“Give me a moment, please,” a low voice said. After a few seconds, he spoke again. “Drive up until you reach the main house. Security will be waiting for you there.”
Rhett rolled up his window and snorted. “Intense setup for a guy who’s trying to make others believe he’s not a criminal.”
The gates opened, and as Rhett drove up the driveway, Asher whistled. “Jesus, look at that house.”
Rhett got Asher’s awe. The waterfront Georgian Revival red brick mansion sat upon a gorgeous property that likely had impeccable gardens in the summer. Rhett’s attention didn’t linger long on the property before moving swiftly to the two armed security guards standing at the opening of the circular driveway. Rhett parked a few feet away and cut the ignition. He exited his vehicle and Asher followed him out.
“Detective West,” the security guard said right to him like they’d already met.
Obviously they’d done their homework.
“That’s right.” He gestured to Asher. “Detective Sullivan.”
“Identification, please,” the man said.
Rhett reached into his back pocket. This show was nothing more than that. A show to make it appear like they didn’t have information they shouldn’t. Rhett didn’t doubt that King knew all about them. Every single detail, right down to their incomes.
The guard examined their badges, then handed them back and said, “I’ll need your weapons. You’ll get them back when you leave.”
Rhett froze.
The guard arched an eyebrow. “Nonnegotiable.”
Rhett sighed, then took his gun from his holster. He took out the clip and handed it to the guard, as did Asher. They were both searched for further weapons then the guard led them through the grand foyer of the mansion, passing two more guards before they followed him into a large office. Behind the desk sat Joaquin King.
King’s white dress shirt was rolled up at the sleeves, portraying a casual air that Rhett felt certain was manufactured. His blond hair was styled and his dark blue eyes regarded Rhett with every step he took into the room. The only thing about King that didn’t scream wealth was his five o’clock shadow, almost as if he needed to rebel against the life that had been handed to him.
“Please,” King said, rising from his chair. “Come take a seat.”
Rhett settled into the client chair on the left, Asher on the right. Rhett kept his chair angled slightly to keep an eye on those guards behind him.
“Now that you’ve driven all the way out here just for a talk, what can I do for you?” King asked, returning to his seat behind his desk.
Rhett wanted to see King’s expression as he asked his questions. He was sure there was a gentler way of approaching this, but that wasn’t Rhett’s way. “Did you send your men to trash Kinsley Knight’s bar last night?”
Asher exhaled deeply, shifting in his seat. He’d never agreed with Rhett’s blunt ways, but Rhett was not wasting time. Not with Kinsley involved.
King lifted an eyebrow. “Kinsley Knight?”
“The sister of Detective Boone Knight,” Asher offered.
“Ah,” King said, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms. “Is there a particular reason you think I have involvement here?”
“Because you’re a dirty prick,” Rhett said.
At that, King grinned.
Asher interjected, using a firm, but polite voice, “We’re aware there might be some lingering tension from our recent matter.”
“There’s no animosity on my end,” King said to Asher. To Rhett, he added, “I have never met Kinsley Knight, nor do I plan to.”
Rhett stared into King’s eyes, seeing something familiar. Rhett had met the worst type of people during his time in the Army. And he’d killed those men. King had that same haunted look in his eye. “I didn’t come here today to get an explanation,” Rhett said.
King’s brows shot up. “Then why did you come?”
“To tell you that if you’re behind this, you’re a dead man walking.”
Asher’s head whipped around to Rhett and his frown was deep.
But for King, a man who feared nothing, his grin only darkened. “Do tell me, West, what’s your investment here with Ms. Knight?”
Rhett knew he’d shown his cards by coming to King’s residence. He also didn’t care. “She’s pregnant with my child,” he told him bluntly. “Last night, her bar was broken into and trashed. That will not happen again.”
King’s mouth twitched. “Pregnant with your child, hmm? Explains the visit, I suppose.” He took in Rhett’s measure then exhaled slowly, finally stating, “I assure you that neither my men, nor myself, had anything to do with Ms. Knight’s bar being trashed, or have any involvement with anyone in Stoney Creek for that matter. Shall I investigate further to see who may be behind the break-in?”
