Lightning Strikes, Season 2, Episode 4 (Rising Storm) Read online

  Dillon gave him a brilliant smile and sat down across from where his mom would sit. In the chair that used to be Hector’s.

  That didn’t bother Marcus at all. That was a damn fine sight.

  Marcus sat down, ready to face the day. It looked like it would be a good one.

  * * * *

  Dakota looked at herself in the mirror and acknowledged that she was nervous. She hated being nervous.

  Her makeup was flawless, her hair proper and professional. Well, as professional as she needed to be. It was too pretty to put in some fussy old-lady bun. She couldn’t help it she had naturally sexy hair.

  It didn’t make her a slut, though some people seemed to think it did.

  Or maybe it was the fact that she’d slept with someone else’s husband.

  Damn it. She didn’t like thinking about it. It hadn’t been her fault. Except weeks of thinking about it made her wonder if it wasn’t really. Maybe she could have handled things better than she had.

  Was that lipstick right? Should she go with something a little pinker?

  After all, the store was called Pink. This Courtney person must like pink.

  “You want to borrow my sweater? The one I got at Pink?” Mallory asked, leaning against the doorjamb.

  “You shop there?”

  Mallory shrugged. “Mostly I window shop, but I bought that sweater with my birthday money. They’ve got cute clothes. You would like them. I think it would be a perfect job for you.”

  She glanced over at her sister. Somehow she felt closer to her after the debacle on Founders’ Day. Mallory had been pretty cool. She’d come and dragged her out of her room a couple of nights back and forced her to sit and watch some dumb rom com with their mom. It had been a silly film, but she’d laughed and actually eaten some of the popcorn her mom had made.

  It had been nice.

  “Thanks,” she said. “It might be lucky for me to wear something from the store.”

  “I’ll go get it. It’ll look perfect with your white skirt.”

  Dakota nodded and turned back to the mirror. She missed her father. Still. Even after all these months, she missed him, but she was oddly starting to like her mom. Turns out she wasn’t so bad when she was on her own. Dakota didn’t like the way the sheriff kept sniffing around, but it wasn’t like her mom would ever return the jerk’s affection or anything.

  Focus. She had to focus on getting this job and getting back on her feet.

  “I made you one of those smoothie things you used to love. It’s banana with some fresh peach and a scoop of the protein powder Marcus uses. You can’t walk into that interview with your hands shaking.” Her mother stood in the hallway, a travel mug in her hand.

  It was the kind of thing that usually bugged her. She didn’t need her mom up in her business. Still, she reached for the smoothie. Somehow having the whole world hate her had made her see her mom in a bit of a different light. Joanne really had kept things together after Daddy left. Maybe it was time to cut her some slack. “Thanks. I can use it. I’m a little nervous.”

  Her mom’s head shook. “Not my Dakota. You’ve got nothing to be nervous about. You hold your head high and walk into that interview with pride. You did a good job at the bank.”

  For the most part. She’d certainly been way more fun to work with than the old biddies who ran the place. “I was good.”

  “The only reason you lost that job was Marylee Rush.”

  The bitch. It didn’t seem to matter to her that her own son was a complete pervert. Marylee Rush was a “shoot the messenger” kind of woman. Shoot her. Kick her out of her apartment. Make sure no one else would hire her. “What if she talks to Courtney Kline? What if this is completely useless and I’m just fooling myself?”

  “You can do anything you set your mind to, Dakota. Maybe you get this job, maybe you don’t, but you can’t give up. You have to keep trying and something good will come along.”

  She wished she could believe that. “Do you think Tate’s going to win the election next spring? If he does, are you going to work for the mayor’s office?”

  It was a question she would have found completely ridiculous a year ago. A year ago her mother spent all her time on the house and still didn’t manage to get much done. Now she seemed so much more competent than she used to be. She even seemed to have found a way to be more graceful. Her mother was one of the clumsiest human beings on the planet, but lately she’d seemed to turn it around. She hadn’t fallen or walked into a door in the longest time.

