Was that what Sarah had been thinking when she set up the trusts? She’d bonded with Bristol. The girl would run over to play with the boys who usually ignored her then she’d find refuge in Sarah’s office, or in the kitchen learning to cook.
I hadn’t thought about the Cartwright drama much since Sarah had died. My income from the oil company kept the ranch going financially, and I had much more flexibility hiring people to work cattle than I did with an assistant.
Then Aiden had been approaching twenty-nine and our lawyer had met with me and Emilia.
Emilia doubled down on the oil company like she was afraid it’d get snatched away from her like she’d done to the Cartwrights with their mineral rights.
The Cartwrights took our land, but the Boyds took their oil rights. It seemed they got the raw end of the deal eventually.
But the whole scenario had made Emilia a ruthless businesswoman who fiercely protected what she thought was hers. As if she expected her lifelong friend to roll over and let the Boyds take what they wanted from the land and then go out for lunch later. With no friends, Emilia only trusted family. I’d become family when I married Sarah and had four sons. Emilia had looked the other way when it came to my indiscretions because I was one of the few she trusted. I was still family.
She wasn’t going to take Kendall digging into company business very well. She would issue one of the ultimatums she was so fond of, and I was going to have to make a decision.
Kendall sighed and sat back. “That was really good. Like, the best steak I’ve ever had.”
Glassware tinkled around us. Hogan’s was a casual country restaurant with high-end food. Wood beams arched over us and pictures of horses and cattle lined the walls. They served quality cut tender meat, expertly seasoned, that could rival any Michelin restaurant, but with a side of fries and ranch dressing. When I traveled for work and was served dry chicken breast over rice pilaf with seasonal vegetables, I missed Hogan’s.
She took a sip of her ice water. “That came from the ranch?”
“Dawson has direct arrangements with a few businesses. He also supplies the butcher shop downtown.”
“You must be so proud.”
“I am.” Not many of my dates knew enough about my kids to ask questions, and if they did it wasn’t in the fond way Kendall did. I was more than a CEO who happened to have grown kids. To her, I was Gentry, a father and a businessman. I had feelings. “How’d Jen’s essay go?”
Kendall rolled her eyes. “She sent it to me. I think she dictated it in like five minutes. It was riddled with typos and had no punctuation. I told her to clean it up and send it back.”
“She was hoping you’d take care of it? What’s the story with your parents?”
Her smile dissolved. “They’re just so busy. It’s become their story. First the thrift shop they opened had required a lot of work, but wasn’t the payoff they hoped for. So they opened a restaurant to keep the family afloat. Ironically, they went into business for themselves so they had the flexibility for us kids. But I get it. Raising six kids is expensive and takes a lot of time, and they’re afraid of being gone if something goes wrong at the store or diner. They’re the businesses that help support us, and they’re the businesses that will help secure their eventual retirement.”
“You did well with your brothers and sisters.”
Her smile was serene and a blush tinted her cheeks. “Thanks.”
Our date was wrapping up, and I wanted nothing more than to take her home and get back between those curvy thighs and hear the way she said my name when she came. But we were staying in Xander’s old room that had been converted to a guest room like the other bedrooms. I might’ve had dalliances under the roof when the house was still mine, but I wouldn’t do it when it was my son’s place.
Then again, we hadn’t had a problem in the back seat of my pickup, and it was parked out in the lot. I knew a lot of quiet places where no one would bother us.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise.”
My libido was crushed by Emilia’s voice.
“Emilia.” I rose to pull out one of the empty chairs at our four-seater table. She probably knew the second I had arrived in King’s Creek. Between my own kids and the ranch hands and idle town gossip, I’m sure it hadn’t taken long for her to hear I wasn’t alone.
Since Emilia knew I wouldn’t bring just anyone back to King’s Creek, she’d come to see for herself.
She floated down into the chair, her back rigid, and not a single hair of her silver bob out of place. “I see Beck was right. You and Ms. Brinkley.”
I gave Kendall a reassuring smile. She’d gone ramrod straight, her face draining of color. “Yes, we’ve started seeing each other. Would you like a drink?”
“And the bullshit about moving that position? It was only so you could get laid?” She leaned closer, her voice low and tight. “I thought you’d be the last one to fuck with my company like this.”
Anger simmered in my veins. I turned, dropping my voice just as low. “This isn’t about Kendall’s job performance or my sex life. When have I ever given you reason to doubt my commitment to the company?”
She relaxed, but only slightly. “I’d have less of a reason if you were concerned at all about Beck gaining access to his trust.”
“My role as his father surpasses money.”
“Then I worry that your role as lover will surpass good sense.” Emilia’s gaze flicked over to Kendall. “No offense, dear, but if you’re at work on Monday, Gentry and I are going to have a long talk about his future at King Oil.”
I recoiled, my vision tunneling in like I was scoping out the enemy. She not only threatened my job, but Kendall’s? This was going too far.
“Ms. Boyd…” Kendall’s voice shook.
