Knowing how Rogue had seen that her locks were changed, she now felt guilty that her mother’s might not be up to par. “Call the police and let them come check it out and I’ll be over as soon as I can.”
* * *
Rogue hung up the phone after talking to Zane. He was putting together his contract with Kit to invest in White-Wing. Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he pushed Jester out of the way to get to the refrigerator. “Do you mind?”
“He wants some apples,” Marian announced.
“You spoiled him while I was gone.” Rogue didn’t mean to sound grumpy, but he couldn’t help it. Kit hadn’t called him back.
“What’s wrong?” his mother asked. “Come sit down and talk to me.”
Reluctantly he joined her at the kitchen table, watching as she fed Jester sugar cubes. His mother could read him like a book and he wasn’t ready for her to know what was really bothering him. She would jump to conclusions, get all excited and be ordering a wedding cake if he wasn’t careful. He’d never dated a woman more than twice and he’d seen Kit any number of…
A cold stab of reality knifed him. He’d never taken Kit on a date. They’d eaten together, slept together – had amazing sex, but he hadn’t so much as bought her a cup of coffee. Not unless you counted the breakfast he’d bought and brought back to her house.
“Rogue,” his mother said. “Are you listening to me?”
Jerking his head up, he answered with a smile. “Of course. What did you say?”
She swatted him with the end of a dishtowel. “This carousel horse pays better attention to me than you do.” Her smile faded and she asked, “Is it your father? Are you worried about what you have to do?”
Covering her hand with his, he smiled sadly. “Can I honestly tell you how I feel about this?”
“Of course, you’re my son.” Marian looked at him with all the love in her heart shining in her face. “You’re the light of my life. No matter what your father has done, he gave me you and that was worth it all.”
Wow. The woman sure knew how to take the wind out of his sails. “I wish I could be so charitable.” He took a deep breath. “When I think about those men who are my brothers and that company I’m supposed to want to help run, all I can see is what he took from you.”
Marian rose and hugged him. “You can’t look at it that way. Dusty was a much better man than you’re giving him credit for. He was generous and kind. He was good to me.”
“Yes, but he cheated on you. He cheated on his wife. He lied to everybody.” Rogue let the bitterness boil out.
Marian placed her hand on her son’s heart. “Rogue, I was happy. Your father made me happy. He couldn’t give us everything, but he did his best to provide for you.”
“I used to watch those stupid sitcoms on television and imagine we could have a normal family.” If money was how love was measured, Rogue was well-loved by his father. But that wasn’t what he’d needed from his dad, he’d been hungry for attention. The ten or so weeks a year Dusty had seen fit to give Rogue hadn’t been enough.
“I wish you could see how much you’re like your father.”
Rogue knew his mother meant well. But hearing the words repeated that Kit had said just made his stomach clench. “I’m nothing like my father.” Maybe he should rephrase that. “I don’t want to be anything like Dusty Walker.” His mother had no idea how the idea scared him. He didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep. And he certainly didn’t want to bring a baby into the world he couldn’t make time for.
“Rogue, sweetheart…” His phone buzzed. “Who’s that?”
Lifting the phone, he saw Katherine Ross on the screen and his heart bumped funny in his chest. “I’ve got to take this.” He gave his mother a smile, but no information.
“If it’s a woman, I need to know,” Marian called out as he left the kitchen.
“When did you become a psychic?” Rogue yelled back at her, then laughed at her whoop of joy.
Answering, he lowered his voice. “Ralph’s Mule Barn, Ralph speaking.”
“Oh, sorry, wrong number. I was trying to reach Channing Tatum, we have a date tonight.”
At the mention of her dating, he bristled. “Maybe you’re trying to reach Garth Busch?”
Was he jealous? “Don’t be grumpy. Garth actually turned into a good thing, we booked three hunting excursions this fall.”
“That’s good.” He breathed a little easier. What was wrong with him? “What else is going on?”
“My father’s guns were stolen.”
Her flat announcement made him stop in his tracks. “Another break-in?”
