by Snow, Nicole
I close the door and stand beside it as the two of them sit down.
Roger offered his condolences downstairs, but he repeats them before he assures her that there are no immediate concerns with the company. Nor will there be any future problems on his watch.
He tells her Jonah created a slick, marvelously well-oiled machine that’s more than capable of handling not only the day-to-day operations, but executive decisions too. He goes on to discuss board meetings, how she’ll be invited to attend, and how she’ll be presented with full reports afterward.
“So, what did my father have to say this morning?” Bella cuts in with a question of her own.
This is the part where you’d hear a record scratch to a halt if this were a movie. My jaw snaps tight, ready and waiting for trouble.
“Ah yes, Mr. Gary Reed...his concerns were exactly what you’d expect,” Roger answers. “I was prepared and reiterated exactly what you heard yesterday at Mr. Sheridan’s office. I have my copy of the will on hand and plan to execute it right down to the dot.”
Good answer.
“How many board meetings has Dad attended?” she asks a few minutes later, flipping through the binder.
Roger once again glances my way. “None that I’m aware of, and I’ve been here for over twenty years. However, he has been provided monthly and yearly summaries. I trust he may have looked a few of them over.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Bella grimaces. “And what sort of access does he have to company information?”
Roger frowns. “Such as?”
“Keys. Accounts. Electronic access,” she clarifies. “I know he has a N.E.O. email address.”
Her question surprises me, but I’m also impressed. Looks like Bella inherited some of Jonah’s common sense.
“Well, board members don’t necessarily need access to internal files,” Roger says. “Of course, your grandfather had full access to everything. I’ll check with IT, and let you know what exactly your father has. Let me assure you, security is taken very seriously here. If there’s anything he shouldn’t have, it’ll be revoked by me personally. Now...” Roger flips to another section of the notebook. “I’ve provided you with a comprehensive list of employees, and you’ll see we have our own security division.”
I know the second she sees my name on that list.
Drake Larkin, Security Specialist. Personal.
That’s how my name is listed. She twists slightly and gives me a long, thoughtful look.
Something about how her little lips suck in catches my eye, flicks down my spine.
Shit. I’ve got to stop letting this girl give me a downright lethal hard-on without her even trying.
“Rest assured, Mr. Larkin will remain on payroll,” Roger says. “Personal security for you, as he was for your grandfather, just like Jonah requested.”
I can guarantee Jonah never told her that, either. My title, paid position, and the look on her face says she wonders why.
Fuck. Suddenly, I’ve got bigger problems than my trousers going too damn tight.
Roger circles her attention back to the portfolio, and they touch on more mundane subjects for the next hour or so.
When it’s over, Roger walks us back down to the ground floor, and we say our goodbyes.
The company’s in good hands with Jones. He’ll help her any way he can, and not just for himself.
Like everybody else, he respected the hell out of Jonah Reed.
For me, the blistering secrets and awkward mess he’s left behind haven’t shaken that part.
Still, damn if I don’t wish that man had left more answers.
* * *
“So what type of security did you do for Gramps?” she asks, once we’re outside, walking to my truck.
Damn. Hasn’t she had enough secrets for one day?
“It’s more like a title. You think Jonah would’ve wanted me listed as 'helper' on the payroll? Or better yet, 'old Army buddy?'”
She grins, but her eyes are still curious.
I’m too distracted to care when my stomach growls like a bear.
We climb in the truck, and as I’m driving out of the parking lot, I have a better question. “Hungry? There’s a good burger joint here in town. It’ll tide you over till you get those enchiladas done.”
Her smile climbs, reaching her pretty green eyes. “Until you have those enchiladas done, chef.”
I flash her a quick smile because I know I only have to worry about lunch. Dinner’s on her tonight.
That damn horse won’t be there by the barn when we get back, and she’ll be the one chasing him down this time.
Then again, I know I won’t be far behind. Until this shit is over, Bella Reed won’t be out of my sight.
We’re two days in. Only six months to go.
Only.
Fuck!
It won’t take that long, I tell myself. If we can just hold down the home front, get her situated, keep her vulture parents away, Bella can sort out what she’d like to do, and I’ll carry on with auxiliary security.
Then, Sheridan will file the quickie divorce papers he promised and I’ll be on my merry way.
“And yes, actually, I am pretty hungry. Burger sounds good.”
“Okay,” I answer. “Eat in or drive through?”
“Drive through!” she answers instantly.
I switch on my blinker to turn onto the road where the only fast food drive through joint is located. “Good choice. You’ll need time to chase down that horse before it’s dark.”
She shakes her head. “Nope. Edison will be having himself a party at the barn when we get home. Wait and see.”
I’ve always liked Edison, even if he annoys the hell out of me, but I appreciate him a bit more right now. For giving us a safe subject.
For showing me that she does have a sense of humor, just like Jonah said.
For giving me a reason to make her smile, really smile, and forget the last two days of pure hell.
Sweat pricks my brow.
Somehow, I don’t think for a second she’d find the proxy wedding as hilarious as our little enchilada war. I hate trying to cheer this chick up while I’m lying to her through my teeth.
