by Emily Bowie
Getting up I change into my sweat pants, purposely leaving my shirt off knowing what her reaction will be. I love the way her eyes hungrily look me over. Wanting and needing me, like she can’t get enough.
The bacon sizzles in the pan and the music plays softly in the air, her small figure swaying to the beat as she hums along with the music. Our first real date when I made her dinner rushes into my mind. The only reason I made her dinner was because she kept refusing to go out with me, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was in every fantasy I played out that week. And somehow we managed to get here. I wait for the feeling of her invading my personal space to rip through me. It never comes. I wait for the feeling of her trying to steal my secrets away from me. It never comes. I am happy she is still here. And I know, without a doubt, that she’s my girl.
Making my way over to her, I bend down and give her a full kiss before pulling away, teasing her. The way her eyes hood and her breath hitches has my cock stirring back to life. “Morning.” I smile onto her lips.
“Morning.”
Slowly, I step back, giving her room as I pull out my laptop and set it on the island as I watch her cook while I go through my email.
Nothing from my private investigator but there is an email from an address I don’t know. Opening it, I am intrigued as to what I might find. A video is attached so I click on it, muting the sound just in case.
I watch a grainy video of my father walking up to Andrea’s house, her opening the door and throwing her arms around him. He kisses her cheek then she leads him in. Lots of things flash in my mind. I know what they want it to look like. A scandal. But I know my parents’ relationship is solid. Andrea has a thing for me, not my dad. William was doing the right thing. After all, her dad just died and he was his best friend. He must have just gotten back into town, I figure.
“I need to do some running around today to gather some information for the ranch,” she says as she goes onto her tiptoes to get two plates down. I can’t help but wonder if Trevor is somehow a part of this.
My eyes lift to admire her body, distracting me with my thoughts. “No problem.” Looking back to my computer, my thoughts shift once again to the problems I’m facing. My mind racing faster than ever with explanations as to why Lewis is missing and how it may involve the society. Immediately, I come to the conclusion that I need to watch Andrea personally. This needs my touch. I can’t just put someone on this for me.
Typing out another email, I call off the PI. I pause, thinking it through some more before deleting what I had written. Retyping my message, I instruct him to find out her location and then pull back from this one. I reread my message to only add in an extra section. I hate that I feel like this is needed, but I also instruct the PI to look into Trevor more. The fact that he seems to have no boundaries when it comes to Jewels makes me uneasy.
*
The day is cool for Texas. Wearing pants doesn’t make me want to kill myself. It looks like a shopping day for Andrea. I have watched her go from store to store. I look for her car or a driver, and see nothing. She goes into another shop and I take the moment to slip into the shade in the alley between two buildings across the street from her store. I am able to see the front door perfectly.
I’m relaxed, thinking that I could follow her all day, feeling like she will slip up at any moment. That’s when I get sucker punched in the stomach. I was so fixated on Andrea, I didn’t hear any footsteps near me. I’m shoved down on the hard, pebbled concrete before I’m pulled up and get punched in the face, making me see stars.
My arms are restrained behind me, and I hear laughter and clapping. Duct tape is placed over my mouth before a hand covers it and I’m pulled deeper into the dark alley. The tape is tight across my facial hair, the thought of it being pulled off makes my body rigid momentarily. It’s mid-day you would think someone would shout about what they are seeing, but no one does. People go about their business, never stopping.
I try to toss and turn out of the grip but it’s no use. Three on one when jumped just isn’t fair. I want to know who the pussy is that he can’t even fight like a man.
Stepping out from the corner of the alley is a polished suit. I recognize the one. Richard McKinley. Immediately, the image of his right-hand man overdosing on my couch plays in front of me. Making me regret my decision to save the fucker’s life. I should have just hid the body.
“Tyson Bennett.” He is smiling at me like we are at some function together and there aren’t thugs holding me back from kicking his ass. “I thought we had a deal.” His smile is big as he waits for my response.
