Give Love a Chance [Willow Springs 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  He licked her clit and didn’t stop until she was writhing wildly on the bed. She bit her finger. “Oh God. I am coming, Chance.”

  “That’s the point, angel.” He chuckled positioning his hard cock at her entrance. He put her legs over his shoulder to give him more leverage. “Play with your tits for me.”

  She did as he asked, pulling on the tips. He entered her swiftly and loved how slick and hot she felt. Her vaginal muscles gripped him so tightly. He didn’t want her to let him go. It felt so good. He grabbed her by the hips and went in deeper.

  She hung on to his shoulders as he pumped in and out of her over and over. She had her hands on the comforter now. He set the pace faster and harder. Her moans mixed with his. This was heaven. He wanted this for all time.

  “I love you, Noelle.” His voice was strained and he felt sweaty, but he kept the groove.

  “I love you, Chance. Always,” she swore and closed her eyes. Her head was tilted up, and he knew she was close. He slipped out of her and flipped her to her stomach. She got on her knees, knowing what he wanted. Her round ass was so alluring he couldn’t help but give it a slap.

  “Hey,” she protested with a laugh and wiggled it. “I never get to slap your ass,” she complained.

  “Damn straight.” He chuckled entering her from behind. He stroked her pussy with his cock slowly. His finger went straight to her clit and stroked it. She moaned loudly.

  “Quit teasing,” she demanded, pushing back. He grinned and gripped her hips with his hands, taking his pace up a notch. He pumped in and out of her over and over again. “Your pussy is so tight, love.” She responded by moaning with excitement and gripping the blankets beneath her. She rotated her hips in response, making him close his eyes and moan. Damn she felt good.

  Soon he felt the electricity traveling through his body like a current. He groaned loudly and screamed her name as the climax hit him. She screamed right along with him and dropped to the covers on the bed. He lay next to her and kissed her shoulder. He couldn’t lose her. She was his everything. He had dreams of a wonderful future.

  Chapter 15

  Noelle was telling Quinn about her broken cell phone the next day. “I can’t help but feel bad for her. She is so lost, Quinn. It is scary to be that out of control. When I lost Chance I was devastated. I had you to lean on. Who does she have?”

  “Wow, now you’re making me feel sorry for her.” Quinn put a hand on her chest, looking sad.

  Noelle gave Quinn a huge hug. “What was that for?” Quinn looked bemused.

  “For having my back since kindergarten,” Noelle said emotionally. She always thought of herself as unlucky but that wasn’t true. Maybe her parents lacked something when it came to children but she always had Quinn and now Chance, and even his friends let her know they were there to help. She realized she had a family, if not by blood.

  Quinn smiled. “Noelle, you have been there for me too. Not only with Luke, but when my mom moved away. Now before we start bawling like loons let’s talk about something else.” Quinn looked out the window. “I think it is going to storm today.”

  The sound of thunder rumbling in the sky shook the gray skies. “I like a good storm.”

  Noelle only wished she was at home with Chance. They could lay around all day and listen to the rain.

  The doorbell above the door rang, and two customers came in looking for bathing suits they saw in the fashion show. Quinn got up to help them while Noelle caught up on paperwork.

  Noelle knew one of the women had hung out with Carly in the past. Noelle couldn’t remember her name, but she was surprised to see her shopping here. Carly and her group never came into her store. They always claimed her clothes were not good enough for them.

  The brunette set two bikinis on the counter. Noelle rang them up waiting for the woman to say something.

  “Carly told us she was running off with Chance Brooks,” she said smugly. Her brown hair was short in a pixie cut. “He called her this morning and asked her to get out of town with him.”

  Noelle handed her the bag. She gave the woman a look of exasperation. “We all know Carly is sick right now. I don’t appreciate you coming in here to cause trouble.”

  The other girl with blonde hair set a bikini and cover-up on the counter. Noelle recognized her as the girl with Carly at the club. She looked at the brunette. “I told you so, Laura. My mom says Carly is strung out and I should not be seen with her unless I want my reputation to be ruined.”

  Laura shrugged and waited for her friend to pay. “I thought they were just rumors spread by jealous people.” She looked at Noelle with an arched brow waiting for Noelle to defend herself.

