On either side of her, Jason and Phillip went stone still. So did the rest of the men at the table. Leesa knew who Marcus meant. Her ex-husband, Bryce Jordan, was apparently in the house.
Ginny met her gaze. Then Leesa looked at Brittany, Rebecca, Penelope, and April.
Leesa guessed she should have felt a little embarrassed, knowing that everyone at this very big table knew what was going on. But she’d grown way past the point of being bent out of shape about everyone being up in her business.
Her relatives were named Montoya and Shaughnessy. If being raised in a half-Hispanic, half-Irish household with a very large extended family hadn’t cured her of that annoyance, fifteen years in the army certainly should have.
Adam looked at Leesa. “Do you want to talk to the man, first?”
She understood what he was doing. He’d been raised in Lusty and had been married long enough to understand that a woman didn’t appreciate having her choices taken away from her. And she was grateful for his consideration. Even though there was no one on this planet she wanted to see again or speak to again less than Bryce Jordan. She simply had nothing to say to the man. But she appreciated being asked.
She tilted her head to the side. “I don’t. I’m willing to leave it all up to you and my guys.” Then she looked at the ladies. “I’m sorry if that makes me appear to be…”
Ginny Kendall waved her hand. “It makes you appear to be in charge of your own life.”
“And your choice not to see the scum-sucking asshole, pardon my French, is a perfectly valid one.” April nodded as she said that.
“Absolutely.” Brittany Phillips nodded.
“What Ginny and April said.” Penelope smiled.
“I’m with them.” Rebecca was nodding her agreement.
Knowing these women of strength didn’t count her a coward made Leesa feel better.
“I want a piece of this,” Jason said. He ran his hand down Leesa’s back then kissed her hand. She did notice that he and Phillip exchanged a look. They’d had that like-mind thing going on between them, she knew, since before they’d ever come to Texas.
“I’m sure you do,” Adam replied. “And you’ll have it. It’ll be just you, me, and the spook, here.” She’d learned that Marc Jessop had ended up working for the CIA before his return to Lusty. “But you have to promise that you let us handle the creep. No matter how tempting it might be for you to haul off and punch his lights out.”
Jason looked at Adam. “I’ll cede this moment, this time, to you. But only because I know how seriously you take your job. And because I do understand there are elements in this situation that I don’t understand.”
Leesa knew Adam took his job very seriously, too. One of the bits of lore she’d heard was of the day Adam had crashed through a plate glass window in his attempt to save Chloe Rhodes Jessop from the same criminal who’d assaulted her younger sister, Carrie Benedict, years before.
As it turned out, Chloe had saved Adam’s life by killing her assailant when that miscreant had aimed his gun at Adam.
What she didn’t know was what Jason meant by elements he didn’t understand. Leesa didn’t worry about it overmuch at the moment, though. She’d get it out of him when they were alone.
Adam’s expression turned serious. “All right then. Let’s go pay our respects to the gentleman at the bar.”
* * * *
Jason had heard all the stories about the many “adventures” his cousins here in Lusty had experienced over recent years, including the hair-raising incident involving his own brothers and his sister-in-law, Bailey. He’d been shocked when they’d related the tale of Bailey having been stalked by a killer. But now, loving Leesa, his feelings had gone way beyond shock. He couldn’t imagine the terror Chance and Logan must have felt, knowing their woman was being held at knifepoint.
He understood down to his soul that if the moment ever arose, he’d put himself between Leesa and danger of any kind without a second thought. Sometimes the love he felt for that woman rose up and humbled him, nearly bringing him to his knees. Jason Benedict was self-aware enough to understand that, since coming to Lusty, he’d begun to change. Until this moment, he hadn’t known what to think of those changes.
Jason also figured the reason the incident with his brothers and Bailey came to mind was his inner voice telling him that Adam Kendall may be his laid-back, slightly laconic, and somewhat wry-humored cousin, but he was also a well-trained cop—one who knew his job well and one who considered the safety of every member of his community his sacred duty.
But as he walked with the sheriff and the retired CIA operative to confront the man who’d, at one time, put hands on his woman in violence, he knew the depth of those changes within him, and he owned his emotions. Adam knew those emotions, too, because he and his brother had gone through their own trial-by-fire with their wife. That was why Adam had asked for his restraint.
Thank God I came to Lusty. And thank God I found my Leesa.
Leesa was his, and he’d do whatever was needed to keep her safe.
As they neared the bar, he saw Angela Stone standing behind the chest-high polished wood in front of a man who had an opened beer in hand. Bryce Jordan. Angela appeared to be listening intently to whatever Jordan was saying to her.
Since Adam headed toward Jordan’s left—which would put him between Jordan and the door—Jason headed to Jordan’s right. Marcus gave him a slight nod, and Jason understood why when Marcus took up his position about half an arm’s length behind Bryce Jordan.
“Hello, Sheriff.” Angela nodded to Adam then faced Bryce Jordan. “I believe these gentlemen wish to speak with you.”
Bryce Jordan looked at Adam then turned to look at Jason. “You’re the one was