“Not really. I had them do fingerprints, but they didn’t really want to. I told them I thought Dave took them and the local cops, some of them his friends, didn’t seem to think that would be a crime.”
“Hell.” He let out a long breath. “How are you? Really?” Rogue lowered his voice, making their conversation seem more intimate.
Kit clenched her fist and took a risk. “When are you coming back?”
Rogue decided to tease her. “Why?”
“Why?” Kit repeated his question with a smile. “Maureen is coming back and she’s asking for you.”
With a snort Rogue smiled. “Is Maureen the only one who wants to see me?”
“No,” Kit answered lowly. “I’ve noticed you were gone.”
“Ha!” Rogue laughed. “You’re mean.”
“No, I’m sweet.” She countered with a mischievous giggle.
“Yes, dammit, you sure are.” Jamming his hand down in his front jeans pocket, he backed his ears and took the plunge. “How about if we take in a movie when I get back up there?”
Kit’s heart thudded in her chest. “You’re asking me out on a date?”
“Yea, I know we sorta got the cart before the horse, but – how about it?”
“Yes.” She said too quickly and probably too loudly.
“Good. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“I’ll be waiting, Rogue Walker.” They lingered for a few more moments, listening to the other one breathe.
“Sleep well, Kit-n-Kaboodle.”
Oh, she would. “Goodnight.” And she knew exactly who’d be starring in her dreams.
* * *
This time, Rogue didn’t fly. The drive took about eight and a half hours, but it would be worth it. He needed the time on the road to think and he wouldn’t be beholden to Dusty Walker for a vehicle. Twice more he’d talked to Kit, not long conversations, just touching base. When she’d found out he was driving, she’d asked him to check in so she would know he hadn’t fallen asleep behind the wheel.
Her worry made him smile. Kit was sweet.
When he drove into Red Creek, the whole thing hit him differently. This time it seemed everybody stopped on the street to look at him. He knew he was imagining things, the residents had no idea what he’d be driving. Hell, they probably weren’t even thinking about Dusty Walker and his bastard sons. Still, he met the eyes of several people who smiled and waved—and what the heck—he waved back.
Sooner than he’d liked, Rogue pulled up in front of Walker Mineral. The whole place needed a face-lift. It certainly didn’t look like a company worth a half billion. Parking, he climbed out, locked his doors and headed for the entrance. Right before he turned the knob, the door opened. Rogue jerked his hand back, raised his head and met two green eyes behind some tinted reading glasses. “Well, hello. There’s no mistaking you for a traveling salesman.”
“I suppose not,” Rogue answered dryly. “I suspect the view’s been a bit boring, having to look at different versions of the same face all month.”
The woman threw back her head and laughed. “Hardly. At least it’s a handsome face.” She stepped back and opened the door wide. “Welcome, Rogue Walker. I’m Abby Hollister, the receptionist/bookkeeper. In other words, I keep this place going.”
“Glad to meet you.” He shook Abby’s hand and followed her into his father’s sa
nctum. She waved her hand around. “So, this is it. Your inheritance. Today, Elaine and I will be getting you up to speed. Would you rather sit at Dusty’s desk?” Abby pointed in an office with a desk stacked and piled with papers. “Or a smaller…”
Rogue stepped into his father’s former office. “This will do just fine. If I want a true feel for the place, I need to get right to the heart of the matter.”
This seemed to surprise Abby, but she smiled. “Great. Elaine Dennis, one of our mineral and oil rights specialists will be here any moment and she’ll give you the rundown, start teaching you the ropes.”
Rogue sat down in the chair and began leafing through some of the folders. “I’ll be up to speed in no time, I think.” He waved his hand around. “This isn’t new to me, the apple didn’t fall very far from the tree.”
“What do you mean?” another voice spoke up. Rogue looked toward the door. A pretty woman stood there, her dark hair streaked with silver.
Rogue looked from one woman to the other. Both were older than him, but he wouldn’t hazard guessing their ages. And he wasn’t about to ask, he wasn’t dumb. “I have a small business back home, Lone Wolf Oil.”
