Chapter Seven
“I don’t want to go.” Royce dropped onto the couch and crossed his arms over his small chest.
Tara checked the time on the clock over the kitchen sink. She could still make it to the spa and set up before Kace arrived if Royce would stop fighting her.
“You can’t stay here alone.” She forced her voice to stay neutral, but the pounding in her head made that difficult. “It’s for my work, buddy. And it’s only tonight.”
“I don’t care. I want to play Splatoon with Brian. You promised I could tonight.”
She had promised and forgotten. Her mind had been on too many things these past weeks, like the move to a new town where she didn’t know anyone, a new job where she would have to prove herself, and whether or not Drew would decide to look for them this time. Now Kace came along and threw her off-balance, only adding to the list of items swirling in her brain. She could call him and reschedule, probably should because her first priority was her son, but she didn’t think canceling at the last minute was a good idea or a good business practice. He might have said he wasn’t an actual boss, but he would have a stake in her employment. If canceling set off one of his uncontrollable moods, and he complained to Jett, Jett would take his word over hers in a second.
“I know you want to play with your friends back home. Maybe tomorrow night.”
“He can only play tonight. His mom said. Why can’t you leave me here? I’m not a baby.”
“No, you’re not a baby, but you’re five. And mommies can’t leave five-year-olds home alone. It’s against the law.” She had no idea if that was the truth or not, but a police officer had recently come to school, and Royce had been in awe of everything the man had said. Royce had talked about him for hours. The deception was her only chance to convince her stubborn son he had to go with her. She needed to find a babysitter as soon as possible.
“The kids in the new school aren’t nice. Brian is my only friend.”
That couldn’t be true, but she hadn’t sat down with him to ask. When he bounced off the bus, he’d seemed happy enough. She had been grateful he didn’t complain. “It takes time to make new friends.”
“I want to go to my old school. I want to run away from here.”
She wished they hadn’t had to move again, and she would have done anything to stay put, but Drew had shown up at her last job and caused trouble for her. She and Royce had moved twice before that, but Drew had followed them, begging for forgiveness each time, and each time she had told him to take a hike.
Drew could not accept the simple fact their marriage was over, and he had been the main reason for the split. He had shoved her hard enough that she fell down a flight of steps and lost their second child. Sometimes she could still feel the heat of his hands on her. She only hoped he would stay away for good this time.
“We’re going to stay here for a while. Backwater is a nice town.” Sweat ran down her back as the hands on the clock moved without mercy for her needs.
“I hate it.”
“Please, Royce, I need to leave now.” Her angry voice betrayed her. She had tried to hold it together, to reason with him, but she was out of time. She was alone to solve all their problems. He couldn’t understand what was at stake if she disappointed a Ryker and lost this job.
She had used up her savings to create the lotions for The Skin You’re In. At the time, she’d thought she was being independent by not taking any of Drew’s money, but now she realized how selfish she had been. Royce needed his money because without it, they could end up moving straight into a homeless shelter. She couldn’t afford to lose this job that offered good pay and a decent place to live.
His face crumbled. A flush of red raced up his neck and into his face as tears spilled in sheets.
Her heart sank. She went to him and gathered him in her arms. “It’s okay. You don’t have to go.”
“No one likes me,” he said in between hiccups.
“Aw, Royce. Give it some time.” How did such a small child have so many big worries? It was her fault. She hadn’t hidden her own fears well enough.
“The other kids are already teasing me.” He pushed away from her and swiped at his face. “I told them who my dad was, but they didn’t care.”
Those kids were probably too young to recognize Drew’s name and thought Royce was making it up. “I need a minute to make a call. Then we can talk about it more.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I want to play football like Dad. Then the other kids will see I’m not lying.”
“You can play when you’re older. I really have to make that call. Give me five minutes.” She never wanted Royce to play football and hoped she would be able to stop him when the time came. He could not end up like Drew, broken and angry because he had his head bashed around.
All the knocks to the head had turned him into someone she couldn’t recognize. She would not allow her sweet boy to end up like so many other football players. As long as she had a say, he would not play.
