Monday continued.
Kendra stood in the doorway drinking coffee as Lacey and her future mother-in-law discussed where to put the flower arrangements at the top of the aisle. She found the whole conversation boring yet the two were so excited, it was as if they were getting married.
Maybe there was something wrong with her. Shouldn’t she be excited about all these little details? It was her wedding after all. But every time they asked her opinion, the image of the wedding planner from her first wedding rose in her mind.
The woman had been at least twenty years her senior and impeccably dressed. When the planner asked her a question, if she asked, she made the correct answer obvious. The few times Kendra had expressed her opinion, Eugene had sided with the wedding planner, citing what their guests would like as their first priority.
She was older now and could have a say in every detail of the wedding, but it just didn’t seem that important. In a way, she wished she and Wade were already married. She was trying to ignore the whole wedding event, but it was a cloud over what should be the most important day of her life.
Maybe it was because she once believed that. Her first wedding had gone off beautifully, perfect. Everyone was happy, even herself. But after that, the marriage was demoralizing and the divorce painful. She didn’t want that to happen again. Maybe if she stayed out of the plans and the excitement, her marriage to Wade would be the opposite. In her head, she knew that was illogical, but the knot in her stomach as the day approached just got tighter and tighter.
Last night, she’d woken in the middle of the night and eaten a hamburger bun she found in the cabinet just to give her stomach a distraction.
“What do you think, Kendra?” Lacey looked at her expectantly.
“About which thing?”
Her future mother-in-law chuckled. “I know it’s a lot of details. We were wondering if you were okay if the bows at the end of the rows of chairs were different from the ones on the stage coach.”
She took a sip of coffee to hide her disinterest. “I think that’s fine.”
“I told you, Lacey. Kendra’s just daydreaming about my son and I can’t blame her.” As Wade’s mom went back to the pad of paper in front of her, Lacey gave her a quizzical look.
She gave a faint smile, nodded, then slipped away. She meandered down the hallway and toward the Great Room. It wasn’t just the wedding. With the resort closed, there wasn’t as much to do. She’d been working for weeks to be ready for it to reopen after the wedding, so now she felt rudderless.
Wade was busy with his family and friends. Her friends were her staff. It was odd that they were paying them to work, but they were also in the wedding. When did her life become only work?
The answer was obvious. The day she signed the divorce papers. Why was she still reacting to that? Why couldn’t she take control of her life without that baggage weighing her down?
She turned as the side door to the outside opened.
“There you are, Kennie. I ran into that handsome hunk of yours and he said I’d find you here. He said his mom has been here for a few days already.”
As her mom strode forward in a rainbow tee-shirt and yellow leggings, she grinned. “Yes, she’s here, but she was hiding out in her casita because she thought we ran a Buddhist resort, not a nudist resort.”
Her mom laughed loud, easily heard in the staff room, but she didn’t care. That’s who her mom was.
“That’s hilarious. See, I told you to explain it as a nudie resort. Then there’d be no doubt.” Her mom paused, and a devilish look entered her eyes. “Unless people mistook it for a booty resort, then they’d think it was a freakin’ whorehouse.” Again, her mom laughed loudly.
“You’ve been talking to Adrianna, haven’t you?”
Her mom grinned. “You bet. You can learn a lot from that hot chica. Did you know she’s had sex with—”
“I thought I heard people out here.” Mrs. Johnson stood across the room, a polite smile on her face.
Happy the woman interrupted before she heard things she didn’t want to know, Kendra motioned to her mom. “Mom, this is Wade’s mother, Karen Johnson.”
“Well, look at you, all pretty as a peach. How are you?” Her mom walked forward, her hand extended.
Wade’s mom didn’t seem to know what to do, so she shook hands.
“I was just telling Kennie what a hunk of a man your son is. Of course, my girl isn’t too shabby either.”
Karen looked at her then back at her mom.
“I know, the resemblance is uncanny isn’t it? It’s like we’re sisters.”
At her mother’s words, she bit her lip to keep from laughing as Wade’s mom struggled to keep her smile, but she finally cracked, a soft chuckle emanating from her. “Yes, it is. You must be very proud of what she’s created here.”
