Hornet's Nest

By Jaycee Ford

Katherine Klein has been warned: Stay far away from Lance Walton. After one night in the country, the quintessential city girl has the unwanted attention of the infamous country boy. For months, she’s been dodging his advances, but a moment of weakness changes everything.

Lance Walton felt immediately drawn to Katherine from the moment she knocked on his best friend’s door Christmas morning. Winning over this city girl is a mountain of a task for any country boy, but Lance is up to the challenge. He never expected the morning he left her naked at The Inn would be the last time he would see her.

In the aftermath of her bad decisions, Katherine returns to the city. Haunted by what they shared and all she lost, she vows to never return to the country. But the country finds her unexpectedly when Lance shows up in the most unlikely place. But does he have the country boy charm to break through the walls of her heart and outshine the big city competition?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaycee Ford
• Release date: Feb 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781505457148

Book preview

Love Bug Series

Watching Fireflies

Dragonfly Awakening

Hornet’s Nest

Mosquito Chase

Katherine Klein has been warned: Stay far away from Lance Walton. After one night in the country, the quintessential city girl has the unwanted attention of the infamous country boy. For months, she’s been dodging his advances, but a moment of weakness changes everything.

Lance Walton felt immediately drawn to Katherine from the moment she knocked on his best friend’s door Christmas morning. Winning over this city girl is a mountain of a task for any country boy, but Lance is up to the challenge. He never expected the morning he left her naked at The Inn would be the last time he would see her.

In the aftermath of her bad decisions, Katherine returns to the city. Haunted by what they shared and all she lost, she vows to never return to the country. But the country finds her unexpectedly when Lance shows up in the most unlikely place. But does he have the country boy charm to break through the walls of her heart and outshine the big city competition?

Charlotte was a Hornet’s Nest of rebellion.

General Charles Cornwallis

Ihad to get there.

I had to get there as soon as I could. Why hadn’t I come to visit her before? What if it were too late? My vision blurred from tears as I sped down the snow covered highway trying to get to Olde Town as quick as I could. My heart thumped erratically inside my chest and my left knee bounced to a nervous beat.

My best friend. He took my best friend!

I was going to kill him. I was going to kill him if Jordan hadn’t killed him first.

But if he…

I shook my head and wiped my tear stained cheeks with the back of my hand. My gloves scratched against my face as the exit ramp for the middle of nowhere crept up on me. I clicked the blinker as I shifted lanes on the desolate highway. It was five in the morning, I was in the middle of nowhere, and my best friend could be dead.

Guided by the bright beam of my headlights, I maneuvered the dark, winding country roads until my GPS told me to turn left. I cranked the wheel. Gravel popped beneath my tires. I tried to remember if I had ever driven my car over gravel. My experience with the country was driving through small towns in South Carolina on the way to Myrtle Beach for spring break. This was totally out of my comfort zone, but I was doing this for Jordan. I would do anything for Jordan. She was the closest thing I had to a sister.

I came to a rolling stop in front of a two-story farmhouse. Two lights flanked either side of the door, lighting up the walkway. I hopped out of the car, tossing my bag on my shoulder and hooked my purse on my elbow. The mountain cold took my breath away. I gasped while I grabbed my suitcase out of the trunk. My full load banged in the five a.m. quiet as I pulled it up the steps and rolled it onto the porch. I inhaled a few times trying to find that calming breath, but I knew it was of no use. I wouldn’t rest until she was found.

Please, God. Let us find her.

As I exhaled, I knocked softly on the door. If everyone was asleep, then I could just rest in my car until dawn. The floor vibrated under my feet. I looked down at the wooden planks and then up again as the sound of an army of boots rushed toward me. The door swung open to five men. Five really hot men, all staring at me as my eyes widened. This was not the sort of welcome I was expecting.

Really hot men.

Whoa, is this the Jordan Hawthorne search party welcome committee?

I glanced at the muscular cowboy with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes standing in front of me holding the door open. That was Tom. I knew that from the dozens of pictures Jordan had sent me. The guy to his right sported short dark blond hair and his police attire matched the two men standing behind Tom. My eyes fell to the guy on his left. They wanted to linger for a moment longer than they should have. His floppy light brown hair was in utter disarray. A thick flannel shirt hung open, exposing a t-shirt, untucked from a pair of worn out jeans. I caught the sparkle of green as his eyes lifted. My stomach twisted as his gaze focused on me. Jordan warned me about this guy: the eternal womanizer. His lips just spread into a crooked smile I couldn’t stop staring at. In one swift moment, I knew that I was fucked. I tore my eyes away and focused on Tom. I refused to be fucked.

Katherine, Tom said as he reached out toward me. I dropped my bag as he pulled me into a hug. I kept my eyes closed for the simple fact that I was a mere foot away from Lance, and I didn’t feel like locking eyes with that sparkle again.

