Chapter One

Mary Meyers cracked her neck as she walked up the old stairs to her apartment. It would be nice to be home early. Perhaps even she could call Damion and see if he’d like to do something this evening. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and fought off a yawn. Maybe not. She was exhausted and the thought of dealing with her boyfriend and hearing him whine about his life wasn’t appealing right now. Okay, it wasn’t ever appealing, but even more so right now. It had been a shit day.

She unlocked her door and shuffled into the apartment. It was small and tidy. Pushing the door closed behind her with one foot, she paused when unidentified sounds reached her. What the fuck? Is someone in here? Mary reached for the Louisville Slugger she always kept by the door, just in case, and made her way back to her bedroom, flexing her fingers on the grip. It wasn’t as if there was someone in her place, just that there were a lot of places to hide. She had a one-bedroom. Since she didn’t spy anyone out here, that left the bathroom or her bedroom.

Sneaking into the bathroom, she then checked behind the pale yellow shower curtain, bat hefted in case she needed to swing. Nothing. That left her bedroom. She paused outside the door and jumped with a small squeak when the phone in her pocket began to vibrate.

Check the phone? Call the police? Or keep going as she had been?

Never one to have others do for her, Mary pushed open her bedroom door and stopped as shock slammed into her. Damion was already here, in her bed. He wasn’t alone, however. He had some buxom, chestnut-haired whore in there with him. She was on her hands and knees taking it from behind. Neither of them knew she was there. The bitch was blindfolded and had nipple clamps on her swaying tits.

Are you fucking kidding me?

She cleared her throat seconds before she cracked the bat down on the metal footboard. They both sprang apart and she gasped. Lying with Damion was one of the techs from her vet clinic, Christmas.

“What the fuck is going on here?” she demanded.

Both jumped at her yell once more, guilt spreading along their features. Damion pulled out of the bitch, his small cock shrinking, and he reached for a blanket to cover up. That left her exposed with red marks on her pale skin.

“Get out,” she swore hefting the bat once more. “Get the fuck out. Now!”

“Damion,” the woman screeched. “Take this blindfold off me.”

Mary cracked the bat again on the frame and took great pleasure in how they were panicking. “Get the fuck off my bed and out of my place.”

Damion pulled the blindfold off his bed bunny and looked back to Mary. “Let me explain, Mary-baby.”

She narrowed her eyes and swung again, the bat landing on the mattress between his legs. His eyes widened with fear and disbelief she would actually take a swing at his cock, which he’d named Sergeant Pepper.

The cheating rat bastard scrambled off the bed as he reached for his clothes. Mary advanced on the woman, bat raised again. “Get your skanky ass off my bed and out of my place.”

“I’m naked and handcuffed,” she hollered, scooting back, trying to get out of Mary’s way.

“I don’t give a fuck. Get up or I’ll drag you out by the clamps on your nipples.” She swung again, this time clearing off her dresser with the swing. Rage pulsed through her and she wanted nothing more than to use the bat against their heads.

Damion reached for his pants and she glared at him. “Get your bitch and go. Dress out there.”

“You’re not letting me get dressed?”

The asshole sounded surprised. She jumped up on the bed as the other woman fell off and struggled to her feet, fear overflowing in her gaze.

“Would you like me to let you two shower before you leave? Perhaps cook you some food so you’re not hungry?” She stomped across the mattress and backed them out of her room. Usually, she never wore her shoes past the front door but right now she was beyond livid and only wanted one thing. These fucks out of her place.

Damion had their clothes. The female was still cuffed with the nipple clamps on, and they were both naked. Mary dragged the bat along the wall, eyes narrowed on them both.

He slowed and she hefted the bat again. “You’re fucking crazy,” he announced as he scrambled to open the door.

“I’m not the one fucking some whore in his girlfriend’s bedroom.”

“You weren’t supposed to be home for another two hours.”

She chucked a dish he’d given her at him. “That’s your excuse, because I came home early? If I see you again, I won’t be responsible for my actions.” She pointed the bat at them. “Get out.”

There were people out in the hall as she forced the two naked cheater out of her place. She noticed her neighbors looking, eyes wide.

Damion covered his dick but left the girl all the way exposed. She couldn’t cover anything since her hands were still cuffed behind her back. The nipple clamps and chain sparkled beneath the light.

Mary hefted the bat once more but didn’t leave her doorway. “I hope you two are very happy together.”

“What about my music collection and movies?” he demanded.

“They’ll be outside by morning.” She stepped back inside and slammed the door. Mary caught her reflection as she passed a mirror. Hair in disarray, blood on her scrub top and bags beneath her eyes. Not what passed as a sane person.

“Arrgh!” she screamed, swinging the bat once more and taking off pictures from where they sat on a small end table.

Dropping the bat, she propped her hands on her hips and took several deep breaths. She wasn’t upset that she had lost Damion, she was pissed she’d not known he was cheating on her.

