Chapter 4
Eli snorted when he saw Micah Ross’ number on his cell phone. He’d had more phone calls from the club owner in the last few weeks than he had their entire friendship. In fact, he had barely talked to Micah outside of the club. Not until Joe had gotten sick. Now, after his friend’s death, Micah called on a regular basis. He thought about ignoring it because he had a lot of work today, but he had learned that Micah would just keep calling. He picked it up.
“If you keep calling me like this, people will begin to talk.”
Micah chuckled. “I call at the behest of my woman.”
“I really hate that term,” Dee said in the background.
“It’s true,” Micah said. “And she did want me to call and check on you.”
“Yeah. So sad to see someone who used to be a revered Dom at the command of a little woman.”
“She takes orders about the important stuff. Ow, dammit, Dee. Don’t punch me.”
Eli laughed. It had been ten days since the memorial service and either Evan or Micah had called him every few days. It was a little disturbing how Eli was starting to look forward to the calls, so he had ignored a few of them. That had been a mistake.
“Whatcha want now, Ross?”
“Dee wanted to know when Crysta was returning. She’s wondering if she’d want to come over and meet everyone.”
“Why the hell would she want that?” he asked, realizing he had raised his voice when one of the horse trainers glanced over at him. Why the idea had him pissed off he had no idea.
“Dee thought she might want to get to know about the islands. And, you know, you don’t have a lot of women on the ranch. She might want some female company. Plus, you know the ladies. They’ll want to take her to Rough ‘n Ready.”
Eli said nothing as he looked out over the barn while trying to form an answer.
“Eli?”
He didn’t know why he had such a visceral reaction to her being at the club, or even just talking to the women. May Chambers and Dee Ross were sweet women and would never do anything to Crysta, but Eli realized there was a sense of wrongness about taking her to the club. She lived the life and was a beautiful woman. He didn’t want her on display.
That is until she’d submitted.
Dammit.
“Eli? Seriously, man, you have to answer me, or Dee’s going to have her brother route a call to 911 there.”
Eli shook himself out of his funk. “Control your woman, Ross. Besides, what makes you think Crysta would want a trip to Rough ‘n Ready?”
There was a beat of silence. “I talked to Damon, the Dom we talked about. She’ll want to at least stop by, according to him.”
That wasn’t acceptable. Not that he had a choice in the matter, but Eli didn’t like it. He wanted her on the ranch. With him.
Shit.
He needed to get his mind off that. There was no way he was going to be able to bed Crysta. He didn’t have time to deal with a new sub, and he didn’t want to deal with implications of getting tied up with her. They had a hard six months ahead of them.
“Listen, I’ll let her know when she comes here. We’ll probably make a trip to Oahu, but we are kind of stuck here for six months. We can only leave the island for a couple days.”
Ross chuckled. “I have a feeling old Joe had this planned all along.”
“Of course he did, the old bastard.”
“You don’t sound too upset over it.”
He shrugged knowing Micah couldn’t see it. “I can’t disagree because I’ll be left with the ranch at the end. Crysta stepped up.”
“That’s true. Call if you need anything. And you know, Dee’s gonna make me call in a couple days.”
“Of course she is, Ross. You’re whipped.”
“And gladly.”
He hung up, leaving Eli to his thoughts. He walked out of the barn with Charlie, his three-year-old mare. She was a good workhorse and since he’d been there she’d foaled, they had pretty much spent her entire life together. Best, she didn’t ask questions.
The one thing he wanted to make sure was not to let his attraction to Crysta cause problems. Business was business. With them both living in the same house, he needed to control his need to touch her. It wasn’t overwhelming him…not yet. But, when he had seen she and her father return from spreading her mother’s ashes, he’d wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her. It wasn’t something he was accustomed to. He had subs, he had lovers, but he didn’t get involved in their personal lives.
He sighed and mounted his horse. There was nothing a good ride out wouldn’t help with.
* * *
It had beentwo weeks and Crysta was still not sure she was doing the right thing. In terms of the ranch, she was. But she was worried about her father. As people hurried past them at Dulles, she started to have regrets. Her father was stronger, but he needed her. Not all the time, but some of the time. Okay, not really at all, but being so far away made her worry.
“No.”
She looked up at her father. “What?”
“No, you are not going to use me to stay here.”
She frowned at her father. “I’m not trying to use you.”
“It’s six months, and maybe I can find time to get back out there to visit again. I can take care of myself.”
She knew he could. “But what happens if the cancer comes back.”