“Rogue, this is Elaine. Elaine, this is Rogue.” Abby gestured, her blonde curls bobbing around her head.
Elaine crossed her arms and leaned against the door jamb. “I’ve heard of Lone Wolf, but I had no idea that was you.” She grinned. “You have quite a reputation. I’ve heard some unusual things about you.”
“Believe everything you hear,” Rogue answered evenly, then gave Elaine a big smile. Standing, he shook her hand. “I’m sure there’s a lot you can teach me.”
“I doubt that,” Elaine said, sitting down at one of the chairs in front of Rogue’s desk.
“Let me get you two some coffee,” Abby offered. “I don’t usually do this, Rogue. So don’t think it’s going to be a habit.”
“I understand, Abby,” Rogue countered. “I’ll get the next cup for all of us.” Turning to Elaine, he tapped a folder in front of him. “I’ve studied the financial statements and the royalty reports already. If you’ll show me the maps and charts of any ongoing work, I think I can catch up quickly.”
“No problem. Vic and Walt should be in tomorrow and between the three of us, we’ll make sure you get to visit several of the sites this week.”
“Sounds perfect.” Rogue accepted his coffee from Abby. “Thank you.”
For the next three hours, Elaine and Abby briefed Rogue. He absorbed what they said and made copious notes. Finally, Elaine leaned back and looked Rogue square in the eye. “I haven’t asked your brothers this, but since you’re number four out of four, I’d like to know before I go any further.”
Rogue leaned back in his chair. “Go ahead.”
Casting a glance at Abby, Elaine placed her hand on the desk and asked, “Your brothers were no slouches, they’re all intelligent guys. But you’re different. You could step into Dusty’s shoes tomorrow and fill them. You’re way ahead of the learning curve.”
“I realize that.” This was no time for false modesty, Rogue knew.
“So, do you have any intention of staying, of working at Walker Mineral? Or are you just fulfilling the requirements of the will to cash in on its sale later?”
Rogue took off his Stetson and tossed it to his right where it landed on target, catching on a hat tree standing next to the wall. “I can’t make any promises. My future plans were pretty much laid out before this bomb was thrown into my lap.”
“This bomb is a damn fine company worth a helluva lot of money.” Elaine pinned him with a glare.
“Yes, it is.” Rogue nodded. “But you have to look at this from my viewpoint. Dusty Walker wasn’t my favorite person when he was alive. I had no idea about the clones…” He paused and thought. “Hell, I can’t even remember their names. My business is based in Texas and who in their right mind would leave Texas to move to Kansas?”
“Depends on what kind of incentive you have,” Abby chimed in, slapping a piece of paper on Rogue’s desk. “Kit Ross just called. She says there’s a special showing of Me Before You tonight and wants to know what time you’ll pick her up.”
Elaine raised her eyebrows and grinned. “I’ll get someone to paint your name on one of the parking spots downstairs.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“We could have been seeing Fantastic Four or The Man From U.N.C.L.E. but instead, we’re seeing some chick flick.” Rogue gave Kit a hard time. Frankly, he had to distract himself with something other than how fantastic she looked. Dressed in a halter top dress with a barely there skirt, all he wanted to do was take her to bed.
“I am a chick, in case you haven’t noticed.” Was her snappy comeback.
“Oh, I’ve definitely noticed.” Rogue drove his truck into Red Creek’s city limits. “Where’s the theater?”
“Two blocks off Main, next to the Fire Department.” She pointed and he turned at the light. “Look, there’s a parking place.”
Kit waited in her seat until Rogue came around to help her out. Her eyes followed him as he walked in front of the truck. Watching the handsome hunk coming to escort her into the theater, Kit pinched herself. They’d slept together several times. So why did this perfectly normal date seem so momentous? Before she could analyze the situation her door opened and there he was.
“Is this movie gonna make you cry?” he asked teasingly.
“No, but you might. It’s a love story without guns. I don’t even think anything gets blown up.”
