by Sandra Owens
“What?” Her stomach took a sickening roll. “How do you know this?”
“Because Nate found the cameras and I’ve linked into the feed,” Court said, and she didn’t like how his eyes stayed focused on the table instead of him looking at her.
She lifted her gaze to Rand’s. “How long were cameras in my apartment?”
“Remember the night you thought you left your back door open? We think he installed them then. Maybe he got careless about leaving the back door open, or you got home earlier than expected and surprised him, so he left in a hurry.”
“He’s been watching me?”
Court nodded. “Yeah.”
She shuddered. Just the thought of Sebastian watching her made her feel as if someone had lit her insides on fire. Beads of sweat rolled down her back. Rand reached for her hand, but she didn’t want to be touched. She pushed away from the table.
“Bathroom?”
“I’ll show you,” Taylor said.
As soon as she walked into the restroom, she went straight to the sink and turned on the water. It was cold, but not cold enough. She wanted it to feel like ice on her face. She wanted freezing numbness. After she’d soaked the top half of her shirt trying to wash away any thought of Sebastian and what he’d done, she twisted off the faucet handle.
It hadn’t worked. Not only had he left her feeling dirty, but he’d taken everything from her. Her sense of security, her job, and her apartment because she could never live there again.
“Here, sweetie.” Taylor handed her a couple of paper towels. “You can’t let that creep mess with your head.”
“And how is that supposed to work?” The dam broke, and the tears Kinsey had been holding back flowed down her cheeks. “I feel so violated.” Taylor opened her arms, and Kinsey walked into her sister-in-law’s embrace.
“Try not to think about that right now,” Taylor said, combing her fingers through Kinsey’s hair. “Ready to go back in and get this over with so you can get out of here?”
Kinsey sighed. “I don’t want to. I just can’t deal with all of this right now.” It felt good to have family to comfort her. What if this had happened before she found her brothers, when she’d still been alone? That didn’t bear thinking about.
“Okay then. Come with me.”
She followed Taylor into another room and, at the sight of a leather couch, headed straight to it.
“This is Nate’s office. No one will bother you in here. I’m going to fix you a cup of tea, then go tell the guys that I’m taking you home with me.”
“Thank you.”
“Sweetie, you’re family. We take care of our own, no thanks necessary.”
Rand pushed his chair back, intending to follow Kinsey. She was clearly distraught, not that he blamed her. Knowing Summer had watched them made him want to hurt something, specifically Sebastian Summer.
“Stay,” Nate said. “Taylor will take care of her.”
That was his job. But she’d fled when he’d tried to take her hand to let her know that he was here for her. He reluctantly settled back into his chair. “She’ll stay with me.” On that he was resolute. If her brothers whisked her away to their compound, who knew when he’d get to see her again? He was the one she needed, the one who could and would help her get through this.
Nate shook his head. “No, she needs her family right now.”
“I’m in love with her, so that makes me her family, too.”
“How did that happen?”
He managed not to roll his eyes at Nate. “How did you happen to fall in love with Taylor?”
“She didn’t give me any choice.”
“There you go.”
“She loves him, too,” Alex said.
Court smirked at his brother. “You’re such a romantic, baby brother. You want everyone to love everyone.”
“So sue me if I want to see the people I care about happy.”
“He’s right, though,” Rand said. “She told me last night at the hospital that she loved me.” He sat forward, putting his hands flat on the table. “When I first met her, I didn’t know she was your sister. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone near her, but truthfully I’m glad I didn’t know. I get that you want to take care of her, but so do I. And I’m not backing down on this.”
Court tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “Why don’t we table a decision on where Kinsey goes for a few minutes? I need to bring you up to speed on what I’ve found on Summer before she comes back. Hearing it would only upset her more.”
“Fine,” Nate said, giving Rand a dark look before turning his attention to Court. “Talk.”
“You already know about his expulsions from high school and college. Jacob Summer has twice, that I’ve found so far, paid off women to keep quiet about his son. Both were employees of Summer Fashions who’d filed sexual harassment charges against him with EEOC. They were later dropped.”
“Money change hands?” Rand asked.
“Yep. I was able to get both of them on the phone this morning. One said she’d signed an agreement not to talk about it and refused to say more. That confirmed that she’d received money. The second was very chatty, even though she admitted that she’d also signed an agreement. She regrets that she let Jacob Summer coerce her into dropping the charges against his son. She didn’t want to, but he said if she didn’t, he would ruin her life, that she’d never be able to get another job. Then there’s one more woman I haven’t been able to reach. A third employee who filed a sexual assault charge with the police. That was also dropped, so I’m guessing his father got to her, too.”
Rand fisted his hands. He didn’t know the women’s circumstances and didn’t blame them for caving in to a bully, but if they’d not backed off their claims, Kinsey might have been spared Summer’s attention.
“Did you get the police report for that one?” Rand asked. Court darted a glance at Nate, and Rand got the impression that he was worried about the reaction to the answer from the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office.
“Yeah, he attacked her in the bathroom at Summer Fashions.”
“The fuck,” Nate said.