Shit sucks.
It sucks a little less by the time we’ve gotten our food.
We both order burger meals with curly fries and lemonade. After everything is passed out the window, I drive to the edge of the lot so we can eat while it’s nice and warm.
She has the big three-ring binder that Roger gave her, using it as a tray for her food. “So, what’s in this for you? Besides keeping your paycheck, I mean.”
I know what she’s getting at, but take my sweet time chewing and swallowing to come up with an answer.
“Roger said you’re now my personal security, just like Gramps requested. I take it that means it’s in the will and there’s nothing I can do about it right now. What I’d really like to know is why?” She takes a quick slurp of lemonade. “I get that he was worried. Knew I’d need some backup when it came to my parents.” She sets her cup in the holder and looks at me. “What I don’t get is why you agreed. Money? Is that why?”
“No denying Jonah paid me a good salary over the past four years.” The truck we’re sitting in is proof. I bought it last year, paid all cash.
I’ve had little else to spend money on, besides sending a chunk to Angie every quarter.
It won’t make up for our shit, but I know she needs it. So do the kids.
Not everybody gets a nine-figure inheritance. Ours was damn near ruin.
Good paying jobs don’t come like pennies, either. If I ever leave Dallas, I’ll be hard pressed to find something that pays this well, because I can’t let those payments stop.
Bella just looks at me, studying me, checking for any sign I’m lying. Hard to blame her.
“In case you’re wondering, my contract only runs six months, plus severance.”
Bella nods. “The required six months.”
“You
want me gone after that, it’s your call.” I shoot her a look that says I’m serious, then take another bite of my burger. “I’m here to help protect your business, Bella. Not crawl up in it.”
She folds her half-eaten burger in the wrapper and drops it in the bag. “Well, thanks for being honest. We’ll just see what six months brings. I’m kinda glad you’re here. It’s no big secret I have a hard time standing up to my mom and dad. Kids are supposed to listen to their parents. That was drilled into my head. Mom’s famous words were, 'if you don’t, you won’t be spending summers with your grandfather ever again.'”
She tosses her container half full of fries into the bag. “You know what I was thinking about last night, Drake? If Gramps hadn’t died but got ill instead...if he needed someone to take care of him. My parents wouldn’t have batted an eye about me coming here. In fact, they’d probably have told me to deal with it, just so none of his precious money would be wasted on extra nurses. They’d have told me everything I did wrong, too. And if you think they’d ever thank me, you’re fooling – Drake?”
I look down at my cup in a daze. It’s dented, two dimples on each side formed by a death grip. Disgusted, I set it down again.
“Just listening,” I tell her. “You’re more right than you’ll ever know, thankfully.”
There’s no doubt. I’d lived the scenario she’s describing once, except I’d been the asshole to tell others they were doing it wrong.
“Thanks again for the talk this morning. I know everything you said was true. You don’t hold back, and I guess in this situation...I like that.” She twists, her cheeks slightly flushing, looking out the passenger window. “And it really pisses me off that no one ever told me before you.”
Fuck.
I toss my trash in the bag and start the truck. After a quick stop at the window-high trash can where I deposit the bag, I head out of town.
She doesn’t say anything on the way back to the ranch.
Neither do I.
We’ve talked enough for one day.
My job isn’t to be her friend or confidant. It’s to protect her life and the assets she’s inherited. It’s a familiar job.
In the Army, I’d been assigned to units guarding more than one diplomat. You’d be surprised the kind of trouble elite muckety-mucks can get themselves into. Sometimes the kind that got good men killed.
This won’t happen here, of course. And Bella’s already shown me more gratitude than any of the pricks I was under orders to safeguard.
I shoot a glance her way, then look at the highway again. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have told Jonah about my experience in the Army.
The milk can comes into view after what seems like forever. Lifting my foot off the gas, I turn on the blinker. The mailbox is on her side of the truck, and I pull up flush next to it.
She rolls down her window, collects the mail, and drops it on her lap.
I back up, then pull in the driveway for the last couple miles of our ride.
She flips through the letters. “So much junk.”
“Seems like ninety-percent of it is nowadays.”
“I wish I’d written him more often,” she says. “Just so he’d have gotten something worth opening instead of all this crap.”
Poor girl. It’s gonna be a long time before the grief shakes off her shoulders.
A few minutes later, as the barn, house, and other sheds come into view, her whole mood changes.
I wonder why she’s laughing frantically.
“See that?! That black thing with four legs? It’s called a horse, Drake. His name’s Edison. And I do believe he’s right where I left him.”
“I see him,” I say, but I can’t help joining in laughing at my defeat. I’m not a sore loser.
It’s because I see something else. With the air locked tight in my lungs, I ask, “Is that your parents’ car?”
“Oh, crap,” she mutters, her eyes going wide, catching the dull light seeping through the clouds. “Be warned. They aren’t going to like you.”
“I know.”
Truly, I’m not going to like them either. Already don’t.
I damn sure don’t like the other vehicle I see either.
It’s a black Suburban with the Jupiter Oil logo on the driver’s door, a lightning bolt scepter fashioned after paintings from Roman mythology. The vultures have landed.