“You mean a first-class nudie resort? You bet. What was your name again?”
Mrs. Johnson’s brows rose before she gave a genuine smile. “My name is Karen.”
“I’m Donna.”
“Donna, would you like to help Lacey and I with a few details? We could use your input.”
Her mom looked over at her. “Hmmm, what a nice offer.”
She shrugged. “I’m leaving it all to Lacey, so whatever you want, go for it.”
Her mother made a fist and brought her elbow down to her waist. “Yes!” She turned to Karen. “Let’s see what we can do to make this wedding interesting.”
Kendra opened her mouth to rein her mother in, but then closed it as the two women walked off together. Maybe her mother’s additions would keep the wedding more real. Besides, she’d had no say in the last one. As the mother of the bride, she should have input.
At a loss for what to do, she decided it was time to find Wade. Maybe they could go riding…or something.
~~~~~
Monday night.
Swearing sounded on the other side of her office door warning her people were just outside. The door opened and Mac walked in with her grip on a man.
As he turned to face her, Kendra rose. “Fred? What the hell are you doing here?” He was the last person she’d expected to show up. He hadn’t changed at all. He was still short and pudgy, with a face like a dough boy and thick wavy brown hair that supposedly the ladies loved.
“Kendra. Finally. Someone who’s reasonable. Tell this giant I have a right to see my wife.”
Freak, wrong words to spew, Fred. She moved her gaze to Mac, whose eyes had darkened as they narrowed at Fred, the woman’s whole body stiff. “Mac, let him go and step back.”
Part of her wanted Mac to ignore her and give Fred the beating he’d deserved his whole life, but the other part of her didn’t want Mac to face the repercussions, so she kept her tone stern. “Mac.”
Finally, Mac released her hold and took two steps back, but her eyes didn’t leave Fred for an instant.
“Fred, how the hell did you get here? I know you’d never spend the money on a plane ticket and mom took your only car.”
“Yeah, that bitch stole my car.”
She glanced at Mac to make sure she didn’t move. She remained where she was, her focus lasered on Fred.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Fred blew her a kiss. “You sent me a plane ticket.”
The smell of alcohol on his breath was so normal that she almost didn’t notice it, but with his breath wafting over to her, she remembered it all too clearly. “No, I sent mom a plane ticket.”
He shrugged. “I have a very good friend who works for the airline. She was able to switch it to my name. Thank you, by the way, for inviting me to your wedding. Now if you don’t mind, I want to see my wife.”
His tone had risen and Mac moved a step closer.
“Mac, he’s not worth it.”
That seemed to get through to her. She stepped back and her shoulders relaxed a bit.
“Mom doesn’t want to see you. She’s left you for good. She’s filed for divorce. In fact, if you hadn’t left, you probably would have the papers in hand right now.” That was a bit far from the truth, since her mom didn’t even have an appointment until next week, but Fred didn’t need to know that. He was a lying bastard. She could be, too, to him.
“A divorce? She can’t divorce me! How’s she gonna live? Get a job?” He laughed, the sound guttural and nasty ending in a cough. “She can’t divorce me. She needs me to keep a roof over her head.”
What an asshole. He thought he had a live-in slave with her mother. Time for a reality check. “Actually, she doesn’t. I’ll take care of her until she can get on her feet.” And damn if she didn’t suddenly feel proud that she could do that.
“Nice try, but I know she’s got them stinking dogs and there’s no way in hell you’d have dogs in your house.”
She crossed her arms, enjoying her opportunity to prove how powerless he was after all the years he made her mother feel that way. “Obviously, you didn’t notice in the dark, but there’s more than one residence on this property and mom has her own. She doesn’t have to share with anyone, and never again with a lazy, selfish bastard like you.”
Fred paused at that before his brow lowered. He looked mean, but as she’d discovered early in her life, he was all bark and no bite. “You can’t talk to your father like that.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it. Obviously, Fred’s brain was the size of a pea. No wonder he thought more with his dick than his head. “Mac, where’d you find him?”
“He must have come while I was checking the staff casitas. By the time I finished my rounds by the stables, he was past the fork and headed for the bar.”
“Yeah, I heard a party going on over there. Figured I could find someone to tell me where Donna was.”
