Mosquito Chase: Love Bug Series, #4

By Jaycee Ford

Caleb Harris devotes his life to serve and protect his small North Carolina town, but once the badge comes off, he does little to protect the hearts of women. Everything he thought he knew about crime and women is tested when a knock on the door brings him face to face with the last person he ever wanted to see.

Determined to break free of the rumors surrounding her past, Angela Butler abandons her small town, chasing a fresh start. When being in the wrong place at the wrong time makes her a target of the drug cartel, she has no choice but to go back to the world she tried so hard to forget.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaycee Ford
• Release date: Nov 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516861859

Book preview

Love Bug Series

Watching Fireflies

Dragonfly Awakening

Hornet’s Nest

Mosquito Chase

Caleb Harris devotes his life to serve and protect his small North Carolina town, but once the badge comes off, he does little to protect the hearts of women. Everything he thought he knew about crime and women is tested when a knock on the door brings him face to face with the last person he ever wanted to see.

Determined to break free of the rumors surrounding her past, Angela Butler abandons her small town, chasing a fresh start. When being in the wrong place at the wrong time makes her a target of the drug cartel, she has no choice but to go back to the world she tried so hard to forget.

To Alex and Len and pina verde

To Janet and fried rice and mac & cheese

To Josh and donuts

The pounding beat pulsed through my body. My eyes remained closed as I stood in front of the shiny pole, reached up, and felt the smooth brass in my grip. I climbed up, gracefully moving in ways the men below me seemed to appreciate. When I reached the top, I squeezed my legs around the pole and slowly spun toward the ground, back arched and chest bared for all of Atlanta to see.

A pang of regret speared my heart. This wasn’t what I thought I would be doing with my life. There had been a moment when I’d believed I could’ve had a life with Lance. We had a chance. Who was I kidding? I was Angela Butler, the town slut. People who knew me well enough called me Angie, but ever since the rumors, Lance had been the only person to call me Angie.

Jesus. He dumped you years ago. Let it go.

I never said I wasn’t a bitter person, and thanks to certain men in my past, I had a lot to be bitter over. Life would be better if I stopped holding on to grudges. I knew that, but the idea of proving to them I was worth more than the slut they thought me to be was worth holding a grudge.

My back met the cold tile, and I pushed my chest up, arching my body off the ground. I turned my head to the side as that spear in my heart vanished. A comforting warmth soothed the ache as the brown eyes I had fallen in love with stared back at me. A smile tugged on his lips. I relaxed, his words echoing in my head. "Just a few more weeks and we’ll start somewhere new. Maybe Alaska. Just you and me, baby. We’ll leave this world behind."

I loved Simon. He made all of this madness worth it. He called me Angie.

A smile eased up my cheeks and I flipped over, laying eyes on some poor soul who thought he was going to get me into bed. I crawled over to him as if he would win me over with his expensive suit and his perfectly styled black hair. I knelt in front of him, sitting back on my heels. I arched my spine and slowly rolled my body to the beat of the music. His eyes landed on the small patch of red lace covering my most intimate part. He reached inside his jacket pocket, pulled out a bill, and stuck it between my skin and the string. I peered down and saw Benjamin Franklin smirking at me.

Alaska was expensive.

I turned over and bounced my ass in his face while his hand glided up the back of my legs. The customers weren’t supposed to touch, but I let it slide as he took hold of the lace and shoved another bill underneath the string.

Alaska was expensive.

Smaller bills were tossed at me from the patrons sitting beside Mr. Franklin. I glanced at Simon in the back corner, but he wasn’t there. It was rare for him to not be there during my performances. Thankfully, my song had ended.

Let’s hear it for Scarlett!

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes for the umpteenth time, tired of my stupid stage name. I scooped up my money and the few clothes I wore out on stage. I sashayed behind the curtain and climbed down a flight of stairs into the dressing room, snapping my lace bra into place. Reaching the floor, I kicked off the stripper heels and padded my way over the cold tile to my vanity. I pulled on a pair of yoga pants, wishing they would do something about the temperature at the club. Atlanta might be in the south, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t freezing in early March. As I pulled on a pair of socks and slipped on a pair of shoes, Olive, the only girl who’d ever been friendly to me, filled the vanity chair to my left. All of the strippers that worked here, except me, seemed to use some variation of their real name. It was almost as if they wanted to hang on to their old lives while keeping this life safely at arm’s length. I didn’t want my two lives to intersect at all. I worked here for the money, and because I was in love with Simon, the owner.

