Josh's Challenge Read online

  Josh turned around in his seat. “That doesn’t make sense. Melissa knows her from school. They were roommates.”

  “There’s no paper trail on her from before her arrival at Melissa’s school—no financials, no birth records. That’s why I was late getting to the bar last night.” McKinley shook his head. “Drop me at my truck before heading out to your estate, Sheriff. I need to do some follow-up. I’ll hit ya back when I know more.”

  After they dropped McKinley off at his truck, Josh tried to talk Jarod into getting his own pickup out of impound. The stubborn jackass wouldn’t go for it. “I think I’ll keep it for a bit longer so I can keep my eyes on you. I don’t need you doing anything stupid.”

  “I have to work, dickhead.”

  “Gimme a break, Josh! You practically work from home! But if you need to go somewhere work related, Dad can drive you.” Jarod had an answer for everything. He was going to get his ass kicked…again. The sweet memory of overtaking Jarod last fall and bloodying his nose brought a smile to Josh’s face, and he vowed to do it again soon.

  Jessica was beyond thrilled at having Ginger at the estate. After dropping off the cat and giving a brief explanation of the circumstances to Camille, Josh threw Jarod a dirty look before getting back into the cruiser.

  “Since you’ve taken away my driving privileges, you’ll have to be my chauffeur. Take me back the hospital.”

  Jarod must have seen something in Josh’s eyes because the entire ride back to town was silent.

  MARGUERITE HAD DRIFTED back into a hard sleep. Missy watched her sister breathe steadily in and out and thanked God she’d be all right. The doctors believed that Marguerite’s extreme reaction may have been due to an allergy. She hadn’t been breathing when she was brought in, and at one point her heart had stopped, necessitating the use of a defibrillator. The doctors had been lucky to raise her heart rate enough that intubation hadn’t been required. Missy kept an eye on the pulse oximeter attached to Marguerite’s finger; her oxygen levels were normal now. The rhythmic beeping of Marguerite’s heart monitor lulled Missy into a false sense of calm as her sister recovered from the assault.

  “It’s frightening how easily a person can be poisoned in public,” Darla said. “Dane doesn’t want us to go home.”

  Missy shook her head. “I need to take care of Ginger. I need to get ready for work once I know Marguerite is going to be all right, and you need to rest in your own bed. All your meds are at your house.”

  Her mother gave her The Look. “If your uncle said don’t go home, then we don’t, honey. You know that.”

  Uncle Dane had taken over as their unofficial guardian after her father died. They’d listened to Dane, and he’d kept them safe ever since, and for that Missy was thankful. However, in this case, she didn’t agree with his instructions.

  “Where are we supposed to stay?”

  Darla sighed. “With James and Camille. Honestly, I’m not comfortable with it either.” When Missy said nothing, her mother let the silence reign. Finally, she said quietly, “You know, I’m very proud of you for sticking up for your sister like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you were the woman in charge,” she said slyly. “All your life, you’ve lived in the shadow of your big sister, who loves you with all of her heart. Anyway, that’s the first time I’ve seen you be so assertive. I’m just glad you’ve finally found your voice.”

  “Mom, I’ve always had my voice.” She just didn’t know what to say most of the time.

  “No, you haven’t. Oh, sure, we all knew you wanted to be a vet since you uttered the word ‘puppy,’ but you’ve never, ever taken the initiative and spoken your mind.” She shook her head while hugging Missy. “And, oh, what a brilliant mind you have.”

  “Mom . . .”

  “Did you know that you didn’t speak until you were almost three?”

  This was the first time Missy had heard this. She shook her head.

  “Well, that’s because your big sister knew what you needed or wanted before anyone else did, including yourself. She was so excited to be a big sister, Melissa,” she said, gazing down at her oldest child. “When your father and I told her we were having another baby, she jumped up and down and said ‘baby’ over and over again. When we found out I was having another girl, Marguerite told us that your name was Missy.”

  “You let a two-year-old name me?” Missy asked dryly.

