Watching You: KJ Elite Inc. (19 page)

Peyton popped the bill in the air and I could just imagine his big dumb grin.

I wasn’t ready to join the group yet because it seemed like I was getting more information eavesdropping than I had in the past two weeks talking face to face with anyone.

Speaking of, I need to figure out what is up Mike’s ass when I see him again.

“Did she tell you what they looked like or give you the number they left?” Tommy asked.

“Yeah, she gave me the card they left in exchange for a third date this weekend. Made me promise it would be expensive and real proper like. Tay owes me because that girl talks like there won’t be a tomorrow.”

“You mean a second date?”

“No. Third.” He shrugged and laughed, “What can I say? She is… friendly and quite good at it.”

“Feel free to introduce me. Or to any other friendly ladies.” Matt quipped.

Okay, maybe now was the time to make my entrance because I really didn’t need to know who put out in the town. Like Lissy. I turned my nose up and left the shadows of the bedroom doorway.

I padded down the stairs and then hall, barefoot and first saw my twin leaning against a granite countertop grinning.

“Good mornin’. My, you’re beautiful.”

“You only say that because we’re twins.”

“True.”

I went to him and stood beside him comfortably, remembering a much simpler time so many years ago.

“What brings you over to our humble little abode?” I jived.

“Man speak!” He grunted and pounded his chest like a caveman.

“Oh, look at you. Did your boy parts finally grow in?” I laughed and he pulled my head into a headlock and gave me a nuggy.

“Har. Har.” He mocked.

“Don’t make me hurt you.”

“Ah, but see, you seem to be at the disadvantage considering your clothing choice.”

He let me go still but kissed my cheek first.

“Yeah, you better be nice to the lady. She could rip your balls off and you know it.”

“I know no such thing.” He lifted his chin and puffed his chest out.

I laughed but changed the subject, deciding to test the intelligence of the men in the room.

“Did I hear someone else here earlier?” I took a quick look at their faces and seeming to know it was a bad idea to lie and that they probably didn’t have a cover story, they all rather dubiously shook their heads, “No., nope, nuh-unh.”

Because that was very inconspicuous.

“Hmm…” I lowered my lids to a slit and threw up one corner of my mouth. “Just as I thought.”

Knowing I had the upper hand, I was not going to show my cards just yet.

“Goodbye twin, I love you.” I smiled at him and flipped off the other two, “I’ll deal with you two later.” Turning on my heel, I heard Peyton laugh and a slight grumble from Tommy.

He damn well knew he was in for hell.

Chapter 10

Three days passed swimmingly and without incident, considering. Tommy kept himself at a distance, glancing over at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. He was never more than three feet from me and never let anyone else come in to “keep me company.” Much company he was, always quiet and on his guard. I was unsure if I had triggered it or he just grew tired of the silence when he finally spoke up.

“I saw you, you know?”

“Cryptic much?”

I mean, what kind of a statement was that?

“Someone sent me an email with all the links to the different stories with you and that Jackson guy.”

How cute.

He was gonna pretend not to know his name.

“I spy a little green monster.” I jested.

“I’m not jealous.”

“You’re a terrible liar. It’s okay, though, it’s still sexy.”

“Well, prepare to get hot and bothered.” He pegged a look on me and set his jaw. “I don’t share.”

“That’s funny.”

“How so?”

“Considering how you left me in utter silence for five years while my best friend threw men at my feet like a bird dog hunting.”

Tommy ignored the last of that sentence, whether by choice or need, I wasn’t sure.

“Once again, you left me.”

“I never asked you to forget me.”

“I couldn’t forget you if I tried.”

“How do you know? Have you tried?”

“No.”

“Well, why not?”

“Damnit Taylor, do you want me to?”

He was beginning to grow tired of my tedious and exhausting run around. To be honest, I had no idea where this was going or why I started it.

“Do you?”

“I know everything about you Tommy.”

Now it was my turn to be cryptic.

He had the audacity to laugh and a half-assed one at that. It was more like a bark. He now had my full attention and I turned from my pen and paper.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“A lot has happened to me in the past six years.”

“Then tell me.”

“It’s not that easy Taylor.”

“The hell it isn’t.”

“You know, that’s one thing I’ve never understood.”

“What?”

“People expect you to spit everything out. If you have secrets or something to say, it ain’t always that easy to just say what you have to say.”

“Of course it is.”

“If you simply had your characters say what was on their minds, would you have bestselling books that went on for a whole series?”

I took his words in, flipped em’ around and thought them over. He made a valid point.

“No.” I hated being wrong and dammit did he love being right.

“One day.”

“Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around.” I turned back to my work and he took a sip from his water bottle.

“In one of those articles, you were running in the park, holding his hand.”

Ah. Back to square one.

“We were running from paparazzi. He was trying to get me away from them. It was very kind of him, wouldn’t you say?”

“No.”

“Of course not.”

“Do you like him?”

And, there it is.

“No.” I took no time answering him but he still had a nasty look on his face. “I made it absolutely clear, every single time we were near each other, that I had no desire to date him or anyone and was not interested.”

