“Now you know you can do it, buddy, let’s not let it happen again.”
Back at the barn a couple hours later, he was relieved to see the truck parked back in its regular spot. As he put Lucky back into his stall, Kendra walked into the barn. One look at her dark, cascading tresses, her damn loose T-shirt, hip-hugging jeans and sensible boots, and the urge to pull her into his arms nearly overrode any remaining common sense in his brain.
The best offense is a good defense.
“Where the hell have you been?”
Chapter Ten
Kendra missed a step, confusion washing over her at Colton’s harsh tone. “You’re the one who just got back.”
“Where were you earlier?”
His irate demand ignited her temper like a match struck to flint. “None of your business.”
She’d come out to ask him for her next lesson with the horses, seeing as how they’d parted so amicably that morning. She’d even revised her opinion of him during her drive and short hike, deciding that maybe he was as nice as Joel and Britt proclaimed—after all, he had apologized for the faucet trick, and last night.
Then he’d kissed her. She’d started thinking maybe he liked her despite his stated preference for blondes. Maybe kissing him wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Apparently, maybe pigs could fly.
Kendra exited the barn without another word, but Colton followed. “I’d like an answer,” he insisted as they approached the house.
“I’d like to be above suspicion. Doesn’t seem like either one of us is going to get what we’d like, does it?”
She punctuated her sarcasm with the abrupt release of the screen door. In the kitchen, she faced him with her arms crossed over her chest and met his glare. He braced his hands on the breakfast counter that stood between them.
Time stretched. Tension crackled. A subtle shift in the vibrations, and suddenly she forgot what they were arguing about. The air hummed with excitement, dancing along her nerve endings until her entire body felt alive. Deliciously, achingly, frighteningly hot with anticipation.
He felt it, too; it was there in his eyes. She swallowed to get rid of the lump in her throat, but the pounding of her heart pushed it right back up there again. She wasn’t ready for this. This attraction was too powerful for her to handle right now. She needed—
“Ken? We’re back!”
Colton’s expression flitted from disappointment, to acceptance, to annoyance. Kendra thanked God for the interruption. She stepped around the counter to go greet Noah. In response to the argument they’d been having, she told Colton in a firm undertone, “It’s none of your business.”
She avoided him the rest of the day, went to bed early to ensure she got some sleep, then was up before dawn from the nightmare. After dressing, she read her book in her room until six-thirty before making her way to the kitchen. The coffee was brewed, with a neatly written note resting on the counter, listing her assigned chores for the day.
Colton spent the entire morning in the training ring with Britt and was still there when Kendra took her lunch break. After a quick glance out the kitchen window, she opened up the phone book.
Michael Kabara’s ad had caught her eye a couple days earlier, and now she stared at it for a moment. With a deep breath, she dialed the number listed in bold, black ink and asked for the lawyer. She was surprised when the secretary advised he was available and transferred her without delay. Her previous experience with lawyers was not very extensive but it had always involved leaving a message and sometimes waiting days for a return call from an assistant. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they’d been Robert’s lawyers? She didn’t trust anyone connected to him anymore.
“This is Michael Kabara, how may I help you?” He had a deep, rich voice that resonated across the phone line.
“Mr. Kabara, my name is Kendra Zelner. I need your help.”
****
Colton tugged his second glove off as he approached the house for lunch, but Kendra’s soft voice carrying through the open window made him pause.
“—can’t get away during the day, it’ll have to be later.”
He tilted his head to hear better.
“Yes, Wednesday should be fine.” A brief pause, then, “No—don’t do that!”
Her strident voice startled him.
“No. He can’t know.”
She was back in control, and Colton shifted as a fissure of alarm raised the hair on the back of his neck.
“Besides, I’m not sure I want to hire you yet.”
Colton leaned against the side of the house as the conversation continued.
“Money isn’t the issue, or, at least it won’t be when this is all done. If I hire you, you won’t have to worry about getting paid…Sorry, but everyone I’ve ever dealt with in your profession is concerned about the money first and the job second…Okay, then. Wednesday evening, Beniton’s, at seven.”
Colton waited a long few moments before stomping inside, not wanting her to have any suspicion that he’d heard a word. He heard the phone slam down and she moved toward the table with a sandwich and glass of milk as he walked into the kitchen. She ate in silence and finished just as he sat down with his plate. After she left, he watched through the window until she disappeared into the barn. Star sixty-nine on the phone put him through to Beniton’s Pub, and he hung up with a frown.
Who are you meeting Wednesday, Kendra? Who are you hiring, to do what, and with what money?
****
Colton wracked his brain over the next two days, trying to come up with a plausible way to be at the popular bar the same time as her meeting. Wednesday morning, she approached the riding arena fence, and he reined in the chestnut gelding he rode.
“Any chance I could trade a few hours off this afternoon and stay later tomorrow?”
A sudden idea came to mind, and Colton faked a grimace. “I have plans tonight myself—I was going to ask at lunch if you could stay late in exchange for few hours off tomorrow.”
Her expression hardened, but she recovered quickly. “Fine, I’ll switch my plans.”
