The diner was half full, and the fresh-cooked greasy food smelled amazing. I wanted all the burgers and fries. A waitress Gale’s age seated us in a corner booth. It was the kind of diner where the napkins were in a bin on the table with the ketchup, mustard, and menus and I wouldn’t get a fork unless the waitress thought I needed one. My favorite.
Gentry didn’t bother looking at the menu.
“Know what you’re going to have?” Did he have a personal chef? A home delivery system? Or did he eat out?
“I never have to decide at a place like this.”
I raised my brow. That was arrogant.
He mimicked my move but his tone was teasing. “A patty melt and hashbrowns.”
For a guy that had crazy amounts of money and resources at his disposal, he didn’t act much different than any other businessman. In fact, he seemed less picky than the entrepreneurs and CEOs I’d worked with before. He didn’t complain about the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we’d had two days in a row or about the steady diet of muffins, day-old donuts, or cookies that came after.
“But I shouldn’t,” he said.
Maybe he was pickier than I thought. “Why not?”
He winced like he regretted he’d said anything. “My dad has health problems.”
I was stunned by both his honest answer and that he’d even said it. “What kind?”
“Heart. He started with high blood pressure and then last year he had a double bypass.”
“You think it’s genetic?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “I don’t want to find out. And I’m getting to the age where I will.”
“I can’t imagine the stress you’re under helps.”
He shrugged it off as if it wasn’t a major contributor to high blood pressure. That’s what all the commercials said. “I work-out every morning. That helps.”
It was weird to be on the receiving end of the health worries talk. At my old job, my female coworkers would talk about various health issues and insecurities, and often I’d join in. It felt like what I should do. But none of the guys had contributed. Maybe they held it all in, thinking they shouldn’t talk about it.
I liked that Gentry did. And I’d be willing to bet that he only did it with me.
He shared something so I threw him a bone. “My brother’s having a baby. That was why he called.”
“Are you excited?”
“Yeah, actually, I am. It’s a kid I won’t have to take care of, and I think he’ll be a good dad. His wife is definitely sister approved.”
“Does he help you with the others?”
I took a sip of my water. “No, he has no problem drawing a line, and his wife enforces it.” The waitress stopped by. Once our order was out of the way, I decided to keep pushing how open he was.
“Riddle me this, Gentry King.” His brows lifted, but amusement lit his eyes, with a healthy dose of wariness. “You have a load of money. You can buy anything. But you love a good ol’ diner patty melt and you thrived on PB and J and apple juice I’m pretty sure was from concentrate.”
“And you’re wondering why I’m not an entitled prick?” When I nodded, he smiled. “Many would argue I’m quite entitled.”
“You know what I mean.”
He nodded. “I grew up slinging cow shit. It wasn’t because the ranch wasn’t lucrative, but because my parents believed that in order to appreciate what I had that I had to work for it. I did the same with my kids.”
“And your youngest took over the ranch?”
“He knows what to do to keep the business well into the black, and he also knows how to do every task King Ranch requires.”
I didn’t know much about ranching, but it seemed like a lot for one family. “Didn’t you hire people.”
“Yes, and Dawson has two full-time employees, but it’s a business where knowing every facet and whether it’s being done correctly and efficiently can make or break an entire operation.”
It should be harder to picture the guy in the suit across from me out slinging manure or whatever he did growing up, but that body wasn’t manufactured in a gym. “That’s how you kept ranching while working for the company.”
He stretched his legs out and crossed his arms. A look that was so at odds with the tycoon vibe he gave off with the way he was dressed. “It needs to be a pretty sizable operation to raise a family on. Often one spouse works full-time, just for the benefits. Sarah preferred to ranch.” A nostalgic smile ghosted across his lips. “It was like we traded places for a while. I worked for her family company, and she worked for mine. When she was gone, the boys picked up a lot of slack.”
I kept peppering him with questions about his life and he didn’t hesitate to share. We’d slipped back into the comfortable relationship that both of us seemed to crave. But it didn’t change how much I wanted to be more than friends.
I hadn’t moved at all since I woke up. Gentry was pressed against my back with his arm around my waist. I was happy to let him stay like that, but I warred with myself. He wouldn’t want to be wrapped around me like a second blanket. He wanted to face his kids with a clear conscience.
After lunch yesterday, he’d given me more work to do, and I hadn’t begged. He had stayed at the desk, and I had stretched across the bed. Then I’d settled in to sleep. I don’t know when he climbed in bed, but he was over the sheet and I was under.
His arm tightened around me, then stiffened. I tried to stay relaxed and breathed evenly.
“You’re awake.”
How did he know? “Does that make me a bad person?”
He sighed, his nose nuzzled in my hair, but didn’t move. “No. I would’ve done the same thing. I was thinking, there’s an entry level marketing position open in the Williston office.”
“I’d have to move to North Dakota?”
“Yes, but it’s closer to home than Denver.”
