Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

We pulled down a winding road the next morning, driving under a large ranch sign that brought back memories. It was just like an old TV series my mother had liked to watch when she was sick: Dallas . She'd watched it growing up, and toward the end of her life, when she couldn't seem to do much more than lie in bed, we'd binge-watched it together.

I wondered what she'd think of this place. It was like it was plucked right out of her show. There were horses and cows in the distance. They'd definitely had a good running start when the end of the world came.

There were a few men on the porch, drinking and talking to each other as we parked the bike. Some more people were out in the field, looking as if they were trying to get the animals settled in for the night.

Kicks nodded to the men on the porch as we walked up. They nodded in return, their eyes shooting to his possessive hand at the small of my back.

A blonde wearing a cocktail dress that would've fit right in on Dallas was lighting candles and oil lamps in the grand hall. She turned and immediately smiled, but her eyes barely passed over me. The sound of her heels was dulled by the thick runner.

"Ed, I was wondering when I'd be seeing you again. It's been a minute." The way she smiled, the way she touched his arm, it appeared there was some history here as well.

How much history did he have? I'd thought maybe a novella, then a full-length novel, and now I was worried it was a series, and one that didn't end.

She'd still barely glanced at me.

"This is my wife, Julie," he said. "Julie, this is Blondie."

When was she going to move that hand? Did she not see his on my back?

"Hello." I watched her hand, waiting, wanting to wrench it off him.

I curved my arm around his waist like it belonged there. I figured if I hadn't killed him by holding on to his waist the entire time here, it was probably safe enough.

"Wife, huh?" She narrowed her eyes.

Oops. Looks like someone felt out of the loop.

"Recent development," he said. Kicks rubbed my back, and I tried not to melt. It was like my body was attuned to every touch of his.

"You're one lucky lady." Blondie finally moved her hand. There was a split second of silence before she shifted topics. "This is particularly good timing. Those guys who are getting that oil field up and running are here. They ran out, but they'll be back. If you can hang around, I can probably arrange a sit-down with them in the morning?"

"That sounds great. Appreciated," Kicks said.

"Since you've got the missus with you this time, I'm figuring you'll be wanting the blue room?" She glanced at me briefly, as if to see if I'd picked up on the hint.

How could I not? He'd obviously slept in her room, and her bed, last time. And this time ?

"I'm sure it's perfect," I said before Kicks replied. There was only going to be one girl on the cover of this novel, at least until I decided what I was doing. If he had to mess around, it was not going to be with her, or in front of my face like this. No way.

Blondie still had a smile on her face, but her eyes were hard when they met mine. "You missed dinner, but I can fix you a tray of some meat and cheese. I'll run it up in a few."

Our bags in hand, he headed up the stairs.

"This way, my little wifey," Kicks said, a wide smile on his lips.

I grabbed my bag from him and tossed it on the bed as soon as we got into the room. "Did Bri know about your situation with Blondie downstairs? She looks like a Blondie, by the way."

"Is that why you're all worked up? Did you feel offended for Bri?" I wasn't looking at him, but I didn't need to. I could hear the smile in his words.

"How many are there? Is there going to be a new one in California, too? How many other places did you visit ? You seem to like to visit quite a lot. Bri at least made sense. That one is a viper."

"It happened. I'm not a monk."

He looked like a man who wasn't used to going without for long, either. The idea that he'd lain with Blondie, had a connection with her that he'd never had with me, made me want to scream, punch him, and punch her as well, in no particular order.

"So who've you been sleeping with since you took me as your mate, since you can't seem to be celibate?" I was digging around in my bag, and I couldn't remember what I'd been looking for. My brain was short-circuiting, unable to get the image of him and Blondie out of my head. And I'd believed that mill story. Sure. I was going to have to ask Death if he'd been messing around with Louise. If Death was going to ruin my life, I better start getting something out of this deal.

"I haven't slept with anyone." He was close behind me, and then a hand grazed my hip, slid up to my waist, and then pulled me back against him. "You know, if you're going to start getting possessive, I'm going to start getting ideas."

"Like what? That I don't like to be embarrassed?" I sounded flustered. As soon as he touched me, it was as if I immediately became a big ninny.

"Embarrassed? Is that what it's called now? Looked more like jealousy to me, but what do I know—this is all business, right?" He pulled me closer, until my curves were forming to him.

"Yes. That's right," I said, but made no motion to pull away.

He dipped his head lower, his jaw brushing my temple. "You're sure that's what you want? A pure business relationship?"

He brushed my hair away from my neck, and his lips grazed the soft, sensitive skin of my neck.

He lifted his head right before there was a knock at the door.

"Ed?" Blondie called from the other side. It was all I needed to snap my sanity back into place. I shifted away from him until I was on the other side of the bed.

Kicks stared at me, shook his head as if he knew the moment was lost, and then opened the door.

Blondie was there with a tray of food. "Those guys said they'd talk to you at breakfast if you're interested."

"Sounds good. Thanks," Kicks said.

"Let me know if you need anything else," she said, smiling just for him.

"This should be it. Thanks again," Kicks said.

I was barely able to wait until he shut the door before I said, "You leave this room tonight and I'll gut you in your sleep."

He laughed. "You know, you're very territorial for my little human business partner."

I glared at him.

He was laughing again as he said, "I'll take the floor."