She tried to stretch out her neck muscles to no avail, then grabbed her phone. She had to place a call first to Jett for Kace’s number. When he gave it to her, he didn’t ask any questions. His lack of curiosity or his discretion loosened her tight muscles some.
She dialed Kace and hoped for voicemail. Avoiding him would be cowardly and unprofessional, but she didn’t know what to say to explain her inability to perform her job duties. He didn’t have children. He couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to juggle the needs of a child over one’s own.
“Hello?” The low timbre of his voice startled her and vibrated in her belly.
Words stuck in her throat. She swallowed to try again.
“Hello?”
“Hi. It’s Tara Haden. Is this Kace?”
“You aren’t canceling, are you?”
Right to the point. Of course, he’d be direct. How else could he succeed as an athlete if he wasn’t comfortable saying what was on his mind? His needs would always have to be met.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t have a babysitter, and Royce is a little under the weather.” Not a complete lie. Emotions could make a person feel as bad as a cold. Her body ached as if a fever had ransacked her when her problem was nothing more than an obstinate five-year-old. “I have some free time during the week. I could schedule you then.” Her first week on the job, and she already looked like a slacker.
“If you had a babysitter, would you meet me, or is something else going on?”
“Something else?” Well, she didn’t want to dwell on the idea that he had been the first man in ages that she noticed as something other than a client. She had worked on attractive men before, but this man was different somehow, and it wasn’t the hair. Okay, maybe the hair had a little to do with it.
“Jett put you up in one of the employee cottages out by the stables?”
“Yes. Why?” He wasn’t coming here, was he? She couldn’t give him a massage in her house.
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” And he ended the call.
“Kace?” Oh no. She would not give him a massage in her home. How would it look if Kace was seen leaving her house? And what would Royce think?
She groaned. If Royce told Drew she had a man at the house, Drew would lose it and accuse her of things that weren’t true. He didn’t care that they had been divorced, and she wouldn’t be able to count on his indifference about his son forever. He’d call Royce at some point. The holidays were coming in a few months.
She tried to dial Kace back, but the call went to voicemail.
If he insisted on coming here, she had only one choice. Too bad if he didn’t like it. He couldn’t boss her around. She had learned her lesson where men were concerned.
She would stand up for herself and send that arrogant race-car driver packing.
****
Tara stood at the living room window for twenty minutes until the headlights of a truck bounced against the dark and onto the small driveway. With a glance over her shoulder to make sure Royce was still in his room, she rushed outside.
The fall night air bit her skin, advising her to be cautious, but she wouldn’t let the cold reality stop her. The driver’s side door swung open, and Kace slid out. What did stop her in her tracks was the opening passenger’s door. A young lady with long black hair and a lithe frame glided around the front of the truck to meet Kace. The darkness made it difficult to see her features in any kind of detail, but she’d guess this person was attractive. Kace wouldn’t be with anyone that wasn’t. Celebrities could pick whoever they wanted. Kace threw an arm over this woman’s shoulder and tugged her close. She shoved him away and laughed.
Her heart sat in her throat as they approached. She didn’t understand what this stranger meant. Had he brought his girlfriend for a couple’s massage? How the hell was she supposed to do that?
Kace saw her first. “Hey.” His smile took shape across his chiseled face. The stubble on his strong jaw was thicker than earlier. The flannel shirt dyed in tans and burnt oranges accented his arms and hung loosely at his hips. She needed to stop noticing his finer points. She would not be distracted from her purpose because of his good looks.
“Hi, Tara. I’m Izzi.” The young lady stepped past Kace and held out her hand. “Welcome to the ranch.”
She stared at Izzi’s long fingers. Her thin arm poked out of the pushed-up sleeve of her sweatshirt. The porch light caught the smoothness of her skin. Skin that belonged to a younger person—tight, supple, elastic.
“This is my niece.” Kace’s voice reminded her to shake hands.
“Your niece?” Her brain stuttered to catch up. So this wasn’t his girlfriend. She allowed herself another intake of Izzi’s features. She should have seen the shape of the eyes and the height of the cheekbones. The Rykers looked as if they had been stamped out of the same mold, whereas some families didn’t resemble each other at all. “I can’t give any massages tonight. I’m sorry you came out here.”
