V Card Sweetheart (Sweetheart, Colorado)

I take the ramp, probably a little too fast as my tires skid across the concrete. I slow down, knowing I’m not going to be doing Jane any good if I kill myself before I get to her.

“Jane is going on a date.”

My stomach drops, and I clench onto the steering wheel until my knuckles are white. “What the fuck…”

“Now, Dutton, I told you that eventually she was going to say yes. He asked her out today and they’re going out tomorrow afternoon.”

“No, they’re not.” I say between gritted teeth. “She’s mine.”

Alice laughs. She fuckin’ laughs, and I swear if she was a man I would have a few choice words for her right now. “I’m not fuckin’ around, Alice.”

“Yeah, well, while you’ve been traveling the country, Jane has been here, by herself. You can’t blame her for going out on a date. She doesn’t have a clue how you feel about her.”

“I’m going to fix that. I’m on my way.”

I hit end on my phone. I probably should have at least thanked her for calling, but I’ll do that tomorrow. Right now, I don’t want to think about anything except getting back to Sweetheart and claiming Jane as mine. Because whether she knows it or not, she’s mine.

3

Dutton

I drove all night. Broke every rule and law of driving cross country, but there’s no way I was going to stop and rest. Fuck that. I’ll rest when I can have Jane in my bed with me. I stopped outside of Steamsprings to drop off my load with one of my drivers. It’s going to be late, but I don’t care. Nothing matters except me getting here.

I walk into The Stop and look around. Cheryl is working, and I dismiss her with a look. She’s a huge flirt but I don’t want anything to do with her. When I spot Alice behind the counter, I pounce toward her. “Thanks for calling me.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I only did it because I think Jane needs you in her life. I did it for her.”

I let out a breath at her words. She may have said it, but I feel the same way. Jane needs me and I need her. “Where is she?”

Alice is wrapping silverware and avoiding my eyes. “You’re too late. He picked her up”—he looks up at the clock—“around fifteen minutes ago.”

I grab on to the countertop. “Did he pick her up here?”

She shakes her head, and I can tell she doesn’t want to answer. “No, at her apartment.”

“Fuck.” I shove my hand through my hair. “Where were they going?”

“I don’t know.”

“Alice, don’t mess with me right now, I’m barely hanging on.”

And then she looks at me and I see the sincerity in her eyes. “I’m not messing with you. She didn’t know where they were going.”

I slap my hand on the counter. “Fine. Call me if you hear from her.”

I turn to go, but Alice stops me. “Where are you going?”

With my hand on the door, I answer her. “Sweetheart is a small town. I’ll just go to every restaurant until I find her.”

I push open the door and stop in my tracks. Jane and some young punk are walking up the sidewalk to the diner. He’s holding her hand, and I swear it takes everything in me not to throw my fist through the glass door.

I know the instant Jane sees me. She pulls her hand from the guy and stares up at me wide eyed. I don’t even try to hide my thoughts from her. There’s no way she doesn’t see the possessiveness I’m feeling right now.

I hold the door open and with a nod of my head, I say her name. “Jane.”

“Uh, hey Dutton.”

She walks by, and her sweet vanilla sugar scent fills my nostrils. She’s dressed up in a skirt and blouse, and it takes everything in me not to throw her over my shoulder and get her the fuck out of here.

The punk walks inside, leaving Jane to follow him, and I want to deck him for not showing my girl any manners. What the fuck? My mind’s all jumbled. I don’t want him to charm her or anything else.

They walk in and take a seat in a booth. I stalk behind them because there’s no way I’m letting her out of my sight.

I sit at the booth next to theirs. His back is to me, and I’m right in direct sight of Jane. She keeps looking at me. She appears to be nervous, and I can’t say I blame her. I know the look I’m giving her is not very comforting. I feel betrayed right now, but I know I shouldn’t. It’s my own fuckin’ fault. I should have moved faster. I should have asked her out long before this. But I wanted everything to be perfect. Well, fuck perfect.