Saving Dallas Forever (Saving Dallas 3)

I pulled my Mercedes into my reserved parking area in front of my office building located in downtown Hattiesburg. The area was all too familiar to me, and as my feet hit the concrete sidewalk, I transformed from ol’ lady to CEO in the small amount of time it took me to enter the office. Everything was just as I had last seen it, although it still took me a minute to adjust to the newly redecorated room. Lindsey’s paintings hung on the walls, and I had that feeling of being home, once again. It wasn’t cold and distant, like I had designed it. Now, it felt warm and friendly. Lindsey was seated at her desk, an abundance of paperwork stacked neatly in her inbox. She was so focused on her computer screen that once she finally noticed that I was there, she jumped at the sight of me, then shrieked as she pushed herself from her chair, and came running toward me. I caught her in my arms, her sudden attack nearly knocking the wind out of me.

“Oh, Dallas! It’s so good to see you back! Look at you!” she said, beaming, and holding me at arm’s length. “You look radiant!” Lindsey looked pretty radiant herself. There was something different about her.

“Me? Look at you! What’s with the dress and heels?” I asked, taking in her new wardrobe with approval. She wore a blue wrap dress with matching blue heels that I knew didn’t come from Payless. I guess Lindsey was taking full advantage of her increase in salary.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just thought if I was gonna play CEO, I needed to look the part. It’s really good to see you. I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages. What have you been doing?” she asked, relief washing over me as I noticed she thought I had taken a vacation to spend my days having tons of sex with my new found love, rather than being held prisoner and shooting people.

“I’ve been traveling,” I said simply. This appeased her and I was thankful that no more questions followed.

“Well, you ready to get to work?”

“More than you know.” Truer words had never been spoken.

It was after four when I finally decided that food was something I could not go another minute without. I called Lindsey on her cell and asked her to pick us up lunch on her way back to the office. She was out running errands, and would be back within the hour. I had spent my day buried in paperwork, and going over contracts that would soon close. My email had yet to be touched, and my messages were still lying in a neat pile at the corner of my desk. I kicked up my heels, and leaned back in my chair, thumbing through the stack of small notes. Most of these consisted of communications from clients who refused to work with anyone but me, and one name stood out in particular. Mayor Kirkley. Just the thought of having to talk to him made me nauseous. Once I had learned that it was he who my father had paid to ensure the club protected me, my feelings toward him had changed. Knowing if I put it off any longer he would show up at my office, I picked up my phone and dialed his number.

“Well, if it isn’t the infamous Dallas Knox,” he answered, by way of a greeting.

“Paul,” I said shortly, figuring formalities between us were no longer of use. Hell, the man knew more about me than I did.

“I assume Luke has informed you of everything.”

“That he has, and I must say it came as a bit of a shock, although it shouldn’t have. You always were a snake.”

“Dallas, your words crush me,” he said, with an exaggerated sigh. Prick.

“What do you want, Paul?” I asked, ready to end the conversation.

“You called me, dear.”

“I was returning your call. I have about fourteen messages lying on my desk, each one more urgent than the last.”

“Well, I just wanted to make sure you were still alive. You are running with a rough crowd now.”

“Ha! I can assure you they are better people than you will ever be, you dirty, slime-balling, bastard.” My overwhelming need to defend the club had me lashing out and resorting to name-calling. I heard his deep chuckle on the other end of the phone, and I could almost see him leaning back in his chair, with a satisfied smile plastered on his handsome face.

“I hope this doesn’t affect our relationship, Dallas. It was just business. You, of all people, should know that.”

“It’s a little more than business when people’s lives and futures are at stake,” I spat at him. I wondered if he knew what had happened with Frankie.

“You’re right,” he said, his tone growing serious. “I never wanted you subjected to any danger. I was confident in Luke and the club. I thought they could protect you. Since you are still breathing, I’m assuming your father’s money didn’t go to waste.”