Chapter 5

Mik opted to slide into the booth seat across from Jed, leaving Jake to sit beside her. It would be bad enough to have to look at Jed across the table, but not nearly as difficult as sitting beside him.

She’d had as much of that as she could stand on the ride into town. Wedged between Jake and Jed in the cab of the fancy pickup Jake drove, she’d been all too aware of Jed’s lean body inches away. That and the smell of soap and something uniquely male had her hormones ready to red-line by the time they pulled up at the Grill.

Heck, just walking into the restaurant had been an experience. Acutely aware of Jed behind her, she’d almost swallowed her tongue when every female head in the place turned the moment Jed and Jake entered. Eyes followed them like a damn flock of raptors.

Apparently, she wasn’t the only female to think the Nash men were mighty fine pieces of man flesh. Whether it was one of the hand’s wife or girlfriend on the ranch or a customer in a restaurant, women seemed to gravitate toward them like bees to a hive. A fact that gave her an embarrassed stab of jealously. She had no reason to feel that way yet something inside wanted to lasso Jed, brand him, and stake her claim. It was insane.

A young, quite curvaceous blond waitress appeared at their table almost before they were seated. “Hey there, stud,” she fairly cooed, leaning forward toward Jed to display more of her rather abundant charms that threatened to spill free of the low-cut top she wore. “Haven’t seen you in a while. Where you been hiding, handsome?”

“In plain sight.” The almost-a-smile expression on Jed’s face had the waitress leaning closer, looking for all the world like she wanted to gobble him up right there and then.

Mik watched in fascination. Sure, Jed was sexy as hell, but she’d never seen a man who attracted women like flies to shit the way he did.

“Honey, if you’d been in sight I would’ve noticed,” the waitress cooed, reaching out to touch him lightly on the shoulder.

He didn’t react to the touch. “Can I get a beer? Whatever you have on draft.”

“Baby you can get anything you want.”

Mik felt a bit like a voyeur. It was clear to anyone with half a brain that what the waitress was offering had nothing to do with a drink. She hated that the green-eyed jealously monster made another appearance at the sight of the waitress flirting with Jed.

“A beer’ll do fine, thanks.”

“If you’re sure.”

“That I am.”

Hey now! Mik’s mood perked up a bit. While the waitress’s words might clearly be saying it’s yours if you want it, Jed’s came across decidedly as thanks but no thanks.

The waitress straightened and turned to Jake. “Hey there, sexy. Haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Hey there Candy,” Jake replied with a flirtatious smile. “You’re looking mighty fine.”

“I could say the same to you, stud.” She returned the smile with a little toss of her hair. “It’s been a while.

“Ah, work, you know,” he replied and, when Jed shifted on the bench across from him, cleared his throat. “Uh, bring me a Corona. Hold the lime.”

“You got it, handsome.” She jotted something on her pad and gave him a smile before looking at Mik. “How about you?”

“Draft is fine.”

“I’ll be right back with your drinks,” Candy announced, gave Jake a wink and sashayed away.

There was an awkward silence once she left. Mik pulled a menu from the wooden stand on the end of the table. “So what’s good here?”

“The burgers,” Jake answered.

Mik wasn’t about to announce that she’d just as soon eat the table. Ever since she was ten and her adoptive parents gave her a calf to raise, she’d not been able to force herself to eat meat.

“Ever tried their soup?” she asked.

“Soup ain’t food,” Jake said with a laugh.

“Then I guess I won’t ask about the salads.”

“Rabbit food,” Jake replied.

“Well, here you go.” Candy returned with their drinks. “Y’all ready to order?”

“Yeah.” Jake rattled off his order.

Candy turned to Jed, who ordered the same as Jake: a double burger, rare with the works, and a side of fries.

Mik felt like the odd-man out when it was her turn. She ordered a loaded baked potato and side salad.

“I’ll put your order right in,” Candy said with a smile then leaned over to whisper to Jake. “Could I talk to you for one teeny second?”

When she straightened, Jake looked over at Mik, then Jed. “Y’all excuse me for a minute?”

Mik watched him follow Candy to the bar and noticed the way Candy watched to see if Jed was watching. He wasn’t. Candy turned her attention to Jake, running one hand up Jake’s arm and swaying into Jake ever so slightly.

“Looks like Jake’s in for a good time,” Mik commented. Jed snorted, and Mik turned her eyes to him. “Hey now, I saw the way that gal came on to you and the way you let her go just a little ways. You can’t sit there and tell me you don’t like to have a little fun.”

The silent stare he delivered had her swallowing hard. Had she just crossed some invisible line?

*****

A thousand things ran through Jed’s mind. Things he’d purely love to do and would have all kinds of fun in the doing. He looked over at Mik, holding her eyes with his for a long moment.

“I like fun as much as the next fella. How about you, Mik? And by the way, is your name really Mik?”

“Well, thanks for asking, Jed.” She grinned in relief and took a drink of beer. “I downright love having fun. ‘Course, my idea of fun might not match up to everyone else’s. And yes, my name is Mik, but it’s short for Mikayla.”

“With such a pretty name why do you go by Mik? Sounds like a man.”

Mik shrugged and leaned forward with her forearms on the table. “In my line of work sometimes it’s best to sound like a man. Folks are a little hesitant to hire a female trainer. I guess they figure a woman can’t hang in that line of work.”

“And you’re set on proving them wrong.”

He noticed the way her eyes widened slightly, then the sexy smile that came on her face. “Let’s just say I don’t mind surprising people.”

“You figure on surprising me, Mikayla?” He matched her posture, the move bringing their faces closer together across the booth.

The look she gave him was hot enough to have definite action taking place south of his belt buckle. “You like surprises, Jed?”

“Depends on the surprise.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied with a sassy smile.