Rhett snorted and rose, as Asher did the same, ignoring King’s remark. He’d come to make a point, and he’d made it. “Do yourself a favor,” Rhett warned.
“What’s that?” King practically purred.
“Forget her name.” And with that, Rhett turned and headed for the door. Just before he left, he glanced over his shoulder, finding King’s amused gaze on him. “If you don’t, I won’t forget yours.”
King just smiled.
* * *
Stoney Creek did a few things well. Quaint restaurants and shops. Delicious food and drinks. And Christmas.
In just a few short weeks, Christmas joy would take hold of the town until after New Year’s. Even now, as Kinsley entered the small market on Main Street, she spotted old Mrs. Russell, who’d owned the market for as long as Kinsley could remember, sitting behind the counter working on this year’s Christmas wreath.
“I really think we need to talk about this,” Remy said as she followed Kinsley down the produce aisle.
During the warmer seasons, the market was outside in the parking lot next door, offering fresh local produce. But for now, Kinsley stuck to the organic produce shipped in, thinking the oversized strawberries looked too genetically modified to be healthy for her growing baby. She reached for some romaine lettuce, placing it in the basket, and looked over her shoulder at Remy. “Okay, then talk.”
Remy looked like she’d eaten a sour lemon. “I’m really worried about you. I just don’t want you getting hurt here, and this entire situation with Rhett is setting itself up for a huge heartbreak.”
Any good best friend would be very worried. Rhett was all wrong for her. “Let me guess—you’re worried because I’m madly and hopelessly in love with him and you think I’m too emotional for this.” They both knew it was true. Loving Rhett had always been true.
“Yes, exactly,” Remy confirmed, crossing her arms, looking like a fierce, bright warrior. “You’re about to go play house with a guy who doesn’t play house with anyone. The same guy who has left a trail of women—okay, maybe satisfied women from what I hear—but still heartbroken women in his wake.”
Kinsley was definitely one of those satisfied women. She’d always known sex with Rhett would be explosive, but she’d had no idea how explosive. Her mind simply could not have dreamed up how incredible they were together. Even now, if she let herself think of his talented mouth and strong hands…
“Why are you flushing?” Remy gasped then shuddered. “Ew. God. Are you thinking about sex with him?”
“Of course I am.” Kinsley laughed, then whirled away to grab some bananas. “Stop worrying about me. I’m going to be smart about this.”
“Bullshit.” At Remy’s hard voice, Kinsley turned around. Blazing eyes met hers. “You’ve gotta start being honest about all this, or you’re going to get hurt, and as your soul sister, I can’t stand by and let that happen.” Remy barely dragged in a breath before she went on. “You’re going to sleep with him again. And you’re going to love every second you have with him because it’s what you’ve always wanted. At least be honest about that.”
Kinsley lips parted then shut. If given the chance to sl
eep with him again, she would in a heartbeat. If given the chance to be loved by him, she’d take it in the blink of an eye. “I know that I’m walking a dangerous line with him,” she admitted.
Remy sighed heavily, her shoulders lowering. “Good, at least you know that. Just don’t forget that line. You need to stay on top of this, and your heart, or he’s going to make a mess out of it. So, it’s not about being smart: it’s about what you want from him.”
Kinsley felt that wound in her heart reopen. The same wound that got bigger every time Rhett took a woman home from the bar. Every time she had to hear about him going on a date. Every time she had to watch some woman hang off him…despite not even really knowing him. “Okay, so maybe I don’t have this all completely figured out,” she said. “But I’m trying to figure it out. I know it’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” Remy snorted. “Dude, this is so far past complicated. And I’m really worried that when the dust settles, you’re going to be left more heartbroken over him than you already are.”
Kinsley stared into Remy’s unusually fiery eyes. She smiled and wrapped her arms around her friend’s strained frame. “Thank you for loving me so much in the way that you do. I’ll never know what I did to deserve a friend like you.” Everyone needed that one person who told them things straight. That was Remy, always had been.
