Her Three Wilde Champion Men (Wilde, Nevada 2)

“When will he get here?” she asked again, knowing it must’ve been the fifteenth time at least. She couldn’t help it. She was a bundle of nerves. Was Alex coming back with him? How was Lucille? Was Sheriff Byrd still going to bring her in for questioning? Those and a million other questions swirled in her head.

“Do you have something to drink?” Justin asked. “Maybe wine or

beer?”

“Yes. A couple of beers in the fridge I think.”

He got up off the sofa and headed into the kitchen. “Beer might calm your nerves and be just what you need.”

“I don’t think so. Nothing is going to calm me down until I know what’s going on.” She looked at him in his jeans and shirt. They’d both dressed after Brandon’s text had come in. “I’m glad you’re here, cowboy.”

“Me, too, baby. Me, too.” He brought back two opened beers and handed her one. “Drink it all.”

“You need a beer?”

He shrugged. “I enjoy having a beer, but both of these are for you.”

“Trying to get me drunk, are you?” She giggled nervously, glad for the slight distraction from the grimness of the moment. “You’ve already had your way with me, mister. What more do you want?”

“More than you can imagine, Shelby.” He touched her cheek. “Everything is going to be okay. Whatever Brandon has found out, we’ll see it through together. And like I told you before, he is the best attorney in Nevada.”

She sipped on the beer. “Jackson Wilde might have something to say about that. Oh God, I should call Austin. I didn’t go back to work after lunch. He’s home with Jessie and baby Carol. I’m supposed to be handling things for him. He’s got to be furious with me.” She grabbed her cell and punched a text out to Austin.

“Doesn’t matter if he is or not. This is serious. He’s got to understand that.”

“Austin isn’t a man to be trifled with,” she said, thinking about her boss, the big bad Dom. He was professional in the office, but he did know how to punch her buttons when necessary. “Austin understands more than most, Justin.”

She hit send. In less than five seconds, a text from Austin came back. Short and to the point. “Got it. Keep me informed on what’s going on. I’ll get on it.”

“That from him?” Justin asked.

She nodded. “Austin must’ve already known about Byrd being here.”

“How?” Justin’s eyebrows shot up. “Byrd came in looking for you and then left for Elko.”

“Austin doesn’t miss much in this town. I know.” She was glad that her boss was going to do his part to help her. Austin was strict, serious, and sometimes too tough, but he was loyal. She was glad Austin had her back and that she had Justin, Brandon, and Alex in her corner.

Brandon rushed through the front door without knocking. “Justin, I’ve got a job for you.”

Justin stood. “No you don’t, bro. You tell us what happened in Elko first.”

She downed the beer, praying for it to work magic on her frayed nerves. It didn’t, of course. “Please, Brandon. Whatever it is, I’ve got to know.”

He sat down beside her and grabbed her hands. “Tell me the truth. Did you or didn’t you attack Lucille Sunday?”

She jerked her hands away. “I already told you the truth.”

“What the fuck are you doing, Brandon?” Justin’s face darkened and his eyes narrowed.

“I believe you,” he said, taking her hands in his once again. “Sorry, Shelby. I’ve known you were innocent since you gave me the five dollars. I can get carried away with my own shit being an attorney sometimes. It’s bad, Shelby. Really bad. Lucille regained consciousness for a moment and implicated you as her attacker.”

Her jaw dropped. “No. That’s not possible.” Her pulse pounded in her head, hammering hard against her skull. “I was here in bed. I never saw her again after Saturday night.” Panic shot through her like bullets from a machine gun. Her breathing was shaky and shallow. “How did this happen?”

Justin sat down on the other side of her. “He’s the best, baby. Brandon knows what to do.”

“What can he do? Lucille said I did it.” She turned to Brandon. “Did she say my name?”

“No. That’s good for our side.”