She headed to the kitchen to grab the broom and many plastic bags—there was a lot of bedding to put in the incinerator—when her phone rang. She ignored it and got to work. Three hours later, house purged of anything Damion or his whore, she slumped down on the couch and tipped up the beer in her hand.

Her phone rang again and she reached for it. “Hello?”

When she got it, her heart stopped, the beer slid to the floor and spilled as she got the news.

 

* * * *

 

Ronald Glennon finished rinsing off the fire truck outside the one and only fire station in the town of The Edge. They were having a parade today and as usual they had to have their vehicles spotless. He didn’t mind. Most of the time he fought with machines as he tried to fix them so people could continue farming.

Handling a hose was easy and something not even he could fuck up. He cracked a smile as he thought about the fun that was going to be had today. Small towns may not be everyone’s thing, but he loved his. Loved how he knew the people here, how he didn’t have to wonder who someone was and what they were doing in his store. He knew the diner’s specials and could tell the day of the week by what Mrs. Lima served. Or perhaps that was the other way around. He could tell what was being served by the day of the week it was. Either way, this slower life was what he wanted.

He waved at Mr. Johns as he drove by in his older model Crown Vic. About three minutes later the next vehicle drove by. This one he didn’t recognize. A brown Durango. He couldn't make out who the driver was, but they weren’t driving slow like most tourists who came through town. He finished cleaning up and hopped in his truck to head home and eat before the parade began at two.

As he drove he passed the gas station and noticed that same vehicle. The woman filling up the tank had long black hair and a hat pulled down over her face, and she had a killer figure. He whistled under his breath as he went by. Hot.

Back at the station before the parade, he drew on his turnout pants. Leaving the suspenders hanging down, he smiled at Lucas, another of the firefighters in town.

“Where’d you go?”

“Home for something to eat. I’ve been here all damn morning. Why? Something happen?”

“Nope, just curious, you know. Did you bring food to share?”

“I cook here occasionally but no, I didn’t bring you anything, Lucas. I swear, man, you eat all the time. How is it you don’t weigh over five hundred pounds?”

His friend smoothed his hands down his sides. “I got me the good genes.”

Ronald snorted and brushed by him. “That means your sister didn’t? I’m afraid you’ll be needing to see the doctor if she hears about that.”

“So don’t tell her.”

“Don’t worry, she’s likely to kill the messenger so I won’t be mentioning your delusions to her.”

They jumped up on the truck as it pulled out of the station. He had a wonderful time, and enjoyed seeing the children get to explore the truck and play with the equipment. They passed out candy and had fun.

Afterward he went to Dreamer’s Feed & Equipment to get to work on a combine part he had to repair. As it neared closing, he’d begun cleaning up when the bell announcing a customer jingled.

He ran a hand through his hair and left the back to find out who it was and what they needed. His heart thundered in his chest as he laid eyes on the woman he’d seen at the gas station. She moved up the aisle toward him, hips swaying with a natural rhythm within her blue jeans. Her green shirt barely hid her curvaceous figure. She may not have been rail thin, but she was fit and moved with a grace many didn’t have.

Her rectangular shades covered her eyes and he wanted to remove them to see their color.

“May I help you?”

Her full lips twitched as if she had a private joke and he wasn’t part of it.

“I surely hope so.”

Holy fuck, her voice reached out and curled around his cock, stroking it to instant hardness. He crossed his arms and waited.

“I’m here to pick up an oil pump for the Meyers Farm.”

He nodded. “Sure thing, let me go grab it for you.”

Ronald went to where he’d placed the pump and grabbed it off the shelf. Taking a moment to readjust his dick, he then turned and walked back to her. “Here you go.” He placed it on the countertop.

“Thanks, Ron.”

His brows converged. “I’m sorry, have we met?”

A brief smile flickered across her lips. “We have.” She dipped her head and stared at him over the rims of her glasses.

The intense blue of her eyes told him who it was. Only one family had that incredible shade of blue eyes. The Meyers family. It wasn’t Jenn—her he’d already seen. Which left one other. Mary.

“Mary.”

Her smile was a bit larger this time. “That’s me. How have you been?”

“Busy. I was sorry to hear about your father.”

The sadness filled her expression again as she nodded. “Thanks. And can you put this on the tab?”

“Sure thing. Just got back in town today?”

“I did.” She reached out and picked up the pump.

He stared at her short nails with clear polish on them. Strong hands, yet feminine. He didn’t want her to go. She’d been behind him in school. He’d been in the same grade as her twin siblings. The two oldest.

“Are you okay?” He reached out and touched her forearm.

She covered her mouth with one hand as the tears spilled free and shook her head. “No. I’m sorry. You don’t need a crying woman in here.”

The door opened again and without thought, he brought her around the counter. “Take a seat in the back, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

One bad thing about small towns was that everyone knew everyone else’s business, whether they wanted it out or not, and he was pretty sure Mary didn’t want others in town to know she’d started to cry. With a thankful smile, she slipped away, leaving him to face Mr. Putnam.