Stacy's Destiny (The Town of Pearl 2)

The others added similar compliments, and Stacy smiled. The men had filled her in on the competition. Ben had also told Stacy about Betsie’s flirty ways and how she wanted to land a Cantrell. Eric and Max’s cousins had become her allies in no time. They made her feel like family, and it felt really good.

“Are you sure you like it and it tastes good?” she asked.

Just then, Max and Wyatt entered the kitchen in full uniforms. Damn, the sight of him in his uniform drove her wild with desire. Just last night, when he finally returned back at the house from work, he wouldn’t let her drive home. He and Eric insisted that she stay, and before long, they had her naked and spread on Max’s bed upstairs.

“It smells so good in here, we’re starving!” Wyatt exclaimed as he set his hat on the rack by the side door. Max did the same. They washed up as Stacy grabbed two extra settings and the men made room around the large table. Max then came over and gave her a kiss then took a seat next to her where Ben made some room.

“You made this, doll?” Wyatt asked after swallowing a forkful of chili. She nodded, and he smiled wide.

“Well, I’ll be damned. I think there’s going to be actual competition at the chili cook-off this year,” Wyatt stated as he took another taste.

“How about them pies you were working on this afternoon? Need some taste testers for those?” Charlie asked.

“As soon as we’re finished with supper, I can get a slice or two for you. I made apple pie and peach pie.”

The men moaned then leaned back in their chairs.

“You better treat this woman right or we’ll disown you from the family,” Ben added, and everyone laughed. Stacy lowered her eyes and avoided eye contact with Max and Eric. Ben seemed to pick up on it as well as he changed the subject.

“Have you gotten any further suspects in those robberies happening around the outskirts of town?’ Ben asked Max and Wyatt. To Stacy, both men looked angry and worried.

“Not yet. But we just had another one, during the day this time,” Wyatt stated then looked from Max to Eric then at Stacy.

“Where?” she asked, and everyone got awfully quiet. She had a funny feeling inside. What were they hiding from her?

“Max, what’s going on?” she asked and noticed that everyone but her at the table seemed to be aware of the secret.

“Over by Marie’s farm and your cottage,” Max stated as he held her gaze then stood up and walked toward the window. She could tell he was upset.

“Oh my God, did they take something from Marie’s place? Is Marie okay?” Stacy asked. She hadn’t been by there for the last two days. The men had insisted she stay with them. Was this the reason why? Did they not want to tell her about the robbery?

Stacy stood up. “Why didn’t you tell me? What did they take?” she demanded to know as she pulled the dish towel from the counter and ran it through her hands. It gave her something to hold on to. She felt her hands begin to shake.

“Just some tools from Marie’s, and they broke into your cottage,” Wyatt told her then looked at Eric.

“They broke into my cottage?” she asked.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Max stated firmly.

Stacy was getting upset. She could feel her stomach begin to ache and her head instantly throb. Immediately she thought about Barry. Could this be some kind o

f game?

“No, we’ll talk about it now, Max!” she yelled, and when he raised his eyebrows at her and gave her a look that she had never seen before, she froze. He looked so damn authoritative and in charge it pissed her off and turned her on at the same damn time. He wasn’t going to run her life. She had every right to know.

“Later, Stacy. When I get off work, we’ll discuss it together with Eric. We’re working extra hours in preparation for the fair.”

Her blood felt like it was beginning to boil. How dare he dismiss her? It was her damn place, and she had the right to know what was taken.

“It is my cottage, and my things that are there. I have a right to know,” she told him then looked around at the others. Eric looked just as pissed off as Max and both Charlie and Ben just sort of stared at Max. She got the feeling that they were on her side in this.

Max pointed at her. “Now is not the time to discuss this. We’re doing an investigation and we will let you know the details later.”

She threw the dish towel onto the floor and began to stomp out of the room.

“I’m leaving,” she stated.

“What about the chili?” Ben asked with a smile, obviously trying to break the tension in the air.