To needle her and check her reply, he quipped, “Hot date?”
“What else?”
Her response was quicker than he expected. He grinned at her bold faced lie and gave one of his own. “Me, too.”
“Let me guess, she’s blonde?”
“Of course.”
She gave a snort of disgust and rolled her eyes.
“I could ask Joel to cover for me so you don’t have to cancel,” Colton offered. She hesitated, but then shook her head. Colton groaned silently. He needed her to agree so he could ‘accidentally’ bump into her at the bar. “Why not? I’m pretty sure Joel won’t mind, and you’ve been working hard, you deserve a night out.”
She cast him a suspicious glance, but must have really wanted to make this meeting, because after another moment, she asked, “You sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not. All work and no play makes Kendra a dull girl.” Impossible, but it was the first stupid thing to pop into his mind.
“You’re absolutely right.” Her expression brightened and she flashed him a smile. “I do need a night out to loosen up—maybe even get a little wild.”
He frowned at her back until he remembered she was a first class liar, and he’d set himself up perfectly. Tonight he’d see what she was up to.
****
Colton parked his rusty, conspicuous car out of sight, then walked the block to Beniton’s. It was quarter after six, and he scanned the parking lot carefully for the ranch truck to make sure Kendra hadn’t arrived.
Inside, he located his identical twin friends and motioned Justin Blake to slide over so he could join them in the booth on the side facing the door. The twins were younger by a few years, but they’d all been friends since meeting at a rock-climbing excursion almost ten years ago.
“What’s up with the geriatric time?” Justin asked while Colton poured himself a
beer from the half-full pitcher on the table.
“Yeah,” his brother Jordan added. “Grandpa left five minutes ago.”
Colton shot Jordan a look across the booth as he took a deep swallow. “Shut up. I just figured we could get a bite to eat before things liven up. Maybe actually talk some before Justin leaves for Toronto next month.”
They kept up with a little more good-natured ribbing before letting the subject drop. By the time seven rolled around, they’d started a third pitcher, and Colton wondered how wise it was to use them as his excuse for being there. Especially when Kendra walked in.
His hand froze mid-air and his heart slammed into his ribs. Wow. If he thought her pajamas were hard to take, this thing she wore now put the sex in sexy. A spaghetti-strapped, shimmering black dress, cut low enough to be suggestive but not so low as to be trashy. The skirt flared seductively over her slim hips and ended about mid-thigh. Bare legs and high-heel black sandals completed the outfit.
She approached the bar and Colton noticed a set of diamonds—or so he guessed—at her ears. One also winked in the bar light on a thin gold chain around her neck, nestled in the vee of her cleavage.
Tearing his eyes from the neckline of the dress, he realized the only reason he’d noticed her earrings was because of the way she’d swept up her hair to expose the slender column of her neck. Her make-up was minimal, as usual, except tonight she wore red lipstick. Not cherry red, but a deep beckoning color, glistening on her lips, begging—
Beside him, Justin gave a low, appreciative whistle. “Take a look at that.”
Jordan spun in the booth. “Oh, yeah. Good thing you like blondes Colton, this one’s mine.”
“I saw her first,” Justin protested.
Kendra said something to the bartender, and he nodded toward someone sitting on a stool halfway down the bar. The man was probably in his late thirties, maybe even forty, and he was dressed in a suit—a really expensive-looking suit. Colton glanced down at his jeans and casual shirt before growling, “Quit it you idiots. She’s taken.”
He took a drink, and silently reiterated his objective for spying on her in the first place.
Kendra took a deep breath as she set her purse on the weathered bar. The man the bartender pointed out glanced over with a polite smile, then did a double take and a slow turn. Though his appreciation did wonders for her ego, she was suddenly uncomfortable and wished she could’ve worn something more appropriate.
Your lie, her conscience reminded. Unfortunately, she’d run into Colton, Mr. Sexy Casual, at the house just before getting dressed for her ‘hot date’. So instead of the jeans and sweater she’d planned to wear, she chose the only dress she had to substantiate her lie in case he saw her leave.
“Hi.” Michael Kabara’s deep, rich voice matched the one on the phone.
“Mr. Kabara, I’m Kendra Zelner.” She offered her hand for a polite handshake; he raised it to his lips instead.
“The pleasure is all mine. Please, call me Michael.”
Her cheeks heated at his flirtatious tone, but she quickly pulled her hand away and sat down while he signaled the bartender. When she ordered a light beer from one of the local brews, his eyebrows rose.
“An acquired taste from college,” she explained.
“Not so long ago?”
She smiled. “True. And you don’t have to be so polite about asking my age. I’m twenty-four.” After thanking the bartender for her drink, she caught an openly interested expression on Michael’s face. “And you?”
He grinned. “Thirty-nine.”
How utterly frustrating that the attractive man in front of her stirred nothing more than the hope that he could help her, and it had nothing to do with his age. “Just a few years older than my brother, Joel.” She took a sip of her beer and added, “You even kind of look like him.”
Michael chuckled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. And on that note, let’s get down to business, shall we?”
Relieved he’d good-naturedly taken her hint, she followed him toward a booth.
