Beautifully Broken Control

by Catherine Cowles

  “Of course, Cain. Let me know if I can do anything else.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad I can always count on you to look out for me and Halo.” I hit end on the call and muttered a curse. There was always someone out to get you. It was a reminder I didn’t need.

  The sun shone over the lake as I took a pull of the ice-cold soda water. “You guys bring the perfect housewarming gifts.” I twisted my head to the side, popping my neck and trying to release some of the stress of the day.

  Tuck chuckled. “Had to make sure you were stocked with your essentials of choice.”

  Walker popped the cap off his beer. “Thank God you at least have a fridge.”

  I looked over my shoulder at the house behind us. The very empty house. “I sent my designer photos last night. She said she’d have the furniture here by the end of the week.”

  Tuck spun a cap between his fingers. “What’re you going to do in the meantime?”

  “I picked up an air mattress and a few other essentials at the hardware store.” I looked at my friends. “Does that store carry everything? I swear one aisle had power tools, and the next bedding.”

  Walker grinned. “Welcome back to small-town life.”

  It had been so long since I’d lived that life, I guessed I’d forgotten. “It’ll be a bit of an adjustment.”

  Tuck let out a snort. “We’ll see how long you last, city boy.”

  I glared in his direction. “I’ll last just fine.” I gestured to the space around me. “Especially with all this.”

  Tuck stared out at the dock. “It’s not too shabby.”

  My phone beeped from where it sat next to me on the deck. I swiped it up and tapped the notification. It was the camera I’d installed at the gate. I flipped it around so Walker could see the screen. “This your friend Liam?”

  Walker nodded. “That’s him.”

  Tuck dissolved into laughter. “Only you wouldn’t recognize a multi-platinum musician whose face has been plastered everywhere for almost the last decade.”

  I hit the option to open the gate and set my phone down. “What can I say? I don’t keep up with the gossip magazines like you do.”

  Tuck threw his beer cap at me, and I chuckled. The crunch of tires on gravel sounded, and then I heard a door opening and closing. Tuck cupped his hands around the sides of his mouth. “We’re back here, Hollywood.”

  “On my way, asshole.” The voice sounded from the front of the house. In a few moments, a man appeared from the side of the house. He was casually dressed, but the way his hair was artfully disheveled screamed creative of some sort.

  “Hey, man,” Walker greeted, holding out a hand for a slap but not rising to his feet. “Liam, this is our friend, Cain. Cain, Liam.”

  I pushed to standing, holding out my hand for a shake. “Nice to meet you.”

  Liam took my palm in a firm grip, one that held as he spoke. “You, too. Thank you for everything you did for Tessa and me. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

  I shook my head. “No repayment necessary.” When Liam’s girlfriend, Tessa, had been kidnapped by her psycho ex, I’d been able to locate the house where he was holding her. And while I appreciated the gratitude, it wasn’t necessary.

  Liam bent and picked up a beer. “Heard lots about you from these two, so it’s nice to finally meet you in person.”

  “It was obviously all lies,” Tuck called as he lay back on the deck, hands laced behind his head.

  I shook my head. “Better than all the truths I know about you.”

  Tuck jolted back to sitting. “You keep your trap shut around Jensen.”

  My grin was just a little bit evil. “I don’t know, I’ve got a couple of doozies she might be interested in.”

  Tuck shot to his feet and dashed towards me, trying to get me in a headlock. Walker reached out and grabbed the back of Tuck’s shirt, yanking him back. “Enough already, children.”

  Liam shook his head and looked out at the lake, taking it all in. “This place is amazing.”

  “It doesn’t suck,” Walker said, following Liam’s gaze.

  Tuck straightened his tee. “I know where we’ll be hanging out all summer.”

  I flipped the ball cap off Tuck’s head. “Sure, just invite yourself.”

  Tuck grinned. “Thank you. I will.”

  Liam ignored the bickering, clearly already used to the dynamic that always seemed to surround Tuck. “What I want to know is who did your security system. That setup at the gate was great.”

