Another Man's Treasure (25 page)

“I don’t know.  I can tell you this. If those tapes have the info I think they do, he is going away for a long, long time.  Let’s grab those beers and head back to the study.”

Jude and Ross turned back towards Miranda and Francine and simply stared at them for a moment.  Miranda sat up straight, then looked at Francine and smiled.  Francine said something and Miranda g aards Miranspit out her wine and laughed.  Francine motioned towards the door with her head and Miranda turned and saw Jude and Ross in the doorway.  Francine winked in their direction and waved at them.  Jude smiled and rolled his eyes.  Ross let out the deep breath he had been holding and shook his head.
She was going to be trouble...just the kind of trouble he liked. 

“Oh, that one is trouble, my friend,” Jude laughed.  “And she isn’t even a red head.”

“Hey, Delaney!  Don’t make me sorry I introduced you to my bestie years ago.” Francine stuck her tongue out at Jude and laughed. 

“Frannie, take your best shot.”  Jude laughed harder.  “Don’t forget I got the big guy here on my side.”

“Do I have a say in this at all?”  Miranda enjoyed the thrust and parry between them.  “Ross, do you think you and I have a chance in hell with these two?”

“I think they both better be careful what they wish for, Miranda.  We may be more than either of them can handle.”

Ross stared directly at Francine, boring holes through her with his piercing blue eyes.  Francine felt herself shiver as Ross’s gazed never wavered. 
Jesus, he was a gorgeous man.  I would love to see what he had to handle.  
Ross and Jude turned to head back to the study, but not before hearing the girls giggle.

“Think they are giggling about us, Ross.”

“They had better be, Jude.”

The two friends laughed at the women on the porch.  One redhead in love with a gorgeous, kinky dark-haired man, who was playful and fiercely protective.  One leggy blonde intrigued with this tall hulk of a man, with desires that ran so deep even he was unsure of their depth.  Lust...for now.

“Frannie, why did David do this?  The lying, sending me away...do you think it was just all about the drugs?”

“Well, to me it sounds like Hank was the controlling brother and David was his pawn.  I wonder what he was holding over his head to make David send you away.”

“David blamed everything on Jude.  He said that Jude was bad and dealing drugs.  David wanted me away from him, so I wouldn’t get caught up in it.  What he did was send me into the fire.  Why, Frannie?  Did David hate me?”

“No, David didn’t hate you, but I think he was scared shitless of Hank.  What was Hank like, Mandy?”

“At first he was very attentive and so sensual. He called me 10 times a day and texted me even more.  I loved the attention. Later, I realized that was his way of controlling me. He was watching my every move.  I couldn’t go anywhere without him finding out and flipping his cork!  Even going to the corner store without telling him pissed him off.”

“Do you know how he found out?  Who was watching you every minute?  Think about it, Mandy. Who has been tailing you the last three years?”

“Oh my god...Trevor!”

“Who the hell is Trevor?”

Miranda’s eyes grew wide as she put her hand over her mouth to muffle her shock.  Francine stared at her, confused.

“Miranda...Mandy...WHO IS TREVOR?”

“It’s Ross Guthrie.  Ross is Trevor Wilkes.”  Miranda’s mind spun out of control.  She couldn’t keep up with her own thoughts. 

“Frannie, no wonder Ross is so intent on protecting me. He was Hank’s informant about my whereabouts.  There were times I would leave Hank’s place to go visit friends or go to parties and Hank never said a word.”

“Jesus, M, Ross really did protect you.  He never told Hank where you were or who you were with.  What would Hank have done to you if he found out you were at parties?”

“Hank would have hurt me again.”  Miranda lowered her head and started to cry.  Francine sat and held her friend’s hand and let her cry.

When Miranda continued, she talked in between sobs. 

“Ha...Ha...Hank found out once early on in our re...re...relationship about me going to my fr...fr...friend Marcy’s party.  That ni...ni...night he beat the sh...sh...shit out of me.  It only happened the one time.”

“After that, Ross never told Hank again, I bet.  He kept his mouth shut to protect you...he risked himself.  Wow, Mandy, Ross is quite a man.”

“Frannie, I love Jude with all my heart.  I don’t want any secrets from him.  How do I tell him that I was so fucking stupid to stay with a man for three years after he beat me?”

“
Miranda let me tell you something about Jude.  He never dated a woman for any length of time.  Dates, yes.  Seriously dated, never.  After college, he moved back here, concentrated on his work, dated casually...that’s it.  Jude loves you, Miranda, more than you will ever realize.  I can see it in his eyes.  He has ‘redhead fever’.”

Miranda looked at Francine and they both started to laugh.  Francine was good at making Miranda laugh.

