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AVERY WANTED THE JOB at the ranch but wanted it under honest conditions, putting her in a dilemma. All night she talked to Janna, Renee, and Renee’s friend Tansy about all kinds of things and realized that she missed having a group of females to share with. They had laughed and teased and told brother stories and laughed some more.
Renee and Tansy both held the Red Eagle men in high regard even though Renee had plenty of brother stories. If Avery didn’t know better, she would say that Renee was trying to do some matchmaking for Stryker. Tansy seemed on board with the saintly brother hype.
“Stryker is all bluster with a little bite,” said Renee into one of the silences.
“How do you mean?” Janna looked surprised.
“He grouses around, telling people what to do and how to do it, but when it comes to his family, and women in particular, he is a marshmallow inside,” said Renee.
Avery choked on her laugh of disbelief. “A marshmallow with a sword, you mean. That man could slice and dice anyone with his words. I can’t imagine what physical damage he could do if he had a mind to do so.”
“Oh, he’s protective, all right. He is bossy, protective, and possessive of those he loves. Once you are a full-time employee, you’ll see,” said Renee. “It's annoying as hell, but it does feel good sometimes. You know, to have someone so intent on your happiness. And I’m his sister. I can’t imagine how much more attentive he’d be if I were his girlfriend.”
Tansy hummed. “Well, his last girlfriend did say he was very attentive in private.”
“Hey, guys. That’s my boss. I don’t want to know this.” But she wished Tansy would continue because she absolutely did want to know more to fuel her dreams. Her boss was hot, and there was no doubt about it. He was off-limits, equally true. But a girl can imagine a different life, right?
Janna grinned and looked around the room as though she was being spied on. “I’ve heard things.”
It was Avery’s turn to look surprised. “You have?”
Janna leaned in. “Like when he was dating Carolyn Jeffers, he knocked a guy out for putting his hands on her inappropriately. I mean invasively.”
Renee shook her head. “I remember that. Yes, some man grabbed her boob. Stryker took care of it, but he broke his own index finger, punching the guy for laying his hands on her. He complained he knew how to fight, and it was his own damn fault he held his fist wrong.”
Tansy grinned. “Oh, right. And then, when Carolyn reamed him out for taking up for her, he broke it off right then and there in front of everyone.”
Janna nodded. “Carolyn said he was too possessive, and she didn’t need protecting.”
Avery cocked her head to the side. “But don’t women want to feel like their boyfriend will protect them?”
“Usually, but not everyone, evidently,” said Renee.
Janna got serious. “Isn’t that the kind of guy you’re supposed to be wary of?”
“No, not really,” said Avery. “I think you’d be wary of a bully or someone that separated you from your friends and family. Someone who was demeaning toward you is not the kind of man you want anywhere near you. But a man who will stand between you and the big bad world is the kind most women want. Not to take on all their battles but to stand with them or take over when you need them to do it.”
“Okay fine, but if you ever want a guy like that, Avery, you will be in the right position to capitalize on the situation. I mean, I have four brothers, for heaven’s sake, and Stryker may be the worst at being a daddy.”
“A what?” asked Avery. Her heart rate shot up, and her hands grew clammy at the same time her lower belly tingled. Had Renee overheard Stryker refer to himself as “Daddy?”
Janna rolled her eyes. “You know, a daddy. It’s nothing weird or anything. The kind of hot, dominant guy that takes care of business and takes care of you. Oh, and good in bed. A daddy. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of that. It’s what I want. Mature, responsible, and just for me.”
Avery laughed through her embarrassment. “You mean the kind who opens doors for you and brushes the bench off for you before you sit down? That kind of thing?”
“Exactly like that and doesn’t let you do crazy things.” Renee’s eyes grew large. “Oh, my God, Stryker does that for you all the time, doesn’t he? I never noticed, but he does. Has he called himself daddy?”
“What?” asked a panicking Avery. “N-no.”
Tansy laughed. “Men with daddy tendencies like to refer to themselves as ‘Daddy.’”
“Good to know if I ever run into one,” Avery said.
Avery tuned out the others as they spoke over themselves. She had some salacious thoughts about Stryker Red Eagle already. Now she couldn’t believe how much she wanted him when she thought of him as a daddy. “Enough, ladies. That’s all I need to learn on this expedition. What’s on tap tonight?” Avery knew she already had plenty to digest.