“No one died. There was no scandal. It was a case of confused identity.” I am cursing Andrea inwardly for her fuck up. If only she had waited. She had brought the wrong guy in. How that error was done I have no idea. In fact, I kick myself for not cleaning up loose ends. I had raced off to win Jewels back and overlooked my job.
Stepping closer, he sucker punches me in the stomach. I grunt, trying not to give him the satisfaction of hearing me growl in pain.
“You need to fix this mishap that you have caused.” One of his thugs steps away to hand him a large hunting knife. Attempting to refrain from showing any emotion, I steady my breathing and keep a neutral expression.
“Want to know how you are going to fix it?” He slides the knife slowly and horizontally over my throat, I can feel it scraping but not cutting. He stops at my Adam’s apple that bobs up and down despite me trying to keep it still. I can feel the pressure on it and it pinches, I know it will leave a mark, but I’m still breathing.
“I—want—Andrea.” He says it slowly and menacingly. So this is why is he going after me and not her. Or maybe it’s the gentleman inside of him that doesn’t lay a hand on a woman.
“She needs to be on my arm and fucking me by the time I am announced to be a candidate for president of the society.” He is referring to the succession meeting. The one where our future is outlined. Who we are backing and who is in the role for leadership. And now who will fill Lewis’s role. Having Richard for a president has never been discussed. And who the fuck does he think he is, in that I will allow for that. That is my rightful place. I came back for that role.
I nod, never expressing what I really think. I could have ruined him then and there by allowing information of the night to be leaked to the press. Cocaine is a big no-no. Maybe I should have. The only loose end I left was allowing for one human to live. And that sample fact seems to be ruining my easygoing life.
Slowly, he steps back, giving the knife back to whomever, and he rips the tape off of me. I bite back the pain I feel from the tape taking the facial hair I have started to grow out. I fight back my underhanded comments as he spits on my shoes. I’m raging inside, but I’m smart enough to keep my cool. Nothing good will come of anything I say or do. What he doesn’t realize is that I can make or break him. He just started a war.
Chapter 22
JEWELS
I keep flipping through my papers, trying to take it all in without being overwhelmed. I have the projected stats for the stallion that I am getting from Trevor. I have stats on their parents and how much their winnings have been. From rodeos and breeding. Doing the numbers, it will take a while for the breeding side of things to start to allow for us to make a living at it. We will have to still do rodeos within the area, hoping for wins, too. No one ever said you own a ranch to make money; you do it for the love of it. I am not naïve of the work it will take to turn our home around. But it’s possible.
I go to take another sip of my Starbucks coffee to find nothing filling my mouth. Opening the lid, all that is left is foam and not enough to even wiggle into the back of my throat. I look to the line and decide the wait will be too long and I want to go over each page with a fine-toothed comb again.
At first I don’t notice the fresh cup of coffee that is placed on the opposite side of me. Not until I see a hand moving it closer to me. A good-looking older guy in a suit stands bes
ide me. He looks to be about forty. His hands look polished and smooth.
“It looked like your coffee was done and you’re still hard at work.” He gives me a megawatt smoldering smile.
I’m stunned at his kindness and uncertain if I should take it. He begins to walk away, just as my manners kick in. “Thank you.” I pick up the cup and take a sip.
He nods at me as he heads out the door, still looking at me. He doesn’t notice Trevor rushing in to meet me because he’s late and the two collide.
“Richard,” Trevor greets the man, giving me a name to the face.
“Trevor.” He pats him on the back. “Looking forward to us getting together next month.” Then he ducks his head out and is gone.
“You know him?” I question as he takes the seat next to me.
“Yeah, you could say he has some stock in a few stallions we have. In fact, I was just at his office dropping off the semi-annual spreadsheet of his profits.”
