All Jacked Up (Rough Riders 8)

Truthfully, her behavior stung like hell. But this situation wasn’t about him.

“I get what you’re sayin’, Jack, I really do. I just wish there was some way to help her without any of us trying to sneak her money.”

A solution started to form. “How many guys are on that crew out of Meeteetsee?”

Remy scratched his chin. “Probably a dozen. Why?”

“If they had a dozen guys on the clock, how long would it take to teardown this place?”

“Three days. But that’d probably be milking it. Customers would freak if they thought the company could make fifty thou in a single day.”

“But if we could get a dozen guys here, say tomorrow. For all day, would you two be willing to help me supervise what gets torn out and what stays?”

Chet and Remy nodded at each other. “Absolutely. What did you have in mind?”

Jack grinned. “I’ll tell you, but you’ve got to promise me that Keely won’t ever find out.”

Jack called Carson McKay. He was actually relieved the ornery SOB answered with a gruff hello.

“Carson. Jack Donohue. Got a minute to talk?”

“Only about that long. I gotta get Caro pretty quick. What did you need?”

“First off, Keely can’t know I called you about this.”

Carson harrumphed, which Jack took as assent.

Jack spun a tale about the company Keely hired for the teardown backing out. How it could jeopardize the entire clinic project because of time constraints. Keely was mightily upset, but she didn’t want to inconvenience anyone in her family by asking for help.

“That girl. Don’t she know we’d do anything for her?” Carson said with exasperation.

“Which is why I called you. If you show up at the building tomorrow with a bunch of guys ready to work, under the direction of me and Chet and Remy, Keely won’t lose a single dollar, or a day on the timeframe of getting the building up to speed.”

Carson was quiet for a minute or so but Jack suffered through it. Finally he said, “I’ll take care of it.

But I wanna know why you ain’t takin’ credit for it?”

“I don’t have to tell you Keely McKay is stubborn and filled with pride. If I arranged to fix it she’d see it as me meddling in her business. And trust me, when it comes to that building, my relationship with her is all business.”

He snorted.

“If you show up with her brothers and assorted cousins wanting to help her out of a jam…she’ll see it differently. Plus, all of you will have been involved in some part of the process, of this project that means everything to her.” Jack paused. “She helps out her brothers all the time. In fact, she’s watching Colby’s kids right now. It’d be good for your family to pay back that kindness when Keely needs it the most and expects it the least. And trust me, she needs it.”

Another bout of silence.

“You got all the bases covered, son, and I can’t fault you for lookin’ out for her, in fact, I appreciate it. But how’s that snoopy girl gonna believe I just happened to hear about her building troubles?”

“Easy. Chet and Remy. Just tell her you stopped by last night to see the progress after talking to her on Sunday. Chet and Remy mentioned issues with the teardown process. You went home, made a few calls and set up an old-fashioned barn raising in reverse.”

“You sure you ain’t a politician, Jack?”

“Hell, no, Carson, you sure know how to throw an insult like a damn dagger.”

Carson chuckled. “See you tomorrow. But if this scheme backfires? I’m rolling on you first, guaranteed.”

Jack said, “I’d expect nothing less,” to the dial tone.

Although Jack was restless, he dragged his laptop into the bedroom and caught up on paperwork. He figured trying to sleep was pointless, so it shocked him to wake up at one in the morning completely disoriented. He stacked his papers, powered down his laptop and wandered into the living room.

There she was, fully dressed, asleep on the couch.

A protective feeling expanded in his chest. He wanted to take care of her. And not just tonight. Jack lifted her into his arms.

She blinked her eyes sleepily. “Jack? What are you doin’?”

“Tucking you in bed. You fell asleep on the couch, buttercup.”

“I got home and thought about watching TV but I couldn’t figure out how to turn it on. I’m hopeless with everything today.”

“Don’t say that. I’ll show you tomorrow.” Jack kicked the bedroom door shut.

“I swear I just closed my eyes for a minute. Those kids of Colby’s wear me out.”

He set Keely on her feet by the bed. He undressed her down to panties and a tank top. She crept under the covers.

Once Jack was in bed, she wrapped herself around him. “You know, GQ, I’m kinda starting to like you a little bit.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Same goes, cowgirl.”

The next morning Keely started her day with less enthusiasm than usual. Jack had made coffee but he was already gone. He’d left a note by her favorite mug, reminding her she’d promised to pay Chet and Remy for the teardown work today.

The last thing she wanted was to drive to Moorcroft and face her failure. She’d thought about the problem and hadn’t found a viable solution besides hiring a demolition company and trying to keep on schedule. Jack had allotted six weeks. They’d nearly burned through two already.

Jack. He’d been so sweet again last night. Carting her off to bed. Tucking her in hadn’t made her feel like a child; it’d made her feel cherished. Yesterday when she learned she’d f**ked up big time, Jack hadn’t belittled her for her ignorance. He hadn’t swooped in and offered to fix it for her.

Would you have taken his help if he’d offered?

No. No matter how good his intentions were, Keely couldn’t take money from him. It was her mistake; she’d find a way to fix it.

When she pulled up to the building an hour later, trucks were parked everywhere. Ten industrial-sized Dumpsters lined the parking lot. What the hell was going on?

She cautiously entered the building amidst the banging and hammering. Male voices echoed. Inside the main room, she gasped. The entire upper floor was an empty shell.

Keely called out, “Chet? Remy?”

And whose head popped out first? Her father’s.

“Daddy? What on earth are you doin’ here?”

He wiped his hands on a bandana and ambled toward her. “Now hear me out, Keely, before you go getting that look on your face.”