  A flicker of pride lanced through my chest. It had been too long since I was hands-on. I used to do that kind of stuff all the time, but as my company grew, I was no longer in charge of the minutia of gadgetry. I had to stay focused on the big-picture stuff. “I did.”

  Liam’s brows rose. “Really?”

  I nodded. “I used to do that kind of stuff a lot when I was just getting started. But my company grew, and then I didn’t have time for it as much. But I wanted a solid system here.” My gaze traveled over the land around us. “I’m only getting started. There’s a lot of ground to cover.”

  Liam rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Think you’d be willing to draw something up for me? I’m looking at property around here, and security is a big concern.”

  Tuck snorted. “You’ve been looking for the past year, and nothing meets your standards. You’ll be living in Walker’s guest cabin until you and Tessa are old and gray.”

  Liam’s eyes narrowed on Tuck. “It just so happens, I think I found the perfect spot.”

  Walker’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s amazing.”

  “Don’t say anything yet. Tessa doesn’t know. I’m waiting to make sure nothing falls through with the sale. I was going to surprise her before we have to head back out on tour next week.”

  Walker slapped Liam on the back. “Pleased for you, man.”

  I was always a bit cautious of newcomers in my circle, but I got a good vibe from Liam right off. “I’d be happy to look at property specs and consult with whoever you use for a system install.”

  “Thanks, man. Gotta do whatever I can to make things safe for my girl.”

  That familiar ugly sensation twisted in my gut. I shook it off. There was nothing I respected more than trying to keep the ones you loved safe, and I’d do whatever I could to help. “No problem. It’s good to flex those muscles again.”

  “Okay, enough of all this boring security talk.” Tuck rubbed his hands together with an expression that hinted at all sorts of trouble. “Let’s discuss all the parties we’re going to throw here this summer.”

  My body stiffened. “No parties.” The two words came out more harshly than I’d intended.

  Tuck’s eyes narrowed on me. “What’s going on, Cain? I know you’ve got that loner Bruce Wayne vibe going for you, but this is more.”

  Walker’s gaze turned to me, as well. “Everything okay?”

  I sighed and sat back down on the deck steps. The earlier call had reminded me of how careful I needed to be right now. Still, I knew it would come off as paranoid to someone who wasn’t entrenched in my industry. But Tuck and Walker were the two people I trusted most in this world. My gaze traveled to Liam.

  Liam noticed my stare. “I can take a walk if you need to speak privately.”

  Walker held up a hand and turned to me. “I’d trust him with my life.”

  Walker knew me. My trust issues. Everything. He wouldn’t say something like that lightly. “I’ve got some security concerns at my company right now. I’m working on a new project, and I have to be extra careful.” I blew out a harsh breath, uneasy thinking of someone being in my office. “And there might be an insider helping them out.”

  Tuck eased down onto the steps a few feet away, and the other guys followed. “That sucks, man.”

  “And it’s not just that. There have been multiple cyber-attacks against the company system over the past couple of weeks. Someone wants to know how we do things.”

  Walker picked
up his beer. “Shouldn’t that give you a little more information? You know it’s not someone who’s developing your systems because then they could just sell the stuff outright.”

  I shook my head. “I only have one developer assigned to each project. So, if a specific program hit the open market or ended up in another company’s hands, I’d know exactly who was responsible. This is more widespread than that.”

  “Do you know who the company is that’s behind it all?” Tuck asked, stealing another beer from the six-pack.

  “I’ve got a pretty good idea.” A few months ago, a new firm had emerged on the scene. Based in Seattle, no one knew who was at the helm of Raider Industries. At first, they were scooping up all the companies I simply didn’t have time for, the smaller fish. But now, they were going after my clients. And it was starting to look as if they might have recruited help. I filled the guys in on everything I knew about my competition.

  Liam took a pull from his beer. “That seriously sucks, man. I’ve got some contacts in LA, solid investigators if you want to put someone on this.”

  I’d thought about that. But no one I hired would know these people better than I did. I needed to be the one to hunt the asshole down. “Thanks, but I think I need to be at the helm for this.”