She glanced at the clock. She’d been gone way over the ten minutes she’d told Wade. She needed to get back and Fred needed to be gone. She turned her attention to Mac. “Escort him off the property.”
“What? You’re not going to offer me a place to stay? Where am I supposed to go? It took me all day to get a ride up here. It’s not like I have a car.”
And that was the solution to their problem. She looked at her security guard, who towered over Fred. It made her think of a fantasy movie she saw once when a mythical Amazon held a scared troll over a cliff. “Do you still have mom’s keys?”
“Yes.” Mac patted her lightweight sweats.
“And is all of mom’s things out of the car now?”
Mac nodded.
“Then give him the keys and show him where the car is and make sure he leaves.” She opened her top drawer and pulled out the keys to Wade’s truck. Her colt slid into view with the force of her pull. She threw the keys to Mac. “Follow him to be sure he makes it to the Carefree Highway.” She reached down and pulled out the gun. “You can take this to make sure he doesn’t give you any trouble.” She knew he wouldn’t, but she needed him to know how serious she was.
Mac shook her head. “I don’t need that. I didn’t need it with the last man I killed. Besides it doesn’t look good for an ex-con to have a gun.”
Fred snapped his head around to look at Mac. When he finally looked at Kendra again, his skin had paled considerably. “No need for violence. I know when I’m not wanted.”
“Good.” She made a show of putting the colt back in its place and closing the drawer. “Here in Arizona, we shoot first and ask questions later, so you better not show up sneaking around my property again.”
Already forgetting Mac’s presence. Fred scowled and took a step in her direction, his posture menacing. “You think you’re some kind of big shot now, don’t you?”
She didn’t move a muscle, disgusted with the pathetic man her mother had married. “Mac, get him out of here.”
As Mac grabbed hold of Fred, he started cursing all over again. After she hauled him out the door, Kendra dropped her head. The man had killed so many brain cells with alcohol, there was a good chance he wouldn’t remember anything they’d said. She’d have to let Mac know that and alert Hunter.
Lifting her head, she turned off her computer and strode to the door. It opened before she could grab the handle.
Wade stood there, his brow furrowed. “Everything okay in here? I just saw Mac walking a man away. Did we have another trespasser?”
She nodded. “Yeah, my biological father.”
Wade’s eyes widened. “You had him escorted off the property?” His incredulity reminded her that he didn’t truly understand her relationship with Fred.
“Yes, and I told him not to come back. But I don’t think that’s going to work.”
“Are you sure that’s the right way to handle it. You’re his only daughter. Maybe he wants to be a part of your wedding.”
She snorted. “He only mentioned the wedding because he used mom’s plane ticket. He just wanted mom back and his car. He’s getting one of those. Trust me. This is how he needs to be handled.”
Wade studied her then nodded. “I do trust you.”
The tension in her shoulders since seeing Fred walk through the door finally released. “Thank you.”
He wrapped one arm around her waist and led her into the hall. “Are you ready to face the jovial masses?”
She took a deep breath. “I am, but…”
“But what? Tell me.”
She looked into his warm brown eyes and almost forgot what she was going to say. She felt as if she’d been dealt four aces and a king. “Do you think we could find some time to be alone tomorrow? Maybe go for a ride?”
His smile was so wide, she could almost feel his answer before he said a word. “Yes. To our special spot on the creek.”
She nodded, her whole body finally relaxing. “There’s a certain shelf above the water I’d like to visit.”
He laughed and pulled her along the hall. “Definitely, a well-deserved treat after having to hang out with my family.”
She stopped their forward progress. “Oh, no. I love your family. I just want to take advantage of the resort being closed to be with you.”
He looked into her eyes with so much love that her own heart swelled. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.” He lowered his lips to show her in a gentle kiss that he meant every word.
She sighed, finally finding some contentment as they walked through the Great Room and out to the bar where a cheer went up at their return.
~~~~~
Tuesday
Kendra crossed her fingers as Wade knocked on Selma’s door. After three days without her leaving her casita with all the curtains and blinds drawn, they couldn’t wait any longer. They had both tried to get her to open the door, but she hadn’t responded.
