Ross was right in a way. The thing between him and Cain had become personal to such a degree that he wanted the satisfaction of taking her down. The main fantasy that played in his head about that day now involved doing it at the end of his gun barrel. He lived for the day he could squelch all of her condescending laughter and snide remarks about him. So this phase of the operation was his last chance, and he didn’t care how many corners he had to cut to bring her down; he was going to do it.
“He isn’t going to spoil this for us, is he, Emma?” Barney Kyle opened the front door farther and watched Ross walk toward the barn. Cain and Hayden were still too far away to spot him, and his earpiece was on to alert him to any movement in the bunkhouse.
In Emma he had found Cain’s weakness, and even though it had taken only an hour to convince Carol, it had taken both of them months to get Emma on board with his plan. Cain was fighting a turf war over a major part of her business, so this trip came at a time when she couldn’t put her affairs aside for a week to watch Emma play nice with their kid. The mob boss would never suspect the level of sophisticated equipment Kyle had installed in the bunkhouse, which would only make it that much sweeter when she started talking and conducting business as usual.
“You shouldn’t be here, Agent Kyle.”
“I was just in the kitchen having coffee with your mother. Don’t worry. I watched Cain and Hayden leave this morning, and I’m positive no one saw me enter the house. I’m sure as hell no one will see me leave.”
Hayden and Cain slowed their run down to cool off, giving Emma a few more minutes alone with Kyle. “I take it Cain hasn’t started singing about her illegal activities yet?”
Knowing his subject, Kyle moved in for the kill. “No, all we have is her in a serious lip-lock with the pretty fluff piece parading as a bodyguard.”
“When was this?”
“Last night after they put the kid to bed. Don’t worry. It was just a little sexual innuendo, then off to separate beds. I don’t know, though. One more kiss like that and Casey might not be able to hold out.”
Kyle chuckled when Emma left the porch and headed to the bunkhouse, entering without knocking. Most of the guys were up and talking over coffee while Merrick and Mook moved around the kitchen fixing breakfast.
“Damn, I thought you two were in Canada by now, you’ve been gone so long,” teased Merrick, assuming it was Cain and Hayden.
“They’re on their way back, so I thought you might need a hand with breakfast.” Emma’s voice sounded slightly colder than the temperature outside.
All the men in the room watched as the minor turf war broke out, ready to jump in if it came to blows and Merrick tried to kill Emma.
“No, thank you, Ms. Verde. I’m more than familiar with what Cain and Hayden want and like.”
“It’s still Mrs. Casey. Try and remember that. And I’m sure you know a lot about what pleases Cain. But I’m not leaving ,so get used to it,” said Emma
“Get used to what?”
The deep voice made both women look at the door in time to see both Caseys strip off their jackets and shirts. Except for the breasts covered by a sports bra on one, the bodies were similar in build. Hayden had less muscle mass, but everyone could see that in the near future he would be as imposing as his mother.
“Get used to me coming over here in the morning for the next couple of days to help with breakfast.” Emma tried to tear her eyes off of Cain but couldn’t keep from staring. Every night she dreamed about her estranged lover.
“I see. Well, we’re both starving, so I hope you’re up to the task. Hayden, go grab a shower, and save me some hot water.”
“Hayden, you can use the one in the house if you want,” said Emma, trying not to sound desperate.
He just grabbed the things he’d need for the bathroom and walked away. Mook had been nice enough to pack their belongings and move them out of the main house.
Merrick and Mook walked out of the kitchen when Cain stepped closer to Emma and started talking. “Don’t look so disappointed. He’s staying the rest of the week like he promised. I hope you spend the time trying to get to know him for who he is, and not for what you want him to be.
“You can’t change the past, Emma. Just try and get him to trust you a little bit and take it from there. Hayden’s a happy kid, and I’ve done my best to keep him that way, but I’ve always suspected a big part of him misses you. There’s only so much I can give him, but in the end he needs his mother in his life as an active participant.
“I’ll help you as much as I can, for his sake, but don’t try and get back in his good graces at my expense. You try and drive a wedge between us, and I’d like to think I know him well enough to guarantee he’ll cut you off and never give you another thought, no matter how much that’ll hurt him.” It was the only warning she would give Emma about Kyle or anything else she might have planned. “Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” Emma turned back to the bowl of eggs she had been whipping. Cain didn’t sound threatening, but Emma couldn’t look at her anymore in her current state of undress. “Thank you. I’m sure you helped him change his mind about leaving early.”
While they ate breakfast in silence, Emma studied Hayden and Cain, trying to figure out a way to get her son to talk with her again. She wanted to kiss Cain when she asked him to take Emma for a walk after their meal. She and Hayden watched as Cain jumped a fence and started toward Ross, who was dumping feed into one of the bins he had placed throughout the pastures.
The coat Cain had on provided just enough buffer to the wind, and the snow that had fallen the night before had frozen, making a crunching noise as she walked through the grass. She had yet to see Carol, but Ross had gone out of his way to make friendly talk since she’d arrived the night before. They had always shared a good relationship, and Cain had missed their telephone conversations when he would call to see how Emma was doing.
“Morning,” Cain called out so as not to startle him.
“Morning, Cain. Enjoy your run?”
“Any more of this clean, fresh air and I might just keel over. I thought I’d come out here and help while Emma’s spending some time with Hayden.” She tipped her hat up and smiled at him. “Earn my keep, so to speak.”
Ross smiled back and patted the seat next to him. They rode around on the tractor, filling the bins and pushing cows out of the way so they could get the job done. Four hours later he pulled up in front of the barn and went to put the bags they hadn’t used back in storage. There weren’t many bags left, so he didn’t want them to spoil. After they were gone he’d have to use the hay he’d baled in the fall.
“You need to make a run to the feed store, Ross.” The bag over Cain’s shoulder joined the ones she’d already carried in and stacked neatly in the dry, dark room in the barn. Ross had been amazed when she hefted the eighty-pound sacks and hauled them into the barn without too much grunting.
“I don’t think that’ll be possible until spring.”
He looked so uncomfortable with the subject that Cain changed her tactics and moved to something else. “Is there a restaurant in town?”
“Just a little place that does simple stuff. Not anything you’re used to, I’m sure.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m kind of a joint girl, given the opportunity. Let’s go get a bite.”
They were sitting in Mabel’s Diner fifteen minutes later, waiting for the waitress to take their order. Cain looked out at the guy on the corner, doing his best not to stick out on the small town street. The fact that he was freezing his ass off while keeping an eye on her brought its own perverse sense of satisfaction. Just watching him out there made her peruse the menu and plan to order every course she could squeeze out of the sparse number of selections.
“Cain, can I ask you a question?” Ross peeked at her over the top of his own menu but kept it near his face. Probably, Cain figured, to hide his face if she didn’t like his question.