HellKat

by Roze, Robyn

  Tucker laughed in surprise. “No, but I like the way you think. I do, however, have a big ol’ skylight right above my bed.”

  Kat nodded in recognition. “So you can look up at the stars at night, like you did when you were a boy out on the deck.”

  “Yeah, I fall asleep most nights doin’ just that.” Then he scooped her up without warning. “But now they’ve been outshined.”

  ****

  Kat groaned and flopped a pillow over her face to hide from the annoying sun. The hazy waves of starlight from the windows and the skylight overhead had been beautiful last night, dreamlike. The blinding sunlight this morning, however, not so much. At least not right now. She just wanted to sleep, preferably in the dark.

  Her legs and arms stretched in all directions across Tucker’s massive bed without coming into contact with his warm, hard body. She grinned in complete satisfaction at the erotic memories from just hours ago, happily savoring the sensations of overworked muscles grumbling in sweet protest. She’d finally found a man with an appetite equal to hers.

  Life was good. And only getting better.

  Tucker’s gorgeous natural stone shower spoiled her with its space and multiple heads at varying heights. The whole setup, distracting by design, was not conducive to an efficient shower or the conservation of water. Eventually, she dragged herself out, towel-dried her hair, and pulled on some clean clothes. Then she went in search of Tucker. The hunt didn’t take long. The lure of cinnamon and vanilla filled her nose, made her belly rumble in anticipation.

  As Kat descended the open stairs, she scanned the great room with its dark leather furnishings, high-beamed ceilings, wrought iron fixtures, and masculine atmosphere. She glimpsed shadows skating across the distant mountainside as clouds crossed paths with the sun. Not even twenty-four hours ago the big open view on the road had nearly caused her a panic attack. Not now. All thanks to Tucker. They’d had a good laugh last night when she’d dubbed him the Kat Whisperer. He definitely had a way with her. A way no one else had ever had.

  Crossing her arms, Kat leaned against a wall in the decked-out kitchen, deciding to first soak in the sexy scene in front of her before announcing herself. Tucker stood barefoot at a large stove with his back to her, his strong arms working, muscles flexing, as he prepared breakfast. His low-hanging, faded jeans outlined his fine ass. His simple white T-shirt had the enviable honor of hugging the rest of his body, a body she’d mapped and now knew almost as well as her own. Just looking at him made her throb with need, made her pulse quicken. She dropped her head back against the wall and released a soft sigh.

  “What’re you making? It smells delicious.”

  “French toast. You like that, right?” he said, over his shoulder.

  “Of course!” She prowled behind him and slid her arms around his lean waist. He lifted his arm and drew her closer. She inhaled his clean, manly scent and pulled him even tighter.

  “Mornin’, sweetheart.” He smiled down at her with the same sweet expression, eyes filled with mischief that always melted her insides. “I’m glad you’re up. I could use your help with somethin’.”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  He pointed with the spatula. “Just got that and I haven’t had time to figure out how to use it.” An impish grin curved his lips. “’Course, bein’ a man, I’m not likely to read the instructions anyway.”

  Kat released him and made her way to the opposite counter. “What the hell?” Her eyes widened in visible adoration. “A Starbucks Barista machine?” Her hands glided covetously over the impressive piece of equipment like it held the promise of a new lover.

  “Yeah, it’s supposed to do everything. I know how much you like those fancy coffee drinks, so I’ve got all the stuff you need for that too.”

  Oh, this man definitely knew the way to her heart.

  She easily lifted her backside onto the stone countertop and spread her legs in open invitation, then motioned to him with a curled finger. A sly smile inched across his face as he slid the last of the French toast onto a serving platter. Then he ambled over to her, planted himself squarely between her welcoming thighs, and pulled her closer.

  “How did you manage this? We only just got here.” She undid his knot of hair and raked her fingers through it.

  “Claire and Hank helped me out. I called them as soon as I knew we were comin’.”

  “They’re the couple you told me about. The ones who worked for your fa—” she caught herself in time, “for John, right?”

