by Tara Sue Me
Kelly wished she’d thought through the consequences of her tirade with Evan. If she had, things would have ended very different. It was doubtful she’d have said any of the things she had. She’d actually called him a week ago, and had written out everything she’d wanted to say to make sure she didn’t forget anything once he was on the phone. But he hadn’t picked up, and when his voicemail clicked on, she froze, not having thought through leaving a message. In the end, she’d hung up.
Like she had any room to criticize Kiara for doing the same thing.
Kelly shook her head, as if she could shake Evan out as well, but no such luck. It wasn’t that easy and that was fine, he could stay there. He just couldn’t occupy too much space at the moment because she had to focus on keeping her sister safe.
“You running off and heading out of town will only be safe for you if he doesn’t follow you or have someone else follow you and report back to him.”
Kiara face went deathly white at Kelly’s words. “Shit, do you think that’s what he’ll do?”
“I’m not sure, but he might and that’s why I have to think about all potential outcomes.” Kiara had filed a restraining order against him, but Kelly knew all too well that if Randy wanted Kiara, a piece of paper wasn’t going to stop him.
Kiara nodded, her face still paler than normal. “If he comes after me at the ranch, I’ll have a ton of cowboys I can let loose on his sorry ass.”
“True enough,” Kelly agreed but didn’t voice her thoughts. She’d have a ton of cowboys if they cared enough to take on a fight that wasn’t theirs. But it could just as easily swing the opposite direction. “But regardless, I’ll be the one driving you to the ranch next Saturday, so I can make sure no one’s tailing us.”
Kiara whispered, “Thank you,” and pulled Kelly into a tight hug. “What would I do without you?”
“I hope you never have to find out,” she replied back, blinking back tears. “Because I plan to stay around for a long time.”
They left early the next Saturday. Kelly didn’t have to report into work until Wednesday and she planned to spend her free days checking out the ranch as thoroughly as possible. If she could get away without being too obvious, she also planned to talk to as many ranch employees as possible. Also, she knew for a fact Kiara hadn’t mentioned anything to the owner of the ranch because Kelly had asked her straight out. ‘Talk with ranch owner’ was also on her rapidly expanding To-Do list.
The four hour drive passed quickly and Kelly pulled into the ranch’s long driveway feeling better than she had when they’d started out. No one had followed them, she was certain. It wasn’t until she breathed a sigh of relief and the tension left her back and shoulders, that she realized she suspected someone would have at least tried.
She’d never been more happy to be proven wrong. Kiara must have picked up how Kelly’s mood had improved because you’d have to be blind not to notice her twin’s smile.
“All clear?” Kiara asked.
Kelly hated to put a damper on her sister’s happiness, but it wouldn’t do her any good to be lulled into a false sense of safety. “All clear for now,” Kelly added. “The only thing we know is that I don’t think anyone followed us today. That doesn’t mean he’s clueless about where you are or that you shouldn’t still be on alert.”
“Got it,” Kiara said and pointed at a man walking toward the car. “I think that’s the owner, Orson Kent. Just so you’re aware, I called him last night and filled him in on what’s been happening with me as well as who you are and a little bit about what you’d be doing.”
Kelly couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. As far as she knew, her sister rarely took the initiative to do anything of the sort. Especially since Kelly had asked her about it yesterday morning and Kiara seemed to have no plan to tell the owner anything.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Kiara crossed her arms. “He called to make sure I didn’t need anything or have any last minute questions and I told him everything. Well, almost everything. What can I say? He’s easy to talk to.”
Kelly could see that as soon as he came into view and made his way to them. He was very easy on the eyes, with a smile that would probably put the most ill at ease to rest. Not to mention his boy-next-door good-looks.
“The Ms. Bowmans,” he said, holding his hand out. His hair was tucked under a cowboy hat, of course, but here and there a few wisps had found their way out. Enough to show his brown hair. She couldn’t say anything about his eyes since he wore shades, but his voice was warm and welcoming. “I’m Orson Kent.”
“Kiara Bowman,” Kira said, shaking his hand.
“So happy you’re here, Ms. Bowman.”
“Call me Kiara.”
Orson Kent had a very nice smile. “Thank you, Kiara.” He turned to Kelly. “You must be Officer Bowman.”
“Kelly,” Kelly said and shook his hand. “We have a lot to discuss. Let me know when you’re free.”
“Give me about ten minutes and I’m all yours. In fact.” He pointed at the closest building to them. “This is where both of you will be staying. Let me find someone to carry your luggage inside and we can talk. If you’d like, you can await for me in my office.” This time he pointed to the building on the far right. “First floor. Can’t miss it.”
She didn’t want to leave Kiara alone, but she told herself that was stupid and her sister was safe here. She shot Kiara a questioning look and received a nod in reply.
“What are our room numbers?” Kelly asked Orson.
He gave her a set of keys. “I put you both on the first floor with rooms next to each other. You’re one eleven and Kiara’s one thirteen.”
“You have my bag?” Kelly asked Kiara with one glance to make sure she was alright. But Kiara only had eyes for Orson. “Kiara?”
