Yours Always, Jack: Yours Always, #6

By Ryenne Renner

"Who the heck are you? The sign says 'closed' for a reason."

I turned and found myself looking into the barrel of a rifle. Holding it was a woman, though I was too busy trying to figure out if I could get the gun away from her before she could get off a shot to notice what she looked like.

"I'm looking for Britt."

"Why?"

"Why don't you put that gun down before you hurt yourself."

Her eyebrows shot up before loading the weapon like a pro.

Right.

"I'll ask again. Why are you creeping around here at night?"

"First of all, it's evening. Second, the door wasn't locked. I knocked, but I figured no one heard me and that Britt was probably here in the shop."

"Britt is in the shop. You still haven't told me why you're looking for me."

I blinked. Britt was a woman. Yep. I was a dick for assuming. "Bleeping Rat. He said he'd give you a heads up."

The rifle lowered slightly and moved just off center.

"Ray sent you?"

I let out a deep breath and ran my hands over my face. "Yeah. He said, 'go to the shop. Britt is there and can get you the part you need.'..."

She took the cartridge out of the chamber and set the gun down. "Bleeping Ray. Maybe we can start over. Hi. My name is Britt."

I took her hand and shook it. "Hi. I'm Jack."

She raised an eyebrow. "Just Jack? No team nickname? I thought the world at large got the nicknames first."

I grinned. "You've already pulled a gun on me. I think we can skip right to my actual name."

She laughed and holy shit, it was amazing. "I'm so sorry about that."

I shook my head. "It's fine. I'm glad you can take care of yourself." Wait. That had sounded strange. "That came out weird."

She was staring at me, clearly trying not to laugh. "Want to try again?"

I opened my mouth but snapped it shut before I could say, 'I'm glad I don't have to worry about anything happening to you.'

What the hell, Jack.

"Nope. I'm just going to stick with that one."

This time, she did start laughing.

 

Britt

Living in a small town is hard on the dating life and dating apps aren't much help these days. You see, I have a pretty specific plan in mind for my future and I'm not willing to settle for anything less. It doesn't matter how many men tell me there's no way I'll find a guy who will agree to my terms. I don't care what they say, I've always thought that when I met the right guy, I'd know. When Jack walks into my shop after closing and offers to help me with the storm shelter after the alerts go off, I start to think that maybe, just maybe, this man might be the one I've been waiting for…

 

Jack

Once upon a time, I thought I had it all; a job I loved, my little sister to raise, and a wife I adored. We were happy. Or at least, I thought we were. It's been ten years since those divorce papers were signed and I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'll never find anyone who wants the same future as me. When I meet Britt, I have to remind myself that it doesn't matter what I feel, things always work out the same way and I don't think my heart can survive being broken again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ryenne Renner
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223348979

Ryenne Renner

Ryenne Renner is a Canadian author who resides in the beautiful province of Saskatchewan. Wife, mother, author, woods sprite, food lover; she has many hats she loves to fill. A trucker’s wife and mom of three, she is grateful to be able to write full time and stay home with her son with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. When not writing, her days are spent hiking, fishing, camping, reading, and watching movies with her family.  Ryenne is a romance author who is a firm believer that love is love.  Follow her at the following links! Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ryennesromancelovers/  Twitter: www.twitter.com/ryennerenner Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ryennerenner  Newsletter: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jfqivnv90e (free book) Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ryenne-renner  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryennerenner    Books by Ryenne Renner Contemporary Romance   Yours Always (Mason, Lukas, Logan, Nyssa, Ray, Jack, Kit, Dean, Morgan) Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy   Palbert City Underground (Fire’s Kiss, Tiger’s Choice, Reaper’s Promise) Books written as Mireille Chester Adult: Fantasy Romance   The Chosen One Trilogy (Crossover, Journey, Destiny)   Sageden Pack (Displaced, Shattered, Strayed)   Holidays in Quelondain (Eggnog Kisses, Candy Hearts)   Ghosts (a Quelondain Short) Apocalypse Romance   Angered Seasons Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy   Crimson Moon Hideaway (Winning Paradise, Feathers Afire, Ocean’s Blood, Sweet as Huney)  *these characters also make appearances in the Palbert City Underground series)    YA :   Tyler’s Story   Chael’s Luck

