Tangled Web Series Box Set Read online

  Tangled Web Box Set

  First Three Books in the Tangled Web Series:

  Tangled Web, Everything But, and Punctured, Bruised, and Barely Tattooed

  Jade C. Jamison

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  Copyright

  Copyright © 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016 by Jade C. Jamison

  Images: Tangled Web and Everything But, © Jade C. Jamison; Punctured, Bruised, and Barely Tattooed, © Jeff Thrower

  Cover design: Mr. Jamison

  All rights reserved.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. Characters and names of real persons who appear in the book are used fictitiously.

  If you have received this book for free from any source other than a reputable online bookseller, you have received a pirated copy. Please consider buying a legitimate copy from a reputable online bookseller or consider making a donation through PayPal to [email protected]. Thank you for respecting my hard work.

  Table of Contents

  Tangled Web

  Bonus Story #1 (Alternate POV: Johnny Falls in Love with Katie)

  Everything But

  Bonus Story #2 (Alternate POV: Riley is Intrigued by Erin)

  Punctured, Bruised, and Barely Tattooed

  Bonus Story #3 (Stone Considers His Upcoming First Date with Kory)

  Bonus Story #4 (Johnny and Katie: Wedding Vows)

  Tangled Web

  A Steamy Heavy Metal Novella

  Jade C. Jamison

  Part I

  Chapter One

  KATIE LOGAN SAT quietly, looking at the pained expression on the woman’s face. The woman had come in to the Child Protection offices of her own accord, and Katie was part of the intake team. Any calls of abuse or child neglect went through her office. And so, at 4:15 that afternoon, Katie sat listening to this woman’s story.

  Libby, the woman, looked up at Katie. “I just don’t think he’s appropriate around my daughter.”

  “Yes, you had mentioned that before.” Katie looked down at the three-year-old blonde child playing with blocks on the floor below them, a miniature version of her mother. Katie’s gaze returned to Libby, whose own blonde mass of hair was piled into a sloppy bun at the back of her head, uncombed and stringy underneath the black scrunchie that held it together. “What exactly have you found inappropriate?”

  “Well, he, uh...” Libby paused, letting a small breath of air escape from pursed lips. “He patted her on the bottom last night. It wasn’t that but the way he did it. And then later, she sat on his lap, and he was stroking her thigh. But it wasn’t affectionate. It was...like she was a piece of meat or even a date.”

  Katie jotted a few quick notes on the yellow legal pad in front of her. She looked up again. “I can see how that might be concerning.” She looked back down at her notes. “So, Rod, you said his name was?” Libby nodded. “Do you know his full name?”

  “His last name is Carriger.” Libby looked down at her hands. “That’s all I know.”

  “About how old would you say he is?”

  “About thirty, give or take.” She looked over at her daughter, then glanced at the pad where Katie was jotting some notes.

  Katie planned to check their files later and see if this character had a history with her agency. If he’d already been in trouble before, she could launch an official investigation. Until she knew, though, she wasn’t going to say anything to Libby…although she wouldn’t have said anything to Libby anyway. Libby was the type that would warn Rod it was coming, even though she was worried about her daughter. Katie pressed on. “How long have you and Rod known each other?”

  “Two weeks.”

  “Has he acted like this around Destiny before?”

  “This is the first time he’s met her. The last time he was at my house, my sister watched her.”

  “Did he do anything else to her or do anything else that concerned you last night?”

  “Nothing else I can think of.”

  Katie glanced down at the pad again and then focused her brown eyes on Libby. “Okay, well, there’s not much I can do at this point. Fortunately, he hasn’t harmed your child, but he’s set your alarm bells off. My advice to you right now is to listen to your instincts. If you feel like he’s being inappropriate, he probably is. So the best thing to do now is keep him away from your daughter.”

  A small tear eased its way out of the corner of Libby’s eye. The woman wiped it away with her index finger. “But I think I love him.”

  Katie’s sigh was inaudible. Seven years ago, she might have passionately lectured the woman—likely not even twenty-five-years old yet—sitting across from her. She probably would have begged her to think about her child’s future, to put the child’s needs in front of the mother’s. But the time spent on the job—more than a decade—had dulled her to strong emotions, had made her feel numb. In one way, it was good. She could maintain a calm exterior, and the people she dealt with seemed to respond well to that kind of reaction. More than that, though, Katie didn’t go home crying at least three nights a week anymore. But it didn’t mean she was used to it—not by a long shot. Her voice was low and professional when she responded. “I appreciate that you have feelings for this man. But I want to impress upon you that you would never forgive yourself if anything happened to Destiny.” Libby began sobbing, and Katie grabbed a tissue out of the box on the side table and handed it to her. Libby took it and began wiping at her face, streaks of black from her eyeliner and mascara smudging under her eyes. Katie noticed the dirt under Libby’s fingernails before she finally started talking again. “I’m not saying you can’t continue your relationship with Rod, but be cautious.”

  Libby shook her head. “I guess I’m just not destined to be with someone.” Her sobs grew louder again, and Katie handed her a handful of tissues.

