Unstable (27 page)

“Okay, so why were you out with Addison?”

“Intel. Set the old ‘Keaton charm’ trap, and she fell right into it,” he proudly laughs.

“Yeah, I’m familiar.” I resent the similarity, shoveling with new, somewhat jealous, vigor.

“Didn’t touch her, Hen. Didn’t have to. Just a certain voice and look, girl was singing like a bird.”

“Singing? About what?”

He stops working, leaning against the handle of his shovel. “Don’t freak out, I’ve got it all covered. Okay?”

Well of course I now stop too, staring at him. “Okayy,” I drawl.

When someone starts with “don’t freak out,” it’s the first thing you gear up to do. Just like when someone says “no offense,” they know their ass is about to offend you.

“Your mom was no fool, Henley. She knew Merrick was a shady shithead, no way in hell she would’ve gone to him as her lawyer. And she didn’t. She had that Will drawn up years ago, by
his father
. In fact, your mom hadn’t been into their office in ages, and never once met with Merrick.”

“So Merrick took over the file, so what?” Why I say this, I don’t know—prolonging the inevitable perhaps? Every hair on my body is tingling at its roots, aware that I’m pretending not to be dreading the upcoming, sticky web about to unfold.

“Said he did you a favor and paid your mortgage,” he scoffs. “Henley, there’s no mortgage on this farm. Your grandpa bought it decades ago, for next to nothing. The only
loan
your mom ever had was a small one, after her one bad calving season. I don’t know yet, but I’m sure that’s paid off too. But a mortgage? Knew the minute you said it we were dealing with some serious shit. And your lawyer, which he
wasn’t,
doesn’t do your banking. You deal directly with
the bank
on that, as Executor. Which you are, as soon as you sign. Anyone from the bank even called you about anything?”

“N…no,” I stammer, beginning to feel dizzy.

“That’s because you don’t owe them anything. And whose Daddy runs the bank? Gave her a cushy desk job and fancy title she didn’t earn?”

“I…don’t know.” I grab onto the side of the stall to stay upright, anxiety swirling in my stomach, threatening my balance.

“Krista,” he hisses, suddenly hurdling over the stall in one move.

I think he catches me just short of the ground.

When I come to, I’m on the couch. Bourbon’s head is laid right by mine, a slow, constant whine coming from him.

“Hey boy.” I pat his head. “I’m fine. No more worrying.” His tail flips once, just as Keaton, not so nicely, grunts from where he broods in his seat at the end of the couch by my feet.

“Here, drink this.” He helps me sit up and hands me a glass of ice water. “All of it. And add to the list, from now on, when I say we’re gonna sit down on the couch and discuss something, by God, that’s what we’re doing.”

“I passed out?”

“Yeah, you did. Barely caught ya before you hit the dirt, or your head.” His chest vibrates with a scary rumble. “Baby, you have all the power, you’re
really
the boss. Bat of an eye and you know I’d do anything for you, but keeping you safe? You’re giving me that shit. No arguments.”

“Okay,” I comply with his new rule. “I will never fight you on
that part
, ever again. Eating ground with my face isn’t real high on my bucket list. You win this round, Cash. And thanks for carrying me in here. Did you sneak peeks under my clothes while I was out?” I taunt, somewhat for enjoyment, but more so to assure him I’m feeling alright.

“No, you freaky perv,” he winks. “I wouldn’t accost you while you’re blacked out. Now while you’re sleeping? Maybe.”

“Stop.” I swat at his arm and grin. “So from what I remember, Merrick and Krista are working together to steal from me. Do I have that right?”

“Pretty much,” he sighs long and hard. “He’s definitely cyphering money under the guise of billing for
managing
an account that doesn’t need managed and he fucks Krista so she’ll help him. And he fucks Addison so she keeps quiet about it all. But bigger than that, he didn’t have those papers ready because he’s stalling. Holding out, waiting—” he looks down, petting Bourbon.

“Waiting for what?” I press for the answer I already know.

