Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

“I just told you nothing is going on between Dustin and I.”

“You can’t court forever. You’re not getting any younger.”

Jessie snatched the newspaper off the counter and threw it in the recycling bin. “Dustin’s already told me that he doesn’t want to get married.”

Holt lowered his cell phone at her quick retort. “When did he tell you that?”

“A few days ago.”

“Then he needs to be changing his mind pretty damn quick.”

Jessie seethed as she listened to Holt call Bubba and ask for his help and his truck. As soon as he disconnected, she resumed the conversation they had been having.

“Why should he change his mind?” she practically yelled at the stubborn man. “I told you nothing was happening. We’re just friends.”

“Bullshit. A man doesn’t claim a woman as his unless he’s going to put a ring on her finger.”

Confused, Jessie stared at Holt. “When did he say I was his woman?”

“When I told him that I was the only one who was killing the bastard who hurt you.”

Jessie’s flush faded at the mention of what Holt was planning.

“What did Dustin say? Maybe you misunderstood him?”

Taking his jacket off the wall, he shrugged into it. “There was no mistaking what he said.”

Jessie clenched her teeth. “What did he say?”

“That no one hurts what belongs to him.”

Her heart melted. “He said that?”

Asher made a gagging noise as he opened the door. “We going or not?”

Jessie grabbed her coat, virtually floating on air as she walked to Holt’s truck. She squished in between her brothers. They were almost at her apartment building when her thoughts were dragged from the clouds.

When Holt pulled into the parking lot, she felt her pulse soaring at the panic that was trying to take ahold of her.

Holt and Asher both got out. Holt shut his door, and Asher waited for her to slide out.

“I’ll wait here.”

The courage she’d had about cleaning her apartment fled as soon as she had looked at building.

“What’s wrong?” Holt asked as he came to see what was taking them so long.

“She doesn’t want to go in. She wants to stay in the truck,” Asher explained.

Unable to meet her brothers’ sympathetic gazes, she put her head on her knees, praying the dizzying rush of fear would pass.

“That’s fine. Bubba and Bud are here. We can handle it. You stay here with Jessie.”

Jessie listened to Holt and Asher talk without raising her head.

“Excuse me. May I talk to Jessie?”

Her heart sunk at the feminine voice she heard, embarrassed that Lily was witnessing her panic attack.

“I can keep her company until you’re done. If that’s okay with you, Jessie?”

Jessie raised her head to see that Asher and Holt had moved away to let Lily stand in the open doorframe.

When she nodded, Lily gave her a gentle smile.

“I appreciate you donating your furniture to the thrift store. If you’d rather do it another time, Shade, Lucky, and I can come back?”

“No, I’d rather get it over with now.”

Lily waved toward Shade and the others before sliding into the truck cab next to her. “It’s a pretty day, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Jessie tried to think of something to take her mind off the brain-numbing fear that kept her inside the truck. “How’re your boys doing?”

Lily gave her a gentle smile. “Good. Glad their father is back home for the next two weeks.”

“Shade was gone?”

Lily nodded. “Do you remember Genny?”

“Of course.”

“She’s signed to perform with Mouth2Mouth in Nashville. The Last Riders are taking turns being part of her security team.”

Astonished, Jessie turn toward Lily. “She’s singing with Mouth2Mouth?”

“Genny’s the opening act.”

“Wow. I didn’t know that. I always enjoyed her singing in church. I didn’t know she was talented enough to be an opening act for a band like Mouth2Mouth.”

“Apparently, she didn’t either. I think Penni had something to do with it.”

“Penni?”

“My sister-in-law. Shade’s sister.”

“Is she enjoying it?”

“From what Shade says, I don’t think so.”

“Then why is she doing something she doesn’t want to?”

“I asked Shade the same question. He said he thinks she’s wanting to overcome her fear of singing in public, but she isn’t content traveling on the bus for long periods. This will give her time to decide what she wants to do.”

“I see,” Jessie mused out loud. “If she’s afraid of singing in public, it has to be even worse with so many who come to see the band.”

“I imagine so,” Lily agreed.

“I didn’t even want to get out of the truck, and that’s with Asher and Holt being here.”

“Fear is fear. It can strike when you’re all by yourself and when you’re around others who makes you feel safe. I spent a big portion of my life being afraid, and I can tell you from experience that the only different about it was the ability to hide it. And truthfully, I didn’t do a good job at that. I was afraid of my own shadow, and most of the town knew it.”