Code Name: Genesis

by Sawyer Bennett

  Rachel exits my room and I follow, nabbing my cell phone and purse from my dresser on the way out. When we make our way into the kitchen, I come up a bit short when I spot Kynan leaning on the kitchen island beside Bebe as she works on her laptop. He lifts his head, eyes locking on mine, and I can’t read a damn thing on his expression. No remorse or regret. No triumph he got laid last night without much fuss.

  “I’m taking Joslyn to a shooting range,” Rachel announces as we step into the kitchen.

  “No, you’re not,” Kynan replies with a nod to Bebe. “She’s found a flower shop about five miles from here that had a large purchase of sunflowers yesterday. Customer paid cash, but they entered it into their system, which auto adjusts their stock requirements based on daily purchases. I need you to go there and interview the people who were on duty. See if you can get an ID on the guy.”

  “And also ask to see their security footage. They have cameras set up, but I didn’t hack them. Don’t want to draw unnecessary attention if we don’t have to.”

  Rachel goes into full-on work mode, spine snapping straight. She gives me a short glance. “Sorry, Joslyn. Another time, okay?”

  “Yeah, sure,” I hasten to reassure her. “This is far more important. But… I can go with you.”

  “You stay with me,” Kynan growls, not even bothering to glance my way as he issues the order. His high-handedness grates on my nerves, but I realize deep down he’s only doing it for my own protection and not to annoy me.

  Rachel reaches out, touching my arm. She gestures toward the front door. “Walk me out, okay?”

  “Sure,” I reply softly and trail her out of the kitchen, through the great room, and to the large foyer to the double front doors. She picks up her rental car keys and backpack she’d left on a table before giving me her attention. “Listen… about what your mom did to you…”

  I blink in surprise. “Yeah?”

  “Don’t leave that unresolved, okay?” she advises. “Call her, send her an email… whatever you feel is the best way to communicate with her, but let her know you know what she did and give her the opportunity to apologize for it.”

  “My mom doesn’t apologize for anything,” I mutter.

  “Then at least you know she doesn’t have any remorse and you can move on. But that was a huge betrayal to you, and that shit will only fester. Trust me, I know a little bit about this sort of stuff.”

  This takes me aback because while there’s been plenty of anger inside of me toward my mom, I have not once considered confronting her about it. There didn’t seem to be any purpose to it since we didn’t have the greatest relationship anyway. She was so angry with me for firing her as my manager that she had no qualms with essentially cutting me out of her life for a few years. It wasn’t until she remarried and her new husband urged her to reach out that we reconciled somewhat. I have to admit it hurt in those years we weren’t talking, but I’d also learned to live with it.

  I’d learned how to be alone and to depend only on myself, and I could certainly do that again. In fact, after I get this stuff resolved with my stalker, I am going to do a serious reevaluation of my life and what I really want out of it. I’m also going to genuinely consider what I want out of my career. After twelve plus years in the business, I’m getting worn out from the constant drain on my creative energies.

  Maybe Rachel is right. Maybe that’s something I should resolve sooner rather than later so I can have a clean slate when it comes time to reevaluate my life goals and priorities. Having that hanging over my head can’t be good for my soul. Besides that, we have worked hard the last few years to put our relationship back in order.

  I smile. “I’ll do that. And thanks for the talk.”

  “Anytime,” she says, then leans in and gives me an impulsive hug. I give her a return squeeze.

  After she leaves, I lock the door and reset the alarm, which Kynan has pounded into me must be set at all times whether I’m here or not.

  I edge back into the kitchen. Kynan doesn’t bother looking up, although I know he’s heard me come in.

  “I need to take a trip,” I say, but he still doesn’t give me his attention. He merely replies, “Give me about half an hour to finish some stuff up here with Bebe, then I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  “Sounds good,” I reply breezily as I head toward my room. Keeping my voice light, I nonchalantly offer over my shoulder, “We’re heading to Cunningham Falls. I need to see my mother.”