  It wasn’t so crazy to think she might be able to work for the mayor.

  “I don’t know,” she said softly, a wistful look on her face. “I hope so. I think Tate is an excellent candidate and he’s got a good shot. If he wants me to help him out after the election, I would definitely think about it.”

  “You like working.” It was a revelation. She’d always kind of thought of her mother as lazy. Her dad complained about it. She hadn’t looked lazy last night when she’d been folding her little booklet things. She’d looked energetic and alive.

  “I do. I really like it, Dakota.”

  “You like it more than you liked being a housewife. I know you worked at the flower shop, but that was part time. This is more serious and you seem to really like it more than you did being home most of the time.” She hadn’t meant for it to sound like an accusation. She really hadn’t.

  Her mom’s face softened. “I love being a mom to you and Mallory and Marcus. You three kids were my whole world most of my life. But you don’t need me the way you used to. I like being needed. I like having something to do. It’s why you’re so miserable right now. You need something in your life. A job or a passion or maybe even school. Have you thought about it? I’m making a little money. I could afford some classes if you want to go back.”

  She’d actively hated college. “Not for a second. I’ve had all the school I need. But you’re right. I do need to do something. I need to be out there showing all those hypocrites that they can’t break me.”

  “Just go in with a positive attitude.”

  “It’s hard to have that lately. It seems like everyone caught in the scandal’s been forgiven except me.” It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right. She’d been the innocent one.

  “I don’t think Ginny Moreno feels very forgiven,” her mother pointed out.

  At least Ginny would likely get a decent monetary settlement out of it. The Rush family would either pay her child support or a ton of money to keep her mouth shut. Dakota hadn’t gotten a dime. She’d gotten scorn. “Well, at least I didn’t get pregnant. I guess I should be thankful for small blessings.”

  Her mother stared at her for a moment. “Why do you hate that girl?”

  She didn’t like the look on her mom’s face. It cut through her. How could she make her understand? “I cared about Jacob. A lot. I suppose you could say I didn’t like the idea of Ginny using him the way she did. I miss him.”

  He was supposed to have been her ticket out of this town. Jacob was supposed to love her back.

  Why did the men she love always leave her?

  Her mother reached out and smoothed back her hair, a gesture Dakota hadn’t allowed in a very long time. It felt good now. “I’m sorry about Jacob, but you have to move on. It’s time for you to look to your future. Marcus has set this up for you. All you have to do is smile and show that woman how powerful you are. You know if you ever decided to do something really good with your life, you would be amazing.”

  She wasn’t concerned about good. But if her brother could help her get a job and get back on her feet, she would take it as a win. Dakota took a sip of the shake. It wasn’t half bad. On impulse, she leaned over and kissed her mom’s cheek. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” her mom replied, surprise obvious in her tone. “Go get dressed. I’m going to head out with the sheriff. He’s helping me move some furniture into the campaign headquarters.”

  Yeah, Dakota just bet he was. Dillon
Murphy was trying to get into her mom’s granny panties, but Dakota was sure it wouldn’t work. Her mom was way too boring to ever have an affair. If she used the sheriff for physical labor, who was Dakota to say no? It made her think her mom was way smarter than she’d given her credit for. “Okay, wish me luck.”

  “Good luck, baby girl.”

  Dakota joined Mallory and got ready to start the next phase of her life.

  * * * *

  Hector Alvarez sat in his car watching the house he’d bought, the one he’d provided for his family. He’d been the king of that castle until the damn sheriff had decided to come in and take what belonged to Hector.

  He could still feel the humiliation burning in him, still see that bastard standing over him and telling him to get out of town or he would tell the town what he’d seen.

  What had Dillon Murphy seen? He’d seen Hector dealing with his wife. Joanne was his. His. He had the right to deal with her any way he saw fit. He was the one who had put up with her for years, dealt with her lazy ways. Joanne required a firm hand.