“I want to kill him,” Rand said. If Sebastian Summer was in front of him right now, he wouldn’t have any qualms about carrying out that threat. And he’d very much like five minutes in a room with Jacob Summer.
“The police took him into custody early this morning,” Nate said. “I was there to observe the detective in charge of the case question him. At first Summer denied everything, but when confronted with the list of witnesses, especially that one was an FBI agent, he admitted to following Kinsey into the bathroom. He claims she asked him to, but then changed her mind about wanting to have sex with him. According to him, he was leaving when a man attacked him for no reason. All bullshit, of course, and with Kinsey’s testimony and yours, Rand, along with her injuries, he’s not going to get out of this one. His past history will also work against him.”
Rand had thought he already hated the man to full capacity, but he was wrong. “Did he admit to breaking into her apartment and planting the cameras?”
“Not at first, but when the detective told him his fingerprints were on the cameras, he claimed it was a game Kinsey wanted to play, a fantasy of being watched that she wanted to act out. She had a habit of leaving her keys on her desk, and he had a copy made. Because she supposedly left her keys for him to find, he wasn’t really breaking in.”
Alex stood, went to the window, and looked out. “He’s a sick bastard. We can make him disappear without a trace,” he said, giving them his back. “But as much as we’d like to, we won’t.”
“No, we won’t, but I’ve never been so tempted to take matters into my own hands before.” Rand pulled a pen out of the cup in the center of the table that held a dozen or so of them. He flicked it a few times, then broke it in half. “What we can do is put this piece of shit in prison for so long that his dick doesn’t remember what a woman looks like by the
time he gets out.”
“That we can do,” Court agreed.
Nate nodded. “And will. He’ll come in front of a judge tomorrow. I’ve already talked to the DA, and they’re going to ask for the maximum bail. This afternoon I’m going to talk to his father and see if I can discourage him from paying it.”
Rand dropped the broken pen onto the table. “Hopefully Daddy’s getting tired of bailing him out of trouble.”
“What have I missed?” Taylor said after walking into the room and coming to stand behind her husband, putting her hands on his shoulders.
Nate reached up and covered her hands with his. “I’ll catch you up later. Where’s Kinsey?”
“In your office. She’s hurt and embarrassed.” She gave Rand a sad smile. “I’m taking her home for a girls’ afternoon with me, Lauren, and Madison.”
Rand stood. “No, she’s coming with me. I’ll check in with you later tonight, after she’s asleep.” He walked out before anyone could argue.
15
“Shower, bath, or bed?”
Kinsey forced a smile. “A bath sounds wonderful.” Without giving her a chance to refuse, Rand had whisked her off to his place. Truthfully she was glad the decision had been taken from her.
As much as she was learning to love her brothers and their families, she couldn’t imagine their homes would be nice and quiet with all the children around. And that was what she craved. She wanted to crawl into a bed and pull the covers over her head, shutting everyone and everything out. But first she wanted to feel clean. If that was at all possible. She wasn’t sure it was.
He led her to the sofa. “Curl up here. I’ll come get you when your bath is ready.”
She must have dozed off because she startled and yelped when she felt herself being lifted into the air.
“Easy, Sunshine. I’ve got you.”
“I can walk.” But this was nice, too. She burrowed her face against his neck, his familiar spicy scent soothing her.
“I’m sure you can.” When he reached the bathroom, he set her on a granite counter that was longer than her kitchen. “Your overnight bag is here, but since I don’t know what Taylor packed for you, here’s one of my T-shirts if you need it. If you’d rather have a robe, there’s one hanging on the back of the door.”
She glanced over to see a long-sleeve tee on top of her tote. “Thanks.”
“I don’t have any bath oils or salts to add to it, which I will correct ASAP, but the water’s nice and warm. Take as long as you need. I’m going to make you something to eat before I tuck you into bed. Call me if you need any help washing your hair or whatever.”
He kissed her nose and then left her alone. “You’re a keeper, Rand Stevens,” she whispered. She shucked her clothes, then sighed as she eased her body into the water. The oversize tub was a Jacuzzi, and he’d turned the jets on low. God, that felt good.
After Taylor had left her in Nate’s office, Kinsey had refused to think of Sebastian spying on her, and she continued to block him from her mind. She’d deal with it when she felt better. Music came on, playing softly. She lifted her gaze to the ceiling to see four speakers. The music was instrumental, and she leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and did nothing but listen to the soft sounds of the orchestra.
When the water began to cool, she pulled the plug, then hopped over to a shower that could easily hold six people and washed her hair. By the time she dried off with a soft, thick towel, she felt better. And clean, which seemed a miracle in itself.
She dug her toiletries and hairbrush from her overnight bag. Taylor had packed a pair of jeans, two T-shirts, undies, and two pairs of yoga pants. Kinsey slipped on panties, the yoga pants, and Rand’s T-shirt. It came to almost her knees and she had to roll the sleeves up, and although it didn’t make sense, she felt safe wearing it. An illusion, but right now she’d take anything she could get to keep the turmoil trying to sneak into her mind at bay.