My family was in Billings. “I was willing to move to Denver when I first lost my job, but now that I’ve had time to think, and I have a niece or nephew on the way, I’d like to stay close to home. If possible. Besides, don’t you think Ms. Boyd would have a problem if I’m hired?”
He tensed briefly before he said, “I’d take care of Emilia.”
Then he’d have to deal with Aiden and Beckett. Who knew what the other two sons would think. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll keep looking.”
He rolled away, taking all his heat with him. “I’ll see if we’re getting out of here today.”
Nothing was said about our morning spooning, or the hard length that had pushed against my ass through all the layers.
He ended the call with “See you at ten.”
Our time together was over. We took turns cleaning up and we were packed and ready.
At the desk, Gale grinned. “You get to break out?”
“Yes, ma’am.” After she processed the payment, he pulled out his wallet and dropped more hundreds than I could count into Gale’s hands.
She stood frozen, her hands out. “Oh, no, Mr. King. I can’t take this.”
“You didn’t stop even when the storm did. Please use it to restock your pantry and give yourself a break.”
She laughed and gave him a wink. “There’s not enough for that last part.” She shook her head and stared at the money. “This is just…thank you.”
We left a stunned Gale behind. It took both of us to brush the snow off the SUV. When we finished, there was a sizable pile outlining the vehicle. I was able to see the sprawling town on the drive to the airport, not so different from a Montana small town.
The flight wasn’t any different than before, other than Shirley’s excited stories about the storm and her reaction to our stay—Gentry omitted the part where we were in the same room. Gentry didn’t sit on the other side of the plane this time. He sat across from me, passing me the tablet he’d kept on the plane and discussing various reports.
Before we touched down, he handed me the tablet again. “Enter your information s
o I can pay you for all the work you did.”
Pay me? “I didn’t really do much—”
“Kendall, you worked for me for three days.”
“Partial days.”
“Regardless, you’re getting paid for it and for your time.”
I should stick to my principles and argue with him, but I was broke and would be picking up the early morning shifts at the diner this weekend. I had to save up money to move and that would be painstakingly slow on diner tips. I entered my account numbers and punched them in. “Thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
We landed, and once the door opened, Gentry hung back to deal with the crew. I stepped outside to go down the short stretch of stairs and cold air slapped me in the face.
Here I was. Back to reality. Time to find a job.
Chapter 12
Gentry
“What the hell is this, Gentry?” Emilia stormed into my office, slamming the door behind her. I hoped Aiden had gone out for lunch like he usually did. His office was next door, and with her voice raised to the level it was, he’d hear everything. “What is this about a marketing position getting moved from Williston to here? For Kendall Brinkley?”
“I’ve done my due diligence through Human Resources.” And I’d used my status to secure the position for Kendall.
“Did you fuck her?”
I took a steadying breath and remembered who I was dealing with. Interactions with Emilia took a little finesse. Arguing with her got nowhere. “No. I didn’t.” I sat back in my chair and leveled my gaze on her. “But since we had so many days together, she wanted to work. She’s good, Emilia.”
Emilia rolled her eyes. “Good at what? She got fired from a low-level marketing position.”
“Her talents were untapped. She was fired based solely on having less education than her coworkers.”
Emilia’s right eye twitched. I thought that would get to her. Much like Sarah with me, Emilia had met DB young and got pregnant. She’d married him and they were partners in everything, but she had to work ten times harder based on her gender and that she’d stayed home to raise Sarah while DB went to college. If there was one thing she’d didn’t tolerate, it was writing someone off because of their level of education.
“She was supposed to be for Beck.”
“Listen to yourself Emilia. She’s a person. Her family’s in town and they rely on her.”
Emilia pressed her polished lips together. “You seem to know a lot about her.”
“We were together for four days.”
She narrowed her eyes. “And you didn’t touch her.”
I eased out a breath, but kept my composure. “Not that it’s your business, but no.”
“Why didn’t she want the job with Beck? It’s a good job.”
“Her family’s in town and her brother’s expecting. She decided she wants to be around for them.”
“She’s his age.” As if that was a job qualification.
“Beck will find someone if he wants to, Emilia.”
“Not soon enough.” She dropped into the chair across from my desk. I sighed. I was already working through lunch, now I’d get behind even more. If it wasn’t for Kendall’s help, I’d be working through half the night.
She rubbed her temples. “What’s he waiting for?”
Not this again. “Probably to meet someone and fall in love.”
“Happy marriages can happen with less.”
“There’s still time.”
There was a knock on the door that connected my office to Aiden’s. He walked in. How much had he heard?
“Grams.” Aiden leaned down to give her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek.
“Aiden. How’s Kate?”
We all knew she wasn’t asking because of genuine concern over Kate.
Aiden indulged her with a smile. “Still married to me.”
Emilia beamed up at him. “That’s my boy. You always do right by this family.” She tilted her head and slid her gaze to me. “I used to be able to say that about your father.”
