He patted his shorts pockets, feeling for his phone. She was scared. They’d ambushed her with all this out of the clear blue. “Fuck, where’s my phone?”
“Come on, Ty. This is a solid plan. Let it happen. I can fix us some lunch and then we can call Reed. I promise that’ll be fun,” Lara said.
“I’m headed back to the office. I’ll stay in touch,” Malea called out, all business again as she ducked her head inside her car.
“Come on. Let’s get food. I promised Kenzie I’d keep you occupied,” Lara said, draping an arm around his waist.
“Kenzie’s not comfortable with the staff around,” he said for no real reason except his heart had just driven away to do something risky, and he hadn’t had to be without her for weeks now.
“Yeah, I’m not either, but she’ll learn it’s not a terrible thing to not have to clean the bathroom anymore,” Lara said, guiding him up the steps until Ty wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Thank you for coming. She doesn’t have a lot of friends right now.”
“Neither do I, but I like her a lot. I know how overwhelming it can all be. Concentrate on the food. I’m always thinking about food. It’s a great diversion. Let’s go see what we can find.” He let her get them all the way inside with the door shut before he went in search of his cell phone.
Chapter 35
After about thirty minutes of slowly walking down the sidewalk, Kenzie was pretty sure they’d failed. No one seemed to pay any attention to the fact Julia Holly was out in the world. On the upside, after getting past being star struck, Kenzie was pretty sure Julia might be one of the most down to earth people she’d ever met. There was no awkwardness to her. She was comfortable in her own skin and incredibly kind.
“Now, how did you two meet?” Julia asked, her gaze scanning all the trinkets in one window as they moved slowly past several shops.
“In the mountains in Tennessee,” Kenzie said as she stared inside the window.
“That sounds like Ty. He always talks about being a wilderness man.”
“I think he likes it there a lot. He complains about being back here,” she said, moving a step or two ahead to the next window, looking at the paintings on display. The artist was amazing, and she found herself coming to a stop to look over everything hanging within view. Kenzie moved in closer when she spotted a small miniature on a shelf inside the building. Her eyes narrowed, trying to get a better look. Malea had told her not to remove the glasses for any reason, but they were too dark to really tell what she was looking at. “Can we go inside?”
“Of course. You see something you like?” she asked, heading toward the front door.
“Maybe. It’s hard to believe it would be here.” They opened the door, the bells rattling, alerting the shop that someone entered. Kenzie watched all heads turn, their eyes moving past her straight to Julia. As the people went a little nuts, Kenzie went for the back wall where a small, not much bigger than a postcard, miniature painting was on display. Shockingly, as she got closer, she was certain it had to be from the Smoky Mountains. Her guess was a shot of sunset atop Mount Le Conte.
She reached out to pick up the landscape and someone behind her placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. “I’m sorry. We don’t allow the art to be handled. Are you interested in the piece?”
“Is it the Smoky Mountains?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at the woman. It confused Kenzie to see the startled expression on the clerk’s face and then watch her go utterly unreadable.
“Let’s ask—” she started to say and her voice broke. The clerk quickly cleared her throat and started again. “Let’s ask my husband. He’s the artist for most of these.” Her eyes never left Kenzie’s face as she carefully reached for the piece then turned, heading to the group still focused on Julia. “Steven, look who else we have here.”
“You’re the woman all over the tabloids right now,” he said, his smile growing broad. He was an older man, wearing trendy linen capris and a paint-splattered, oversized dress shirt. “You two together. How can that be? Julia’s the scorned lover tossed aside and you’re the con man, gold digger criminal who’s taking poor Ty Bateman’s millions.”
Okay, that took a second to digest. She hadn’t heard it said so plainly. Thank God Julia’s laughter saved her from answering.
“Oh my, is that what they’re saying?” she asked, convincingly. Kenzie turned to Julia totally believing she hadn’t ever heard that said before.
“Actually they’re using a lot more words than that,” someone else added.