He took her hands. “First, you have to accept that the cancer will always be there. I’m just in remission. It is something I will probably have to live with. Secondly, you know provisions are in the will for this. And thirdly, you need to get through security so you can make it to your plane.”
He pulled her close, gave her one of those big hugs she loved so much, then gave her a loud smacking kiss on the lips.
“I love you. Now go away.”
She laughed. “Okay.”
She turned to head to security.
“Text me when you get there.”
“I don’t know. You told me to go away,” she yelled behind her. She smiled when she heard his laugh. It was the big booming sound that she had missed during his treatment. It warmed her heart and soul to hear it again. Right before she turned the corner, she turned and looked back. He was still standing there, the man who she thought could conquer anything, smiling and waving. He was all that was good in her world and one thing she knew she needed was to let him have his freedom. And…she needed to get on with her life.
Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she turned and headed off to that life. At least for a little while, she was going to be a ranch owner.
Oh, God.
“I hope you know what you were doing, Joe.”
* * *
“Shouldn’tshe be here by now?” Danny Aiona asked Eli.
Eli spared the younger man a glance, but kept his concentration on the arrivals. He’d tried to ignore his own personal anticipation about Crysta arriving, but with Danny asking about it every five minutes, he made it worse. May Chambers’ younger brother was working at the ranch for the summer to save up some money for school. He didn’t mind since they were busy at the ranch and Danny was a good worker. It was a shame that the kid wanted to be a doctor because he was excellent with horses.
“I heard she was hot.”
He had to fight a chuckle. The youngest of the Aionas had a problem with keeping his thoughts to himself.
“Yeah. She’s pretty.”
Danny hummed. “I do have a thing for black women.”
“So I’ve heard.”
By marriage, Danny was a member at Rough ‘n Ready, although he didn’t play much. Evan kept him on a short leash. Eli knew Danny hadn’t finished his Dom training, so he wasn’t allowed to participate in full play. It was one of the things he respected about both club owners. They took the safety of their patrons over earning bigger profits.
Suddenly, Danny whistled. Eli glanced up. She was easy to spot because of her height, but Eli was sure he would pick her out of any crowd. Eli’s heart almost stopped. She was walking with that long-legged easy stride of hers. She was wearing a worn cowboy hat. It wasn’t something she had just bought. It was frayed just a bit on the edges, plus it fit her perfectly. His gaze drifted down as he took in the rest of her outfit. The bright blue sleeveless shirt matched her eyes. The jeans fit perfectly, molding to her legs and hips, and God help him, he was pretty sure her ass too.
He knewthe instant that she saw him. Their gazes connected and her eyes lit up and she smiled. Just that. A curving of her lips and those sweet dimples appearing and his mouth dried up. He barely knew her. Add in the issue of the ranch, and it would get damned difficult to keep things professional. Still, he couldn’t ignore the stirring of need deep down in his gut. It was the click with a woman that he knew
“Hey, boss?” Danny asked.
He glanced at the younger man. Danny was staring at him as if Eli had lost his mind. Mentally, he shook himself. He needed to keep his head in the game. He usually had more control over his emotions.
She stepped up and without warning gave him a hug. It was too quick, but it was enough to get his heart racing. The scent of her surrounded him.
“It’s so great to finally be here. That’s such a long trip,” she said as she pulled back. He said nothing for a minute because she was smiling at him and every damned bloody thought in his head evaporated. It was as if he had been rendered stupid in that one second.
Danny cleared his throat, bringing Eli back to earth.
“Crysta, this is Danny Aiona, one of the hands.”
She turned and smiled at Danny. “It’s so nice to meet you. I only have one bag, so it shouldn’t take that long.”
“One bag for six months?” Eli asked.
She slanted him a look. “I shipped everything else. It should be here next week. Besides, I don’t need much.”
“I like that in a woman,” he said.
She laughed. “I’m sure every man does.” Something caught her eye and she hurried over to the carousel to get her bag. He strode after her, annoyed. She reached for it, but he got there first, pulling it off.
“Whoa, cowboy, I can handle my own bag,” she said, annoyance filling her voice.
“And I think Joe would expect me to show you the courtesy of grabbing your bag.”
She rolled her eyes and walked away. He followed. He’d been right. The jeans fit that heart shaped ass perfectly. She was rooting through her purse and then withdrew her sunglasses.
“So, where are we parked, Danny Aiona?”
He glanced back at Eli, apparently unsure of what to say. Then he motioned with his hand. “Just right out here.”