“Are you sure you made it that clear? It seems he doesn’t understand no.”

“Most men don’t.”

I shook my head and sat back in the desk chair and put the pen to my mouth. Sitting cross legged, wearing a pair of old faded blue jeans and a fitted white long sleeve tee, he eyed me, insulted.

“I listen.”

“HAH!”

“I do. I listened to what you wanted in this house, I listened when you said you had dreams, I listened pretty damn well when you were begging me for more and panting my name.”

He paused, stuck in the images flashing through his mind. I couldn’t blame him, I’d been there a lot the past few days. Hell, the past six years. “I also listened when you told me you were leaving and didn’t ask me to come with you.”

“I did so ask!” I was suddenly on the very defensive, obviously looking like an idiot because he smiled.

He actually freakin’ smiled.

“You said you could picture us living in the city, making new memories and living your big adventure out together before coming home. If you wanted me there, you would have asked.”

“It seems we are sharing the same thought then but in much different ways.”

A knock came at the door and Mike stuck his head in.

“Group meeting, library, time now.”

We both stood up but Tommy signaled for me to stay.

“I’ll be back in a little bit and we’ll finish this. Try to write some more.”

“I want to come and hear what’s happening.” I argue, standing to my full pathetic height.

“No.” That was all he said and it was a command that demanded obedience.

With that, he was gone and I sat there contemplating eavesdropping again.

I believed I was safe here on the family farm and even more so now after Tommy had taught me all the improvements the guys had made since starting up the firm. There was a perimeter fence on the total edge of the property, completely enclosing the land, then a much larger, better enforced wall that keeps anything unwanted out.

There are cameras in position so that no one spot is blind to Luke in his office of all things tech and security. He has a security team specifically for doing perimeter checks. He says that with their line of work they are not risking anyone in the family. I can’t blame them. I imagine they make enough enemies to go around doing what they do. There is a new building way in the back of the land put off from the farms and everything really, that houses the teams when on shifts and where the team leaders’ offices are located.

They hold all their meetings in there generally and bring potential clients prior to taking on any jobs. Tommy told me they all did some work to the family homes to make them safer but not change the homes we all grew up in.

Mama and Cynde nearly had a fit when they found out what the Kane and Jameson men were doing professionally outside of the Military but have come to accept it and even help out in any way they can without interfering. There is a code needed to get into the front gate and another at the end of the road before you see the houses. I never would have guessed, which I suppose is what they’re going for, that there are men who take shifts at the gates and every corner of the land. It was a new, very intricate and sophisticated system that I am very grateful for, considering the reason I’m here now.

I move over to the double doors on the right side of the bed, which is comprised of bulletproof glass and wood; Opening the doors to let a nice breeze flow into the room, I realize it’s the first I have looked out since being home and I regret it instantly since I fell in love the moment I did. Looking out onto the beautifully groomed land that stretches far and wide, the sun is kissing the ground, saying goodnight and it looks like something out of a painting; Too breathtaking to be real.

Beyond the doors is a private master balcony holding more, white wicker furniture. A chaise lounge padded with teal pillows and yellow chevron accent pillows, a set of matching rocking chairs and placed evenly between them is a swing anchored into the roof that provides decent cover in case you were to be out during less than ideal weather. That was, of course, my favorite weather to be out in.

The rain was so calming it made me at peace with all things, even if only for a few minutes time. Out in the distance it seemed as though it was threatening a storm and I couldn’t help but walk out onto the balcony and lay on the swing, rocking lazily from my climbing on. If I thought New York was perfect, I had only forgotten the hidden treasures and charm of home.

It seems I had fallen asleep because one second I was looking out at the rapidly dropping sun and the next, my legs are being lifted.

He sat silent for what seemed like an eternity until I opened my eyes and looked down at him, massaging my bare feet.

“Hi.”

A weary smile spread over his face, covered in the two day makings of a beard. He hadn’t shaved and I couldn’t complain; beards and goatees were sexy as hell, especially on him. His response was delayed but not from fear or anger or even confusion. It was as if he were taking in my face, my voice, my feel and swishing them around his head, like a fine wine and keeping it all for himself.

"Hey." It was husky and full of emotion.

Both of us wanting to talk but neither wanting to lose what we had right there and right then.

His hands slid from my feet up my partially exposed legs, behind my knees feeling like warm satin and gripping me lightly, he pulled me into his lap with ease.

"This house will never be a home again once you leave - again." Tommy rested his forehead against mine and looked into my eyes.

"Who says I have to leave again?"

We both know how empty the words are.

A tease. But did they have to be?

"Don't say things you have no intention of following through on, baby. I've got half a mind to tie you up and force you to stay here with me forever."

"Tie me up, huh?" I wiggled my eyebrows and gave a soft giggle.

He moaned and closed his eyes. I could feel him grow harder still against my thigh and knew I'd never get enough of him. Without thinking, I moved my body around to straddle him on the swing, eliciting a moan from my own throat when I rubbed along him. His own jeans were rough and soft at the same time on the inside of my thighs and created friction against my worn jean bottoms.