Remy squeezed back. “You deserve me because you’re as good of a friend back.” She leaned away with honest concern in her expression. “Rhett will step up. He’ll do what he can. But let’s be honest here, it’s Rhett. He’s not going to love you like you need or deserve.”
“I know that.” Hell, did she know that well. Kinsley gave herself a couple seconds to rein in her thoughts, knowing she had to get this right. “I don’t know how to explain any of this to you. It doesn’t even make sense in my head. I know I should keep Rhett at a distance. I shouldn’t let him get so close. But everything inside of me is telling me to do the opposite. That if I do, this is all going to be okay and work out.”
“But what if that’s your heart getting in the way?” Remy asked behind her.
Kinsley continued on, turning down another aisle and grabbing a package of bacon from the fridge. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, who knows. But I’m telling you, when he said he wanted me to stay with him, I wasn’t thinking that this might mean anything between us, I was only thinking that this was the right thing to do.” She walked farther down and reached for a jar of Caesar salad dressing before she faced Remy again. “I know my heart is currently in the danger zone, but I feel like”—she shrugged—“things are going to be okay as long as we’re moving forward. Eventually. Maybe not now. But I think, if anything, I need to follow my gut, and my gut tells me that staying with him is the right thing to do.”
Remy’s eyes lost some heat. “Well, I’ve already told Asher that I want him to punch Rhett if he makes you cry.”
Kinsley laughed. “Did Asher agree?”
“Of course.” Remy smiled, then peeked up through her thick lashes. “You’re really gonna be okay here?”
“I really am. This is a shock for everyone, not just me. This baby is totally changing my life, and it’ll change Rhett’s life too. I can’t think of what my heart wants right now. Or what it wanted. All I’m thinking is that I have to give him space to accept this news like I did. Then we’ll go from there. One step at a time.”
“But not to his bedroom, right,” Remy said firmly, “because that’s a terrible idea.”
“Totally terrible,” Kinsley stated, though she wasn’t sure if she was fooling herself.
A frown tugged on Remy’s mouth. “You don’t sound convincing.”
Kinsley kept quiet and strode forward. She couldn’t make that promise about not going back to Rhett’s bed, because she knew she couldn’t keep it. All she had to do was not expect things he couldn’t give. Easy.
“Kinsley,” Remy called after her. “Might I remind you that sex with Rhett is what got you pregnant?”
“You’re pregnant with Rhett’s child?”
Shit. Remy cringed and gave a look full of apology. Kinsley slowly glanced over her shoulder at the other thing Stoney Creek did well. Gossip. And Mary Jane Abbott, who was all purple curls, warmth, and a mother to everyone in town, was a top-notch gossiper. “I am, and yup, Rhett’s the daddy,” Kinsley said. The news had to get out sooner or later.
“Oh, what fabulous news. I had no idea you were dating,” Mary Jane said, eyes twinkling. She had a full basket of food in her hands. “Is there a wedding in the future?”
“No wedding. We aren’t dating.” Kinsley leaned in and nudged Mary Jane’s arm. “Those bad boys are trouble, aren’t they?”
Mary Jane’s eyes went huge. Big enough that Kinsley laughed.
Remy laughed nervously, glancing between them.
Still smiling, Kinsley moved away, overhearing Remy mutter a goodbye and quickly following behind.
“You do realize what you just did, right?” Remy asked when she caught up to Kinsley.
“I know exactly what I did,” Kinsley replied, reaching for the bag of croutons on the shelf. “You’re right—I can’t do things the way I used to do them. I can’t love all over Rhett and hope he sees me standing there wanting him. I can’t be blind to just how risky this is with him. I can’t keep this all quiet and somehow hope it works out. I’ve got to handle this all differently. I’ve got to step up myself and take control of this. Now everyone will know the truth. Now we can all move forward.” And with that came a plan. One that put her back in control of her life with her chin held high.
Remy blinked. “I don’t even know who you are anymore. Look at you being all sensible and honest with your feelings.”
