The Lawman’s Blackmailed Bride (Billionaire Brothers 3): BBW Romance by Jenn Roseton Page A
Authors: Jenn Roseton
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she and Cole had been dating. Exclusively.
They saw each other most nights, with Cole usually staying at her apartment until dawn, when he would go home, grab a shower and clean clothes and head to his office.
And on the weekends, Phoebe stayed over at his log cabin. They hiked his property, relaxed in the shade, made love multiple times, and she’d even joined him fishing. Cole had led her down to the lake on the edge of his property. For a few minutes they sat side by side in silence, their fishing rods dangling in the water, until Cole leaned over and kissed her. That kiss had led them to making love al fresco, secure in the knowledge that the lake was secluded. Whenever she thought of fishing, a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
She’d met Garrett and Maddie and Alex and Laura when each couple returned from their honeymoon. Maddie had been pleased she’d been able to help Phoebe in a small way with her borrowed clothes, and waved away her offer to reimburse her for the borrowed panties. In fact, Phoebe had enjoyed hanging out with Maddie and Laura, and hoped to see them again soon.
The doorbell rang, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Opening the door, she gazed at Cole, looking sexy in a white button-down shirt and neatly pressed jeans. “Hi.”
“ Hi, sweetheart.” He cupped her chin, drawing her to him for a long kiss.
Her cheeks flushed, Phoebe eventually pulled away. “Come on in.”
He followed her into the kitchen, where he watched her bustle about the small space, getting plates and glassware ready for their meal.
“ Hungry?” she asked, tossing the salad.
“ Always - for you,” he replied, his eyes gleaming with desire.
Phoebe tried to hide a smile. She’d never known a relationship could be so incredible. Thinking of the sparse few boyfriends she’d had in the past almost made her shudder, especially Scott, who’d told her he loved her and then stolen her Clarice Cliff vase.
They sat down at the small dining table.
“How was work today?” Cole inquired.
“ Good.” She smiled. “I sold that farmhouse table my boss said had been in the shop for years.”
“ I’m glad they offered you a job when the newspaper article came out.” He grinned, attacking his steak.
When she and Cole returned from their cross-country quest, Mrs. Miller had been so delighted with Phoebe ’s dedication to uncover the coin’s provenance that she’d given an interview with a local newspaper. Another antiques store in Cheyenne had offered her a job, without even requiring her to interview for it. Luckily, her new boss seemed honest and was a lot nicer than Victor. In some ways, her new job reminded her of when she worked with Mr. Dawson.
“ Dessert?” She inquired, already rising from the table. She’d made chocolate mousse for tonight.
“ Wait.” He laid his hand on her arm.
“ What is it?” She sat back down at the table, looking at him wonderingly.
“ Sweetheart.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve been dating for three months now.” He paused.
“ Yes.” The best three months of my life.
“ I’ve got something to tell you.”
He looked so serious. Anxiety tickled her spine. Was he sick? Did he need her to help him with a case? She’d gladly do whatever she could to assist him.
“I’m a private investigator, but I pick and choose my cases.”
Phoebe’s hands relaxed in his. If that’s all he had to say, she didn’t know why he suddenly looked so worried.
“Sometimes my clients can’t afford to pay me--”
“ You wouldn’t let me pay you after we got back to Cheyenne.” She flushed guiltily.
“ I know, sweetheart.” His hands tightened on hers. “I don’t want or need your money. You see,” he took a deep breath, “I’m financially independent without being paid for my investigative work.”
Her brow furrowed. These days, a lot of people bandied around that term, financially independent. “What does that actually mean?” she whispered.
“It means I
They saw each other most nights, with Cole usually staying at her apartment until dawn, when he would go home, grab a shower and clean clothes and head to his office.
And on the weekends, Phoebe stayed over at his log cabin. They hiked his property, relaxed in the shade, made love multiple times, and she’d even joined him fishing. Cole had led her down to the lake on the edge of his property. For a few minutes they sat side by side in silence, their fishing rods dangling in the water, until Cole leaned over and kissed her. That kiss had led them to making love al fresco, secure in the knowledge that the lake was secluded. Whenever she thought of fishing, a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
She’d met Garrett and Maddie and Alex and Laura when each couple returned from their honeymoon. Maddie had been pleased she’d been able to help Phoebe in a small way with her borrowed clothes, and waved away her offer to reimburse her for the borrowed panties. In fact, Phoebe had enjoyed hanging out with Maddie and Laura, and hoped to see them again soon.
The doorbell rang, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Opening the door, she gazed at Cole, looking sexy in a white button-down shirt and neatly pressed jeans. “Hi.”
“ Hi, sweetheart.” He cupped her chin, drawing her to him for a long kiss.
Her cheeks flushed, Phoebe eventually pulled away. “Come on in.”
He followed her into the kitchen, where he watched her bustle about the small space, getting plates and glassware ready for their meal.
“ Hungry?” she asked, tossing the salad.
“ Always - for you,” he replied, his eyes gleaming with desire.
Phoebe tried to hide a smile. She’d never known a relationship could be so incredible. Thinking of the sparse few boyfriends she’d had in the past almost made her shudder, especially Scott, who’d told her he loved her and then stolen her Clarice Cliff vase.
They sat down at the small dining table.
“How was work today?” Cole inquired.
“ Good.” She smiled. “I sold that farmhouse table my boss said had been in the shop for years.”
“ I’m glad they offered you a job when the newspaper article came out.” He grinned, attacking his steak.
When she and Cole returned from their cross-country quest, Mrs. Miller had been so delighted with Phoebe ’s dedication to uncover the coin’s provenance that she’d given an interview with a local newspaper. Another antiques store in Cheyenne had offered her a job, without even requiring her to interview for it. Luckily, her new boss seemed honest and was a lot nicer than Victor. In some ways, her new job reminded her of when she worked with Mr. Dawson.
“ Dessert?” She inquired, already rising from the table. She’d made chocolate mousse for tonight.
“ Wait.” He laid his hand on her arm.
“ What is it?” She sat back down at the table, looking at him wonderingly.
“ Sweetheart.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve been dating for three months now.” He paused.
“ Yes.” The best three months of my life.
“ I’ve got something to tell you.”
He looked so serious. Anxiety tickled her spine. Was he sick? Did he need her to help him with a case? She’d gladly do whatever she could to assist him.
“I’m a private investigator, but I pick and choose my cases.”
Phoebe’s hands relaxed in his. If that’s all he had to say, she didn’t know why he suddenly looked so worried.
“Sometimes my clients can’t afford to pay me--”
“ You wouldn’t let me pay you after we got back to Cheyenne.” She flushed guiltily.
“ I know, sweetheart.” His hands tightened on hers. “I don’t want or need your money. You see,” he took a deep breath, “I’m financially independent without being paid for my investigative work.”
Her brow furrowed. These days, a lot of people bandied around that term, financially independent. “What does that actually mean?” she whispered.
“It means I
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