Izzi swung her gaze over to Kace. “Uncle Kace, did you tell her I wanted a massage as some kind of payment? No wonder Dad and the other uncles always want to punch you.”
“Payment? I don’t understand what’s happening.” She searched their faces for an answer and came up empty.
Kace held up his hands. “One second here, Niece. I didn’t even tell her you were coming.” He turned to her. “Izzi is Gage’s daughter. I brought her to babysit for you and me.” His insistence was like a mosquito feasting on her skin.
“I love kids. I sit for a couple of families in town. I’d sit more, but my dad always says no if he doesn’t know them well.”
“But you don’t know me at all.”
“Employee background check,” Kace said.
“Oh right. I’m not sure if this is a good idea. Royce doesn’t know I’m going out. He’s never met you. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”
“We’ll only be gone an hour. Please? You worked wonders for me this morning. Nothing has helped so much. Oh, and I have something for Royce.” He returned to his truck and grabbed a pumpkin from the back.
“I saw him with the one on the front porch. I thought he might like to have one of his own.” Kace held the small pumpkin in the air like a trophy.
Her objections buckled under the weight of his kind gesture. Her job allowed her to heal others. That was what she had been hired to do here on the ranch. She had a responsibility to help him, and he had figured out how she could by bringing his niece. Two points for the athlete.
“I really am happy to hang out with Royce while you go over to the spa, which is beautiful, by the way. Uncle Jett did a great job. Anyway, I know you don’t know this uncle very well, but trust me, he hasn’t smiled so much since the accident as he did today. Could you help him for my gammy and me?”
“Izzi.” Kace’s voice held an icy warning. He must not like his personal business shared with virtual strangers.
She waved a hand at him. “Stop sounding like Dad. What do you say, Tara? I’m volunteering my time.”
She couldn’t expect this young lady to work for free. “I’ll pay your rate. Come inside.”
“I’ll pay her. It’s the least I can do for forcing myself on you.” Kace followed on her heels as she held the door open for them.
She stumbled over the smooth hardwood floor. He gripped her elbow and narrowed his eyes.
“Sorry. I’m a klutz.” He couldn’t have known his throwaway comment about forcing himself on her would trip her up. Normally, she didn’t act so skittish over something as innocuous as a phrase. His presence and his thoughtfulness took her off-balance. She needed to focus.
“Can I give Royce the pumpkin, or would that be too much since he doesn’t know me?” Kace said.
“He’ll be happy to see that pumpkin. He won’t care who brings it.” She went down the hall and opened Royce’s door.
He followed with swagger and purpose. He was comfortable in his own skin, the sure sign of someone who had been told most of his life how amazing his athletic skills were.
“Hey, buddy, Mr. Ryker is here. He has something for you.”
Royce sat on the edge of his bed, playing video games. She had decorated the room in stars and planets the way she had in his last two rooms, hoping it would comfort him and make this new place feel like a home. He turned from his video game and sat on his knees. “Hello, Mr. Ryker.”
“You can call me, Kace, pal. I brought you a—”
“A pumpkin.” Royce jumped on the bed. He laughed and clapped his hands. The small dimple on his cheek deepened, and her heart wanted to explode.
“What do you say?” she reminded her son so Kace wouldn’t think Royce had bad manners.
“Thank you. Can I hold it?” Royce held out his arms.
Kace gave the pumpkin to him. “You know, if you want to carve it, we can do that.”
“I don’t want to cut it. That would be mean. I’m going to sleep with it.” Royce plopped it on the center of his bed pillow.
“Whatever works for you, pal. But if you change your mind, give me a call.” Kace fluffed Royce’s hair.
She explained to Royce about the babysitter and leaving for work. The pumpkin had distracted him enough he didn’t seem to care she was going out.
“Kace, do you like video games?” Royce said as they were leaving his room.
“Sure. Doesn’t everyone?”
“I play Splatoon. Do you want to play?” He held up his controller.
“How about next time? My niece is here to hang with you if that’s okay.”
