by Lea Hart
“Did your boss give you a choice about doing it? Or was it a take-it-or-leave-it offer?”
“I got the impression it would take extraordinary circumstances for me to refuse the assignment. There’s no good way to get out of it, and I’m so…pissed.”
“You sure it was Rick’s hand that put the thing in motion? Maybe Aunt Celeste decided to put the request in.”
Raising an eyebrow, she crossed her arms. “You really think that’s possible?”
“Considering Rick made Jack land the ranch helo on the highway, I suppose not.”
“I’m so pissed he’s stuck his nose in my business and now will likely be forced to spend the best years of my life behind bars.”
“I promise to come and do your hair, so it won’t be a total tragedy,” Vanessa volunteered.
“Maybe I’ll learn a new skill and my days being incarcerated won’t be a total waste of time.” Trying to distract herself with a possible list of things she could learn while behind bars, she decided that learning how to fold a fitted sheet properly wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
“If we bury the body correctly, you might actually get away with it.”
“True, but my history with Rick will make me suspect number one when his bleached bones are discovered.”
“You have a point.”
“I always do.”
“Feel better?” Vanessa asked.
“A little. Letting out my revenge fantasies helped.” Kicking her boot against the ground, she allowed a frustrated groan out and wondered if letting her anger and frustration fester until it became something unruly wasn’t a damn fine idea.
“Let’s come up with another option, though, because you spent almost a decade becoming a vet, and that’s not a thing to waste.”
“It’s too early to be drinking tequila, and as far as I can see, it’s the only one that holds any appeal.”
“Want me to put some highlights in your hair and give you a new look, so when you get hauled in, it’ll take more than a minute to identify you?” Vanessa asked.
Sliding her hands on her hips, she hitched her shoulder. “It probably isn’t a bad idea, but one I don’t likely have time for since I’ve got four calls to make today and should get on the road.”
“You want to come in and grab a couple of donuts before you leave so you’ll be jacked up on enough sugar to get your mind working right?”
“Guess it can’t hurt.” Hearing the screech of tires, Emily looked up and fisted her hands. “He’s got some kind of nerve.”
“The man has no sense of self-preservation,” Vanessa grumbled.
Stomping over to the parking lot, Emily took long breaths and reminded herself that she had to keep her job because leaving the family with her student loans would be unacceptable. She watched Rick’s truck careen into a parking spot and the door to fly open. “You better be prayin’ for mercy.”
“I don’t need any damn mercy on account of the fact I just made sure you’re the one responsible for the biggest account in South Texas!”
“I. Don’t. Need. Your. Interference!”
“I’m helping, Em!”
“The hell you are!” she shouted as she fisted her hands. “You are imposing your damn will over a situation that doesn’t concern you.”
“You’re the fucking love of my life and the future mother of my children and the only person who makes sense in the world. So you’re wrong. One hundred percent. You are my only concern.”
She gasped, raised her hand to her mouth, and couldn’t make sense of why he’d chosen this as the moment to profess his love. “You didn’t just do that.”
Rick took a step closer and opened his arms. “Em…”
“I can’t believe you meddled in my professional life and then had the guts to say it’s because you”—she waved her hands around—“feel those things.”
“I admit it might not be the best way to share what’s been on my mind. But it’s out there now, and maybe it’s best we just deal with it head on.”
“We’re not dealing with anything. I’m going to stew in my anger and get riled up enough to do you some real harm by day’s end. And after I’m done, if you’re still standing, well…I can’t really predict what I’ll do.”
He scowled at her. “It’s not like you wouldn’t enjoy working on the ranch, since we have every kind of animal for you to take care of. I can even get some llamas if you want, or emus. Whichever you think would be better.”
“You can’t buy animals for me to care for. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of.”
“Darlin’, this is me compromising. It doesn’t even scratch the surface of what I’m willing to do to insure your happiness and safety, and that includes buying you whatever you want and need. I haven’t had time to look into the whole wild animal laws, but if you give me a couple of days, I will, and then we’ll really know what’s possible.”
“All that sanity you claim to have is just an illusion. You’re nuts, and I can’t be a party to your imminent conflagration.”
“You want to tell me how you feel?”
“No, because I get in trouble for using those words.”
Slamming his hands on his hips, he looked up at the sky. “You don’t have to be so damn stubborn.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, did you think I was suddenly going to fall at your feet just because you voiced a couple of feelings?”
“I love you, Emily Conner, and even though what I’m doing may not make a lot of sense—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.”
Rick took a step closer and crossed his arms. “Just promise me you will stay away from Nash until this thing is solved.”
“More orders, how delightful.”
“Promise me!”
“I’m getting on with my day.” Taking two steps back, she spun around and waved to her friend. “I’ll call you later.”
“Please do!” Vanessa called out.
