by KC Crowne
His expression darkened for a brief moment. “Heard about it.”
“I was chattin’ with one of the owners the other day, and she mentioned how she was needin’ to hire a company to put in some new doors or some such. I could send her your way, if you like.”
“No.” The word cut like a knife. But he softened quickly, as if realizing he might have given away too much. “I mean, I appreciate it. But it’s too small-time for us. Workin’ with those old buildings…it’s a pain in the ass. You gotta make sure you don’t destroy any of the old work – they’re all historic, you know. Whole set of rules with that kind of job. I’m sure she can find someone else who’d be happy to do it.”
He was shifty as hell – I didn’t like it.
“Anyway,” he went on. “Let’s talk about the work you’ve got in mind.”
I went into my story, telling him about some plans for my non-existent ranch. We spent the next hour outlining some ideas, and I knew enough about contracting from my brothers to get he was already trying to spot me as a mark with plenty of money he could drain from my bank account. Made me not feel so bad about lying and wasting his time.
“Somethin’ else, too,” I said when we were done. “I’m likely gonna use this ranch as my own personal project, but I haven’t totally ruled out the idea of settin’ up some kinda business. You know, maybe horse rides for tourists or some such.”
His eyes lit up. “And you’re lookin’ for someone to steer you in the right direction?”
“You got it.”
Zed quickly opened up a desk drawer and pulled out a small stack of cards, handing one to me. I didn’t even need to look to know what was on it – Blue Sky Holdings, the name Michael Diaz right underneath.
“This is the company that invested in my business.”
“That right? What can you tell me about ‘em?”
He shook his head. “Not much, other than that they’re out of town investors with pockets deeper than a bottomless pit. They’ll want a small amount of control over your operation, mostly takin’ care of all your books, but other than that, they’re nice and hands-off. Can’t recommend them enough.”
“Well, alright.” I got up and offered my hand after slipping the card into my wallet. “Appreciate your help with all this.”
He shook, his palm boney and sweaty. “Of course. Lookin’ forward to workin’ with you.”
I put my hat on my head, gave him a nod, and headed out.
The way back to the B&B was spent thinking about the mountain of evidence I was beginning to build. The more I looked into this shit, the more it stank. I wanted to get to the bottom of it, figure out why the hell some group was dead set on running Crystal and her friends out of business.
Sabrina and Adie were on the porch when I returned, both of them giving me a knowing look as I tipped my hat to say hi. Did they know about Crystal and me? I knew women liked to talk about those sorts of things, and I wasn’t all that concerned about keeping it under wraps. Still, part of me wondered if I’d made an already complicated situation even more so.
I didn’t see Crystal inside, and once I was in my room, a thought occurred to me that’d been in my head since I’d mentioned my contractor brothers. I took my phone out of my pocket and gave my brother Isaac a call.
Crystal wouldn’t like what I was about to do, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Chapter 12
Crystal
My head was in my hands as I sat at the desk of my office. Defeat wasn’t a word in my vocabulary. I’d always been a fearless woman, to never let anyone or anything stand in my way. Even when the odds were against me, I’d do whatever it took to accomplish my goals.
But at that moment, I felt sunk. Screwing around with Gerald had been a distraction, but now that I was by myself, all I could think about was the terrible spot I was in. Just as I’d decided to bite the bullet and pay for the additions, another curve ball had been thrown my way. And this time, there didn’t seem to be any way around it. I needed work done to the B&B that only a licensed contractor could do, and none of them would take on the job. What else could I do? I wasn’t about to give up. There had to be some way out of this jam. And whatever it was, I’d find it.
A knock sounded from my door, booming and heavy. Gerald. What the hell did he want? To bust my balls more about what happened between us?
I figured maybe talking to him would be another distraction. As much of a pain in the ass as he could be, I had to admit I kind of liked having him around. He was cocky and charming and always seemed to know what to say to take the edge off whatever was troubling me.
And the sex…that was something else altogether. The man had given me a pair of orgasms that had been like nothing I’d ever experienced in my life. The way he’d held my hips as he pounded me from behind, his grunts sexy and masculine…
I had to put it out of my head. Didn’t need him thinking he could play me like a fiddle whenever he wanted. If anything, I wanted to be the one to turn the tables on him.
“Come in!”
The knocking stopped, the door opened, and Gerald wandered in. He was dressed in his usual rugged jeans and boots, but he’d changed into a white T-shirt that gripped his muscles tightly.
My pussy clenched at the sight of him. A little voice in the back of my head suggested that maybe it would be fun to screw him again, maybe with my legs wrapped around him as I sat on the desk, watching his cock disappear into your pussy until he brought you to one orgasm after another.
Alright, enough of that, I told myself. Last thing I needed to be thinking about, as fun as it was.
“Howdy,” he said with a smile as he sauntered into the room like he owned it.
“You need somethin’?” I asked.
He raised his eyebrows as he dropped into one of the chairs across from my desk, letting one of his legs dangle over the side. “That’s a fine how-do-you-do.”
