Meant to be Mine: Kincaid Sisters Book 1 Read online

  Not wanting to have this discussion, I blurt, “We know what the drug was.”

  Sitting up straight, Jessie swivels toward me. “It was the date drug, right?”

  “Yes,” I admit. “There was only a small amount in your system, which is why you remember some of what happened.” Sighing, I mention, “I can’t let Adam get away with drugging you, Jessie.”

  “I know,” she whispers. “I’ve known him a long time and I can’t believe he’d do something like that. To anyone, not just me.”

  “Did anyone else bring you a drink?” I don’t want to, but I guess I can give the guy the benefit of doubt.

  Jessie shakes her head. “No. I only had two drinks and Adam bought me both.” She rubs at her brow. “What about the bartender?”

  “You’re reaching at straws. Why would he drug you?”

  “Have you told Reece?”

  “I’ve only spoken to Leo and Ryder, but I’m sure Ryder will have told your brother.”

  “Ugh! That’s all I need.”

  “Jess, Adam can’t get away with what he did. None of us are going to let him.”

  “I want to punch him in the nose, but I don’t want Reece getting to Adam before I’ve spoken to Reece. Adam isn’t worth him getting in trouble over.”

  “It looks like you’re going to get to talk to him first, after all.” I nod toward the entrance of Kix as I bring the car to a stop.

  Jess sighs and stares at Reece, Ryder, and Leo who are standing on the front steps. Reece moves forward at a rapid pace while the other two hold back slightly.

  Reece opens Jessie’s door and crouches in the gap. “You okay?” He quickly glances to me before running his eyes over Jessie in a gaze to make sure she isn’t hurt.

  “I’m fine.” Her lips tremble as she turns to me. “Thanks to Evan.” She rapidly tries to blink the tears away before turning back to her brother, except it doesn’t work out like that.

  Her brother pulls her out of the car and into his arms, crushing her against his chest. “I never liked that asshole.”

  “Yeah, right,” Ryder drawls, engaging Reece in a glaring match above Jessie’s head. Ryder rolls his eyes. “Whatever.” Shaking his head, he leads the way into the bar.

  I follow slowly behind Reece and Jessie because there is a need inside of me to stay close to her. I’m also jealous of her brother. He gets to hold and comfort her while I have to stand to the side and watch.

  Swallowing hard, I decide that it will be best if I make my excuses and leave. That is until Jessie lifts her gaze from her brothers to mine.

  As though she senses my withdrawal, she moves from Reece and wraps herself around me. Her arms tight around my neck, her body presses up close and personal to mine, so I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her against me.

  “Don’t leave,” she whispers. “Please, Evan.”

  I lift a hand and cup the back of her head, guiding her to my shoulder. I drop my chin to the top of her head and sigh. “I’ll stay…for today.”

  “Thank you.”

  I close my eyes and enjoy the feel of her against me and ignore the fact that her brother is standing watching us.

  7

  Jessie

  I’m enjoying the feel of Evan’s arms around me and the sound of his heart pounding against my ear. He makes me feel protected and cherished. I know without looking that the heated gaze I feel on us is coming from my brother. Reece has always been overly protective of our sisters and me, sometimes to the extreme. He’d started to back off once he realized how upset his wife was with how he reacted to our involvement with men. It’s lasted a while now, but I’m not sure how he’s going to take my attachment to Evan.

  The heat coming from Reece is annoying, so I lift my gaze and face my brother. I hear Ryder snicker before he hides it behind a cough.

  Ryder steps forward. “Take a seat. I’ll get some food sent over here,” he hesitates, “providing it’s safe to leave you two alone?” He glances between Reece and Evan.

  Reece rolls his eyes upwards as though praying—he isn’t. What he’s doing is counting to ten so that his temper doesn’t get the better of him.

  Taking Evan’s hand, I guide him into the booth and slide in next to him. He passes me a quick glance before engaging Reece in conversation. “Have you seen Adam since Saturday?”

  Reece pauses, and lets the curiosity about us go for now. “No.” He glares at me. “But I hadn’t known to look out for him.”