“For you to ‘lose it,’ or disappear again, give up. Until you’ve signed, he’s technically got Power of Attorney, and
if
he can prove you unfit, then his office would move into complete control of your assets. The farm, any savings, bonds. Whatever you’ve been left. He’d make a huge profit or billing ruse off that somehow. Not exactly sure how it’d work, but you can bet he knows. Of course I’d try to buy it all and sell it back to you for a dollar, but none of that matters because nothing he’s got planned is gonna happen. You spoiled his scheming by coming back and handling your own. Just like I knew you could, baby.”

“That fucking bastard.” I slam my water on the coffee table and sit up even straighter. Bourbon flinches from my outburst, so I adjust my tone and scratch behind his ears. “Sorry, boy. Mama’s not mad at you. And I know we’ve always said biting is a no-no, but if you see Merrick, chomp down for bone, buddy.”

“Let me have a punch or two first, Bourbon,” Keaton adds with no sign of joking in his voice.

And this
isn’t
a joke. This is fraud, and my livelihood. I stare at Keaton, conveying strength, forcing my worry to the unseen background. “What do you think I should do?”

“You’re asking
me
, outright, for help? My opinion?” His face splits in a dazzling beam.

“Well yeah, of course I am. You’re the one who figured it all out,
by seducing Addison,
” I grump a little at that part. “And I trust you, Keaton. I really do.”

“You don’t need to consult with Gatlin?” he asks, not angrily, only a curious probe with a raised brow.

I shake my head. “No, I’m asking
you.”

“You sure as hell are,” his voice is low, heavy with a pleased territorialism.
Something I would not find sexy on anyone other than Keaton.
“We’re gonna go pay Merrick a visit tomorrow, and get everything straightened out. Using whatever means necessary.”

His threat isn’t the least bit veiled—it’s right out there—confident and blunt, and I’m terrified, because I’m equally as sure he means it.

“Keaton, I—”

“Can sleep in the room I made you again, now that you understand I’m not a cheating asshole? I know. I’ll carry you in there, bring in some dinner, and then you need to get as much rest as possible. Big day tomorrow, need ya ready, baby.”

He sweeps me up in a cradle hold and I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face there too. “Keaton, promise me I’m not your pity project. That you’re not gonna move on when you know everything’s squared away, and I’ll be okay. Tell me all this is really because it’s
me
and you
want
to be here,” I whisper my biggest fears onto his skin.

He lays me down in the bed, then leans over me, capturing my doubting gaze with his completely open, honest one. Turquoise—means he’s serious.

“Henley Gene Calvert, I am madly, unconditionally, forever in love with you. I’ve loved you since you were ten. I loved you while you were gone, and I love you now. If I die tomorrow or when I’m ninety, I will die loving you. If you believe in dreams and signs, surely you believe in destiny. You are, and have always been, my destiny.”

“I—”

“Don’t have to say a thing, right now.” He smiles, tender and understanding. “I’m gonna go grab you something to eat. Turn down the other side of those covers though, woman. Just told ya I’m in love with you, damn sure sleeping with you in my arms tonight.”

I SLOWLY OPEN MY
eyes, cocooned in a soothing heat unlike anything I’ve ever felt.

Massive legs are entwined with mine and brawny arms wrap around me like strong, protective vines…a second blanket. Hot, heavy breaths warm my neck in rhythmic, feathery bursts.

Keaton Fucking Cash—yes, he’s earned back the patented endearment—absolutely, fully surrounds me. Slept with me all night. Covered me as if to keep me, as though he may never get the chance again.

I turn my head as slowly and with as little motion as I can to peer back over my shoulder at him. Only to be met with open, sleepy blue eyes and a contented smile that sends my belly quivering. Because it perfectly portrays the peace I feel too.

“Morning, Darlin’,” his voice is raspy, thick with sexy sleepiness.

“Morning,” I mumble somewhat shyly, trying to scoot over, only to be immediately denied by his tightening hold on me.

“Sleep good?” he asks.

I did, amazingly so. Not a single thought, worry, or dream of what today holds disrupting my sanctity. But no need to disclose such detail.

“Yeah, you?”