  Quinn came to stand next to Noelle behind the counter. She gave the girl a hard look. “Noelle doesn’t spread rumors. Your friend Carly needs a good rehab to clear her mind. She has done nothing but harass Noelle for months now. If you are a real friend help her by convincing her to get help.”

  The blonde girl looked scared. “I am staying away from her, Laura. You should, too.”

  Laura didn’t look convinced, but she shrugged and left with her bags.

  “That was weird,” Noelle commented as she watched the two girls cross the street and get into a black car.

  Quinn looked out the window, watching them pull away. “It was. Let me go and get that latest box of summer clothes. You can tell me which ones you want on the mannequins. It is time to change their outfits. Maybe a Fourth of July outfit. We can add some red, white, and blue decorations to the window.”

  “Okay.” Quinn went in the back room, and Noelle just stared outside. A few cars drove by, but mostly it was a quiet day. Most people would just stay home today. She yawned, wishing she could take a nap. Chance would be mad if she told him about this little incident with Carly’s friends. He worried Carly would do something to hurt Noelle.

  She would wait until later this evening to talk to him about it. No sense in interrupting his work.

  A few minutes later the bell over the door startled her and she looked up to see Carly coming in. Her heart dropped. She was dressed in faded jeans and a black zip-up hoodie. Her hair looked unbrushed and dirty. As she got closer Noelle could see how red her eyes looked.

  “Carly, are you okay?” Noelle asked loudly, hoping Quinn knew who came in. She had a bad feeling. Carly looked agitated. Hopefully Quinn would call Chase.

  Carly marched up to the counter looking upset. “You have ruined my life for the last time, Noelle. Chance and that stupid deputy convinced my parents to commit me. I know you put him up to it out of jealousy. You want me out of your way because you know he loves me.”

  “I have never done anything to you, Carly. Your parents and even Chance care about your health. You may not believe me, but so do I.” Noelle tried to speak in a calm manner. Carly looked sick. Her eyes were red, and she looked like she was shaking.

  “Chance was mine. I had my eye on him before you came along. I know he cared about me,” Carly said loudly.

  “Chance is your friend, Carly. He wants to help you,” Noelle told her gently, hoping to calm her down. Her stomach was tied up in knots. She didn’t know what to do. Handling Carly like this was scary.

  For a moment Carly looked contrite. Then her mouth tightened into a thin line. She took her hand out of her pocket and was holding a gun. Noelle gasped. Oh God. Quinn, please call for help, she pleaded silently as if Quinn could hear her.

  * * * *

  Chance let Jaxon drive back to Willow Springs. His hands were shaking and his chest felt heavy. He had not prayed in a long time, but he did now.

  Please God, let me be in time. Don’t let me lose Noelle.

  Chase had called Chance’s boss. Carly was at Noelle’s store with a gun. They had called Carly’s parents hoping they could get her to give herself up. Chance held little hope for that.

  She had a gun and was holding Noelle hostage. Quinn was in the backroom and was supposed to let Chase in through the alley door.


  Jaxon turned the corner on the street of Noelle’s store. The street was blocked off. Jaxon parked in front of the barricade. Chance had the car door open before Jaxon had the car in park. He ran and almost ran into the sheriff. He was an older man with graying hair and a full beard. He wore a Stetson on his head.

  “Chance.” Sheriff Henry Lewis greeted him with a frown. “Slow down, son. We have the situation under control. Her parents are on their way.”

  Chance took a deep breath. He was filled with anxiety. Carly’s parents had lost control of her years ago. “I need to get in there. Carly will talk to me.”

  Sheriff Wilson shook his gray head. He blocked Chance from moving forward. “She is very agitated. Chase told me about this obsession she has with you. Let us handle this. I know you are dating Noelle. You shouldn’t be involved in this.”

  Chance was about to argue with him when he spotted Jaxon. Jaxon was by the alley and waved Chance over. Chance excused himself and walked over to Jaxon. Jaxon pulled him into the hardware store. Mr. Sanchez looked very upset by the events.

