She soaped a cloth and started washing his back. “Well, the obvious. We haven’t known each other very long, and I could be pregnant. Well, probably so now.” He knew those would be the first words out of her mouth and intended to address them quickly. “I’m not married and Plan B just broke.” Her voice rose.
“That’s not so unusual these days,” he interjected.
“And let’s not forget that someone thinks I’m a whore while you think someone else is basically stalking me, so the cherry on top is who sent the emails and what do they want?”
He turned his back to the water and walked her to the bench. Once he guided her down, he knelt between her legs as he peppered kisses on her face. After his last stop, he held her head so she was forced to look into his eyes. “So, you’re worried about being pregnant. I am too. First, I agree with you, but I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I don’t care we haven’t known each other that long. I know in my heart you are the one for me for life. For life. Second, we can get married today if you want. That way we’ll be married before we find out, and you’ll never question if I married you because of the baby. I. Want. You.”
He scanned her face before he locked onto her stare. “I’m worried about you and not just about you being pregnant.” He pulled her up as he stood and held her flush to his body.
“But if you aren’t already pregnant, I’ll be happy to get you there,” he said with a sexy smile. “You’re stuck with me, either way. I love you, Gin. I’m not going anywhere without you in my life, got it?”
“Yes.”
He kissed the tears away before he asked, “Are you good?”
“Yes, are you?”
“As long as you’re safe, I’m good.”
They finished in the shower and moved to get dressed. He stopped in the doorway while he watched her walk into the bedroom. She was so beautiful. When she caught him staring, her pale skin flushed. She’d come a long way this weekend, but obviously she still had a ways to go. He loved staring at her naked body and hoped she’d get used to it soon. As he slipped on a pair of jeans, he heard Shelby in the driveway.
13
Ginger couldn’t wait to see if Mitchell had proposed, so she ran out to meet them at the car. Even though she was bouncing by the door, she waited as patiently as she could because she knew if she opened Kayla’s door Mitchell would have a coronary. Evan’s arm around her in an effort to calm her, but she left his grasp as Kayla ran to her. “Ginger!”
“Holy Cow! We could ice skate on the rock sitting on your finger!”
“You look radiant! Have you been sitting out by the pool?”
Ginger hugged her tight. “I have, but this isn’t about me. Let me see that finger!”
Kayla giggled, “Can you believe it?”
“Oh my lord, it’s beautiful! I’m so happy for you! Have you told your parents?”
“Yes, we called them Saturday, but we haven’t seen them yet. We’ll go over there one night this week.”
Ginger turned in time to see Evan hug Mitchell. It was a brotherly thing, but Evan seemed like a proud papa because in some ways he’d stepped into that role when their dad passed. The fact Mitchell had gotten engaged first didn’t seem to bother him at all, maybe because everyone knew these two would end up together someday. When Evan walked over to hug Kayla, she gave Mitchell a big hug.
As soon as they were inside, Mitchell’s smile spread across his face as he said, “I got a tattoo.”
“Is it someplace we can see or just for Kayla’s eyes?” Evan asked as he wiggled his brows.
“He can show you,” Kayla said.
Mitchell removed his T-shirt to reveal a white bandage over his left peck. “I haven’t taken the bandage off except to use the care kit,” he said. Ginger glanced at Kayla who looked as if she was about to come out of her skin with excitement. “Mak told me a while back when I put an outward symbol on her finger she wanted me to have one too.” He finished taking off the bandage where Mak’s in a beautiful script tattoo was freshly drawn. His expression said he couldn’t believe she needed this, but the look on her face was so full of love and appreciation for the man who permanently marked his body with his nickname for her.
He had no sooner put his shirt on when the doorbell rang. With an exasperated sigh, Mitchell went to open the door. He signed for a package and thanked the courier. When he returned he gave it to Evan and said, “This is for you and it’s marked urgent.”
Evan looked at it and knew it wasn’t anything official from his office. He still had a week before he went back to Iowa. There was no return address, so he flipped it one more time and opened the end with his pocket knife.
He pulled out another picture of Ginger. “Fuck!” It was of them beside the pool as she looked at him with an expression full of passion. It was intimate and it was theirs only. Now this asshole had stolen it from them. On the bottom of the picture was a handwritten note: Still think you can keep her safe? I can get to her any time I want.
“What is it?” Mitchell asked.
Evan shoved the envelope and picture at Mitchell as he wrapped Ginger in a hug. “Evan, you’re scaring me.”
“When was this?” Mitchell asked.
“Look at the date stamp. Last Friday. That’s me,” he said pointing at the picture. “Look at the direction of the picture.”
Mitchell looked at the picture again. “It was taken from the barn.”
“Exactly. The men weren’t around.” He took the picture from Mitchell and showed it to Ginger.
When she saw the picture, her hand automatically flew to her mouth. “Evan,” she whispered.
“I know, darlin’. I swear you’re safe here. You know that, right?” She nodded, so he cocked an eyebrow.
“I know,” she whispered.