“Okay. Bye.” Royce waved and went back to his game.
She grabbed her jacket and met Kace by the front door after introducing Izzi to Royce. “Thank you for bringing Izzi. She’s fantastic with him. And thank you so much for that pumpkin. He’s been asking for one, and I haven’t had a chance yet. It was very kind.”
Kace’s bright smile returned and reached his eyes, warming them to hot coals. “He’s a good kid. He reminds me of Izzi at that age. She’s very special to all of us. And I was hoping to score some points with his mom.” He winked.
He escorted her to the truck and opened the door. She slid in, and he closed it before jogging around the front and getting in next to her. His obvious love for his niece and his thoughtfulness toward her and Royce contradicted her assumptions that he was self-centered. “Family seems very important to you.”
He stole a glance at her as he drove around the property. “I guess so. I mean, they’re always there for me. Since the accident, too much. I wish they’d back off some. Well, except for Gage. He’s the only one who gets that I don’t want them hovering.”
“You’re lucky to have so many people who care about you.” He didn’t know how lucky, in fact, but she wouldn’t tell him that because he couldn’t imagine having to protect himself when no one else would do it. She had been on her own since she was about sixteen. And even before that, she had learned to stay out of her father’s way or suffer. When she realized Drew had a dangerous streak, she’d been on her own again. No one knew he’d hit her. She planned on taking that secret to her grave. She had suffered enough humiliation.
“I’ll let you borrow my family any time you want. As soon as I can, I’m moving off the ranch so they can’t show up at my door anytime they feel like it.”
He pulled up to the main building and parked. She didn’t wait for him to run around the truck and open her door, but he did hurry to meet up with her and escort her to the spa with his hand on the small of her back. She shrugged him off and dug her keys out of her tote.
She unlocked the door and flipped on a few lights. “Give me ten minutes to get ready.” She hurried through the routine of preparing for a client before finding him stretched out in the oversized chair in the waiting area. His head was back, and his eyes were closed. His chest moved to a slow, easy rhythm. She grabbed an oversized towel and draped it over him.
She could walk back to the cabin and give Izzi a ride home. She should probably send Jett a text to let him know Kace was here, but he had said his family was overprotective since the accident. He might not appreciate an onslaught of relatives checking on him. He was a grown man. He could take care of himself.
She would leave him a note instead, explaining she didn’t want to disturb him. He probably needed the sleep. All his fuss for a massage, and rest was the real answer this time. She shook her head.
A tight grip grabbed her wrist. She jumped on instinct and yanked her arm, but he held tighter.
“Don’t go.” His voice croaked out.
“Are you feeling sick?” She should have considered that.
He ran his thumb over her inner wrist and sent a current up her arm. “I didn’t think so. I am tired most of the time. That hasn’t gone away yet either. I keep waiting to feel like myself again.”
She glanced at the spot where his big hand covered her wrist. His skin was darker than hers, a light brown with creamy undertones to her paler pigment. Something tugged low in her belly and caused her to shift her weight. The sensation was familiar, like a scent that could sneak up and catapult her into the past, but she didn’t have the luxury to dwell on its memory or hope for more in the present. Kace wouldn’t be interested in her that way, and she shouldn’t be thinking about him as anything other than her boss. She had been lonely for so long, and the simplest touch from an attractive man had her mind reacting to pleasure stimulus.
“You will start to feel better. It just takes time, and something tells me you aren’t the most patient person.”
He croaked out a laugh and pushed to sitting. “I’m pretty obvious, huh?”
She shrugged and smiled. “A little. Must be that racing thing. In my line of work, slowing down is the preferable way to go.”
“A fast massage would probably suck.”
“Yeah. I think my clients might complain if I hurried them along or cut time off their session. Come with me. I can help a little with the feeling better for now.” She led him back to the massage room. “I’ll wait outside while you get under the sheet. Lay on your stomach.”
She didn’t wait for him to acknowledge her instructions but slid from the room. Her heart pounded. He was removing all his clothing only inches from her. She had to remain professional in order to help him, but her solitariness and dormant sex life continued to torment her.