Kendra listened intently, hoping they’d hear something, footsteps, a moan, anything.
Finally, Wade shook his head. “We have to go in.”
Removing her master key from the loop on her jeans, she inserted it into the lock and slowly opened the door, half expecting an object to come flying at her head.
There were no lights on as they stepped into the open concept main living area, but the daylight seeped in between the blind slats to reveal the contents of the room.
“Wow.” Wade’s whispered word echoed her own thought.
Stuffing from couch cushions was scattered about like a mountain lion had shredded them. Broken vases, picture frames and lamps were scattered across the space. Every piece of furniture was overturned.
Worry turned to real fear. Had Selma hurt herself?
Wade put his hand on her shoulder as if he knew what she’d been thinking. Either that or his thoughts had gone in the same direction. “Selma?” His deep voice carried throughout the space.
“Que?”
Relief washed through her at the sound of Selma’s voice. “Selma, can we talk to you?”
“Madre dios, there’s no privacy at this place anymore.”
The door to Selma’s bedroom opened and she shuffled out. She wore a pair of jeans and a colorful short sleeved top. She looked perfectly fine. “What do you want to talk about?”
Wade frowned as he opened his arm to encompass the room. “How about this for starters?”
Selma waved her hand aside. “That’s my temper. When I’m done. I’ll clean it up.”
They looked at each other. Done? She had to ask. “Done with what?”
Their cook moved into her galley kitchen and pulled out a jug of orange juice and set it on the counter before looking at them. “With your wedding present. I want to finish it before I leave.”
Kendra stepped carefully as she moved toward the counter that separated the kitchen area from the living area. “Where are you going?”
Selma shrugged. “I don’t know. But I can’t stay here.”
Wade joined her. “Why?”
She pointed. “She fired me.”
“I didn’t fire you.” She frowned. “At least not yet. You know I always give people a second chance.”
Selma stopped pouring her orange juice and stared. “But you hire a new cook.”
Now how did she know that if she had stayed in her casita the last three days, unless… “Selma, have you been spying on us?”
The older woman looked away and finished pouring her glass of juice. “You want some?”
Wade turned toward her and gestured toward Selma. “That was a yes.”
She nodded. Selma had a habit of avoiding admitting anything. Here they thought she’d been starving to death in her casita or had done herself damage and she was lurking about the resort. That’s why they didn’t hear anything when they knocked. “I want to know why you destroyed my kitchen and dining room on Friday, and be sure to tell the truth in English or you will be fired.”
Selma, who had opened her mouth to answer, closed it. Instead she took a sip of her juice. When she put her glass down, she looked first to Wade. She finally shifted her gaze to meet hers straight on. “Jorge. He break my heart.”
“I spoke to Jorge. He said he asked you to dinner, gave you flowers, and even fixed your window, but you weren’t interested.”
Selma took another sip of juice, clearly avoiding eye contact. “I didn’t want him to think me easy conquest. Mama say, easy for sex, hard for life. I don’t want just sex. I know how men treat women for sex.”
Kendra looked at Wade, not sure how to answer that. Selma had run a brothel in Nevada. She’d probably seen a lot.
“Do you like Jorge that much?” Wade leaned his elbows on the counter next to her.
Selma silently nodded.
“He thinks you’re crazy now.”
Their cook’s head snapped up. “I’m not crazy.”
Kendra pointedly looked around the room. “Really?”
Selma didn’t say anything.
Kendra looked at Wade. “So what should we do with her?”
“She owes us a lot of money for broken dishware in the main building, plus the wall in the kitchen will need to be repaired and there were at least three pots that need to be replaced, according to Natasha.”
“The dancer?” Selma’s exclamation had them both looking at her. “What she know about cooking? She nothing but skin and bones. She don’t even fucking eat enough.”
“Yes, Natasha. She was raised helping her mother cook.” He gave Selma a piercing look. “And she doesn’t throw dishes.”
Kendra ignored Selma’s outburst. “Are you saying we should let Selma keep her job and garnish her wages to pay for the damage?”
Wade nodded.
“But what about her temper? Can we trust her again?”
Wade looked at Selma. “If she does it again, then we fire her. Just like you did with Rachel.”
