Wild Ride: BBW Western Romance (Under Open Skies Saga Book 2) (13 page)

“
Mine
.”
It was all he needed to say. She knew exactly what he meant.

I found something. Do
n’
t talk to anyone. Come to the office - Jen.

Kat read the text a couple more times before she finally convinced herself to rise from the warm confines of Hunte
r’
s be
d…
and his arms. With a reluctant push she broke free, sliding deftly out from under his arms, and off the bed. He looked so sweet just sleeping, she could
n’
t wake him. She popped in his bathroom for a quick shower. It would
n’
t do to go to work smelling like sex. Especially as the boss.

She turned on the shower and then turned to look in the mirror, a new woman looked back at her, one she did
n’
t quite recognize. Someone with a smile in the corner of her mouth and a spark in her eyes. She almost felt guilty for having a smile at all, not when she should be grieving, throwing herself into her work. She had so much to take care of. A legacy to protect.

She slipped her hand under the shower head and made sure the water was just right before hopping in. She let the steaming hot water hit her directly in the face, waking her completely. She sighed and turned, letting the pelting shower massage her back.

Her hands threaded through her wet hair as she slicked it back and grabbed the shampoo. She heard the curtain rustle and turned to see a very naked, very sexy Hunter staring back at her.

“
Trying to have all the fun without me
?”
His smile was playful as he grabbed a bit of foam from her hair and dabbed it right on the tip of her nose.

“
You were so peaceful and quiet. I just did
n’
t want to wake you
.”
She smiled and rinsed her hair under the shower, the water restoring her awareness. Nothing like a hot shower and a hot man to wake her up.

“
Well, now that I am awake I would love to show you just what I can do in the morning
.”
He grabbed her wet body and pulled it to his, his cock already hard.

Kat hesitated. She really needed to get to the office, but his body was so damn hot. She sighed and gave him her best puppy dog eyes.

“
Normally, I would
n’
t hesitate to take you up on that offer, but I really need to get to the office
.
”

“
If yo
u’
re sure
,”
his brows furrowed a bit as he watched her. Giving him a final kiss, she turned and finished rinsing off her body then stepped out of the shower.

“
Showe
r’
s all yours
.”
She dressed quickly and left before he was even out of the shower.

He would understand later.

“
Took you long enough
,”
Jenny sighed
,“
Your coffee is cold, get in here
.
”

Jenny held a stack of papers and a coffee as she stood to greet Kat. Her office was a mess, papers everywhere, a laptop on top of them all, and Jenny who looked like she had
n’
t slept all night.

“
Sorry, had to drive from Loredo. What time did you come in
?”
She pulled her coat off and hung it up, looking over at Jenny. It was the first time she had ever seen the woman without a smile on her face.

“
Loredo
?”
Jenny dodged a question with a question and handed her the cool coffee. She took a sip anyways
.“
I thought you had a house here
.
”

“
Hotel room
,”
She felt herself blush as she remembered last nigh
t’
s events. Remembered Hunter touching her body. She tried to hide her face but it was too late.

“
You were with somebody! Who? Wyatt? Not Samuel
?”
She sucked in a breath, her eyes ultra wide.

“
No, not Samuel
,”
Kat assured, and Jenn
y’
s eyes returned to their normal, wide-eyed look. Hell, might as well tell her. If her dad trusted Jenny, so could she. Kat swallowed
,“
Hunter Daniels
.
”

“
Ah, the partner in the making. The one you wanted to find out about. Who pissed you the hell off the other day
.”
Jenny nodded like it made sense
.“
Ca
n’
t deny that the way he infuriates you made me suspicious. Plus, h
e’
s hot
.
”

“
You know him
?
”

“
Everyone knows him, your father was trying to convince him to sign with the agency, so he was in and out a dozen times. I should have put two and two together about the names, same as one of your partne
r’
s. I just, I did
n’
t think about it because John never talked about it
.”
It was the first time she said his name, since Kat started working there. It shocked her to see the sadness fill Jenny after she said it. But the young woman cleared her throat and carried on.
 “
I wrote countless emails to him for your father. When your dad saw something special in a person, he just did
n’
t let that go. He really valued talent
.
”

Kat knew her father was invested in his business, and she should
n’
t have been surprised but all it did was remind her of how she was less important than the company. She tried to bite back the irritation, the vulnerability that lingered there. Not the easiest thing to accomplish. In fact there were so many things she did
n’
t know about him. He came home every day and was the father she knew him to be. Sure, she knew he worked hard but she just did
n’
t realize how much effort he put into his business.