Barefoot, she padded into the kitchen. “Something smells really good.” Rand glanced over his shoulder and smiled, and her toes curled in response. Maybe she wasn’t dead inside after all.
“Homemade chicken noodle soup. It’s good for the soul and heals all that ails you, or so grandmothers around the world claim.”
Then give her a ton of it. “Homemade by?”
“Me.” He gestured to the island where two places were set with bowls, bread plates, and two glasses of water with lemon slices floating on the top. “Pull out a stool and sit.”
“You cook?” She’d imagined that… Well, she really didn’t know what she thought of his private life. Things had happened so fast between them that there was still so much she didn’t know about him. Did that mean she didn’t really love him, had only gotten caught up in the idea of loving him?
“Stop thinking, Sunshine. There’ll be plenty of time for that later. To answer your question, I cook soups. Egg things like omelets or scrambled. And I can make a mean sandwich. That’s about it.”
He set a large white bowl with a lid on it on the island, then took a loaf of bread from the oven and sliced it. She hadn’t thought she was hungry, but the aromas of fresh-baked bread and soup had her mouth watering.
“Sourdough bread straight from San Francisco,” he said, sliding the platter of bread onto the counter. “Butter up while it’s hot.”
“Who gets sourdough straight from San Fran?” she said before she thought better of it.
His gaze flew to hers. “I do. If you haven’t already figured it out, I’m rich. It wasn’t my doing, so I can’t claim to be a rags-to-riches story like my father can. Sure, it’s nice to have that kind of money, but it doesn’t define my life. Things have progressed pretty fast for us”—she nodded in agreement—“so maybe this is a good time to tell you about the man you’re in love with.”
If she really was. She believed she was, but today she was doubting everything she thought she knew. “Yes, please tell me about you.” Not only did she want to know him, but his voice was another thing that soothed her, and she wondered if he’d talk all night long if she asked.
He told her about his parents, he told her how he’d been inspired to apply to the FBI because of a boy named Tyrone. He talked about his marriage again and how much he missed his little girl, but that he finally knew he was capable of loving again, something he’d believed had been lost to him forever.
Then he started talking about her, how the minute she’d walked into Aces & Eights, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. “You brought the sunshine back into my life, Kinsey. I love you, and we’ll get through this together.”
She lowered her gaze to her bowl, wanting to hide her tears from him. Everything he’d said had deeply touched her. What a joke to even question if she loved this beautiful man.
“I was wondering earlier if I really did love you or if I’d gotten caught up in a moment,” she said, deciding to be truthful with him. She frowned. “My bowl is full again.”
He smirked. “For the third time. And you do love me, so stop trying to analyze something that just is.”
“You did that on purpose, talked my ear off so I’d eat.”
“Busted. Now let’s get you to bed.”
“I’ll help you clean up.”
“No, you won’t.” He held out his hand.
“I feel like such a baby.” She put her hand in his and walked with him to the bedroom. “Will you stay with me?”
“Climb in. I need to make a phone call and put the soup away. I’ll be back soon. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken an afternoon nap, especially with a gorgeous woman in my bed.”
After he left, she pulled off her yoga pants and slipped into probably the biggest, softest bed in the world. She’d thought she would fall instantly to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw Sebastian’s face. Soft music still played from the speakers, so she shut her mind to all but the piano concerto.
Rand returned a few minutes later, shucked his jeans, shoes, and socks, then slid in
to the bed. When he spooned her and wrapped an arm around her waist, she sighed from the pleasure of having him pressed against her.
“Are you too sleepy to talk for a few minutes?” he asked.
“I don’t know if I can sleep. When I close my eyes, I see his face.”
“That’s what I want to talk about.” He reached for her hand and laced his fingers around hers. “You did nothing wrong, Kinsey. You’re not to blame for what he did.”
“I know that, and that’s not what bothers me.”
“Then tell me what does.”
She was glad she faced away from him because it made it easier to talk about it. “He watched me, Rand. Watched me undress, take a bath. God, did he even watch me pee?” His hand tightened around hers, but he didn’t speak, which she appreciated. “He made me feel dirty. And part of it is my fault. I didn’t take his harassment seriously, and I should have. If I had, I would have reported him, even if it meant losing my job.”
“First, you’re not dirty, Sunshine. Not even close.” He tightened his hold on her. “This is all on him. I know that’s easy for me to say, but think about this. If you let him put that thought in your head, you’re letting him win.”
“Yeah, but getting my mind to believe that isn’t so easy.”
“Finding out you were being watched isn’t a small thing. It’s not like some jerk giving you a wolf whistle as you walk by that you can ignore. He violated you in one of the worst ways possible. Give yourself a little time to get your head straight and accept that you aren’t responsible in any way for his actions. It also might help to talk to someone, a professional who deals in sexual assaults.”
“Maybe.” She turned and faced him. “Since you’ve brought that up, I’ve been thinking. Have you ever considered doing that? You know, talking to someone who specializes in coping with loss?” She had been wanting to talk to him about seeing a therapist, and he’d just given her the opening to bring it up.