Are you done for the night? she asked, lighting up a cigarette while sitting in nothing but a G-string.

I think so, but that last guy stuck five hundred bucks in my crotch, so I may be getting called out again. I unlocked the bottom drawer of my vanity and pulled out my engagement ring. As I slipped it on, Olive blew smoke in my face.

Lucky bitch. Was it that Spanish god in the front?

Yep. I scratched my head and pushed the red hair out of my face. I hated wigs. My short blonde hair wasn’t daring enough for a stripper. Long red hair was apparently daring enough. A red wig and a red G-string became my uniform for Scarlett. I really hope I’m done. I’m ready to go home.

She smirked at me and kicked my chair. I thought you were just banging the boss. I didn’t know you were gonna marry the effer.

Olive, you’ve got a VIP, echoed down the stairs.

Olive’s head fell back as she blew out smoke and then handed me her cigarette. You can finish that for me.

I waved at her as I placed the cigarette between my lips and took a long drag. I officially gave up smoking months ago. Finishing Olive’s didn’t count. I pulled a robe over my bare shoulders, but didn’t put my arms through the sleeves in case I had to go back to work. I dug out my phone and decided to read while I waited on Simon.

Different girls came in and changed, leaving for the night. Olive came back in and hustled out quick, waving goodbye. The time on my phone said it was almost three in the morning. I bit the inside of my lip. I hadn’t seen Simon since I’d been on stage, and we were usually on our way home by now. I stood, pushing my arms through the sleeves, and cinched the robe tight around me. As I exited the dressing room, I found the place quiet … too quiet. Goosebumps traveled up my arms as I walked behind the stage and turned down the dark hallway toward Simon’s office.

You told the boss last week that you’d have the money!

I froze halfway down the hall. I didn’t recognize the voice coming from behind the partially opened office door.

You tell Mateo that he’ll get his fucking money when he replaces the product.

I stepped quietly down the hall when I heard Simon’s voice. My body ran ice cold, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. I peeked in through the crack of the open door. A huge man with a slicked back ponytail stood in front of Simon’s desk, peering over him by a foot. Another man with a pock-marked face stood beside Simon, holding his arm. It didn’t seem to faze Simon that these men were here. His arms crossed over his chest, and he had a menacing glare in his eyes. Why was he so comfortable?

It doesn’t work that way.

The big man nodded once. A gun pressed against Simon’s temple. A loud echo rang in my ears.

Red.

I backed away from the door clutching my hands over my mouth to muffle my scream. I stumbled down the stairs and did the one thing I was good at.

I ran.

An ice-cold mug of beer thudded down in front of me. A wink and a smile sent my thanks to Mrs. Betty. As I sipped the crisp lager, I glanced at the mirror behind the bar to check out the scene. Someone was going to be coming home with me tonight, but who would it be? If I turned around, they would seek me out instead, and that would fuck up my game.

I zoned in on a tall brunette standing a few feet behind me, dancing with a few of her friends. They had made a game out of buying her drinks while encouraging her to approach men. This could only mean the curvy bombshell had been recently dumped. I read her face and found a smile that hardly registered, barely visible. But she continued to toss back the drinks like she meant it.

Definite possible target.

A spark of blonde caught my eye, one of the friends in her group. She was short with muscular calves. Maybe she’d been a softball player at one time. I always did love an athletic woman. She turned her head toward the bar, eyes focused at my back. I could see her full reflection in the mirror.

Georgia. An equestrian; clinging to men with her thick calves in the same way she clung to her horses. Been there. Done that. Was it possible to sneak her friend away without her cock-blocking me?

I studied the brunette for a little bit before coming to a conclusion. Nah. I could see the drama from a mile away. Either she would be an awesome lay who might assume we were together, or she would start crying, leaving me with blue balls. Pass.