  He nodded. “They stayed on after he died. Still live on the property. They’re more like family than employees to me. Always have been. They were more than happy to help restock the pantry and fridge, stuff like that.” His lids lowered as Kat’s skilled hands slid underneath his T-shirt. “They’re dyin’ to meet you, by the way.” His voice sounded rougher.

  “I’d like that.” She lifted his T-shirt and planted kisses on his broad chest, enjoyed the feel of scattered chest hair against her lips and nose. “As a matter of fact, I’d like that a lot.”

  She pulled his lips close to hers. “You must know you’ve scored major points with me. Even before this beauty.” Her head pointed back to her shiny gift.

  His knuckles skimmed her cheek. “I just want you to be comfortable for however long you’re here, Kat.”

  She locked her legs around his waist. “You are so getting laid, Williams.”

  His eyes darkened. “Before breakfast or after?” He grinned at her like the devil.

  “Both.”

  ****

  Tucker had captivated Kat with an enthusiastic tour of his green home. A rustic beauty. He’d explained the details, like the state-of-the-art gray water recycling system that meant her self-indulgent shower earlier hadn’t been so wasteful. The beautiful exposed ceiling beams above and the floors rich with texture and character underfoot—all reclaimed wood. And he hadn’t stopped there. The stonework in the shower and the river rock framing the fireplaces had all been designed from reconstituted stone. And she’d learned how to activate the electrochromic, energy-efficient smart glass framing the mountain views all around; the sun would not wake her up so early tomorrow.

  This home, this sanctuary, was clearly his baby. To say he was proud of it would be an understatement, a mischaracterization. His home represented a manifestation of everything he believed in, principles he held dear. Right down to the cutting-edge solar shingles lining his roof and the hybrid truck parked out front. The man was on a mission, and she found his passion admirable and sexy as hell.

  They’d accepted Hank and Claire’s invitation to have lunch at their home. And Kat had crossed her fingers, hoped this couple whom Tucker considered family would give her a warmer reception than Tucker had received from hers. Upon arrival, the kind pair quickly put to rest her worries. Hank and Claire Fields had been gracious and welcoming. They’d asked to hear all about New York, her company, and how she was acclimating to Big Sky Country.

  “You’re really gonna show her those?” Tucker asked Claire, as she booted him from his spot next to Kat on the sofa.

  Hank shrugged and gave Tucker a what’re you gonna do look.

  “You’d better believe it,” Claire said, proudly, placing the stack of photo albums to one side. She opened and spread one across her lap and Kat’s, then leaned into her and pointed. “Just look at what a cute boy he was,” she said, smiling wistfully at the old photos.

  “He was kinda scrawny if you ask me.” Hank said, with a chuckle.

  “You just be quiet over there, you old coot, or I’ll get some pictures of you out,” Claire said, with a wink at her husband.

  The tender expression on Claire’s face, the softness in her voice as she told the stories behind the pictures mesmerized Kat. She didn’t even hear the words being spoken, because she was too busy soaking in the warmth, the smiles, the laughs, the love these two people so clearly had for one another, and for Tucker. She couldn’t imagine her mother and father behaving this way
, let alone fawning over old pictures of her. A feeling of emptiness grew inside her, gnawed at her, hungry to be filled ... with this.

  An uproar of laughter yanked Kat from her sober thoughts, refocused her on the present.

  “You put me on that sorrel on purpose,” Tucker said, with a chuckle and a finger pointed in Hank’s direction.

  “Well, now, you needed to be knocked down a notch or two as I recall. And Red Baron was the right horse for the job.” Hank swallowed some iced tea, his eyes crinkling in a smile above the glass rim. “I hear you know how to handle yourself on a horse, Kat.”

  She nodded. “I took riding lessons as a girl and loved it.” She glanced to Tucker, wondering what all he’d told them about her, and her family. “Tucker gave me a quick tour of the barns and stables before we came here for lunch. The horses are gorgeous. I can’t wait to saddle up.”

  Claire patted Kat’s knee. “There really is no better way to roam this ranch than by horseback. The property is beautiful. You’ll love it.”

  “I already do,” Kat said, softly, her eyes flicking to Tucker.