“You can come in.” The wood door muffled his voice.
Her mouth dried out, but she went in anyway. He took up most of the bed with his long frame. He had kept the sheet at the base of his spine, revealing wide shoulders that tapered to a thin waist. The male body was one of nature’s miracles.
She washed her hands and warmed them with her lavender oil. “Let me know how you like the pressure.”
“Do it like you did this morning. Hard.”
Oh boy. She focused on applying pressure to the places that were tied up in knots. She concentrated on his neck and shoulders to relieve the headaches and dizzy spells. He groaned and sighed as her hands took inventory of his torso. His muscles flexed and rolled under her touch. Soft spa music piped in and eased away the uncomfortable silence she might want to fill by asking him questions about his life, but that wasn’t her job now. She always followed what a client dictated. If they talked, then she answered. If they remained quiet, so did she.
“That smells different than this morning.”
“It’s lavender and patchouli. To help you relax and sleep.”
“What did you call it? Pat…pat what?” He lifted his head to meet her gaze.
“Patchouli from the patchouli plant. It’s nice.” She grabbed herself a deep inhale.
“Not as nice as your hands on my back.”
She moved the sheet to work on his leg by keeping the cotton near his waist tucked around him. The sheet rode up, revealing the side of his toned ass. One drop of sweat ran down her spine as if it were a warm finger caressing her. She shook off the sensation. What was she doing? This was a client. She had seen plenty of asses in her day.
The rest of the massage went by without her losing her cool and making a complete fool of herself. His breath had deepened enough he might have fallen asleep again for a few minutes.
She slipped from the room when she finished, allowing him time to sit up and dress. She poured a glass of cold water for him and waited outside the room.
He stepped through the open door, blinking. His hair hung to his shoulders instead of pulled back, thick and black, and her fingers begged to touch it. She clenched her fist and handed him the water.
“Drink plenty of this tonight so you don’t feel dizzy.”
“If I get dizzy, can I call you?” He eyed her over the glass.
She swallowed hard. “You might want to call your doctor. How do you feel?”
“What if I want to call you instead?” he said, ignoring her question.
“I guess you could.” What was she going to say to that? Clients often preferred talking to her over their doctors.
“I like you, Tara.” He swayed on his feet.
“You might feel a little off for a while. No gymnastics, okay?” She reached out to steady him but pulled her hand back. He might not want her assistance.
He mixed a grunt with a laugh. “That’s too bad. I’m pretty good with the ropes.”
A flush of heat ran over her skin. She tried not to conjure an image of him and ropes but failed. “I need to get back to Royce. It’s almost his bedtime.”
He led her to the door with his hand on the small of her back again as if they had left a restaurant and she hadn’t just had her hands all over him, spreading oil on his skin until it glistened. She needed to get herself in check. What was happening to her?
“Hang on a second. My phone is vibrating.” He dug his phone out of the front pocket of his jeans. The crease between his brows deepened while he tapped the screen. “Hey, Izzi. I have you on speaker.”
“Uncle Kace, you and Tara need to come back. There’s a man here who’s looking for her.”
Icy-cold dread pooled in her belly.
“Is he in the house?” Kace motioned for her to hurry to the truck. She forced her feet to move.
“I asked him to wait on the porch because I wasn’t told anyone was stopping by. He didn’t like that very much. He’s out there now, pacing.”
His niece was one smart young lady. They jumped in the truck, and Kace took off, screeching the tires. She slapped the roof to keep from falling into the dashboard. He took the first turn on two wheels. His jaw was set, and even from the side angle, his eyes were laser focused. The concussion wasn’t bothering him now.
“We’ll be there in one minute. Did you get his name?”
“His name is Drew,” Tara said. Her words didn’t lift above a whisper. Kace didn’t even acknowledge she had spoken.
“He said he’s Tara’s husband.” Izzi’s voice echoed inside the truck.
Kace tore into the driveway and slammed on the brakes. She rocked forward, and the seat belt shoved her back. Her ex turned at the sound of the truck. The porch light silhouetted his massive frame. Bile rose in her throat.
“Your husband is Drew Paxton? The football player?”