  “I know Chase is in Noelle’s store,” Mr. Sanchez told them. “I saw him going through the back door. Quinn was holding the door open and they were arguing. Then the door closed.”

  Chance nodded. He knew his friend would do whatever it took to protect Noelle, but he had made a promise to not let Carly ever hurt her, and he failed. Noelle had to be frightened. Shit, he was scared to death right now. If he had to shoot a gun he was not sure he could get his hands to stop shaking.

  Jaxon took out his cell and texted. A few seconds later he received a text back. Jaxon showed it to him. I don’t have an opening to get to Carly. She is holding the gun right to Noelle. She sees the commotion outside and is nervous.

  Chance grimaced. Red and blue lights were bright and attention-drawing. People had stopped to gawk and be nosy. A silver Cadillac pulled into the middle of the street and parked. Carly’s parents got out. Louisa Sanders was yelling Carly’s name so loud. Chance shook his head with frustration. If Carly was strung out this was not going to end well.

  “We got to do something.” Chance told Jaxon. He didn’t care if he sounded desperate. He was. Carly could shoot Noelle just out of nervousness. “The sheriff told me to stay out of it, but I can’t. They’ll sit around calmly trying to come up with a plan.”

  Jaxon agreed. He gave Chance a look that said he had his back. “What is our plan? Fuck it, this is your woman.”

  Chapter 16

  Noelle was glad Quinn had stayed hidden in the back. By all the police cars outside, she had called for help. Noelle didn’t think all of them were needed though. It was causing a lot of attention, and she expected half the town out here any minute.

  Carly’s hands were shaking. She looked at Noelle with real hatred. “When you are out of the way for good he will come back to me. I will give him the children he craves. You couldn’t even do that right.”

  Noelle ignored the painful reminder of what she had lost and stayed quiet. Arguing with this crazy woman would just get her shot. She had dreams to fulfill, and today was not the day to die. “Carly, your parents have to be frantic right now. Stop this before you get in deeper trouble.”

  Carly laughed but it was a laugh that sent shivers of fear through Noelle. “I can’t stick around this town. Me and Chance are starting over somewhere new.”

  They heard Louisa Sanders yelling out for Carly. Carly turned toward the big picture window. She looked surprised. “Mama?”

  The sheriff was holding Louisa back, and she was struggling to be let go. Carly opened the glass door. “Let her go, Sheriff.”

  She waved the gun around. “I want my mother in here or I will shoot Noelle.”

  The sheriff frowned at Carly but let Louisa go. Louisa ran up to the door. She hugged Carly and walked her back into the store. “Baby. I was so worried about you. I haven’t seen you in a week.”

  Louisa looked her daughter over and looked very upset with her condition. “Stop this nonsense and come home. You swore you stopped drinking.”

  “I did. My friend Peter gave me a few pills to help stop the shaking and achiness. Plus I couldn’t sleep either. I realized this morning why. I have to get rid of Noelle. I love Chance,” Carly said calmly, as if she wasn’t holding someone hostage. Noelle was worried her mind was truly lost. She was also afraid for her own life. She was counting on Chase, and hopefully Chance, to get her out of this. She had already tried talking to Carly calmly, but it was having no effect. As sorry as she felt for the woman, she had no desire to give up and die. Dreams and plans she made with Chance ran through her mind, and it gave her the strength to not fall apart and be hysterical.

  Louisa looked at Noelle, who was standing behind the counter. She looked back at her daughter. “You can’t go around killing people, Carly. How to you expect Robert to ever get reelected if you persist in this crazy behavior? Chance made his choice. I know it hurts, but you have to accept it.”

  Carly gave her mother an angry look. “Chance wants me, but he feels guilty. Noelle got herself knocked up. Then she lost it. He feels sorry for her. I know he really wants me, Momma.”

  Louisa had no idea how low her daughter had gotten. The shock was clear in her expression. To Noelle, the words Carly was spewing were like an arrow to her heart. She felt the tears fill her eyes. She wanted to go around the counter and slap some sense into Carly. If only Carly wasn’t holding a gun, she would. Noelle knew violence solved nothing, but it would feel so good.

  The phone began to ring. Carly ran to pick it up.