  “Well,” Darla conceded with a laugh, “we’d already picked out the name Melissa Ann, so when she called you Missy, it just stuck.” She shook her head at the memories. “Anyway, I was so angry with you when you thought that Marguerite had stolen Josh. She would never, ever, EVER do anything to hurt you, but I was relieved when you stood up for her today. It was what I needed to hear to know that you love her just as much as she loves you.”

  Missy stared at her sister. “Even when she’s bossing me around, I always feel like she knows me best.”

  “And you know her, I expect. Now, what are you going to do about all this Facebook nonsense?”

  Missy looked ill. “I don’t know, but I’m sure I’ll figure something out.”

  “I’ll help you,” Josh said as he came into the room and took a seat next to Missy. “Between my brother the sheriff, Marshal McKinley, and your ex-FBI uncle, I’m sure we can get the social media giant to take down those posts. Maybe they can even help track down where they originated.”

  “Not bad, handsome,” Marguerite croaked from the bed. “You should ask your brother for a job at the station.”

  “Yeah, no thanks,” Josh drawled.

  Everyone immediately went into caregiver mode after Marguerite woke up.

  “Are you thirsty?”

  “What can I get you?”

  “Do you need the nurse?”

  Marguerite smiled at all the attention. “Yes to the water, please, Mom.”

  Darla handed her the cup. Missy noticed how dry her sister’s lips were and dug into her own pocket.

  “Here’s some lip balm,” she said, handing it to her.

  “A godsend, thank you.”

  When the nurse came in, Missy said, “I thought for sure that Angelica would be taking care of you today.” She immediately felt Josh stiffen next to her. The nurse attending Marguerite frowned.

  “Who’s that?”

  Now Missy was puzzled. “My roommate. She’s a nurse here.”

  “Well, maybe we just haven’t been on the same shifts,” the nurse said as she turned her attention to her patient. “Marguerite, your vitals have been stable for a while. Do you feel like eating something?”

  “Yes, but I’d also like to pee,” she said, looking at the IV in her arm. “I think my bladder is going to burst.”

  Missy and the nurse helped Marguerite to the restroom while Josh volunteered to take Darla to the vending machine and back. Getting up seemed to have motivated Marguerite, and she requested to get dressed.

  When Josh and Darla made it back to the room, Marguerite had donned some sweats and sat grimacing at her lunch. She looked much better and was beginning to demand that she be released.

  “Seriously, I think I just needed to sleep that crap off and get some fluids in me. I’m fine.” She pushed the rest of her mushy hospital food around on the plate. “Can we stop by Molly’s and get a burger?”

  “I’d call ahead, but I don’t have a phone anymore,” Missy said.

  “I’ll do it,” Josh volunteered. After taking everyone’s orders, he called them in, and by then the nurse was there with the release forms. Missy was the only one with a car, so they all piled into the CRV and picked up dinner. Making an executive decision, Missy drove to her mother’s house, earning a glare from Darla. It would just be easier on her mother if they all stayed there.

  “Have you heard from anyone?” Missy asked the car in general.

  “No,” Josh said. “Have you heard from Angelica?”

  “I don’t have a phone, remember?” When he didn’t l
ook at her, she asked, “What aren’t you telling us?”

  “Dane checked her records. Angelica doesn’t work for the hospital.”

  “You mean she was fired?”

  “No, I mean she’s never worked for the hospital.” He still wasn’t looking at her.

  “Hang on,” Marguerite said. “I think that’s what Declan wanted to talk to me about last night.”

  Marguerite’s use of the marshal’s first name didn’t escape Missy’s notice, but she avoided commenting. “Why?”

  “Some memories are coming back, but it’s still fuzzy. He said he needed to talk to me about your roommate, that he needed more information or something.”

  “That makes sense since her history only goes back a few years,” Josh said.

  “Are you saying that Angelica is responsible for drugging you two?” Missy wracked her brain. What had Angelica said just this morning? That tigers never changed their stripes, and that she herself would look after Missy. She told everyone, and they all sat stunned.