“We didn’t lock the door,” she says, scratching her neck.
Lovely. Both vehicles already look empty. Tension tightens my neck.
“Maybe it’s better they’re inside, rather than waiting for us out here.”
Bella shrugs. It’s like a choice between catching a cactus in the face or sitting down on one slowly.
We’ve got company, and it’s the shitty kind.
She knows her parents. I know Avery Briar.
A locked door also wouldn’t mean much to any of them. Parking next to the barn so there’s plenty of room for both vehicles to turn around and leave, I steel myself for some major bull.
She puts the mail and the binder that Roger gave her in the back seat. “I have to say hi to Edison before going inside.” As she opens her door, she looks at me, “Lock the truck, would you?”
“Done.” I hit the lock button after climbing out, shut the door, and prime the alarm.
Edison sticks his head up over the top rung of his corral as she approaches.
I stay back, letting the two of them carry on another secret conversation like the one they’d had by the fence earlier. My eyes wander between her and the SUV for any possible movement inside.
Unlike her parents’ car, the windows are tinted real dark, and Briar always travels in groups.
I’m not even bothered at losing the bet. Part of me is glad that horse is around.
What’s waiting in the house is nothing but goddamn trouble.
She gives Edison a final pat, mouths something, and then walks over and glances at the place. “So what’s the game plan? Will you stand by the door like you did at the corporate office? Backup?”
“Is that what you want?” I understand she needs to feel like she has some control.
“Yes. No. Maybe? Ah, I don’t know!” She huffs out a breath. “Can we just...play it by ear?”
Ninety percent of life is lived by ear.
“Sure, darlin’. When you’re ready...” I nod toward the house, indicating she should start walking that way. When she finally does, I’m less than a step behind her, shadowing her small figure with mine.
If the Reeds want to lay the shit on thick, they’ll have to do it with a brick wall that can jump in front of her anytime.
Same goes for Briar and his crew.
If it were winter, there’d be smoke rolling out of my mouth. My fists are at my sides, ready for insanity, maybe partly hoping for it.
Calm down, asshole, I tell myself. You may be ready and willing and able, but the girl isn’t.
Maybe she’ll handle her folks better than she lets on, if push comes to shove. But the Jupiter men are a different beast – the feral fucking kind.
I train my eyes on Bella, watching her shoulders stiffen as we walk in the house.
It’s weirdly quiet. Then the door to Jonah’s office creaks opens in the distance.
I know she hasn’t gone in there yet. That’s the spot her parents chose, along with Avery.
Imagining them hovering over Jonah’s old desk adds an extra hit of adrenaline to my blood.
“Bella.” I lay a hand against the small of her back, firm and encouraging. “Right behind you.”
She sniffs once. Then, stiff, and chin up, she moves toward the room without missing a step.
It’s an imposing scene. Fitting in its own fucked up way, seeing the Reed family legacy in this room like nowhere else.
A huge painting of Amelia Earhart hangs behind the solid oak desk. She’s decked in a full flight jacket, posing in front of her famous Lockheed Vega with a triumphant smile. Jonah swore up and down she was an exte
nded relative, a woman he admired till his dying day for her grit, and the company’s namesake after Jonah rebranded it in the fifties.
My attention doesn’t go to the painting, though. I settle in the doorway, taking a moment to get a good look at who’s inside.
Molly Reed is a lawsuit waiting to happen for bad plastic surgery, with hair so bleached it’s an odd lemon-yellow color, sprayed so stiff not even the fierce North Dakota wind could blast a strand out of place.
There’s a vague resemblance to Jonah in Gary. The round shape of his face and the deep inset eyes. Same shade as Bella’s and her grandfather’s, lively green.
His hair is nearly white, receding back from a high forehead. I wonder how much of that grey came from his controlling wife.
Then there’s Avery Briar. He’s barely richer than the Reeds, but he looks a hundred times more refined. A tall, fit silver mongoose of a man with his spectacles perched neatly on his beak of a nose.
Cunning. Sly. Gifted fucking liar. It’s in his narrow grey eyes and pointy face stretched over bone.
The silence in the room thickens. I’m not the only one sizing up the others.
“Annabelle, it’s about time! Where have you been?” her mother asks. “We’ve been here for half an hour.”
Half an hour! I shift my weight, wondering how such a boring phrase can sound like a total disaster in the wrong mouth.
“I had a meeting with Roger Jones,” Bella says, flipping her hair back. “Company business.”
“So unnecessary.” Her mother waves a hand toward Briar, clucking her tongue. “This is Mr. Avery Briar. He’s interested in fixing this mess and taking that stupid old oil company off our hands. You’re welcome.”
Bella’s mouth starts to move, but she doesn’t get a word in.
Fuck.
Molly gazes around the room, irritation in her eyes. “Then we’ll just have to get rid of this dump. Or we’ll leave it to you, if you’re adamant about taking on another of those projects.”
Avery Briar stands and holds out a hand. “Miss Reed. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Ignoring her ma, Bella steps forward, shaking his hand. “Mr. Briar. I appreciate your offer and will review it, but –”