Queen of Men (King Maker 2)

There was a moment when I thought Turner might kiss me, but footfalls had us both looking up.

“Why am I not surprised to find you here?”

Again, I felt like I was twelve as I always did around my father.

“I asked her here, sir,” Turner said, standing up for me.

“Yet she knows better,” Father chastised.

Turner went to speak, but I held up a hand to stop him. My future in the community was certain. I would never be accepted back, not that I wanted to be. Turner, on the other hand, still had a choice.

“Thank you for lunch, Turner. But Father is right. I should go.”

I got to my feet and ignored Turner’s questioning stare. He didn’t want me to leave and had gone as far as to reach for me, but I moved just far enough so he couldn’t touch me.

“I’m sure they are looking for you,” Father said to Turner.

You could take the girl out of the simple life, but you couldn’t take the simple life out of the girl. Before I could think, I said, “I’ll clean this up.”

Turner glared at me. “I can do it,” he said, slicing the air with his statement.

I straightened, feeling caught in two worlds, but this ground belonged to one.

“Let’s go, girl,” Father commanded.

And like a soldier in my father’s army, I followed.

Once we were out of the trees and back into the clearing of farmland, he pressed me with a glower that would stop a raging bull. Immediately, any thoughts of what I might say in my own defense halted.

“Tonight is the monthly council meeting,” he said. “As long as you are here, you might as well be an asset to this community. Use that fancy degree we paid for and prepare the books for an accounting at sundown.”

It would have been easy to mention that scholarships and grants had funded most of my college. And I could have asked why the current bookkeeper hadn’t prepared for this meeting, as she surely was fully aware of the schedule and duties in my stead. In fact, I’d only taken over for her after she apprenticed me. Once I left, the duty fell back on her as she served double duty as school mistress and bookkeeper.

However, none of that mattered. My father had spoken. There was no choice for me other than to comply. I didn’t resent it because I’d come here and knew what my responsibilities would be. I was eating the community’s food and would be using other supplies. It was everyone’s responsibility to contribute however they could. So I nodded, and my father stalked off toward the center of town.

I stood for only another minute in time to see Turner come through the brush. So much hadn’t been said. When our eyes met, there were questions in his gaze I ignored. Instead, I found myself twisting the ring on my finger before I turned from him and headed in the direction of the schoolhouse. As I walked, the damnable Kalen crept back into my thoughts.

Ten

Kalen

Griffin had just finished giving me the news.

“The community is in the middle of nowhere for the most part,” he said.

“But is she safe?”

“As safe as anyone.” His brow rose. “I’m beginning to think this one means more to you than you’ve admitted.”

“I’ve caused her problems,” I snapped, glaring at him.

“You haven’t received any threats. This may not have anything to do with you. Besides, she’s out of New York. You should be relieved.”

“I’m not. We don’t know for sure who’s targeting her and why.”

“Are you in love with her?” he asked pointedly, taking me aback.

“In love with whom?”

Both Griffin and I looked up and watched as Connor strode in as the question left his tongue.

“Who let you in?” I asked, annoyed by the interruption, though Griffin’s question was also to blame.

“You gave me a key,” he said, holding the black card up that would give him access to the private elevator to my apartment.

“What brings you by?”

“Dad sent me to make sure you don’t back out tonight.”

I leaned back in my desk chair and steepled my fingers. So much had happened today, I’d forgotten.

“You forgot?” he asked, pulling the words from my head.

“I’ve been busy.”

“With your new assistant.” His added smirk was irritating.

“She’s not new. She was temporary. But how would you know that? You don’t even work there.”

Connor did spend an awful lot of time in the company offices for someone who reportedly didn’t want anything to do with the business.

“I have my spies,” he said.

A quick glance at Griffin and I didn’t have to say more. I trusted my brother, but I couldn’t ignore that he could potentially be the person behind an orchestrated attempt at my downfall.

“Besides, she’s making noise with Human Resources about you letting her go. Though everyone including God knows you wouldn’t have to resort to sexual harassment to get a woman in bed.”