He turned around at that. “Believe you? How can I? I hear the words, but I don’t see it. You show no emotion at all.” He jerked his head. “But if that works for you as the boss, then fine. I’m just an employee.”
“I can’t help how I react. I was a poker player for eight years. I learned early on I couldn’t hold my emotions inside during games and let them out when I wasn’t playing. I had to keep them in all the time. I had to in order to be successful.”
Wade shook his head. “This isn’t poker. This is life. Your employees are loyal to you for one reason or another, but you give them nothing in return. No smile of appreciation. No laugh at their jokes. No matter what you’re feeling inside, it’s not communicating outside.”
She stared at him. Her people didn’t know how much she appreciated them? Hadn’t she praised Lacey the other day? Yes, she did, but it was while telling her to get back to her job. She searched her memory for her employees’ reactions to her comments. Everyone was hesitant except Adriana. That woman was so full of life, a microburst couldn’t put her down.
Insecurities bubbled up inside her, just like when she was younger. She hated that. “Why are you making me feel like shit?”
His face softened. “There. You’re concerned and it’s showing.” He touched her face, his rough hand gentle against her cheek. “You are a very accomplished, smart woman. You just need to let people see how you feel. Don’t live your life behind a mask. People want to see the real you.”
He stared at her a minute longer then withdrew his hand and left.
She envied his confident stride as he made his way to his golf cart. It was easy for him to show emotion. He was perfect. He hadn’t been hurt. His profession hadn’t rested on keeping an unreadable façade. His work with horses and other cowboys required a quick smile, a friendly joke, and probably a scowl now and again.
Turning away, she headed out to the bar. She had more important business matters to attend to than how she appeared to her employees.
Adriana had all the beer bottles out on the bar and was swearing up a storm.
Now what? “Adriana, what are you doing?”
The woman stopped muttering to herself and scowled. “Come here and look at this.”
She was almost afraid to, but she walked around the bar anyway. Adriana knelt on the rubber runner that ran down the middle of the space and aimed a flashlight at the wall of the bar. “Look.”
Kendra stood next to her and leaned behind the cooler that kept the bottled beer cold. The electrical cord had been cut and it wasn’t from a rodent. The slice was clean. She was lucky the live wires still plugged into the wall hadn’t started a fire. “Don’t touch that cord. Let’s get this moved away from the wall.”
Once they had rolled up the runner, the two of them maneuvered the cooler out from behind the bar.
Wiping her dirty hands on her jeans, Kendra pulled out a barstool and sat. “Are the iced teas cold or is that cord cut too?”
Adriana opened another cooler and pulled out two teas. “Nope, these are still cold. Figures. Billy wasn’t happy. Now I owe him a beer.” She came around the bar and sat on the barstool next to Kendra. She lifted her tea. “Here’s to two steps forward and two steps back.”
Kendra shook her head and refused to clink bottles. “I’m not toasting to that. Can we put the beer into the back cooler until this is fixed?”
Adriana shook her head. “No. I have no idea how long that cord has been cut. I haven’t gone for a beer in two days. It wasn’t until I brought Billy back here to have one that I felt the beers were warm. They’ll all have to be trashed. The poor man looked like he was about to cry. I have more stock in the back, but if you have a lot of people coming next week, I’m going to need to put in a new order.”
Kendra stared at the wasted money sitting on her bar. She needed to find whoever was doing this. It didn’t make sense for it to be any of her employees because they would lose their jobs if the place didn’t open. And all of them needed their jobs.
“Aren’t you mad?”
Kendra looked at Adriana. “Of course I’m mad. I’m pissed.”
“You certainly don’t look it. I’m so angry I could smash every one of those bottles. The only reason I’m holding back is because I’m the one who would have to clean up the mess.”
“No, believe me, I’m beyond angry. I need to spend money on beer, an electrician, and figure out how we are going to service our first guests with cold beer if I can’t get this fixed.”