“That’s the last I have to say to you.” Emilia put her back toward Kendall. “I’m not just doing this about the company. I’m looking out for your relationship with your son. Beck was in quite a state when he called.”
“Beck knows nothing about this.” My son hardly came to see me anymore. He thought my dick ruled my life and that I chose it over him.
“He knows enough.” Emilia stood, thumping her chair in with her knee, and left. “I’ll be in the office on Monday.”
I ground my teeth together and met Kendall’s wide gaze. “I’ll deal with her.”
“Maybe she’s right.” She might as well have gut punched me. Kendall shook her head, her eyes shining. “If the big problem with us is me at the company, then it’s best I leave. If she found out I was directly helping you…”
“You can’t quit your job because she threatened you.”
“I’m quitting my job because I don’t need this drama. Between Ms. Boyd and my coworkers, I need to go somewhere where my presence doesn’t alienate others. And Beck would take us more seriously if I wasn’t at King Oil.”
“I will deal with both Emilia and Beck.”
“Gentry, I didn’t apply at King Oil. You got the job for me. I took it because I was desperate, and I like it, but…” She lifted a shoulder. “It’s not just Ms. Boyd. I liked working directly with you. I have some money saved and I can look for executive assistant positions—that aren’t with King Oil.”
I considered her. She’d taken the job because she felt backed into a corner? What else had I expected? That she’d jumped on it to be close to me? “It’s your decision, Kendall, but I want you to make it with you in mind, not with what everyone else wants in mind.”
She worried her lower lip. “I’m going to make lemonade out of Emilia’s lemons.”
I didn’t say anything. She’d been unhappy at the job since her coworkers tricked her, and she wanted to move on and move up. I wasn’t going to be the one to stifle her.
Chapter 19
Kendall
If applying for jobs was a job, I wouldn’t have to worry about money.
I was stretched out on my living room floor, combing through job openings, my laptop only taking fiv
e minutes to load each site. I should go buy a new one, but I’d rather secure an income before I went spending hundreds of dollars.
There was a knock on the door.
“Yo, Kennie. It’s me.”
What was Brendell doing here on a Tuesday? I’d taken all last week to feel sorry for myself and alternate between being grateful that I didn’t have to face my spiteful coworkers anymore, and rage that Emilia Boyd could dictate my future and her son-in-law’s like that. Seeing underneath the problem didn’t help. Ms. Boyd had major control issues. Gentry and her grandsons weren’t exempt because they were her family. Gentry was the son she never had, and he shouldered the brunt of the company, the one she and her husband had built from the ground up. Without Gentry she might lose it all. So she was a little territorial.
Just because I understood didn’t make it right.
So, yeah. I’d left the job like a naughty puppy with my tail tucked between my legs. Then I’d cried. And had ice cream and rejoiced. Then went for a walk every day because the sun was out and the excess of dairy gave me a stomach ache. I had to fit into my interview clothing and after the food fest in King’s Creek, I wasn’t sure that’d happen.
“Just a minute.” I popped off the floor and ran to the door. Swinging it open, I faced my brother. His hair was a darker blond than mine, and he was several inches taller. Concern brewed in his eyes. “What’s up?”
He stalked in without waiting to be invited. “Mom and Dad. They want to know how you’re doing and if you’re moving back home.”
“But I paid for a year here.” Having a guaranteed roof over my head had made the decision to leave King Oil easier.
“We heard you lost your job again.”
“How—”
“Jen saw you out walking in the middle of the day. It’s not like you’ve been there long enough to get a week off.”
I knew I should’ve gone the other direction and varied my route. “So, you assumed I lost my job?”
He shrugged. “Dating the boss means he doesn’t lose his job when you two break up.”
“We didn’t break up.” And he thought Gentry would fire me if we did? But then none of my family had met him. “It was a conflict of interest.”
“And he’s at work in his big office?”
“It’s a family company. I didn’t like the position anyway.” That was a little lie. I’d liked working and my big office was a nice bonus.
“Then why’d you take it?”
“Money. I think we’ve used up fifteen of your twenty questions. What’d you stop by for?”
“Call Mom and Dad. They’re worried.”
And that’s why I was never too hard on them. They gave up everything for their kids—including time. Mom might be at the diner now, but she’d taken a moment to get Brendell to come check on me. “I’ll give them a call.”
He pinned me with a hard look. “You can also say no once in a while. Wendell will survive if you don’t answer the phone.”
It was an old argument. When Brendell moved out, he set firm boundaries. When he got married, he made even stricter ones. But I’d been there for every major sibling milestone. I wasn’t going to walk away now. So I changed the subject. “Are you going to Wendell and Lenny’s game?”
“When I get off work, I’ll swing by.”
I had wanted to ask Gentry, but without me helping him, he was back to being swamped.
God, that sounded pathetic. Was I only helping him so I could be around him?
No, I really enjoyed that work. Nothing against marketing. I was adequate at it, but it didn’t come together like the full package of the company. It was just one facet. I loved having my hands sunk into everything. I was CEO material without the direct personality and the experience or education. Go me.
