Deep in the Heart: An Austin After Dark Book

by Alexa Padgett

  I bee-lined to my desk and pulled out my purse, guilt eating at me. My poor grandfather didn’t need to babysit me. Part of the reason I agreed to work with him was so I could look out for and after him. I had to do better. He deserved better.

  “Do you want to? Or are you just being sweet? I’m thinking you want to get home to catch the last of the Rangers game and kick back in your lounger.”

  Pop-pop smiled as I slid past him, keys in hand to lock up the back door.

  “I took care of the front already. I’d be fine with a beer and the game.”

  I leaned in and kissed his cheek. He smelled of wood and his aftershave. Something no other man in my life could harness. After a brief hesitation, I hugged him because I needed to. He patted my back, holding me for a moment longer.

  “Then get on home and enjoy that beer. Put those feet up and yell at your TV.”

  “After I drop you home.”

  I glanced out into the dark night, the knots of Friday night revelers spilling out onto Sixth Street. My hands began to shake at the thought of being surrounded by those large, fleshy bodies. Like I was that day when I fell in front of reporters. Or that night when Ben… I swallowed hard and turned toward Pop-pop’s Prius.

  “Thanks.”

  Cam called me about nine o’clock that night.

  “What time are you up and about tomorrow?”

  I chewed my lip. “Well, I’m usually up around six-thirty, but I’d like to get in my work-out before we do whatever it is you won’t tell me we’re going to do.”

  “Cagey way to ask, and I’m still not telling. How about this? Be ready at ten. That work?”

  “I guess.”

  “Relax,” he said, his voice soothing. “You’ll have fun. Low-key. No crowds.”

  “My mind spins in about fifty different directions, trying to come up with scenarios.” I huffed out a breath. “I don’t do surprises well, Cam. Two of them nearly got me killed. And I’m opposed to blood and physical pain. I squeal like a girl—my brothers say so.”

  He hummed into the phone, and I assumed he was mulling something over. “Fair enough. I don’t want you stressed and worrying all night, sugar. How about this? We’re coming out to my property. There’s the river you put in the etching. Lots of fields. A few cows.”

  “Killer cows?”

  He chuckled like he found the question funny. Um, this was Texas, the land of longhorns—cows with long horns. Not taking chances.

  “Not our girls. And this whole property is surrounded by a big fence. I promise there’ll be no media to take your picture or ask you questions like’s been happening since you and I first hit the papers. Just a day to relax.”

  My grip on my phone eased, as did my shoulders. “Okay. That sounds…honestly, that sounds muy bueno. Like a taquito.”

  He hummed in his throat again. Probably because my mouth ran away before my brain could catch up. “You know what’s better than a taquito? The thought of you in a swimsuit. Please tell me you own a bikini.”

  The laugh caught me by surprise, but I enjoyed the release of the last of the tension in my shoulders. “I do. It’s retro.”

  “Hell if I care what style so long as I get to see lots of your pretty skin.”

  “Our agreement, Cam.”

  “I plan to look. Maybe touch. Just a bit.”

  His voice dropped on the last word and my chest went fluttery, my belly filling with a delicious heat. Whoa, Nelly and the cart behind the horse. This man was potent—even through a device.

  “You know, if you’d told me about this before, I could have bought a sexier bikini.”

  “Don’t want you any different than you are, sugar,” Cam said, his response fast enough I believed his sincerity. The warmth in my belly spread upward, toward my pounding heart. “Just want you comfortable and relaxed. And wet. With me.”

  With these words, heat in my belly slid down into my thighs. “I’m going to get off the phone now.”

  “Don’t do that.” I could almost see his pouting lips. “This was just getting fun.”

  I smiled, even as desire pulsed through me. “Nope. I said no sex, and I meant it. Not even phone sex. Especially not phone sex.”

  The distinct sound of plastic being unwrapped filled the speaker. “Don’t want an imitation of the real deal. Cuz, I have to tell you, I’ve been imagining how good it’ll be with you. Sliding into your tight, hot—”

  Baby Jesus in a peach tree, the man was potent. Like moonshine on a hot summer night. “Good night, Cam. See you tomorrow at ten.”