  “I get it. Just let me know if you change your mind.” I nodded in assent.

  Walker leaned forward, his elbows going to his knees. “We’ll help. Whatever you need.”

  I didn’t know what I’d done in a past life to deserve these friends, but whatever it was, I was grateful. “Appreciate it. Mostly it just means making this place a fortress. No one I don’t know comes onto this property. I need a safe space to work.” I glanced at Tuck. “Which means, no parties.”

  Tuck winced. “Uh, Jensen and Sarah are already planning some sort of housewarming something or other for you, so you might want to talk to them.”

  I sighed. “The fewer people that know what’s going on, the better.”

  Walker drummed his fingers together. “Why don’t we say just family? We can call in an order for food but tell the girls to pick it up, no caterers or staff on the premises.”

  I considered it. I guessed just those at dinner the other night, plus Liam and Tessa would be okay. Red hair and green eyes flashed in my brain. “That’s fine. But no staff. And I pay for everything.”

  Tuck chuckled. “You might have a fight on your hands there. Sarah’s determined to welcome you properly.”

  I groaned. “Fine. Tell her that she and J can be in charge of dessert.” I paused for a moment, trying to think of the best way to put what I wanted to say next. “And have J invite Kennedy.”

  Walker stiffened next to me, but Tuck chuckled. “Got your eye on someone already, huh?”

  “Tuck,” Walker warned.

  Tuck threw up his hands. “What? I want our boy to get himself some. What’s wrong with that?”

  Liam just laughed, and Walker and Tuck continued to bicker like the two old men they were in spirit. I finally let out a piercing whistle. “Enough already. It’s not like that.” Tuck arched a brow as if to say bullshit. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s beautiful, but she’s too young for me, and I’m not looking for anything serious right now.”

  Walker studied me carefully. “What is it, then?”

  I began to draw circles in the condensation on my glass. “I get the sense that she’s running from something.”

  Liam immediately straightened, and I wanted to curse. Of course, this would bring up things for him. “You think she’s running from an ex?”

  Tuck’s face no longer held any hints of humor. “She’s not skittish. Doesn’t seem to be afraid of men.”

  I tore at another piece of the label. “Honestly, at first, I thought she was taking you guys for a ride. I know Jensen lets her live in that apartment basically for free. I thought she might be conning you.”

  “Cain—” Walker started, but I held up a hand, silencing him.

  “I don’t think that anymore. I went into the Kettle the other morning and asked her some questions.”

  Tuck groaned. “You were a total asshole, weren’t you?”

  I winced at the memory. “Some of my less than favorable qualities might have made an appearance.”

  Tuck shook his head. “Jesus. Your paranoia knows no bounds.”

  My shoulders straightened. “I wasn’t totally wrong. She’s lying about something.”

  “What do you mean?” Walker asked, cop hat firmly in place now.

  I tried to think about how I could explain this to them. Convince them that I wasn’t totally out of my mind about Kennedy. “She was super guarded about her past.”

  “Maybe she just didn’t want to tell a relative stranger her life story,” Tuck argued. “She is a single woman living alone. And she doesn’t really know you.”

  I set my glass down on the deck. “Fair enough. Do any of you know where she’s from?”

  Walker looked to me. “She moved here from Portland.”

  “Yeah, but where is she from?” I looked around at the men beside me, none of them having an answer. “She’s lived in Jensen’s shop for like six months, been over to the ranch countless times, and you don’t really know anything about her. She’s hiding something. And I don’t think it’s an attempt to con you out of money or anything else. I think she’s running from something.”

  “Fuck.” Walker scrubbed a hand over his cheek. “When you put it like that, you might be right.”

  I met Walker’s stare. “I am.”

  Tuck got to his feet. “I’ll make sure J brings her to the party. We’ll figure out what’s going on. And if she needs protecting, we’ll be there.”

  These were good men, and whether Kennedy knew it or not, she was lucky to have them in her corner.