  ****

  After lunch they’d moved the fun to one of the corrals on the ranch. Kat stood outside the enclosure along with Hank while Tucker talked to some people on the other side of the paddock. A bus full of giggling, excited children unloaded nearby, and the kids lined up to wait for their turns on the horses.

  “Claire woulda loved to stay longer, Kat. She planned this girls’ trip with Becca quite a while back. Those two have known each other since they were knee high.”

  “It’s really fine, Hank. I’ve known my best friend forever, so I get it.” Hank smiled and nodded. “I’ll be here for a while, so we’ll have plenty of opportunities to spend time together.”

  Hank’s bushy mustache spread across his tanned, weather-worn face, a face cracked like polished leather and sprinkled over with silver stubble. “She’d really like that, Kat. I know she would. We both would. Anybody who can make our Tucker smile is somebody we wanna get to know better.” He must’ve read her thoughts about his use of our Tucker. “Claire and I couldn’t have kids of our own. When John brought Tucker here, he put me in charge of showin’ him the ropes around the ranch. He wanted that boy to know how to do everything. Didn’t want him turnin’ out soft and privileged like his other two.”

  Hank watched the children of various ages mounting the horses. Tucker still conversed with a group of people, all the while ruffling the curly blond hair of a little boy beaming adoringly up at him.

  As if he’d gone back in time, Hank recounted his and Claire’s adoption of Tucker. “He was one angry boy back then; understandably so. His brother and sister never accepted him. Treated him like dirt under their shoes, and that was on good days. And John, well …” Hank’s eyes skipped off to the mountains. He hooked one boot on a bottom rung, rested his arms on the top beam, and released a loud breath. “He was a hard man to like. Let’s just leave it at that.

  “So, Tucker ended up spendin’ most of his days with me. Claire would fix us lunch and then he’d eat dinner with us a lot too.” He paused in reflection. “We sure loved havin’ him around. I think we needed him as much as he needed us.” Kat inched closer to Hank, riveted by the story. “He was a strong boy who grew into an even stronger man. Good thing too. He’s had to shoulder a lot over the years.”

  He looked pointedly at Kat. “He felt real bad about lyin’ to you the first time you two met. You should know that. You should also know Claire and I didn’t cut him any slack. What he did was wrong. We told him so, but we understood why he did it.”

  Kat stiffened, stunned. “He told you about that?”

  “Oh yeah. As soon as he got back home.” Hank pivoted to face her, his boot scraping across the parched dirt. “You see, girls always went after his brother, Cameron. Diamond is a big name around here. The company employs most of the people for miles around. Cameron was the heir apparent to the family fortune, so he got a lot of attention. You can’t even imagine the shock waves around this community after John died when they found out he’d handed the keys to his business to an outsider.” Hank shook his head, sadly. “Tucker has never been fully accepted around here.

  “The newspapers here went diggin’ and ran terrible stories about his parents in Houston who gave him up for money. Reporters harped on the fact he’d worked on this ranch like a hired hand rather than a member of the Diamond family, how he’d never changed his last name, openly fought with Cameron, and at best had only ever had a lukewarm relationship with John.” He paused, seemed to wait for the recognition to register in her eyes. “You’ve probably guessed who planted the rumors, pushed those stories along and fanned the flames.”

  Hank’s attention dipped to the ground. “And then there were the hateful claims he’d had somethin’ to do with John’s death. The man had liver cancer. Never told anybody. Can you believe that? Nobody.” Hank lifted his Stetson, plowed his hand through his thick salt-and-pepper hair, and then settled the hat back in its proper place.

  “John’s doctor and an autopsy put those awful rumors to rest. Then the gossip mongers, led by Cameron, went a different direction and decided Tucker must’ve coerced John into changing his will before he died. The lawyers were the only winners when that shameless nonsense was finally put to rest.” Hank shook his head indignantly and pulled a toothpick from his shirt pocket, chewing angrily on the splinter of wood for a few seconds.

  A knowing smile curved Kat’s lips.