“Isn’t that hilarious, Kenz?” Julia asked, smiling so bright that she found her lips automatically curving into a smile.
“Yeah, it is.” Except she didn’t think there was anything funny about it at all.
“The truth is she and I are great friends. It just doesn’t seem to matter how many times I’ve said I haven’t dated Ty, people don’t wanna believe me.”
“I think it’s the fairy tale. You two look so pretty together,” the woman who helped Kenzie added a little dreamily as she moved behind the counter. Once she realized her unguarded words, the clerk’s horror showed on her face. She immediately turned to Kenzie and began to apologize. “Please, no offense. I don’t think that at all. It’s what everyone else is saying,” she stammered until she turned to the artist. “Steven, she has a question about the small mountain landscape.”
Kenzie was slower to respond. The backhanded insults were flying freely and took a second more to digest. Thankfully, this time Steven spoke up, keeping her from having to respond. “This is something I painted years ago. It’s the Smoky Mountains. Are you familiar with the area?”
“Yes, I am. How much is this?”
“I’ve turned down many people over the years. I wanted a good home for this particular one. It’s where I met my wife,” Steven said, his gaze cast down toward the painting.
“It’s where I met Ty,” she added quietly, no idea if he were telling the truth or trying to get more information out of her. She looked over at Julia who just smiled at her. What did that mean? Deciding he was probably being genuine, she continued, “I’m not sure if I can afford it, but would you consider selling it to me?”
He blinked at her several long seconds. So long that she wasn’t sure if he was going to answer.
“I’ll help, Kenzie. How much?” Julia said, her voice a little harder now.
“You want this as a gift for Ty Bateman, and you’re not sure if you have enough money?” the man asked in surprise.
“Yes, I think I need a stand, too. I’m not sure if he has one,” she said.
“Then this painting is my gift to you. I can’t think of a better home for this little jewel,” he said excitedly.
“Oh no! Sir, I have some money—” Kenzie started to object, but he cut her off.
“No, I insist. This one’s special. But when you’re in need of some original art, you know where to come.”
She was shaking her head no as he nodded yes.
“Should I take this from him?” Kenzie asked Julia. She couldn’t ever remember anyone just giving her something like this before. It didn’t seem right.
“Of course,” Julia said brightly, nodding at her like she was crazy. Julia reached for her arm, pulling her close to whisper in her ear. “He’s gonna be paid big for this lead. Let it happen.”
When she looked up, confused at those words, Julia leaned in again and continued, “The clerk texted someone, and now he’s got your painting in the back when there’s a wrapping station right there on the counter. He’s probably just trying to keep us here long enough to get his shop in the pictures.”
“No, I don’t think so,” Kenzie said, shaking her head. “He seemed sincere. Especially about his wife.”
“Not around here. Everyone’s an actor,” she whispered bitterly. Kenzie looked around. The picture and the man were gone, and the clerk was just coming to the counter from a back door. When had they even left the room? Julia spoke l
oud enough for everyone to hear. “Perhaps we should go get some coffee and I can send someone back when it’s ready.”
“Hang on. Let me check. It won’t take him long. He just wants to keep it safe,” the artist’s wife said, pivoting on her heels, heading back behind a curtain. About five minutes later, Kenzie and Julia were leaving the art studio, picture tucked securely in her purse and the crowd on the sidewalk had at least tripled in size, but it wasn’t like in Dallas. No one was standing ready to take their picture. There was nothing obvious about all these people.
“How about that coffee,” Julia said rather loudly, hooking her arm through Kenzie’s. She hadn’t actually agree to the coffee, but Julia picked up her stride, forcing Kenzie to fall into step. “What a wonderful surprise for Ty. He’ll love that gift so much.” Okay, that was definitely louder than any conversation they’d had up until this point. “He’s lucky to have you. I’m glad he knows that.”
“He’s very special,” she answered, looking down, rearranging her purse on her arm.
“I’m sorry, what?” Julia asked.
“Ty’s a very special guy,” she said a louder, looking over at Julia a little puzzled. Had she missed a hearing problem?
