Love Under Two Accountants [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Cara Covington

  “I’ll look forward to meeting new cousins.” For a woman whose entire family, after the death of her father, had consisted of just her mother and herself, she was now amidst a lot of family.

  And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Mother! Which of the nomadic Kendalls are coming by?” Adam Kendall had arrived with his family in time to hear his mother’s announcement.

  “Sean and Noah,” Samantha said.

  “Ah, our Cousin Noah’s grandsons,” Jake Kendall said.

  “I stayed with Sean and Noah for a week when my wanderlust took me to Alaska,” Adam said. “It’s been about a decade since they visited here. It’ll be good to see them again.”

  Bailey hugged Ginny and took a few moments to fuss over the twins, Marty and Nicky. She also chatted with Benny—Ginny’s oldest son and clearly nearly everyone’s favorite honorary grandson.

  Then it was time to sit and relax and enjoy the evening. They visited, they ate, and they laughed. Bailey thought this one of the nicest parties she’d ever attended.

  Her interest was caught when Damion Quest arrived in the company of another man, who apparently knew Chance and Logan. The moment this unknown man spotted the two, he came right over to their table.

  Of moderate height, with short-cut blond hair, and brown eyes, the man reminded her of a teacher she’d had in high school, Chas Miller. Miller had been a man who’d stood out as being barely adequate, a man one might overlook in a gathering—a man who was a perennial bachelor.

  “Sweetheart, this is our boss, Porter Wells.” Chance and Logan had gotten to their feet. Chance made the introduction, and she found herself reevaluating that first impression. A man who headed up a covert government intelligence division had to be a pretty sharp cookie.

  She offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Wells. Thank you for coming tonight.”

  “I was curious, Ms. James. I’ve heard about Lusty for a long time. Plus, this gives me the opportunity to personally thank you for your help with the Townsend case.”

  She didn’t particularly like to think about that help because she’d actually grown fond of poor little Rufus. A part of her regretted his sacrifice, despite it having been for a very good cause.

  In the next instant, Mr. Wells placed a wrapped package in front of her. At the urging of her men—and everyone else close by, she tore into the gift. The ribbon flew, the paper was tossed, and the box opened. Bailey spread the tissue paper to reveal…a dragon. No longer rough, grey stone, but colorful, triumphant, his claw-hold on the world was no longer tenuous.

  If a phoenix could rise from its own ashes, why couldn’t Rufus, who was a dragon, after all, rise from his own dust?

  Bailey blinked back tears as she held the figurine close. “Thank you. I…you have no idea.”

  “Oh, I think I do, Miss James.” Wells said. The fact that he looked at each of her men in turn told her she had more appreciation to show, but later and behind closed doors.

  Quest and Wells both joined them. Adam Kendall and Joe Grant came over, and Bailey wondered if this was going to turn into some sort of meeting. Introductions were made, and Kelsey arrived, bearing a tray with glasses and a large pitcher of sweet tea.

  “Is that case still ongoing?” Bailey didn’t want to tread into classified territory, even though she was very curious about all that had happened.

  “It is. There’ll likely be some sort of deal made between Forrest and the DOJ, a fact that the NYPD isn’t very happy about.” Wells took a drink of his tea. “Sheriff, I imagine you can understand their frustration. The man committed murder, and they feel he should pay for his crimes.”

  “I can indeed understand that. Sometimes, however, you have to focus on the bigger picture.”

  “You do, indeed. If Forrest can get us close to Phillip LeClerc, the head of a criminal organization that has topped the most wanted lists of several federal agencies in several countries for several years, well, that’s a chance we have to take. LeClerc is connected to a number of persons of interest throughout the Middle East.”

  He sighed, then turned his gaze to her and her men. “I also want to confess to the three of you that I’d had intel that it was Forrest we were after fairly soon after Townsend was murdered. I’d learned that about the time that the three of you met. But knowing isn’t proving, and I needed proof. So, I withheld that info until I could have it confirmed.”