  “That isn’t Jessie’s fault so quit blaming her,” Evan growls. “Jessie has slept a lot since I found her. I didn’t want to say anything about Jess being drugged until I knew for sure, which you now know about.”

  “If you think saving Jessie gives you free access to her—”

  “Hey!” I jump up before Reece can finish what he was going to say. “I’m twenty-one Reece, not a baby anymore. If I want to spend time with Evan, then I will…regardless of what you or others think about it.” I sit back down and notice the surprise on Evan’s face.

  My face heats as embarrassment sinks in until Evan grins. Not just any grin. His whole face lights up and delight shines in his eyes, which takes me by surprise. He shakes his head and takes my hand on the table, intertwining our fingers. “I don’t think anyone has been so defensive of me before.”

  I shrug. “It’s about time then, huh?” I grin and turn to face my brother, sighing softly. “I’m not trying to be awkward, Reece. My friendship with Evan is rocky so I don’t want you making it more difficult, okay? Please. For me.”

  “Jeez, sis.” Reece shakes his head, but I don’t miss the smirk on his lips. “Give me some credit.”

  Leaning over, I punch him in the arm. “Are you making fun of me?”

  “Wouldn’t dare!” He chuckles and clears his throat. “You’ve never been straight with me over anyone until him.” He pauses. “I get it, Jessie.” He focuses on Evan. “We can’t prove it was Adam that drugged her, right?”

  Evan nods. “That’s right.”

  “Unless I get him to admit it to me.” The guys shake their heads, but I won’t give up on the plan, which suddenly entered my head. “I’ll accuse him and push him until the truth springs from his lips.”

  Leo drops into the seat beside Reece. “I overheard the plan. I think it’s a good idea.”

  “You can’t seriously expect me to let my sister be alone with that asshole?”

  “She won’t be alone.” Evan takes my hand. “She can arrange it so that we’re all hidden from sight, but close enough if she needs us… That’s what I was going to suggest,” he pointedly looks at Reece, “if someone hadn’t jumped down my throat.”

  Reece nods in acknowledgement.

  Sitting forward, I rub over my forehead while hoping the headache from earlier isn’t returning. “I want to know why he did it?” I sigh. “We’ve been friends for years. I know he wants to go back to how things used to be, but I haven’t been interested in a while, even before I met Evan. I find it hard to accept that he really is responsible for what happened to me.” I rest my head on the table and smile when I feel Evan rub my back before his hand rests on my shoulder and his thumb strokes back and forth in the curve of my neck.

  “He’s the one I went to the city with, so he knows I’ll point my finger at him.” I sit up and frown. “He’s always been scared of Reece.”

  “Jessie,” Reece groans. “Don’t make excuses for him.”

  I shake my head, regretting it now the headache is thumping behind my temples. “I’m not making excuses but trying to figure out his logic. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

  Reece stares. “She has a point. The bastard stays out of trouble when he’s with Jessie because he knows what I’ll do to him.” He grins. “I’ve told him once or twice, in great detail.”

  Leo snickers. “Glad I didn’t get to have that talk with you.”

  “There’s still time,” Reece adds, giving Leo a sidelong glance.

  “Back on topic,” Ryder fr
owns, “I think Evan should stay around.”

  I’m delighted to hear that, but I sense Evan tense beside me. His hand stills on my back and everything seems to go quiet in Kix, although I think it’s my need for the man to stay with me that has everything in slow motion.

  Evan turns to look at me, grinning, shaking his head. “I’ll stay tonight, but after that I can’t promise. I have to sort things out with my family back in the city.” Beneath the table, Evan takes my hand and intertwines our fingers. He squeezes my hand and brings it to rest on his thigh. “Is Adam likely to be around?”

  My mood turns sour as I’m reminded of the asshole and his friends.

  “They’re usually in about an hour before closing,” I reply.

  “You’re not working tonight, Jessie,” Reece orders, his voice tells me he isn’t going to argue.