Kiara waved her on. “I’m fine. I promise. See you in a bit.”
And just like that her sister dismissed her, once more turning her entire attention to Orson. The man in question gave Kelly a look that seemed to say, “I’ve got this all under control.” To be completely fair, it did seem as if he could handle just about anything that came up. He had a look about him similar to those she’d seen on men who’d been in the special services. Strong. Determined. Totally in control. Oh yes, Kelly was willing to bet Orson knew every inch of his property and would put the beat down on anyone who was stupid enough to attempt to try to take or harm anything he saw as his.
She took her time walking to the building where Orson’s office was located. He was helping to get Kiara settled, after all. It wasn’t as if he would be sitting inside waiting for her. She knew about the ranch from a combination of both Kiara and online research she’d done on her own. Though Kiara had eventually told her about the kinky weekend side of the ranch, Kelly had read about it first online while visiting a forum she participated in occasionally. From all accounts it was highly regarded, and Orson had a stellar reputation as both a businessman and a Dom.
Though today was a Saturday, she knew from what she’d found online that this was a no-play weekend. It also meant she and Kiara probably weren’t the only ones moving in. Especially since in the welcome packet it stated that tomorrow would be filled with training. Before arriving she hadn’t thought about attending but now she thought it might be a good idea for her to do so. If for no other reason than to get a good feel as to who everyone was.
She made it to the front of the building Orson had indicated housed his office, and from there she could see the expanse of the property. Also visible was the obvious division between weekend and weekday properties. Separated by a large building she assumed held the kitchen and dining rooms, to the left were a handful of weekend buildings, while to the right were numerous and varied ones for weekday use.
Kelly turned to open the front door and instead, ran headfirst into a man exiting.
“Sorry,” she said. “Wasn’t looking at where I was going.”
The man was silent, giving no, “it’s okay,” o
r, “watch where you’re going,” or even, “what the fuck?” She looked up to see what his problem was and she gasped.
“Evan?”
Chapter Ten
Evan had to be seeing things. He shook his head to dispel the image of Kelly standing in the entrance of the office building he was leaving.
“Evan,” the hallucination said, and he realized he’d never heard of hallucinations speaking before.
“Kelly?” he asked just in case he hadn’t lost his mind completely and she really was standing there.
“What are you doing in Texas?” she asked, and he knew she was real because if she’d been a hallucination of his, that’s not the question she’d want the answer to.
“I think the better question is why you think you should be privy to my travel schedule? Maybe if you had called or sent a text sometime I would have mentioned it.”
He expected her to argue. He was prepared for her to argue. Instead, she agreed with him and threw him off his game.
“You’re right. I should have reached out to you somehow.” She blinked, and for a second before her lashes came down, he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes. “But I didn’t,” she continued, “because I was ashamed. Though I actually did call you once.”
So it wasn’t a butt call. He tried to tell himself it didn’t matter. “Doesn’t count if you don’t leave a message.”
“I know,” she said, sounding defeated, and he fucking hated for her to sound that way.
He opened his mouth to ask her why she’d called him, but at that moment, Orson walked up.
“Evan. Kelly,” he said, taking his glasses off. “I see you two have met.”
“We’ve actually known each other for years,” Kelly said. “I recently moved to Dallas from Wilmington.”
“Is that so?” Orson asked with a glance toward Evan. Was he asking if Kelly told him the truth? Evan wasn’t sure why he would think she was lying.
“Yes,” Evan confirmed. He didn’t tell Orson Kelly was a Domme or anything of that nature. Evan didn’t know why Kelly had been hired or what information she offered about her sex life, if anything. The only thing he knew with any certainty was no one would hear confidential information from his mouth.
Orson paused for a minute as if he thought by waiting for long enough, Evan would spill the beans or something.
Not going to work, old friend. You forget I’ve been a Dom for just as long as you.
“Evan,” Orson finally said. “Why don’t you join the two of us in my office?”
Evan raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out what the man was up to. Although it didn’t really matter, he wasn’t ready to walk away from Kelly. An invite to Orson’s office gave him the opportunity to stay with her and hopefully to see what Orson had up his sleeve. If nothing else, maybe he’d figure out what Kelly was doing here in the first place.
“Best idea I’ve heard all day,” Evan replied and, since he was closest to the door, held it open for Kelly and waved her through. “After you.”
Kelly narrowed her eyes as she walked by and it caught him off guard until he put himself in her place and saw what the situation might look like from her point of view. Did she think he’d somehow been in contact with Orson, found out she was working here, and then invited himself to Texas?
He almost brought up how he hadn’t talked with Orson since forever, and how they were college roommates, but the more he thought about it, the more it sounded like he was only making excuses for being here. And that wouldn’t do. He didn’t need an excuse to be here. Hell, he’d agreed to come help Orson for the rest of the summer without knowing Kelly was even in the picture.
Would he have said yes sooner if he’d known? Of course, but what did that have to do with anything? The fact was, they were both here now and they’d both have to deal with it.
He couldn’t help but eye her ass as she walked in front of him. No matter what, she had a damn fine ass.
