Beth's Absolution: A small town, opposites attract, suspense novel (Twisted Willow), page 18
“I drove all the way up here because your girlfriend got her panties in a bunch. If you can’t be bothered with basic communication, let her know she should come check on you her damned self.” It had been gruff and harsh, but Brandon must have taken it to heart.
In the five years since, Doug had occasionally asked when he saw Liz looking worried, but she’d always assured him not to worry. She’d handle it.
Maybe now was the time for apologies? Doug headed toward the man. “Thanks for being here.”
Brandon grunted at him and crossed his arms over his chest.
“I take it you stayed down by the road?” Doug asked.
“Didn’t want them circling back on ya.”
Doug chuckled. “You’re saying we really did have them surrounded?” he asked.
The mountain man just shrugged.
“I’m sorry I was a jerk the day I came up to your place.”
A nod was the only response he got.
Doug wasn’t sure how to fix it, but with the rest of his life falling into place, this felt like an opportunity he shouldn’t pass up. He pulled one of his cards from the pocket of his cargo pants. It was one with his personal cell written on the back.
“I don’t you know you’ve got a phone up there now or not, but if you ever need anything, know I’ll answer.”
Brandon took the card from him and shoved it into his own pocket without looking at it. “You’re good for them.” His stance had relaxed, and he looked around at all the people enjoying themselves.
Doug wasn’t sure exactly what Brandon meant, but maybe he was trying to say Doug was a good sheriff? That was what Doug was going to believe.
Before he could respond, the big man walked away and off into the woods toward the Smiths’ place. That must have been how he joined them without anyone realizing he was there.
Doug shook himself and returned to looking around for Beth. He found Cameron first, but when he followed the man’s line of sight, he found the woman he was looking for.
Doug could tell Cameron was trying to ask Beth about something, but she wasn’t paying any attention to him. She was fascinated by Payton’s bow. Based on the people around Cameron, Doug could guess the man was trying to figure out how much space he had to invite guests to stay. At the very least, he figured the guy was wondering where Beth planned to settle for the night. Doug’s gaze returned to Cameron’s. “She’ll be at my place,” he volunteered.
“Just tonight?” Cameron asked.
Doug grinned and walked closer to him, so they weren’t shouting across the yard. “I already promised her space in the closet for her graphic T-shirts.”
Cameron met him halfway. “Good. She’s got a lot of them. Did she warn you they pretty much all have bad words and rude gestures on them?”
“She did. I kind of like it.”
Cameron nodded back at him. “Yeah, that sounds about right. I’m not sure if you two are a match made in heaven or a partnership from hell, but there’s no doubt you’re perfect for each other.”
“She’s certainly perfect for me,” Doug agreed.
“And you understand that she’s my family, right? If you hurt her, I’ll come after you.” It might have been the first time Doug could really see the hard outlaw behind Cameron’s friendly face, but Doug was okay with that. When it came to Beth, he’d never argue against someone watching out for her.
“I’d expect nothing less.” Then he caught Beth’s attention and asked if she was ready to go. He thought she might want to stay and socialize for a bit, but his adrenaline was wearing off. Doug wanted to feel her skin sliding against his before passing out with her tucked safely beside him.
She surprised him though. Instead of suggesting they stay, she echoed his feelings, “Yes, please. I am so ready to go home and curl up in bed with you.”
He loved that she was already calling their place home, too.
EPILOGUE
Beth
The sky out here never ceased to amaze Beth. She loved watching sunsets and studying the stars. She’d even invested in some books to help her identify the different constellations and watch for planets to show up now and then.
This was her first morning catching a sunrise though. She was still naked, but she’d brought her favorite, big, fuzzy blanket out with her. The fall mornings were crisper than she’d expected. The fresh smell was one hundred precent worth it.
It was Doug’s last day off. After he’d filled in the DEA and state troopers with a sanitized version of what happened, they’d come to collect the disabled SUV from the side of the road where it had ended up. Everyone had agreed it was best not to bring any attention to Cameron’s place. Ethan Fletcher had even towed the SUV to a more appropriate location for free.
Once the paperwork was done and the dust had settled, Doug had come home and announced he was on vacation for the next week. Beth hadn’t believed it at first, but he’d assured her that Mac was in charge and could handle anything that cropped up. Doug had also confessed that Mac and Judy had been bugging him about using some of his vacation time for, well, forever. They’d backed it up too. Doug’s phone hadn’t rung or buzzed even once during the entire week.
But this was their last morning before returning to the real world, and Doug had suggested they catch the sunrise. Beth had agreed under the condition that he bring her coffee, which was why she was sniffing the air while he filled their mugs.
Once he’d joined her and the sun had risen, he asked her the million-dollar question. “Any thoughts on what you want to do with your time? Colton’s could probably use a bartender if you want to stick with that.”