Yeah, Rhett wasn’t the only one who was emotionally closed off. That was Mom’s going-away present that had stayed with Kinsley ever since she’d left. “I’ve got seven months and some change to get my life stable for this baby, which includes figuring all this out with Rhett. And I get one shot at being a good mom. I’m not going to mess that up on some guy with major commitment issues.”
“Good. There’s my girl. Just had to make sure she was in there,” Remy said, giving her a beaming smile and sliding her arm through Kinsley’s. “Luckily for you, I’ve got some of the best herbs and salves to make sure that happens.”
Kinsley’s stomach churned. It was going to be a long seven months.
* * *
At eleven minutes after seven, Rhett finally pulled into his driveway and the large spotlight on the side of the house turned on as he drove by. Large snowflakes danced in the beams of his headlights. He’d dropped Asher off at home, and Remy caught him at their place and sprayed him a couple more times with whatever flowery-scented shit she thought he needed. He stank even worse than this afternoon. Then he made another quick stop before finally calling it a day. When he pulled into his driveway, he spotted Hank’s silver Ford truck. He parked next to it then got out, unsurprised when Hank exited his house. Hank had been a second father to Rhett growing up. And after his parents moved away, he’d become the only family Rhett had. Rhett knew this talk had been coming since last night.
Heaviness sank into Rhett’s chest when Hank met him halfway, stopping beneath the spotlight. “How did the meeting with King go?” Hank asked, his tone not the commanding chief of police voice he used in the station. This one was warmer, more personal. The one Rhett had heard many times over the years when he, Boone, Asher, and Kinsley got into trouble.
Rhett snorted, crossing his arms and leaning against Hank’s truck. “Did Asher tell you we were going?”
“It didn’t take much to know you’d go there.” Hank’s eyebrow winged up. “And?”
“I doubt King’s involved. I got very little off him, but a mild amusement that we thought it was him.”
“I’d say it’s good it’s not King, but I’d almost rather it was so at least we’d know who we’re dealing with.” Hank rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down to
his worn black boots. “It’s such an odd situation,” he finally said, looking up. “To trash her place, and not rob her. It just doesn’t add up.”
Rhett nodded, feeling the same frustrations burn through his blood. “We’ll start with fresh eyes in the morning. We’ve got calls into Whitby Falls. Hopefully, we’ll also have some evidence by then to go on. There’s a reason she was targeted. I’ll find out what it is and who’s behind it.”
“I’ve got no doubt that’s very much true,” Hank said, then he hesitated, his intense eyes boring deeply into Rhett’s. “Listen, it isn’t my place to stick my nose into your and Kinsley’s business, but for my own peace of mind, do I have anything to worry about here?”
Rhett remained quiet for a long moment. The answer wasn’t so easy, and he wouldn’t make false promises. He respected Hank, as much as he did his own father. “I’ll protect her,” he finally said. “I’ll keep them both safe.” That he knew how to do. “As for the rest…”
Hank chuckled. “I’m sure Kinsley will tell you how she wants the rest to go.” His smile faded and he gave Rhett a long regard. “She’s been through a lot,” he said with heavy regret. “With her mother, as you know.” He paused and then gave him a firm nod. “Protecting her, keeping them both safe, that’s all I can ask from you.” He took a step forward and cupped Rhett’s shoulder. “You do that, Rhett, and we’ll be just fine. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Hank’s expression shifted, filling with his usual warmth before he said, “All right, I’ll get out of your hair. See you in the morning.”
Rhett nodded, then gave Hank a wave before he drove off. He didn’t deserve Hank’s warmth and affection. He deserved having Hank yell and punch him for knocking up his daughter, but that wasn’t Hank’s way.
With a sigh, Rhett turned to his house, feeling about a second away from crawling out of his skin. He forced his feet to take him in that direction, and when he entered through the back door of his house, the aroma of spices slammed into him, bringing memories of when his mother cooked. He could almost hear her yell, “Get those dirty boots off and wash up for dinner.”
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