by Megan Slayer
She opened her laptop. There had to be something about Kam to make him seem horrible. Part of her wanted to find the reason he couldn’t be around her, but the rest of her feared what she’d find.
She searched Kameron Stone on the Internet. No arrests, no complaints… he’d graduated from college and worked as a teacher for five years. His employment had ended when the school district downsized. Gee. If that made Kam bad, she’d hate to see what made him awful.
She frowned. If she couldn’t find anything on the Internet, then maybe she’d see something in his personnel file. She logged into the database and pulled up Kameron’s file. According to the information, Kam had worked for the family for just over six years and had a spotless record. He’d been commended by John for going above and beyond more than ten times. He’d cashed some paychecks, but his last year’s worth of paychecks went uncashed. She tapped her fingers on the edge of the keyboard. How was the man living if he wasn’t getting paid?
She cracked her knuckles. There had to be something else. Was he stealing money? She doubted it, but nothing made sense. She noticed a line of red type on his file. Here we go. She clicked on the line. Her father had no idea she knew how to hack into the files. He hadn’t thought she could use a computer to do anything besides social media.
Under Investigation
Maybe he had stolen money. Kam? “What are you hiding?” she whispered. She clicked the second tab. A document came up, listing Kameron’s home address. She frowned again. So he had a little house. Big deal. Owning a modest home wasn’t a crime. She screened the document again, and her breath wrenched in her throat.
Dunn Holdings - deposit 3/18 - $15,000
Dunn Holdings - deposit 4/18 - $15,000
Same thing for the next six months. Why was her father paying him such a large amount of money? According to the notes, Kam wasn’t accepting the checks and the wire transfers had been refused.
What the hell? She logged out of the system and closed her laptop. If she wanted true answers, she had to go to the source.
Anissa dressed in an oversize sweater, jeans and ballet flats. She tapped the button for her guard. Knowing Kameron wouldn’t be on the other end of the line annoyed her.
“Ms. Dunn.” Julian appeared at her door. “What do you need?”
“A ride.” She tucked her phone into her back pocket. “Right now.”
“Where to?” He opened the door for her. “Late night taco run? Incognito shopping trip? I need an address.”
“Fine.” She stayed in her suite. “First, we need to get a few things straight. When I have a guard, I need to know he’s on my side.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Julian clasped his hands together.
“One: I’ve never gone for late-night taco runs or incognito shopping trips. Have I grabbed tacos after a normal hour? Yes, because I was with Kameron. Second: I heard you discussing me. I know what’s been said. If you’re going to be my guard, don’t talk about me behind my back. I’m not a spoiled rich girl. I’d rather have a modest life than be stuck in this cage.”
Julian blushed. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“Accepted.” She laced her fingers together. “Third: I’m not sleeping with the staff. Kameron was different. We are friends, and he was my best friend. We got close because we spent so much time together. I’ve spent time with a lot of the security staff, you included, and I’m not going to sleep with you. No way. Kameron, as I said, was different.” She had to stand up for herself or no one else would.
“Because you spent so much time with him?” Julian snorted. “Right.”
She narrowed her eyes. She’d expected him to get irritated. “Did it ever occur to you I might have engineered that?” She rested her hands on her hips. “I found reasons to have him around. I didn’t turn down Evan and the others just because I’m picky. I did it so I could take Kam with me. I knew what I was doing. I did all along.”
Julian paled. “Yes, Ms. Dunn.”
“Fourth: I’m giving you an address. You will take me there. No questions. No arguments.”
“If it’s a bad situation, I won’t do it,” Julian said. “I won’t put you in danger, no matter how much you want to go wherever it is.”
“It’s not dangerous.” She sighed. “I need to go. Either you’ll be my escort or I’m going on my own.” She paused. “Oh, and I do know how to drive that shiny Jeep in the garage. Daddy thinks I don’t, but I learned to drive.”
“Because of Kam?”
“He taught me.” She grinned. “I’m not going to be a prisoner any longer.”
“I’ll take you.”
“Fine.” She left the suite. The bastard. He wasn’t going to cooperate unless she played his game. Fuck it. She’d play, and he’d lose.
“Where are we going?” Julian hurried to keep up with her as she scrambled down the stairs to the ground floor, then into the garage. She made her way to the Jeep. If she was going to leave, she wanted to in her own style.
“I’ll tell you in the car.” She sank onto the driver’s seat. She hadn’t been behind the wheel in a while, but she loved the off-road-capable vehicle. “Get in. No one wants me dead.”
“You’ve been threatened.” Julian reached for the wheel. “Let me drive.”
“Nope.” She backed out of the garage. “I just want you here for backup. I know where Soloman Street is.”
He reached for the wheel again. “I don’t think I want you driving.”
“I don’t care.” She sped across town. If Kameron couldn’t be with her, she’d go to him. She needed answers.
“Ms. Dunn… Soloman Street is near the construction site.” Julian touched her arm. “You’re going to a dangerous area.”
“I don’t care.” She kept driving.
“You don’t want to poke this bear,” Julian growled. “It’s not smart.”
