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“YOU SOLD ME OUT TO Stryker Red Eagle because you’re sleeping with him? That’s rich! I come to you with a problem. I thought my own sister would help me out, but no, you gave me up so you could fuck the man.”
“What the hell? While you had me risking my freedom, working at the ranch to get what you wanted, you did nothing. It wasn’t to save the family farm because the Red Eagles had threatened to take it. It had nothing to do with them. It was to save your ass. You gambled the farm, you took what wasn’t yours, you caused the problem, and you wanted me to find a way out for you.” Avery’s chest was heaving, and she was gesturing vehemently. “The Red Eagles have money, and you wanted it. You tried to trick me into stealing it or anything with a market value and possibly go to jail. All the while, you sat on your ass and badgered me every chance you got. You were so protective of your little sister that you threw her under the bus, and if I had not put a stop to everything and told Daddy what was going on, I’d have been in deep trouble. More than I am now.”
She froze. She’d called Stryker Daddy in front of Ben. A very angry Ben who wouldn’t hesitate to use it against her.“You told Dad?” Avery breathed. She was extremely thankful that it sounded like her father, who she did tell first, but had rarely called Daddy. “You’re fucking Red Eagle, Avery.”
“What were you doing when I was risking my job, my freedom, my everything? Nothing. What were you doing but pushing me to get your ass covered for you? Nothing. Well, now you can cover it yourself, and you’re fucking welcome. Maybe you won’t literally gamble the farm next time because our father has changed the property's provisions. I hope dad puts a rider on the part that is yours now to say you can’t gamble, sell or in any way lose the farm because you’re too irresponsible to trust with something so valuable.”
The slap echoed in the hallway. The sting on her cheek didn’t hurt as much as knowing Ben had hit her full in the face. It had been a long time since he had lost his temper with her so badly that he struck her. Years. By the look on his face, he was instantly contrite, but she didn’t care. He had crossed the line with her one too many times. She still loved her brother, but right now, she was as close as she had ever been to hating him.
“I’m leaving. I already called Dad and Cass, so don’t bother giving them a made-up version. Your days of using and misusing me are over. I’ll send them a text to let them know this latest move. They’ll be up to speed. See you on the ranch tomorrow morning.”
“I’m not going.”
“Okay, but you signed a contract, and while I haven’t read it, I know Stryker, and he would not have given you an out other than in default.”
“Why, because yours doesn’t have one?”
“Oh, I signed an employment contract, but I do have an out. Unlike you, I don’t owe anyone anything, and I’m not that desperate.”
But she was. She longed for what Stryker promised and feared it as well. Giving a powerful man control may just be counterproductive to her happiness or the best choice of her life. While she didn’t regret giving her brother the solution he needed to save her father’s ranch, she might not survive the minimum six months required. If things didn’t work out, she could lose much more than she ever bargained for. She could lose her heart.
***
“AND SO THAT IS THE whole story about Ben.” Stryker looked at his siblings, of which he included Carson as one. Of course, Seamus and Carson already knew about the situation concerning Ben Camden. As far as Avery was concerned, they knew only that Tauna had decided to stay home with the baby, and they needed a replacement assistant. The job was offered and accepted by Avery.
The real surprise was when Stryker said that he and Avery were dating.
“Dating? Really? Wonderful. Wait, do you date?” asked Renee.
“What kind of question is that? Of course, I date.”
“When was the last time?” demanded his sister.
“I dated Saundra.”
“True. Saundra did have some nice things to say about you,” said Renee.
“Oh, and Carolyn,” added Carson.
“Bro, Carolyn was two years ago, and if memory serves, it was for a few weeks,” said Callen.
Renee chopped the salad veggies as Seamus threw a large number of steaks in the marinade.
“I’m choosey, and if I remember right, we didn’t agree on some important issues.” Stryker tried to defend his short relationship and subsequent dry spell.
“I’ll say. Women have begged me to set up a date with you, and you have hardly ever taken me up on it,” said Seamus.
“He’s not wrong, man,” added Declan, who did not teach on Monday or Thursday evenings.
Stryker conceded. “It’s true. But honestly, we are together. I’m dating Avery now.”
“As in ‘going out’ and having fun or as in ‘spending the night’?” asked Renee. “And why wouldn’t she tell me last week when we were out.”
“Probably because I hadn’t asked her to make it exclusive yet. We were still circling each other then.”
Declan looked hard at Stryker. “You did not blackmail that young lady because you wanted her, and she wanted to help her brother, right?”
“No, dammit. I did not force Avery to be with me. It was her choice.”
