by Ciana Stone
Kal got out of the car and extended his hand. "Thank you, sir. That means the world to me."
"And to me," Cici flew around the car and hugged her dad. She then looked at Naomie. "Tell us about the report."
"How about we sit the whole family down and tell everyone at the same time?" Russell asked.
"Works for me," Kal replied. "Want a ride?"
"No, thanks. I'm enjoying the walk. But if you want to round up Nash that'd be good. Is Mace here?"
"He is. He stayed over at Bailey's."
"I can see I'm going to have to build another house before long," Russell commented.
Cici grinned. "I can tell you're all broken up over the prospect."
Russell smiled. "Yeah. In fact, if the two of you should decide you'd like a place, I think we can work something out."
Kal looked at Cici and she smiled. "As much as I love you for the offer, I think for now we'll keep things the way they are. But we will go round up the boys. Want me to call Dillon and Delaney?"
"Yes, thanks. But it'll take them both all morning to get here so let's make it a dinner. If that works for you? Can you stay tonight?"
"Yes," Kal answered. "In fact, why don't you and Naomie get some sleep? Nash said he talked to Harley this morning and she said Amber was still asleep, but she heard the two of you leaving around six, which means you couldn't have gotten more than a couple hours sleep."
Russell looked at Naomie. "I could use a nap," she confessed.
"Then a nap it is."
"Don't worry we'll take care of everything," Cici assured him.
"Thanks, honey. I appreciate it. Both of you. We'll see you later."
Kal and Cici got back into the car and drove on toward the house. Russell looked at Naomie. "Nap?"
"Yes, please."
"Your place or mine?"
"Mine."
"All righty then." He offered her a hand, and she took it.
Ten minutes later they were cuddled up in her bed, the blinds drawn and the ceiling fan whirring above them. "Sleep well, my love," he whispered and kissed the side of her face.
My love. Naomie smiled and drifted off to sleep with the echo of his words fulfilling the dream she'd been afraid would not come true.
Chapter Twenty- One
"Girl, I nearly fell out when I walked in and saw you and Uncle Russ sleeping," Amber said as she dunked a celery stick in a bowl of dip. "And naked. Oh god, my eyes. A girl should never see her Uncle naked."
Cici and Naomie laughed. "He wasn't naked," Naomie said. "And come on, he's fine with all capital letters."
"Be that as it may, he looks almost exactly like my dad and –" She shuddered and looked at Cici. "Back me up here, cuz. No one wants to see their dad naked."
"I have to agree," Cici said and dumped a box of snack crackers into a bowl. She munched on one as she took the container to the table.
"If we eat all these snacks no one will want dinner," Amber commented.
"Girl, you haven't seen my brothers or fiancé chow down," Cici replied. "And seeing as how I'm eating for two now…"
"I still can't believe it. You're going to be a mama," Amber smiled. "And Gigi said Dillon and Josie are expecting, too. You do know this is going to make it even harder for me. Mom and Dad nag all the time about me settling down."
"And you're opposed to that?" Cici asked.
Amber cut a look at Naomie before answering. "No, I guess not. If the right man came along, but I'm not in a hurry. There are still a lot of things I want to do before I put down roots."
"Nothing wrong with that," Naomie said and placed the bowl of sliced cucumbers she'd just cut on the table.
"So, what in the world is taking Dad so long? He said he was going to call Uncle Rich two hours ago."
"I don't know. He'll let us know when he's ready."
"Sorry, bathroom break, " Amber said. "Be right back."
"We'll be here." Cici took a seat. "I have a bit of news. You know Kal's partner Edward has been trying to get Kal to back out of his plan for a green city, right?"
"Yes, Kal said he was not just surprised but disappointed," Naomie replied.
"Well, he's even more disappointed now. Edward called earlier. He received an offer on the land. Kal would lose millions but wouldn't lose everything and Edward's begging him to take the offer."
"What does Kal think?"
"He doesn't want to give up on it. As crazy as it sounds to some, this is his dream. And he doesn't understand why Edward is pushing him so hard on this. Personally, I think Edward is falling increasingly under the control of this man making the offer, Aleksei Petrov.
"Naomie? Are you okay? You look like you saw a ghost."
"No no, I'm fine. Sorry," Naomie turned away. "I just forgot that I have some things I really need to take care of."
"Right now?" Cici asked.
"Yes, sorry. I need to check back in with wildlife again to see if there's a way the missing cougars can be tracked down and if we can get a signal from their trackers. It shouldn't take long. And we don't want those cats attacking livestock, or God forbid, humans. I'll be back soon."
She hurried out of the kitchen door and at that same moment Amber entered the room. "Where's she going?"
"She said she had some things she needed to do."
"Oh, so what was this news you have?"
Cici repeated it but didn't mention who the offer was from. Amber didn't understand why it would have upset Naomie, but she darn sure looked upset when she left. "Well, I'm sure Kal will do the right thing. And I hate to leave you alone, but I need to call my editor and see if I can leave from here on my next assignment. No point in me going back to D.C. if I don’t have to."
"Can't you call from here?"
"I left my phone at Naomie's. I'll be back shortly."
