Wild Ride: BBW Western Romance (Under Open Skies Saga Book 2) (23 page)

“
You uh, wanna go with me tomorrow
?
”

“
Why me
?
”

“
Because you know the business. And I can trust you
.
”

“
Yeah, but would
n’
t you want to take Hunter
?
”

“
No, he is a rider, and he works for the facility. You are my assistant
.
”

“
I ca
n’
t say I am looking forward to it, but okay, maybe just a little bit. Your dad never took me on business meetings with him. Eee! Want me to pick up the coffee
?
”

“
You do
n’t
…”

“
No, I insist. I know what you like now, something just a little sweet and a whole lot creamy
.
”

Yeah, like Hunter.

“
Uh, sure. Why not
?
”

“
Great, so it is a date. Well, not a date date, but you know what I mean, right boss
?
”

“
Yes, Jenny. How about you go ahead, and leave early, okay? You do a lot of work, and you could use an early day. So could I
.
”

“
Really? Well, okay. I have a date, like a date date, with a gu
y
…
”
She trailed off rattling the details of her date off while Kat pretended to listen. She was trying not to think about Hunter, but she had
n’
t even heard from him all day, not that it was too unusual, but she was really missing him.

And that disturbed her. He was the last thing she needed to be thinking about, there was too much at stake to have her love sick over some guy. Love sick. That was exactly what she was, and she knew it. Love was
n’
t something she was ready for, not right now, but it did
n’
t seem like she had a choice. She was falling for him.

Besides, was he even the kind of guy who actually loved? By all accounts he was a lov
e‘
em and leav
e‘
em cliche, except he said he was done with that part of his life, and she wanted to believe him.

“
Ms. Brooks, I assume
?”
Greeted right away
.“I’
m Dan Jennings, the J of R &J. Nice to meet you
.
”

She entered the small office. It was bare. A single set of rooms, like the kind of office you can rent for a day, with standard desk, but no real decor. She could smell the scam a mile away.

“
Uh, yes, and this is my assistant, Ms. Jenny Solitare
.”
She offered her hand, as did Jenny.

“
Have a seat. You said you were looking for a firm to complete some projects
?”
He gestured to the small set of folding chairs and she frowned before sitting. She was less than impressed.

“
Yes, but first, I need to talk to you about some previous work
.
”

Right to business, something that her father would have been proud of, if he were there to watch her. She was not going to let these slime balls off the hook that easily.

“
Previous work
?
”

“
Yes, please, sit down, and I can show you some of your work
.
”

“
I do not recall previous contracts with your firm
.”
His voice went up at least two octaves.

“
That is funny, because my signature is on your invoices. Here, let me show you
.”
She pulled out the copies of receipts and slid them over to the man, along with her pictures.

“
As you can see, work was marked as
completed
, except it was
n’
t. No actual repairs were made until my ranch hands came along and fixed you
r‘
wor
k’
. Now, this is a very big issue. It smells of fraud. So either you can tell me what is going on here, pay me back, or I can call my lawyers
.
”

“I…
I think someone is playing a trick on you, Ms. Brooks
.
”

“
Really, is that not your invoice? And your signature
?
”

“
I ca
n’
t say that it is, no
.
”

“
Really? Nor this one
?”
She flashed another invoice.

“
Not that I am aware of
.
”

“
Odd.  You see, in order to work on our facility grounds, we need a copy of your identification and contracto
r’
s license to work within this state
.
”
 
A third document passed across the table. Kat smirked as Dan paled and examined the photocopy of his license and signature
.“
Is
n’
t this you?  Your license and signature
?
”

“
I was not aware you kept those. That was not what I was told
.
”

“
By who
?
”

“
One of your board members. Please, I ca
n’
t say more. I was just paid to do the work.  They said no one would find out
.
”

“
You are really that naive
?
”
 
This time it was Jenny who spoke up, an unfamiliar sneer in her voice
.“
You were asked to steal money out of one of the largest, most influential companies in the county. Money that is used to help kids and young people stay out of trouble, and your excuse is you did
n’
t think you would get caught
?
”

Kat could call the police right now and force it out of him. Fraud was illegal, as was embezzlement, but she wanted that board member. She wanted to find out who would go to so much trouble to betray her, betray the memory of her father. Having this team arrested meant nothing, they had no proof that whoever was behind it was involved. Even if they were made to pay, the real threat would be allowed to walk free.  Even worse, whoever it was would know Kat was onto them.

“
Look. Pay me what you owe me for these two contracts, and tell me who it is, and I will consider us even. I'd rather not call the police have to get them down here, have you arrested for fraud, and deal with all the negative publicity. But copies of these documents are out with my lawyers, and I'm pretty sure that they're foaming at the mouth for the work."

“
I do
n’
t have that kind of cash on me, look, I would like to help you, I really woul
d….
”

She picked up her phone and started punching in numbers.