She flung open her truck door and climbed in, wondering how she could love someone and loathe them in equal measure.
And she did love stupid Rick Blakely.
With her whole dumb heart.
Which didn’t mean she’d be unwilling to do him some real harm for messing with her life.
…
Rick watched Em peel out of the parking lot.
When he’d initially come up with the idea, it had seemed more than bulletproof, the perfect compromise between her need to freely do what she loves and his need to hide her away until he could guarantee her safety. But now that he’d had a minute to see it through Emily’s eyes, he could see where there might be one or two problem spots.
Em wasn’t a woman who liked being confined, and he’d pretty much sentenced her to it when he made the call about her working at the ranch exclusively. Granted, there was close to a half million acres to roam around on. He’d hoped that would appease her, at least long enough for law enforcement to nail Nash and his brothers. But no. Em was captain of her own ship and needed to steer it as she saw fit, apparently, compromises be damned.
Seeing his aunt Pearl’s baby blue Cadillac screech into the parking lot, he let out a low laugh and knew God wasn’t done with him yet. In fact, he might just be getting started.
Judging by the not-so-sympathetic look Vanessa was throwing his way, he was knee deep in a crap sitch of his own making. “You’re in for it now,” she called across the parking lot before pulling open the door and walking into the salon.
“Good to know who you can count on in a skirmish,” he said quietly to himself as he rolled his shoulders and headed over to his aunt’s car. He opened her door and held out his hand, waiting for his tough-as-nails relative to place her bony hand in his. “It’s a surprise to see you here.”
“Considering I’ve had a standing appointment for th
e last ten years, it’s really not.”
Giving his aunt the smile that had worked his whole life, he dipped his head and helped her get out of the car. “I’ll just escort you in and then get on with my day.”
“How badly did it go?”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t waste my time, Richard Jackson Blakely. I’m not going to live much longer and don’t have time to spare.”
Tucking his hand under Pearl’s arm, he tried to calculate the odds of her knowing anything of his activities and knew it was a waste of time. The woman had a direct line to both God and the Devil, and anything that happened south of San Antonio was on her radar within minutes. “Did you enjoy your birthday party?”
“Of course I did, since more than half the county showed up to raise a toast and I had the pleasure of dancing with all the fine young men who live within a hundred miles.”
“Guess you can’t ask for more than that.”
Pearl Blakely, undisputed queen of the Blakely family, skidded all four foot nine of herself to a stop and looked over at her nephew. “What I would really like to see before I’m buried in the ground is a little happiness for one of my favorite nephews.”
“I’m all good, Aunt Pearl.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be standing in the middle of the parking lot looking at the dust spit up by your departing woman’s truck. You’d be on the ranch tending to business and not here in town stirring up nonsense.”
“I had a plan.”
“One that apparently tanked.”
Knowing his aunt’s words were accurate, he hung his head. “I was trying to make sure she’d have a safe place to work every day, and I don’t think I went about it the right way.”
“Clearly, since interfering in a woman’s business never works out as one hopes. Does it?”
“Not exactly.”
“Or at all.”
A concept he agreed with intellectually but couldn’t quite choke down emotionally. He knew better than most what the cost of failure was when it came to people you cared about. He hadn’t succeeded in bringing the men he was responsible for home and couldn’t ever let anyone down again. Especially the woman he loved above all else. Was he tying two different situations together that shouldn’t be? Probably. But getting rid of all the habits, thoughts, and beliefs he’d honed on the front lines was still a work in progress. “I can’t let anything happen to her, and someone has her in their sights. I’m not backing down until the situation is completely handled.”
“You listen to me, son.” Tugging on his sleeve, she pulled him down so they were face-to-face. “I see those thoughts contaminating your mind. You did your best in Ramadi, and there was nothing you could’ve done differently to bring those men home alive. You and your teammates knew the risks.” Letting out a snort, she shook her head. “Hell, I’m betting y’all embraced them. Doing what you did for all those years in the interest of this country was no small thing, and I’m quite certain the men on your platoon were more than ready to lay their lives on the line.”
“As their commander, it was my job to bring them home. And…I failed.”
Pearl smoothed out Rick’s collar and pursed her lips. “You did not. The battle you were sent into was impossible. Just like the hundreds before and after it.”
“But I lost two brothers. The survivor’s guilt I carry around is no joke, and I’d be lying if I didn’t think those men I didn’t save were worth ten times what I am.”
“You’ll have to take that one up with God when you two eventually meet, because that’s not our place to decide. I know you, and if there was a thing that could’ve been done to change the outcome, you would’ve done it.”
“On good days, I believe that.”
“Well, let’s see what we can do about making this day one of those. No need to infect your future with the past. You and Emily have every reason to make one another happy, and I’d hate to see you screw it up.”
