Sullivan (Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Book 5) Read online

  Sullivan

  Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team #5

  Laramie Briscoe

  Contents

  Also By Laramie Briscoe

  New Release Alerts

  Moonshine Task Force Members

  Blurb

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Epilogue One

  Epilogue Two

  About the Author

  Report Errors/Reviews

  Connect With Laramie

  Also By Laramie Briscoe

  Copyright © 2020Laramie Briscoe

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and storylines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  Editor: Elfwerks Editing

  Beta Readers: Danielle Wentworth

  Proofreader: Danielle Wentworth

  Cover: Laramie Briscoe

  Cover Photography: Wander Aguiar

  Formatting: Laramie Briscoe

  Created with Vellum

  Also By Laramie Briscoe

  The Haldonia Monarchy

  Royal Rebel

  Royal Chaos

  Royal Love

  Heaven Hill Series

  Meant To Be

  Out of Darkness

  Losing Control

  Worth The Battle

  Dirty Little Secret

  Second Chance Love

  Rough Patch

  Beginning of Forever

  Home Free

  Shield My Heart

  A Heaven Hill Christmas

  Heaven Hill Next Generation

  Hurricane

  Wild

  Fury

  Hollow

  Restraint

  Heaven Hill Shorts

  Caelin

  Christine

  Justice

  Harley

  Jagger

  Charity

  Liam

  Drew

  Dalton

  Mandy

  Rockin’ Country Series

  Only The Beginning

  The Price of Love

  Full Circle

  Hard To Love

  Reaper’s Love

  The Nashvegas Trilogy

  Power Couple

  Breach of Contract

  The Moonshine Task Force Series

  Renegade

  Tank

  Havoc

  Ace

  Menace

  Cruise

  Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team

  Ransom

  Suppression

  Enigma

  Cutter

  Sullivan

  Devante

  The MVP Duet

  On the DL

  MVP

  The Midnight Cove Series

  Inflame

  Stand Alones

  My Confession

  Sketch

  Sass

  Trick

  Room 143

  2018 Laramie Briscoe Compilation

  2019 Laramie Briscoe Compilation

  New Release Alerts

  JOIN MY MAILING LIST

  http://sitel.ink/LBList

  JOIN MY READERS GROUP

  fbl.ink/LaramiesLounge

  TEXT LARAMIE TO 88202

  Moonshine Task Force Members

  Ryan “Renegade” Kepler – Married to Whitney and father to Stella and Nick. Best friend to Trevor.

  Trevor “Tank” Trumboldt – Married to Blaze, brother to Whitney, uncle to Stella and Nick. Best friend to Ryan.

  Holden “Havoc” Thompson – Married to Leighton, father to Ransom and Cutter. Best friend to Mason.

  Anthony “Ace” Bailey – Married to Violet.

  Mason “Menace” Harrison – Married to Karina, father to Caleb and Kelsea, grandfather to Molly and Levi. Best friend to Holden.

  Caleb “Cruise” Harrison – Married to Ruby, father to Molly and Levi, son of Mason, brother to Kelsea.

  Blurb

  Sullivan Baker

  Moving to Laurel Springs and joining the LSERT was the best spur-of-the-moment decision I ever made. Here, out from under the expectations of my Police Chief father, I’m thriving.

  I’ve found a boldness and confidence I never had in Paradise Lost.

  And a woman who I can’t stop thinking or dreaming about, and don’t want to stay away from. Attorney Shelby Bruce knocked me for a loop and my head hasn’t stopped spinning since the night of our “friendmas” Christmas party.

  When there’s a physical threat to her wellbeing, I won’t stop at anything to protect her, even if it means losing a piece of myself in the process.

  Shelby Bruce

  Houston was my home until the big city reached out and bit me. Laurel Springs is more my speed, and I’ve settled into life here.

  A new friend group, building my practice from the ground up, and a smoking hot new love interest have my life extremely busy and full. I’m content. More so than I ever was in my old existence.

  That all changes when I revise a will for one of the pillars of the Laurel Springs community. Effectively, she cuts her grandson out of her fortune. When he finds out it’s not pretty.

