The Deputies: 3 Novella Box Set by Olivia Jaymes

her closer, wanting both Bill and Celine to know he wasn’t on the market. Lowering his head he kissed Alyssa, bending her back until she was breathless and her cheeks a pretty pink.
    There. That should tell them I’m a fucking married man.
    Hank kept his arm tightly around Alyssa. “Listen, thanks for inviting us for dinner. It was great but I think we need to be getting home and putting Luke to bed.”
    Bill placed his pool cue in the rack on the wall. “Stay awhile and have another beer. If it gets too late you can always sleep here. We have plenty of room.”
    In his years as a deputy, Hank had seen and experienced many things. He didn’t consider himself naive in any sense and he was definitely getting the feeling that Bill and Celine might be more than just an innocent married couple. Bill had been eyeing Alyssa, albeit subtly, and coupled with Celine’s overt flirting, Hank was pretty sure they’d stumbled into the home of a couple of swingers.
    Hank prided himself on being open-minded. As long as they didn’t hurt anyone else, Bill and Celine were welcome to do anything they liked without judgment. More power to them really since it couldn’t be easy finding like-minded couples in the middle of nowhere. If it made them happy, well, bless them both.
    But no other man was going to touch Alyssa while Hank still drew breath. Bill might not be possessive but Hank didn’t share well. Not his toys and certainly not his woman.
    No way. Not going to happen.
    He didn’t spend any time analyzing his reaction, despite the fact that a few weeks ago he would have said his marriage was over and that Alyssa meant nothing to him.
    “We appreciate the offer but I’m beat. I think we need to hit the road. Thanks again for dinner and the company.”
    Alyssa retrieved Luke from upstairs while Hank made small talk with Bill about how the fish were biting. The couple walked them out to the truck and goodbyes were said all around, and this time neither Bill nor Celine tried to convince them to stay.
    Hank fired up the engine and pulled out onto the dark, deserted road. Alyssa had barely said a word in what seemed like forever but he could feel the tension radiating off of her. They drove back to the house in an uncomfortable silence.
    Yep, they were about to have a fight.
    Pulling up to the cabin, he twisted around in his seat to see that Luke was asleep in his booster seat. Hank placed his finger over his lips and pointed to their son who looked so angelic. Alyssa’s expression softened and her lips turned up in a gentle smile.
    “I’ll carry him to bed,” Hank said so low he thought she might not hear him, but she nodded and scooped up a dozing Hershey into her arms. Walking in front of him, she unlocked the door and led the way into the living room. Between the two of them, they stripped off Luke’s shoes, socks and pants, letting him sleep in his shirt. Luke’s eyelids didn’t even flutter and Hershey curled up next to him, both going off to dream land.
    “I wish I could sleep like that.” Alyssa’s soft words dragged his attention away from his son. “The sleep of the innocent.”
    “Are you missing your innocence, Lis?” he asked.
    “Tonight I am,” she replied and turned on her heel, heading for the bedroom. He trailed after her, closing the door behind them. If they were going to argue, Luke didn’t need to hear it.
    “Come on, Lis. Just say it and get it out in the open. You’ll drive us both crazy until you do.”
    Hank pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on the dresser before toeing off his tennis shoes. He might as well be comfortable if they were going to…talk.
    Alyssa whirled around, her expression full of hurt and her lips trembling.
    “Why don’t you just admit you wanted to fuck her, Hank? She was hanging all over you and you didn’t push her away. Why don’t you just admit you want to be single and free?”

Chapter Six

    A lyssa had watched that blonde skank flirt and paw Hank