  The door to the house opened and he saw a man walk out.

  Marcus. Marcus had come home. His only son had walked out, leaving his family for some ranch in Montana. Hector had thought it was a stupid fit at the time, a rebellion, but then Marcus had stayed away.

  Now he was back and his son looked like a man. Marcus held the door open and smiled down at the girl who walked through.

  Mallory. His youngest. Such a pretty girl, but far too influenced by her mother. She wouldn’t amount to anything because Joanne had ruined her. It seemed like it was his wife’s goal in life to make their children as weak as she was.

  Mallory strode off, a bag over her shoulder. She walked down the street with a smile on her face. Like nothing was wrong with the world. Like she was happy.

  Like she didn’t miss her father at all.

  Marcus moved to his car, opening the door for his other sister.

  Dakota. His baby girl. Now there was a daughter. He stared at her. Of all the things he’d done, leaving Dakota actually made him feel a little guilty. She was the only one who took after him, the only of his children to truly see him as he was. Dakota understood.

  She slipped in the car and then Marcus took off.

  It was not lost on Hector that the sheriff’s squad car was sitting in front of his house.

  Was Dillon Murphy inside trying to take his place? Trying to get his wife in bed?

  Rage threatened to take over, the emotion rolling in his gut.

  Was he putting his hands all over Joanne? Hector tightened his grip on the steering wheel and he fought the urge to stalk in and wrap his own hands around the sheriff’s throat.

  And then he would deal with his wife.

  The door opened and the man in question stepped out, carrying a box. Joanne followed, turning and locking the door behind her.

  Had she changed the locks on him? She would find out there wasn’t a lock made that would keep him out of his own home. He was done playing the victim.

  Joanne was wearing a skirt and a blouse that showed off far too much of her cleavage. When had she started dressing like a whore? Likely around the time she’d taken the sheriff into her bed.

  Joanne followed behind Murphy like a puppy after its master. She was smiling and laughed at one point as they got into the cruiser and drove away like it was their right to be together.

  Hector sat in the seat of his car and stared out. She’d walked away from him. She’d smiled and gone on with her life like he didn’t matter.

  He was her husband and she was welcoming another man into his home.

  It was past time to take his rightful place back. It was time to show his wife, the sheriff, and the whole town who he really was.

  Storm was going to find out that Hector Alvarez was back to stay.

  Chapter Two

  Joanne Alvarez liked riding in a police cruiser. Of course she was in the front of the vehicle and not the back. She was sure that made a difference.

  “You comfortable?” Dillon stopped at the stoplight in the center of town. He was staring forward, his square jaw on display.

  He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.

  “Absolutely. You have a very luxurious way to haul prisoners around,” she said with a smile on her face. There was a little piece of her that was disappointed though. They’d been alone for a few moments inside the house. Marcus had gone off to call on Brittany and the girls had been getting dressed. It had just been her and Dillon.

  They’d stood in the living room and stared at each other for a moment, the kiss they’d shared sitting between them like a landmine waiting to go off. In a good way. She had to admit, they had chemistry.

  Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

  She hadn’t been able to reach out to him. She wanted to. She’d wanted to step into his strong arms and feel them close around her as his mouth moved over hers. She’d never felt more like a woman than the minute Dillon Murphy had kissed her. Her body had gone soft and she’d thought that maybe this time she would find out why women read romance novels and chased after men. She wanted to know why she got so breathless around him and if there was anything at the end of that particular road. But she couldn’t.

  She was married. She’d made commitments and she had to honor them.

  It was why she kept to her side of the car now.

  “Yeah, we don’t consider this luxurious,” Dillion said with a grimace. “These cars are ten years old.”

  She shrugged. “When you drive what I drive, anything that runs with regularity feels like a luxury car.”

  Hector had taken the only good vehicle. He’d left her with nothing. No money. No decent transportation. No way to make the mortgage. Those first few weeks when she’d realized he wasn’t coming back had been rough. She’d had no skills, no confidence in herself.