"So, is this the Katherine?"

Tom released me from our hug. My eyes opened slowly, spotted Lance, and then instantly narrowed at him … and that shit-eating grin.

Yep, that’s me. I cocked my eyebrow without amusement and turned back toward Tom. I’m so sorry for coming so early in the morning. I’ve been in London all week, and for some reason, my phone was not working so well. I flew over as soon as I heard about Jordan. My flight landed about three hours ago in Charlotte. I came straight here.

Lance bent down and scooped up my bags. The room silenced as we all watched this supposed player become a southern gentlemen. I couldn’t contain the eye roll. He was not getting anywhere near my pants much less into them. I watched him with a blank stare as he straightened and said, You must be exhausted. Let me show you to Tom’s room. Sleep a little bit and you can catch up with Cal and Marie when you wake up.

My heart broke hearing the names of Jordan’s parents. I couldn’t let Lance distract me. I came here to find my best friend, not to play some silly game with some silly country boy. I nodded at his request. I needed some sleep first. If I was going to be of any use finding Jordan, then I needed to get back on North Carolina time. At the stairs, he stepped aside to allow me to go first. I rolled my eyes again and climbed up, groaning as I felt his hungry eyes behind me.

I stopped the climb as I was met with two pairs of boots. A man that looked much like the cop downstairs and a girl with fire-red hair that could only be one person stood in front of me.

Y’all, this is Jordan’s friend, Katherine, Lance said behind me.

Her eyes locked with mine and she gasped while throwing her arms around me. Katherine, I can’t believe you made it.

It’s so good to finally meet you, Ellie. I squeezed her into a hug. I had only talked to her a handful of times on the phone, but I knew that if Jordan trusted her as a friend, then I would too.

Y’all talk on the phone, too, huh?

Ellie and I turned to who I assumed was Paul. I glanced at Ellie and nodded as she replied, Of course.

Let’s go, city girl, Lance said behind me. I smiled at Ellie and Paul as they headed downstairs. I turned my head to watch them go as Paul reached out for Ellie’s hand. I envied them for a second until I glanced at Lance with that same shit-eating grin still planted on his face. I groaned and continued up the stairs, ignoring that damned sparkle in his eyes.

When I reached the landing, I stepped aside to let him go before me. I kept my head down to avoid his wandering gaze and followed a safe distance behind. He opened the door to what appeared to be Tom’s room. The neutral color scheme grayed in the morning sun. Hidden behind snow clouds, the light just barely crept into the room through a small window facing the horizon. At least I should be able to get some sleep.

The bags dropped to the ground and Lance broke the silence. How about we start this again?

I turned around to his extended hand as he continued, Hi. I’m Lance Walton. I’m twenty-four. I work for my best friend Tom, and it’s so lovely to meet you.

I glared at his hand as I folded my arms across my chest. I’m Katherine Klein. I’m twenty-three. My best friend was kidnapped and I would like to sleep now.

He moved his hand away as he stepped back to the door. Well, if you need any help, you just let me know.

With an unnecessary wink, Lance finally left me to my sleep. I turned back toward the bed and kicked off my shoes. I crawled underneath the khaki coverlet and rolled onto my side to find myself staring at a picture of Tom and Jordan on the nightstand. I had never seen her that happy with Ryan. Not once. Tears pooled in my eyes again and I closed them tight. We would find her. We had to.

After a three hour nap and a long hot shower, my arms were wrapped around a man that I wanted to detest for the simple fact that I liked having my arms wrapped around him; however, I could barely feel my arms as I rode on the back of a four-wheeler in a foot of snow. Lance shot us airborne and we hit the snow hard. My ass was going to be sore from this ride… and not in a good way.

Do you even know how to drive this thing? I didn’t even know this guy and he already infuriated me with that stupid smile and those sparkling green eyes. I hated him. Damn it. I had to.

Yes, I know how to drive this thing.

Not a moment later, he ran us into a snow pile, almost throwing me off.

Damn it, Lance! I jumped off the back of the death machine and walked away to calm my nerves, but the weight crept onto my shoulders. As they sagged, I couldn’t help the tears that came. I crouched down, covered my face with my gloved hands, and cried. The snow crunched behind me as Lance approached. Could he not just give me a minute? He placed his hand on my shoulder and I shrugged it off. I didn’t want his comfort. I just wanted my friend back. He breathed out and placed his hand on my shoulder again.

Katherine?

I peeked through blurry eyes as he squatted down next to me. I became mesmerized once again with his shade of emerald green. They sparkled fervently even through our distressed state. Just his presence alone was doing something to me, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t want it. He squeezed my shoulder gently and said, We’re going to find her.