Rogue snorted. “You might be right.”
She took his arm and noticed three or four other women pausing to look at her date. Her date. That’s right. Kit gave the jealous females a cool gloating stare.
A bit of guilt ate at her. “There are other movies showing, we could see something else.”
Rogue placed a hand on her lower back. He didn’t know what was more fun to touch, her curls or her spankable ass. “You must have wanted to see this show, you chose it. It’s a romance, isn’t it?”
His touch was making her tremble a bit. “It’s a love story, but not a romance. I read the book and I loved it.” Yes, she loved the book and she had every intention of watching it when it came out on blu-ray. This date wasn’t about the movie.
“Well, that’s good enough for me.” He kissed her on the cheek. “We’ll just take turns, the next movie we see has to either be a horror or a bromance.”
Kit laughed. “Deal.” She waited while he purchased their tickets and then when they got inside he bought a giant box of popcorn, a large soda and a box of chocolate raisins for her. “We’re going to get fat.”
“Calories consumed on dates don’t count.” He winked at her as they went down the hall and turned into the darkened theater. “Where do you want to sit, down front?”
Was he kidding? “No. I don’t like to sit too close. Let’s go to the back.”
Rogue glanced at Kit curiously. “Okay. Whatever you want.”
Once they were settled, she ate a few grains of the popcorn and put her chocolate treat into her purse for later. Not many people came to the back and no one was in the last row where they were or two rows in front of them. For all intents and purposes, she and Rogue were alone…just the way she wanted it.
Once the lights were down, Kit sat there a moment while Rogue continued to eat popcorn. The show started out pretty slow and she saw her date fidget in his seat. He wasn’t enjoying it, but he was doing it—for her. Well, it was time he was given a little reward.
Slowly…casually…oh so casually, Kit let her hand wander from her lap over to his. Holding her breath, too excited to inhale, she fit her palm over his cock.
Rogue had been about to put three or four grains of popcorn in his mouth when… “Fuucck,” he whispered, tossing the entire bucket of buttered popcorn high into the air.
Kit had copped a feel.
A hailstorm of small white fluffy goodness rained down on half the crowd. Dozens of people
turned around to look at them. Rogue lifted his hands in apparent confused disbelief. He had to be the one to show his hands because one of hers was very busy.
Even now she was palming his cock, which was enthusiastically swelling at her touch.
“What do you think you’re doing, Kit-Kat?” Rogue asked out of the corner of his mouth. “Are you trying to get us thrown out?”
Did he not want her to? Suddenly doubt hit her and she moved her hand so quickly one would think she’d been burned. “No.”
Not the reaction he intended. Like lightning, he flashed out his hand and grabbed hers, returning it to its former position. “Don’t you dare stop.”
In the low light she studied his face and what she saw gave her confidence to continue. Rubbing. Caressing. She loved the growing ridge beneath her fingers. He was getting into it, his eyes never leaving hers, even lifting his hips slightly to encourage her to continue. Dare she?
Feeling brave, she began to undo his belt. But that damn longhorn belt buckle wouldn’t cooperate. Turning to him, she doubled her efforts.
“Take two hands to handle a whopper?”
His whispered comment made her giggle so hard she snorted. “Watch the movie, I’m busy here.”
“Hell, baby, I’d much rather watch you.” When had he had so much fun? To his delight, she worked till she freed his cock and then all he could do was rest his head back and revel in her touch. There were moments when he closed his eyes and just felt – her palm gliding up and down his rock-hard shaft, her thumb swirling over the sensitive head, rubbing the pre-cum all around the flared crest. At other times, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her, she sat there so innocent and demure with eyes on the screen while she blessed him with a hand-job so good his toes were curling in his boots.
Finally, he couldn’t stand it. “Spread your legs.” Two could play this game.
Kit didn’t hesitate, she was so turned on she was about to faint. Thank God for dresses. With a sneaky little smile, she waited to see what he’d say when he found out…
Rogue: The Sons of Dusty Walker Page 17