Throughout the evening, Avery had moments of guilt that she had been dishonest in her dealings with Renee and the ranch, especially Stryker. Not that she had done anything, not really, but her motives had not always been honorable. Thankfully, when she got home, Ben was gone. Avery was relieved. She went into the office where her father was working and took the plunge.
“Dad, do you have a moment?”
“Sure, doll. What’s going on in your world? You went out for some fun, and I’m not sure if you had a good time or not. For once, your face doesn’t give your thinking away.”
She sat in the big chair in front of his desk and pulled her feet under her. “I had a great time. It’s been a while since I’ve been out with friends.”
Macon Camden leaned back in his large chair. “And your job is good?”
“Yes. They’ve asked me to stay on permanently.”
“Well, so why the pensive face. Are you unsure what to say?”
“No. I’m going to accept the job. That is if I’m still offered it after I tell Stryker what I tried to do.”
Macon sat up. “Oh, sweetie, what’s going on?”
Her voice trembled. “I’m not sure.” She looked down at her hands without seeing them. “I was hoping you could help me figure that out.”
Avery told the whole story to her father. Macon was none too pleased.
“Avery, you should have asked me right away. I would have told you the truth and saved you the embarrassment of explaining yourself to Red Eagle. I don’t know what Ben is up to, but our ranch is just fine.”
“Really? Good.” She was relieved for a moment until her father continued.
“But if you want to keep working with the Red Eagles, you’re going to have to tell them all about the deception and your part in it.”
“But I didn’t really do anything. I didn’t find anything or share anything. I barely looked. I didn’t need to check around much before it was obvious that the Red Eagles are who they proclaim to be.”
“No, maybe not, but your conscience will be pricked the whole time you work there. Besides, I didn’t raise my daughter to carry around guilt due to her deceit.”
“But it’ll just cause trouble.” Avery really wanted her dad to change his mind.
“Yes, it might, but I’ve been listening to you talk about Stryker Red Eagle. You like him.”
“On some days, but on other days...” Avery shook her head.
“Even if your employment ends, you live in the same small community. Stryker deserves to know, and you have to tell him if you’re ever going to put this behind you. And you let me take care of Ben.”
“Okay.” Her father was right, but how was she going to do that? She was in for a restless night.
“You’d better get your sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a difficult day but I have confidence in you and Stryker figuring this out.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I usually am.”
Avery agreed but in this case, she wasn’t so sure at all.
***
THE NEXT MORNING, AVERY didn’t want to go to work. Her stomach hurt, and for a little bit, she felt like she was getting a stomach bug. It was also reminiscent of the one time she didn’t prepare for the algebra final in college. Maybe she shouldn’t go in today because she didn’t want anyone to get sick. And she wasn’t at her best.
She’d just call the ranch and talk to Renee. She’d say she couldn’t come in. If they withdrew the offer of permanency, she would be done with it all. She wouldn’t have to tell Stryker what she had nearly done or attempted. If it went that way, it did, but she would miss Renee’s friendship. And Stryker. She’d miss him.
Deciding that was going to be her plan of action didn’t settle her stomach. Even though she had wanted the job with the Red Eagles, she would sacrifice more if she went in and told him what she had attempted to do. Honesty was the best policy, except when it involved more than you could handle, then avoidance worked. She called the ranch, hoping that not coming in would be enough for them not to formally offer her the job.
A deep, impatient voice answered. “Stryker here.”
“Oh, I thought I dialed Renee’s phone. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“You did, but she’s having breakfast. Is this Avery? What do you need, darlin’?” His voice suddenly tensed. “Were you in an accident?”
She hadn’t even seen him today, and she already needed new panties. “No. I’m... well... I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to stay away, I mean, I’m not feeling well, so I need to keep away from you all and your guests.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Stryker spoke with a stern voice. “Did you drink too much last night, young lady?”
“What? No, sir, it was a work night. I had one drink with dinner.” Why was she telling him this? Since when did you tell your employer about your private life, and since when did he care? Since her boss was Stryker Red Eagle and he took care of everything and everyone around him.
“Hm. Then why are you sick today?”
“My stomach hurts. I’m sorry, but it happens.”
His tone changed, but she heard just the chance bit of suspicion. “Do I need to get you to the doctor?”
