Her Wilde Bodyguards (5 page)

“I thought you might be. So will you be okay with me having King Cakes at your diner in Wilde now?”

“We’ll see.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and led her to the far exit he’d spied moments ago. Disguise or not, he wasn’t taking any chances of someone recognizing her.

“She’s a handful just like Bobby said, bro.” Carrying the luggage, Kyle’s eyes never left Gya’s.

A handful you’d like to get your hands on, I can tell.
“Yes, she is.”

“You two are the best, or so you say.” Gya pulled her baby close in. “They’re going to take good care of mama. You’ll see.”

Kyle laughed. “You’re too much.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet, fellas.”

“I’m sure we haven’t. Aaron, thank God we have each other on this one. I can’t imagine how tough this job would be all alone.”

“I’m not that bad, am I?” Gya sounded sincerely concerned. “I really was just teasing.”

“You’re not bad at all. I haven’t seen Kyle this engaged on a job ever.”

“Most of our clients are complete bores. She’s definitely not that.”

Gya’s eyes widened and fixed on Kyle. “Neither are you or Aaron.”

He used his key card and unlocked the exit door to the hotel. “Let’s go.”

“What about food?” she asked.

“Yeah, bro. We’re all starving.”

“We’re going to get settled in the room first and then I’ll get us something to eat. You can count on me.”
But for how long?

As they walked up the stairs, forgoing the elevator, his mind drifted back to his doctor’s appointment. Funny how a little white spot on an X-ray can change someone’s entire world. Now he knew for sure it was cancer. Hodgkin’s disease, the doctor had said. Even before getting the final results, he’d run through the odds and had known they weren’t in his favor. Given his family history, he’d expected the worst. And he’d been right.

Kyle was his only family. He loved his brother. He was proud of his brother. Giving him half of SCSS had always been the plan, but he’d revised it. Kyle needed to be ready to take the company over. In the last several months, he’d seen him get serious and prove himself well.

They went into the room.

“Is this my room or yours?” Gya asked.

He answered flatly, “It’s our room.”

Kyle placed the bags on one of the beds.

Her cheeks reddened. “I can’t possibly sleep in here with you.”

“Have you forgotten the rules, Gya?” He checked the window, and was happy to find it was sealed completely shut. Outside was the parking lot with a bright security light. Access this way wasn’t impossible but unlikely. “We will be perfectly respectful, but you cannot have your own room. It’s just not safe.”

“There are two beds,” Kyle said, clearly hoping to ease her concern. “It will be fine.”

“One of us will be awake while the other sleeps. That’s the drill.” He grabbed up the local diner’s menu, which was sitting on the tiny desk by the phone. He passed it to Gya. “Pick what you want.”

“I already told you what I wanted.” Gya’s aggravation at the current state of affairs had returned. Gone was the softness he’d seen earlier in the car.

“Pancakes. I remember.” He thought if she saw him as an asshole it would make it easier for her to lean on Kyle for support.
A perfect plan.
“Anything else?”

She shook her head.

Kyle asked for a cheeseburger and fries.

Without a word, he walked out the door. They needed time alone. Despite how hard Gya tried to show otherwise, Aaron knew she was an amazing and wonderful woman. Once you cut through all the layers, you found she was really quite sweet and innocent.

Were it not for that little spot the doctor had found, he could’ve seen him and Kyle claiming her as their own. But that spot existed, and Kyle still deserved a chance at happiness with Gya.

I can do my job and keep her safe. Once we get the stalker, it will be time for me to step aside for good.

* * * *

As the door shut, Gya turned to Kyle. “What’s wrong with your brother?”

“I’ve noticed he’s been a little too serious lately. Once you get to know him you’ll see he’s a good guy. Just give him a chance.”

“I am giving him a chance by even being here.” She sighed. “You think I have time to clean up a bit before he gets back.”

“I’m sure you do.” He smiled. “You need me to carry anything into the bathroom for you?”

“Just hand me that small case over there. That’s all I need.”

When he did, she entered the bathroom and shut the door.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror, trying to keep her feelings in check but having a difficult time of it. The two brothers were alike in so many ways. Both were attractive. Both were trustworthy. Both were honorable. But they were also different. Kyle was warm and mischievous. Aaron was determined and serious. She was attracted to both of them.
Good God, Gya. What’s wrong with you? You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.

Still, she wished it were possible to meld Kyle and Aaron into one. That would be a Frankenstein book she would enjoy being a part of, one where she would lose her heart completely to love.

But this wasn’t pretend. This was real life. Besides, one of the heroes of the story didn’t care for her one bit.

No doubt about it. Aaron doesn’t like me. That’s for certain. But I haven’t given him much to like, have I?
If she were honest, she’d been on edge for a very long time.

Maybe this is a change I need.

Walking between Aaron and Kyle, Gya stepped up to the wraparound porch of the country house. It looked so warm and inviting. The kind of home she wished she’d grown up in.

Aaron unlocked the door and swung it open. “After you.”

She walked inside and found the interior was just as charming as the exterior.

“Whoever designed this place has to be a lovely caring person.” Wherever her eyes landed they found soothing colors, inviting fabrics, and charming patterns. “It’s absolutely perfect. I love it.”

Kyle said, “Our mom was the designer in the family. She always had such a unique way of making everyone feel welcome the minute they walked in the door, not only with her decorating skills but with her charms. She would’ve been pleased that you liked the place.”

“This is your mother’s house?” She walked to the fireplace. On its mantel she saw several photographs. One was of Kyle graduating from high school. He looked so young. Another of Aaron, also young, holding a fishing pole with his arm around Kyle. In the middle of all the pictures was a beautiful-looking woman with long dark hair. “Is this her?”