“According to you and the others, nothing I do is smart.” She drove down Soloman Street to Kameron’s house. According to the map, the place wasn’t large. No kidding. The quaintness appealed to her. But why was one end of the street empty? She parked and noticed the looming Dunn Holdings sign. The construction site. She knew little about her father’s businesses, but enough to realize her father had more to do with Kam’s situation than she’d expected.
Julian left the Jeep first, then rounded to her side. “I don’t think it’s safe to be here. This house is abandoned.”
“No, it’s not.” She pushed past him and headed up to the front door. The light in the front room turned on, then off. She jiggled the door handle. “Kam? I know you’re in there. Talk to me. I’m not leaving until you do.”
The door opened. Kam glared at her. “Why are you here?”
“We need to talk. I’m tired of being left out.” She marched into his house. “I’m not going anywhere until I get answers.”
“Damn, you’re pushy,” Kameron said. He closed the door. “Julian will have a fucking fit.”
“I know.” She faced him. “I learned pushiness from you.” She squared her shoulders. “Now, tell me the truth. Why aren’t you cashing your paychecks?”
“That’s what you want to know?”
“Yes.” Among other things.
“I don’t need the money.”
“Because you’re getting money from my father? What for? I saw the transfers.” She notched her chin in the air. “Tell me.”
“I’m not taking anything from your father,” Kameron bit out. “Nothing.”
“Why are there transfers in your name?”
“Where did you see that?” Kameron sat on the arm of the chair. He continued glaring, but his tone softened.
Had she gotten through to him? “I hacked into the family banking and saw the records.” She rested her hands on her hips again. “Why is my father trying to pay you? To pay you off? To leave me alone?”
“No.” He winced.
“Then why?” She wanted to throw herself in his arms, but she held back.
“He’s
trying to buy my house.” Kameron met her gaze. “He wants me to leave.”
“For the construction site?” His house was on the edge. “He can’t stop before he gets to your house? It’s just a house. Is it worth this abuse?”
“Anissa.” Kameron sighed. “This was my grandmother’s house. When she died, she left me an inheritance and this house. My sister didn’t want this place, so I paid her to keep it. I live off the rest of that inheritance. I refused to take any of your father’s money once I realized he just wanted to get me off this land and away from you. I can’t respect him.”
“I understand.” She bowed her head. Her father could be ruthless, but to push him out of his home… She closed her eyes. “What about the fifteen-thousand-dollar wire transfers? I saw the transfers didn’t go through. What’s that all about?”
“Did you notice how empty the north end of the street is? He kept upping his offer to me. He offered fair market, then made the offers sweeter with each house demolished.” He left the sofa and cupped her chin. “He can build that damn strip mall without killing the neighborhood.”
She blinked back tears. He made sense, but she needed to know one more thing. “Why work for him, then? You hate my father…”
“Because I like you.” He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “You’re the shining spot in my life.”
She wanted to believe him. Wanted with every last breath in her body… but something didn’t make sense. “Please don’t tell me you got close to me to con him into leaving you alone.”
“Never.” He caressed her jaw. “Not for a second.”
“Were you considering it?”
“No.” He shook his head.
“Kameron.” She needed the truth.
“My interest in you has nothing to do with your father and everything to do with you being you. I love you,” Kameron said. “My heart’s belonged to you for a long time.”
She paused. “You love me?” She had to be hearing him wrong.
“Jesus, Anissa. Yes, I do. I never wanted money from your father or you. I started working for your family because I needed the job, but I stayed because of you. I hoped one day you’d care about me, too.”
“I do.” She inched into the vee of his legs and rested her palm on his chest over his heart. “I’ve loved you since you started as my guard. I’d fantasize that you’d tell me you’d fallen madly in love with me.” Her face burned. “Maybe it was silly to think you’d see me that way, but I did. I still do. You’ve been nice, sweet, honest and my friend when no one else has.”
“I can’t work for you.”
“I know.” She toyed with the wrinkles in his shirt. “You’ve always been cocky and blunt. You know all the answers. But this time, it’s my turn. I’m calling my father’s bluff and taking what I want.”
“You are?” His eyes widened. “Honey?”
“Yes.” She whipped her phone from her pocket. “I’m guessing Julian has already alerted my father, but it never hurts to bring it up, too.” She dialed Julian. Within seconds, he answered. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Julian said. “Are you okay? You’re ready to go? Come outside.”
“I’m ready,” she said. “But you’re the one who can go. My father’s on the way, isn’t he?”
“Ms. Dunn.” Julian groaned. “Why do you think so?”
“Because I’ve taken a long time and haven’t contacted you. That’s standard operating procedure.” She met Kameron’s gaze. “When my father arrives, you can leave with him.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Julian asked. “This isn’t you.”
“I’m marrying Kameron, and we’re going to live together here at his house. I’m staying here from now on.” She kissed Kameron but spoke to Julian. “I’m not planning on returning to the mansion, so good luck and goodbye.”
“He’s on his way, but he’s pissed,” Julian said.
“I know.” She shrugged. She’d planned on upsetting her father.
“He won’t agree to this.”
“Good. Let him argue with me.” She gripped the phone and leaned against Kameron. The scent of him calmed her and reassured her she’d done the right thing.