  “I won’t come out, Sheriff,” Carly yelled into the phone. “Call Chance Brooks. Tell him if he wants to save his girlfriend he’d better show up in the next ten minutes.”

  Carly slammed the phone down and kept her eyes outside. Noelle peeked into the back hallway and saw Chase and Jaxon. Where was Quinn? Hopefully Chase had gotten her out. She couldn’t bear it if Quinn got hurt because of her. If Jaxon was around was Chance? Noelle wanted him in here, but at the same time she was afraid Carly could get mad and shoot him, too. This was a nightmare. The sky turned darker, and the wind picked up. It matched her emotions. She just wished she was back at home with Chance.

  A knock on the door made Noelle turn her head back to the present situation. Her being held hostage. Chance was standing in the door in his SWAT uniform. He must have come from work but how did he get here so fast? Carly asked her mother to let him in.

  Chance walked inside with his hands up. Carly was smiling with satisfaction. Louisa stood to the side watching all of this. She looked at her daughter with sadness. Noelle wished they had seen what Carly was doing to herself and had stepped in before all of this. Carly was so spoiled and never took any responsibility for her actions.

  “Fine, he is here. Can we stop this nonsense now?” Louisa said calmly, but her fingers were linked together nervously. “Give Chance the gun, and we will talk about all of this.”

  “Your mom is right, Carly. Put the gun down, and we will talk.” He sounded so calm while her knees were shaking. She wasn’t sure if she could run if she had to.

  “First I have to get rid of Noelle.” Carly waved the gun back at her. Chance stepped closer to Carly to get her attention. “I am here like you requested, Carly. Let your mom and Noelle leave us alone. That’s what you want, right? Me and you alone?”

  “No more talking, Chance. I am asking the sheriff for a helicopter so we can run away together.” Carly smiled at him. “I stole money from my friend Peter. He sells drugs. He can get more.”

  Louisa shook her head with horror. She looked ready to faint. “Jesus, Carly.”

  “He’s a nobody, Mother. By the time he realizes it, I will be far away living a new life,” Carly told her confidently. Noelle stood and listened to all of this in a daze. She thought about sneaking away to where Chase and Jaxon were, but what if Carly shot Chance out of spite?

  Chance hadn’t looked at her. She thought maybe he didn’t want to dra
w Carly’s attention to her. She hoped to hell they had a plan. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Jaxon and Chase coming down the hallway with rifles of some sort. When they got to the doorway that led to the store area they crouched low and hid behind the counter with Noelle. She was glad the counter was made out of wood and not glass. They were not visible to Carly. Noelle felt nervous, but she did her best to make her expression remain the same, as if two armed men were not hiding by her feet. Hopefully she wouldn’t faint and spoil their grand plan.

  “The sheriff is going to ask you to let the hostages go before he gives you anything,” Chance was saying with his hands still up in the air. “Let them go, Carly. We don’t need anyone here but us.”

  “He can’t tell me what to do,” Carly whined. She looked at her mom. “Tell him, Mother. Robert will make the sheriff listen to my demands. He is good friends with Robert.”

  Her mother sighed and looked like she wanted to cry. “You need help, darling. There is a nice place in California. It is right on the ocean. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

  Carly nodded. “I’ll go if Chance comes with me.”

  “Give me the gun and we will get started on this trip,” Chance told her, putting his hands by his side slowly. “Your parents can pack you a suitcase.”

  Noelle held her breath to see if Carly would give up. Carly lowered her gun slowly, but then it was as if she remembered Noelle was still there. She aimed at Noelle.

  “I need to get rid of her. I laughed when she lost the brat.” Carly’s smile was cruel.

  Chance looked angry, with murder in his eyes. “That is enough of that talk. That was my baby, too.”

  Noelle closed her eyes and felt the tears run down her face. Carly’s words hurt, but that was her intention. To hurt. Any pity she had been feeling was slowly disappearing.

  Carly aimed the gun at Noelle again. “Good-bye, Noelle.”

  Jaxon popped up and shot Carly in the hand before anyone else realized what was happening. Carly and Louisa both screamed loudly. Noelle saw Louisa fall to the ground, and she briefly wondered if the woman fainted.