She got up and paced to the other side of the room. “Why are you asking so many questions about Ad? He didn’t even know my sister.”
“Never met her?” This line of questioning was angering her. Why?
“Once, when he flew out to attend my grandfather’s funeral.”
I needed to call Rile back and find out exactly what kind of information he was looking for on Mila’s asshole landlord. I wasn’t making any headway other than to piss her off.
“I don’t want to be rude, but I’m really tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and then the flight…”
“Right.”
“Would you mind taking me to the guest house now? I’d like to get some rest.”
I stood to pick up my keys. There was something about this that didn’t feel right. The more she talked, the more I felt it.
“I changed my mind. I think you should stay here.” I pointed toward the hallway. “I have a guest room.”
“Why?”
“Did I change my mind?”
Mila nodded, and I pointed to my gut. “Call it intuition.”
8
Adler
“What in the hell do you mean, she’s in Texas and you’re back in Boston?” my father, Marshall, barked.
“She wanted to stay a few more days. I told her she needed to come back with me, but she refused.”
I heard the phone drop and a muffled conversation in the background, followed by the sound of my dad picking the phone back up.
“You have one job, one responsibility. You stick to Mila Knight like fucking glue. Do you understand me?” he yelled.
“She isn’t going to agree to come back here. At least not right away.”
“Then you get your ass on the next plane back to Texas!”
9
Mila
I was too strung out to argue with Decker. Plus, I was a guest. I could hardly demand where I stayed.
“Bathroom is across the hall,” he said after showing me the bedroom. He pointed to a door in the bathroom. “Whatever you need in the way of towels is in this closet. Get some rest,” he added before walking away.
The sun was still high enough in the sky that when I looked out the bedroom window, I could see the rolling hills of the ranch along with cattle scattered on them. I’d heard rumors about this ranch all my life but had never been on the property before. It was as impressive as I’d always heard, but then the King name alone was synonymous with the biggest and best in Texas, maybe in all of the US.
I lay on the queen-size bed and closed my eyes, trying to remember everything I could about the last time I saw my sister.
While we’d argued from the time we were kids, our last argument was about money. When I suggested Sybil get a job to pay for the upkeep of the house in Bluebell Creek, I got a lengthy dressing down about how she’d put her life on hold to care for our dying grandfather while I enjoyed my fancy life in Boston.
For the last four years, Adler had played a significant role in the life my sister referred to as fancy. Decker’s questions about him had unnerved me. He’d excused himself to take a call, and when he came back, he’d immediately launched into what felt like an interrogation about my relationship with Adler. Granted, he’d behaved like an asshole when we were leaving the county building. Never, in the four years I’d known him, had he behaved as rudely as he did this morning. It was obvious Decker annoyed him, but that didn’t explain why Adler was rude to me, or so demanding. He was usually easy-going, eager to do whatever I wanted to do, even when it was nothing.
Still, out of all the questions Decker could’ve asked, why was the second one whether we were lovers?
I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. The last twenty-four hours had been a nightmare. Just learning my sister was dead and having to look at her lifeless body was the worst thing I could imagine.
Finding out that Sybil believed someone was trying to kill her—did kill her, according to Decker—was more than I could wrap my head around. Adding Adler and his bizarre behavior into the mix was something I couldn’t begin to process.
I sat on the edge of the bed, wishing I had my guitar. Playing piano was my preference when I was feeling stressed, but my apartment wasn’t big enough for me to have one, not that I would’ve been able to afford a piano. There were practice rooms I could use at school, and at this time of year, they were mostly empty. Those days were over, though. The college wasn’t renewing my contract, which meant no more practice rooms, no more paychecks, and no more apartment in Boston. With my savings depleted, I needed to come up with a way to support myself, and I had to do it quickly.
I was about to change my clothes when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it and looked up into Decker’s piercing green eyes. I’d seen nothing but kindness and concern in them.
“I’m making dinner.”
“Thanks, but I’m really not hungry.”
“If you change your mind, you know where the kitchen is.” He walked back down the hallway, and I closed the door.
After getting more comfortable clothes out of my carry on and changing, I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes. Soon, the smells wafting from the kitchen made my stomach rumble. I had no idea what Decker was cooking, but it smelled heavenly.
He looked up when I came out to join him.
“It smells too good to resist,” I admitted.
“I made enough for two.”
“What is it?”
“Chile relleno,” he said, opening the oven door. “Hope you like spicy.”
“I love it.”
The man smiled again, and I felt it from my head to my toes. He was a typical cowboy. Not only was he a Wrangler-, pearl snap-, and boot-wearing man, he was built like someone who spent his days on the back of a horse—all hard edges and calloused hands. He talked like a cowboy, acted like a cowboy, and worse, looked like a cowboy. A real man—not someone who spent his life sleeping the days away or with his nose in a book. Although, there was a well-stocked bookcase in his living room.
