One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,50

lot that she wished to discuss with Mr. Hotshot Cowboy regarding their breakup, but it would have to wait until this ordeal with Wesley was over.

Chief Blankenship and Ramsey were old friends. The two of them had played football together. They’d been making small talk for several minutes but were now ready to get down to business.

Ramsey spoke, his voice briskly professional. “The fastest way to put a stop to this is to get Wesley to admit what he has done. We need to have Lemon meet him at a set location and plant officers within listening range. After they get a confession, they can arrest him.”

“You mean use Lemon as bait,” Jaxson cut in, his eyes narrowing.

A shudder ran through Lemon. The thought of seeing Wesley again—knowing what he’d done to Braden and her poor mother—filled her with a sickly dread.

“More or less. It’s better to have Wesley come to Lemon on your terms rather than waiting for him to make a move,” Ramsey explained.

“No way!” Jaxson cut in, his jaw granite hard. “It’s too risky.”

“Just hear your brother out,” Knox urged, holding up a hand.

“Look, I understand how you feel, bro. I was exactly where you are. It tore me up to think of anyone harming Hartley.” Ramsey paused. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of years of knowledge and experience. “But your best chance of keeping Lemon safe is to end this thing quickly … on your terms. The Livingstons have a great deal of influence and deep pockets. I’m sure Wesley has covered his tracks with the girl he pushed down the stairs and with Lemon’s mother.”

“I’ll do it,” Lemon blurted. Even as she spoke the words, a cold sweat broke over her nose and forehead. Please, help me to be strong, she prayed.

“Are you sure?” Jaxson asked, touching her arm.

She straightened her shoulders. The certainty flowing through her seemed to come from somewhere else. “Ramsey’s right. We’ve got to end this. I can’t live in perpetual fear of Wesley coming after me or anyone else that I love.” Her eyes misted. “I won’t stand by and let Wesley hurt you or your family.” Despite her success with her business, her life had been empty and hollow without Jaxson. She couldn’t imagine living without him.

“Okay,” Jaxson finally said, a rigid resolve overtaking his features.

Ramsey and Chief Blankenship talked through the details of the plan—which location would work best, the time frame, which officers would be best suited to keep Lemon safe. “Lemon, if you can, set the designated meeting time at least two days from now. Hartley and I’ll head back tomorrow.”

“I’ll do my best.” Lemon cleared her throat. “I’m sorry to pull you and Hartley away from your honeymoon.”

“No worries,” Ramsey said lightly. “It’s easy to get there since we have the use of Cash’s plane.”

Cash had a plane? It made sense. He was a mega-star. Lemon felt a burst of gratitude for Jaxson and his family. She’d always liked the Romeos when she was young, but now that she was older, she realized how rare it was to see a family with such close ties.

As an only child, Lemon had always wished for a brother or sister. It had been especially hard when her dad came up missing, and then the police tracked him down in Texas. Lemon had always thought it was absurd and far-fetched that her dad had developed amnesia, not remembering either her or her mom. Lemon thought it was an excuse to escape his life and responsibilities. After all, her dad eventually went back to Texas and married JoAnna, the owner of the diner where he’d been working as a cook.

Fate had an interesting way of giving her a different perspective. Her amnesia had only lasted a short period, and yet, it had totally changed her perspective. Had she not forgotten everything, she might never have opened herself up to Jaxson the way she had. She could understand now how her dad had gotten so close to JoAnna in a short period of time. Maybe in time, she might be able to forgive him and mend their relationship.

Lemon’s mother had been her rock. When she developed Alzheimer’s, Lemon was devastated. She’d put her mother in one of the best care centers in the country, known for treating patients with Alzheimer’s. Her stomach clenched. It didn’t seem real that her mother was no longer alive. Anger boiled through her veins. She had to take a stand against Wesley so