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“That’s not exactly an answer.Whydo you want to?”
“Because of you.”
My jaw works. I try to come up with some snappy answer, but my words fail me, and I try to parse out what he means. “For the money?” I asked. “You’re staying for me—for the money?”
He shakes his head slowly. “It started out for the money. And I’ll still take my cut when your father writes us that check. But I’m staying, and I’m getting involved, because I want to make sure you walk away from this whole mess feeling like you did something decent. Like it wasn’t all some mistake.”
“I don’t understand why you’d care.”
“Would it surprise you if I said I don’t either?” He laughs at the look on my face. “How about we just say the sex was really good, and I want to see if I can’t have another taste before this is all done.”
“Keep talking like that and I promise there won’t be another taste of anything.”
“Good, I like a little challenge.”
I shake my head and go back to skimming the books, but I’m smiling to myself and it takes a while to identify the feeling rattling around in my chest. It’s warm and comforting and glows like the embers right before a fire. War is the first person to do something for me purely because it makes him feel good, and that makes me happy in a way I can’t quite describe. Kat and Ford are great to me, they gave me a job and treat me like family, but it’s a much more equal relationship in the sense that I try to give back to them as much as I can, and we’re intertwined together. But what I have with War is much more transactional, and if he decides to do something for me, there’s no obligation driving him. He’s doing it purely because he wants to, and not because he has to or because he’s supposed to.
And it feels good. It’s nice the way he looks at me, the way he touches me. The way he stands up for me. I don’t need him there lurking behind me and glaring at Daisy and my uncles—but I sure as hell like it.
After another hour of work, War finally tosses a book aside and puts his face in his hands. “I can’t keep doing this.”
“You’re dismissed then,” I say and wave at him. “Feel free to go.”
He glares at me. “This isn’t getting us anywhere.”
“Then what do you have in mind?”
“I don’t know,” he says and stands, heading over toward the window. He squints outside for a few second before gesturing for me to join him. “Who’s that?”
I get up and stand by his side. A woman’s riding one of the old mares in the paddock, and it takes me a second to recognize Kerry. She hasn’t been around much and I only saw her once when we first arrived, but it’s definitely her. “That’s my cousin.”
“Maybe we can talk to her.” He glances at me. “Think she’ll know something?”
“It’s not a bad idea,” I admit. “I’m not super close with her but she’s been around all this time.”
“Think she’s on Daisy’s side?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Then let’s go find out.”
Chapter18
Melody
Kerry dismounts and waves as we approach. She stands behind an old mare, a pretty horse with a good temperament. Kerry’s brown hair blows in the wind and she tries to smooth it back, but the strays keep circling her head like a halo. I give her the best smile I can and take the lead with War straggling after me. I hope he’s not scowling and looking all intimidating. I was never close with Kerry when I was younger, but she also wasn’t one of the loud voices denouncing me and making my life hell when all that crap happened. She mostly kept to herself, and I’ve always respected her for it, even if I wish at least one person had come to my defense.
“Hey, Kerry,” I say and wave. “How are you?”
“Doing good,” she says and pats the old mare’s flank. “Just taking Lily here for a little walk.”
I approach Lily and gently stroke her side. She’s a sweet old thing, very loving and gentle. “Do you ride often?”
“Not as often as I like.” She takes Lily’s reins and starts walking. “How about you?”
“Constantly,” I admit. “I still work with horses.”
“Lucky you. I got a job in marketing at a little boutique agency with headquarters not far from here, so I’m in the office most of the time.”
