Sweet Revenge

Former fat girl Jessie James has returned to her small hometown to open her own dance studio, something she's always dreamed of. Driving the local sheriff and former high school football star, who used to ignore her, crazy with lust is a side benefit she hadn't counted on. But revenge is sweet when all the sheriff can think about is frisking the delectable Ms. James.

After the hell his ex-wife put him and their daughter through, getting involved with another woman is the last thing Chase Martin wants. His body has different ideas, though. And after all, when an outlaw like Jesse James moves into the house behind his, the sheriff has an obligation to keep his eye on her. Right? To his surprise, this outlaw steals more than his body. She captures his heart, too.

Excerpt

The inside of the restroom was dark and cool after the bright sun outside. She took her time, dawdling at the sink and peering into the mirror. Hopefully, the others would be on another topic by the time she went back. After washing her hands thoroughly, she dried them on paper towels and tossed the damp brown wads into the trashcan. It was only a mild surprise to find Chase waiting for her when she stepped through the door.

"Are you following me, Sheriff?" She arched a brow in question.

"I wouldn't have to if you'd stop running from me." He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her. "Who would have thought that quiet little Jessie James was the outlaw who Super glued poor Mr. Weems to his chair. What else have you gotten away with just because nobody suspected you?"

She squared her chin. "I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me. Besides, you can't prove I did it, and the statute of limitations has run out on it by now." She paused. "And I am not running away from you." Defensively, she reached for her sunglasses.

"Don't."

Her hand stopped like someone had turned off a switch. "Don't what?"

"Don't hide your eyes. They're too beautiful to cover up."

"Why, Sheriff, I do believe you're flirting with me." She straightened. "Too bad it's not working."

A smile softened the line of his firm lips. "Just being honest. Even in high school I thought you had the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."

"Oh, yeah. Right." Her voice oozed sarcasm. "That's why you spent so much time looking through me."

"I wasn't looking through you, Jessie. I was staring at you. There is a difference."

"And I know it when I see it. You didn't know I existed, which was fine with me. As a matter of fact, do you think we might go back to that arrangement now?"

"No, I don't think so." His gaze dropped to her mouth. "And since I'm being honest, I should probably tell you that I've been dying to kiss you since I walked into your studio the other night."

It felt as though her heart did a rapid somersault, dived down to her toes, then tried to escape through the top of her head. Her eyes widened and her lips parted in surprise even as she took an involuntary step back.

"Don't worry." His smile was wry. "I won't jump you."

"Well, thank God for that. I'd hate to have to hurt you." Even to her own ears her voice sounded weak. She could barely think. Vaguely, she waved her hand toward the pavilion. "We'd better get back."

"Wait." His hand touched her arm, slid down her bare skin until his fingers curled around hers. "There's something else I wanted to talk to you about."

To her chagrin, Jessie discovered she was having trouble breathing. Her entire focus narrowed to the point where he was touching her, and an echoing heat pooled low in her stomach. Panicked, she tried to pull her hand away from him, but he hung on.

"It's about Amy."

The surprise of that statement helped her regain her balance and she looked up in puzzlement. "What about her?"

He gazed down at their hands. "When Becky left it did something to Amy. She seems to keep slipping further and further into depression. She's withdrawn from everyone and everything. She has no friends and doesn't act like she wants any." He hesitated. "At least until today. She made a connection with you."

"Does that bother you?" She tried again to pull her hand away and this time he let her, sticking his own in his pockets.

"No. I'd like to see it continue. You may be just what she needs. Nothing I'm doing seems to be helping."

Jessie looked up at him suspiciously. "And what do you get out of this?"

"A happy daughter and the chance to get to know you a little better," he replied promptly.

"What if I don't want to know you better?"

He shrugged. "It's a small town and we're neighbors. You can't avoid me forever." His voice went soft. "I don't plan on giving up, Jess. I'm a patient man. Take all the time you need. I can wait."

For a spilt second, surprise held her speechless. She simply could not believe what she was hearing. "Are you always this blunt?"

That drop "them dead where they stand" smile flickered across his lips again. "It's been a long time since I've been interested in any woman. I'm afraid I don't remember how to play the game anymore."

She hesitated. How often in the past had she dreamed of this moment? So many she'd lost count. Still, she wasn't sure she trusted him.

"Just out of curiosity, since you were so bemused by my beautiful eyes and spent so much time staring 'at' me, what stopped you from asking the fat girl on a date?"

He glanced away, then looked back at her. "I'd been going with Becky for almost a year at the time. I don't cheat, Jess."

She studied him intently. "So, if you hadn't been going with Becky you would have asked me out?"

"It would be easy to say yes." He ran a hand through his hair. "The truth is, I don't know. I was going with Becky. A lot of things would be different if I hadn't been."

Jessie paused, her mind spinning. At least he hadn't lied. "Okay, I'll think about it."

When he opened his mouth she held up one finger. "I was talking about you. As for Amy, I like her. She seems like a great kid. If I can do anything to help her, I will. But for now, I'm heading back to the picnic. Bye-bye, Sheriff." She swaggered back toward the pavilion.

"Jessie?"

She turned so suddenly that she caught his gaze fastened to her rear end. Without the slightest bit of embarrassment, he lifted his eyes to meet hers and grinned.

"Thanks."

Was he thanking her for Amy, or for the view? she wondered. Without answering, she started for the picnic table again, knowing exactly where he was looking. So, the sheriff had the hots for her, did he? The thought sent a wild surge of excitement through her. Impulsively, she added an extra swing to her hips and was rewarded by a low groan from behind her.

It was all she could do to keep from laughing out loud. God, it was fun to turn the tables on him. She had lusted after him for years. Even after she'd gone to New York she'd dreamed about him. Let him do the suffering now.