Authors: Parker Kincade
*
Caleb cursed as he watched Samantha walk away. He had no desire to watch her go shopping for her battery-operated boyfriend, but he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight. At least until she was safe at her hotel. It’s what he did. He kept his family safe, and like it or not, Samantha was family. According to Amanda, anyway.
He climbed into the cab of his truck and pulled out his cell. He punched the numbers and listened as the internal speaker system took over the call.
“’Sup, bro?” Brandon’s voice greeted him.
“Hey, I need you guys to do something for me.” He was walking a fine line with this one and he knew it.
“Hang on.” He heard Brandon switch to speakerphone. “Alec,” he yelled. “C’mere.”
“What’s all the yelling about?” Alec was panting as if he’d run from another part of the building or something.
“Caleb’s on the line.”
“Hey Alec. I’m glad you’re both there. I could really use both of you, but mostly you, Alec.” He heard Brandon snort as if he’d just been told he was the consolation prize.
“You know I got mad skills,” Alec joked. “What’s up?”
Caleb pulled into traffic, keeping Samantha within his sights as he thought about how to best go about asking for what he needed.
“Caleb?”
“Yeah, Bran. I’m here, sorry. Listen, I need you guys to come up with a list of Samantha’s clients for the past couple of years.” He waited for them to start yelling at him about confidentiality and the repercussions of breaking into her client list, but all he heard was silence. “Guys?”
“Wanna explain that?” Alec asked. “I mean, if I’m gonna break the law, I want a good reason.”
“She just told me that she knew who broke into her office and her apartment.” He heard the sharp intake of breath from the other end of the line as he kept talking. “And she knows what they were looking for. When I questioned her about it, all she’d say was that it was the husband of a client she’d helped. A very powerful husband,” he emphasized. “Since we handle all of her IT security, it’s not technically illegal if you stumble across client names while you’re backing things up, right?” He was reaching.
“Hold up, just what’s she gotten herself into?” Brandon asked.
Caleb could hear fingers flying across a keyboard. “I have no idea. That’s what I need you for. I’d do it myself, but I’m better with the tactical stuff. Plus, I can’t leave Samantha unprotected until we figure this out.”
“Right, like following her around is such a hardship, huh, Cay?”
“Bite me, Alec,” Caleb said drily as he pulled up to the adult store and watched her flounce inside. Would she really buy a vibrator in there? What else would she come out with? He cleared his throat. “Once we have a name, Amanda can run a background check. That should give us a starting point.”
“Wouldn’t it just be easier to talk to Sam?” Brandon was always the most logical one.
“You’d think, wouldn’t you?” The sarcasm dripped from Caleb’s voice. “Sam’s not talking.”
“Maybe not to you,” Alec interjected, “but she might talk to one of us. Maybe Amanda?”
“Doubtful," Caleb said. “She’s determined to prove she can take care of herself. She made it clear she doesn’t want us involved.”
“So, of course, we’re getting involved.” Brandon laughed.
“Of course,” Caleb grunted as he watched Samantha walk back out of the store with a brown paper sack in her hand. She smiled and waved the bag at him right before getting into her car, indicating she knew he was following her. His mind was racing with the possibilities of what was in that sack.
Holy shit, why do I even care?
“Call me when you have it narrowed down,” Caleb said. “Get me that name. Then I’ll call Amanda and get the ball rolling. Maybe by then Samantha will be more cooperative.” He highly doubted it, though. They said quick good-byes and Caleb disconnected the call.
As he followed her back to the hotel, he couldn’t stop thinking about her and that damn sack. Or more importantly, what was in the sack. Maybe Samantha was right. Maybe it was time he got laid.
Chapter 8
Four days. Amanda stared aimlessly out the window. Four blissful days.
I’m in serious trouble.
The time she’d spent with Joe made her yearn for something more. He seemed genuinely interested in her, listening attentively as she spoke and, at night, never leaving her unsatisfied. He was sexy and laid-back, content to just hang with her around the ranch.
