don’t encourage these two troublemakers.”

“Troublemakers!” Cory sputtered as they walked inside. “Jess Harper, we didn’t start this, you did. And you must really have been bonkers to pretend Belle was your girlfriend.”

Giving Belle a mock salute, she continued, “You have my utmost admiration. You’re my idol, girlfriend. I admit it. You’re more woman than I am. Taking care of one gorgeous husband while you have another hunk on the side? Sister, you must be exhausted!”

“That’s it! If you two don’t stop, I’ll toss your skinny butts out in the snow!” He took a threatening step, “and don’t think I won’t!”

Cory cocked her head at Belle. “Think he’s serious? Think he’d really throw two helpless females out in the snow?”

Jess snorted. “Helpless my backside; and you bet I will!” He opened the door at the same time.

Belle chimed in, “I have to think about it.” Looking from him to the open door, she knew he wouldn’t hesitate to follow through on his threat. “I . . . oh, all right. But you really are an idiot. It’s too bad she’s not here or I’d tell her so.”

“She already knows it.” He commented dryly, shutting the door. “She’s had first-hand experience with me in that department.”

“Haven’t we all!” Belle quipped, shrugging out of her coat. “Now where is she? What little I saw the other night she looked nice.”

“Mom thought so, and you know my mom, her opinions are usually spot-on. From the first time they met, she liked her. Said she looked like she’d gone twenty rounds in a boxing match, but she didn’t even try to hide it, either. And of course, you know mom, if there’s a story to be had, she’s going to sniff it out.” Heaping chips and dip onto a saucer, she continued. “Mom said her little girl’s so adorable, she had everyone in the place practically eating out of her hand.”

“Katy-bug is a sweetie.” Jess agreed, his expression softening. They noted it. For a man who shied away from permanent bindings, this was a grand change. “And she’s pretty, just like her momma. As for your mother,” he glared at Cory, “she pulled a fast one to get me to let them stay. And,” he turned that glare on Belle, “I did set the record straight about the other night.”

Suddenly a flicker of uncertainty wended through him. Surely, he’d explained it was a ruse with Belle. If not, both were going to put a flaming torch to his backside. “Okay, I’m sorry for using you to make her jealous, but if it helps you to know, it was a spur of the moment thing. Apparently, she’d tried explaining that her divorce was final, but being the jerk that I am, I wouldn’t let her talk.”

Cooper jumped in again. “So then old buddy, just what did you let her do if it wasn’t talk?” Cooper loved yanking Jess’s chain every chance he got. After all, he’d suffered through his own barrage of potshots from Jess over his dust-up with Belle. “Is that when you discovered her gorgeous body?”

“Yeah Jess, just what were the two of you doing, if not talking?” Both women asked in unison then burst into hearty gales of laughter at his exasperated expression.

Heat scorching his face, he retorted. “That is none of your damn business!”

Seeing the flush, Cooper realized it must have been damn difficult for this man with such strong moral convictions to be in love with a married woman. Guilt driving him crazy, and fighting those feelings, it was no wonder he’d pulled that crazy stunt. Fortunately, Cooper reckoned, all the misunderstandings were straightened out and it’d be smooth sailing from here on out—save for the ex-husband, that is.

He gave Jess a sympathetic look. “Never mind those two. You should’ve known you were asking for trouble getting them together. They’ve been chomping at the bit for days to get at you.” Belle stuck her tongue out at him. “Nice. But save it for later, honey.” He grunted at the sharp jab in the ribs she gave him.

Belle crossed her arms. “Okay, hot shot, I accept your apology. But,” she had to get one last zinger in, “you must have really been desperate to pick me. Weren’t you afraid I’d get my evens? You’ve seen firsthand how vindictive I can get.”

Shuddering, Jess knew exactly what Belle was capable of, but in that moment retaliations hadn’t occurred to him. “Obviously I wasn’t thinking. Do I need to watch out for paybacks?”

Winking at Cory, she answered. “No, you get a free pass this time, but if you do one more stupid thing where she’s concerned that pass is gone and you’ll be sleeping with one eye open for the rest of your life.” Should he be grateful, he wondered. “And we’ll try not to remind you too often what an idiot you can be. Now, bring us up to speed on everything you know about her ex-husband. And where is she?” Belle asked again. “We thought she’d want to be in on this gathering.”

“Christmas shopping and I didn’t mention asking for your help. She’d just pitch a fit.”

“That’s just ridiculous! She can pitch a fit until hell freezes over. We’re still helping. Refusing’s not on the table.” When Belle dug her heels in, she was as stubborn as any flipped-eared mule.

“She’s right,” Cory dipped a corn chip in the French Onion dip. “I’m helping, that’s for darn sure. Otherwise, mom would skin me alive and I’d rather face a pack of angry dogs than my mother when she’s on the warpath. Speaking of warpath, I’m surprised she hasn’t already formed her own welcoming committee should the ex-husband show up.” No one in his right mind would cross the formidable Inez McCullin when she was up in arms. “It just makes me so damn mad when we arrest the bad guy and put him behind bars, only to have some bleeding-heart idiot let him loose.” An ember popped loud in the fireplace as if in agreement.

“I’m more inclined to believe it was a money-grubbing judge instead of a bleeding-heart idiot who was bought off.” Belle intoned. “It burns me up every time a slime-ball gets turned loose, especially when the victim isn’t notified.” She spoke from a very bad personal experience. “At least we’ve a general idea when he’s getting out. Best case scenario—he’d never set foot in this direction.”

“Don’t bet on it.” Jess scoffed. “You’d lose. If he had any sense he’d get on with his life, but according to Raine you can carve it in stone he’ll start looking for her the second he walks free and won’t care who he plows through to get her.”

“Then we’ll just be prepared.” Fire burned in Cooper as he reached for Belle’s hand, squeezing it, and thinking of her attacker. “It’d give me the greatest pleasure taking someone like him out. Now, tell us everything you know about this character.”

Seated around the knotty-pine table, Jess passed each a manila folder containing copies of notes he’d been keeping along with articles he found while surfing the internet. Several pertained to the Andrews’ Construction Company’s success along with a few pictures of Addison and Raine together at various functions. As much as he hated admitting it, they made a striking couple. Just goes to show, he supposed, fingering one of the pictures, you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

For the next hour they went over everything Jess had put together and he answered their questions as best he could. Ideas were bounced around on how best to locate, recognize, and eliminate Addison. Their favorite was stopping him dead in his tracks with one clean shot. Of course, that led to a good-natured debate on who got the honors of pulling the trigger. In the end they all agreed it should be Raine. Again, in hindsight he wished he’d told her about the meeting and dealt with the fallout, but it was too late. When she did find out, he was going to be neck deep in hot water that no amount of kissing would get him out of.