  “Oh, no, that’s not true. You’re young, and there are plenty of people out there.” Katie sucked in a deep breath. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost time to go, but she expected to be here long after the doors locked. Part of her wanted to tell Libby that if she didn’t frequent bars, she might find better quality men. But her job was not to lecture, not to evaluate, not to judge. It was, instead, to protect the welfare of the child. And right now that child was patting her mother’s knee, telling Mommy everything would be all right. Katie’s mouth screwed up into a frown. She didn’t know the last time she felt like she had actually been able to save a child. Maybe, though, she could help Libby make the right choice. Libby looked up at Katie, little gullies of flaked black mascara making trails halfway down her cheeks where they abruptly stopped, having been wiped clean. “I know right now it doesn’t seem that way, but—”

  Libby gulped and nodded. “No, you’re right. You’re right. I guess maybe I can keep seeing him but leave Destiny at my sister’s when I do.”

  “Yes, that’s one possibility.” Katie knew her calm façade wouldn’t betray the fact that she was disappointed. Libby had made the choice she would not have recommended, had, in fact, chosen the one Katie had tried to sway her from. She had to offer one last bit of advice: “Just remember that if you feel he’s not treating your daughter in a manner you think is appropriate, keep him away from her.”

  Katie saw outside the meeting room that some of her coworkers were shutting off lights here and there and preparing to leave for the day. She wound up spending a
nother twenty minutes with Libby, offering her advice but knowing that the young mother had to make her own choices. Katie just hoped they were good choices, but she knew she would likely be seeing Libby again in the near future.

  * * *

  Dean, one of the workers in her unit, stopped by her cubicle. “Kate, it’s late. You going home soon?”

  She looked up from the computer screen, moving a wisp of brown hair out of her eyes. “Yeah, I just want to finish documenting my last visit. I’ll be leaving in ten minutes tops.”

  “Promise?”

  Katie’s smile didn’t stretch too far, but she tried. “Promise.”

  “Good. Grant made me vow to keep a good eye on you while he’s gone. I don’t want to have to tell him you were down here all night long.”

  Katie shook her head, this time her smile stretching out, her gleaming white teeth making an appearance. “I have Sam to take care of, so no worries. I promise to leave no later than eight.” Dean raised his eyebrows. “Just kidding. I should be out of here by six.”

  Dean smiled and nodded. “All right. See you tomorrow then.”

  “Yep.” Katie returned her gaze to the computer screen and read the last two sentences she had typed. When she could, she tried to get her documentation over as soon as possible while it was still fresh in her mind. Yes, she could have just as easily done it in the morning, but it was safer to do it now, while the details were still crisp and sharp. She shrugged her shoulders and rolled her neck around, loosening the stiffness, then resumed tapping on the keyboard, her slim fingers appearing to fly as sentences appeared, one after another on the screen. When Katie finally left the hulking brick building, she was the last one out the doors, turning off the remaining lights and securing the alarm system. There was still plenty of light out tonight, so if Grant asked, she could assure him she hadn’t been here “all night long.”

  * * *

  Katie slid the gold key into the lock of the thick wooden door that was the entrance to her home. She opened the door and was greeted in seconds by Sam, her white long-haired Angora cat. Sam uttered a squeaky “meow” and then began twirling around Katie’s legs. Katie set her purse on the small table beside the door and bent over. She rubbed Sam underneath the chin. Sam smiled back. “Yes, I missed you too, silly.” She locked the screen door, then shut the large wooden door and locked its deadbolt.

  After the long day at work, Katie was ready to ease into her evening routine. She wouldn’t have admitted it, not even to herself, but because she found her work so traumatizing, so draining on a daily basis, she had over time created a safe haven away from work. Stability in everything she did and a solid routine helped Katie feel comfortable. No curve balls, no troubles she couldn’t foresee. Katie’s life was boring, but she liked it that way.

  Her routine was slightly varied now, though, because Grant, her fiancé, was out of town for work, so Katie and Sam were on their own tonight. Katie made her way to the kitchen. She checked her voice mail—no calls. She sifted through the mail—one bill, one health magazine, and two credit card offers which she immediately tossed in the trash. Sam continued to purr, meow, and rub on Katie’s legs. Katie looked down. “I suppose you’re wanting some canned food, huh?” Katie smiled and walked over to the pale brown cupboard. She got out a can of gravied cat food, Sam’s favorite, and pulled the metal lid off. Sam started howling in anticipation. He continued meowing at her as she walked across the room, can in hand, until she placed it beside his dry food and water dish.

  Sam taken care of, Katie peeked in the fridge. There wasn’t much there, so she decided she’d have a salad for dinner. No sense cooking for just herself. She planned out the rest of her evening: a workout on the exercise bike, followed by a shower and dinner, and then she would curl up in bed with a new book, maybe brushing Sam at the same time.