“Do you love Kam?” Julian asked.
“Yes.” Without a doubt.
“Does he love you?” Julian sighed. “Anissa?”
“You watched him leave under duress. A man who isn’t in love won’t leave the way he did.” She massaged Kameron’s thigh. “You know how he feels.”
“Are you sure?” Julian asked. His voice wavered. “We don’t want to lose you.”
“As a client or friend?” she asked.
“Anissa.”
Was Julian upset? Good. “So you’re upset because you don’t want to lose your job.” She snorted. “You’re excused. I’m assuming you’ll be leaving with my father. Thank you and good night.” She disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto the sofa.
“Honey.” Kam kissed her. “Do you really want to marry me? You could do better.”
“Better than a guy devoted to me? Than one who gives as good as he gets? Than one who makes my heart beat?” She rubbed her groin against his. Heat welled within her. “A man who doesn’t want my money? Yeah, you’re all I want. No questions.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “Julian’s right. Your father will have a shit fit.”
“I’m hoping so.” She’d bet on her father’s anger.
“Anissa.”
“I want him to see I’m not a child. I’m not foolish,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like it, but I saw through the crap. He set me up with guys he could control. He wanted to keep me at home -- where he could control me. He wanted to push you away. If he prevented me from finding someone I love and nudged me toward someone I don’t, he’ll keep me in line. I’m tired of staying in line.”
Kameron’s eyes widened, and he paled. “You kept me around as a reactionary move.”
Fuck. That hadn’t been her motive at all. She sighed. “Kameron.” She had to be honest. “Kind of.” She placed her hand over his mouth to keep him quiet. “I decided to take what I wanted. I got you to see me as more than Anissa Dunn. You see me as a sexy woman. Because I decided to push back against my father. I’m going to be happy with the man I love -- you. No reaction needed. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Kameron grasped her shoulders. “You drive me crazy, but I’m in over my head and don’t want out.”
“Then let’s get this sorted out so I can get on with my life -- with you.”
Chapter Eight
Kameron wanted to hold her. He’d rather be making love to Anissa, but her father would be there at any moment. Howard Dunn would never let his daughter get too far away.
Headlights shone through the front window, then went dark. Anissa tensed. “Show time,” she murmured. “Brace yourself.”
“Yes.” He patted her ass. “I’m ready.” He felt helpless, but if this was his way of making a stand, then he’d deal. Not accepting payment and ignoring the eviction notice were his best bets for protest. He’d moved everything of value to a storage unit, but still. His protests hadn’t worked, and if Anissa was wrong, he stood to lose a lot more than a house. He left Anissa by the sofa, then crossed the room to the front door. The sounds of arguing -- Julian and Howard on the porch -- echoed in his home. He opened the front door. “Mr. Dunn. Julian.”
Howard stormed into the house. “Let her go.”
“Who? I’m not holding anyone.” Kameron put space between him and Mr. Dunn. He hated bullies, and Anissa deserved her freedom.
“You know who. Anissa.” Howard held his hand out to his daughter. “You’re probably scared, Ani. You’ve never run away before.” He glared at Kameron, then reached for Anissa.
“No one’s a prisoner here,” Kameron said. He tucked Anissa behind him. “Anissa’s fine.”
“I’m happy, Daddy.” Anissa clutched Kameron’s shirt. “Don’t do this.”
“You heard her, Stone. Let
her go.” Howard shook his head. “You’ve forced her to make a choice. She doesn’t want to do this.”
“Who said I don’t?” Anissa asked. “I’m fine right where I am.”
“Enough.” Howard stood toe-to-toe with Kameron. “You’ve brainwashed her. She never ran away until she hooked up with you.”
“Yeah… wrong.” Kameron grinned. He’d had enough. “Nope.”
“I ran because of you, Daddy,” Anissa said. “You’re pushing me away.”
“I see,” Howard bit out. “This is how it’s going to be. Whatever you want, it’s yours. Just come home. We’ll discuss the situation, and you’ll be safe.”
“Oh, sure.” Anissa stood beside Kameron. “There’s one problem. I’m not leaving until we discuss this. I want to know why you’re trying to take Kam’s house, why you’re trying to pay him to leave me alone and why you’re fucking with my happiness.”
“You never acted out like this before,” Howard said. “I don’t understand.”
“I was never strong enough to know what I wanted before.” Anissa held onto Kameron’s arm.
Kameron held her tight. He’d be her strength any day.
“I see.” Howard glared at Kameron. “What’s your hand in this? A demand for your job back? A demand for more money for this dump?”
“Neither.” He kissed the side of Anissa’s head. “This isn’t my fight, and I’m not trying to get that job or cash. This is her fight, and she asked me to be the muscle.”
“Right.” Howard’s glare deepened.
“Kameron is right.” Anissa inched in front of Kameron. “I want the truth. Are you trying to pay him off to get the house so you can raze it?”
“I need the property,” Howard growled.
“It’s at the end of the grounds for the strip mall. It’s not smack in the middle. Why is this house so important?” she asked. “Answer me.”
Her father growled again. “That jackass wouldn’t take the money. If he’d taken it, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”