  “I know he comes across as easygoin’, but don’t let him fool you, Kat. He doesn’t trust easily, and for good reason. People who paid him no mind before suddenly came after him because of what he could do for them—his brothers from Texas just to name two. Then there were the women who wanted the lifestyle he could give them.” Hank watched her, clearly choosing his next words carefully. “He liked bein’ anonymous in that big city of yours. Liked the idea of you not knowin’ who he was. He just wanted you to like him, the good stuff, before you knew the bad.”

  “Everybody wants that, Hank. Trust me; there are plenty of reasons for him to send me packing back to New York. I’m far from perfect.” Her expression turned wry. “I’m too driven, and I don’t play well with others. It’s only a matter of time before he figures it all out.”

  Hank’s head cocked, eyes narrowed in contemplation as his tongue rolled the toothpick from side to side across his lips. “Is that how you see yourself? Or is it just what jealous people have said about you?”

  Kat laughed out loud and then wagged her finger at him. “Oh, Hank Fields, I knew I liked you right from the start.”

  “Well, the feelin’s mutual, and I know for a fact Tucker doesn’t see you that way. He’s gone on and on about how smart and independent you are. How you don’t let him get away with anything. And you make him laugh too. He definitely needs more of that.”

  Kat searched for Tucker, landed on him as he lifted the blond, curly-headed boy she’d seen him with earlier onto a horse. “You said this group comes out here a couple of times a month?” Her focus never left Tucker and the little boy.

  “Yeah, they sure do, sometimes more. Tucker donates the hands and the horses. It’s for a good cause and all. Most of the kids are challenged in some way. Bein’ around the horses seems to help ’em.”

  Kat watched as Tucker carefully led the horse with the giggling boy on top before he passed off the reins to a ranch hand. She wondered—no, she worried—if she was good enough for him. Something she’d never questioned about herself before now, and the doubt shook her otherwise steely self-confidence.

  When she spoke next, it was with solemn admiration for Tucker and rebuke for herself. “He really is a good man. A better person than I am, I think. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own life, my own business, I’ve missed things going on right around me, missed opportunities to make a difference, to do something good.”

  Before Hank could respond, Tucker had reached the fence, easily climbing over t
o drop down next to her. He pulled her into a snug embrace and whispered in her ear. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  The emotion in his voice made her heart ache with the growing need to mend his.

  She squeezed him tighter. “There’s no place else I’d rather be.”

  Kat surveyed Tucker’s home office arranged with leather furnishings and dark stained wood. The space, like the rest of his home, lacked any personal touches such as family photos, trophies, or memorabilia. She understood why, even better than before. Hank had filled in the missing piece yesterday: the personal toll. Oh, Tucker had told her most of what Hank had, but Tucker had glossed it over, had recounted the history as if it’d happened to someone else. His retelling had lacked the strife and deep emotional cost to him. Hank’s version had not.

  Tucker sat behind a large hand-carved desk he’d purchased at an estate auction. His eyes flitted across an LED display as he tapped away on backlit keys. He and Kat had been comparing notes on their JAMESCO research. She closed the lid on her laptop and set it in front of her on his desk.

  “Looks like you found everything online I did and then some. You work fast,” Tucker said, reclining in his seat and rocking leisurely in the squawking chair.

  “I’m motivated,” Kat said. “I’m sure there’s more, but I’m going to need to hire someone to find the truth.” She eyed him suspiciously as his grin grew wider. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “I knew you were smart.” He reached down and opened a drawer, pulling out a thick file that he dropped in front of her. “Your brothers run a helluva PR campaign, but I read between the lines. Apparently, you did too.”

  Tucker rested his arms on the desktop and leaned forward. “Since JAMESCO is privately owned, they aren’t required to disclose much of anything to anybody, as you well know.” Kat hauled the file off the desk and onto her lap, sifting through the papers. “For a price, you can pay anybody to do almost anything.” He raised his hand to quell her scornful expression and the objections about to shoot from her mouth. “I didn’t do anything illegal, Kat. There are services out there that provide more in-depth information about privately held companies. And it’s all on the up and up. It’s still not full disclosure by any means, but it’s a helluva lot more than what I could get on my own.”