Julia left her side, reaching out to catch the shop’s door. “Here we are.”
It wasn’t until they were fully inside and waiting for their order that Julia leaned in and whispered, “They’re recording everything out there. I wanted them to hear you say that.”
When Kenzie went to turn her head and look outside, Julie said abruptly, “No! I don’t think they know that we know. That’ll change everything. Right now, they think they’re being secretive to catch us unguarded. Our car’s trailing behind us. He’ll be parked outside. We’ll get the coffee and go, but right now, turn a big smile toward me.”
Kenzie did just that.
“Very good!” Julia exclaimed and smiled back at her until she started to laugh.
“Your coffee,” the clerk said. Julia reached for Kenzie’s, handing it over and then took her own.
“Now, keep that smile on your face. Bruno’s waiting by the car door. Walk out and slide inside the backseat. I’ll follow.”
“Is that his name?” she asked and waited to turn to the front of the coffee shop until Julia did.
“No! I nicknamed him. He goes everywhere with me now. No one gets close when he’s on the job.” Julia opened the door, letting Kenzie walk through about the time her driver opened the back car door. Julia was absolutely right. When it looked like they were leaving the area, the pretense ended and all the hidden cameras began to click. Only four steps and she was scooting across the backseat. Julia followed, the door shut, and the driver got behind the wheel. Julia extended a hand for a high five as they pulled onto the highway. “I think we did it. That artist should be interviewed about a hundred times by five o’clock.”
~~~
Lara was such a breath of fresh air. Ty smiled as she sat him strategically on the sofa then placed the laptop on the coffee table in front of him and used her cell phone’s hot spot to sync the television with her computer. When he’d figured out that she planned to distract him with the phone call to Reed, he’d had his doubts, but the plan totally worked.
“I can turn on the Internet,” Ty offered.
“It works? Like it’s worked this whole time?”
“Of course. We’re in Beverly Hills. Things like Internet outages are few and far between,” Ty said, and rose, heading for his office. He quickly plugged in the modem, and by the time he got back, Lara was already in the process of changing the network setting.
“What’s the password?” she asked, her fingers on the keyboard, waiting for him.
“Password.”
“Right, what’s the passcode?” she said, her pretty face turned up to his.
“The passcode is password,” he said, taking the seat next to hers.
“Oh, okay! Got it. Hang on.” Lara put the laptop on what little lap she had left and began to type until the television screen lit up with the Google icon. A phone started ringing and Lara increased the volume. Seconds later, Reed was on the television screen, his always present scowl fading away when he saw Lara.
“Hi, baby, everything good?”
“Yes, we’re doing great,” Lara said and rubbed her belly. “Say hi to Ty.”
“Hi.”
“Hey, man. Thanks for sending your woman here to check on us. Means a lot.” Reed’s gaze slid to Ty, turning irritated.
“Yeah, that’s exactly what happened,” Reed said sarcastically, making Ty laugh. “When are you gonna be home? Thomas said he hadn’t heard from you yet.”
“That’s the reason I’m calling,” Lara started, and that scowl Ty had known for all of his adult life wrinkled Reed’s forehead as his brows snapped together. Ty chuckled and Lara elbowed him in the ribs.
“Lara, I don’t want you to stay the night. We didn’t agree to that,” Reed started.
“Reed, you do it all the time,” Lara countered.
“That’s work, and I don’t do it all the time. I try to be home every single night,” he said, not letting that excuse hold any weight.
“This is work too and Kenzie needs me. She’s out right now with Julia. They hit the streets together. Isn’t that great?” she asked in a complete diversionary tactic.
“If she has Julia, why does she need you?” Reed’s one-track mind caused Ty to laugh again. He had a good point.
“It was a covert operation, buddy. Something we came up with this morning. I’ll keep an eye on Lara. We’ve been stuck in the house since we got here. It’ll be good to have her here. I’ll make sure she gets to the airport safely in the morning,” Ty said, proud of the argument he created in Lara’s little game.