  I don’t wait for his response, catching only the briefest glance of his head popping up and his face flooding with shock.

  I brace for him to argue it’s not prudent or a valuable use of our time, but he doesn’t. That satisfies me, and I start calculating whether I’ll need an overnight bag. It’s roughly a two-and-a-half-hour direct flight via private jet to Cunningham Falls from Santa Barbara. I’ve made the trip several times in the last few years. I decide our talk shouldn’t take that long and I’d rather be back in my own bed tonight, so I have nothing really to put together. I’ll freshen up my makeup, make a smoothie, and then hangout until Kynan is ready to leave.

  CHAPTER 13

  Kynan

  This isn’t my first trip to Cunningham Falls, Montana, but it’s been a long damn time. Jameson had been hired by Joslyn’s mother to provide protective services for her. Joslyn was headlining a major casino in Vegas at the time. While she probably wasn’t under any direct threat by fans, it made her mother feel better for Joslyn to have security guards. Plus, she’d negotiated it into the contract for the casino to pay for our services.

  I’m not quite sure when I fell in love with Joslyn, but our fate was sealed by the end of the trip to Cunningham Falls. She’d come to give a charity benefit concert, the proceeds of which were going to a hospital wing named after her late father. Madeline had not wanted her to do the trip, but Joslyn had held firm in her resolve. I think it might have been the first time she’d actually stood up to her mother, a sure sign she was going to try to keep some control over her career. Perhaps that had actually been the beginning of their business relationship foundation cracking.

  Regardless, we were here for two nights. It was on the second I gave into my desires and made love to Joslyn. We’d both fallen for each other fast in the few weeks I’d been assigned to protect her. We had hours during the day where it was just me and her, and it’s surprising how fast people can grow to like each other when they have nothing to do but talk. Of course, the attraction was through the roof. It only took me kissing her in her hotel room in Cunningham Falls that night after the concert to know I could probably never stop kissing her.

  We’d been stupid fucking kids. Just a few weeks later, her mom had shown Joslyn the doctored reports to make it appear as if I’d cheated. Let’s face it… she didn’t know me well enough to trust in me.

  I drive the rental car through the sleepy town of Cunningham Falls. It’s nearing four, and the sun is starting to hang low in the sky. It throws a beautiful shade of orange and pink over the snow-covered mountains, and I have to admit… this is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been to in my life.

  Joslyn hadn’t called her mom, so this is going to be a surprise visit. I’m also using this trip as a way to test the stalker. I had Joslyn schedule the private jet by using her phone and credit card rather than Jameson resources as I’d been doing, which I would bill to Joslyn later. I wanted to lay some easy breadcrumbs to see if the stalker was on the same hacking level as Bebe. She laid down some triggers on the credit card company to see if an outside source pings her information. I’m doubting this guy is that sophisticated, but there’s no telling.

  I follow Joslyn’s directions out of town to Madeline’s new home. Other than conveying short and succinct sentences to me, obviously still more than a little annoyed with my behavior last night, Joslyn hasn’t been much of a conversationalist. I did learn Madeline had married a man named Darren Dawes, who is a successful cattle and sheep rancher. I couldn�
�t tell, though, whether Joslyn actually likes the guy as she’s not in a sharing mood.

  In Montana, it’s possible to go miles and miles without seeing a house. There is no walking across the street to borrow a cup of sugar outside the city limits. We eventually come to a turn-off from the highway with a wooden arch held up by rough lumber posts that spell out—Double-D Ranch.

  “Does your stepfather realize he named his ranch after a bra size?” I ask as I turn onto the dirt and gravel road.

  I don’t get a smile, a snort, or a snicker. Just a bland, “I’m sure he’s been told that before.”

  Yup. She’s still pissed, and I can’t blame her. I deserved the slap, and I deserve her enmity. I’m going to let her hold onto it for just a bit, but then I’m going to resolve that shit. We were both riding high on emotion, but we have something between us that needs to be evaluated.

