King's Ransom (Oil Kings Book 2)

by Marie Johnston

  “That’s bold. What did you tell her?”

  Eva smiled, but I detected a hint of sadness. “I said I’d talk to you. I’m not the boss.”

  “But you know the answer.”

  She clicked her tablet off. “I do, but I’m not the one who should tell her.” The hard edge to her voice told me what she thought of my decision.

  “You think I’m making a mistake.”

  “I don’t know about your business or how you make money, but I think that if you’re basing your entire decision on her son’s history, then maybe that isn’t the best strategy.”

  I dragged in a deep breath. This was a sticking point between us. I pointed to the floor next to the desk. “I found Mama lying there.”

  Eva recoiled and blinked, her gaze darting to the area I indicated. “Geez, Beckett.”

  “She was unconscious and I was screaming for Dad. I can’t just forget that.”

  Her eyes glistened but her jaw was tight. “What happened to the attacker?”

  “Life in jail.”

  She nodded once, but the news didn’t lighten her expression. “I forwarded Dr. Herrera’s contact information.”

  “Eva…”

  “You don’t have to justify your decisions to me.” She clicked off the tablet.

  “It’s not that, but your opinion matters to me. I was trying to show you how important this is to me.”

  “What if…” She trailed off. After a moment, I wasn’t sure she’d keep going but she did. “What if your mom had been the addict?”

  It was like someone had tied a cinder block to my feet and dropped me through a hole in a frozen pond. Cold washed through me, then anger because how could she say such a thing, and then I forced myself back to the present.

  “But Mama wasn’t. She didn’t hurt anybody and she raised four boys who haven’t beaten anyone to death.”

  Her lips pressed into a line. “Okay. So, I’m done for the day. Is Dawson making supper or does he need a hand?”

  The abrupt subject change didn’t fool me. She was upset with my decision, but she was still talking to me. I’d gladly take the shift in conversation.

  “He’s trying to live it up before we all leave and he’s back to reheating for one.”

  She gathered her items and walked around the opposite side of the desk than the one I had indicated.

  “I’m sorry I—”

  “Don’t be.” She spun on me and for a moment, the conversation between us was forgotten. Compassion shone in her eyes. “Don’t be. You didn’t have to come in here. I could’ve worked somewhere else.”

  “I’ve been avoiding this place too long. I mean, if I hadn’t cleaned out Dawson’s room, then Dad wouldn’t have told us stories all night long and there wouldn’t be scrapbooks in my luggage.”

  She smiled and my anxiety drained away. I don’t know if I’d ever change the way I was in business, but I didn’t want it to come between us. “Which ones did you pick?”

  “The I Love Me one, of course. And the one from when I was a baby. I also snuck in the assless-chaps photo.”

  Her laugh put me more at ease. “Kate still needs a copy.”

  We left the office. Dawson was in the kitchen. “What’d y’all feel like tonight?”

  “You take requests?” I asked.

  “Nope, I was just curious.” He grinned and turned to rummage through the cupboards. “I’m making spaghetti.”

  “Pasta from a cowboy?” Eva was heading for the stairs. “You’re full of surprises.”

  “Wait until you see my balls.” Dawson straightened and winked. “They’re a handful. My meatballs are good too.”

  She laughed as she climbed the stairs. “Promises, promises.”

  I jogged up behind her. Before I could ask if she wanted to go for a drive tonight, she glanced over her shoulder.

  “I think I’m going to pack. I want to go to bed early for the flight tomorrow.”

  A pit opened in my gut. Her message was clear. There’d be no stargazing tonight.

  Chapter 17

  Eva

  I glanced at the time. Today was a traditional workday. Beckett was in the office all day. In the last three weeks, I’d flown with him to Providence, Seattle, and LA. Tomorrow, we were supposed to jet to Lincoln, Nebraska, and my excitement about the traveling had faded. Each trip just made me feel torn in two.