I shifted my eyes to one of the several TVs hung above the bar. It was a Saturday night and I was watching a sports news show because I didn’t feel like dealing with a little drama? I shook my head. I might be a cop, but apparently I’m also a pussy. I tilted my mug back and chugged the contents. Mrs. Betty moved like clockwork to replace my beverage. I wouldn’t have more than two, I promised myself. A cop being drunk on the road was frowned upon, even out here in the country.

A scream interrupted my beer consumption. Laughter followed, and then more high pierced noises. A familiar giggle sent my heart plummeting to the pit of my stomach. I sighed. She’s supposed to be in Asheville. I glanced at the mirror and saw her standing in the middle of a group of girls near the corner door. She flung her long blonde hair behind her shoulder. The huge ass rock on her ring finger blinded me, the way it always did when I saw her. It was a constant reminder to never get too close to anyone. I downed my beer and spun around on my stool. I adjusted the cap on my head and pushed to my feet. Her laughter picked at my brain like an ax. My boots clunked across the wooden floor as I focused on the end zone. I approached Georgia and the brunette as a smile eased up my cheeks. There would be no cock-blocking tonight. I would take them both home and wave at Tabitha on the way out.

I drew closer, and Georgia’s smile immediately faltered. I didn’t call her after that one night. I never intended to. I had a rule: never get involved with anyone; a rule I drafted because of Tabitha and that shiny piece of shit on her finger. Some women just didn’t get that.

Georgia, it’s been a while, I said as I bent down to kiss her cheek.

About six months. She tried holding back a smile, but her eyes gave her away. She was glad to see me. I’m surprised you even remember my name.

I feigned being insulted. Of course, I would remember your name. I wouldn’t be a good cop if I forgot names of beautiful girls. How are the horses treating you these days?

Her eyes widened as her jaw slacked. Seriously, I wouldn’t be a very good cop if I forgot what people told me. A lot of girls didn’t understand that either. They just smiled and spread their legs. But hey, who was I to complain if chicks dug guys in uniform.

Good. Everything’s good. She snapped out of her shock.

I turned to her friend and extended my hand. Hi. I’m Caleb, and I have no idea who you are.

Her sad brown eyes lit up, and she eased her soft hand into mine as she answered, Rachel.

A waitress came around to take orders, so I offered, Could I get y’all a drink?

They both ordered something fruity that I would probably eat for breakfast. Just a water for me, and put these on my tab. Caleb Harris.

The waitress walked away as Rachel grabbed my arm. "Wait. Are you the Caleb Harris?"

Do I have more of a reputation than I’m aware of? My eyes shifted between the two girls. Georgia shrugged her shoulders and Rachel smirked, her face becoming insta-flirt.

She shook her head. I remember you from high school.

I stared at her closely. I couldn’t remember a Rachel. Really? That school is big. I don’t know how you would remember me.

She stepped towards me and ran her fingertips down my bicep. Who wouldn’t remember the star quarterback?

Quarterback, huh? I think you forgot to mention that a few months ago, Georgia purred as she stepped forward.

I glanced between the two girls. One wanted me because of what I was. The other wanted me so I wouldn’t go after her friend. This was too easy. Their drinks came, and they both downed them fast as I sipped from the bottle of water. I took the moment to get to know Rachel a bit since I already knew Georgia.

So, Rachel, what year did you graduate?

Oh, I was a freshman when you were a senior. She pinched her straw, pulling it near her mouth and drawing attention to her lips. I knew these tricks. They always thought they could own me. They didn’t. I came to them, which meant I called the shots.

That explains why I didn’t know who you were.

I went to an all girls’ school. We didn’t have football, but we did wear uniforms, Georgia said, scooting closer to me, trying to one up her friend.

I wrapped my arms around both of their shoulders. I’m definitely jealous that y’all get to keep drinking after I’ve had my limit. Why don’t we go back to my place so I can have a beer?

They both grinned like they’d just hit the jackpot. Coming home with me would be a big win for them. I didn’t fuck just anyone. The only reason I invited Georgia was to see the look on Tabitha’s face as I passed by with my arms around two girls. And I invited Rachel because I was in the mood for a brunette. I wore a shit-eating grin as we headed for the door.

Seriously, Caleb?

Bingo. I turned slowly, acting totally surprised to see her.

Tabitha! This is a surprise. Where’s that old best friend of mine that likes stealing girlfriends?

When are you going to get over that? It was four years ago.

