Chapter 25
Slade
“Is it so important that you interrupt me while in Texas?” I asked by way of a greeting. Tommy, my assistant, wouldn’t have called unless I needed to know something, but I wanted to make it difficult for him. It was our way of doing business. Why change it now?
I placed my other hand on the edge of the kitchen island, watching Mace scan through the print magazines and tabloids he’d picked up this week at the grocery store, all filled with my images.
This week’s episode of Titan’s Fall had me wearing less clothing than ever before. The images were now everywhere.
Mace was having the best time teasing me, not swayed by my belief that I was being sexually exploited by my show. At least I tried that excuse once I realized the different body parts exposed in those shots.
He pursed his lips in an expression I’d seen many times.
This time, though, it was while he pondered the Met Gala look I’d been told to wear last year.
Lots of chains and a whip. It wasn’t my favorite dress-up time, but the entire walk into the building, I’d fantasized about whipping the cameras from the paparazzi’s hand, very much like Zoro wielded his sword.
That mental image accounted for the smile I’d worn on the red carpet.
Breezy was by my side, dressed as a sub in all black leather, which had the tabloids talking about our bedroom activities for months. She was an extraordinary friend and better beard.
“You do this in public?” Mace cocked his head toward me, faux judgment all over his expression. At least I hoped that was the case. My country hunk wasn’t used to the LA ways.
“I don’t think you’re listening to me, or you’re shocked, which one?” Tommy said, his voice breaking through my focus on Mace.
“The first, tell me again. Mace found the photos of the Met Gala last year. His country prudish side isn’t seeing the benefits,” I explained, staring Mace straight in the eyes as I spoke.
“Hey, I was just asking…”
I wrinkled my brow and rolled my eyes. Maybe I’d get a spanking for my bad behavior later.
“Okay. Y’all do you. I should’nt’ve called. I’ll keep you posted,” Tommy said.
“About what?” I asked as Mace let out a belly laugh. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, all his muscles firmed up nicely due to the physical work on the farm. I enjoyed the way his toned abs rippled and rolled these days.
“We’re talking about the breach we’ve had. I’ve asked Nico to look closer into it,” Tommy said, gaining every bit of my attention. So much so I turned away from Mace and tucked my chin to my chest.
“What’s happened to cause that reaction?” I asked.
“You don’t listen to me.” He went silent with his disgust. As I went to open my mouth and bark out an order, he continued, “You make this job so much harder than it has to be. If I didn’t have to say everything ten times over…”
“Let’s concentrate on saying it twice. Start again.”
“There’s been a supposed sighting of you in your general area,” he said.
And how hard was it to say that another time?
“I haven’t been off the property since last summer. What’s it say?” I asked.
“A girl saw you and another guy at breakfast at a Waffle House between you and Austin Grainger’s place. No pictures accompanied the comment, but it’s gaining traction.”
I let that sink in but couldn’t find the problem. If there were no pictures, and no one identified Mace, who cared?
“Okay. If it comes to it, say I went to Austin Grainger’s to discuss a production. Or don’t say anything. Nothing’s changed.” My mind raced, quickly searching every angle. I still didn’t see the problem.
“You need to tell Liam and public relations. They don’t listen to me and barely listen to you…” Tommy was well on his way to another long-established rant before I cut him off.
“And that’s why I pay you the big bucks…” My smile was instant as Tommy’s response came by way of a solid huff and bark of derisive laughter. “Send an email from me to PR with whatever you think’s going on.”
“Lord, I need a raise. You’re a mess to deal with.” That came with all the sassy my feisty, yet straight, assistant used in his life. We’d gotten to our normal point of offering our goodbyes, so I ended the call and left the cell on the counter before climbing on the seat next to Mace’s.
“What if I stayed here another night?” The words shocked Mace if the way he swung his head my direction meant anything.
“We have animals comin’ tomorrow. It’s our first large owner-surrendered load that gathered at auction.
I’ve gotta be there the entire day. Kylie Kelly’s comin’ to check out the animals.
I’ll sleep at my place…” My hand lifted to cover his mouth, my fingers pressing in to better shut him up. I was the talker between us two.