“
Anyways, I did
n’
t call you in on a Saturday to chat. I found what you were asking about. Here, look at these
.”
Jenny pushed a stack of papers towards Kat.

She studied the reports. Printouts of phone records.

“
Company cell phone records. They use them for business. We get a copy. Look
.”
She pointed to the papers
.“
Samuel keeps calling this number. Even at 2 A M
.
”

Kat looked at it and then up again at Jenny. So what? It was just a number.

“
Do
n’
t you know whose number that is? I
t’
s Alice Wheato
n’
s
.
”

Still nothing.

“
Han
k’
s secretary, Alice. The person who would directly link you to Samuel, who delivers your documents to him. Documents like cuts in pay, salary increases for individuals? The perfect contact. And at 2 A.M. through company phones? Something has to be fishy there. So I dug a little deeper into the records, using administrative privilege, and look at this
.”
Jenny presented another set of documents.

Damn, this girl has really done her homework
.

Emails. Kat read the top one on the stack.

From: [email protected]

Subject: Work Meeting

Are you all set for tonight? I reserved a space where we could discus
s…
details. Gilmore at 7?

I’
ll be waiting,

Samuel

The Gilmore Inn was a local landmark that would be the perfect place for meeting to talk about untoward things. It was known as the meeting place for those who wanted a little extramarital action, but it was certainly someplace where a couple of people could get together and scheme. And no one would notice, just think they were like everyone else. Looking for some discretion as they broke their vows. She knew, because her mother had ranted and raved about that place more than once. John Brooks was no saint.

Jenny smiled at herself and grabbed her own cup of coffee, taking a deep sip and sighing.

“
You are a genius
!”
She gathered up the records and turned away from Jenny. She was just about to go for her coat when Jenny grabbed her by the shoulder.

“
Wait, what are you doing
?
”

“
It is Saturday, Samuel works Saturdays
,”
She checked her watch. 8:45 A.M
.“
He should be there by now. It is one the biggest training days.
I’
m going to confront him
.
”

“
Do you really think that is a good idea? I mean, in front of all the men? It is
n’
t what your father would do
.”
Jenny bit her lip and looked at Kat. She was concerned for her. In that very moment Kat knew she had done the right thing by placing her trust in Jenny.

But she also knew what she had to do. And it was
n’
t sit in the office and present the material to someone else. She was in charge of her fathe
r’
s business, and she needed to run it like the strong woman she knew she was.

She turned and looked Jenny directly in the eye.

“
Well, i
t’
s a good thing I am not my father
.
”

The office building was an exact replica of the one built at the Bull Riding facility, just as new. With the same exact landscaping. She had expected the Bronco Riding facility to have a smaller office. Or maybe an older setup. But when her father did something, he did it right, and everyone was treated equally. Kat approached the building, her nerves on edge.

This is my company. I write the checks for these workers. Me.

She opened the door and walked into the office to find Samuel sitting at his desk, filling out paperwork. He looked up sourly, his mood only darkening when he recognized her grimace.

“
To what do I owe this pleasure
?”
He asked, grabbing his mug and taking a sip of what she guessed was coffee.

Kat threw the paperwork down on his desk and looked him in the eyes.

“
I want the truth. And I want it now
.
”

He looked through the stack of papers and then back up to her
.“
I was engaged in several business meetings with Ms. Wheaton at the bequest of Hank. Why
?”
He cleared his throat,   his words catching at Ms. Wheaton. He was obviously lying, even he knew he was caught. But there was nothing he could do about is so he looked back down at the papers.

“
I want the truth, Samuel. I think we all deserve to know why you did it
.
”

“
I
t’
s personal
.
”

If he had hackles she would have seen them ruffle. He was finished answering questions. But she just could
n’
t help herself. She had to know why he betrayed the company. Why he had betrayed her father.

“
Not when you do it to my company. To my fathe
r’
s legacy
.
”

“
Look, what I do on my own time is none of the compan
y’
s damn business. If I want to screw the whole world, I have the right to
.”
He stood, his jaw clenched and his nostrils flared
.“
I do
n’
t see what fucki
n’
Alice has to do with the company
.
”