“
Okay, okay. Look, let me call my guy, I can have the money here in ten minutes, flat
.”
He was nervous, and she liked that. This was a lot easier than she expected it to be.

She nodded and waited. Ten minutes, just like he said, and he had the money, in cash. Thus completed step one of her plan, get back the money she needed for repairs.

“
Jenny, would you mark these receipts as refunded for poor craftsmanship
?
”

“
Absolutely
.
”

“
Now give me a name, Mr. Jennings, and I think we will be all set.

“
As for who tipped me off? Look, I do
n’
t want to give you his name, he is scarier than the cops, but I can tell you this. He has greasy hair, and a snaggletooth. One of those ones that is too big to miss. We made fun of him about it, behind his back
.
”

Edward Kristobeck.

“
Good. I think I have everything I came for. If you will excuse me,
I’
m going to see myself out. I wo
n’
t lie, it was
n’
t a pleasure doing business with you, and if you ever try this shit on anyone else in this town, I will be speaking to my lawyers. I know you did more than these two contracts, it would just take some digging to find them. I do
n’
t want to see you or your company again
.”
She searched through her phone until she found Wyat
t’
s cell number
.“
Hey, we are leaving the office now. Should be up to the office in fifteen minutes. We will confirm when we have arrived
.
”

Without another word to the dirtbags, she walked through the doors of their cheap, rented office and out of their lives. Kat got what she wanted, and now all she needed was to catch the real criminal responsible.

Getting Edward to fess up was going to take time, and a plan. Luckily she had a little bit of time on her hands and a plan already starting to formulate.

Kat looked at her watch. It was nearing Seven, and she just squeaked into the rodeo. It took a lot of time to try and devise a trap for Mr. Edward Kristobeck, and even then, she was
n’
t sure it was going to work. Jenny took up the reins, setting the bait, she just had to hope he would take it. Sh
e’
d find out tomorrow night, at Murie
l’
s dinner.

Hank texted her about Alice as soon as she got into the arena, saying that she had asked for her job back. She was so caught up in work that she forgot to grab a copy of the billing to see when any of her guys were riding. She sat down she leaned over towards the man next to her.

“
Hi there, no one gave me a billing. Do you happen to have one
?
”

“
Sure
.”
She recognized that voice.

Cody.

“
Fancy seeing you here, not like you pretty much own an entire team, or anything
.”
He winked at her and handed her the pamphlet.

“
You get these good seats every time
?”
She asked.

“
Yeah, courtesy of my father
,”
He looked over her shoulder at the list of men riding
.“
He ensured I received special tickets wherever I went, and they still offer them to me, even now
.
”

“
Oh, what happened to your dad
?”
She asked, trying to be gentle, but her curiosity got the better of her.

“
Passed away
.
”

“I’
m sorry, mine too
.”
She blushed. He already knew that.

“
Yeah, it sucks. But, he was
n’
t the best dad anyways, still. I miss him
.
”

“
I miss mine too
.”
She bit her lip and looked back down at the program, willing away the tears. This was not the time. She just needed to get through it, and they would go away. Pressing through her feelings was the only thing she could do. The only thing she knew how to do.

“
Looks like he is riding fifth tonight
,”
Cody said, giving her shoulder a bump with his own
.“
Shit, dude is on Tornado Force Winds for his second go. That bull is freaking savage. Bet it gets him seeded
.
”

“
He is so damn close,
I’
ve been hoping he would get some good rides. He deserves this
.”
She had been watching the ranks, and she knew he was close.

“
He is sitting at 48 right now, and this bull is killer. The right moved, and it just might do it
.”
Cody chuckled as soon as he saw the look of trepidation on her face
.“
Have a little faith, will you
?
”

“
What about my other guys? Anyone out there I should really be rooting for
?
”

“
Well there are a bunch, but what you really need is some new talent. A lot of your guys are getting up there. Some of them need to retire. May take some force. Your dad was always good at that, at least from what I know
.
”

“
Thought you were
n’
t interested in the business
?
”

“
Not interested in being in it, but I love watching, you know? I like the business aspect. I could never ride. I had to have a bunch of surgeries as a kid, bad back, pins and shit. Made some friends in the business, though, and I really enjoy it
.
”

“
I see. So, is there any new talent here
?
”

“
Well, this is a bit more of an invitational, but there are a couple of kids with small time sponsors. They could really use a sponsor, a training facility, housing, the works, you know? And your company brings in the biggest sponsors. The energy drink people, the outdoors gear. That shit can set them up to live on
.”
He kept talking, and she listened to every word. He really knew the business.

“
What did you say your last name was? I want to get you on the payroll. I need a good consultant
.
”

“
I did
n’
t. Last nam
e’
s Jones. Cody Jones. Why hire me? I already have a job
.”
He smiled.