“Which office is his?” she asked, turning around and catching him. “Are you looking at my ass?”
“Last one on the right, and yes.”
He expected her to call him a name. That’s what the Kelly he knew in Wilmington would do. But he was beginning to suspect that Kelly in Texas was slightly different. Maybe because of whatever that situation was with her sister? Who knew?
He should still be angry after the way she was the morning following Daniel and Julie’s wedding. He shouldn’t even want to talk with her. But that was a lost cause. He’d long suspected something had happened that morning without him knowing and it had spurred her to act the way she did. The very fact she wasn’t acting pissed at the world proved to him that he was right. At least on some level.
Having been in Orson’s office recently, Evan knew what to expect when he stepped inside. Two walls were covered from floor to ceiling in books. Evan remembered Orson telling him in college that growing up he was so poor, he was never able to have books. The rows upon rows now decorating his office spoke to how hard he’d worked to overcome his past.
A third wall was made entirely from windows and showed why his friend had claimed this office as his instead of any of the other ones. Sitting at his desk, Orson had a view of almost his entire ranch if he looked out the window.
Pictures covered the forth wall. When he’d arrived a few days ago, Evan had looked over the photos. They were all of families who’d stayed at the ranch. Orson, like him, had never married and had no children. Evan knew from college that also like him, Orson was an only child.
Across from Orson’s big wooden desk sat two leather chairs. They were large and overstuffed, and Evan remembered how he’d almost fallen asleep in one of them shortly after his arrival when he’d been chatting to catch up with Orson.
Kelly took a seat in one of the chairs.
There was no way in hell he’d fall asleep today. Not with every cell in his body acutely aware of Kelly sitting mere inches from him. Man, he was some kind of fucked up to still want her the way he did after how she’d treated him and what she’d said to him the last time they were together.
“I have to say.” Orson tossed what Evan recognized as his and Kelly’s employee files on his desk and took a seat. “Even knowing you were both from Wilmington, it didn’t occur to see which club you were both at until just a few minutes ago. Daniel Covington and the Partners Group?” He shook his head. “What a crazy coincidence. I met Daniel years ago. Probably would have caught it sooner but I had someone else do your security screening, Evan, since I know you.”
Kelly cut her eyes to Evan.
“We were college roommates,” Evan told her. “Four years.”
Kelly laughed. “Figures. My sister decides to get a part time summer job working for the one Dom you know in Texas. Seriously? What are the odds?”
“To be fair,” Orson said. “Evan didn’t know I was in Texas until a few days ago.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Before he bought the place here, he was in Vegas. That’s where I thought he was.”
Silence fell over the three of them. Evan was getting ready to ask Orson if he really needed to be here when his old friend spoke again.
“Kelly,” he said. “I assume nothing’s changed and you’ll still only be here on weekends?”
Only on weekends? What the hell?
She nodded. “Unfortunately, that’s the case. I haven’t been with the Dallas PD long enough to have vacation days.”
“That’s fine,” Orson said. “By any chance does your sister know Evan?”
“No.” She shook her head. “They’ve never met.”
“Hmm.” Orson seemed to be thinking her reply over. “My idea should still work, but let me run it by the two of you.”
Basically, Orson planned to have Evan serve as Kiara’s watchdog. He would follow her during the week, and they’d both have immediate and direct twenty-four, seven access to the ranch’s security team. It was his belief that with Kiara and Evan starting at the ranch a
round the same time, no one would question them pairing up.
Evan clarified Orson only meant pairing up and not hooking up. He did.
Also, Orson added, Evan didn’t have the typical bodyguard build, and as a result if anyone was watching, Evan’s presence wouldn’t be considered suspicious. The same couldn’t be said if Orson used a man from his security detail.
Evan snorted and said he wouldn’t take Orson’s words personally. “Besides,” Evan added, “I know you wouldn’t use me if there was any doubt in your mind that I could kick major ass if I needed to.” He didn’t wait for Orson to confirm before turning to Kelly. “I would like to know details about the threat against your sister if you don’t mind me knowing.”
“No, of course, not,” Kelly assured him.
She proceeded to tell him about Randy, the way he’d manipulated Kiara, drew her away from her friends and isolated her, and how he hit her once that Kiara admitted. Evan agreed with Kelly’s intuition that it’d more than likely happened again. She ended with the animal cruelty charge and Kiara’s fear he was looking for her.
“Let him try to get to her while I’m anywhere nearby,” Evan said. “I’ll make sure he only ever sings soprano.” He couldn’t help but notice as she spoke that Kelly acted a bit guilty. Noticeable because she didn’t have anything to be guilty about where Randy was concerned.
If it wasn’t Randy she felt guilty about, what else could it be? Was it possible it had something to do with her time in Wilmington for the wedding? And if so, maybe she felt at least a little bad about how they’d left things?
He watched her closer as the meeting went on with Orson; studied her body language. It wasn’t his imagination or wishful thinking on his part, he caught her glancing his way and more than once. Her eyes never stayed on him for long, but he’d have to be dead for it not to affect him.