“Well, it would help to see it.” Adriana took a gulp of the iced tea.
“What? You too?”
“Me too, what?” Adriana pushed her face forward, her stance threatening.
Kendra slammed her hand on the bar and scowled. “You and Wade want me to show more emotion. You all want to know what I’m thinking.” She took a deep breath, her voice rising. “I’m thinking I’m tired of trying to make this resort a go. I’m thinking I should have just bought a little cottage on the beach in Key West and stuffed the rest of my winnings under a mattress.” She threw her arm up. “I’m thinking I’m fucking tired of people sneaking behind my back to sabotage my dream. Is that clear enough?”
Adriana stared at her as if she’d grown two horns, a tail and turned red. Then her bartender burst out laughing, clapping her hands. “Good for you. About time you got angry.”
Still breathing hard from her rant, she could barely utter a word. “Huh?”
“Honey, you are the kindest woman I know, but talking to you is like talking to the red rock of Sedona. You suck my energy with your lack of reaction. It is so much more satisfying to see you like this.”
“Really? You like me yelling?”
“No. But I like you reacting. It’s more reassuring to see you really understand what I’m talking about. At first I used to think you weren’t paying attention, but as I’ve known you for years, I did finally figure out you were. But it’s so much better when you scowl, or smile, or even cry.”
“That’s what Wade said.”
“I’m sure as a new employee, he’s not used to your poker face.” Adriana stared as if she were in a trance.
Kendra grumbled. “It seems my poker face is more of a disadvantage in this profession.”
“Good point.” Adriana eyed her shrewdly. “How do you think your nude guests will feel if you don’t give them a smile of welcome or if you are having dinner with them and not reacting to what they say? They may think you disapprove of their lifestyle.”
“I don’t disapprove of it. It’s not my thing, but I want them to have a nice and safe place to enjoy their vacations.” She wanted them to feel welcomed not ostracized for wanting to be naked like Buddy and Ginger were.
“Then maybe you can practice a smile or two. In the meantime, I think we need a plan for the bar. When do our first guests arrive?”
“Four days.”
Adriana grimaced. “You’re going to pay top dollar to get an electrician here in time.”
“Do it.” Kendra jumped off her seat. “Whatever it takes. We are opening this resort on Saturday.”
“You got it, boss.” Adriana winked.
Kendra nodded then added a smile. It felt strange, but she could work on it, especially if it would help her business.
Leaving Adriana to make her phone calls, Kendra headed for her office.
Lacey greeted her at the front desk. “Some packages came for you. I didn’t have any orders I was expecting, so I put them in your office.”
“Great, thanks.” She started to leave but stopped. “I don’t know how I’d keep everything in order if it wasn’t for you.” Then she smiled.
Lacey’s face lit up and a faint blush stained her cheeks. “It’s my pleasure.”
Feeling strange, Kendra headed to her office, letting the smile drop. This would take some time. In the meantime, she had a saboteur to find.
*
WADE GUIDED ONE of the Arabians into his stall next to the quarter horses he�
��d obtained a few days ago. “Ace, this is Sam and Buca. You’re going to like it here.” Closing the stall door, he strode back toward the front of the barn where he had Sundancer tied. Six horses delivered in eight days. Not bad. He’d take Ace out for a ride later this afternoon and start scouting possible trails.
Picking up the curry comb, he brushed down Sundancer. He’d discovered some interesting information about the last three stable managers while searching the office computer. All three had been in the middle of projects, be it the building of the stable, putting up the fences, or researching horseflesh. Up until the day each quit, there was no indication they were unhappy or had a better job elsewhere. That in itself meant something big had to have happened to have them quit.
He’d talked to Selma and Lacey, but neither had had much interaction with the men except at dinner. Like himself, according to the women, the men were excited about running a new stable. So why leave before it was completed?
