The Wrangler (The Yacht Club #2)

Chapter 8

Eight

SJ

“Alex, wait.” That fucker was trying to escape again. It’s five in the morning and he’s already headed for the door. I’ve been trying to catch him since last Friday, getting up earlier and earlier. Mornings suck, but I can’t let this drop.

“My rides waiting.” He doesn’t even turn to face me.

I smother the urge to rail about him being an asshole. “I really need your help to finish the wording for the website and brochures. They aren’t going to write themselves and I don’t want to get anything wrong. If you don’t have time, I can ask Stone or someone else, but?—”

“Tonight.” He opens the door.

“What time?” If he makes a promise, he’ll keep it. I’ve seen that much.

“I’ll be back for dinner. Stone’s grilling.”

Thank you, Stone . He must have called a group dinner again. Probably nothing to do with me, but I’m happy for the assist.

Alex finally faces me, one foot out the door. “We can work after we eat.”

Almost an invitation. Look at him being all gentlemanly. I smile, but it’s more feral than friendly. “Perfect.”

The door closes soundlessly between us. I march back upstairs to my bed for a nap, or whatever it’s called when you have to get up at the ass-crack of dawn to wrangle a jackass into the corral and a couple more hours of sleep are required before being fully human.

After my second sleep, I spend the day researching rope ties and techniques, and how to plot a romance novel until my brain is mush. I’ve been trying to write details about my characters, and the hero is eerily similar to Alex. How can I write a monster as my hero? But is he? The Alex I know, not the one my uncle has described. Could he have misunderstood Alyss’ relationship with him? Because when I think back, all I remember is how much Alyss gushed about the guy she was dating. He was perfect, a football player, a gentleman. Maybe I’m the monster for trying to catch him at something so my uncle can get payback for everything he thinks Alex did.

I drop my head in my hands, tears sting the corners of my eyes. My life is a series of bad decisions and compounding shit. Every time I turn around someone is taking something from me. Leaving me in a worse position from where I started. If I’d stayed working in the diner, instead of tying to be a model, my uncle wouldn’t have had to save me. I’m supposed to somehow get dirt on my cousin’s ex, catch him in a compromising situation, and I can’t even catch him in a conversation.

I can’t see how this will come out the way my uncle wants.

A knock at my door startles me out of my doom spiral. Amy’s on the other side.

“Hey, I know you’re writing, but the guys are grilling. You’re welcome to join us. There’s plenty.”

I glance back at the narrow table I’m using as a desk. The idea of returning to that chair is repulsive. “Sure. That’d be great. Just let me clean up and I’ll be down.”

Amy gives a tiny hop and flashes a huge smile. “Great.”

She’s so nice, and outgoing. I used to be more friendly. Used to love people. What’s she going to think of me when she finds out I was sent here to nefarious reasons? My stomach turns and I regret agreeing to dinner. But I gave my word, so I find a clean top and freshen up in the bathroom before forcing myself down the stairs. But once I’m on the ground floor, the insecurity of not belonging freezes me in place.

There’s a crowd of people like the first night. Stone is at the grill. Amy and Tyler are making trips back and forth to the kitchen. Eliot is back along with Cade each with a beer. No Alex.

“You going out there, or what?” The familiar Texas twang in my ear has me spinning around and practically falling into Alex’s arms. I lurch back. “Whoa.” He grabs my shoulders before I topple over. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Figured you would’ve heard me coming down the stairs.”

I swallow, searching for composure and inexplicably fighting the urge to rub up against him. He’s wearing a clean white t-shirt, and black denim. Black cowboy boots and his hair is damp on the ends. Freshly showered. He smells like soap and water, and man. That indescribable musky heat. The urge to bury my nose in his neck catches me off guard. I step out of his hold.

He drops his arms. “You okay?”

“Good.” I clear the squeak in my voice. “Just hungry.” That’s no lie. I’m starving for this man and I’m not at all sure what to do about the urge to push up his shirt and run my tongue along his cut abs. Retreat to the patio is my only option, but he’s right on my heels. My body is acutely aware of exactly where he is, like a spider with a new victim wiggling in its web. I’m all for wrapping him up tight and taking him and this conversation to the bedroom. Not gonna happen.

Alex pulls out a chair for me. I almost miss the gesture it’s so unexpected. Who does that anymore? A flutter of uncertainty makes me awkward in my own body.

“Thanks,” I say as he scoots the seat forward as I drop into it. He settles easily into the chair a the head of the table, leaving space between us and stretching his long legs under the table—completely relaxed.

“How’s the club coming?” Stone calls from the grill, saving me from making conversation.

Alex stiffens and sits up. “The painters are almost done. Bathrooms are done.”

“All of them?” Stone sounds surprised.

“Tile to towel dispensers. Put up the last one before I finished for the day. I would’ve stayed longer?—”

Stone interrupts. “You’ve been living there.”

“Have to. I spend all day managing the subs. Still gotta get my work done.”

Stone shoots Alex a look filled with doubt and calculation. Does Stone think he’s avoiding me too?

“How’s the copy coming for the website, SJ?”

I startle, my focus darting away from Alex to the current threat. Now, I’m in Stone’s crosshairs. I sit up taller searching for the right words. I catch myself about to twist my finger in my hair, and push it back off my face instead. Sticking with the truth, I answer, “Good. Slow. But good. Alex is helping me with some questions after dinner.”

Another laser-guided glare from Stone heads toward Alex. Before Stone can say a word Alex pipes up, “I’m on it, boss. We’ll have something for Katherine soon.”