He reminded me of my mother’s father. My grandfather had been gruff with the same cocky arrogance, but underneath it all, I’d known I could depend on him.
I felt the same way about Decker. It didn’t matter that as far as he was concerned, we’d just met, it was the feeling I got from him—he’d watch over and protect me. I could depend on Decker Ashford in a way I now knew I could never depend on Adler.
“I don’t know what you were thinking, but it was nice to see the glimmer of a smile on your face, however briefly.”
With his mention of it, I smiled again. He pulled the pan of steaming food out of the oven and set it on the counter.
“What can I do to help?”
“Plates are in the cabinet next to the oven, silverware in that drawer.”
While I collected the things he mentioned, Decker put two placemats on the counter and took two beers out of the refrigerator. He held one up. “You in?”
“Sure, thanks,” I answered, taking the bottle from his outstretched hand. When our fingers brushed, I shook my head.
“Why’d you shake your head?” he asked, spooning the chile into two bowls.
I took a deep breath, knowing that what I was about to say would likely lead to questions I didn’t want to answer. “I don’t like to be touched.”
He took a slight step back and raised his hands. “Whoa. I’ll be more careful not to touch you.”
“That isn’t why I shook my head.”
He put one bowl in front of me and then grabbed the other and sat down. “Why, then?”
“It doesn’t bother me as much when you do it.” It made no sense, even to me. Or especially to me. What was normally a visceral reaction, simply didn’t happen with him.
“That’s what all women say about me. It doesn’t bother them as much when I touch them.”
He didn’t even try to hide his smile, which made me smile too.
“Somehow, I doubt you have any tro
uble with women.”
Decker reached over and brushed his pinky finger against mine. “It’s because of my soft touch.”
I rolled my eyes, plunged my fork into the chile, and blew on it. “It smells so good I almost can’t wait to take a bite.”
The look on his face changed; heat emanated from his eyes. “I feel the same way.”
My breathing accelerated, and I tried to look away, but he captivated me.
“Take a bite, Mila. I won’t until you do.”
10
Decker
Between the heat of the chilies and that of the woman sitting beside me, I wanted to open the refrigerator and crawl inside. Maybe the freezer would work better. Except I couldn’t move at the moment. If I did, there’d be no hiding the fact that my jeans were growing snug in the crotch.
I’d almost choked on the glass of water I was drinking when she walked into the kitchen a few minutes ago wearing thin, little shorts and a top that looked more like lingerie than something she should be wearing in public—and given she hadn’t known me twenty-four hours, she should consider me public.
I took another forkful of chilies and did my damndest to drown out the sounds she was making with every bite she took. I sneaked a peek, and damn if from this angle, I couldn’t see the swell of her perfect breasts or the way her nipples were puckering in the chill of the air conditioning. Add her mewls of pleasure over the food I cooked, and I found myself needing to adjust my jeans.
As awkward as it was, I slid from the stool with my back to her. I gingerly made my way around the counter, wishing for the first time in my life that I was shorter.
“Are you okay?”
I looked up. “Yeah. Why?”
“You look like you’re in pain.”
“I’m fine,” I answered, doing my best to avert my eyes from the nipples that were now pointing directly at me.
I heard the ringtone of a phone, but it wasn’t one of mine.
“Sorry, it’s Adler,” she said, climbing off the stool to go into the bedroom.
I wished I had monitoring devices set up in the guest room so I could hear what they were talking about. I didn’t want to think too hard about what kind of sleazeball that made me as I walked over to take my seat at the counter. I took another bite of my dinner and was happy to see the door open and Mila come back out. What I didn’t like was the look on her face.
“Everything okay?”
She shook her head and looked up at me. “He wants to come back.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning, and before you ask, he wouldn’t tell me why he had a change of heart.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Obviously, I told him not to come.”
“And?”
“He said he’s coming anyway.”
“I see.” Knowing I was about to say something I shouldn’t about the asshole, I got up to get another beer. Mila sat on the stool and jabbed her fork into her dinner. “Want another?” I asked.
“Sure, thanks,” she said, downing what was left in the first bottle.
I came back around and sat down. “When does he arrive?”
“I don’t know.”
I wanted to ask ten questions all at once. Was this asshole planning on coming to the ranch? Did Mila expect me to offer to let him stay here with her? I already knew the answer to that one if she did—no way in hell.
She looked over at me sheepishly, and I tensed, waiting for what she’d say next. “I…um…kind of told him that he wouldn’t be able to see me if he came against my wishes.”
Good girl, I wanted to shout.
“I also told him the ranch had an elaborate security system and that he wouldn’t be able to get in.”
“True statement.”
“You’re not upset?”
I turned to look at her. “Why would I be?”
“All the drama. You picked me up at the airport and probably didn’t intend to see me again after you dropped me off at the sheriff’s office. Here it is several hours later, and not only am I still with you, you have to deal with my shitty life too.”
