Read Online Closer To You (Tales of the Sweet Magnolia Book 1) by Amanda McIntyre - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amanda McIntyre
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Jake let out a quiet sigh, his brain scrambling for a new plan.
“Well, now, it seems you and the sheriff are on familiar terms, is that it? I’m sorry, Jake…” he mimicked. The stranger’s black eyes narrowed. “This little filly your gal, Sheriff?” A menacing grin crawled over his murderous-looking face.
“You filthy beast.” Lilly elbowed the man in the stomach and stomped her heel on his boot, causing a distraction that allowed Jake to make it up the stairs. But before he could reach Lil, the man yanked her against him so hard that her feet came clean off the floor. The stench of whiskey mingled with her sweet jasmine scent.
Jake held out his hand, hoping to reason with the man. “I assure you there is nothing between the lady and me. Go on and tell him, Lil,” Jake instructed, tossing her a brief look and not letting his gaze linger. He needed her to go along with him on this; he was just about out of ideas of how to settle this amiably.
“I—” she started.
“Go on now, Lillian. No more of your stories, just tell him the truth.” Jake’s voice was tight with concern. Why wouldn’t the bull-headed woman just work with him? He chanced a quick look at her and received an icy stare.
“It’s true. I’d sooner die than be caught within ten feet of him.” There was poison in her tone.
“Is that a fact?” Her captor slid his hand over the front of Lilly’s gown, his purpose to taunt Jake, of that he was certain, since it was damn well working. His emotionless eyes held Jake’s as he blatantly groped her and flashed a grisly smile. “That’s good to know, Sheriff, since Miss Lilly and me, we’re gonna take a little ride.”
She held still, her chin high, keeping her gaze straight ahead.
“Come on, sweetheart.” The burly man pulled her along, holding her as a shield, his gun fixed on her side as he stepped around Jake. He backed down the steps, one at a time and Jake slowly followed, his mind racing to think of a plan. The big man stopped, hauling Lilly close. “Where’s your horse, Sheriff? I figure that little snitch had to take mine, or you wouldn’t be here. Unless, of course, you’re here for personal reasons.”
“You won’t get far. Let her go, take my horse. She’ll only impede your getaway.” Jake tried once more to reason with the man.
“Ah now, I can’t do that. I came in here to find a woman to relieve my need, and well, I’m going to see to that one way or another. ‘Sides, you’re not likely missing much with this one. Says she’s the librarian type, which as it happens, is how I like my women.” An evil chuckle emitted from his throat and he leaned over, sliding his tongue up her cheek.
That was enough, dammit.
Jake closed the gap between them and leapt through the air, his gun drawn. Taking advantage of the man’s surprise, Jake reached for Lil, knocking her out of the man’s grasp. As the dazed stranger searched for his gun, Jake drove his fist into the man’s gut, sending him stumbling down the remaining steps. There was just enough time to see Lilly scrambling to safety behind the bar, before his opponent found his gun and cocked the trigger with her in his sights. “Put the gun down,” Jake yelled and dived toward him.
The man rolled to his back, and squeezed off a shot, grazing Jake’s hip as he landed on the bulk of a man. His brain registered a loud scream and then a dull crack jarred his skull.
Screams filled the air and he heard Paddy’s boots stomping past him, followed by another loud crack of rifle shot. “And don’t come back unless you plan to stay for all eternity, you no-good bastard,” Paddy shouted.
Pain throbbed from Jake’s thigh and a searing heat radiated across his right butt cheek. He’d been shot, how bad he didn’t know. Everything swam before him in a watery pattern. “Lil—” He tried to see if she was all right, but the fire burning in his leg stopped his words. With a trembling hand, he brushed his fingers
“Well, now, it seems you and the sheriff are on familiar terms, is that it? I’m sorry, Jake…” he mimicked. The stranger’s black eyes narrowed. “This little filly your gal, Sheriff?” A menacing grin crawled over his murderous-looking face.
“You filthy beast.” Lilly elbowed the man in the stomach and stomped her heel on his boot, causing a distraction that allowed Jake to make it up the stairs. But before he could reach Lil, the man yanked her against him so hard that her feet came clean off the floor. The stench of whiskey mingled with her sweet jasmine scent.
Jake held out his hand, hoping to reason with the man. “I assure you there is nothing between the lady and me. Go on and tell him, Lil,” Jake instructed, tossing her a brief look and not letting his gaze linger. He needed her to go along with him on this; he was just about out of ideas of how to settle this amiably.
“I—” she started.
“Go on now, Lillian. No more of your stories, just tell him the truth.” Jake’s voice was tight with concern. Why wouldn’t the bull-headed woman just work with him? He chanced a quick look at her and received an icy stare.
“It’s true. I’d sooner die than be caught within ten feet of him.” There was poison in her tone.
“Is that a fact?” Her captor slid his hand over the front of Lilly’s gown, his purpose to taunt Jake, of that he was certain, since it was damn well working. His emotionless eyes held Jake’s as he blatantly groped her and flashed a grisly smile. “That’s good to know, Sheriff, since Miss Lilly and me, we’re gonna take a little ride.”
She held still, her chin high, keeping her gaze straight ahead.
“Come on, sweetheart.” The burly man pulled her along, holding her as a shield, his gun fixed on her side as he stepped around Jake. He backed down the steps, one at a time and Jake slowly followed, his mind racing to think of a plan. The big man stopped, hauling Lilly close. “Where’s your horse, Sheriff? I figure that little snitch had to take mine, or you wouldn’t be here. Unless, of course, you’re here for personal reasons.”
“You won’t get far. Let her go, take my horse. She’ll only impede your getaway.” Jake tried once more to reason with the man.
“Ah now, I can’t do that. I came in here to find a woman to relieve my need, and well, I’m going to see to that one way or another. ‘Sides, you’re not likely missing much with this one. Says she’s the librarian type, which as it happens, is how I like my women.” An evil chuckle emitted from his throat and he leaned over, sliding his tongue up her cheek.
That was enough, dammit.
Jake closed the gap between them and leapt through the air, his gun drawn. Taking advantage of the man’s surprise, Jake reached for Lil, knocking her out of the man’s grasp. As the dazed stranger searched for his gun, Jake drove his fist into the man’s gut, sending him stumbling down the remaining steps. There was just enough time to see Lilly scrambling to safety behind the bar, before his opponent found his gun and cocked the trigger with her in his sights. “Put the gun down,” Jake yelled and dived toward him.
The man rolled to his back, and squeezed off a shot, grazing Jake’s hip as he landed on the bulk of a man. His brain registered a loud scream and then a dull crack jarred his skull.
Screams filled the air and he heard Paddy’s boots stomping past him, followed by another loud crack of rifle shot. “And don’t come back unless you plan to stay for all eternity, you no-good bastard,” Paddy shouted.
Pain throbbed from Jake’s thigh and a searing heat radiated across his right butt cheek. He’d been shot, how bad he didn’t know. Everything swam before him in a watery pattern. “Lil—” He tried to see if she was all right, but the fire burning in his leg stopped his words. With a trembling hand, he brushed his fingers
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