His task—and he could do it in his sleep, for fuck’s sake—was to ensure that the business performed better than it had. That the inflow of cash that would be happening soon was perfectly understandable and appeared completely above board and normal.
He was getting the keys to the store, as it were, the day after tomorrow. He’d find himself a place he could buy some cheap paint and a few other small surface fixtures and take a day, maybe two, to give the place new life. Then he’d re-arrange the inventory—he was damn good at making a little look like a fuck of a lot more—and then, he’d be open for business. He would, of course, have to order “new inventory” and find “new customers.”
That was the entire point.
Owen Baker could run a business better than anyone. Soon, the dollars would be flowing between him and his silent partner, Joey—with a sly yet substantial amount put away for himself, of course.
His life was finally taking the turn he’d been waiting for, the one he deserved. He was finally about to move into his greatest potential. He was on his way, and nothing—nothing—was going to stop him.
Baker’s mind circled back to those damn Kendalls. The fact that the cops hadn’t arrested them yet for arson just put a fucking black cloud over his celebratory mood. It wasn’t fair they should fuck with his glory that way.
First those bastards steal my legacy, and then they fuck me out of the chance to get my hands on Travis’s business. And now…now they’re running my pleasure as I begin to celebrate my great achievements.
He wouldn’t bother looking into the situation to try to discover why those two conmen hadn’t been cuffed and dragged off to jail. If those bastards did have family in the area, it was probably simply a matter of family putting cash into the mix. Everybody cheats the system. That’s the American way.
He’d have to come up with something else. Family was going to bail them out? So be it. He’d find something he could do that family couldn’t bail them out of.
The guys imagined themselves uber sportsmen, athletic he-men who liked to flex their muscles and look all manly and shit.
It would be a damn fucking shame if one of their adventures ended up with them in the hospital—or dead.
Yes, a damn fucking shame. Owen Baker smiled, and then he chuckled. There were dangers lurking everywhere. “You just never know when something will come from around the corner and puke up a big fucking serving of karma cake all over you.” Hearing the words aloud helped. All he had to was find the right place, the right time, and the right event.
It would be the easiest damn thing he’d ever done. A real piece of cake.
Chapter Fourteen
“What do you think, sweetheart?” Ken’s question held just a thread of insecurity, something that actually shocked her. It was a tone she recognized, of course, for it had been one she’d used a lot in the past. The flicker in his eyes, that tell, it felt familiar too. Even though she’d seen it in her own reflection only a couple of times.
So Alice reached for his hand and gave him a squeeze even as she looked around the unfurnished house. It was one of the many houses in Lusty, built in the Victorian style. Situated on the same street as, and just west of the clinic, the house was large, two-story, and boasted an enormous master bedroom suite complete with a balcony and master bath on the second floor.
“This house has been empty for about eight years,” Jake Kendall said.
“Eight years? It sure doesn’t feel like it.” Alice looked over at Jake then met Ken’s gaze. Ian stood beside him, silent, his hands in his pockets.
She finally understood why they were asking her what she thought of it. “I really like this house. It has a ‘welcome home’ feel to it.”
Ken’s sigh was slight, but perceptible.
Ian nodded. “It does. Getting our own space had always been the plan,” he said. “Does this suit you? We could, the three of us, live here, together.”
Live together with her men, alone, no nosy brothers, no being naked in someone else’s house? Oh yeah, baby, I am so there!
“I think it’s perfect for us. All we need to do is go furniture shopping.”
All three of the men grinned. “Well, not shopping in the usual sense,” Jake said.
She knew her men—and for that matter, Jake, too—wore the expressions of men who wanted to pull off a surprise.
Alice really wanted to indulge them. And catching another little vibe from Ken—a vibe that reminded her of herself—she addressed him. She stretched up and kissed him, a light, flirty kiss. “Show me this shopping that’s not of the usual sort.”
“You two know where it is?” Jake directed that question to her guys.
“Sean showed us when he gave us a tour of the town,” Ken said.
“Okay, then meet me there in about ten minutes. I’ve got to make a few phone calls.”
“Will do,” Ian said.
Once Jake had left the house, both men turned their focus on her. Alice had heard a couple of stories from Jenny Benedict and from her own sister-in-law, Bailey. She had a sudden insight where they were headed. But not for the world would she let her men know she’d twigged on to their surprise. Not until they drove her there.
“We didn’t ask you first if you wanted to do this, to move in with us.” Ken raised her hand to his lips.
“I hope you don’t have any doubts that I really want to move in with you.” She reached out her other hand to Ian. He took it, kissed it, and sent her what she could only call a grateful look.
“I just don’t want us to ever be guilty of taking you for granted,” Ken said.
“I appreciate that. But darling? I love you both, and I’m looking forward to beginning our lives together. The sooner,
