Page 47 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“My hotshot cowboy,” Lemon added. Despite all the turmoil in her life, she was glad she’d gotten one thing right. She’d finally come home to Jaxson, where she belonged. She hoped with all her heart that she’d never have to be separated from him again.

Chapter Ten

Lemon, Jaxson, and Knox were sitting in Chief Blankenship’s office, gathered around his large mahogany desk. The phone was indeed Lemon’s. Her heart had dropped when she saw the numerous calls that she’d missed from the anonymous number Wesley had used to call her, even after she’d dumped the phone. He was obsessive, psychotic.

Knox had called Ramsey who was patched in on speaker phone. Lemon was so grateful for his expertise, but she hated bothering him on his honeymoon.

“Nonsense,” Knox had countered, “Ramsey would want to know what was happening.” He gave her a meaningful look. “Family comes first, no matter what.”

Tears had glistened in her eyes when she caught the meaning of his words. It meant the world to her that Knox would count her as family. Still, she felt incredibly guilty for putting the Romeos at risk. Her conscience demanded that she at least raise a feeble protest. “Jaxson and I have only been back together for such a short period of time,” she protested. “How can you be sure that we’ll stick this time?”

“Seriously?” Jaxson grumbled with a wounded look.

She rolled her eyes. “I know we’ll work out.” Miracle of miracles, she’d gotten Jaxson back. She had no intention of letting him go. “I just don’t want your family to go to so much trouble,” she hedged. “It’s not like we’re married.”Yet, her mind added.

Knox grinned from ear to ear. “I reckon Jaxson has dated enough girls to know what he wants.”

Laughter gurgled in Lemon’s throat, dispelling some of her angst. “You make a good point. After all the girls he’s dated, if he doesn’t know what he wants by now, then we’re all in trouble.”

“Amen!” Knox boomed.

“I know what I want.” Jaxson gave Lemon a smoldering look as he pumped his eyebrows. “I just needed the right one to wise up.”

She just rolled her eyes, a smile quivering on her lips. Jaxson was so dang good-looking, even more handsome now than he was when they were kids. His features were more rugged, more masculine. He was one-hundred-percent American male. He certainly made her blood run faster. Even right now, when she was in so much turmoil. She was grateful for his teasing because it helped divert her mind from the horror of everything she was experiencing. With her memory back, Lemon had a lot that she wished to discuss with Mr. Hotshot Cowboy regarding their breakup, but it would have to wait until this ordeal with Wesley was over.

Chief Blankenship and Ramsey were old friends. The two of them had played football together. They’d been making small talk for several minutes but were now ready to get down to business.

Ramsey spoke, his voice briskly professional. “The fastest way to put a stop to this is to get Wesley to admit what he has done. We need to have Lemon meet him at a set location andplant officers within listening range. After they get a confession, they can arrest him.”

“You mean use Lemon as bait,” Jaxson cut in, his eyes narrowing.

A shudder ran through Lemon. The thought of seeing Wesley again—knowing what he’d done to Braden and her poor mother—filled her with a sickly dread.

“More or less. It’s better to have Wesley come to Lemon on your terms rather than waiting for him to make a move,” Ramsey explained.

“No way!” Jaxson cut in, his jaw granite hard. “It’s too risky.”

“Just hear your brother out,” Knox urged, holding up a hand.

“Look, I understand how you feel, bro. I was exactly where you are. It tore me up to think of anyone harming Hartley.” Ramsey paused. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of years of knowledge and experience. “But your best chance of keeping Lemon safe is to end this thing quickly … on your terms. The Livingstons have a great deal of influence and deep pockets. I’m sure Wesley has covered his tracks with the girl he pushed down the stairs and with Lemon’s mother.”

“I’ll do it,” Lemon blurted. Even as she spoke the words, a cold sweat broke over her nose and forehead.Please, help me to be strong, she prayed.

“Are you sure?” Jaxson asked, touching her arm.

She straightened her shoulders. The certainty flowing through her seemed to come from somewhere else. “Ramsey’s right. We’ve got to end this. I can’t live in perpetual fear of Wesley coming after me or anyone else that I love.” Her eyes misted. “I won’t stand by and let Wesley hurt you or your family.” Despite her success with her business, her life had been empty and hollow without Jaxson. She couldn’t imagine living without him.

“Okay,” Jaxson finally said, a rigid resolve overtaking his features.

Ramsey and Chief Blankenship talked through the details of the plan—which location would work best, the time frame, which officers would be best suited to keep Lemon safe. “Lemon, if you can, set the designated meeting time at least two days from now. Hartley and I’ll head back tomorrow.”

“I’ll do my best.” Lemon cleared her throat. “I’m sorry to pull you and Hartley away from your honeymoon.”

“No worries,” Ramsey said lightly. “It’s easy to get there since we have the use of Cash’s plane.”

Cash had a plane? It made sense. He was a mega-star. Lemon felt a burst of gratitude for Jaxson and his family. She’d always liked the Romeos when she was young, but now that she was older, she realized how rare it was to see a family with such close ties.

As an only child, Lemon had always wished for a brother or sister. It had been especially hard when her dad came up missing, and then the police tracked him down in Texas. Lemon had always thought it was absurd and far-fetched that her dad had developed amnesia, not remembering either her or her mom. Lemon thought it was an excuse to escape his life and responsibilities. After all, her dad eventually went back to Texas and married JoAnna, the owner of the diner where he’d been working as a cook.

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