His chat with Adriana had been a bit more enlightening because she’d slept with Michael. He did love his new job, but he didn’t give women much credit and she’d kept it to only the one time. He wasn’t her type. But as far as the other two men, they were too old for her tastes.
The only other fact was that all three had quit in the morning, according to Lacey. It was as if they woke up and suddenly decided they couldn’t work at Poker Flat anymore. That was too unusual to be a three-way coincidence. His guess was something had happened the night before to spook them off the job.
Wade put the comb down and pulled off his hat and t-shirt. Putting the hat back on, he grabbed up a bottle of water he’d brought out in a small cooler and chugged the rest down. He was about to pick up the comb again when he heard the crunching of gravel.
Stepping toward the stable entrance, he watched as Billy made his way toward him. The older man was an excellent landscaper, but from what Wade had seen, he did go off on drinking binges and based on his stagger, he’d started last night. “Hey, Billy.”
Billy grinned widely, showing his missing tooth. “Howdy there, Wade. Whatcha doin’?”
He sighed. This was the second time he’d seen this and he hadn’t been at Poker Flat two weeks yet. Did Kendra know? “Come on in out of the sun. I’ll get you a water.”
Billy barely made it into the barn before sitting down hard on a bale of hay. “Don’t mind if I does. No water for me. But if you gots somethin’ stronger?” Billy attempted to wiggle his brows, but they became stuck, crunched up into his forehead.
Wade moved to his small cooler and grabbed a couple waters. “Here. Drink this.”
Billy took a swallow and spit it out. “Yuck. That gots no taste.”
“I don’t care. Drink it.” Wade pushed the bottle toward the older man’s lips.
Billy obeyed but grumbled. “You ain’t so easy like the other ones.”
His interest caught, he picked up the curry comb and returned to brushing. “Did the last stable managers share a drink with you?”
Billy looked off into the distance. “Yeah. Nothin’ wrong with a little after-dinner drink.” He leaned forward, almost toppling over before he realized that position wasn’t such a good idea. He lowered his voice. “Can’t does it at the main bar, you know. Miss Kendra don’t like me drinking.”
So Kendra was aware. Of course. The question was, did she know Billy was binging so often? “Then where did you drink?”
“At the casita. Yours. Anytime you wanna, I be there.” Billy winked three times before pushing his fist against his eye to stop.
“I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m in the mood.”
Billy slapped his hand down on his knee. “I knows you was a good one. Tolds Powell that too.” Billy frowned. “He don’t drink. Neither do Selma or Lacey. It fine for them ladies, but a man oughta drink now and again. You builds up a tolera—head for it that way. No one can pull one over on ya. Now Crandall could drink with the best of ’em, but Jorge were a lightweight. I think that why he has that big fight the night before he leave.”
Wade stopped combing and studied Billy as the man grimaced at the bottle of water still in his hand. There’d been a fight? He put down the comb and joined Billy, sitting on an adjacent hay bale. “Who did he fight?”
Billy shrugged. “Dunno. But he has a big shiner the next mornin’. Probably could has held his own if he could has held his liquor. He were scrawny but fast. Saw him knocks a board away that falls toward him when they was finishing the roof. Yup, he were fast when he sober.”
Wade took the water from Billy. “I want you to think back. Did Crandall or Michael leave with any bruises?”
“Nope.” Billy stilled for a moment then shook his head. “Nope, no bruises, but they was mad.”
“At what?”
“Dunno. Crandall don’t says nothin’ when I drives him over to the garage. Michael don’t even waits for a ride. He grab a cart and races down the path.” Billy laughed. “Not that them things can go very fast or nothin’.”
Wade sat back, his protective instincts kicking into high gear. Someone wanted Kendra to fail. None of the managers had planned on leaving, that much was clear. Someone made a point of getting rid of them. He’d bet his savings the same person was responsible for all the problems on the resort and for Game and Fish showing up.