She absently glanced at the other patrons, only to receive a jolt clear down to her toes when she caught sight of Colton. Their gazes clashed and she nearly tripped in her sandals. Panic engulfed her.
What’s he doing here? He was supposed to be on a date. The two, blond-haired look-a-likes sitting with him didn’t look like his kind of dates.
Then it dawned on her…the sonofabitch followed me.
When it became clear Michael intended the empty booth next to theirs, she grabbed his arm and gestured to a booth being vacated by an elderly couple. “There would be better.”
Taking the side facing Colton to keep an eye on him, she sat back as a passing waitress hurried to clear and wipe their table. All the while she stared at the menu, and while giving her order, she fought to settle her nerves. Michael gave his order, then took a legal pad from a briefcase Kendra hadn’t even noticed.
Michael focused much better than her, taking notes as she explained what she needed him to do and answered any questions he had. Kendra was thankful the booth hid the paper from Colton’s view.
She took one last bite of her half-eaten, tasteless meal, and pushed it aside. “You’re sure this new Will supersedes the current one in place?”
Michael nodded. “The document with the most recent date will take precedence.”
“And you really think you can get a full copy of my father’s Will without anyone knowing who’s requesting it or where it’s coming from?” This was the most important question.
His pen made a plopping noise as it hit the notepad. “I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but I have some friends who know their way around things like this. I’ll use contacts in other states to cover my tracks and make sure we get what we need while the trail remains untraceable.” He paused to lift an inquiring eyebrow. “Is it safe to assume I’m hired?”
Kendra gave him a smile. “From the moment the brother comment didn’t offend you.”
He chuckled as he put his notes in the briefcase. “My ego was bruised, but I didn’t become a good lawyer by missing the little things.” He crossed his arms on the table, his expression serious now. “Speaking of which, do you want to tell me what’s really going on?”
She met his kind, inviting eyes. Lawyer/client privilege insured confidentiality. She wanted to trust him, but couldn’t. It wasn’t safe. Dropping her gaze to the table top, she said, “No.”
He didn’t press her, and she was relieved when he excused himself for a moment. Until Colton slid into the booth across from her.
“He’s a little old, don’t you think?” Despite the joking tone, he clearly questioned her lie.
She gave him a sweet smile and cast a pointed glance over his shoulder. “Yours are a little male, don’t you think?”
He made a face.
“Although, you did say you prefer blonds,” she added. “And twins, no less.”
“Ha ha, that’s real funny.” He shifted in his seat and her smile widened at his obvious discomfort. His gaze narrowed. “I met up with the guys after I got stood up.”
What a line of bullshit. “Aw, I’m sorry.” Her tone said otherwise.
She noticed Michael returning from the men’s room and stood up. So did Colton, casting a glance toward where Michael had paused to speak to someone at the bar. She started to walk away, but Colton lifted a hand to halt her. Her breath caught as he hooked a finger under the chain of her necklace, traced her skin, down to the pendant just above the neckline of her dress.
“Will you be home tonight?”
His husky voice sent a thrill of excitement through her. His knuckles brushed the swell of her breast, the brief touch branding her with heat. Her gaze locked on his at the same moment a shiver shook her shoulders. A knowing smirk lifted the corners of his mouth.
That’s all it took to break the sensual spell.
She brushed his hand away and stepped back. “Don’t wait up.”
****
Colton lay wide awake in bed when Kendra returned about eleven-thirty. Unwarranted relief welled up until he remembered that not spending the night didn’t necessarily mean one didn’t do the things one usually spent the night to do.
His blood heated. It was going to be a long night.
He rolled over with a frustrated groan, only to have to catch himself from falling off the bed.
Without success.
Anger joined frustration. He’d never been extraordinarily graceful, but since meeting Kendra he’d experienced more than his fair share of mishaps and unpleasant situations. Case in point, he’d certainly never fallen out of bed before.
“You’ve never slept in a midget bed before, either,” he grumbled, picking himself off the floor.
He made his way into the kitchen for a drink of water. Glass raised, he heard a noise behind him and turned as the lights flicked on.
“Oh.” Kendra slid to a halt in those pajamas of hers. “I didn’t know you were up.”
Colton lowered his glass. “How’s Dad?”
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say a word as she set about preparing a cup of tea. He took another drink, watching her from under his furrowed brow. She certainly didn’t look like a woman who’d been made love to only a short time ago. She did, however, look like a woman who could be made love to. By him. He’d make sure she looked satisfied after.
He deposited his glass on the counter with a loud thud. From the corner of his eye, he saw her flinch as water sloshed over the rim, onto his hand and all over the counter. He shoved away from the sink with a silent, harsh reminder of the conversation he’d overheard Monday. She was up to something, and he needed to figure it out.
His chance came sooner than expected the very next day. Passing the back door of the guesthouse, he heard the phone ringing and dashed inside to answer. When the caller asked for Ms. Zelner, Colton informed her that Kendra was not available but he’d be glad to take a message. The lady politely declined and hung up.
He waited a few excruciating minutes, then star sixty-nined the call.
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