“Frannie, you’re the best.  I love you so much, girl.  You make me laugh even when I don’t want to.”

“Come on, M, let’s go inside and relax in front of the tube for a bit.  You’re exhausted.”

Miranda and Francine went inside and watched a comedian improv show.  Miranda curled up on one end of the couch and drifted off to sleep.  Francine grabbed a blanket, covered her friend and kissed her cheek.

“Sleep my bestie, I’ll let myself out.”

Ross and Jude were concentrating on the tapes when they saw movement from outside.  Ross immediately reached for his glock and went to the back door.  Quietly, he opened the door and slipped outside as Jude ran to find Miranda.   Jude found Miranda sleeping, curled up on the living room couch, but no Frannie.  He reached down to touch her hair then he heard Francine yelp, followed by Ross’s angry voice.

“Francine, what the fuck are you doing out here?”

“Shit, Ross, you scared me to death!  Holster that damn Glock before you shoot someone.  I am headed home, for shit’s sake.  Miranda finally fell asleep, so I was leaving quietly not to disturb her or you guys.”

“Sufferin’ Jesus, Frannie!” Jude exclaimed.  “It’s just you.  Can you meet me at the office tomorrow to do some investigation work about 10 am?”

Frannie looked up at Jude and let out a deep sigh, then laughed.

“Did you send Mr. Muscles out here to shoot me if I said no?  Yeah, 10 am is fine.  G’nite guys.”

Francine turned to jump in her Jeep when Ross caught her arm.  The softness of her skin made his gut clench and he took a deep breath.

“Look, I’m sorry.  This whole Castile thing has me a bit jumpier than usual.  I know how his twisted mind works.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s ok, Ross. I understand.  Miranda is important to all of us for different reasons.  She has been my best friend since junior high and even being parted for so long, it’s like we were never apart.  Friendship with her is just that easy.”

Ross looked into Francine’s eyes as she spoke.  He really wanted to kiss her and shut her up.  She smiled at Ross and ran her hand against his forearm.
Holy shit, Mr. Muscles, I would like to see what’s under that dress shirt.
  Ross smiled back at Francine and reached up and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

“How about I make it up to you?  Lunch tomorrow, your choice.”

“I would love that.  How about I pick you up when Jude and I are done at the office?”

“Great, Francine, see you then.”

Francine motioned to Ross with her finger to lean in closer.  The thought of her kissing him flashed through his body like a wild fire.  She leaned in and whispered in his ear.

“My friends call me Frannie, Mr. Muscles.”

n his en>
Francine leaned back and winked at Ross
, then jumped into her Jeep and drove off.  Ross stood in the driveway and just smiled.   
Damn, she is such a tease
.

Ross walked into the kitchen and Jude was leaning against the counter drinking a cold beer.  He offered Ross another and grinned at his college buddy.  Ross gave Jude a look as if to say,
don’t even say it dude...you know I will smack the grin off your face.  
Jude had seen that look before and cracked up.  Ross began to laugh too.  Yeah, they had been through thick and thin together...they were all good.

“She’s trouble, you know.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“That won’t stop you.”

“Never has before.”

“I am going to carry Miranda up to bed.  You want to go over more tapes?”

“No, Jude, not tonight. What I would love to do is hit the gym and blow off some steam.”

“You’re in luck, my friend.  Full gym in the basement, have at it.  Your bedroom is upstairs, second door on the left...bathroom across the hall from it.  Good night, bud.”

“Good night.”

Ross went to his car
and got his suitcase and duffle bag from the trunk as Jude picked up his sleeping beauty and carried her off to bed.  Ross went to his room, changed into workout clothes and headed to the basement.  He looked around and nodded. 
Impressive, my man.  Seriously nice equipment.
  Ross warmed up and hit the weight bench.

                                                 ****************

Jude placed Miranda on the bed gently and kissed her forehead.  She was so exhausted, she barely stirred.  He grabbed her overnight bag to see what she packed for clothes and nightwear.  At the bottom of the bag were some scarves and other
toys. 
Jude looked at her and chuckled to himself.  He knew so much about her, yet still was still a mystery.
  I think that is what I love most about you Mandy. You intrigue me. 

Jude grabbed one of his tee shirts and placed it on the bed as he undressed her.  Her jeans fit her well, but were not too tight as they slipped off easily, revealing white, lace panties. He unbuttoned her cream silk blouse and exposed her lovely breasts wrapped in the same white lace.
Fuck. 
Jude’s eyes ran up and dowran and exposn her curvy body and his cock was instantly hard.  He gently sat her up and Miranda opened her eyes.

“Sit up for a minute, baby. Let me get this bra off and tee shirt on you.”