  Even worse. He blames me.

  But something amazing happens. Day by day, I realize the relationships I’ve built within the community and the LSERT are stronger than I ever imagined. Especially when Sullivan Baker saves not only my life, but my heart.

  Prologue

  Sullivan

  “Yes!”

  My sister screams the word as she tackles her boyfriend to the ground. He’s proposed in front of what has become our group of friends, and though I feel a stab of jealousy in my chest, I’m excited for them. I can’t help but clap and whistle along with everyone else.

  Cutter and I talked about this a few days ago. He asked my dad, but he requested my permission too, knowing how close Rowan and I are.

  I gave it to him with every single blessing I could m
uster. If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s Rowan. Someone taps on my shoulder, causing me to take my eyes off the ecstatic couple.

  “Is it possible to be that lucky? To get someone who makes you smile and your eyes twinkle?”

  Attorney Shelby Bruce has had my attention since I moved here a few months ago. We live in the same apartment complex, and she just so happens to take her morning run either when I’m leaving for or coming home from work. She may be a bit of an obsession. One I wish I had time to explore.

  “According to them, it most definitely is.”

  She snorts loudly, bringing her glass of what smells like Jack and Coke up to her mouth. Instead of a small sip, she chugs almost half the container, licking the residue from her lips when she pulls it back. Now that I look at her, I realize she’s had a few.

  “You doing alright?”

  Her smile is lopsided. “Better than I have in a long time.”

  My sister chooses that moment to run at me, throwing herself into my arms, effectively cutting off the conversation Shelby and I are having. Instead of sticking around, the object of my affection strolls across the room.

  “Did you know?” Her eyes are wet with tears, but this time is different from all the other times I’ve seen them fall down her face. These are joyous.

  “I did, I’m so happy for you, Ro.”

  She hugs me tightly. “You’re gonna get this too.” Her words are slightly muffled by my t-shirt. “I just know it.”

  “I know.”

  The words sound weak, but there’s nothing I will do to dampen the excitement of this moment for her.

  “Hey.” Cutter gets my attention, holding his hand out.

  “Congratulations, man, I’m happy for y’all.” We shake, a mutual respect flowing between the two of us.

  “Thank you, I appreciate you giving me your blessing.”

  “You didn’t need it.”

  “But I wanted it.”

  And that’s why there’s such respect between the two of us.

  “It’s no big deal.”

  He runs a hand through his hair, resting it on the back of his neck. “So I kinda have another favor to ask you. Shelby’s a little toasted, you think you can make sure she gets home okay?”

  I’ve done my best to ignore her because I hate that I want to be around her all the time, to get to know her, but I’m unsure of how she would take it. Sighing, I look from one side of the room to the other and find her green eyes on me.

  Eating. Me. Up.

  Raising an eyebrow at her, I brush Cutter away and take myself over to where she stands in the corner.

  “You okay, Shelby?”

  “You seem to ask me that a lot, Sully.” She leans in. “What if I told you, you could make it all okay?”

  “I’d say it’s probably time to take you home.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yeah, yeah it is.”

  “Do you mind if I roll down the window?”

  “It’s December, but go right ahead,” I chuckle as she fumbles with the buttons on the door. “Here.” I use the main control on my side. “How far do you want it?”

  She looks back at me, smiling like a little nymph. “As far as it can go.”

  Fuck. Me.

  We’re quiet as I drive us to our apartment building, neither of us saying much, but there’s a string of chemistry between us. Like always, it’s vibrating with unexplored need. I’m amped up, I feel like I’m about to go into a building with unknown occupants and an undetermined amount of guns. My adrenaline is spiking hardcore for her.

  Pulling into my assigned parking space, I shut my Mustang off before looking over at her. The lights from the dash cast a low glow around us. “I got you here safely.”

  “So you did.” She fumbles with her seatbelt, her shoulder-length hair moving so that I can’t see her face, but there’s a touch of disappointment in her tone. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “Somehow I don’t think I gave you the ride you wanted.”

  She stops what she’s doing, inhaling deeply. “You wouldn’t know, you never asked.”