  Nebraska was because he’d heard about an app designer who was looking for a backer. The designer planned to make an app that would tally discount points and notify the customer of what they qualified for and when. It’d consolidate so many apps that even I was excited for it, and I didn’t shop enough to earn rewards points.

  Old habits died hard, and other than groceries that were a few Michelin stars better than bologna and my work outfits—like the black jumpsuit I wore today—I didn’t shop. The new couch and bed I’d bought were necessities more than luxuries. And I’d bought them both on sale, during the brief spans I was in town long enough to hunt for them.

  For once I didn’t have to worry about when I could check on Adam. I was going home at a normal time today. I half wondered if Beckett had made up trips to keep me with him. When we were in Denver, I slept at home and I never invited him over.

  My phone pinged. Beckett. Come in here, please.

  It was almost time to go home. Kitty’s kittens were moving around and each day I worried that they’d stray farther from their sparse den. My heart crawled into my throat every time I did a head count. Logging out of everything, I told myself that they were fine. I’d go home and there’d be five little fuzzy heads.

  “Everything okay?” As I rounded the door into Beckett’s office, I slowed. The blinds were drawn. His suit jacket was off and his tie was undone. “I didn’t think you did informal Friday.”

  He leaned back. “I don’t. Come here.”

  My body tingled. The workday was over. Since we’d returned from Montana, he hadn’t worked past five on days when we were in the office. He was thoughtful about my family needs, and he’d been asking leading questions that were getting harder to evade.

  I walked closer and he patted his lap.

  “Mr. King, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were seducing me.” I had no doubt I was reading him right. Whenever we had the opportunity to have sex, he’d get that hot look in his eye. His body would relax and he wouldn’t have to say anything before my body was wet and primed for him.

  “I was Mr. King two minutes ago. Now, I’m ‘harder, Beckett, harder.’ ” He pulled me onto his lap.

  It was dark and cold outside and while Rick would give me a ride home, I’d be out in ankle boots looking for kittens.

  He noticed my hesitation and paused. “Do you have to rush home?”

  Yes. And no. It’s not like I was going to swoop in and save the kittens at the last minute. And Adam was stable. No better, but not really worse. The better-quality food had given his mood a small boost. Small, or I was lying to myself because I felt guilty for being gone all the time.

  I unbuttoned the jumpsuit. “No, but you’ll have to be quick. This outfit isn’t one you can just hitch the skirt up on.”

  “You never wear clothing I can just hitch the skirt up on.”

  “The time on the plane, going to DC.”

  “Leggings.” He nuzzled my neck. “Always with the leggings, but I like how you challenge me.”

  I kissed him because it was easier than letting him see my anxiety that I was feeling like two different people. With him, I had to pretend I could leave town as soon as his phone pinged. But I wanted to. I wanted to be with him, to sit on his lap and find out what he had planned for us in his office. Over his desk? Riding him on his office chair? Standing up against the window while Denver foot traffic flooded the sidewalk?

  But the other part of me urged me to get home before dark. To check on Adam and Kitty because there was no one else that would. I hadn’t even told Beckett about Kitty. It was like she was from that other life I
led and if I let Beckett that close to her, he’d discover the rest about me.

  He brushed the fabric of the jumpsuit over my shoulders and down my arms. Leaving my bra in place, he scooted out of his chair until my feet hit the floor.

  “Lean over the desk.”

  I did as he said and the sound of his zipper registered. He was making it quick. I was both grateful and frustrated. On our trips, we would get a night or two of lazy sex in the hotel, after which he treated me to meals I thought were for TV only. People like me didn’t eat at fancy restaurants on the arm of tech giants.

  I shoved my jumpsuit over my hips and it pooled at my feet. He laid kisses across my shoulders and his hands were everywhere until I was squirming and needy.

  “Put your hands on the desk.”