  “Sweet dreams, sugar.”

  I clicked off my phone and flopped back on my bed, a groan building in my chest.

  He did that on purpose—made me all wanton and needy. I smiled, and within a second, I laughed. The chuckles continued until I finally sat up and padded to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.

  I plugged in my earbuds and flipped to my music library. I pulled up Cam’s music and hit play, closing my eyes and sliding into sleep with Cam’s voice crooning in my ear.

  Almost as good as the real thing.

  Almost.

  12

  Cam

  First rule of engagement: expect the situation to go FUBAR at any moment. I pocketed my keys and pulled my ball cap low over my brow, trying to slink past a couple of journalists milling out front of Jenna’s building. Getting us out of here without being seen might prove more difficult than I’d hoped.

  Once in the lobby, I dialed up my head of security. “Got us a situation,” I said without preamble, letting Chuck know what’s what, and how I wanted to handle the reporters.

  “I have Brian in sedan two, and I’ll take care of your problem out front. Have fun today.”

  “You just want me in a better mood.”

  “Sure as shit,” Chuck grunted. A fine man from middle-of-nowhere Texas making the best out of his sad lot. Getting him on my payroll helped us both out. Me, more, though, I was sure of it.

  Chuck was smart, ambitious, and too savvy not to do well. Right now, he made a pile of cash as my head of security, but I told him he didn’t have to stick around.

  So far, four years into our new setup, he stuck as close as he had back in the sandbox. His eventual departure would devastate me. That’s what came from hiring a brother-in-arms. Brian, good man though he was, he and I never fought together. Not the same level of loyalty.

  “I haven’t been that bad,” I scoffed.

  “Only time I saw you worse was right after Joey died.”

  I closed my eyes, as pain lashed up my throat. Joey should be here now. “Thanks for the reminder of my fuckup.”

  “Come on, chief. That wasn’t on you. You had your orders and the intel was supposed to be spot-on.”

  We shared a sardonic laugh. After our first trip out across the wire, we’d all learned to be skeptical of any intel. Lots of good men died because of it.

  “That’s not where I was going with my point.”

  “You got one?” I grumbled.

  “Yep. Two, actually. Your dad dying took you down.”

  He didn’t know the half of it. Mostly because emotions weren’t really part of our relationship. Poker, beer, angry, sullen and even contemplative silences epitomized the ten-plus years we’d hung out together. Chuck was one of my best friends but he only saw me lose it once—on the bus when I went ballistic and destroyed everything in reach.

  “Even Kim’s death didn’t take out your knees like losing your dad. Think that says who you had unfinished business with. And, two, I like the guitar gal.”

  More words than Chuck normally strung together in a day. Obviously, he’d wanted to say something for a while.

  “Her name’s Jenna.”

  “I totally see the attraction.”

  “You better not act on it,” I growled. At one of my best friends. A man I knew placed loyalty above all else—we’d lived through too much not to trust each other. This is what came, in part, from losing faith in my twi
n.

  I should call him. Better than getting on a plane to punch him for his…I’d call it a relationship, but he hadn’t stuck around long enough after Kim disappeared to show any kind of caring. Which meant the brother with whom I’d shared my every secret, the young man I’d loved more than anyone, was as dead to me as my wife and my father. That’s what really set me off: knowing I’d never get the full story as to why my brother betrayed me on such a visceral level.

  “I hear ya, chief. I never would. But I will make sure both you and she are safe and not bothered.”

  Chuck’s voice brought me back to the present. I stared at the attractive red brick wall near the bank of elevators. I was here in Jenna’s building, planning a day with the lady who sparked my imagination and desire but also calmed these raging thoughts. I’d deal with my brother later…or not at all.

  I knocked on Jenna’s door, trying to shut down the nerves fluttering in my belly.

  She opened it, and I took a long moment to drink her in. Her straight blond hair was pulled up and off her face in a high, thick ponytail that cascaded over her left shoulder. A shoulder covered in a thin strap.