A snore jarred Wade from his analysis. Billy had fallen forward and was spread out on the stable floor sound asleep. Part of Wade wanted to shake the man straight, but the other felt sorry for him. Who would hire an old drunk? The question made part of the puzzle pieces fall into place. Kendra hired odd characters. In a way, even she was a bit different. Not the usual entrepreneur. The only person who worked at Poker Flat who wasn’t odd was Lacey and possibly himself, but he’d been hired by Dale.
It was probably time to share what he’d discovered so far with his friend. Maybe he and Dale could come up with a few working theories he could investigate further. It wouldn’t be long before a slew of naked people would be roaming around the property. That in itself could be cause for someone to keep Poker Flat from opening. He wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect himself, but Kendra had her heart set on it and she was the boss.
Billy coughed in his sleep. Inhaling hay probably wasn’t the best thing for the old man’s health. “Come on, let’s find you a better place to sleep it off.” He pulled the small man up which was far too easy. Hefting him over his shoulder, Wade brought Billy to his air-conditioned office and laid him on the couch. “Have a good nap, my friend.”
Washing his hands from combing Sundancer, he grabbed a half dozen of Selma’s churros and headed back to the barn. As he closed the door to his office, another golf cart pulled up. Chewing the sweet cinnamon treat, he made his way to the parking area, his interest piqued by the feminine figure in the long skirt climbing out of the cart.
As he drew closer, he smiled. Damn if the woman didn’t fit the image of an owner of a western ranch. All she needed now was a horse. He quickened his step, anxious to see why she’d come by after avoiding the stables for two days.
She strode toward him, her poker face firmly in place, but with her hair tucked up under the brim of her brown cowboy hat, she looked too beautiful for him to care. Her shirt was a no-nonsense cotton button down that disappeared into the deep-blue jean skirt that flared at the bottom, showing off the brown Justin boots he’d chosen for her.
When they were almost toe-to-toe, she raised her head and smiled. “Do you like the clothes you picked out?”
Wade’s stomach tightened as the warmth of her smile sent heat racing down his spine. That she’d made an effort to express her welcome had his heart paying attention. The depths to this woman were more interesting than he’d imagined.
Her smile faltered at his silence and he quickly tipped his hat. “Ms. Lowe, may I just say that you look downright ravishing today.”
The blush that colored her cheeks pleased him, and he bowed slightly, offering his arm. “Perhaps you would care to step into
the shade.”
She nodded, even as her smile disappeared. It didn’t matter. She was trying and he appreciated her more for that.
“What do you have in your hand?” She craned her neck to see.
He showed her as they walked. “Selma’s churros. She gave me a batch to keep in the office for when I needed an energy boost.”
Kendra stared at them, shaking her head. “You have definitely sweet talked that woman. She hasn’t done that for anyone since she arrived here.”
As they entered the barn, he led her to the hay bale Billy had so recently vacated. He was glad he’d moved the old man. No need for Kendra to see him passed out.
Once she sat, he joined her, sitting close. “Would you like one?”
“Yes. I haven’t tried them yet.” She held up her hand as he was about to interrupt. “I know, I know. I just don’t get to the dining room that often. I’ve been busy.”
He gave her a stern look. “You work too hard.”
She shrugged. “I have to. This place will succeed or fail based on my decisions, my work, and my money. It all rests on my shoulders.”
“Here.” He handed her a couple churros. “With all that, you need to eat a lot more.”
She glanced at him from beneath her brim and he grinned, letting her know he was teasing…somewhat.
“Oh, these are really good.” She licked the cinnamon off her fingers. “Any chance I could have another?”
“Of course.” He’d give her all the ones in his office just to watch her pink tongue on her finger again. “Here.” He held the last five out.
“No, no. I just need one.”
She picked one and chewed. When she brought her finger up to lick, he caught her hand. “Here, let me do that.”
KENDRA SUCKED IN her breath as Wade’s mouth enveloped her finger. Her flesh tingled at the sight of his tongue licking all the way down to her palm.
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