  I planted them wide and spread my legs. He didn’t waste time. I appreciated this part of him. When he could steal me for himself, he did. But when he sensed I needed to get home, he kept strict office hours and didn’t work late. This would only set me back fifteen minutes, a half hour at the most, and I hated to think about our time together like that.

  Rubbing his rigid length against my ass, he snaked his arms around me. His fingers were on my clit and again, he didn’t play. I was bucking and gasping within minutes. I mourned the loss of his arm as he positioned himself and thrust inside.

  “Beckett.” His hard entries always caught me off guard. The sudden fullness, the exquisite pressure.

  He set a pace that steadily increased. Leaning over me, pressing my chest into the cool surface of his desk, he plunged in and out. My arms were spread wide and I arched my back into my release, but refrained from calling out his name. Other offices bordered ours and I would be the one everyone gave “the look” to and talked about.

  He grunted and slapped his hands next to mine, his left one covering my ring. He had an obsession about that ring, especially during sex. I’d never tell him that I took it off as soon as I left the office or right after Rick dropped me off.

  When we were done, he popped into his office bathroom to clean up and I tugged my clothing back into place. It was like nothing had happened. We’d leave this office like professionals.

  I turned around to wait for him out front, but found him leaning against the wall, watching me. His expression was unreadable, and definitely not one I was used to seeing after we fucked.

  “Let me take you home.”

  “Beckett…” The longing in his voice stopped me. He was ready for the next phase in our relationship, and God, I was too. But Adam.

  He closed his eyes, nodded, and opened them again. “Rick should be waiting.”

  I didn’t want to part like this. “Okay.”

  He nodded again and went to grab his suit jacket.

  “I mean, okay. Take me home.”

  He jerked around to face me. “No, if you’re not—”

  “My brother’s not fit for company. But you can…” I shrugged. “Drop me off.” Like that was a stellar offer.

  But his smile lit up like the Christmas lights already appearing in windows and yards. “I’ll let Rick know.”

  Beckett had been driving himself so Rick could be my ride. We walked out together, looking like a power couple, except the balance of power was not weighted in my favor.

  The car he used in Denver was not like his pickup in King’s Creek, but the sleek black Mercedes was still all Beckett. I couldn’t see him in a flashy sports car, but he wouldn’t drive something sedate as Beckett King, CEO of King Tech.

  He knew my address from my application. Had he ever done a drive-by? Did he wonder why I hadn’t moved yet? I wasn’t planning to. Not until I knew he wouldn’t drop me as quickly as he had Adam and Dr. Herrera.

  “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” he asked.

  “I usually work. This year, I don’t know.” Make sure Adam ate. Was it next week already?

  “Want to come to King’s Creek? Dawson thinks that since nothing blew up the last time we were all out, he can get us all there again.”

  “How many days?”

  “However long I can get you away.”

  “Can I think about it?” I wanted to say yes, but we had that trip to Lincoln. Without me, he could fly right from Nebraska to Montana. I couldn’t be away that long.

  “Are we good, Eva?”

  I blinked at him. He sensed that I was splitting in two and couldn’t keep going much longer. I should be honest with him, but I couldn’t help but think that the closer we got, the less likely he was to leave me.

  “We’re good.” I squeezed his hand. “We’re good. I just have some things I’m dealing with.”

  Streetlights glinted off his dark hair as he glanced at me. “I could help.”

  I could’ve laughed. He was the reason for what I was dealing with. He was the reason I couldn’t be honest. He was the one I couldn’t trust.

  But I just said, “It’s not only me in this situation. My brother’s private.”

  “Is he at least open to getting help?”

  I had no idea. Picturing Adam leaving the house, jingling his car keys in his hand like the old days, seemed like a giant leap. Would his car even start? He hadn’t left the house for months and it had been cheaper for me to commute than to pay for insurance.

  “I’m going to bring it up,” I said. “I’ve had a stable income for a month so maybe he’d be willing to spend the money.”