“Mitchell, we need to figure out how they got on the property.” As he directed his focus to Ginger he said, “I don’t want you worrying about this, understand? It’s my job to keep you safe and I will.” He was rubbing her back to calm her down when she looked at the bottom of the picture.
“Darlin’…”
Ginger gasped. “What does that mean?”
“They’re sending me a message. I don’t know who or why, but I promise I’ll figure it out. I didn’t see anyone that morning, but vaguely remember hearing something. Do you?”
“No, my mind was reeling from the other picture, and I was focused on you.”
“As you should’ve been.” He winked.
“What other picture?” Mitchell asked.
Evan went through everything with Mitchell, from the emails and pictures to taking Ginger to The Overlook, to the note.
“What did the note say?” Mitchell asked.
“It asked if Ginger was my new whore,” Evan said with contempt in his voice as he cut his eyes to Ginger.
Kayla gasped.
Mitchell was silent for a few moments. “I recall us having a similar conversation in high school. You told me not to listen to what people were saying because they didn’t know what they were talking about. Now, those words are coming back?”
Evan didn’t hesitate telling his brother the whole story this time. When Evan finished Mitchell said, “Damn, why didn’t you tell me all that years ago?”
“When I broke up with her and went to college, I figured all that shit would die down. I never slept with her, so why did it matter? The part that matters is that people think I had something to do with her becoming a prostitute, when it was her mother. I don’t want people saying or even thinking that shit about Ginger.”
“So where is everything?” Mitchell inquired.
“ATF has the emails, but they’re still on our computers too. The note is in a plastic bag in the office. I’m gonna call a friend of mine at the state police to see what he can do.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Evan’s eyes filled with emotion when he looked into Ginger’s. She knew what he wanted and reluctantly agreed with a whispered,
“Yes.”
He kissed her hard and quick before a smile spread across his face. “Thank you,” he softly replied. Evan started with the obvious. “Kayla, thank you for asking Ginger to come down here.” He hugged her and kissed her cheek while Ginger watched with a huge grin. “You’re responsible for bringing me the love of my life. I wasn’t looking for her or expecting her, but I’m glad I found her. Now someone is threatening her, and I’m not gonna stand for it.”
Mitchell watched as Evan seemed to have more to say, but was working out how to say it. “Something else on your mind, bro?”
“Yes.” Evan took a deep breath and said, “There’s a very good chance Ginger’s pregnant with my baby so I think we’re gonna need some precautions in place.”
“What?” Kayla asked.
Ginger looked at Kayla with a please not now look before she asked, “What do you have in mind?”
“If you go out, you don’t go alone. Keep your eyes open, look for anything out of the ordinary.” He was in protector mode. “Until we know if you’re pregnant, we need to be cautious there too.”
“Like what?”
“If you wanna ride, we’ll just keep the horses at a walk.”
“That makes sense.”
“No alcohol.”
“That’s a given.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Evan seemed relieved that she didn’t agrue, so Ginger stood on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck, and he lifted her up. She buried her face in his neck and squeezed him tight. When she raised her head, Evan looked at Mitchell and Kayla before he walked them to their room. As he laid her on the bed she slid over to give him enough space. They were tangled around each other as if they couldn’t get close enough. “I love you, darlin’.”
“I know. I love you, too.”
“I can’t wait to get my hands on the asshole who took that picture.”
“Do you think it’s the same person?”
“Even though this one was delivered and not emailed, I think it’s from the same person. It was another warning. Gin, I’ve got a week before I have to fly out. What do you want to do? Stay here, go home, or go with me?”
“If I miss my period, I need to see my doctor. I have to go home.”
“Then, we’ll come up with a plan.” He held her for several minutes before he said, “Talk to me.”
Ginger stared across the room while she organized what to say. “The email you received took me to a bad place. A place I never wanted to go to again. Thank you for bringing me back to the now.” She smiled at him. “I still don’t understand the picture of you and Nathan, though. What do I need to get ‘out of’? Your sexual preferences?” She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “I don’t think so ‘cause I enjoy them. From between you and Nathan? That’s never going to happen anyway. I guess I’m more confused than anything.” She tilted her head to look at him as best as she could. “I’d just like to know who this person is and what he’s trying to prove. Then there’s the note. Part of me is so angry for someone saying that about me, but part of me is hurt that someone would even think it. I don’t feel like they’re a threat and maybe I’m foolish, but it seems more directed at you.”
Evan hesitated before he responded. “Maybe it is directed at me, but you need to treat it as a threat. I don’t know who they are, if there’s one or two, what they want, or what they’re capable of. Until I do, please don’t leave the ranch alone.”
“I won’t.”
Evan held her close as she finally drifted off to sleep in his arms.
14
The following morning, everyone seemed more cautious than normal. Evan and Mitchell spent the morning calling various security contractors. Knowing surveillance equipment was needed for the first time ever on the ranch caused some unease between the brothers, but the last month had proved it was past time.