Book preview

The Teams

Pup Security:

Mason Trenton (Sneak)

Lukas Banks (Bear)

Logan Banks (Pointer)

Nyssa Kelly (Pen)

Ray Duncan (Rat)

––––––––

Daisy Security:

Liam Benton (Joker)

Jack Loomis (Chains)

Kit Bennet (Trapper)

Dean Maddox (Ghost)

Morgan Firman (Grimm)

CHAPTER ONE

Britt

Any big plans for the weekend? Mister Murphy pushed his code in on the debit machine.

I shook my head. Girl’s night tomorrow night, but tonight, it’s just me a good book.

You know, my grandson Micheal is coming for a visit.

I laughed. Oh, come on, Mister Murphy. We all know what happened the last time you tried to set me up with one of your grandsons.

The elderly gentleman grunted. Rick is an idiot.

I scoffed. Lately, it seems like most men my age are.

They probably weren’t. I just hadn’t met one that wasn’t as of late. Small town living had its disadvantages when it came to finding the love of your life. Mainly, there weren’t that many options.

At thirty-two years old, I wasn’t about to settle, though. I had a job I loved, friends who understood me, and parents who thought the sun and moon were made brighter the day I came into their lives... I didn’t have anything to complain about.

Did I want a husband? Yeah. I did. The thought of finding that one person, your best friend, the guy who wanted to share all of your important moments with you? Yeah. I wanted that.

Having said that, I had a pretty specific plan for my future and I had yet to find the guy who wanted the same thing. When he came along, though, I’d know.

I handed Mister Murphy his receipt and paperwork. Alright. Here you go. Those spark plugs are under warranty, so if you have any issues, make sure you come in so I can have a look at it.

He grunted. Issues. Now, if I’d gone to Barry, I’d be worried about issues.

I grinned. Well, he can’t be that bad. He still gets most of the business from around here.

He raised an eyebrow. That’s because folks around here are idiots. God forbid they trust the new guy and the woman to work on their trucks.

I laughed. Mister Murphy had been one of my clients since I’d first come back to Granger Springs, a newly certified mechanic. He’d come into Barry’s where I’d just started.

I was still positive Barry had only hired me because one of his new hires had quit showing up and he’d been behind on work.

Mister Murphy had walked in and Barry had smiled and told him one of his older mechanics would have a look at the truck. The elderly gentleman had grunted and said, Will? That idiot can’t tell the difference between a bumper and a muffler. Every time he works on my truck, I have to bring it back in for something that wasn’t wrong when I first brought it in. His eyes had found me. What about her?

Barry had blinked. Ah, she’s brand new, Mister Murphy.

He’d looked at me. You know what you’re doing?

I’d nodded.

Well, you can’t be any worse than the rest of these morons. You have a look at it.

When I’d quit Barry’s a few years later to go work for Roger the next town over, Mister Murphy and almost all of my regular clients had followed me there.

When Ronnie had told me Ray had bought this shop and was looking for someone to work with and to run the place when he was on assignment with the Pup Security crew, I’d jumped at the chance.

Once again, my clients had come along.

You’re sure you don’t want that date?

I laughed. I’m sure, Mister Murphy. I appreciate the thought, though.

He grinned. Alright. Have a good night, Britt.

I gave a wave and watched him go before turning off all the lights and heading up to the loft over the shop.

I sent a group text to my ‘best girls forever’ group chat. Are we still on for tomorrow?

Ronnie: Absolutely!

Viv: Yes! Ginny, mom says she’s got your kids if Logan is working.

Ginny: Your mom is a saint. But so far, so good. He should be home.

Nyssa: I’m in.

Mary: Definitely. Work has been hell this week.

I loved that even though our girl’s group had changed a bit, we still made a point of getting together a couple of times a month. We’d lost Nel to her new love Melanie. We were beyond happy for her, but we sure missed her now that she lived halfway across the country. Nyssa and Mary had been great additions when they’d moved here.