“Well, I’m six different kinds of busy and don’t exactly have time for aimless jawin’. So, if you’ve got somethin’ you wanna talk about, then let’s hear it so I can get on with my day.”
He smirked. Of course he did. “Last I checked, you weren’t really all that busy. No contractors means no customers which means you don’t have a lot to do.”
“Are you freakin’ serious?” I asked, appalled. “Did you really come in here to bring that up?”
“Nope. I got things I wanna talk about with you. But first, let’s go over what happened between us.”
I sighed. A part of me knew he was right that it needed to be discussed. I sat back in my chair, massaging my temples. “Alright – what’s on your mind?”
He shook his head. “It’s not about what’s on my mind – it’s about what’s on yours.”
“And what do you think is on my mind, exactly?”
“Crystal, we just screwed a couple of hours ago. You’re tellin’ me you haven’t been thinkin’ about it?”
“Got my business to worry about. Not exactly concerned with romance.”
“Who said anything about romance? I was talkin’ about screwin’.” He grinned, and I wanted to smack him upside the head.
“It was a one-time thing, like I said. Which means it ain’t gonna happen again, which means we don’t got a thing to talk about.” I was proud of the way the words came out of my mouth, confident and strong. But Gerald didn’t seem affected in the slightest, that grin staying on his sexy little mouth. “You got another perspective?”
“I sure do. I’m thinkin’ we don’t make it a one-time thing.”
I stared at him for several seconds before asking, “Are you kiddin’ me?”
“I don’t kid around when it comes to stuff like that.”
“And why do you think I’d want more than a one-time thing?”
“Because I know there’s somethin’ between us.”
“No, there’s not.”
“Yeah, there is,” he insisted. “People who don’t have somethin’ betwee
n them don’t rut like a couple of animals in heat.”
Something about the way he spoke, the words he used, caused another rush of heat to course through my body. I had every right to tell him to screw off, but the way he sat there draped in my chair, a grin playing on his lips as he told me with total confidence that I wanted him…it was enough to make me all kinds of confused.
“We both had the itch, and we scratched it.”
“But itches come back. And it’s gonna come back between the two of us.” His confidence was infuriating and fascinating at the same time.
“Oh, you think so?”
His grin was handsome. “I know so. Think about it like this - what’s your favorite dessert?”
“My what?”
“You heard me.”
I sighed and shook my head, knowing he was messing with me in one way or another. “Dutch apple pie.”
“That right? Mama G over at Rainbow Canyons makes a fine Dutch apple. Might have to bring one by for ya.”
“Get to the point.”
“Anyway, you might know you’re not supposed to eat all that sugar and all them calories or whatever. But when you crave it, you crave it. And the only thing that’s gonna satisfy that craving is a big ol’ slice.”
“That’s why restraint’s important.” I lifted an eyebrow at him.
“Sure, and that’s why it’s easiest to say you aren’t gonna have anymore right after you’ve wolfed down a couple of slices. And maybe at that moment you mean it. But sure enough, down the road, you’re gonna want a little more.”
All this talking was making a slice of pie sound mighty good. But just like my other craving, I put it out of my head. “And you think you’re like a big ol’ slice of pie?”
He shrugged. “Call me whatever you want. But all I know is you can’t resist me. And the only thing that’s gonna satisfy you is another taste.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Alright – that’s about enough of that.”
He narrowed his eyes, but in a sensual manner. “Well, I know what I want, gorgeous. If there’s one thing about me you should know, it’s that when I know what I want, I don’t stop until I get. And right now, a slice of pie is soundin’ pretty delicious.”
Another wave of heat ran through my body. I hated how easily he could wrap me around his finger like this, how confident and certain he was that I felt the same way.
“You can go now, if that’s all.”
“I got a little more for you – somethin’ actually pertainin’ to business.”
“Then let’s hear it. But sit in that chair like a normal person if you’re gonna stay.”
He chuckled as he pulled his leg down and plopped his boot on the ground. “Whatever the lady wants.”
“Business matters – what are they?”
“It’s about the contracting business. I think I might have a solution for you.”
“Is that right?”
“I ever tell you about my brothers Russ and Isaac?”
“Don’t believe you have.”
“Well, they’re in the contracting game themselves. They had a big company a few years back, made a good chunk of cash doing big-time projects around the state. Once they made their money, they sold the company and invested their payday, made a ton more.”
“Alright. There a reason you’re tellin’ me all this?”
He laughed. “OK, OK – I’ll get to the point. They love buildin’, workin’ with their hands, and early retirement didn’t suit them. So they started a mobile kind of operation, traveling the country and doing jobs here and there. I spoke to Isaac a little bit ago, told him about your situation. Said he’d be more than happy to come here with Russ and do the work.”
“Are you serious?” I gaped at him, astounded.
“Serious as a heart attack. And I’m no expert, but I know my way around a set of tools. I’d be more than happy to pitch in. Best part is they’d do it for free.”
I automatically began shaking my head. “No way. I told you already that I’m not accepting any charity from you. And you can add your brothers to that. I appreciate it, but I’m gonna get myself out of this mess.”