As they looked at the aerial maps of the ranch, the office phone rang. “Riverton Ranch,” Mitchell said before he moved to put the phone on speaker. “Good Morning, Sheriff. You’re on speaker and Evan’s right here. What can we do for you this morning?”
“Just wanted to tell y’all that Harley Youngener is bein’ released today. I don’t think he’ll head back there, but y’all have the right to know,” the Sheriff said.
“Thank you, Sheriff,” Mitchell said.
“Thanks,” Evan added.
When they disconnected the call Mitchell asked, “Do you think he’ll come back?”
“No, but it just adds another reason to get a security system installed.”
“Agreed. This is a lot of land, how are we going to monitor all of the property?”
“I don’t know, but the security company needs to see it as well as us, and maybe we should install it on an extra phone.” Evan told Mitchell about the man Daniel saw over the weekend with the binoculars as well as explained the type of system he thought they should get.
While Mitchell made the calls, Evan went to check on the girls out by the pool. Outside, the girls had their eyes closed so he approached quietly. He stood between them and leaned down to cup Ginger’s pussy and whispered, “Don’t you need a bathroom break?”
As he helped her up Kayla said, “Damn Evan, already?”
“Sorry Kayla, but I can’t keep my hands off of her for too long.” His smile reached his eyes.
“I know you and Mitch don’t want us going out by ourselves so we’re going to the store together. Plus I think she’s going stir crazy being here all the time.”
Evan turned his attention to Ginger. “Did you know about this?”
“No,” she softly said.
“She was my friend long before you met her. We’ve done pretty well taking care of each other. Surely, there’s not a problem with us going to the grocery store,” Kayla said as she held his stare.
Every instinct in Evan said no, but Kayla had a point. Come next week, Ginger would be on her own for a few days and needed her confidence back before then. “What time are y’all leaving?”
“As soon as we can get dressed.”
Evan turned back to Ginger and cupped her face. “Do you want to do this?”
“I’d be lying if I said I’m not nervous, but I think I need to,” she admitted.
“Why don’t y’all let us finish setting up these meetings then we can go, too?”
“No, Evan. You’ve had her all weekend. Just give us a little time away from here to ourselves for God’s sake. It won’t kill you.” Kayla’s hands were on her hips as she stared at Evan.
Evan was ready to say something to Kayla that he knew he shouldn’t in front of Ginger, but she touched his arm to break the staring contest. “Evan, maybe she’s right, and I need to get out on my own. I can’t be a prisoner forever.”
“No, you can’t. Otherwise, I’d have you locked in our room. Hell, I’d even duct tape pillows on the corners of the furniture just in case,” he said as he placed a hand on her tummy.
“I know you would,” she said with a smile as she hugged him.
“You know I’m gonna worry until you get back, right?” Evan bent his knees so he could look into Ginger’s eyes.
“Yes,” she said as she held his gaze.
He lifted her so she wrapped her legs around his waist. Without breaking eye contact with Ginger he said, “Kayla, she may have been your friend first, but she’s mine now. She comes back unharmed, you got me?”
“I hear you.”
“And Kayla, don’t do something that’s gonna make her a bigger target. Get what we need and get your asses back here.”
Kayla rolled her eyes as she said, “Okay. And I thought Mitch was bad. I’m going to get dressed and will be ready in ten minutes. Ten minutes, Evan. That’s all you have.”
Evan chuckled. “I really don’t have that. Mitchell is waiting on me. Darlin’, please be careful. Keep your eyes open and y’all watch out for each other.”
“We will.”
When Evan walked back into the office, Mitchel
l questioned what took him so long. “Your girl was trying to get mine in trouble so we had to come to an agreement.”
“Anything I need to know?”
“Not right now.”
They spoke with a contractor who knew all the equipment Evan wanted installed and agreed to meet with them later in the week. They had just finished the call when Mitchell heard a car crank up, so he walked into the living room and saw Ginger’s car pulling out of the driveway. When he returned to the office he asked, “Did you know about the girls leaving?”
“Yes, and believe me I’ve been arguing with myself for the last ten minutes.”
“Where the hell do they think they’re going?”
“Grocery store.”
“And you’re okay with this?” The surprise in Mitchell’s voice couldn’t be hidden.
“Hell no, but Ginger will be on her own next week and she needs to know she can handle it. The minute I heard the car crank up I thought I’d puke.”
As soon as they got in the car, Kayla texted someone and then said, “We’re not just going to the grocery store, we’re meeting Cat at the café on Main Street.”
“What? Kayla, Evan will be so pissed,” Ginger said.
Kayla turned to face Ginger. “Listen, you needed to get away from the ranch for a little while. Tell me, how did you handle seeing the first picture?”
“It took me back to all the insecurities. Evan has been great, though. We went riding and out to dinner. He’s really kept my focus on us, but you know my brain.”
“Yeah, that brain of yours is your downfall. So what about the last one?”
“I feel like my privacy has been invaded. You know how you feel when someone breaks into your house or car, almost violated?”
Unfinished Business Page 9