  Those words punch me hard in the gut, because I don’t believe for a second that’s what she’s saying to me. Reaching up, I rub against the stubble on my chin, taking a deep breath to calm myself down.

  “So what are you thinking?” I chuckle. “One night stand? Friends with benefits?”

  “Why do we have to put a label on it? Why can’t we do what feels good? Why do we have to make decisions right this instant?” She seems irritated with answering questions, even though she’s the one asking them. It gives me more insight into her frame of mind than she even understands.

  “You know what I think, Counselor?”

  She slings her hair out of the way, giving me her eyes again. Hers travel up to mine, eyebrow lifting in question.

  “I think you have so much control in the courtroom, you want someone to take control in your personal life, I mean…” I lean in closer, propping my elbow up on the center console. “Correct me if I’m wrong.”

  She doesn’t move, all she does is close her eyes. “You’re not wrong.” The words are so soft I almost don’t hear them.

  “Is this drunk Shelby talking? Or is this the Shelby who hides everything she wants talking?”

  Her green eyes shine in the muted tone of the security light shining down from above this parking spot. “This is the Shelby who hides everything she truly wants. The one who has to look professional all the time, the one who always has it together, who always has the answer for every fuckin’ question people ask.”

  My mouth and lips are dry as fuck, I get what she’s putting down.

  “Want me to walk you up to your apartment?”

  She lives two floors up from me, and immediately I see the disappointment in her eyes as she avoids my gaze.

  “Or do you want to come to mine?”

  A small smile spreads across her face. “Mine,” she whispers.

  “Sit tight.”

  Getting out and shutting the driver’s door, I take a moment to adjust my dick. It got fifteen times harder than it’s ever been. Calm down, my brain tells the rod in between my legs.

  When I get over to her side of the car, I open the door for her. She turns, spreading her thighs for me.

  “Promise me, Sully.” Her voice is soft. “Promise this doesn’t change our friendship.”

  This is going to completely change our friendship, but I give her the answer she wants. “We’re good, no matter what happens here, tonight.”

  My hands go around her waist, pulling her out, making sure she’s on solid ground before grabbing her fingers, leading us up the steps. As I pass my apartment, there’s a part of me that screams to go in there and not do what I’m about to. Laying my heart out isn’t something I’ve done easily since we lost Etta. Honestly, she’s the last person I gave my love to so easily.

  I shut that shit down real quick.

  The closer we get to her front door, the harder my heart beats.

  She fumbles with her keys, so I end up taking them out of her hand and opening the door for her. I’ve been in here a few times, but now isn’t the moment I want to comment on her decorating ability.

  “So.” I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans, rocking back on my feet. “Should we just go for it or, is there something specific you’re expecting.” The last thing I want to do is ruin our friendship or change the dynamic of our friend group.

  She giggles, throaty and deep. “I leave it up to you, Sully. Give me what you do best.”

  She wants what I do best? Then that’s what she’ll fucking get.

  Looking around the apartment, I see exactly what I’m going to use. One of the two chairs she has at her kitchen table. Grabbing her by the hand, I pull her over.

  “My kitchen?” Her eyes are clouded with question.

  “You’ll see,” I say the words like the promise they are.

  She’s tall, especially in her high-heeled boots, and I ap
preciate not having to bend at the waist to take what I want. I put my arm behind her neck, grasping, pulling her closer to me. It knocks her off-balance slightly, and when I take her lips it’s on a small gasp.

  Her open mouth allows my tongue to go right for what I want, brushing the roof in a possession I’ve needed to have since the first day I saw her running.

  She grabs for me, using her fingers digging into my biceps to hold her up.

  But when I’ve had my fill for the moment, I gently direct her to the chair, before walking around behind her, grabbing hold of her arms.

  “Sully?”

  “You trust me, right?” My voice is tight with desire, heavy with need for her.

  “Yeah, I trust you with everything.” She looks at me, over her shoulder. “I’m a pretty good judge of character.”

  “That right?” I grin.

  “That’s right.”

  When I have her arms behind the chair, I reach for a pair of cuffs I carry at the small of my back, just in case they’re ever needed. I slap them on, locking them, but making sure she has plenty of room.