He’d held her hand as they walked her property, curious about her life here. She’d delighted in the feel of his warm hand engulfing hers while she’d explained that her father had planted the orchard because her mother loved to bake with fresh fruit. What she didn’t use, she gave away. Her mother had reasoned that the fruit was cultivated for her own pleasure and not for resale value.
“The only thing sadder than waste,”
she remembered her mother saying,
“is someone trying to profit from it.”
“What happens to the fruit now that no one lives here?” Joe had thoughtfully asked her.
Amanda didn’t know. Caleb had taken responsibility for this and other properties her parents had owned prior to their deaths. She’d made a mental note to find out. He’d seen to it that the house was well cared for. Although there were no more animals here, the stable and barn were still standing and in excellent condition. She could only assume he wouldn’t let their mother’s beloved fruit go to waste. She said as much as they walked among the trees, the lingering smell of apples bringing a smile to her face.
She’d taken him to the corral. As he perched on the fence rail, a lazy smile on his face, she’d dramatically reenacted the first time she’d been thrown from a horse. As a reward for her performance, he’d fucked her fast and hard against the stable doors. And again in the barn. She giggled at the thought of leaving a trail of condom wrappers, like bread crumbs, to show where they’d been.
In the evenings they’d cooked dinner together. Joe turned out to be quite handy in the kitchen. He was excellent at fetching this pan or that spoon. She also found he was quite efficient with stirring things while keeping most of the contents in the pan. After they ate, Joe would pour her a glass of wine while splashing whiskey into a glass for himself, and they’d sit together on the porch swing. They’d talked as the sun set and the stars shone in the sky. She’d made him laugh with stories of growing up with three older brothers. He’d surprised her with stories of all the beautiful places he’d seen. He’d wrapped his arms around her to warm her against the cool evening breeze that always seemed to blow this time of year. They lapsed into comfortable silence, and the night would begin to take over.
They’d made out like teenagers in front of the fireplace before he’d made love to her over and over. The man gave stamina a whole new meaning.
Yep, I’m in real trouble.
She loved that he couldn’t keep his hands off her. She loved that he was demanding and fierce one minute, romantic and sweet the next. She loved …
no, no, no. Not going there.
She hadn’t even known him a full week. There was no way …
dammit.
Turning back to her desk, Amanda opened her laptop. Just thinking about Joe had made her wet and needy. He’d gone out for a run, and she didn’t know how long she had before he returned. Her heart raced with excitement. He’d come in sweaty and energized. Hmm, it seemed he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get enough.
She opened her e-mail program. Caleb had demanded she check in daily while she was here and she’d agreed, if only to shut him up. She drafted a quick e-mail letting him know she was okay and on track to return to work at the start of the week. Just the thought of leaving made her sick to her stomach. She’d forgotten how much she loved this place, this land. And now with Joe here, well, all the more reason for her to want to stay. Not that she was entertaining any thought at all about having a relationship with him. They were just having fun. A hot guy like him would have a whole string of women waiting for him, and she was tired of sharing.
Her cell phone rang. Caleb.
“Hi, Cay. I just sent you a message,” she said cheerfully.
“I got it, thanks. It’ll be great to have you back in the office. How are things there?”
She laughed at how casual he sounded. “Things are fine here. You need something?”
“That transparent, huh?”
“Spit it out.”
“I need you to run a background check. Hold up,” he said as she started to speak, “before you bombard me with a hundred questions, get a pen and write this down. Name is Vincent Matteo. He’s some New York corporate bigwig. Investment banker. His last known residence is Manhattan. I need a full workup.” When she didn’t say anything he added, “Now would be good.”
Interesting.
“What are you looking for … specifically?” Her brain immediately reverted to work mode. “You know better than to give me such a broad scope. I’ll be running blind without some kind of idea of what you’re looking for, Cay. I’m not willing to waste weeks on irrelevant information.” She was already running search scenarios in her head.
“Last-known whereabouts is priority.”
“What does he drive?”
“Maserati.”
“Of course he does,” Amanda said. “’Cause what else would a guy named Vincent Matteo drive?”
Caleb barked out a rare laugh. “I’ll text you the license plate number once I have it.”
“Great. Anything else?”
