The Deputies: 3 Novella Box Set by Olivia Jaymes Page A

all evening and she had damn well had enough. It didn’t help matters that she felt vulnerable, unsure of her own husband’s love. They hadn’t discussed what Hank had done or who he had done in the last year as if by mutual consent. She’d hoped that Hank had stayed as faithful as she had but if he hadn’t, well, she didn’t want to know. This was a fresh start and dwelling on the past wouldn’t help them.
    But now that Alyssa was back in Hank’s life, she expected her husband to keep his vows. She was pretty sure their vows had included something about slutty blondes in too tight clothes.
    “Nothing to say, Hank? That’s a first.”
    Her husband calmly shucked his jeans and lounged on the bed in just his boxers. Alyssa had to swallow hard at the sight of her husband’s gorgeous body. He would try and get around her with sex like he always did but she was determined not to fall for it again.
    “I was not interested in having sex with Celine. As for hanging all over me, she hugged me once and I pulled away.”
    His voice was soft as if she was a horse he was afraid to spook. She took a deep breath and plunged forward. It had hurt to see Celine and Hank all evening laughing and joking, completely relaxed. Alyssa was afraid they would never get back to the relationship they’d once had.
    “She stuck her foot on your cock, Hank.” Alyssa crossed her arms over her chest and tried to control the fear and hurt that were churning inside of her. “I grew up with women like that and believe me, she married Bill for his money. He probably looks the other way when she does this as long as he can have his trophy wife. She wanted you.”
    She sounded a little shrill so she shut her mouth and sat on the end of the bed, her knees suddenly feeling like jelly. She hated being like this, hated feeling jealous. It wasn’t a worthy emotion and here she was acting like a madwoman. How could Hank want her when she was this crazy?
    “How did you know about that?” he asked, sitting up. “Her foot was under the table.”
    “I was sitting right next to you.” Alyssa rolled her eyes. “She wasn’t trying to hide it, you know.”
    Hank rubbed his chin in thought. “Exactly. Why do you think that is, Lis? Why was Celine being so overtly sexual with me?”
    “Well, she wanted you,” Alyssa answered lamely.
    “No, it’s more than that.” Hank shook his head. “Think about it. Bill was fine with Celine acting that way and touching me. That’s pretty unusual. Think about what he said to you as well.”
    He was trying to confuse her so she would let this drop. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Bill didn’t say anything to me.”
    “Didn’t he?” Her husband’s eyes lit up in challenge. “I sure as shit didn’t appreciate it when he made that remark about redheads and how passionate they were. Or the fact that he complimented your dress and your tan? Don’t you see what was happening tonight?”
    “You’re trying to turn this around on me somehow,” Alyssa argued.
    Hank threw back his head and laughed. “Now that’s the last thing I’ve been trying to do. My sweet wife, I think Bill and Celine are swingers. I think they were trying to see if we were into it too.”
    Huh?
    “Swingers?” she repeated, her mind not working correctly. “You mean like…wife swappers?”
    She hated to admit it but things were starting to fall into place. It made much more sense now.
    “I don’t know the technical term.” Hank shrugged his broad shoulders. “But I think they would have been very happy if we’d consented to spend the night.”
    Her anger drained as quickly as it had come and she started to giggle. “This is hilarious, Hank Dixon. Only you and I could find a couple of swingers in the middle of Western Montana.”
    He gave her a lopsided grin. “I thought the same thing as well. I hope they find what they’re looking for but it’s just not us.”
    “You weren’t tempted?” she asked, arching an