Beyond dreams, p.11
Beyond Dreams, page 11
We packed up everything and walked to the horses. The ride was longer than our first because of the food we had packed, and I didn’t want it spilling all over the place. The Tupperware the guys have is not as fine as mine. Tristan slowed near some trees right next to the lake and jumped right down. He then came over to help me down, possibly trying to cop a feel, but I did not mind one bit. I turned sideways tossing a leg over and he went right to lift me by my ass and very slowly lowered me to the ground against him.
Then kissed me lightly and still close whispered, “Darlin’ I can’t wait to try that food. But you look like a goddamn queen tonight and it is sexy as hell. I need a minute to take it all in.”
I blushed then giggled kissing his cheek, “Let’s set it up then.” He groaned but backed up and got to it.
He rolled out a huge blanket and I let him get everything down so I could spread it out buffet style. I set out the food, paper plates, silverware, and napkins. Then I took my shoes off and sat on one side of the blanket leaving the big, delicious man space to spread out. We both loaded our plates and dug in, I unloaded fresh tea for both of us, handing him one.
“Good god Kay this is the best damn food I ever had. Blaze is right, how much did we say for your salary? I would pay a lot to have this no less than twice a month.”
“Ooh I would take say $100k a year, full use of amenities, my own horse, and a puppy too,” I teased going back to my food.
“Done,” he returned and sounded serious. I waited for him to laugh but he didn’t and was happily eating chicken.
“Tristan I was kidding, it’s just fun to cook when someone enjoys it,” I told him waiting for the joke.
“I was not, Blaze cooks decently. I can't take that from him. A few of us can grill really well but the others buy take out on their night to cook. You would be saving them money and they would be much happier with fine meals like this.”
“You men have been in Kansas too long Dorothy. But thank you I am glad you like it,” I told him shoving a biscuit in my mouth assuming it was the end of this weird conversation.
“Think about it, it would be a really long ride to come here twice a month for you to come and make me more,” he said looking at me roguish.
“What makes you think I will be traveling, why not you?” I countered. This man was extremely full of himself and needed to be put in his place.
His very cocky grin gave me a slight warning as to what was about to come out of his mouth, “Oh you will want to travel, I will absolutely without a doubt make it worth it.”
“Is that so Mr. Walsh? That has yet to be seen,” I threw down giving him a challenging look.
“Two days Ms. Ryan and I assure you I am right. I would show you now of course but we will do it right instead.” He moved our plates and got in close, “You will call my name and you will want more so bad you will travel across the country if necessary, to get it.”
Then he kissed me rolling me on top of him and propped me up on him. He gazed up at me like he was drinking me in and groaned. “Fuck.”
He pulled me back down alongside him casually stroking my arm. Tristan spoke again, “Kay it’s time you tell me what happened, I need the whole thing beginning to end every detail.”
I stiffened and asked “Now?” His response was to bring me closer to him.
“Now. I didn’t want to bring it up now but it’s time. There’s things I need to tell you as well but it’s important you go first.” He kissed me again and I was now feeling a bit melty.
So as the sun went down, I started to tell him about Amber, how I met this wonderful new actress who seemed nice and needed a hand. How that hand got turned into watching her and a man get murdered. It was at that moment he sat up, turned, pulled me up so we were face to face.
“Fucking shit Kayla this is bad, you said it wasn’t that bad. Why the fuck didn’t you say anything?” he lectured. His face was incredibly dark which I did not appreciate aimed at me.
“Because I didn’t know any of you and I thought I would be moving on in a day. This isn’t the type of thing you share with strangers and once I figured you guys were actually good men, I was taking a moment to get my head together. I haven’t taken a vacation in years, so I thought to enjoy some of my time and come up with a plan.”
“Tell me the rest,” he urged through gritted teeth.
I sighed big and ran him through my narrow escape. The more I told him the madder he got, “And after a few states I realized they were tracking her phone. Some men showed up a few times at motels and so I threw the phone on a delivery truck headed to Florida after driving in that direction. Once I ditched the phone, they couldn’t find me anymore, when I got to Nebraska there was a crazy driver at a gas station who was driving really dangerous behind me. That’s why I drove too fast and ended up in the ditch. I thought about sitting down there for a few days because they couldn’t see me, but I passed out. I realized later it was just a crazy driver.”
Tristan was up and pacing, “We could have been on this already. We lost all that fucking time.” He looked at my face, “What else?”
“Well, the worst is that I saw two local cops at the building, one I knew and one I didn’t. That’s why I ran, if I called the police, I wasn’t sure who I would get and who was safe. And I well uh, I had taped the whole thing with my phone and sent videos to several places to be secure.”
“Is that it?” He asked like he was bored. I was getting the feeling he was harnessing anger under the surface.
“I know they recognized me, so I ran home packed and took off. I called my jobs and set up an emergency vacation. I thought I would go back in disguise and work on figuring out who is in on it and then who to bring it to,” I explained starting to get up.
“All by yourself?" he was incredulous at this point and he was getting loud.
I stood pointing my finger at him, “Look Boss, they have to follow your orders, but I do not. Like I said I didn’t know you guys and even now I barely know you.”