  I do anyway. “I am working tonight because it will be easier for me to talk to Adam if he doesn’t see me with you all hanging around.” I grab Reece’s wrist when he starts shaking his head. “You know I’m right. If he can’t get close to me then I can’t talk to him and ask him about the other night. I need it to be him and me.”

  “Hell no!” Evan exclaims. “No way am I letting you be alone with him.”

  “Took the words right out of my mouth.” Reece glares at me. “We’ll be around as usual, and you Jessie, don’t go outside with him, okay?”

  “I’m not stupid Reece.”

  He snorts and I narrow my gaze.

  Ryder interrupts, “Evan, you can stay here if you want. I’m sure Dahlia won’t mind.”

  “He’s staying in the guest room at the house,” I add, not wanting him anywhere I’m not. I look around and they’re staring at me. “What’s wrong with that?”

  Leo clears his throat and disappears. Ryder’s already out of sight. Reece narrows his eyes at Evan. “I’m not going to argue because when Jessie gets something in her head, she makes it work, so I’m going to save my breath on that.” He pauses. “However, you stay in the guest room,” he turns his heated look to me, “and you stay in your own bedroom.”

  “Jeez Reece, give me some credit.”

  He snorts.

  Evan clears his throat. “You have my word,” he tells Reece.

  “Ugh, really?” I drop Evan’s hand and stand with my hands on my hips. “You two can do the male bonding stuff while I go and find that young new deputy.” I smirk in Reece’s direction and ignore Evan. I’m too annoyed with him wanting to be a saint in my brothers’ eyes right now.

  I stomp out of Kix and head toward town and the Sheriff’s office. There is a new deputy and he looks to be late twenties. I’m not interested in him, but it was a good parting shot to the two idiots back in the bar. I need to talk to Deputy Lucas Carter about what happened to me and ask him if anything can be done if we get evidence as to who drugged me. I want them to pay.

  8

  Evan

  My eyes stay focused on the door that Jessie has just disappeared through. She’s in a snit because I promised no sneaking around tonight, as though I’d let that happen anyway. Not in her mother’s house. I shouldn’t even be thinking in those terms but I’m quickly losing all will power where Jessie Kincaid is concerned.

  “Don’t go after her,” Reece says, drawing my attention back to him. “She has no interest in Lucas.”

  “Who?”

  “The Deputy. Lucas Carter. The guy is young and single, but I’ve seen where my sisters’ eyes are.”

  Wanting to fidget under Reece’s gaze, I force myself to stay relaxed. “So, we’re about to have that conversation, huh?”

  Reece grins. “No. I think you’re too old for that conversation.” He becomes serious. “But I am going to ask you not to hurt Jessie. I can see there is something between you and my sister and that worries me. She’s a lot younger than you and I’m worried that you’re going to go back to the city and forget about her.”

  I shake my head in denial. “There is no forgetting Jessie, that I can assure you. I do need to sort my life out, again, and once that’s sorted, I’m going to be around a lot more. If she still wants to explore what’s between us that is.”

  “Out of all my sisters, Jessie has the strongest will, although at one point I would have said that was Mara.”

  Standing, I add, “I think all your sisters are strong minded, and when they want something, they won’t give up until they get it.” I shake my head and laugh. “Heck, I’ve tried to stay away from Jessie. I managed for over twelve months until I rescued her the other night. I don’t think I have it in me to walk away for the second time.”

  “She wouldn’t let you.” Reece says, hitting me on the back. “I’ll see you later.”

  Outside the sun has risen and I stare up at the blue sky enjoying the piece of silence. I don’t get this in the city and I’m always on the go, never a moment to sit and breathe. My family isn’t going to like my decision, my father especially. Mother will wait for father to react to my decision and she’ll follow his lead regardless of what she really believes. Our relationship has been hit and miss since Brittany became sick, and I won’t ever have the kind of relationship that Jessie does with her mother. I can forgive a lot, except our parents turning their back on my sister when she needed them the most.