  That was mostly the truth. Would he set up an appointment? He’d talk about doing it. Would he let me do it for him?

  We reached my complex. Beckett’s gaze landed on our peeling front door. Like the rest of the place, it needed a good scraping and a couple fresh coats.

  “Fair warning,” he said. “I’m not driving off until you’re safely inside.”

  My heart sank. It was either open the door to my personal life a little more or sneak back out after he left, and that seemed too duplicitous. I gave him a sheepish smile. “I, um, haven’t told you about Kitty.”

  “Who?” His full attention was on me again. At least it was off my low-income apartment. What did he think? I’d never been shy about the circumstances of my life, but having him witness it left an antsy sensation in my gut.

  “A stray cat I’ve been feeding. She had kittens a month ago and I check on her before I go inside.” When he did nothing but stare at me, I defended my actions. “I didn’t tell you because your family has a thousand barn cats and I didn’t want you to think I was an idiot for caring for one stray.”

  His brows lifted, but he laughed. “Yeah, but you never saw Dawson out there cuddling them. He’s like a cat whisperer. We used to tease him about all the pussy he got.” He leaned toward me. “Did you know that when he’s feeling down, he’ll go out there and sit for fun and get all loved up?”

  “No. Does he really?” My smile was fueled by relief. Beckett wouldn’t think I was wasting time and money on Kitty. “I can actually see that.”

  “Yep. Those cats are skittish of others, but I think he’s named most of them.”

  I pointed out the bush Kitty was hunkered down under. “She’s there for now, but the kittens are moving around a little. I’m worried one day…”

  “Can you bring them inside?”

  “Our apartment is small and Adam is allergic. Even if he wasn’t, I’d need to get Kitty to the vet and then there’s the supplies.”

  “And you’d need to be at home to have time for it all when your jackass boss drags you around the country.” He smiled and pulled me closer for a kiss. “Check on Kitty, but I’ll wait to leave until you get inside.”

  “Good night, Beckett.”

  “It won’t be without you.”

  I fought the urge to dissolve each time he was sweet and considerate. He acted like that in so many important ways, but not where it really counted for us.

  Getting out of the car, I buried my hands in the pockets of my new coat that was so much warmer than the secondhand parka I’d bought a few years ago. Kitty was
easy enough to find and all her kittens were there. Was she warm enough? Should I get her inside?

  No. I was leaving town tomorrow.

  Sighing, I went to the front door and made sure to wave to him before I stepped inside. Closing it behind me, I counted to thirty before checking the peephole to see if he’d driven away.

  No Mercedes.

  “Did he drop you off?” Adam let go of the curtain behind him. Shit, had he been looking out? How visible would he have been?

  “Yes.”

  “Cutting it close.” He picked up his controller. “Is this still all pretend?”

  “What do you mean?” I knew exactly what he meant.

  He tossed the controller down. “You’re flying all over with him, pretending to be his fiancée, and that ring? Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

  I clenched my hand into a fist, but there was no point in hiding. “The ring had to be real to fool his dad.”

  “He’s rich. He’s good-looking. He bought you a ring. And he takes you everywhere with him. Don’t tell me you don’t have feelings for him.” Adam’s expression was clear for once, clearer than it had been for months. He was focused, his gaze as sharp as the mind behind it. I’d always envied his intelligence. Mom had always said his bio dad had been wicked smart, just low on common sense and a commitmentphobe.

  “I…” I had so many feelings for Beckett it was hard to sort them.

  “Dammit, Eva. I warned you. He likes you too?”

  I could only nod and wring my hands. Tears burned my eyes. I wasn’t a crier, but when it came to Beckett, emotions I’d never known popped up.

  “Let me guess, he doesn’t know who I am to you.”

  Pressing my lips together, I shook my head. “It’s going to be ugly, Adam. He’s uncompromising when it comes to…”

  “People like me.” Adam knew me better than anyone, and he’d known exactly what I couldn’t say.

  “And people like me.”