Aiden’s smile faded. “Something wrong?”
I answered instead. “The woman she wanted to farm out to charm your brother was snowed in with me.”
“In the same room,” she added.
Aiden lifted a dark brow, his expression darkening.
“Nothing happened, other than seeing what a brain we’d be missing out on if we didn’t snatch her up.”
“You stole her from Beck?” There was my oldest. Always sounding disapproving of me.
“No. She expressed her lack of interest in the position when it was clear that her family in Billings needed her.” And that it was more like a pre-arranged marriage than a job.
Emilia settled her stare on me and I reverted back to the eighteen-year-old in her living room, getting told how my future would go. “So much so that he moved a position from Williston to Billings.”
“Because she still needs a job. I’d rather have her talent working to make this company money than hitting send on resumes. She did some work for me in the hotel room. I’ve seen how good she is firsthand.”
Aiden studied me. “Are those the funds sitting on my desk waiting for approval? For a Kendall Brinkley.” The request shouldn’t have had to go through Aiden and he was astute enough to read the irritation in my expression. “The supervisor wanted it approved by both of us. Your reputation precedes you.”
An approval from both of us? That wasn’t our policy. The insinuation became clear. “She thought I was using the company to pay for a prostitute?”
Aiden kept his gaze steady. “It’s an unusual request.”
“Approve it. Kendall did the work and sacrificed four days for a job she didn’t know was supposed to lead to a marriage proposal.”
“And a hundred million dollars,” Emilia said.
“Or fifty million if she divorced him after a year,” Aiden said wryly and my shame was renewed. How could he take this lightly? “What kind of work did she do?”
I gave Aiden my hardest stare. “Pay her.”
A subtle narrowing of his eyes didn’t escape my notice. It wasn’t often I pulled rank, but that made twice so far for Kendall.
“Gentry.” Emilia rose. “For the first time, I’m starting to wonder if maybe you need to retire.”
Aiden’s eyes flared. So, he wasn’t the unfeeling bastard he wanted everyone to think. Running this company alone, especially with Emilia possessing the power she did, would ruin him.
I was tired of Emilia’s games, but the best tactic had been to idly play along. “Maybe after I go help Dawson this weekend, I’ll agree with you.”
There was the eye twitch. She didn’t want to return to the company and function as the CEO any more than I wanted to quit. But I knew better than to push her too far.
Emilia was gone, but Aiden lingered. He crossed the door between our offices and I thought that was it. But he closed the door and came back to my desk, taking a seat.
I settled back. Now what?
His expression was placid, which for him looked like he was angry as hell. That was him. He scared more people than he comforted. “Tell me about this Kendall Brinkley.”
“Why?”
“She’s going to be working for us. She obviously made an impression.”
Did he think he could fool me? “What are you really asking?”
“Is she hot?”
“Yes.” I wasn’t going to bluff about her looks. “Why do you think Emilia thought she’d win Beck over?”
“Interesting.”
“Is it.”
He studied me. I was used to his type-A ways. His need for control and meticulous style made him perfect to take the helm of this company in the future. But I’d grown weary of being on the receiving end of it.
He kicked an ankle over his knee and leaned on the arm of the chair. “Why didn’t you sleep with her?”
“I meant it when I said I was going to change. I didn’t appro
ve of what you did to Kate.”
“Married her and gave her a life with anything she could ask for?” His tone was flat.
“I never saw what I did before as using women, but I see the error of my judgment, just like I saw how it influenced you.”
His expression darkened. Kate was an off-limits topic with him. It gave me hope. He was either ashamed of what he’d done, or he cared for her. I hoped for both, but I wouldn’t know until he turned thirty and was free to divorce her and keep the money away from the Cartwrights.
“So, you wanted to sleep with her. But you didn’t?” He made it sound like an improbability.
“You want honesty, Aiden? Yes. I wanted to sleep with her. As soon as I saw her. She’s cute, she’s sexy, she’s smart, and she treats me like a normal person. It’s intoxicating. She’s intoxicating. But I was resolute about my decision to quit dating and there was no way I was going after someone who might be interested in one of my sons.”
Aiden tilted his head, true confusion in his eyes. “And what about when she decided she wasn’t interested in the job, which I have my doubts about.”
I leaned forward, putting my elbows on my desk. “She turned out not to be interested in being set up with your brother, or she would’ve interviewed, but I doubt she would’ve followed through. She’s dedicated to her family. And your brother was a jackass on the phone about it.”
“Why? He doesn’t like Grams shoving women off on him.”
“Because he thought she found a bigger payload in me.”
Aiden snorted. “As if he thought you’d be interested in someone enough to settle down.”
I blinked at him. I wanted to argue, but he was right. I hadn’t wanted to settle down any more than I wanted a prostate exam. I still didn’t want a cold latex covered finger up the ass, but the idea of settling down wasn’t as undesirable as before. Not when I remembered sitting in pajamas, bundled up on the bed and playing cards.
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