  Oh, they provided for her every need until the end, but they were absent parents and it fell on my shoulders. Me being left to look after Brittany had never bothered me. She was my sister. But my parents had no excuse.

  In the end I’d swallowed my pride and asked my father for a job. It was the only way to get my life back on track, and so far, it had been working. I’ve saved money and have enough put aside to live on for some time to come. Allyson had been part of my parents’ circle, which was why she’d moved in on me. She’d presumed my father’s company and everything that came with that would be mine one-day. I wasn’t sure that would have happened. Either Allyson or the bequeath. Allyson wouldn’t give up so easily. It wasn’t me she would be broken up over, it would be what she wanted and lost. So, yeah, I had her to deal with along with my family—not something I was looking forward to.

  Not sure how long I’ve been standing outside in one spot, but I catch Jessie jogging toward me with a grin on her face. My heart thuds against my breastbone at the sight of such a beautiful young woman. Her dark hair bounces behind her and then she’s jumping into my arms. “I can’t believe you’re really here with me,” she whispers.

  My arms tighten around her waist and Jessie uses that to her advantage and climbs up me, her legs wrapping around my waist. My hands drop to her round butt as I hold her on me. “You are asking for trouble.”

  “Um,” she nibbles my earlobe and I shudder in response.

  My body hardens and the feel of Jessie rubbing herself on me, doesn’t help to get myself under control. If anything, she works me up all the more.

  “I feel that you want me,” Jessie mumbles, running her lips along my neck. “I ache for you too.”

  “Jessie,” I moan. “You have to stop saying stuff like that to me when I’m trying to behave with you.”

  She offers a dark sensuous laugh. “I don’t want you to behave.” She sucks my earlobe into her mouth.

  My cock jerks behind my zipper and I use my hands to push her on me. Jessie won’t be still and wiggles and rubs, wanting to get closer. Her nipples are hard bullets against my chest, calling for my touch.

  Glancing around, I realize we’re out in the open, so holding her tightly, I move us out of sight to the side of the roadhouse. Pushing her up against the wall, I hold Jessie there with my hips, the friction of her rubbing making me hornier and harder by the second.

  Growling, I haul Jessie further up the wall and press my mouth to a plump breast. I gently bite the hard nipple, which causes Jessie to arch forward, her head falling back, her breasts in my face, and her pussy frantic on my dick. She’s going to get herself off on me, I suddenly realize, and there is nothing that is going to stop me from he
lping her. I want to see her come undone because of me. I want to see her face when she’s in the throes of climax.

  “More Evan,” Jessie begs, her breaths heavy.

  I look into her beautiful face and her cheekbones are coated in a light blush, her mouth is slightly partied in pure bliss.

  Hoping like hell we don’t get caught, I lift her T-shirt and nuzzle between her breasts, my fingers tug at the cups of her bra, revealing flushed skin.

  I lift my hand and cupping a breast, massage while my mouth goes to the other. I tug and roll her nipple while sucking. Jessie moans and grinds down on my barely controlled cock. Suddenly her body goes tense, and I move quickly, just catching the sound of her release in my mouth. Her loud moan and my name on her lips drives me crazy and I ache and throb for release.

  Having Jessie in my arms doesn’t help my lust calm down; only self-preservation does that. No way am I going to come in my jeans. I’m not a teenager, even though the position I’m currently in with Jessie says otherwise.

  “That was…wow.” Jessie sighs. “I never knew it could feel like that to have a guy give me an orgasm.” She grins. “Just imagine what it will feel like when you’re inside of me.” Her eyes darken. “When my wet core is tightly squeezing your dick, exciting you to the point that you come with me.”

  “Ugh,” I moan, panting into her neck. “I’m struggling for control, Jess.”

  “I know and there is a part of me that wants you to lose it, here and now. I want to watch you get so turned-on for me that you can’t hold back. I want to watch you come.”

  My breathing gets tangled in my lungs and I struggle to expel it at the wickedness in Jessie’s voice. Her eyes have darkened, and she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. Her throaty laugh says it all. “I think you better put me down before Reece comes looking for me.”