  9

  Kennedy

  “I don’t think so. Thanks for the invite, though.” What I wanted to say was “hell, no,” but I didn’t think that was appropriate.

  Jensen leaned on the counter, giving me her best version of puppy-dog eyes. “Please, Kenz. He’ll only let me invite the people from dinner the other night, and Tessa and Liam. I really want Cain to get to know some good people.”

  My brow furrowed. “Why?” It wasn’t like the guy couldn’t afford food and drinks for more people.

  Jensen pressed her lips together, seeming to choose her words carefully. “Cain doesn’t let a lot of people in. He’s super private and doesn’t trust easily. He’s so used to people just using him for his money and connections. I want him to know what it’s like to have a community of people who aren’t users.”

  A flicker of sympathy flitted through me. I knew a little about what that was like, and it wasn’t fun. It didn’t change that I wanted nothing to do with the man. He was dangerous for me. Someone who saw too much, maybe already knew it all. I met Jensen’s hopeful gaze. “Chuck and I have plans to curl up and read tonight. I’m researching some of the programming other community centers have and how they do their fundraising, hoping to get some ideas for the shelter.”

  J’s eyes narrowed on me. “Kenz, Chuck will be snoring by five p.m. And you can research tomorrow night. Please? Do it for me?”

  She didn’t fight fair. Jensen had done so much for me since I’d moved to Sutter Lake. I could suffer through one party for her. I’d just avoid the guest of honor. “Okay. I’ll go.”

  Jensen let out a little squeal as she clapped her hands together and jumped. She threw her arms around me. “Thank you. Plus, free food. I’m picking it up in an hour. Taylor and Walker will swing by and pick you up at five.”

  Nerves churned in my belly. “What’s the dress?”

  “Dress?” A little line of confusion appeared between J’s brows.

  “What should I wear?” I didn’t have very many options, so I hoped it was casual.

  “Oh. You can wear anything, this isn’t fancy.”

  That didn’t really help, but I’d figure something out. “Okay, I’ll be rea
dy for Taylor and Walker at five.” I was curious about the property Cain had bought. J had said it was on its own private lake and that Tuck had told her the view was breathtaking. I could always escape to the outdoors if needed.

  “Perfect.” Jensen glanced at her watch. “All right. I’m off to pick up Noah, get cleaned up, and grab the food. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

  “See you.” I followed Jensen towards the back door, checking to make sure she’d locked it behind her, and then headed upstairs. I unlocked my apartment door and pushed it open. Chuck lay across the folded quilt at the foot of my bed, snoring away.

  I crouched by the bed. “Chuck,” I called in a gentle singsong. He didn’t stir. Today he was apparently deaf as a doornail. He let out an especially loud snore, one that seemed to shake his whole body. I laughed and rubbed behind his ears the way he liked. His eyes fluttered open.

  “Hey, buddy. You have a good day?” He didn’t lift his head but let his tongue flick out and lap at my face. “I missed you, too. Come on. I gotta take you out.”

  Chuck groaned but slowly rose to his feet. My little man was getting old. I carefully lifted him off the bed. I’d gotten some stairs so that he could climb up and down, but he seemed to prefer it when I picked him up.

  I took him out for a quick potty break and then dashed back up to survey my clothing options. I stood in front of my small closet, hands braced on either side of the door. “What do you think?” Chuck looked up from where he sat at my feet as if to say, “how the hell should I know?”

  My eyes scanned the contents of the closet. So different from years past when my walk-in was full of dresses and shoes for every occasion. There was a brief flicker of longing at the memory. I hadn’t enjoyed the ridiculous number of events my parents required me to attend, but I did miss the beautiful dresses, especially the ones with fabric that seemed to float around me as I danced.

  I shook my head, trying to clear the image as guilt gnawed at my belly. So many things I hadn’t needed. Now, my closet was mostly filled with jeans, tees, a few flannels, and a couple of sweaters. I had a handful of dance outfits and sweats stacking the shelves on the side. I had to admit, my casual wardrobe was a nice change most of the time, but I didn’t exactly have a lot of party options.