I liked the thought of meeting Trevor at Starbucks because it was a public place, but then I couldn’t help but feel guilty about it. I purposely omitted to Tyson who I was meeting today. I am not a woman who is looking to be taken care of. Success is something I want to work toward on my own. I looked into other avenues for the revitalization I was hoping for and Trevor was the only one within my reach. Even though I know Tyson would rather buy what I need to succeed, I know I need to do this my way. This thought makes perfect sense to me, yet I still have that nagging feeling because of it.
Trevor quickly explains a few things I have questions on before he has to dash back to his ranch with the supplies he gathered in the city.
“Anything else?” he asks me.
“You still okay with no date?” I ask, firm in my decision.
He just winks at me. This uneasy feeling would go away if he would just give me a clear answer.
“There is still lots of time to work out the logistics,” Trevor replies, getting up from his spot and leaving the coffee shop without another glance.
I take another sip of my coffee, enjoying its taste. I still have about an hour until I need to be at work today. I have enjoyed the time off, but my bills don’t stop just because I haven’t worked.
Chapter 23
JEWELS
Tyson and I fall into sync with each other over the next week. Except for a few text messages, I have not seen or heard from Mandy. But I know that’s my fault. I have been working my regular shift at work and Tyson has been there at the end of my shift to pick me up.
It’s Friday night and Tyson is rubbing the soles of my feet where my heels have pinched all day. My feet feel tingly from the sharp little pains I feel. Each stroke of his hands feels amazing.
“I have a work function to go to tomorrow.”
I look up at Tyson, he keeps rubbing my feet but he keeps his gaze on the television. I’m unsure if he’s telling me because he wants me to come or because he won’t be available for me.
“Oh, okay.” I wait a beat to see if he explains further. When he stays silent, disappointment runs through me. “I’ll give Mandy a call. It’s probably about time I sleep in my own bed anyhow.” I fake a smile, not wanting him to know that this bothers me.
His hands stop circling my tired feet, and I can feel his gaze on me. Moving my head up, I slowly let my eyes go to his face. His brows are knitted together and confusion is evident.
“I thought you would come with me.” He says it slowly and sounds a little uncertain. “But if you tell anyone, I’ll have to kidnap you away from here,” he teases, but I can feel the underlying meaning. Inviting me is a big deal to him.
“Are you sure that is okay?’ I ask softly, not wanting my excitement to bubble over if he changes his mind.
“For sure. I want you to come. I have a feeling we will be celebrating at lot there.” This time he sounds confident and happy.
He hasn’t told me too much about his family’s line of work. I know that he is a computer genius and belongs to a secret group that his whole family belongs to. It sounds elite and exciting. I try to think of its name, but I’m certain I have never heard of it before. He has explained that he can’t talk about most of the things he does for his group. And sometimes it can be illegal. But he promised that it would never spill over into our lives. I believe and trust him. Who doesn’t come with baggage anyway? Look at my family, for example. My family can’t be all that different than his.
“So how should I dress?” I ask, my stomach knotting. I already know it will be a dress. And I have none. How is it that I don’t own a dress and never once before thought one might be useful? I scold myself.
Tyson’s eyes soften when he looks at me, like he is reading all of my inner thoughts. He has this telepathic way of knowing how I feel.
“I already ordered you a dress.” He smiles at me, trying to calm me down.
He ordered me a dress. I can’t help but smile back. He really did want me to go with him. Not that I thought he would ask if he didn’t. But I like the fact that he has already preplanned the details.
“I do need to run out tomorrow before we have to leave, but I already arranged for Mandy to come over to help you get ready.”
He really does know me. Next I would be freaking out about my hair and makeup.
*
I can’t stop kissing Tyson at the front door; the stubble that once scratched at me is no longer there. I know he has to go but my lips can’t stop. By the way his lips are moving on me, he feels it, too. We are literally standing in the doorway. When I hear a throat being cleared loudly, I open one eye but still keep kissing. Yep, it’s Mandy with the largest makeup bag in the world. I’m pretty sure it’s a small suitcase.