Gentry hadn’t cut me off as soon as I logged out of his email. He’d stopped by every night after work, or I went to his place for supper. We’d spent part of last weekend together in bed.
“Ren’s even coming home for it,” Brendell added.
I laughed. “She’s coming home for some other reason and just happens to be able to go to the game.”
“You should take lessons.” He looked around the tiny apartment. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You don’t usually, you know, go out for walks.”
“I do, too.” Not really. But last week I walked five days in a row. Maybe a mile one day, three the next. But there’d been nothing else to do and going back home meant I had to think about what I wanted to be when I grew up.
And that I was the mistress of a tycoon.
“All right.” The skepticism was heavy in his eyes. “See you tonight then.”
Once I was alone again, I faced the computer. My phone was lying next to it. Its screen flashed on then went black. I had a message.
Crossing the twenty feet to my phone didn’t convince me that I had answered Brendell honestly. Was I all right?
The message was from Gentry. Late meeting tonight. Won’t be able to meet for supper.
I stared at it for a minute before I sent a reply. The twins have a game. You can stop by when you’re done. They usually play until eight or later.
He probably wouldn’t get done in time. That’s what I told myself. Because the last week felt like we’d gone back into hiding. I’d met his family and it blew up in our faces. I doubted he’d want to go out of his way to meet mine.
I clapped and hollered as Wendell ran home. Lenny had struck out, but in the first game, he’d made it home twice.
My parents were actually here. Ren and her boyfriend. Brendell. Jen was sitting next to me, scrolling through her phone. My whole family was together.
It was probably a good thing I hadn’t heard from Gentry. He wouldn’t want to be dumped into this situation. It was too much like bringing a boy home when I was a teenager. The awkward here’s my mom and dad and all my siblings introduction. The only thing Gentry and I had going for us was that he knew all of our names were similar. Darren had nearly pissed himself laughing when I’d made introductions.
Mom leaned closer. “Hey, can you get the boys to driver’s ed this summer?”
“Why can’t Jen do it?” She had a car. It was the same I used when I was a teen.
Jen rolled her eyes toward me. “Didn’t you hear? I’m working at the restaurant. All. Summer.”
Ugh. The rite of passage in our family. We had to work at one of the businesses.
“I’d have to see what my schedule’s like.” Hopefully not wide open like it was now.
“You can always move back home and not worry so much about work,” Mom offered.
I didn’t tell them that I had paid so far ahead. I didn’t want them to think I was Gentry’s kept woman. Although, since they worked every second of the day, they might like that idea. “I’m happy where I’m at.”
“And you’re dating Gentry King?” Mom’s tone was more than curious. She actually sounded worried.
“Yes. We’ve been dating for almost a month.”
She dropped her voice. “Is it really dating, honey?”
I bristled. “He’s not using me for sex.”
She patted my knee. “I’m not saying he is. But he’s older and might have different expectations.”
Like sex. “We have a lot in common.”
The look she gave me said she thought I was deluding myself. No, I wasn’t wealthy and I didn’t come from a family with land and a legacy, but I’m sure Gentry did driver’s ed runs in his day too.
It was hard to enjoy the rest of the game. I was jobless and dating an older man who wasn’t around for me to show off. I blinked back tears. What we had was real. But at times it felt impossible.
“Want to come out with us to eat after the game?”
I warmed at the offer. Using their business to treat us was the only love language Mom and Dad knew. If they were horrible people, it’d be easier to hate them and say no. But they were harried and overwhelmed. And
like Brendell said, I enabled them.
“I’ll be there.”
“Can you bring the twins? Your dad and I will get there early and get the tables arranged.”
“Sure, Mom.”
The game was like all the others. I cheered on the team, and when it was over, I flagged down Lenny as the rest of our family filtered out.
“You two are riding with me to the restaurant.”
He nodded and went back to where his team was gathering around their coach in the outfield.
Wandering out to an open area, my gaze hooked on a tall man striding through the crowd. People parted for him, murmuring to themselves. Even if they didn’t know who he was, he walked like he was important.
Gentry’s gaze swept the opening, lingering on concessions, then back over, landing on me. His eyes warmed and he changed his trajectory to where I waited by the back of the bleachers. His long, dark coat whipped at his legs like a short cape. With his dark suit and those dark eyes, he made an imposing figure heading my way.
“Hi,” I said, giddy beyond belief. He’d come to my little brother’s baseball game. He was here. The guy had an oil company to run, but he was here because I’d asked him.
“Did I miss the game?” He leaned down, but didn’t give me a quick peck. His lips softened over mine and he took his time straightening. Anyone that saw would know we were a couple.
“Yes. We won one and lost one. I’m waiting to give the boys a ride.”
“How’d they play?” He stepped to my side, willing to stand post with me until the twins came off the field.
“It was their first game, so a little rough. Um…my parents invited me to supper, at their diner. Want to come?” He’d eaten at a diner before, but that was because it was a snowstorm. Then there was Hogan’s that served his family’s beef. When we hung out at either of our places, we ordered in or cooked. I had no reason to expect him to shun my parents’ place, but flutters burst through my belly.
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