“Stop with the excitement of spending extra time with me.”
His head moved away from my hand. Challenging words tumbled from his mouth. “No, that’s not it. I’m into you stayin’, but we can’t just hole up here. It all begins tomorrow.”
“So, if I stay, we sleep at your place tonight?” I asked, dropping my hands together between my thighs. “I wanna be here to watch and learn just in case you can’t be here at some point.”
“I agree, but you’ll have to stay hidden until the load’s delivered.” Mace began closing all the magazine and newspapers, while getting to his feet. I was right there, to bring his hips toward me, lifting my chin for a kiss. “It’s unexpected. I didn’t know it was an option.”
He stared down at me, and I let him, still puckered and ready.
“You know I want you here. It’s excitin’ to see my goals happenin’ in real time.
It’s all because of you. I was surprised you wanted to stay, that’s all.
” As he spoke, he did his best to eradicate any hurt feelings.
It took a minute of him assessing my expression before he slowly bent and pressed his lips against mine.
The tender moment was lost when I tried to deepen the kiss and he made a big giant step off the chair, over my legs.
My fingers reached for his belt loops, and took a pretty good hit when he twisted, causing me to fully let go.
He’d flung me off like a bothersome gnat.
His sweetness evaporated as quickly as it was given.
I watched him walk away, talking about the following morning’s activities, me watching that cowboy strut he pulled off so damned well.
I wanted to video that walk to watch later. Man, I loved to watch Mace go.
Mace had me cinched tight, pulling me off the chair to follow wherever he led.
=?=
Mace
“I’m goin’ to head over…” I whispered while standing just out of the laptop screen where he was on a video call. Slade lifted a finger between us for the third time in the last ten minutes.
His other life wasn’t happy he hadn’t returned to California last night.
I wasn’t sure how long he’d been on the call, and didn’t care, time was ticking and I needed to get on the road to my house.
Where I should have slept last night, like I had planned.
The horses were twenty minutes out, and I wanted to be there from the go.
My foot bounced when Slade turned away from me; the video call held all his attention.
Screw this. I blew out a lengthy breath and patted my jeans pockets.
My keys were there. Slade could follow later.
I connected to animals in a different way.
These horses were traumatized before ever arriving.
They needed to see and hear my voice from the second they set foot on Wildflower Sanctuary to help them transition to the ranch.
Of course I saw the holes in my theory, but I still started for my truck. The work ethic my parents jackhammered into my head required I leave to do the job I’d committed to doing.
The early spring weather in this part of Texas was everything right in the world.
I loved this time of year. Having Slade stay the extra day did matter in how special this morning had felt.
I whistled for Willow who bounded off the porch and into the truck bed.
I got behind the wheel of my old truck, bypassing the new, enormous Chevrolet pickup parked in Slade’s driveway.
My beater truck almost drove itself, and it drove Slade crazy that I wasn’t inside the safer vehicle. Win/win I guessed.
I rolled the window down and started the engine. Last night’s music shouted loudly at me. I let it continue the happy beat and put my truck in gear, taking off down the gravel road that connected his home to mine. The sunshine just waking up the day.
So much had changed over the last eight months.
I couldn’t imagine the true costs of everything.
Although we were considered a medium-size refuge, we met our monthly goals with loads of small donations.
The grants took forever to receive. And I knew with certainty the white fencing alone had cost thousands and thousands of dollars.
That kind of money still twisted my gut, but as I drove closer to the sanctuary, the pride I felt at seeing my dreams in action meant everything to my soul.
I was happy…beyond happy. I was joy-filled every single day.
My entire perspective had changed. I felt worthy of the world again, which of course, changed my life, even Slade’s presence in it.
I no longer hid our connection in front of his staff and even the guys Austin had sent to help as farmhands.
I suspected they were security as well, but I’d let it go. Let Slade have his secrets.
Today’s new arrivals pulled in seconds after I did.
Austin’s general manager, Mike, was there, waiting.
I appreciated his ranch management skills.
He’d been on property for about the last two weeks, shoring up areas that needed his expertise and lending a hand in the several hundred acres of crops we planted.
Soon enough, we’d have enough hay to cover the needs of the ranch and more.