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I venture down the stairs and smile at the man waiting, who nods toward me respectfully. “Afternoon, Missy. I’m here to take you to your new home.”
Smiling, I hold out my hand and take the weather-beaten, gnarly hand of the ancient looking cowboy waiting for me. His grip is strong and his eyes sharp and penetrating. I smile again. “Call me Katherine. What should I call you?”
He grins. “Willie. I’m pleased to be of service.”
He nods toward the battered pickup. “Sorry if this ain’t what you’re used to, but it’s the best we’ve got.”
Laughing softly, I walk over to the truck with a new spring in my step. “This is perfect, Willie. I wouldn’t want to be met with anything else.”
I watch as he grabs a bag from the hold and unceremoniously flings it in the back of the truck. He heads over to the driver’s side and I climb in beside him. Then, with a wave to Melissa and the captain, I head off with my cowboy.
The truck rattles on the uneven ground and I laugh softly. Sam’s a fucking genius. He remembered what I told him about meeting a cowboy, and the twisted fucker gave me what I desired. A cowboy who is good with his hands. Despite that Willie is old enough to be my father, I can tell he’s fit and able. His large hands look as if they could wrestle a bear, and his rough beard disguises the lines of a hard life in the open.
He wears his Stetson like a familiar friend and he settles into his clothes as if they never leave his body. My cowboy is far enough removed from my fantasy as I am from Sam. Be careful what you wish for because Sam listens and does it well. He was hardly going to give me my dream cowboy though, was he?
The drive shields us from a conversation. The truck is old and rattles on the rough ground as the engine screams in protest. Instead, I look in wonder at the scenery we pass. Wide open countryside stretches as far as the eye can see, and we are as far away from civilization as I have ever been.
Despite the rough landscape and the even rougher ride through it, I fall in love immediately. So, this is freedom.
* * *
It must takea good hour before we pull up outside a large ranch. A woman is waiting and smiles a welcome as she watches us exit the truck. She moves forward and grins. “Welcome, Katherine. Sam’s given us strict instructions to settle you in and make you feel at home. I’m Missy and this roughneck is my husband, Willie.”
I laugh as she pulls me in for a hug. “Missy, huh? Tell me, does Willie call every woman he meets Missy.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “Yes, he calls everyone Missy, me included. It’s been so long now I’ve almost forgotten my real name.”
I grin. “What is it then?”
She winks. “It was Agnes, but I hated it. I was named after my grandmother and I couldn’t stand the woman. Willie christened me Missy the first time we met and has called me it ever since. I think he does it because he’s so bad with names. All women are Missy and all men are sir or boy.”
I roll my eyes as she pulls me toward the house. “Come inside, I expect you’re famished. We can get to know each other over lunch.”
As I follow her inside, I instantly feel at home. Willy and Missy are the easiest people to be around and have made me feel welcome.
Finally, for the first time in my miserable life, I can truly relax.
Chapter 26
Sam
When Katherine left, it took everything in me not to follow her. It was only because there was such a mess to sort out that kept me in Washington.
Once I had the evidence secured, I headed back to the office. I needed to wrap things up there and spent the next eight hours doing everything necessary to secure the contract and keep my business afloat.
Cody was worth every dollar I pay him as he worked alongside me solidly, and by the time the deadline was up, we had fixed the typo error and assured the Saudis of their investment.
Now there’s just one more thing left to do before I can do what my heart is aching to, and that’s going after my lady.
I stare up at the name on the gates as I pass through them. ‘Rubicon’—The point of no return. The home of the Twisted Reapers MC and a place where normal rules are left at the door and the men within rule like the kings they are.
I head up the long drive toward the clubhouse. Most of their business is done there, and I’m sure today will be no exception.
As I pull over before the great doors, I take the folder from the passenger seat and it strikes me how innocent it looks. I may as well be handling an atom bomb because the fallout from its contents will be every bit as devastating.
I click the lock on my car and head toward the door. Then I ring the bell and wait. This place holds no fear for me, unlike many others who have stood here before me. Inside are my brothers and the people I trust above all else. I could have taken up Ryder’s offer all those years ago and become one of them. Instead, I chose my path and never looked back. Yet here I am ready to become part of their world again, which proves you can never really move away from them.
The door opens and I smile at the cocky expression of the man who greets me.