“You’re gonna be trouble aren’t you, Mikayla?”

Her smile turned sultry. “Well that depends, Jed. You more interested in trouble or a damn good trainer?”

“Good question. I’ll think on that and get back to you.”

“You do that.”

Jed smiled. Yep, she was going to be trouble. What kind was yet to be determined but the choices were down to two. Either he was going to have trouble keeping his hands off her, or she would be trouble once he got his hands on her. Either way, the chances of her lasting long on the ranch were slim.

Just then, Jake returned and slid in beside Mik. “What you two got your heads together about?”

“Just getting acquainted,” Jed replied, never moving his eyes from Mik’s.

Jake looked over his shoulder at Candy who was standing in front of the bar. “I was thinking that maybe you could run Mik by the store after dinner,” Jake said. “I told Candy I’d ride with her over to Coyote’s for a few beers. She’s gettin’ off soon as she delivers your order.”

That was enough to get Jed’s attention. “You think that’s a good idea?”

“Sure, why not?”

Jed’s good mood evaporated. “How ‘bout that little matter of you getting tossed out and arrested? I believe you were banned from the place. And unless Jimmy’s made some considerable change, I don’t think the Coyote’s open for a few more hours.”

Jake grinned and waved away the comment. “Aw, you always know ways to pass a few hours. And don’t you fret over Jimmy. You know him. He’ll let me back in.”

“Fine, just don’t be calling me if you end up in jail.”

“I didn’t call you.”

Jed leveled his eyes at Jake. “And don’t call Jesse.”

“Chill out, Jed. We’re just gonna have a couple of laughs, a few beers and dance.”

“Here ya go,” Candy approached the table at that moment and cut her eyes at Jake.

“Box mine up to go,” Jake said.

“Will do.” She put the rest of the food on the table and as she turned to leave Jake stood, pulled out his wallet and put enough on the table to cover the meal. He handed Jed his keys.

“Candy’ll drop me off. Y’all have a good night.”

Jed watched him go then turned to look at Mik. She couldn’t resist teasing. “So, now the truth comes out. I’m working for a jail bird.”

Jed would have taken offense if he hadn’t seen the smile she quickly hid. “No, you’re working with a jail bird. I’m allergic to jail cells and everyone on Rocky River works for me.”

She grinned and forked up a glob of potato smothered in cheese. “Well that makes all the difference in the world. Am I required to call you sir, or just boss-man?”

Jed chuckled. Not only did Mikayla Morgan rev his engine to the red-line, but he was also pretty sure he was going to like her. This reaffirmed his original assessment. She was definitely going to be trouble.

*****

Deidre rose from the bed and pulled on a satin robe as she crossed the room to open the French doors that led onto the balcony. Cool night air swirled the fabric around her legs, lifting her hair from her neck. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, ignoring the man on the bed who beckoned her to return.

Sex was a release valve. Nothing more. An energetic bout with a man half her age was her way of working out the kinks. There was no emotion involved because if the truth was known, Deidre had no respect for the male of the species. She viewed them all as inferior, gratification-oriented creatures to be controlled and exploited.

Her eyes opened as a smile lit her face. She’d made a career of controlling and exploiting men and had enjoyed tremendous success. She didn’t expect that to change. By now she’d become a master at the art. There wasn’t a trick she didn’t know or a technique she hadn’t employed.

And she was smart enough to know that brains alone would not suffice. No, the male animal was a visual and tactile creature. And nothing aroused, enflamed, or obsessed them more than the female form.

Even now, in her mid-fifties, Deidre was a woman who earned the label of “drop dead beautiful.” She’d been skillfully enhanced several times by the best surgeons in the world and was faithfully maintained by a host of skin, hair, and body professionals. No one would ever guess her real age. She looked like a woman in her mid-thirties.

With a graceful swirl of silk, she turned and regarded the man on the bed. He was a fine specimen, quite capable in the arts of love, but she’d had all she needed from him for the moment and had no desire to indulge in post-coital conversation or cuddling.

“You may go.” She dismissed him as easily as she would a servant, for in effect that was all he really was to her. Someone to satisfy her need.

He was not surprised by the dismissal, but an expression of disappointment appeared on his handsome face. Deidre was not affected for she knew the disappointment did not stem entirely of being robbed of her company. Her newest acquisition was much like the host of others who’d come before him. While he might desire her flesh and the delights it provided, her money provided an irresistible lure. The idea of having access to her wealth turned most of her lovers into creatures of avarice.

She had no intention of sharing her wealth aside from the gifts she chose to lavish on those who pleased her. She was generous and her lovers benefited in many ways, but she’d never take one to wed. No indeed, she would never share control of her fortune.

Deidre watched as the man dressed. He crossed the room, kissed her gently, and left without a word. She wandered out of the lavish bedroom and down the hall to her private study.

Once seated at her desk she turned on her laptop and accessed a file. Jed, Jesse, and Jake Nash were the last of their line. If they died without producing heirs the Nash line would be no more. That’s exactly what she wanted—their lineage to come to an end. Once they were gone, Sara could be at peace.

Deidre found it amazing that she could desire that so strongly. There was nothing in the completion of the goal for her. Well, there was the satisfaction of revenge. And she was a woman who understood the meaning of the phrase “revenge is a dish best served cold.”

While others might rush out in passion, seeking revenge in haste, Deidre knew that to be successful, revenge had to be thoroughly considered and planned. It required timing and finesse. Hot-blooded action only diminished the chances of success, and she was not a woman who tolerated failure.

A cold and calculating smile appeared on her face as she studied the images of the men displayed. Yes, there would be great satisfaction for her in the revenge. And she’d take glee in seeing the expression on Jed Nash’s face when he discovered the truth of his father’s death—and the cause of his own demise.