“All right, love birds.” She begins to shoo Tyson away from me. My smile hurts it’s so big. Tyson steps away but not before he gives me one final kiss before he is out of the door. I’m very much swooning over him right now, and Mandy is shaking her head like I have lost my mind.
“Let’s get to work,” she announces, clapping her hands together.
“Oh, I wanted to show you something!” I jump in my place before I head to the table to gather my laptop.
Quickly typing onto the keyboard, I bring up a new YouTube video I watched recently. I have fallen in love with this girl. Her blonde hair sits messily on top of her hair. In fact, I’m not sure she has even brushed her hair; I bet she slept like that. Her accent is rich.
“A makeup tutorial?” Mandy asks me, sounding insulted that I don’t trust her work.
“I just like what she did here and she’s funny. Plus I recognize her. Just watch.”
Immediately, the beauty in the video (who has no clue) talks about some primer a gorgeous Mac girl made her buy. And the only reason she did was because she wanted to look like her. I laugh at it, and Mandy eyes me, her arms crossed over her chest.
Seriously, I can’t stop laughing. She goes on about some brush she has had for twenty years. I feel like she could be me but more in tune with the current makeup trends. I don’t even have a brush. Fingers work just the same, right?
She begins to show her viewers how to do her makeup look and talks about the slutty eye. In-between my laughter, I try to talk. “That’s what I want. The slutty eye!” I have tried myself and I just look like I gave myself two black eyes. I have full confidence in Mandy’s ability to replicate the look.
“This girl isn’t even that good.” Mandy looks bored as she watches the video, and I still think it’s hilarious.
“Oh come one, she’s funny!” She rolls her eyes at me but appeases me by staying to watch it.
“Isn’t she from Three Rivers?” Mandy asks slowly, sounding uncertain.
“That’s what I thought!” I exclaim. And maybe that is one of the reasons I like her so much. The video ends and Mandy just shakes her head.
“I will be doing a much better job than her, I promise you.”
When I look in the mirror next, Mandy has transformed me. My face is flawless. My
eyes have never sparkled so much in my life. The blue seems to be jumping off my face, my lips another beautiful feature. I bring my hand up, wanting to touch it, but I don’t dare. My luck it would ruin the perfect job she did.
Mandy leaves me with a light kiss on the cheek. “Have fun tonight.” She squeezes my hand. She has no idea the type of work function I am attending.
Tyson texted me a few minutes ago saying that he was on his way home. I assume I have about thirty minutes before he gets here. Going to sit on his bar stool, I open up my computer and for some reason I decide to Google Richard McKinley. The fact that he seems to be a part of Trevor’s ranch has me intrigued. And if I am going to get the base of my ranch from Trevor I want to know whom they associate with.
A quick Google search gives me a ton of images. The only women he is photographed with are family. Not only that, he is running in the next election for secretary of state.
Going to Wikipedia, I quickly find that he loves horses but it leaves out anything like rodeos, which makes sense considering animal rights lobbyists could affect his political influence.
A knock on the door draws me away from my computer and I go to the door, peeking through the peephole. Speak of the devil. Slowly, I open the door. “Mr. McKinley,” I greet him. His smile is warm and trustworthy. Then I realize he didn’t actually introduce himself to me. I curse myself, showing him that I have looked into him.
He must be thinking the same thing when he responds, “Miss Rogers, nice to know our meeting the other day interested us both.” He emphasizes the us part. And I can feel myself redden from embarrassment.
He touches my arm as his eyes take me in from head to toe. “No need to be embarrassed.” And he lets out a warm chuckle.
“I wanted to drop off my card for you.” He holds it out and I slowly take it from him, trying to stop the questions that pepper my mind. “Trevor mentioned your ranch was recovering and you were new to the industry. Feel free to give me a call anytime. I would be more than happy to give you advice or help you out.”