“Ha, no.” Beth had no interest in tending a bar ever again. The thought of waitressing made her want to dump food on someone’s head, too. Colton’s would not be a good fit for her. She had been texting with Liz though. The café was pretty chill and right across from the sheriff’s office, and Liz had offered to teach her some baking skills. Being a barista and working the front counter, which was what Liz really needed, felt close enough to bartending for Beth to be confident she could do it. And without alcohol involved, she imagined she’d like it too. It helped that the café was already her favorite place in town.
When she told Doug her plans, his first comment was, “Oh, that means you can deliver my coffee and pastries, right?”
“Not a chance,” she argued.
“I mean, you seem to enjoy when I get bossy,” he tried.
“I do enjoy your bossiness in the bedroom. Outside of it, I’m in charge.” Beth wasn’t willing to leave any room for confusion about that.
“So I can’t be bossy in the kitchen or on the couch?” Doug pushed.
The thought of him taking her from behind while she was bent over the kitchen counter was enough for her to adjust the boundary. “Good point. You can be in charge all the way to the front door.” Then she looked around and noted the front porch where they were currently sitting was beyond that point.
Doug must have noticed her appraisal. “We should let me be bossy across the whole property,” he tried to suggest.
“No, I think the front door is perfect,” Beth corrected. Then she held the blanket tightly around her as she stood up and moved in front of the man she’d fallen in love with. “You look cold. If I’m in charge out here, I should help you fix that,” she offered as she opened the blanket to flash him before climbing up to straddle his lap while wrapping the blanket back around both of them.
“You’re right,” Doug agreed. “You get to be in charge on the porch.”
***
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Also By Maria
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According to Cora
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A love that sees through the past to shine a light on the future is a love worth killing for.
When Cora's past catches up with her and reveals secrets that strike at Mac's anger issues, the two of them will need to trust each other to survive.
This action-packed, romantic suspense features a survivor determined to live life to the fullest and man so plagued by rage, he believes the world is better without him. Join Cora and Mac as they rediscover trust and hope with each other.
Letting in Liz
Coming November 2023 to Amazon & KU!
Liz has always loved Brandon, but he knows she won't forgive him for what he's done.
Liz and Brandon have loved each other since before they could read or write, but a miscalculation by Brandon leads to a crime he can never come back from. When she finds him injured in the middle of a winter storm, it will take a holiday miracle for their love to blossom.
This standalone novella is full of suspense, has no cheating, and ends with an HEA despite Brandon's social struggles and Liz's refusal to stay out of his business. Then again, his quirks and her nosiness might be the key their future.
***
To read more about life hiking along the Appalachian Trail, be sure to check out Maria's On-Trail Love Adventures:
Alongside Lucy and Standing by Stephanie
Available through Amazon & KU or purchase a signed paperback through my author website https://www.mariasecoywriter.com/home
Acknowledgments
The biggest thanks must go to my family first and foremost.
I'm fortunate to have an awesome community in the AWW Romance Writer's group on Facebook. I also benefit from the fantastic support of the All Write Well team.
Elijah designs phenomenal covers. Thank you for being such a pleasure to work with!
LeAnn, Erin, and Carrie Anne are all amazing editors. I appreciate all that you do. You are an amazing bunch of people!
I also have to thank Amy and the team at RCVA. Without their organization powers, I'd be spinning in my office chair trying to see how dizzy I could get before vomiting.
Despite all that these amazing people do, none of them are the key to my work as an author. That honor goes to you, Reader! YOU are the most valuable people for any author's career. Thank you for reading Beth's Absolution! I'd love it if you clicked on some Amazon stars to help others find this book. You don't even need to write a review; a quick rating helps a lot. Scan this QR code using the camera on your phone to discover all the wonderful ways I LOVE connecting with readers (including access to a FREE short story):
About the Author
Selfie of Maria along the Appalachian Trail near the fictional setting of Twisted Willow.
Maria lives in the woods and loves hiking, reading, and writing. Her first completed work was a play about her family's crazy holiday adventures. It was written in pencil on wide-ruled paper. Maria was 8. Since then, she's worked in restaurants, gone to college, taught middle school, published some stuff, written scary amounts of online content, and hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail.
When she can't go enjoy an adventure, she writes one down on paper. They usually involve the woods and hot, loving men who support strong women. She's lucky enough to be married to a man willing to cook dinner and care for the dogs when Maria gets too sucked into the story in her head to remember the world around her.
She has recently shifted to working alongside adult writers who want to share their stories but want support and guidance through the writing process. You can learn more about this work at her company website www.allwritewell.com
Maria Secoy, Beth's Absolution: A small town, opposites attract, suspense novel (Twisted Willow)