“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
* * *
Crysta smiledwhen her father texted back two words—go away.
“Your father?” Eli asked.
It irritated her that he assumed it would be her father, but she was more annoyed that she was disappointed by his reaction when she arrived. Okay, she had been a little over enthusiastic, but she was excited. The long ride over gave her a lot of time to think.
Her father had been right. This was a chance to start new. To take time and decide what to do with the rest of her life. Well, for the next part of her life at least. That had excited her. She shouldn’t expect Eli, a man who had worked alongside her uncle for years, thinking he would own the ranch.
“Yes. He’s going to bed now. Kind of late for him.”
He nodded. “He might have company.”
She snorted. “I wish. He needs to have a life.”
“There’s been no one since your mom?”
She shook her head. “I know he had lovers, but no one he wanted to let me know about, which means he wanted nothing long term. He needs someone to keep him company. Besides, sex keeps you happy and healthy. It’s good for your immune system. So, he needs a woman.”
“Not all men do.”
“All people need each other.”
He shook his head. “No. Look at me. Look at Joe.”
“First of all, I don’t know that much about you. Secondly, we all know why Joe didn’t have anyone around.”
She didn’t miss the look of surprise that moved over his face. So, he hadn’t known she knew Joe was gay. She knew there had been a man in his past, but once his husband had died, Joe had gone it alone. A lot like her father.
“And, you do have people around. Or beings. Admit it. You would be happy to spend all your days alone, but you would always want an animal around. A dog or a horse.”
He shifted in his seat and she sensed she hit the nail on the head.
“Don’t look so irritated. You remind me of my father. He’s always been a bit laid back, but I know he could kill with his bare hands. Now, he just likes the quiet. He said after time in the Navy and raising me, he likes his own company. Which kind of irritates me, but I know it’s the truth. I’m a lot to put up with.”
“I can’t believe that,” Danny piped up. She smiled back at him.
“Aren’t you sweet, but you aren’t a very good liar. There’s one thing I know and that is… I’m a handful.”
Eli turned off the main road and it only took a minute or two to make it to the gate. It was open. Eli grunted. She glanced over to find him frowning at the gate.
“Was that not supposed to be open?” she asked.
“No. I like to keep it locked unless we’re expecting people.”
He drove under the arch, got out of the SUV, and walked over to the control panel. After he punched a few buttons, the gates closed.
“Is it that much of a problem?” she asked.
He cut her a glance, then put the SUV in gear. “It’s a safety issue, for us and for them. Someone wanders on here, they could end up getting hurt.”
“And you could get sued. Of course.”
He nodded. “Tourists think that the entire island is theirs for exploring. We like to discourage that.”
She laughed but it ended on a squeak when one of their tires exploded. Eli cursed under his breath and parked the SUV. The three of them got out and congregated at the tire in the back end on the passenger’s side. It was definitely flat.
“Well, that sucks,” Danny said.
She laughed.
“Get the tire, Danny,” Eli said, annoyance threading his voice.
Danny smiled and went to do Eli’s bidding.
Eli said nothing and got the tools. Then he squatted down and got to work. She watched as his competent hands worked.
Crysta turned around and looked out over the land. There were storm clouds over the horizon, but it didn’t seem to faze her. She wasn’t one for rain, it always seemed to bring her down, but for some reason she felt a jolt of excitement this time instead. Maybe she was just excited about the new possibilities or the lack of sleep, but something had her heart feeling light.
“It certainly is a beautiful view. I don’t know how people would ever want to leave this.”
“Your mother did.”
The flat tone had her frowning.
“Not by choice. She fell in love.”
“Which is more important than anything,” Danny said as he rolled the tire around from the back.
Eli looked up at her and she rolled her eyes. His lips curved slightly and she felt a little ping in her heart. No, not good. She shouldn’t be trying to get the surly man out of his funk, whatever that might be. But for some reason she wanted to. She wanted to pull as many smiles from him as possible.
Danny rolled the tire to Eli and they made quick work of it. By the time they were on their way, the strange feeling of need Eli touched in her was almost forgotten. As they drove over the last little hill on the way to the house, it came into view and she had a sense of déjà vu again. It was as if someone had walked over her grave—as her grandmother would have said.
Eli must have sensed her feelings because he glanced at her. “Something wrong?”
She shook her head. “No. Just…it feels like home. And I like that.”
He gave her another inscrutable look, and said nothing else as he drove them on to the house.
She pushed the worries away. If there was one thing a military brat understood, it was the excitement of a new start. Life was too short not to enjoy it.