The look on Selma’s face at the chance to keep her job was heartbreaking, but Kendra stayed firm. “I think she needs to do more than just resume her duties.”
Before Wade could answer, Selma jumped in. “What?”
“You need to apologize to my mother and to Jorge.”
Selma’s eyes widened then she shook her head.
Wade stood at that. “Very well. Then you can pack your bags and be gone by sunset.”
“What? No.”
Kendra moved to stand next to Wade. “Yes.”
The older woman looked away, her fingers turning the juice glass as if she didn’t realize what she did. “Fine. I apologize.”
Kendra responded immediately. “Today.”
As if caught in her plan, Selma’s shoulders sagged, and she nodded. “Hoy.”
Wade smiled. “Good. That gives you today to clean this up and talk to Donna and Jorge. We’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.”
Selma nodded, her mind obviously still trying to come up with a way out of the apology.
They walked around the debris to get to the door. As Wade opened it, Kendra turned back. “Today.”
Selma frowned and waved them out. Once outside, they heard the door lock behind them. Wade chuckled. “You do know how to pick your staff.”
She grinned. “Thank you. I do think I do an exceptional job with that. After all, I chose you.”
Laughing, he led her to the golf cart they’d taken from their house. Being together during the day, but not in the office, was a new experience. One she was enjoying.
As he drove them to the main building, she remembered their bet. “I was right.”
“About what?”
“About Selma being sweet on Jorge. That means I win the bet.” She was bursting with anticipation.
“You’re right, you did win. I just wish it wasn’t at such an expense financially or emotionally. Do you think Jorge will accept her apology?”
“I don’t know. He seemed pretty freaked out about her actions. Would you want to start a relationship with a woman who had done that?”
He stopped the golf cart at the main building and looked at her. “You mean would I ask a woman to marry me who was ready to kill a man?”
At his reminder of her own loss of control shortly after opening the resort, she closed her lips tight. Who knew? Maybe Jorge would be interested after all.
They were walking toward the main building when Dale and Tanner came out. Dale opened his arms wide. “There you are. We were looking for you.”
“You found me.”
Tanner grabbed him by the arm. “And now you’re coming with us.”
Wade resisted, looking at her in confusion. They were about to get a picnic lunch and go for their ride. “Whoa, where am I supposed to be going?”
Dale grabbed his other arm. “To your bachelor party.”
“What? I thought those happened at night and involved a stripper.” He tried to resist, but the two men started to pull him toward a golf cart.
Dale laughed. “How boring would that be to a man who sees naked women every day? Nope, thanks to Lacey, we’re going for a trail ride at Last Chance and then we’re going to roast marshmallows over a campfire while we roast you and sleep out under the stars.” His best man winked at Kendra.
Wade mouthed the word “sorry” to her, but she smiled and waved him off. It was tradition after all.
Wade still resisted. “Who else is going? I’m not sure I’ll be safe out there with you two.”
Tanner chuckled. “Oh, don’t worry. Dad, Luke, Lowell, Jorge, Chris, Hunter, and Buddy are all going. We’re going to make sure we rehash every embarrassing moment of your life, big brother.”
He groaned as he let them push him down into the seat. “If we’re not back tomorrow, call detective Anderson and report me as a missing person.”
Kendra laughed and waved as they took him down the dirt road. Though she was disappointed, she was happy for him. That’s what a Bachelor party should be, not three women in bed for the entire night, like her ex had. He claimed he wore a condom, but she got tested after their honeymoon only to discover she had syphilis and needed to be treated, the asshole.
At least he’d have something to do for the next twenty-four hours. Now to figure out what she should do. She could always go into her office and review the fall marketing plans. After a full day off, she already didn’t want to do that. Maybe she should find her mom or Lacey and see if she needed to do anything for the wedding. After all, it was her wedding. Turning, she strode to the dark glass doors and pulled one open.
“Surprise!!!”
She halted in her tracks as the all the women left on the resort stood there smiling and laughing. Ginger and her mom grabbed each of her hands and pulled her toward the Great Room. “What’s this?”
Ginger squeezed her hand. “It’s your bridal shower, sweetie.”
Her bridal shower? What could they possibly give her that she didn’t already have?