Reed just cut his eyes back to Ty and stared with a very clear fuck-you glare before turning a tender gaze toward Lara. He lowered his voice, his face getting large in the screen as he moved closer to the camera. “I don’t sleep good without you here.”
Dear God, that was the most pathetic sounding voice he’d ever heard, and he laughed straight out loud that time. Luckily his phone saved him. The thing started going nuts in his pocket. Ty palmed it, drawing Lara’s eyes to his hands. He opened the screen, and it was filled with alerts that his name had been used on the Internet. Pulling the first one up, he saw a picture of Julia and his beautiful Kenzie strolling arm in arm toward the coffee shop. He opened the next picture to see Kenzie smiling brightly at Julia who returned the smile while inside the shop. The caption read “Ty Bateman’s Women Comparing Notes. Probably Not a Good Thing For The Guy.”
Ty used his thumb to scroll his newsfeed to see about the same kind of pictures and article headlines all the way down the screen.
“Is everything okay?”
“I think it might’ve worked,” he responded to Lara.
“Really? How do you know? From her or where?”
Ty extended his phone for her to see. Only looking up when there was a distinct clearing of a throat.
“Hey. Sorry.”
“Yeah, it’s a favorite of mine to leave a busy schedule to then be completely ignored and forgotten about,” Reed said dryly.
“I’m sorry, but it’s great news, Reed. At least it looks like it is. Can you call her?” Lara asked Ty, and not seconds later, the doorbell rang.
“Reed, I’ll be home in the morning. I love you,” Lara said quickly as she put a hand behind her to help lift her off the sofa.
“FaceTime me tonight. After seven my time,” Reed said quickly.
“All right. Bye, honey,” Lara said and got to her feet, blowing him a kiss. Ty jogged the few steps toward the front door, quickly unlocking the deadbolt before yanking it open to a beaming Kenzie.
“You okay?” he asked. She went straight into his arms, extending both hers around his neck, dropping her purse in the process.
“I think we did it!” she exclaimed happily, hugging him tight.
“I think
so too.” Her exuberance was contagious. He lifted her, taking a step back, swinging her in a circle around in the entry. “Great job, baby.”
“Julia says bye. She’ll call you later. She’s wonderful, Ty.” Kenzie dropped to her feet as she turned to Lara who was smiling big. Kenzie lifted a hand for a high five, and Lara obliged, whacking her hard before giving Kenzie a giant hug. His relief was so strong, happy she was home safe and sound while praying they had managed to put an end to the negative rumors. “I can’t believe we pulled that off. I didn’t even know we were being followed and she totally did.”
Ty watched as Kenzie wrapped an arm around Lara, walking toward the kitchen. She began explaining everything she and Julia had done, and Lara listened intently, absorbing every word. He watched them both until they disappeared around the corner. He reached down for Kenzie’s purse and placed it on the small table with a store sack sticking out the top. Good, she’d even bought herself something, too.
The moment was a little staggering. For the first time since meeting Kenzie, everything seemed to be headed in the right direction, which felt a little foreign. Walking toward the kitchen, he decided, whatever, I’ll take it.
Chapter 36
In Ty’s best estimation, nothing said the perfect end to the best vacation in recorded history like too many piña coladas and some sexy-hot swimming pool sex. At least that was his perspective, and if all the good going on in his life held, Ty hoped to talk Kenzie into both those things tonight. He’d gotten Lara off to the airport this morning, and she had made it safely home according to the text from Reed. Malea, Rocco, and Anthony were satisfied with the direction of the press for the moment and were finally leaving him alone. So they had the house to themselves this evening, and he intended to take full advantage of that fact.
He couldn’t get the smile off his face as he went through the kitchen loading a tray full of food. He found some sliced fruit in the refrigerator along with assorted cheeses, a dip with some vegetables Kenzie chopped the night before, and on a whim, he decided to add chucks of turkey and ham for him.
Acting Happy (Texas Desires #2) Page 31