He walked close getting in my face, so I had to look up, glare to glare, aqua eyes to pale blue. Ooh I could just tell he was going to say something that could really piss me off and my back went straight ready for battle.
“From here on out, no secrets, nothing. I want to know everything about everything, and I am getting to know you. Quite frankly sweetheart in a few days I intend on you knowing me very very well and me, you. You will not leave this state until we can evaluate the situation and not at any point be alone. One of the men will go with you if you need to leave the farm. Gage told me you have a carry permit for New York and Utah which covers here so I want you carrying at all times. Also, I want you to do more physical training with myself, Gage, or Doc since the other trainers are not here. That left hook is good, but Gage can show you how not to have your firearm removed from you and other defense with knives. While we are gone, I want you here as I don’t have enough men to cover here and you.”
“Is that all?" I asked tartly, not liking the direction of the conversation.
“No but we will cover it as time goes on,” he said, like we had both readily agreed.
“First big guy,” I poked a finger in his chest, “You have no right to tell me what to do or how to live. Some of that I will agree to but certainly not all.”
“You will. I am working on giving myself that right. And to add in I sent Wolf up to your place to see why you were on the run. He found a man outside of your house hiding in the woods with night vision goggles, weapons, and zip ties. Your entire place has been shredded to shit; someone destroyed your entire house. On top of that your ex has been attempting to stalk you nonstop. So, a little cooperation if you please,” this was said ending on a condescending note as he moved us nose to nose.
“Oh, ok so you secretly spied on me, and I’m sure ran my background as well, and you are pointing out secrets. And all that sucks a lot, and I’m sure when I’m not so mad I’m going to be terribly upset when I have time to process that. These are my problems and I want in on what goes down or no dice.”
“Kayla,” he sighed out my name, “Do you have to be so fucking stubborn? I will tell you as things progress but participate you will not. That I can’t agree to, I can’t work knowing I’m putting you on the line. We need to figure out what this is,” wiggling his finger between both of us. “Please just do what I am asking as it's temporary and I’m quite sure you want to know me better too. Which requires your beautiful ass to be alive.”
“Fine, for now but we will evaluate as things come up and a new word for you Boss is com-pro-mise,” I sounded it out nice and slow.
He smiled finally for the first time since our conversation started and pulled me in for a hug. “As pissed as I am, this bullshit dropped you into my lap. I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
I said nothing as he was squeezing me super tight. He kissed my forehead and backed up, “Ok we have to get back and plan stage one of the CA mission. I saw your work online with costumes and it’s incredible. I think the men are going to lose their minds over your other talents. Not sure if it will top the food however, but it’s going to be close. Did you hide any chicken or mac and cheese?”
I laughed because actually I did. Those boys were like vultures. And I made it for Tristan, so I wanted to make sure he had leftovers. “I did actually, to make sure you got seconds, right under the veggies in the fridge.”
All the tension was completely broken when he let out a big deep laugh knowing damn well they wouldn’t look there. The men all worked out daily and with the jobs they were doing ate as they pleased, no one was veggie focused in the least.
“Kay, we will be having another picnic soon. We didn’t get dessert this time, but I am not skipping it next time.” He plastered himself against me stealing another mind scrambling kiss, then he pulled back having to steady me as I almost fell over. It was a really great kiss, and he knew it. I saw the arrogant look he gave me, and I huffed, he laughed.
On that we packed up everything, me taking care of the food and Tristan loading the blanket and heavier stuff on the horses. We trotted back at a slower pace and I took in the land with the sun going down. It was every color on the horizon with the sun lighting it all up, I could watch it from here every night. This was the beauty I was saving up to buy and dreamed of owning property just like this. I was still drinking in the orange, blues, and pinks as we pulled up to the stables.
Tristan helped me get down the same way as he did at the lake, lifting me down against him. He grabbed both sides of my face and bent down and kissed me like the world was ending. My hands against his chest with my nails biting in, he felt me waver so one hand came around my back to hold me against him while the other gripped my head. I could barely stand as he eased his grip on me and pulled back slightly. He used his hands on my hips to hold me steady and through his heavy breathing gave me his signature up to no damn good smile.
“See you at the house, I am going to put these two away and I’ll be right there,” he said, his grin still broadly on display. The man was peacocking for Christ’s sake. Jeez.
I definitely could not speak so I turned and marched off towards the house ignoring his laughter. My haze was wearing off as I walked up the porch and in the house. I heard clapping as I went by the living room so I stopped and peeked in. Four overly in my opinion happy men looking at me.
“What are you all looking at?” I asked and it was kind of bossy.
Gage didn’t hesitate, “If you don’t take the cook job, we are deciding who should be allowed to marry you if Boss fucks up. We figured maybe a cage match or arm-wrestling tournament. They are too scared to shoot for it, being I am so skilled and all,” a decorative pillow flying to hit him came from across the room. “See? Jealousy, but then we thought you can pick the competition since you're the prize.”
“In that case how about a Mr. Farm pageant?” I asked. “You can all show off your super manly skill and then a bathing suit contest, ending with an interview as to what you will do upon your crowning,” my sarcasm was not wavering one bit.