Seamus shook his head. “So, I have to ask, why now and why Avery? You haven’t known her very long.”
Stryker grinned. “She’s cute as hell, and I like her. There is something about her that draws me in.”
“Is that why you had me stay away all morning?” asked Renee.
“Yep. We discussed the situation, and it was totally her decision on the job and the relationship.”
“And it’s why I have been warning all the lookers to keep on walking,” added Carson.
“Yes.”
Declan put his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. But you have to admit it does look fishy. I still wonder what you used for incentive.”
“Only if you think I need to pay women to be with me.”
Callen laughed. “Fine. So, when do we get to initiate her?”
“Never. Avery is nervous about coming here. I want you all to treat her well. Later, when she is used to you, then you can begin to act your normal, annoying selves.”
Seamus looked out the window and whistled. “She’s here, and it looks as though your girl has had an upset. A big one. Time to dust off your charm, Stryker. We’ll be welcoming, but you need to go make her feel better, first, or your little filly is going to bolt.”
Stryker was up in a flash and strode to the door, closing it solidly behind him. Seamus was right. Avery was sitting in the car, trying to wipe her tears. What could have happened between midday and now? Did he push her too hard? Was she looking for a way out? He’d never keep her against her will no matter what he wanted or thought.
He tried to open the driver’s door, but it was locked. She looked up with vulnerable, reddened eyes. It was clear, whatever had upset her was still difficult for her to deal with.
“Open the door, darlin’.” The rumble in his chest was full of the gentleness he felt when he saw her distress.
She did, and he squatted down next to her in the open space. “Now, tell Daddy what has you all upset? Who do I need to set straight?”
She turned to him, and this close without the glare of the sun on the tinted window, he could see what he hadn’t seen before. His hand gingerly touched the angry, raised fingerprints on her face.
“Who the hell did this to you?” Her hand went up to touch where Stryker’s was, and she brought down the visor mirror to look. “Are you okay?” She shook her head.
“Stryker, Ben hates me and says I sold him out. He said I was angry because what I was doing wasn’t working. Ben said because I was working and he wasn’t, I made you draw up that contract. He said...” she shook her head in dismissal, “Never mind.”
“Get out, darlin’.” He reached in and guided her out of the car. Taking her keys from the ignition, he locked the door and pocketed them.
“What are you doing?”
“Climb in my pickup, Avery. We are going to pay Ben a visit. Let’s see what he has to say to me.”
“No, please, don’t. I don’t want a fight, Stryker. I can see you’re angry. It hurt Ben’s pride when I told him that if I had actually done what he wanted me to do, then he’d created a failsafe of sorts. If things came out, he was in the clear. He stayed far enough away, so I would take the rap if things fell apart. I’d be in the spotlight if he tried to blackmail you or whatever he was going to do. I was stupid, Stryker. I just want this over with.”
Stryker’s fists clenched at the pain he heard in her voice. He was past seeing red. “Angry? I am ready to strangle the little shit. He can’t get away with hurting you, Avery. Ever. You are mine, and I protect what is mine. No person is allowed to touch you without your permission and never in aggression, no matter who they are. Understood?”
“Stryker, it’s not that big of a deal. Can you just wait until tomorrow to talk to him? If he comes in. Please?” She clung to his forearms as she begged. Stryker kept looking at the swollen face of his girl, and the fury wouldn’t die down.
“Oh, he’ll come in, but he might be carried out.” Stryker paced like a caged animal.
“You would understand if it were your brother who was in the bind.”
“What I would understand is that he needed his ass kicked, and I’d have to stand in line to kick it. My dad would be first in line after my mother. We are held accountable, and then we all pitch in to fix the problem. Just as you were held accountable this morning for your part in this mess. Then I helped to fix the problem.”
“But Ben is different. He has bigger dreams than I do.”
“I’m not going to make his life easy. His self-serving plan of abusing your sibling love, using your tender heart to his ends, and then showing no remorse is horse sh... manure.” Avery opened her mouth, but Stryker cut her off quickly. “Don’t ask me to do it, darlin’. It will be my first official denial. Because you agreed to work here and see if we have enough connection to make this relationship work is the only reason I even helped him out. Don’t make me regret it any more than I already do.”
Tears streamed down her face again as he watched her lip quiver and the anxious look deepened to fear. He was scaring her as much or more than Ben. Taking a deep breath and blowing it out, he leaned down and kissed her salty lips and the tears still sliding down her cheeks.