“Whadda you think? You fit so perfectly against me, Hen. Took everything in me to just hold you and let you sleep. Swear to God, if you’d have scooted that sweet lil’ ass closer into me one more time, I may have lost the ability to be a gentleman.” His chuckle is unapologetic.

“I can’t believe we slept together.”

“Lord, I wish it was actually how you make it sound.” His hand moves lower on my stomach, creeping toward places that will send this morning scorching in all new directions.

“I’ve, uh, gotta get up and take care of Bourbon. And what about your farm? You spend so much time here, who’s tending to your stuff?”

“Most my stuff’s ahead for the season, but my lead hand’s excellent at the small day to day tasks. No need to worry.” He taps the end of my nose. “Good job on the subject change though. Go ahead and see to Bourbon and get ready. I’m gonna run home and take a shower then I’ll be back to pick you up. Time to go pay that bastard a visit and put his bullshit to bed.”

He gets up first and nothing short of a sudden house fire could make me move, tear my eyes away. He’d slept in only gray boxer briefs, the kind that hug his upper thighs and round, full ass in perfect, mouthwatering form. His back is tan and muscular and the ass on him…did I mention it’s sheer perfection?

“Pretty damn fond of yours too, baby,” he laughs, turning with a cocky grin to torture me with the front view.

My eyes skim his chest, still magnificent, and take a second to appreciate the line of dark hair leading down from his belly button and those deep dents at his hips that have me forgetting my own name to…land squarely on his dick.

It’s hard,
very
hard, the thin material of his boxer briefs painting me an almost perfect picture. I can see he’s built long and abnormally, I’m guessing, thick, with the tip of his engorged head peeking above his waistband.

I blink, licking my lips, and look again, just to make sure I’m not exaggerating what I see.

I’m not.

“That’s it,” he rumbles, crawling back in the bed, dragging me into the middle and placing his body over the top of mine. “Henny, you can’t lick your lips and give me ‘please fuck me’ eyes and expect me to resist.” He hovers over me, enough weight braced on his forearms on either side of my head so as to not crush me, but not so much that his raging hard-on doesn’t line up and tease between my legs.

“Want something,
anything
, baby? It’ll relax us both for the day. You pick—my hands, fingers, mouth, dick—and where you want it. But you gotta pick
something,
or I’m gonna go insane.”

I
refuse
to say “all of the above and everywhere” even though it’s on the tip of my tongue. Slow and steady wins the race, and I want slow—a chance to savor each stage of absorbing Keaton into my body and soul.

“Surprise me,” I whisper. “But not…not with everything…you know?” I blush.

A sensuous flame stokes in his eyes and his mouth curls in sexy gratification.

He raises himself up and takes my hands, guiding my arms up over my head, then gradually, watching every second of it, lifts my shirt off too. “So fucking gorgeous,” he praises deeply, eyes glued to my naked breasts.

His hands glide up my stomach, trembling beneath his touch, ‘til he’s palming both of my breasts. Rubbing, massaging, taking his time to get to know their weight, shape, and feel. “Perfect,” he grunts, squeezing harder.

He again lowers himself and his head, taking one breast in his mouth. I gasp, my back arching off the bed and he sucks harder in response. He licks and sucks, flicking the painfully hard tip of my nipple and bites, with precise force, drawing a wail of desire from me.

Without time for a full breath, he switches, showing the same attention to the other one with his mouth, while still playing the last with his hand, rolling and pinching the nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

Then his hand disappears, quickly returning to trail a sizzling path back down my stomach, sliding inside my shorts. And panties. Every muscle in me clenches, and there’s a warm gush of anticipation between my legs and a prickle in my pelvis.

“Relax,” he coos warmly on my breast. “I got you, baby.”

I know he does, he always has. But this time it’s Keaton the
man
, taking care of Henley the
woman
…and she’s not going to fight him on it.

Two fingers easily glide through my wetness and I jolt with that first touch, him again soothing me with hot, sexy words. I brace myself by gripping onto both his upper arms and close my eyes, giving myself over to his complete control.