Ha. He got the virtual spanking from Daddy. Now he has to help me. I breathe out, releasing the tension in my jaw.

Amy places a bin of silverware in the center of the table and passes plates around before she sits opposite of me with a smile. Tyler is right beside her as usual, handing Alex a beer. “Move over. Let me sit next to my wife.”

Alex glances at me like he’s assessing a threat but he shifts over one chair to sit next to me. My body lights up in awareness of his proximity. If anything that’s another mark against him. Like my uncle reminded me, I never could pick good men. He shifts his chair away from me.

I open my mouth to tell him I don’t bite, but the smell of the steaks makes my stomach grumble.

Alex grins at me a twinkle of mischief in his eye. I glare, daring him to say something about my embarrassment, but he sips his beer as if nothing happened. Why does he have to be so damn attractive? Everything my uncle is asking would be so much easier if Alex were a monster on the outside or rude or mean to kittens. Something other than adorable, sexy, tall cowboy.

“How’s Blake?” Amy asks in the direction of Cade and Eliot.

Cade looks away. Eliot tilts his head in contemplation and finally responds. “Physically, getting better faster than expected.”

“It can’t be easy for him. For any of you.” Amy’s focused on Cade who faces the group after another beat.

“It helped when you came to see him,” Cade says. “He needed space from me and Eliot.” Cade blinks and tilts his head back to the sky. “I just wish there was more I could do.”

It’s obvious Cade is tied in knots over the situation with Blake.

“He’s in the very best facility.” Tyler’s tone is matter of fact. Cade shrugs and nods.

“Sucks that it’s four hours away. I’d go see him everyday if I could.” Alex sounds so sincere. I glance at him. He’s staring into his beer, his shoulders slumped with the weight of friends’ burdens. “But the resort isn’t going to build itself.”

Stone crosses the patio with a plate full of steaming steaks. “We wouldn’t be where we are if you hadn’t stepped up, Alex, but you can’t work twenty-four seven.”

“I’m not. I haven’t slept at the site, even though I do lose some time in the commute.”

Stone narrows his gaze and makes a low sound of understanding or disbelief. “Pandora is doing a big event this weekend for the holiday. Two days. We’re going.”

No one responds immediately, too busy filling their plates. I can’t do what Stone’s demanding. If I go with them to Pandora, I’ll be torn between trying to catch Alex doing something bad and convincing him to do bad things to me. My uncle would be pissed. Say I’m wasting an opportunity. But he asked me to get information. I don’t have to drown in temptation to do that. I can stay here and work on my book.

After a few minutes of hands and utensils criss-crossing the table, everyone settles in for the feast. I take the first bite of steak and moan. Alex shudders and stiffens, his back ramrod straight. I moan again on purpose this time. “This is so good.”

Stone grins. “Glad you like it.”

“I can’t remember the last time I had a steak cooked on the grill. Too long.”

Alex gives me a curious look as if he’s requesting an explanation, but I ignore it. I can’t explain how once I stopped visiting family and was working and going to school, dreaming of being a model, my entire life unraveled. I still haven’t fully returned to normal. Maybe after I leave Colorado. Maybe never.

“When’s Reed coming out?” Tyler asks.

Who’s that ? I glance around the table not sure who Tyler was addressing.

Eliot puts his fork down. “The original contract finished in December but the client insisted on a six-month extension to transition to a new security company. We couldn’t say no, but I did insist it was the last one. They like Reed, haven’t made any effort to find another bodyguard. But June is it. No more.”

“Can he fly out for the weekend?” Stone asks.

Eliot shakes his head. “Holiday and all that. Lots of activities.”

“He’s been flying back when he can,” Cade adds. “Hard to get all the way out to Alabaster when he’s only able to come for a couple days. But in August he’ll stay.”

“Last time I talked to him, he had all the properties rented and the property manager seems to be working out.” Eliot sounds as exhausted as Alex should be.

“Where is Reed living?” I ask as casually as I can.

“St. Louis.” Eliot answers.

Amy said they all met at a club in St. Louis, but I didn’t put it together at that moment. That’s where Alex was hiding before my uncle found him out here. I file away that detail. Use it to quiet my uncle the next time he calls.

“Not sure I should take off two days, really three with drive time.” Alex saws a bite of steak away from the slab. “The weather’s good this time of year.” Alex stuffs the bite into his mouth, staring at his plate. “Gotta have the apartment ready to go if Reed’s moving out. That cottage Tyler rented won’t hold all of you.” The last part is directed at Eliot.

“Thought you said the inspector has already been out?” Stone asks, but it’s not a question.

“It’s gotta be perfect for Blake when they move in. Still have some paint and finish work. Not to mention the fire door to install between the two units. Fire marshal insisted the door we had wasn’t good enough.”

“Gabe can take point with the subs if any of them are planning to work over the holiday.” The tone Stone uses tells me he doesn’t believe anyone will be working the long weekend.

Alex looks at me out of the corner of his eye. I tilt my head in an unasked question but he turns away. Why do I get the impression he’s still avoiding me? This is not the behavior of a predator. He opens doors, carries luggage, and is genuinely concerned about his friends. Hard-working. Responsible. Kind. He’s more like a hero in the romance novels I’ve been reading. Too similar to the character that has been forming in my head for my own book. I’m struggling to resolve that the book boyfriend sitting next to me is the monster of my cousin’s past, mostly because the more time I spend around him, the more attractive he becomes as a person. But I’ve been fooled before.