  We come around a wide curve, then cross a small covered bridge that spans a gurgling creek before the ranch comes into view. I’d checked Darren Dawes out on the plane, and he makes some serious bank. The ranch house is actually fairly modest, though. I’d guess maybe about twenty-five-hundred square feet and sprawling since it’s single story, and it’s probably more than enough for him and Madeline. I’d learned he’s about twenty years her senior and all his kids live outside of Montana.

  There’s a Mercedes coupe in the driveway that’s probably a good five or so years old and a truck of about the same age. Off to the side, several more vehicles—ranch hands, I’d assume—near a two-story workshop. Beyond that, there are multiple barns and a silo. In the distance, snow-covered hills and a large butte, with lots of cattle in the immediate valley.

  I pull up behind the Mercedes, then kill the engine. Joslyn lets out a pent-up breath, and I turn to face her. “You ready?”

  She looks at me reluctantly. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Want me to stay here?”

  Joslyn shakes her head. “I sort of want the shock value of you being at my side. She has no clue I hired you a few days ago.”

  “Does she know about your stalker?” I ask.

  Another shake of her head, her blond waves shimmering from the movement. “I didn’t want to worry her.”

  No matter what Madeline has done to her daughter in the past, she still loves her mother very much. I hope this is something they can resolve.

  Reaching over, I curl my hand around the back of her neck. The first time we’ve touched since I slid my cock out of her last night—not counting the face slap. She stiffens warily. “I’m glad you’re doing this. It’s a good idea, and I’ll be right by you. You’ve got this.”

  Her slender throat moves as she swallows against what I’m betting is emotion and confusion from my supportive words. It’s obvious she wants to hate me, but fuck if I’m going to let that happen. I know one thing after last night… I’m determined to see if there’s something between us still.

  “Thanks,” she murmurs before pulling away from me. I let her go, although I could easily make her stay. I could hold her tight and we could talk this bloody nonsense out between us, but it’s really not the time.

  We exit the vehicle, and I don’t bother locking it. I follow Joslyn up the wide porch steps and she gives a sturdy knock on the door. There’s a dog yapping inside—small by the sound of it—and a woman’s voice I immediately recognize as Madeline’s calls out, “I’m coming.”

  The door swings open. Madeline Meyers—now Dawes—is standing there holding a furry white dog that’s wiggling with excitement to have visitors in one arm. She’s changed a lot in twelve years. Added a few pounds that actually look exceptionally good on her. She was always too fucking skinny I thought. The designer clothes are also gone, and she appears incredibly comfortable in a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt.

  Her eyes land on Joslyn, and she shrieks with joy. “Joslyn… oh my word… what are you doing here?”

  I’m standing behind Joslyn so I can’t quite see her face, but if the ice in her tone is any indication, there’s no warm smile being given in return. “Sorry for the intrusion, but we need to talk.”

  And that’s when Madeline notices me hulking behind her daughter. At first, she doesn’t seem to recognize me, merely tilting her head as her eyebrows draw inward with confusion. Then her memory kicks in and her mouth forms into a small “o” before she breathes out, “Kynan.”

  “Madeline,” I return politely with a nod of my head.

  I wait to see how she lets this play out. She has no clue what we know, and it’s a good opportunity to just take full responsibility before things get ugly.

  I’m totally disappointed when she tries to play dumb for a bit, though. “Well… this is certainly a pleasant surprise. Why don’t you both come in, and we can do some catching up?”

  Madeline moves back to let us in, bending over to put the small dog on the ground. It immediately runs up to me, sniffing at my leg. Ignoring it, I follow Joslyn and Madeline into a comfortable living room filled with masculine leather furniture and game trophies on the wood-paneled walls.

  “Would either of you like a drink?” Madeline graciously offers, but I can hear the worry in her voice. She’s banking on the one-in-a-million chance Joslyn and I have reconciled without finding out about her perfidy.