  Her dress. I swallowed. The bold color, a pinkish-purple, offset the tiny rows of ruffles at her chest and hem. The soft material swished over her breasts and danced across her flat stomach before flaring at her hips. Never in my life had a dress seduced me with such ease.

  “Hey, sugar,” I said once my gaze finally flashed back up to her amused one. “That’s a nice getup.”

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment.” She held open the door and I stepped inside, snagging my arm around her waist and dipping her back. I pressed a heated kiss to her jawline. And with that touch, with the feel of her in my arms, my mind slowed. I sighed against her warm skin, my muscles easing.

  Much as this sensation should scare me, the calm it brought was addicting.

  “You okay?” she asked, worry in her voice. Her hands, though, clutched at my shoulder. Nails digging into my flesh through the soft T-shirt I wore, just for her.

  “I am now. Like my shirt?” I stood her up and stepped back, puffing out my chest with pride.

  A guitar outlined in white with wings fluttered across my stomach. Music floated from the top edge and the notes spelled out Cam and Jenna.

  “Etsy?” she asked, her fingertips lightly tracing our names, making me shiver.

  “Didn’t think of that one. Got it from one of those make-your-own-shirt sites. My sister loves funky tees. I’ve learned a few things.”

  Jenna’s eyes smiled up into mine. “It’s cute.”

  “Not quite the reaction I’d hoped for.”

  Jenna laughed, delighted, no doubt, by my petulance. She leaned into my chest and pressed her soft lips to mine.

  “I like the shirt. Very much.”

  I pulled back even as my hand came up to palm her neck. “Better.”

  Her lips curved into the start of a smile as I sealed my lips over hers. This kiss proved hotter than our last. My heart and my mind sped up, but the images getting my blood pumping were sexy in nature—something to jump behind and ask for another helping of. My body thought so, too. I moaned as I retreated.

  “Didn’t know your nickname would be so perfect for you.”

  Her lashes fluttered as her eyes opened. “Are you saying I’m sweet?”

  “Just right here.” I took her lips again in another long, slow kiss. Temptation and weak men and all that business. But I managed to curb my growing hunger and set her back. “Grab what you need. We’ll be gone most of the day.”

  She walked to her kitchen bar and slid sunglasses onto the top of her head while she grabbed a beige leather tote. I noted the saddle stitching with respect. Jenna had an eye, not just for the pretty but the well-constructed.

  “Do I need a towel?” she asked.

  “Gotcha covered. Same goes with sunscreen.”

  Jenna headed toward the door, snagging my hand on the way. A smile tugged my lips at her cute move. For whatever reason, I loved this woman’s spurts of sassy.

  My phone dinged and I tugged it from my shorts pocket. I nodded, pleased to see Chuck handled the situation below, meaning Jenna need never know about the paparazzi in her lobby.

  “Oh! Wait!” She scurried back into her apartment and grabbed a cute little beige cap. She plopped her sunglasses on her nose and tugged the hat onto her head, adjusting her ponytail. Most of her face fell into shadow or behind those large sunglasses. Just her ruby-red lips and rounded chin were visible.

  “Think it’s enough to get us past the photographers downstairs?” she asked.

  I pulled out a caramel while she locked the door. “How’d you know about them?”

  “I live in a building with security. It’s the lobby guard’s duty to let me know when anything out of the ordinary pops up.”

  I bent down, careful of her little cap brim to brush my lips over hers again. “You’re full of spunk, sugar. But this time, I handled the out-of-the-ordinary.”

  I slid my palm back against hers, a little shiver of awareness building across my shoulders. She squeezed my hand and trotted behind me onto the elevator and then out to my truck. Not a single lens or photo click. I needed to give Chuck a raise.

  After bucking the thousands of other drivers’ desire to get to their destination, I sighed in relief as we pulled onto the long gravel drive. Jenna lifted her head, brows drawing close as she eyed the passing oaks and pines with confusion.