  “If she were posing as a nurse, she would’ve had access to all kinds of drugs,” Marguerite said.

  Josh agreed. “Yep, and she knew our routine and when to nab Ginger.”

  Missy tried not to be sick. “Angelica never cared for Ginger either. I should’ve known then that something was off.”

  “My dear lord,” Darla whispered. “Honey, you’ve been living with your stalker this whole time!”

  “No, the chocolates were the first incident. She wasn’t living with me then.”

  “True, but she could’ve been holed up somewhere watching you,” Marguerite said angrily from the backseat.

  “There’s something else,” Josh said. “She has another vehicle, Missy.”

  “How do you know?” Missy asked him.

  “Charlie and Marco told us. Apparently, Marco followed her one night after he dropped her off at ‘work.’” He motioned with air quotes.

  “Jeez, is that kid a stalker too?” Marguerite asked dryly.

  Josh laughed at that. “No, but he’s got the hots for her, so when she didn’t go inside the hospital the other night like she was supposed to, he followed her.”

  It made perfect sense even if Missy didn’t want to believe it. “She helped me with Harold, too.”

  “Maybe Harold wasn’t stalking you at all.” This from her mother who’d been quiet for a long time. “Maybe Angelica just wanted you for herself.” No one said a word as they processed this disturbing theory.

  After arriving at Darla’s house, Marguerite carried in the food, appearing stronger than she’d been all day. Meanwhile, Josh and Missy helped Darla out of the car and into the house. Once everyone was settled at the small dinette, Missy’s mind began to recall all the problems she’d had since moving back home to Timbisha.

  Angelica’s surprise arrival had felt off from the beginning, but because Missy had been anxious about her new job—and her incredibly sexy landlord—she hadn’t put too much thought into Angelica’s behavior. Angelica paid her rent in advance and spent money like she had a lot of it. She had to be getting an income from somewhere, and Missy said as much to the group.

  Josh shook his head. “That’s actually something the marshal can check on. With Harold’s death still unsolved, maybe she’s tapping into his accounts to pay for whatever it is she’s got planned for you.”

  “No,” Missy said thoughtfully. “Angelica had money to spend when we were in college, too. Maybe she’s living off a trust fund.” When everyone turned to stare at her, she said, “What?”

  “If she’s pulling money out of a fund, we can track it,” Marguerite said, pulling out her phone. “Hey, Jarod, it’s me. Yes, I’m home…Yes, I’m fine, will you listen a sec? Okay, tell Dane and Declan to check for any trust fund babies who’ve gone missing. Because if Angelica doesn’t have a job, she’s got to be pulling money from somewhere, right?” She paused. “You bet.” She hung up and put her phone face down on the table, then took a bite of her burger.

  “Well, what’d he say?” Josh asked impatiently while Marguerite took her time chewing her food.

  “He said he was on it. We’ll know soon enough. Between the three of them, they’ll find out just who the hell Angelica Daemon really is,” she said with confidence before inhaling another bite.

  Flower wallpaper dotted the walls, and a pink chenille bedspread covered a full-sized bed with iron rails. Teen idols adorned the walls in between pictures of family, farm animals, and a Twilight movie poster.

  “I’m exhausted,” Melissa said as she pulled her t-shirt off and flung it on the floor. “What are you doing?”

  “Making sure there isn’t a long drop down from the window,” Josh said.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m in a teenaged girl’s bedroom, and I don’t want her father to catch me playing doctor, that’s why.”

  Melissa stopped unbuttoning her pants and stared at him. “Just how many windows did you sneak out of in high school?”

  “Too many to count,” he said wickedly. He took her in his arms and she immediately rewarded him by putting her sweet lips on his. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

  “You said you’d behave. Mom is just next door.” Josh had pleaded with her to stay at the estate, but her concern was for her mother, and, frankly, she’d been right. Just visiting the hospital had been taxing on Darla, who was seriously ill. He felt ashamed that he’d let his libido get in the way of safety for two women who weren’t in the best of health at the moment.