The tears continued to roll down my face, stinging against the cold, and I nodded, hoping he was right. He wrapped me in his arms and I buried my face in the crook of his neck. I inhaled deeply, willing myself to stop crying, but the only thing I could focus on was his scent. Damn, he smelled good. I snapped myself out of it and pushed away, walking back to the four-wheeler. Before hopping on with determination, I turned to him and mumbled, Thank you. Although, in attempting to not appear swayed by his attention, I pointed my finger in his face, and said, But don’t think this makes me like you.

His cheeks lifted into that sexy smirk of his, and with the fullest country accent, replied, Yes, ma’am.

The search ended hopelessly. I found myself sitting in front of Tom’s fire hoping to feel my appendages again. I was lost in thought of the possibility that I would never see Jordan again. She was my best friend. She was like my sister. When Tom started to cry, I lost all hope and let my tears fall as well. Lance shifted his arm and rested it around my shoulders. I gave up fighting my necessary hatred toward this guy and I melted into his body, feeling the need to be held as I mourned my friend. Lance pulled me closer, wrapping both arms around me. He attempted to rub soothing circles on my back, trying to relax me, but it wasn’t working.

Breaking our somber disposition, the door abruptly swung open, crashing against the wall. We all stood and turned toward the front door as Paul ran in from the cold.

Tom! Get up! Help!

Tom ran outside as hope fired though me. I looked up at Lance and his green eyes sparkled again with the same hope that my friend would be alive. As Tom came back in gripping Jordan in his arms, I cried with joy. Lance wrapped me in a full embrace. Being so close to this man all day, I did the only thing that felt natural in that moment…

I grabbed his face and kissed him with everything that I had.

Six months… it was six months ago I kissed those lips that I had dreamed about kissing every night since Christmas. She never came back to the country to visit Jordan after Ellie and Paul’s wedding. The bachelorette party was in the city. She didn’t need to participate in the rehearsal. She had to work, so she said. But I knew what was going on.

She was avoiding me.

She couldn’t avoid me any longer. I stood outside the closed door to Tom and Jordan’s bedroom. I could hear Jordan’s father’s booming voice. Cal and Marie were inside with their daughter along with Jordan’s bridesmaid, Ellie, and the woman who never left my thoughts since she walked into my life months ago. The woman who fought the tension rupturing between us that one day we were forced to be together. The woman who ended up forfeiting and kissed me into a stupor. A foolish stupor. The woman who made me so drunk for months of endless nights. The woman who stood on the other side of this door.

Katherine.

My hand balled into a fist to calm the shaking. This woman made me shake. What woman could ever possibly make me shake! Get a grip, Lance. It’s just a pussy. It’s just a pussy.

I knocked on the door. It was game time, and these girls needed to hurry up before Tom had a nervous breakdown. I exhaled and opened the door slowly. All of those people were there. All of those people were watching me. The only one I saw was the one with the honey-colored eyes and the long auburn hair wrapped up and swept away from her face. Oh, God. It’s not just a pussy. She makes me weak. God, she makes me weak.

Katherine’s eyes met mine and I thought she would flinch away, but she didn’t. They locked on mine. I was in here for something. I didn’t remember what I was doing. All I knew was that I couldn’t tear my gaze from hers. I never wanted to stop looking at her. Her dress was some sort of blue. I kept hearing the word peacock. That must have been a color instead of a bird. Whatever it was, it showed off most of her legs. She wore heels instead of the boots she had to wear for Ellie’s wedding. Her legs… sweet Jesus. That just ain’t right. No man should have to walk away from those.

Movement from the corner of my eye caused me to blink. I turned and saw Jordan in white. I blinked again.

Fuck… the wedding! Now I remember!

I, uh, came to, uh… are y’all ready yet?

I babbled like an idiot. That woman made me babble like an idiot. The first time I saw her in months and I stutter and babble. Nice job, shit face.

Okay, it’s show time! Jordan said and everyone started to leave the room. I stood to the side to allow everyone out. Katherine, thankfully, was the last to get to the door. I reached down for her hand when she passed. Why? I had no clue. I just had to touch her. I was obsessed. Lance Walton was obsessed with a woman. Hell had frozen over.

How’ve you been? I asked her in a low voice as the rest of the bridal party went down the stairs.

She smiled. It wasn’t a full smile. It might have been an annoyed smile, but she smiled.

I’ve been good, Lance. Busy, but good.

I wrapped her arm around mine and escorted her down the hall to the stairs. I took advantage of our quiet moment together to try to warm her up to me again. How’s accounting treating you these days?

Her eyes widened, and she asked, You actually remember my occupation?

Of course, I do. I’m not a total pompous ass.

She laughed. Her smile lit up her face. She was laughing at me, but I didn’t care. As long as I saw that beautiful smile, she could laugh at me forever. When we reached the last step, she said, No. Not pompous.

Are you calling me an ass then, beautiful? I cocked my eyebrow