"Okay, fine. I'll just sit here and stuff my face."
Amber laughed. "See you in a bit."
She broke into a run as soon as she was outside and caught up with Naomie. "Are you okay?"
"No," Naomie kept walking.
"What can I do?"
"Help me figure a way to ensure Kal doesn’t take that offer from Petrov."
Amber grabbed Naomie's arm and stopped dead in her tracks. "Petrov? Not Aleksei Petrov?"
"One and the same."
"Oh, Naomie what are you going to do?"
"Nothing."
"But what if he should come here? What if he finds out you're here? What will you do?"
"He won't. At least I hope not, and I don't know."
"You should tell Uncle Russ."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Seriously, you can ask that? You know why."
"Well, I think you're wrong to hide it from him. If you love him. Just think about it."
"I will."
"What the holy hell is that man even doing in this country? I thought those last sanctions basically barred him from entering?"
"So, did I. Looks like we were both wrong."
"Obviously. Maybe it's time we started thinking on ways to make the good old US of A unappealing for him."
Naomie looked at her. "Only as a last resort. I don't want to draw attention to the fact I'm here, okay?"
"Whatever you want." Amber hugged her. "Listen, I'm going back to your cottage to make some calls and start getting things lined up for my next assignment. I'll meet you back at the main house in what, an hour?"
"Sounds good."
Naomie watched Amber walk away, thinking how she'd vowed not to get caught up in one of Amber's adventures and here she was drawing Amber into her own intrigue.
*****
Naomie looked around at the faces of the members of the Walker family, assembled in the family room. She and Russell had given them all the information they had on the cougar situation and also the geological survey her friend Adam Randolph did.
"You don't think that has anything to do with the offer I got on my land, do you?" Kal asked.
"I don't k
now," Russell answered. "I called Rich to talk to him about it, and he's going to look into it and see if there's any talk of plans for building thorium reactors. Until I hear back from him, I'm clueless."
"Well, I'm not selling. Period."
"Right there with you, son." Russell agreed and looked around the room. "That's all we know for the moment, but if there's news, you know you'll all be told. But while I have you all here, I'd like to fill you in on a decision Rich, GiGi and I made earlier today."
"Is this something that's going to make me cuss or cry?" Cici asked and earned a laugh from everyone else.
"I hope not."
"Okay, sorry. Please continue."
Russell smiled at her. "Our family is growing and I'm delighted. This is the Walker homestead and as much yours as it is mine, or Gigi or Rich, so we'd like to make an offer to each of you. Select a homesite where you'd like to have a place built and when and if the time comes that you want to call this home for you and your family, we'll make it happen."
He looked at Dillon. "You're going to be a father before the end of the year, and there's not a thing in the world wrong with the home you have, but your child can grow up here if you want."
His gaze went to Josie. "You're loved and part of this family. There's no pressure. Whatever you want to do is fine."
She got up and hurried across the room to hug him. "Thank you. I can't speak for Dillon, but that would make me very happy."
"Yeah?" he looked down at her and then at Dillon.
"I'd like it too, but it’s a hell of a commute to work each day."
"Oh, I didn't think of that," Josie replied and gave Russell another hug. "But I still love the idea."
"The same goes for you and Kal, Little Bit," Russell looked at Cici. "I know you both have homes and I'm not going to try and force your hand, but the offer stands if you ever want it."
He then looked at Mace. "And I know you and I have discussed it before, but I want you to know I spoke with Jordan and he and his family would jump at the chance to move to Heritage South. He's more than capable of running things for us there if you'd like to move back here and help Nash with overseeing all the holdings. He's been doing a hell of a lot of traveling and with Rusty getting more involved in rodeo, he could use some help."
"Amen to that," Nash spoke up. "Plus, it'd be nice to have you closer."
"I'd like that as well," Mace said. "Let's discuss it."
"We'll do that," Russell agreed with a smile. "And finally, I want you all to know that Naomie and I are involved."
"Well duh," Gigi said, and after one moment of shock everyone burst out laughing.
Russell smiled. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You had it all figured out long before I did."
"Well, of course," Cici said and stood. "You have brilliantly intelligent offspring."
"Indeed I do. Okay, who's ready to eat?"
A chorus of voices rang out and everyone headed either for the patio or the kitchen to start preparing. Naomie opted for the kitchen and DeLyn wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked down the hall. "Looks like I'm one step closer to getting my wish."
"What wish is that?"
"Having you for a daughter."
Naomie smiled and gave her a one-armed hug. "Don't put the cart before the horse, dear one. He just barely got the words out that we're involved."
Gigi giggled and despite her intention not to, so did Naomie. "What's so funny?" Cici said as she caught up with them.
"The idea of you calling Naomie mom," DeLyn said.
"Oooh, if you marry dad you'd be my child's grandmother," Cici teased.
Within seconds, Josie and Amber had joined in, and Naomie laughed as they all teased her. She knew it was out of love and didn't mind it at all. DeLyn called Bailey and Naomie called Harley and told them to come to dinner, then they got busy preparing dishes for their meal.
Naomie tried to not think about the news Cici delivered earlier in the day but found her mind turning to it. A couple of times Amber asked if she was okay and Naomie assured her everything was fine.