“Financial transactions, legal troubles, relationships, offshore bank accounts … anything you can find.”
“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me what this is about?”
“Nope.”
Typical
. Amanda sighed. “I’ll do what I can and get back to you. Depending on if he’s trying to lay low, finding him shouldn’t be much trouble. He’s in the country, right?”
“Most definitely.” Caleb sounded as if he already knew where the guy was.
“Is he trying to lay low?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Caleb mumbled.
Very interesting.
They said their good-byes and Amanda got to work. After an hour she’d learned more than she wanted to know about this guy. Vincent Matteo was indeed a corporate hotshot with political ties that ran deep. She found a string of corruption charges, but none that ever stuck. There were even reports that he had ties to a NYC crime family, although she could find no evidence linking him to any illegal activity … yet. His wife had mysteriously disappeared over a year ago. According to local papers, he’d been devastated. A reward was being offered for information leading to her recovery, dead or alive.
What was Caleb doing?
“Mandy?” Joe’s voice called from the front room. “Baby, where are you?”
She was still tracking the license plate Caleb had texted her, but it would take a while. No need to babysit the screen. “I’m coming,” she called brightly.
“We have company,” he called back to her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
We
. He said it so casually. As though they were a couple or something. She walked into the living room to see Sam standing next to him. “Sam! What are you doing here?” Amanda walked straight into Joe’s arms. She stood on her tiptoes and nuzzled his neck, inhaling his manly scent.
“Mandy,” Joe chastised, “I’m all sweaty.” He gave her a quick squeeze and gently set her from him. “Company,” he reminded her as he turned her to face Sam.
Her best friend was studying her.
“What?” Amanda asked.
Sam rolled her eyes. “Nice to see you too.” Amanda approached as if to hug her, but Sam held her off. “Oh no you don’t. Now
you’re
all sweaty.”
“Ha-ha.” Amanda put her hands on her hips. “Not that I’m not glad to see you, but seriously, what are you doing here?”
“I came to see how you were faring.” Sam gave Joe the once-over. “After that phone call the other day, how could I not?” She winked at him.
Amanda felt a surge of anger as she watched her friend eat up her lover with her eyes. She stepped in her line of vision. “Seen enough?”
God, when did I get so possessive?
Sam’s eyes widened in surprise. “Take it easy, killer. Just checking out the scenery.” Amanda didn’t know what Sam saw in her face just then, but she suddenly looked hurt. “Really, Amanda?”
Joe laughed and wrapped his arm around Amanda. “Why don’t you girls grab some wine and talk while I get cleaned up. Then I’ll make us all something to eat. It’ll give me and Samantha a chance to get acquainted.”
Amanda looked skeptical. “You’re going to cook?”
“Hey!” He put his hand over his heart. “You wound me. I can open and heat with the best of them.” He winked at her and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I promise it’ll be great. You’re just gonna have to trust me.”
Amanda leaned into him. “You know how I love your promises.”
His eyes flared with lust. “Oh, I haven’t even begun to make you promises, baby,” he whispered so only she could hear. He looked at her and then at Sam and back to her. “Right.” He gently pushed Amanda away, his look warning her he’d make good … later. “Go talk. I need a shower.” He took the steps two at a time, mumbling something about getting the water cold enough.
“What the hell?” Sam lit into her the moment Joe was out of sight.
Amanda rubbed her hand over her face. This was her best friend. The last person in the world who would ever try to hurt her. “Ah, jeez. I’m sorry, Sam. I don’t know what got into me.”
Sam crossed her arms defensively and motioned for her to go on.
“It’s just that you’re the one with the fire-red hair and rockin’ body. Not me.” Amanda grinned sheepishly. “I’d like to hang on to his attention for a little longer, if you don’t mind.”
“I’ll not argue about my rockin’ body,” Sam joked with a wink, “but honey, that man wouldn’t have noticed me if I’d run in here naked and slicked up with baby oil. Not with you in the room.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Holy shit, girl. Are you kidding me? I don’t think a man has ever looked at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like Joe looks at you. I mean really, Amanda. He looks at you like he’s … like he’s … I don’t know …
hungry
.”