“Screwing it up wasn’t part of the plan.”
She smacked the back of his head. “Then quit trying to mess with her life. She’s a capable woman and doesn’t need you playing with her livelihood. She’s been looking after herself and making her dreams come true without any of your help for the last decade. And you getting up in her business suggests you don’t think much of her capabilities.”
“I don’t like her out there without some protection.”
“She’s more than competent with a shotgun, and from what I heard, she shot up the ground around that poor fool man who was sent to deliver a message.”
Straightening up, he lifted his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. “It was a sight, Aunt Pearl. That woman is hell is on wheels, and I’ve never seen anything better in my life.”
“Then don’t screw it up by not trusting her.”
“Duly noted.”
Pearl nodded and then took her nephew’s arm. “Take me in, because I don’t want to be late for my appointment.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He pressed a kiss to his aunt’s cheek and silently vowed to take her words of wisdom to heart. After all, his current plan had failed miserably, and he didn’t have too many ideas for a new one.
Chapter Twenty
Emily had chewed the situation with Rick over a hundred times and didn’t care for any of the answers she’d come up with. As she flew down Highway 77, she attempted to let go of all the churning thoughts and found it all but impossible.
Nothing she hated more than somebody acting like they knew better, and Rick had given her a big ol’ dose of it when he’d called her boss and made his request. Did he think she was incapable of handling her business and that she’d been sitting around waiting for him to return and tell her what to do?
His actions sure suggested it was possible, and that wasn’t something she planned on letting stand. Not only because she’d long ago gotten over the loss of his daily presence in her life, but because no one told her what to do.
Ever.
So, what was her next best move? Try and talk Rick into rescinding his request? Tell her boss there was no way in hell she’d be the ranch’s exclusive vet? Move to Austin and forget all the nonsense?
Not that she could or would since she loved the damn man.
Bossiness and all.
“Arrrgghh.” Why couldn’t she and Rick have one of those sweet love stories where everything went their way?
Was it because those were only possible in the Hallmark movies she loved to binge watch in private? Real people with real lives were messy and complicated and got things wrong on a weekly basis.
How could she get him to back off enough so she wouldn’t go nuts while allowing him to do his thing and protect her?
Where was the sweet spot that would work for both of them?
Frustrated, she let out a breath and turned onto Highway 59. The town’s biggest feed store came into view, and she turned in.
She found a parking spot and gave Mabel a grin. “Let’s get you some of those pig’s ears you like to chew on.” Mabel barked, and she nodded. “At least we’re getting one thing right today.” Climbing out with her dog on her heel, she strode into the store and headed for the bins in the back. When she heard her name, she turned and sucked in a breath.
“Hey there,” Nash said.
“My ass,” she mumbled. It was time to ask him point blank about what had been going on. Maybe he wasn’t involved in his brother’s business, but there’s no way he was blind to it, and that made him culpable. She folded her arms across her chest. “I need to talk to you, Nash.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“Considering what I’ve been dealing with, that’s not surprising.”
Nash tagged her hand and winced. “Well, tell me what’s got your knickers in a twist.”
“Do you really consider me a friend?”
/>
“Of course. We’ve been friends from the moment we sat next to each other in math class back in middle school.”
She stepped back and adjusted her ball cap. “I’ve always thought the same thing, but stuff has been happening that’s making me question if that’s true.”
His jaw tightened, letting her know he wasn’t all that surprised by her comment.
“I’m not sure if you heard, but I had a run in the other day with someone who was real intent on giving me a message.” She studied his face but didn’t see any telltale sign of distress. “Someone thinks we’re real close and believes I may know something about some kind of zip drive.”
Nash’s warm features hardened. He spun on the heel of his boot and ripped off his hat, slapping it hard against his thigh. “Goddamnit! I knew the shit Owen was involved in was a bad idea.”
Not liking the response, she took another step back and heard her dog whine. She hated that he’d not only allowed himself to get involved his brother’s illegal activities, but also put her under threat. “I’ve always appreciated your friendship, but I can’t be around you anymore.”
His face fell. “Em, I’m not—”
She put up her hand and shook her head. “I don’t want to hear it. I had to face down an asshole on the highway the other day, my house has been broken into, and you were parked outside my house week before last. I’m loyal, but I’m not stupid, and all those incidents add up to some very bad news.”
“It’s not what you think, Em. And know that I’ll talk to my brother and get this shit straightened out.”
“To be honest, I don’t want to think anything about it.”
“Believe you me, I’ll take care of it.”
“I hope so for your sake, but know that I still can’t be anywhere near you.” She took another step back and noticed his face redden and his hands curl into fists. Please don’t let him make a scene.
He tilted his chin up and narrowed his eyes. “Has Rick been poisoning your mind against me?”
“Not particularly, and what is it you have against him anyway?”