Dillon and Josie left right after dinner to drive back to Cotton Creek. Mace and Bailey took Minnie home to put her to bed, and Rusty invited Harley to go home with him and Nash and watch a movie.
"I'm in the mood for a movie, too," Amber announced and smiled at DeLyn. "Whadda ya say, Gigi? Feel up to a night of Dirty Dancing, original versus remake."
"Oh, you know it." Gigi agreed.
"Cool." Amber looked over at Naomie. "I think I'll spend the night here with Gigi."
"Okay, enjoy."
"You too."
Once they went upstairs, it just left Cici, Kal, Russell and Naomie sitting on the patio. "Now that everyone's gone, there's something Kal, and I wanted to talk to you about, Dad."
"I can go," Naomie started to stand, but Russell grabbed her hand and pulled her down beside him. "Or not."
"Actually we want you to stay. Kal and I want to get married."
"I thought that was decided a while ago," Russell said.
"I mean right away."
"Is something wrong?"
"No. Everything's fine, Dad. I just realized that I don't care about a big fancy wedding. I just want my family, the people I love with me."
"And what do you want?" Russell asked Kal.
"To marry the woman I love in any way that makes her happy. As long as I get her, I'm good."
"Good answer. Okay, so?"
"So I want to do it in two weeks. Here at Heritage."
"Do you have enough time to plan it?"
"There's not much to plan, but yes. And," she looked at Naomie. "I'd like you to be my Maid of Honor."
"Oh honey, I'm so touched, and I'd love to, but shouldn't you ask Delaney?"
"A month ago I might have agreed, but honestly I don’t even know her these days."
"What do you mean?"
Cici looked at Kal, and he nodded, so she turned her attention back to Naomie and Russell. "I met her for lunch last week, and she said I was a fool for marrying Kal. That Kal was a lousy businessman and was driving poor Edward into the poorhouse, taking advantage of their friendship, and that if I had any sense at all, I'd take Edward's advice and talk Kal into accepting the offer Mr. Petrov made."
"Petrov?" Russell asked.
"Aleksei Petrov, a Russian oligarch who is raising eyebrows and attention with the investing he's doing here."
"Your tone of voice tells me you don't think much of this Petrov fellow."
"You're right. Dad, I think he's more than just Delaney's client. I think she's involved with this man and he's influencing the way she thinks. I've never known Delaney to stick her nose in other people's business this way or to cast dispersions on others. But she's–I don't know how to explain it. It's like he's released her inner bitch and boy is it a doozy."
"You think I should speak with her? Or maybe ask Mom to?"
"Gigi tried, and Delaney told her to mind her own business."
"That definitely doesn't sound like Delaney."
"No, and I'm hoping she realizes she's making a mistake with that man, but I can't let her stop me from living my life, so…" She looked again at Naomie. "Will you be my Maid of Honor?"
"I'd love to."
"And we can have the wedding here, Dad?"
"Of course."
"You're going to walk me down the aisle, right?"
"Just let someone try and stop me."
"Oh thank goodness. Now I can be excited. I'm marrying the love of my life and will have my family with me. Life is good. And this pregnant girl is tired. I think Kal and I will sleep over if that's okay."
"It's always okay."
"Then what do you say we get in bed, snuggle and watch some tv?" She asked Kal.
"Sounds good, but I'd like to talk with your dad for a few minutes if you don't mind."
"About the geological report?"
"Yes."
"Okay," she kissed him, stood and went over to lean down and kiss Russell
on the cheek.
"Goodnight, all. Sleep well."
"I think I'm going to head to the cottage," Naomie stood.
"Wait, and I'll walk you."
"No, you talk with Kal. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
It surprised Naomie that he leaned over and kissed her. It was not a long kiss or a passionate one, but it made a statement that wasn't lost on her.
"Good night," she said softly. "Call me before you go to sleep?"
"I will."
"Goodnight, Kal. I'm so glad you found Cici. You're a good man, and you make her happy."
"Thanks, Naomie. I'll sure spend my life trying. See you soon."
"Yes. Goodnight."
Naomie walked down the patio steps and around the side of the house. There was a nearly full moon lighting the landscape, and she walked along, trying to see the beauty and not let the fear that had been scraping at her shield scratch its way in.
As much as she hated it, she felt that maybe she did need to tell Russell the truth about Petrov. But not tonight. Tonight she needed to think. And plan. Because she knew as sure as there was a moon in the sky above her, if Petrov found out she was there, he would do everything in his power to hurt her.
And she wasn't going to allow that. She wouldn't let him hurt Russell or any of the Walker family. She would ruin him if she could and end him if there was no other way.
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Good morning Mace," Naomie greeted him as she drew near.
"Naomie," he looked up from what he was doing under the hood of Bailey's car. "It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?"
"It sure is. What're you doing there?"
"Changing the oil and checking things over."
"You're such a good man."
"Aww, I bet you say that to all the guys."
She laughed. "You know better than that. Seriously, you're so good to Bailey and Minnie, and I'm so glad the two of you are together. You make a nice family– or the start of one, anyway."