  “And I will behave, just as long as you let me hold you all night.” He even crossed his heart.

  “Deal.” She smiled as she shimmied out of her pants, leaving her wearing nothing but matching panties and bra, which had him regretting his promise to behave himself.

  He’d just taken off his own shirt and was about to unsnap his fly when Marguerite’s curse filled the house and Melissa’s bedroom door flew open. Marguerite stood gaping angrily and holding out her cell phone.

  “Have you seen this bull?”

  Josh saw the picture of himself with Marguerite and sighed. “Yep. Now get out.”

  “Josh!” Melissa scolded him. “She’s my sister.”

  “I know who she is, and one day she’ll be my sister-in-law, if I’m lucky.” Both sisters went all soft and said “aw” at the same time, but he forged on. “But right now, Marguerite, this is old news and I’m tired, so go.” He tried to close the door on her, but she skirted around him and flopped on Melissa’s bed.

  What. The. Hell.

  “Get real, Eye Candy, I have a situation here!”

  Josh rubbed his hands down his face and sat on Melissa’s vanity bench. When it didn’t collapse under his weight, he looked over at the sisters. Melissa, who now wore nothing but her sexy panties and bra, sat on the bed next to Marguerite, who wore skimpy pajamas. Suddenly, Josh flashed back to his second year of college and a very pleasant incident involving the Myers twins. Shaking his head, he leaned down, elbows to knees, and put his face in his hands.

  “Marguerite, between Uncle Dane’s connections and the efforts of Marshal McKinley and Jarod, we’re going to find out where the photos came from and get them taken down. Until then, we just have to hold tight.” Melissa took the phone out of her sister’s hands. “Now, I need for you to go to bed. You’ve been through hell today, Josh is recovering too, and I’m tired. Screaming all night about Facebook isn’t good for Mom either, right?”

  Marguerite smiled sheepishly. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry I barged in. Goodnight, you two.” She stood to leave but then stopped in the doorway. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she said with a smirk before shutting the door behind her, leaving him alone with Melissa at last.

  Josh chuckled. “You handled that nicely.”

  She rolled her eyes and pulled down the covers. “Yes, I did. Now turn out the light and come to bed,” she said around a yawn.

  He did as she ordered, sliding in beside her.
Her warm body was a balm to his weary soul. All the drama of the past week and the heartbreak of last night melted away as she pressed against his body. He tightened his arms around her. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too,” she said.

  SUNDAY MORNING LIGHT filtered in through the blinds in Melissa’s old bedroom, striking Josh right in the eyes. Remnants of the Mickey he’d been slipped still polluted his system, making it difficult to open his eyelids. After finally cracking a very dry one open, he read the clock: half past eight. Melissa lay spooned against his back, her long, elegant arm draped over his middle, and he could feel her soft breaths blowing between his shoulder blades. The ceiling fan gently pushed warm air around the room. Sometime in the night, Melissa had kicked off the blankets so that they could hold each other without sticking to each other, literally.

  If he couldn’t be inside her, this was the next best thing.

  He laced his fingers with hers and dreamed about a future when he could wake up like this every morning. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it before tucking it up against his heart.

  Melissa began to wriggle and then she yawned. “What time is it?”

  “Quarter to nine.”

  She let go of his hand and rolled onto her back, stretching her perfect body against his. Unable to stop himself, he rolled over in a flash and pinned her down with his own hungry body and kissed her as if they were alone in the house.

  Damn.

  When he came up for air, her purple eyes were luminous and her sweet breaths came faster. All he wanted to do was spend the day just like this.

  But they couldn’t.

  Suddenly, Melissa grinned evilly and ground her hips up against him. “If you need to take a shower, you’d better do it now before Marguerite gets up and sees you…awake.” She frowned suddenly before admitting, “I really wouldn’t want her to see you like this, Josh. Get moving.” And she slapped his ass!

  “Well, aren’t you the demanding little thing,” he said with a laugh. “Hell, where’re my clothes?”