“
I need a talent scout, and it sounds like you are a good one
.
”

“
Damn right, but I work in management. How could you offer me more than my current job
?
”

“
Well then, we could certainly find a dual role for you
.”
She could
n’
t believe she was recruiting an employee right there, but she knew that a guy like him would
n’
t be wasted, plus he was a friend of Hunte
r’
s. Which meant that he was trustworthy, right? Kat sure hoped so.

“
I can talk to Hank, he can run the numbers give you a figure
.”
In fact, she pulled out her phone and texted him that moment, saying she found good talent scout, his name, and asked him to draw up some salary options.

“
Great, I am sure whatever it is, it will be fair. When do I start
?”
He winked at her and looked out over the crowd, the rodeo was about to start.

“
As soon as you want
.
”

“
How about right now? This first rider is a good idea to look at. He is smart, instinctual. He does
n’
t get sucked down the well. Seriously, there were times when I thought that he was
n’
t going to keep on the back of the bull, and he does. Even when the best riders do
n’
t. J.D. Diamond, I think his name is. Yeah. This kid. He is something
.
”

“
You wanna try and get him in the office
?
”

“
Hell yeah, I do.
I’
ll go talk to him after his last go
.”
Cody winked at her.

They chatted through the rest of the riders, talking about their strengths and their weaknesses, and honestly, it was good to have someone about her age she could talk to, who knew the business.  Someone besides Hunter, who was invested in the level that a rider would be. She felt so lonely in this gig for so long, especially when she first relocated. Cody was a bit brash, and a little too blunt, sometimes, but she found those qualities endearing.

She would rather have someone who was honest than a liar who smoothed things over.

By the time Hunter was up, she was completely relaxed, joking and talking like they were old friends. But, like always, when she heard his name over the loud speaker her breath caught in her throat.

“
This is
n’
t a big deal for him, first go, and all, nothing compared to his second
.”
He leaned in
.“
Been watching him ride since he was a teen, pretty damn good then, but nothing like now. He really is in the prime of his life
.
”

“
Yo
u’
ve known him that long
?”
She asked, as she watched Hunter in the pen, tightening the bell around his arm. That bull rope was the only thing he had to take advantage from, because the damn bull was a big beast.

“
Yeah, actually it was because of your dad that we met. He introduced us
.
”

“
How well did you know my dad
?
”

He shushed her just as they opened the gate, so that they could both watch Hunter in his first go. It was
n’
t an easy bull, by any means, but Terro
r’
s Heels was not nearly as competitive as some of the bulls she had seen. This bull was riding right into his hand that is, turning clockwise over and over again in the direction of Hunte
r’
s grip.

She was concerned that the bull would make the score too low.

Eight seconds passed without a hitch and he jumped off a clean dismount, but she could tell as soon as he landed he was pissed. The look in his face and the words coming out of his mouth were equally angry as he jumped up over the fencing and got to safety.

“
Shit
,”
she cursed.

“
No, it will be alright. At least he will qualify for a second go. Ca
n’
t say that for everyone
,”
Cody assured her as they waited for his score.

80.3
.

Shit.

She chewed on the inside of her cheek, her stomach dropping.

“
He can still get a good average. This wo
n’
t kill him
.”
How could he be so sure? She bit her lip and tried to keep her nerves back. Getting seeded would mean a lot, she knew that. It would open up new doors for him, new competitions. He was so close.

The rest of the riders went in a blur. She tried to be interested. She really did, but her mind was focused on Hunter. He told her that this was his last chance, a way to get his career moving. She wanted to see that more than anything.

“
Come on, there is some down time, you wanna go down and see him, or do you wanna get something to eat? You ca
n’
t just sit here. Worrying
.”
Cody made her feel at ease, like sh
e’
d known him her entire life. Like he was a friend, a cousin, and she liked it.

She nodded at him
,“
Yeah, I think he could use a visit. Even if it is just a minute.
I’
ve got the right kind of pass. Might as well use it, right
?
”

The two of them threaded through the bleachers, moving down and around the VIP crowd, towards the ride
r’
s area, Cody right at her side. At least she knew that if she was accosted again, she would have someone there to help her stand up for herself, not that she needed it, really. It was just nice to have.
She weaved through the maze of fences and buildings until she found the one housing Hunter. No matter what venue they were in, they all felt strikingly similar. Like everyone was the same. Today was no different.

“
Wonderi
n’
if I was gonna see you
.”
His thick, deep baritone pulled her out of her thoughts.

“
Why would
n’
t you
?”
she asked..

“
Did
n’
t know if you were going to show
.
”

“
I always show
.
”

“
Yeah, I should know that by now, but what can you say, old habits. Mine, not yours
.”
He cleared his throat
.“
What do you need, Babe
?
”

“
I just wanted to wish you luck. You alright
?
”