“In that case I win, these ugly assholes will lose at the bathing suit contest,” Blaze tossed in. Not going to lie, the man did have something about him, his look was timeless. He looked like a fit Italian, five o’clock shadow again today, long slicked back hair, bearded mobster with charm and it really worked for him. Then he would add his big smile and the women at Ruggers practically fell all over themselves.
I couldn’t help but take a stab at the testosterone, “But you will wear women’s bathing suits.” It was becoming difficult to keep up my serious expression. I was curious if they would actually do it, if so I was calling Chelsea to help judge it.
Seamus held his hands up and said, “I’m out.”
Ace said nothing and almost appeared to be smiling but not quite. You would only know if you had looked at him a lot and knew his face to see he wasn’t frowning. He actually looked almost approachable like that and I could finally truly see past the scary and see what Chelsea saw. Ace was handsome in the dark, rugged, silent man type of way, and big as a tree. Chelsea shouldn’t give up I thought, and I may help that along while I’m here.
“You hooligans just make sure you have pictures ready to go, as many as you have when I get back down here. If one of you can come grab a suitcase from the landing and bring it down here you can earn your first pageant point.”
Seamus followed me up and took the suitcase I handed him. “Thanks, set it in the dining room as it has the best lighting. I’ll be right down. One gold star for you.”
I changed into something I could get makeup on, an old t-shirt and some cutoff sweat shorts. The bracelets and necklace I set on Tristan’s dresser. I was officially ready to show these boys what I could do and did my fake boxer thing getting ready for the ring. I was bouncing, pumping my fists, and realized there were a few hair products I needed to grab from the bathroom.
When I arrived in the dining room all the men were in there waiting for me to appear. I spread out the photos the men provided looking down at each one separating in sections by each man and then around the room envisioning who would be the best fit for impersonating the men in the photos.
I started with Gage pointing at him then the chair, once he sat, I asked, “Body type? Height? Close to this man?" pointing at a group of pics.
“Yeah, that’s who I was thinking I should be. That's Maverick and he’s my brother but his face scar and arm tattoo make the difference in us obvious. He wore a hat a lot when he was there and T-shirts and jeans,” Blaze told me.
“Ok someone grab a similar hat,” I told the awaiting men who were standing around watching.
Then I got down to business, all of them still watching me like it a was a sex documentary, I created the scar down Blaze’s face and then added some makeup that made his eyes appear smaller. I used a small sample of my transfer paper to create part of the tattoo and rubbed it on to his arm. It wasn’t a perfect replica but with more materials it would be, Seamus came back with a hat and handed it to him.
“Wear it like your brother would,” I ordered, standing back evaluating my work. And with no lip he did, I made a few small adjustments and had him stand up and turn around for approval.
“Holy fucking shit man, for a second I almost called you Maverick,” Seamus starred in wonder at him. “Kayla, me next.”
“Ok next, come on Seamus,” I motioned as I pointed to the next picture. The man had the sides of his head shaved, long hair down the center like a long mohawk in a ponytail. It was streaked blond thru a dirty blond, he had full sleeves of tattoos and looked hot. “We have to shave the sides of your hair,” I cautioned him.
“It’s ok it will grow back, Mave grab the clippers,” he said without issue. Men are so much more casual about their hair; it would have been a hell no for me.
I cut the sides and trimmed his beard in a messy style of the man in the photo they called Wolf. He had full sleeves of tattoos which I would need to create and those would take time. I used temporary hair color to create the streaked blond. I made a partial part of a sleeve tattoo and applied it on. “Were his whole arms on display or T-shirts too?” I inquired.
“T-shirts,” they all said almost in unison. I quickly wrapped his hair in a rubber band. Added some contouring to his face to make the cheekbones seem more angled like Wolf’s.
“Ok guys, with more material he will look almost identical. I am just missing a few things. Ok Seamus stand up,” I said as he jumped up and turned grinning wide.
“Jesus Kay, I think we should send him as Wolf's backup to freak him out,” Tristan pronounced proudly.
Gage and Ace slapped Tristan on the shoulders. Their excitement was palpable, and kind of catchy.
Gage looked at Tristan, “This may be the most epic mission we ever pulled off. We have to do a group photo and replace the one we got of them to see how long it takes for those assholes to notice.”
The men were thrilled as I finished off with the twins which were the hardest, Ace and Tristan obvious choices due to size and coloring. I was almost out of product as I finished them off side by side for comparison. They required the most makeup to do the faces. I had them grab two more hats, I clipped both men’s hair around the hats, “Sorry guys but it will grow back,” I said.
Once they stood up all the men were grinning. Tristan walked over and kissed me thoroughly, “You’re fucking brilliant, make a list of everything you need. We are going to plan and fuck with Doc. Be back in an hour or so, if I’m longer don’t wait up.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The man drove all night to reach Pennsylvania and pulled into a suburban driveway. The house was a brick colonial two stories high and there was a light on upstairs, so he knew his friend was awake. He walked up to the door and knocked, after a few seconds he heard footsteps inside coming down the stairs. The door opened, “What the hell happened to you?”