“That’s our mom,” Kyle answered.

“Where is she? What’s she going to think when she learns you brought me here?”

“It was our mother’s house, Gya.” Aaron walked right in front of her. He towered over her, making her feel so tiny. “Our mother died several years ago. This is mine and Kyle’s house now.”

“Oh I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay,” Kyle said. “Although we miss her every day, it’s less painful now.”

“There isn’t a moment that goes by that we don’t think about her.” Aaron’s tone held such reverence that it was shocking to her. The hard edge that he presented most of the time seemed to soften at the mention of his mother. “Kyle, can you take Gya to the guest room? I need to leave for a while.”

“I’ll be happy to get her settled in,” Kyle said. “Where are you going? Aren’t you tired from that long drive?”

She was glad Kyle had asked, because she wanted to know, too.

“I need to go talk to Sheriff Champion and Austin Wilde. We can use their eyes and ears while we’re in town.”

“That’s a good idea. Nothing goes on around here without one of them knowing. Ever.”

“I won’t be gone long.” Aaron turned to her. “Make yourself at home, Gya.” And then he left without another word.

“You’re with me, sweetheart.” Kyle offered her his hand. “You’re on the second floor.”

She took his hand. “Lead the way, Prince Charming.”

They walked up the stairs and into a gorgeously appointed bedroom that was just as inviting as the rest of the house. Against the far wall of the room was the most comfy-looking bed she’d ever seen.

Kyle squeezed her hand and warmth shot up her arm. “This okay for you? I know it’s not Houston’s Crystal Dream Hotel.”

She looked into his blue eyes. “It’s so much better.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Kyle bowed at the waist, pretending to be from another era, where ladies of leisure received all the attention. “There’s a bathroom through that door. It is for you alone and no one else, my dear.”

“Thank you, my lord. The accommodations are beyond my expectations.” Trying to keep from giggling, she continued the act. “I am forever in your debt. How in the world will I ever repay you for allowing me to stay in such a glorious and elegant castle?”

Kyle burst into laughter. “The Castle Strait. I love it. I think I’ll get a plaque made and put it on the front door.”

She fell on the bed in a fit of giggles.

After they finally were able to breathe normally again, Kyle said. “My dads built this place, Gya. For my mom.”

“Dads?”

“Yes.” He smiled and sat down next to her. “Dad Leon and Dad Gene. They were brothers and they both fell madly in love with my mom.”

“Oh my God. Seriously? How could she marry them both?”

He shrugged. “There’s something about Wilde Aaron and I should’ve told you. It’s not like anywhere else. Our hometown has many unique families. Have you ever heard of polyamorous relationships, Gya?”

She shook her head.

“It’s a romantic relationship that involves more than two people, and in my family’s case it was between my two dads and mom. They’re all gone now, but they were crazy about each other.”

Does that mean I actually could have both Aaron and Kyle? Stop it, Gya. Don’t be ridiculous.

“The kind of family I grew up in, two dads and one mom, is the norm in Wilde, though there are a few of what the outside world calls ‘traditional’ living here.”

“Really? You’re serious?”

He nodded and brought out his cell phone. He clicked it a few times and then handed it to her. “That’s my mom and dads on their wedding day.”

She looked at the photo on the screen. She recognized the woman from the picture on the mantle. In this one she wore a bridal gown and stood between two men in military uniforms.

“Your mom and dads.” She didn’t look up but continued staring at Kyle’s and Aaron’s parents. They looked so happy. So in love. “This is so new to me. I would really like to know more about Wilde. Has it always been this way here?”

“Yes. Wilde is a mining town. Silver. Back in the eighteen hundreds, when it was founded, there weren’t very many women who ventured out this far. The first family, who were the namesakes of the town, began the tradition. Unlike so many other mining towns, which became ghost towns, ours continued. The original Wilde brothers married a lovely woman who had many children. So the mine remained in a single family, never being divided up to others.”

“So do you have a museum?”

“Actually, the founders’ original homestead is still intact. The members of the Wilde Historical Society are the caretakers of it for the town. I’d love to show it to you while you’re here, Gya.”

“I would love to see it.” Her mind was spinning. So he and Aaron had grown up in a house with two dads and one mom.
Maybe it isn’t so bad that I’m attracted to both of them.
“This is the most interesting story I’ve ever heard. But you’re not Wildes. You’re Straits. How did this poly…what did you call it?”

“Polyamorous relationships.”

She nodded. “Polyamorous relationships take off with the other families in the area.”

“The people of Wilde are about love in all its various shades and colors. They really don’t put limitations on it. Back in the old days, the townsfolk had to really stick together to survive. That spirit has continued to this very day.”

“You sound like you should head the Wilde welcome committee, Kyle.”

“I do love my hometown.”

“Then why did you and Aaron leave?”

“Our dads were killed in action in ‘89 down in Central America. And when our mom died while I was still in high school, Aaron and I both felt lost and adrift.” Kyle’s tone softened as he described his past. “Aaron postponed his college until I graduated. Being the oldest, he took on a ton of responsibility. Mom was so sick. The treatments the doctor prescribed were hard on her. Aaron took care of her and still made sure I got to school on time. Maybe knowing this, you can understand why he is so serious most of the time. It was how he survived all we went through. After I got my diploma, Aaron left Wilde and never returned. Until now.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, thinking about all they’d been through. “This is the first time Aaron’s been back to your hometown, to your parents’ house? Maybe he was just overwhelmed and had to leave.”