When she leaned against the back of the stool, I leaned forward, putting my arm around her back. “I like having you here,” I murmured, my mouth as close to her ear as I could get it.
“You’re strange,” she said with a nervous laugh.
“And you’re intriguing.”
Even though I told her she didn’t have to, Mila insisted on helping me clean up. By the time we were finished, she looked as though she was about to collapse.
“Go get some rest,” I said, walking her down the hallway.
Mila put her hand on the bedroom doorknob but didn’t open it. She turned around and looked into my eyes. “Thank you for everything you did for me today,” she said. “You’re a good man, Decker.”
I stood outside the bedroom after the door closed, wondering if she’d think the same thing about me if she knew the raging hard-on I now sported for her.
It had been a long damn time since I was unable to control my libido around a woman, but with her, my need was almost constant. It made me feel like a pervert.
The next morning, I was up before dawn, like I always was, and getting ready to leave the house when the guest room door opened. “You’re up early,” I commented, looking at my phone rather than at her. She still wore the tiny shorts and that top, and her hair was loose around her face. She looked exactly the way I’d dreamed about last night when I let myself imagine what it would be like to sink into her soft body. Except in my dream, she was naked. My eyes rolled back in my head just thinking about it.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she murmured. “Are you leaving?”
I’d planned to get to the barn and back before she woke up, but since she was awake, I’d send my barn manager a text, letting him know to carry on without me.
“Morning chores, but no, I’m not leaving. Is there something you wanted to do today? Somewhere you wanted to go?”
Mila looked at the floor. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, Decker.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.” Before going into the bathroom and closing the door behind her, Mila sighed. She looked sad, but there was something more. She seemed defeated.
I went into my office to see if Rile had answered my email about Adler, but there was no response so far. When I went back into the kitchen, Mila was standing near the counter, looking off into space.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No,” she said, turning to walk away.
“Wait.”
She stopped but didn’t turn back.
“What were you looking for?”
“Coffee, but it isn’t a big deal. I can go back to my room.”
I walked over to where she stood and put my hand on her shoulder. “Look at me, beautiful.”
Mila shook her head, and I walked around her so I could see her face. I cupped her cheek, and she looked into my eyes.
“I’m lost,” she whispered. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she bowed her head.
I put one hand around her waist and the other behind her knees, picked her up, carried her over to the sofa, and sat down with her on my lap.
“You had a helluva day yesterday, sweetheart.”
It was as if once I gave her permission to accept how hard the last thirty-six hours had been for her, the floodgates opened. The shock had finally worn off, and Mila let herself cry. I held her as tight as I could, giving her the space and time she needed to sob over the death of her sister.
I soothed her the best I could, and when she apologized for crying, I told her to let it out. “Don’t apologize, Mila. You haven’t let herself do this, and you need to.” That seemed to make her cry harder, but that was okay. I’d meant what I said. This was something she needed to do.
I had no idea how much time had passed when her sobs finally subsided. She took several deep breaths, wrapped her arm around my waist, shifted
the way she sat on my lap, and rested her head against my chest. As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t a better feeling in the world. At least none I could allow myself to think about with her ass firmly planted where my erection was currently coming to life.
“Tell you what. Let’s get out of here today, maybe take a drive somewhere.”
“You don’t have to work?”
I shook my head. “It’s called delegation, and I’m damn good at it.”
“Where would we go?”
“I don’t know. Maybe head down to San Antonio, take a walk along the river.”
Her eyes lit up like she thought it was a good idea. “I have someplace else in mind.”
Oh. Not such a good idea. As long as she didn’t say the fucking airport to meet asshole Adler, I didn’t care where she wanted to go; I’d take her.
“I know you said we couldn’t get into my grandfather’s house, where my sister was living, but I grew up in Bluebell Creek. It’s where my granddaddy and my mama are both buried. I need to make arrangements for Sybil too.”
“You don’t have to do that today.”
“I know, but I love that little town.”
“If that’s where you’d like to go, I may have a place where you can stay.”
“Really? I’d appreciate it.”
“Bluebell Creek it is,” I said, moving her off my lap and then wondering why I’d been so anxious to do so. Seconds after she stood, I wanted her back in my arms and to never let her go. “Do you want some breakfast before we head out?” I asked, standing and quickly adjusting my jeans.
Mila was already halfway down the hallway.
“Just coffee, and a shower if that’s okay.”
“Take your time, sweetheart. We’ve got all day.”
When I looked up, her smile almost knocked me on my ass.
“Thank you, Decker.”
“For?”
“Making me feel like you care about me. I haven’t felt that for a long time.”
I wanted to ask why she didn’t feel that way about Adler, but it would’ve only been to hear her tell me why not. And that would’ve only been to stroke my ego. It didn’t matter, though; she was already in the bathroom with the door closed.
Decked (The Invincibles Book 1) Page 4