“Crystal, it’s not about goin’ it alone. You can’t do everything by yourself. You’ve got a huge boon here with me and my brothers, and as much as I respect your attitude about it, I gotta be honest and say you’d be out of your mind to turn this down.”
I said nothing, considering his words.
“I mean, what else are you gonna do? You’ve called every contractor in the area and they’re all givin’ you the run around. And unless you get the work done, you’re sunk. Hate to say it so blunt, but it’s true and you know it. If you don’t want to accept charity, fine – you can pay my brothers. But don’t let your pride get in the way of doin’ the smart thing here.”
I let out a sigh. As much as I still wanted to sock the guy, I had to admit he was right. But I couldn’t give in completely. “Let me think about it.”
He grinned. “Do that – think about it.” Gerald clapped his hands onto his knees and got up. “My brothers are ready to come into town whenever you give the word. But let’s not be rude and keep ‘em waitin’, y’hear?”
“Fine. I’ll let you know by the end of the day.”
“Perfect. I’ll leave you alone then.”
He turned to leave, but before he did, I spoke. “And…about the other thing.”
He glanced over his shoulder, that cocky grin still on his face. “Yeah?”
“Just because you’re stayin’ here, and just because I’m acceptin’ –might be acceptin’- your help, that don’t mean anything’s gonna be happenin’ between the two of us. Got it?”
“Whatever you say, darlin’.” He sauntered out just as confidently as he’d come in.
And as much as I hated to admit it, I still wanted the man like crazy.
Chapter 13
GERALD
Crystal had come around, just like I knew she would. A few hours after our meeting the other day, she’d sent me a text that read Fine. Call up your brothers. So that’s just what I’d done. I fired off a text to Isaac, who told me he and Russ would be heading into town as soon as they could. They’d been in New Orleans, taking a month off between jobs to relax in the Big Easy.
A few days later, I was at my desk, laptop open and the files Josh had given me splayed out next to it. My phone rang – a call from Isaac.
“Hey, bro,” he said, the rumble of commotion in the background I recognized as the normal din of the usual crowd at the Walker ranch.
“Yo, man. What’s the word?”
“We’re here. Just checked in at Rainbow Canyons.”
“Perfect. How’s the family?”
“Never a dull moment – you know the drill. Mama G’s whippin’ up a late lunch, and I ain’t about to complain about that.”
I chuckled, agreeing completely. “I’d swing by to say hi, but I’m up to my neck in this bullshit with Blue Sky.” I’d told my brothers about the strange goings on when I’d talked to them the other day. Like me, they were sure something fishy was going on.
“Anything new?”
“Not a damn thing. I’ve been makin’ phone calls left and right, and as shady as it looks on the surface, there doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary. As far as I can tell, they’re on the up-and-up.”
“But that’s not the case, right?”
“Hell no. My gut’s tellin’ me somethin’s up, and I ain’t about to start doubtin’ now.”
“Good. I’m sure you’ll crack this shit wide open before too long.”
“Anyway, what you got planned for the rest of the day?”
“Russ and I are gonna swing into Patterson and hit the hardware store in a bit, get some tools so we can start the job tomorrow. And, uh, speakin’ of which…”
I grinned, knowing what he was about to ask. “Yeah?”
“What’s up with you and this Crystal chick? You two a thing now?”
“
Long story. Short answer is no, long answer is not yet.”
He laughed. “Sounds like some shit that’s too complicated for my tastes.”
“Ain’t complicated at all. She’s into me but hasn’t come around to it yet.”
“And you think she will?”
“Of course,” I scoffed. “Just bidin’ my time.”
Another laugh. “Well, you can have your complicated shit – I’ll keep things nice and simple with my ladies, thank you very much.”
“You say that now, but when you meet the right woman, you’re gonna be singin’ a different tune.”
I could practically hear his eyebrows raise on the other line. And I was pretty damn surprised too – had I really just called Crystal the right woman? Sure, I’d been confident about what I wanted, but hearing it out loud was something else.
“And is that what she is?”
“No doubt, and I’m gonna make her mine.”
“Well, good luck with that. Try not to get distracted while we’re workin’ and smash your thumb with a hammer.”
“Don’t you worry about me.” A chime sounded in the background, and I recognized it as Mama G’s dinner bell.
“Alright,” Isaac said. “I think you know what that means.”
“Go on and eat – I’ll talk to y’all later.”
“Sounds good, bro.”
We hung up and I set the phone on the desk. A little time at Rainbow Canyons sure sounded nice. A home-cooked meal, a little whiskey with the boys, maybe even a moonlight ride. But I didn’t have time for relaxing. I needed to find out what I could about this Blue Sky bullshit. It was driving me crazy knowing there had to be some entry point into it, one I couldn’t find. How the hell could an organization like that be so obviously dirty inside but squeaky-clean on the outside?
I returned to the notes, doing some internet research as I did. Hours flew by, and before I knew it, five o’clock had rolled around and I was still stuck at square one. My phone buzzed with another incoming call, an interruption I was grateful for. I was certain it was Isaac or Russ, but when I grabbed the phone and checked the screen, it was an unfamiliar number.