  “Which happened just about the same time the man arrived here,” Damion said.

  Then Wells reached into his pocket and pulled an envelope out. He slid this over to Bailey. “I have a second gift for you. There was a reward for Forrest’s arrest. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the one who made his capture possible.”

  “I didn’t know there was a reward.” Bailey wasn’t sure how she felt about that, either. She looked at Chance and then Logan. The expressions on their faces told her she could do as she liked with the money. She immediately knew what that would be. “We’ll put it away for a college fund.”

  Bailey had everything she needed, right here and right now. She was in a town where she was accepted, a town where the people stood proud and stood together. She had a good job and men who loved her. She even had Rufus, risen from the dust!

  Kate Benedict chose that moment to come over. Chance immediately got to his feet to make room for her. Bailey was watching as he and Logan introduced the nonagenarian to Porter Wells. There was a flicker on the man’s face. It was similar to the look on Damion Quest’s face the first time he’d set eyes on Grandma Kate that day at the Big House—only Wells kept his own counsel.

  “I’m so glad you gentlemen could join us.” Kate’s smile was pure happiness. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome and important. She knew how to love, how to connect, and Bailey so wanted to be just like her when she grew up.

  “This is quite the party,” Porter Wells said.

  “Each time, it gets a little bigger, which suits me just fine. Nothing I love more than a gathering of family—except for more family calling Lusty home.”

  “I don’t know how you keep them all straight.” Wells let his gaze wander, and Bailey wondered if he understood how…familiar…that question sounded. Both Chance and Logan frowned. Damion was the only one who didn’t appear to be surprised.

  “Oh, that’s easy. You see, when you open your heart to loving as many people as are placed in your path, why then, even more space is created within. I look around here and I see each individual, each precious heart, every one of them a member of my family. They’re mine, every single one of them. And I am theirs. Though I was born and raised in Virginia, not coming here until I was twenty-one, I’m a Benedict, through and through.” She turned then and tilted her head toward Porter Wells. “Whatever I have to do to see to it my family is happy and safe, why, that’s what I’m going to do. Lusty takes care of her own.”

  “And her own are any and all who find a place for themselves here?”

  “Oh, absolutely, Mr. Wells. Absolutely.”

  The music continued to play, and people talked and ate and laughed. Grandma Kate moved on to visit others of her collection of grandchildren. Quest and Wells remained for a time before taking their leave—but not before going over to visit with Morgan, Henry, and Tamara Kendall and their twins.

  “It was very reassuring that your boss reiterated that the two of you don’t usually get that involved in cases.” Bailey couldn’t help but tease her men.

  “We’re just the numbers guys, baby.” Chance placed a soft kiss on her lips.

  “Trust us, we’ve had basic training, but in all our years, that is the closest we’ve come to having to use it.”

  “Good.” The sound of Kate Benedict’s laughter caught the attention of all three of them, and as one, they turned to watch her. She was sitting but had her arm around Benny Kendall, who stood beside her. His young face appeared earnest as he talked, and Kate looked very grandmotherly as she appeared to listen to every word. />
  Bailey cast her glance to the chair Porter Wells had recently occupied. “What do you suppose that was all about?” She knew she didn’t have to explain.

  Chance slipped his arm around her, drawing her close. “I can’t decide. I thought I knew Grandma Kate, and then we came to Lusty.”

  “She has more depth than we ever imagined,” Logan said. “As for Porter? We don’t know all that much about him at all, either.”

  “It could be something as simple as their paths having crossed at some point.” Bailey thought that must have been it. It really was a small world.

  It didn’t seem to be something that either of her men was worried about, so Bailey decided she wouldn’t worry, either. Connections. This town was full of connections—of life and love, of past and present and, most especially, of the future.

  Her life had changed since she’d run from danger—since she’d run to Lusty. Lusty did take care of her own, and Bailey was looking forward to a lifetime of connections and laughter and love.

  THE END

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