  Somehow she’d pulled through, and that had a lot to do with the man at her side.

  “Well maybe next spring, once the election is over, you can talk to the mayor,” she offered.

  He nodded her way. “Absolutely. Zeke is a tightwad with the budget. We had to set up a speed trap just to get a new coffeemaker. Do you have any idea what cops are like when they’re not properly caffeinated?”

  The man could make her smile like no one else. “I’m sure it’s a real problem. If Tate’s elected, I’ll definitely talk to him about the mayor’s office looking into the issue.”

  The light changed and Dillon turned right, moving toward the campaign office. They had a delivery of furniture today that she couldn’t miss. This would be their work home until the election, and she needed to make it perfect for the people who would be working for them. They would mostly be volunteers and she owed them a nice place to work.

  Tate had taken a real chance on her, and she didn’t mean to let him down. This job was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time.

  The kiss whispered across her brain again. Dillon’s lips on hers, brushing lightly. Her skin had lit up, her whole body flaring to life. Nothing in her life had been as erotic as that one kiss.

  She didn’t want the morning to end. It had been so nice sitting and having breakfast as a family. And, yes, part of that had been Dillon sitting across from her, making jokes with Marcus and asking Mallory about how school was going.

  The minute they got to the campaign office, she would have to be professional, keep herself apart from him. They would have eyes on them, people watching their every move. It wouldn’t do to have Tate’s campaign manager gossiped about. The lord knew her family had enough gossip about them. Given the fact that her own sister, Hannah, had dated Tate and then slept with his brother, Tucker, Joanne counted herself lucky to have the job she did. She wasn’t about to risk it.

  Not when she had nothing to give Dillon.

  What would she do if Hector wasn’t standing in the way? If she was free and she didn’t have to worry about her marriage?

 
Would she be bold and brave and kiss him? Would she stop him right here in the square and turn to him, tilting her face up, and demand that he kiss her again?

  She didn’t have that right. Worse than that, she didn’t have any rights where Dillon was concerned. Eventually he would have to run for his office again. He couldn’t have an affair with a married woman. Not that she would do that. Except she thought about it a lot. If people seriously suspected that they were flirting, the gossip would start and that could hurt Dillon’s campaign. Would she be the thing that dragged him down?

  Or the one that lifted him up?

  She turned, her line of thought a bit too much to take this early in the morning. A familiar figure walked down the sidewalk, heading toward Cuppa Joe’s. He was an attractive man wearing jeans and a Western shirt. The boots on his feet were worn from use and the hat on his head was a Stetson. Ian Briggs was a real cowboy. “Is that Ian?”

  “I do believe it is.” Dillon pulled up to the curb, pressing the button that brought the window down. “Hey there, Ian. How are you this morning?”

  Ian was the man who’d taken her son in when he’d gone off to the wilds of Montana. She was fairly certain Ian was responsible for the amazing man her son was becoming. She definitely knew it hadn’t been her husband’s influence.

  Marcus had left her house a rebellious child and returned a confident man, willing to accept the challenge of taking care of his family and his girlfriend. She was so proud of him.

  Ian leaned over and gave them both a big smile. “I’m just getting started. Thought I’d head in and grab some coffee to start the morning right. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

  “Did Anna Mae forget to bring you coffee with your breakfast?” Joanne asked. Ian was staying at the Flower Hill B&B. Anna Mae and Rita Mae were famous for taking care of their guests’ needs, and breakfast there always came with unlimited coffee.

  Dillon chuckled beside her. “I think he prefers the coffee here.”

  Ian nodded. “There is something special about it.”

  He was awfully cheerful, but then the rumor was the Montana rancher was sweet on Marisol Moreno, who happened to own and run Cuppa Joe’s. Apparently since Ian had hit town looking for Marcus, he’d become one of the coffeehouse’s biggest customers.