  Almost every evening in Katie’s life mirrored the one before. Grant usually visited two or three nights a week, nights when he didn’t have his daughter. Those evenings revolved around him, but Katie didn’t necessarily prefer those evenings. In fact, she savored her times alone. She didn’t have close girlfriends, so she didn’t ever go for a girls’ night out. She visited her mother every Saturday like clockwork. Katie’s life was comfortable but dull. She didn’t complain, though, because she saw what “excitement” could do to families. After working in Child Protective Services for more than ten years, she had learned to prefer her own safe, sanitary life to the alternative.

  She walked to her bedroom so she could change into athletic wear and out of the navy blue pantsuit she’d worn to work today. She paused at the bedroom mirror to take off her jewelry. Thanks to exercise and diet, Katie didn’t look thirty-four; she looked like she was still in her late twenties. She was thin, fit, and firm. Her straight shoulder-length light brown hair framed her face and complemented her ivory skin and light brown eyes. Gazing at her reflection, she tried to picture herself in a white lace gown. Just last month, Grant had proposed. Katie had accepted without much thought. They had been dating for almost three years and were compatible, so she had no need to wonder if it was the right decision; it had felt inevitable. It was the next step one took in a relationship. But they hadn’t yet set a date, and she still had problems picturing herself as a bride. Grant had been married once, but Katie had never been married or even engaged. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been in relationships; they’d just never progressed to that point. She’d never wondered why that was. She knew why.

  Katie’s feet ached, so she slipped off her shoes and placed them in an empty shoebox in her closet. She then moved back to the dresser and had finally undone the clasp on her necklace when the doorbell rang. She jumped; she wasn’t expecting anyone. She placed the necklace in its appropriate slot in her jewelry box and left her bedroom. Sam was sitting on the beige living room carpet looking content. He was licking his lips and blinking his eyes at Katie. She smiled at him, then continued walking to the front door.

  Katie unlocked the door and peered through the screen. Dusk might have been approaching, but June’s stubborn sun refused to give up. Bright sunlight shone on the face of the man at the door, making it hard to discern his features. Katie paused, then smiled. “Johnny?”

  * * *

  Katie Logan, a freckly-faced preteen, sat in the dirt and overgrown grass beside an irrigation ditch that ran along the length of the town of Winchester, Colorado. It was right around the block from her house, and she had ridden her bike there. It was August. The summer had wound down to boring, and Katie had little to do. She was tired of video games and books. She was tired of playing other games with the girls who lived on her street, and she’d pretty much exhausted all the outdoor fun she could think of. She was sick of swimming and roller skating. She no longer enjoyed any of the activities she usually relished. Her family had gone camping one week in July, and she’d visited her cousins out of state for a week in June, but now all the summer fun was over. Katie wouldn’t admit it to her friends, but she was ready to go back to school. She’d begin fifth grade this year, and she was ready to see her friends again, meet her new teacher, learn new things. She wanted to get back into a routine. She appreciated weekends when she had to work hard all week. Months of nothing to do unnerved her, and she was ready to have tasks set in front of her.

  So she sat by the bank of the ditch, tossing in small stones, just for the sake of doing it, not even aware that she was. She started dreaming up stories in her mind to occupy the time. She didn’t even hear the footsteps of the young brown-haired boy; in fact, she didn’t even notice him until he sat next to her. “So, is this what you guys do for fun around here?”

  Katie looked over at the boy. Sitting next to her, he appeared to be her build and even her height. His hair, light brown, was short but a little shaggy, and his ice blue eyes twinkled at her. She scrunched her nose as if she had smelled something funny. Then she said, “No. I’m just bored.”

  He smiled. “So what do you usually do for fun?�
�

  Katie shrugged her shoulders. “I dunno. Normal stuff.”

  “Normal stuff like what? Do you have anything fun to do around here?”

  Katie looked over at him, as though considering what she wanted to say. “It depends, I guess.”

  “Depends on what?”

  “On what you like to do. What do you like to do?”

  “Video games. Softball. Other stuff.”

  “Me too. If you like to swim, the public pool is about five blocks that way.” She pointed to her right, in front of the boy’s chest.

  “My name’s Johnny, by the way.”

  She smiled. “Katie.” The two youngsters shook hands, a sight that would have had their mothers giggling. The act may have seemed formal, but it cemented what would become a lifelong friendship. Katie then proceeded to tell Johnny every activity she had already participated in that summer and asked him about his move to her town.

  And Katie and Johnny spent the rest of the summer together. Suddenly, swimming, video games, and playing outside weren’t boring anymore. Johnny Church helped young Katie find the fun in the world again, and when school began the end of August, she was sad. But by then, she and Johnny—her new neighbor one block down—were tight. Had Johnny’s mother moved to the small town of Winchester a year later after puberty had set in solidly, the two might not have ever become friends—hormones and mood swings might have interfered with their budding friendship. Instead, the two of them attended the same elementary school and Katie had the pleasure of introducing her class to her new best friend Johnny. The two remained close friends throughout middle school; Katie thought Johnny was a better friend than her girlfriends—there was less drama and fewer fights. By the time they started high school, there was no question that Katie and Johnny would be “Best Friends Forever.”