Avery smiled just a little, and he kissed her more ardently, giving her a warning. “I’m going to talk to him tomorrow morning, Avery.” She nodded. “And I am going to be very clear about my expectations and how angry I am.” She sniffed and nodded, her eyes never leaving his. “I am going to ream him over this assault and make it understood that you belong to me now. If he ever lays a finger on you again to inflict pain, I will... well, he will have no doubt as to my sincerity. Do you understand me? I believe he should be sitting in jail right now.”
“Yes,” Stryker’s eyebrows raised. “Daddy.”
He nodded. “And you won’t interfere.”
“No, sir, I won’t interfere.”
“Good. Tonight, I’m going to make sweet love to you, but right now, we need to get an ice pack on that face, and I need to calm down.” She nodded, and again, the slightest hint of a smile touched her lips.
“Thank you,” said Avery quietly.
“You don’t thank your daddy for protecting you. You expect it. You do thank him for not whipping your ass for not calling him right then and there. Wasn’t anyone else home?”
“No, it was the middle of the afternoon, remember?”
“Where have you been since then?”
She shrugged. “You said dinner was at six. I didn’t want to show up too soon, so I drove around for an hour and then sat at the park, but I didn’t wear my coat, and it’s chilly with the wind kicking up. When it was about time for the office to close, I headed in this direction.”
“I spoke too soon. I am going to spank you.”
Stryker noticed now what he had missed in his disbelief and anger. She wore a light sweater but no coat, and it was easily in the low fifties. He watched his spunky girl return as she stepped back from him. Good.
“I’m sorry. How was I to know you would want me to come here? Stryker, I can’t read your mind. We don’t know each other well enough for me to make an assumption like that.”
“You could have called me. And you can always come to me. You should find me, and in cases like this, you had better find me. You are always welcome here, day or night. Never forget that.”
“I’ll try to remember that the next time I fight with my brother over something you did, but he thinks I did. Or something he did and blames the lack of result on me. And I’m not staying here either,” was her salty reply. She was perking up. Good. It would make it easier when he paddled her butt.
“Oh, no? And where do you think you’re going?” Stryker asked in that ‘chastising a naughty young lady’ tone.
“To the lodge. I used to date the manager, and he’ll find me a room. I don’t need the aggravation today. Trust me, I’ve had enough to last a week or three.”
“You listen to me, little girl.” Stryker could hear and feel the rumble in his chest. “If I have to, I will strip you naked out here in front of God and everyone, then lay you over the hood of your car and turn your ass as red hot as your face is now.”
Her eyes grew large. “You’re an asshole.”
Stryker knew he was an asshole, plain and simple, and he needed his own ass kicked. He took a deep breath. “Maybe you’re right. This whole situation makes me lose my control, and that, in itself, makes me angry.” He turned to stare hard at Avery. “Don’t ever let anyone do that to you again.”
Her voice was low and intense. “Stryker Red Eagle, I did not let my brother slap me so hard my head and jaw ache. I did not allow him to yell at me or treat me badly. And I am not here to tolerate you doing the same. I am a woman who deserves your respect. I understand that this situation makes you angry, and I appreciate that emotion, but you may not take it out on me, blame me for it, or take offense over anything that I have subsequently done. I may be agreeing to try a relationship with you, but I am not a doormat, and if you treat me like one, then this whole experiment is over. Do I make myself clear?”
He stood and stared at her for about thirty seconds before smiling. “Yep, and you’re right. Partly. You should have realized I would be upset and come here right away. But I was wrong to take it out on you just because I am frustrated that I can’t take it out on that little weasel. What I should have done is hug you.” He reached out and wrapped Avery in his arms. “Kissed you.” His lips tenderly caressed hers. “And made sure you were okay. I’m sorry. The next time something happens, I promise to have better control.”
“Thank you. Can we go in now? It’s gotten chilly and still no jacket.”
“And where is your jacket, anyway?”
“Home. I left in a hurry.”
“We’ll find you something.”
“I’ll get one when I go home tomorrow.”
Stryker could feel his lips firm, but he held back the things he wanted to say. He needed to bide his time and learn her quirks, too. “Oh, and by the way, this is not an experiment. It is a dating relationship with carnal benefits.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself,” said Avery. She immediately squealed at the sudden smack to the center of her buttocks. Then she grinned.
They pulled her things out of the car. Stryker wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close as they walked up the steps to the front door. It was swung open by Seamus, whose eyes immediately widened when he saw her face. He turned to Stryker then back to Avery.
“Did you, no, you wouldn’t. Who did that to you, sweetheart?”