Why would he? She wasn’t his girlfriend or wife or anything. “Even if I did need a doctor, which I don’t, I would never ask you to take me. I’d ask my dad. It’s likely a bug or something. I’ll just lay low today, and it will be good tomorrow.”
Another hesitation. “Okay, but if you aren’t better by morning, I want to know about it. Understood?”
“I’ll call in if things aren’t better.”
“Me, you will call me.”
“O-okay.”
“Get some rest, darlin’, and we will see you tomorrow.”
Now she added lying to get out of work to her list of offenses. She really did feel terrible. It was close to midday when her father came home to grab something and saw her reading a book.
“Newfangled way to work, is it?”
“I didn’t feel that hot this morning, still don’t, so I called in.”
“You can do that on a ranch?”
“When it isn’t yours, you can.”
“Ah. But what about dependability?”
“I didn’t want anyone else to get sick in case it was a virus.”
“Considerate of you. Did you consider it might have been guilt and nerves?”
“No.” Her face was growing hot. She wondered if her nose was growing.
“Well, you rest up. I’ve got more to do this morning. I’ll be back around lunch.”
“Okay.”
Her dad opened his mouth again but closed it and left. She wouldn’t be able to get out of work tomorrow. Too many people were watching. Her stomach was queasy again.
The next morning, as fate would have it, she really was hanging her head over the toilet bowl. She called the office phone, and mid-sentence, she shoved the phone in her father’s hands while she raced to the closest bathroom. When she finally came out of the little room, her father was just hanging up.
“Stryker said he would call later this morning to check on you. I said you would be fine, but he’s really worried about you.”
“Okay, I’m going back to bed after I brush my teeth.”
“I left some medicine on the bathroom counter for you.
“Thanks. I’ll try to hold it down,” Avery mumbled as she went to brush her teeth and take medicine before crawling back into her bed and praying for sleep.
Later that day, she woke to masculine voices in the hall. It wasn’t unusual in her house as she was the only female, but one of the voices was her father’s, the other one, her boss’. How long had they been talking, and what about she hadn’t a clue. Why was Stryker here? It was three in the afternoon. She felt better and had slept for most of the time since she had called the office that morning. No more barfing, but a few bathroom runs were needed before her stomach was calmer.
There was a knock on the door. “Hey, darlin’. How are you?” asked Stryker through the door.
“Come in. I’m better, thanks. Why are you here?”
“I had to make a bank run, so I thought I’d stop and see how you were.”
“Better.”
He looked at her and smiled. “You look beautiful.”
“Don’t lie to a woman about her appearance. She always knows.”
He laughed. “Fair enough. You look like you’ve been through the wars, but you won.”
She offered a half-smile. “That works.”
He sat in the chair he brought closer to her bed. “I know you’re sick, but luckily today is Friday. You’ll feel better by Monday. If not, you go to the doctor, you understand me?” There was no misinterpreting his demand or his intention to follow through to make it happen if necessary.
“Yes, sir, but I’m already feeling less sick.”
“Good because I need to see you in my office on Monday. We have to talk about this job and a few other things. Important things.”
“Like...” She raised her eyebrows in question.
“Like... I’ll tell you Monday.”
“Is everything alright?” Her heart was beating out of her chest. It was hard to hear over the pounding in her ears and the pulsing between her thighs, but she heard him. Had he figured things out? How could he? Did her dad tell him? No, he wouldn’t.
“It will be. There isn’t anything to worry about. We have a few papers to sign and things to take care of, and then it will be business as usual.”
“Papers to sign?”
“Yes, I know Renee asked you if you wanted the job, and you indicated you did. Have I misunderstood?”
“Oh, right. Yes, I said I did want it.
“Good. Then it takes some paperwork to make it official.” He sounded a bit too chipper for a man who was sitting in a sick woman’s bedroom.
“Okay.” What else was there to say? She wished she felt like talking it out with him right now so he would have the weekend to figure things out, but she was a coward and said nothing.
Stryker stood and replaced the chair in its original spot. He leaned down and brushed her hair out of her face, tucking the loose strands behind her ear. His voice was gentle, almost caressing. “I’ll see you Monday.”
Avery snuggled back under her covers and watched him leave. What was that man up to? Well, she’d know Monday if she could last that long without her curiosity killing her first.