As you can see… I turned my head to the left and right, glancing at Rachel and Georgia, It looks like I’m over it. But really, where is Steven?

He’s at home in Asheville.

My eyes widened, faking shock. You left him at home alone? I shook my head. Make sure you change the sheets when you get back.

She crossed her arms, the damn ring catching my eye again. My confidence faltered for a moment. It was probably best to leave and hope these girls could make me forget. It was four years ago. The past needed to stay in the past.

I pulled the girls along as I hollered back, "Don’t forget to get tested, Tabitha. Wouldn’t want you catching anything from your husband."

I walked out of Dixie’s Tavern into the chilly fall air, my arms wrapped around two hotties. I felt like shit; although, not enough to go back and apologize. Steven was a douche and, more than likely, contagious.

The girls wrapped their bodies closer to mine as I led them to my truck. Someone’s hand grazed down my back, fingers easing just inside my jeans. The least they could do was wait until we were in the truck.

What have you been doing since high school, Caleb?

I peered down at Rachel. Her eyes brightened, full of hope, a big change from when I first saw her an hour ago. She would need to let the hope go. No emotional attachment … for obvious reasons.

I’m a cop.

She turned around, resting her hands on the top of my truck, spreading those milky white legs apart. She glanced back at me over her shoulder. Does that mean you’re going to frisk me, officer?

I cocked my eye and took a step forward. I nuzzled my face against her neck and pressed myself against her ass. She released a moan as my hands roamed up her body, cupping her tits.

Umm … so, do I just get to watch?

I craned my head back to Georgia. Did she think I had forgotten about her? I reached out my hand and wrapped it around the back of her neck. As I pulled her toward me, her eyes hooded with lust. I tilted her head to the side and found that spot near her collarbone, the spot I knew would make her fall to her knees. Keeping my composure, I explored Rachel’s body and Georgia’s neck. I grew excited. I hadn’t had a two for one in months.

When both of the girls leaned against me for support, I released them. Get in the truck.

They both moved fast to fulfill my request, and I could have sworn I heard one of them reply, Yes sir. I didn’t know whether to feel scared or thankful … probably both.

I drove to my house; all the while, Georgia’s hand rubbed up and down my thigh. Rachel pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. Being on the far side of the bench seat was bothering her, I could tell, but she could pout all she wanted as long as she kept pushing her tits up like that. I attempted to adjust myself, but that just gave Georgia more reason to roam. It wasn’t long until my tires popped over the familiar sound of gravel. I had purchased and renovated a small mill house higher up in the foothills. I had to deal with that town too much on a daily basis. I needed to live as far away as logically possible.

I parked next to my cruiser and hopped out, offering a hand to Georgia as she stepped down from the cab. I did the same for Rachel and kicked the door shut behind them. The wind whipped around us. The girls pulled themselves closer to me. Winter always seemed to hit sooner up here than in town. I unhooked my arms from the girls as we moved into the warmth of my house. I closed the door and pulled both girls back to me. I gazed into Rachel’s eyes and gently pecked her lips, before turning to Georgia to do the same. I didn’t kiss on the mouth much, but random pecks were okay. Mouth kissing crossed some invisible emotional line I would rather not cross again. Seeing Tabitha today reminded me why I instated these little rules.

My jaw clenched as thoughts of Tabitha invaded my head. I was over her. I never wanted her back. I told myself this all the time, and yet the whole situation still got under my skin. I could never trust anyone again, except my brother. That was just the way it had to be.

I grabbed both girls’ hands and led them down the hall extending from my living room. I might have felt rude for not giving them a tour or offering a beverage, but they didn’t seem to care. We all knew what was going on here. Rachel stood beside the bed, her hand wrapped around one of the posts. Georgia seemed a little timid, and I didn’t want her to feel nervous about this. I took her wrists and gently pulled her toward me, her face inches from mine. I brushed my lips against her cheek and whispered, Only what you’re comfortable with, okay?

She nodded and grazed her hands up my sides. Rachel glided over, pulling Georgia toward her with a reassuring smile. I stepped back while watching Rachel reach for the zipper of Georgia’s dress. Georgia tugged at the strap of Rachel’s dress and slid it down her friend’s shoulder. I unbuttoned my