  Joslyn doesn’t want to draw this out. She merely states, “We know, Mom. That you gave me fake information about Kynan to make us breakup.”

  I brace, expecting Madeline to start trying to lie her way out of this, but to my surprise, her face crumbles.

  She walks to Joslyn, grabs her hands, and squeezes them hard. “I am so sorry, honey. I knew this might come to haunt me one day, and I prayed it never would. I have no excuse other than I thought I was doing what was best for your career.”

  Frankly, it’s the best thing Madeline could have said, and I know it’s the truth. Hell, Joslyn does, too. We know she had tunnel vision when it came to her daughter’s path to show business, and there’s probably nothing she wouldn’t have done for her.

  Doesn’t make it right, though.

  Joslyn pulls her hands away from her mother before laying into her. “What was best for my career? Did you ever even think about what was best for me as a person? Did you ever even once consider Kynan may have been what was best for me?”

  Madeline’s eyes fill with tears, and she gives a slow shake of her head. “I didn’t. Not once. I thought because I was older and I was your mom, I knew best. I realize that’s not the case now. You see… I’ve learned some things these last few years since I quit managing you. I’ve found happiness again with Darren. I know my priorities were skewed.”

  “Ugh,” Joslyn blurts with frustration, turning away from her mom. “Why do you have to be so insightful now? And so damn accepting of responsibility?”

  I get where she’s coming from. Joslyn wanted this to be a little harder on her mom. She wanted to have the right to get rid of the rest of her anger, much of it I bet still directed squarely at me for last night. Instead, her mom is rolling over and baring her throat for Joslyn to move in for the kill.

  “I am so sorry, Jos,” her mother says as she clasps her hands tightly in front of her chest. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. And Kynan.”

  I blink in surprise as Madeline turns my way. “I’m sorry, Kynan. I can’t imagine how hard that was for you… to have Joslyn cut you off without any real explanation. And then to find out years later, she thought the worst about you for something you didn’t do.”

  “I accept your apology, Madeline,” I say without reservation or further judgment. Frankly, I didn’t need her bloody apology. Doesn’t make me feel any different about things, but I want the attention off me. I want her to resolve these things with her daughter so we can move past this.

  “What’s going on in here?” I hear a man’s voice coming from a doorway that leads into what looks like a large dining room.

  I turn to see Darren Dawes. He’s a large, beefy man with snowy-white hair and
a wind-weathered face. This is a guy who still clearly rides the range as he’s got on jeans, chaps, and a lamb’s wool jacket of a dark brown suede.

  Madeline has tears slipping silently down her face, and Joslyn appears unsure of herself with Darren entering the conversation. I decide to do something rash and totally out of character for myself.

  I step up to Madeline, then put my hand on her shoulder. “You and Joslyn need to talk. With your permission, I’d like to take Darren out for a beer. I’ll fill him in on what’s happened, and you and Joslyn can clear the air.”

  Several different emotions flit through Madeline’s eyes as she stares back, but the most identifiable is gratitude. She gives me a nod with a watery smile before turning to her husband to introduce us. I’m able to get a brief glance at Joslyn.

  She regards me with a gratefulness I hope signifies she might be willing to forgive me for last night.

  “How about we just go into my study and have some bourbon?” Darren suggests.

  “Works for me, mate,” I reply.

  He moves to his wife to kiss her on the cheek, then whispers something in her ear. She puts her hand on his and pats it before turning to Joslyn with resolve on her face. I have a feeling that things are going to get aired out nicely between the women. If Madeline is smart, she’ll just let Joslyn rail a bit and get it out of her system.

  CHAPTER 14

  Joslyn

  Darren gives me a long look of curiosity before he turns for his study. I attempt a smile, but it’s weak. I know he wants me to reassure him with one look that everything is okay, but he’s clearly walked into a situation that’s not. His loyalty will be to my mom, as it should be, and I’m glad Kynan has urged him away from this situation. My gaze drifts over to Kynan, and I hope my eyes convey my gratitude for doing that.