  “I didn’t realize you lived in the Hill Country.”

  “The edge of it, sure. This is my family’s ranch. Been in our family for almost two hundred years.” I glanced around, my heart aching as I saw what my money bought—that my father’s years of sweat and toil couldn’t. He’d been proud of the changes, but also frustrated my choices led to me being able to do what he couldn’t. That man’s pride had been larger than this spread, and it was no wonder we butted heads so often—even before I made the mistake of bringing Kim into our lives.

  “It’s beautiful,” Jenna sighed.

  I agreed. It was, now. But five years ago, after I de-commissioned, the place was ramshackle with broken fences and rotten roofs on the bunkhouse. The main house looked like something out of Amityville Horror and the cattle roamed free-range—not by choice but lack of quality cowhands. Without Carter here to help run the cattle and maintain the perimeter, the place fell further into disrepair.

  After my father’s death a month ago, I’d taken over the operation. Well, my business manager had. While I’d made slow progress over the past few years on the fencing and barns on my few free days, now, every outbuilding, well, tank, and home on the property was on schedule to be modernized. The equipment shone in the late afternoon sun as we rounded one of the barns and headed deeper back onto the eight-thousand acres.

  “You don’t live in the main house?” Jenna asked.

  I shook my head. “That’s my parents’ place. My mother’s still there. With Katie Rose. My sister. She moved back home this year after a bad experience up north after she graduated from UT.” I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, trying to gauge her reaction. “You’ll meet them soon, I’d bet. If they aren’t waiting at my place, I’ll be shocked.”

  Surprise widened Jenna’s eyes. “Meet your family? Now?”

  I took her hand in mine. “Not to worry, sugar. They’ve been asking about you, and they’re real excited.”

  “I don’t…”

  “If my brother were around, I’d worry he’d try to steal you, just for the hell of it.”

  “I’m not a pair of jeans,” Jenna grumbled. “I can make up my own mind.”

  I brought her knuckle to my lips, unwilling to tell her how much I’d needed even that faint reassurance. Not that I planned to tell Jenna about my brother’s actions. But…still…the idea of them together angered me. More, it ripped at my chest. Something I refused to examine.

  “Feisty and independent suit you.”

  She t
urned to look at me as I parked in front of my two-story bungalow. Built out of native stone, the soft yellow felt homey. The deep wrap-around porch was painted a clean white. The windows were also a cheery white, bookended by glossy green shutters. I smiled in satisfaction, as I did each time I saw my home.

  The front door opened and Katie Rose’s wild auburn ringlets bounced around her head as she trotted forward, nearly tumbling down the steps in eagerness to get to Jenna.

  I glared at my sister, giving her my best be-nice-or-else scowl.

  “I’m Kate. Cam’s sister. Please do not call me Katie Rose. He’s the only one who does, mainly because he knows I hate it.”

  Jenna’s eyes widened during the speech, but she took Katie Rose’s hand and smiled wide. “He calls me sugar. I think he’s trying to keep us both young and me sweet.”

  Katie Rose laughed, throwing her arms over Jenna’s shoulder and pulling her through the front door. “You’re probably right. Sounds like a Cam type of manipulation.”

  Jenna’s voice still carried out the door as she said, “What else does he try to manipulate? I need lessons.”

  13

  Jenna

  “I’m so glad to meet you,” Kate, not Katie Rose, said as she led me deeper into the house. “Cam’s talked my ear off about you. He’s usually so confident with the ladies, but you’ve got him tied up in knots. He’s been worried about that guy who threw stuff at your store. Real worried.”

  At her words, my stomach wrapped and warped itself. “Really?”

  “Oh, yeah. He’s been planning all kinds of stuff with his people to make sure you’re okay. I haven’t seen him this preoccupied in a long time.”

  Something in her tone brought up my conversation with Cam when he brought me dinner. A wave of cool air slid over my skin just then, and I shivered.

  “I don’t plan to hurt him.”

  She turned around to stand right in front of me. “Good to hear, cuz he’s been hurt before. Real bad.”