Bound to Billionaires (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 2)

Lucy walked up to the booth with the sheriff. “Your wish is my command. Megan, let me introduce you to our sheriff, Jason Wolfe.”

“Order up,” Norm called from the kitchen.

“Hold your horses, dear husband.” Lucy filled hers and Phoebe’s glasses. “I’ll be back. Have more hungry patrons to take care of.” The woman darted off, twirling her Hula-Hoop around her waist.

The sheriff stepped up to the booth. “What seems to be the trouble?”

Scott thrummed his fingers on the table. “We’ve got a woman who refuses to be honest, Jason.”

Why were the Knights pushing this? What was their angle? She studied both of them.

Scott smiled at her, a broad grin that made his chocolate eyes even brighter, helping her warm to him even more. Of the two brothers, he looked much more approachable.

Eric’s unhinging blue-eyed stare sent a hot shiver through her body. His intense gaze never left her. “We’ve got this covered, Jason.”

She folded her arms over her chest, fighting the weariness inside her body. “Sheriff, you may remember me back in the courtroom. I’m Megan Lunceford.”

“I know who you are, Mrs. Lunceford. Everyone in Destiny knows.” The man turned to Phoebe, and their eyes locked in a way that seemed to show they had some kind of history, a painful one likely. After a few uncomfortable moments, Jason turned back to Megan. “She’s your client, counselor. What do you say?”

Phoebe blinked and turned to her. “Megan, Eric and Scott are right about you. You’re on the verge of collapsing, aren’t you? Starving, too, I’m sure.”

Megan’s defenses were weak. Why should she trust any of them? Of course, she shouldn’t. For whatever reason—overwhelming fatigue, crushing hunger, or staggering loneliness—the truth vibrated on her lips, but before the words came out, her eyes betrayed her, releasing sudden tears. She closed her eyes, ashamed for the outburst. She’d only cried in front of two people, besides her mother, in her entire life. The memory of that day when the two men rolled out the sheet-covered body of her mom from the hospital room called forth a new set of sobs. Damn her exhaustion for making her so weak, so open, so vulnerable.

Megan tried to tamp down her waterworks, but failed.

She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, Scott’s arm. “It’s going to be okay, Megan. Trust me.”

God, she wanted to, but how? Her instincts were worthless. History had proven that. Kip had verified, notarized, and filed that away. When it came to men, any men, she was mentally incompetent.

Fingers touched her cheek, Eric’s fingers.

She opened her eyes and looked at his handsome face filled with what seemed to be concern. “I–I a–am so sorry about everything. God, I hate crying in front of people.” Wiping her eyes, she turned to Phoebe. “You’re right. I’m tired. Really tired. Please forgive me for my outburst.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Megan.” Scott pulled her into his muscled frame, and she couldn’t resist. She leaned into him, enjoying the strength he was offering. “Eric, what do you say now?”

She looked at the other brother. A storm brewed behind those eyes that sent another round of shivers through her body.

Eric brushed the hair out of her eyes. “You don’t have to worry about anything, Megan. We did this to you.”

She shook her head. “No. You’re not responsible for me.”

“We are now,” he said, turning back to the sheriff. “Like I said, we’ve got this.”

“I think you do,” Jason said. “I’ll leave you to it then. Nice to meet you, Megan.”

It was clear that she was the last person to be in charge here at the moment. No sense in asking the lawman to stay. He wouldn’t. So, she answered, “You, too.”

The sheriff turned to Phoebe. “Later.”

“Bye.” Phoebe’s single syllable seemed laden with unspoken volumes from the past between the two. As Jason exited for his seat at the counter, Phoebe watched him.

Megan wondered what had happened that had caused the obvious rift. Maybe Phoebe didn’t have good instincts about men either. She’d have to ask her about it one day. One day? How about seven? She shuddered, remembering why she was here in Destiny in the first place.

The Knights were suing her for ten million dollars. If she lost, they could even take the last thing left to her, her mother’s home.

Pulling away from Scott, she took a deep breath and shook off the fogginess in her mind. She needed to think clearly and stay focused.

“Eat your lunch, Megan,” Eric ordered in a tone that undeniably meant he didn’t want any debate, only compliance. “Scott and I will talk with Phoebe about our offer to drop our lawsuit against you.”