I sent Taylor a text. Hey. Going to shower. Door is unlocked if you want to stop in for a beer before you head home.

I stripped and sighed as the hot water hit me. There was nothing better than a shower after work.

My mind wandered to Mister Murphy’s grandsons. Maybe I should give Micheal a chance, but after Rick... Rick had been... Jesus. Conceited, arrogant, full of himself.... yes. I knew those were all the same thing.

Mister Murphy was a retired truck driver, so it was beyond me how his kids had managed to raise an entitled asshole who thought trades and service workers were uneducated and beneath him.

We’d had one supper together. Actually, it had been a half a supper, because I’d walked out halfway through with an apology to our waiter for my date’s horrid behavior. I’d handed Rick forty dollars for my half eaten meal and given Ned, the waiter, a twenty dollar tip. I’d then apologized to the maitre-de and very loudly apologized to the entire restaurant for having to put up with his childish hissy fit over the fact that he hadn’t gotten a big enough scoop of mashed potatoes on his plate.

I’d definitely regretted letting him pick me up, but thankfully, Taylor lived nearby and I’d walked there.

The kicker had been when I’d gotten to Taylor’s and Asshole Rick, who had obviously been following me, came barging into the house, screaming that he refused to date a whore who was obviously just using him for a meal before she went to fuck another man...

I snorted and lathered my hair.

Seriously, I’d never in my life met a man like that. I’d read about them, I’d seen movies about them, but I had never met one.

Taylor and I had both been speechless when Rick had phoned his grandfather, on speaker no less, and had told him I was an ungrateful bitch who was obviously sleeping around.

Mister Murphy had asked if I was in the room. I’d answered yes. He’d asked if I was okay and did I need a ride home? I’d said that I was alright and that Taylor would give me a ride home. He’d said hello to Taylor, apologized for asking me to take the date, and had in no uncertain terms told Rick to apologize.

I grinned remembering how Rick had said I’d been the one to make a scene and what kind of woman ran to another man in the middle of a date.

Mister Murphy’s voice sounded in my head. Rick, maybe you’ve lived in the big city too long to remember, but Granger Springs is small. Small enough, in fact, that in the past ten minutes I have gotten four phone calls from people who were in that restaurant and told me exactly what happened.  So, once again, you will apologize to Britt for being an asshole and when you’re done doing that, you will go back to the restaurant and do the same to everyone there. You’re lucky you’re too big for me to bend over my knee, Rick, because I don’t care if you’re thirty, someone needs to teach you some manners.

Rick had looked about to argue with his grandfather when Taylor had piped up. He’s not too big for me to teach some manners to, Mister Murphy.

Six foot two, lean and strong, with blond hair and grey eyes, Taylor Clark was impressive to look at. His clenched jaw and flexing hands had left zero doubt he meant it.

Rick had paled. I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m going to the restaurant right now!

He’d turned tail and my phone had rang. It had been Mister Murphy making sure I was indeed alright. I’d assured him I was and he’d hung up to phone the restaurant.

The rest of the night had been spent drinking beer and watching movies with Taylor.

I stepped out of the shower and pulled on pajama pants and a tank top. Might as well get comfy for my exciting night in.

I checked my phone and read a text from Taylor.

Sorry, Babe. Not tonight. I’ve got plans with Vinny.

I smiled. Alright. Have fun.

Finding a movie I hadn’t seen yet, I settled on the couch with a beer and some of last night’s leftover pizza.

CHAPTER TWO

Jack

I watched as Mary smiled up at Ray in the kitchen of their new house as they got the spaghetti and garlic bread ready for supper. She was so happy and that made me happy. It had always been one of my worries as I’d raised her. I’d wanted her to be independent and strong, but I’d always wondered if maybe I’d pushed a little too hard for it.

I knew she’d had boyfriends. I’d met a few of them. But they’d never lasted very long. Any time I asked what happened, she’d shrugged and stated they were nice enough, but they all wanted her to change. They’d wanted her to spend less time doing what it was she usually did and spend more time doing what they wanted her to do.

Then she’d