Code Name: Genesis (Jameson Force Security #1)(28)

I’d learned how to be alone and to depend only on myself, and I could certainly do that again. In fact, after I get this stuff resolved with my stalker, I am going to do a serious reevaluation of my life and what I really want out of it. I’m also going to genuinely consider what I want out of my career. After twelve plus years in the business, I’m getting worn out from the constant drain on my creative energies.

Maybe Rachel is right. Maybe that’s something I should resolve sooner rather than later so I can have a clean slate when it comes time to reevaluate my life goals and priorities. Having that hanging over my head can’t be good for my soul. Besides that, we have worked hard the last few years to put our relationship back in order.

I smile. “I’ll do that. And thanks for the talk.”

“Anytime,” she says, then leans in and gives me an impulsive hug. I give her a return squeeze.

After she leaves, I lock the door and reset the alarm, which Kynan has pounded into me must be set at all times whether I’m here or not.

I edge back into the kitchen. Kynan doesn’t bother looking up, although I know he’s heard me come in.

“I need to take a trip,” I say, but he still doesn’t give me his attention. He merely replies, “Give me about half an hour to finish some stuff up here with Bebe, then I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

“Sounds good,” I reply breezily as I head toward my room. Keeping my voice light, I nonchalantly offer over my shoulder, “We’re heading to Cunningham Falls. I need to see my mother.”

I don’t wait for his response, catching only the briefest glance of his head popping up and his face flooding with shock.

I brace for him to argue it’s not prudent or a valuable use of our time, but he doesn’t. That satisfies me, and I start calculating whether I’ll need an overnight bag. It’s roughly a two-and-a-half-hour direct flight via private jet to Cunningham Falls from Santa Barbara. I’ve made the trip several times in the last few years. I decide our talk shouldn’t take that long and I’d rather be back in my own bed tonight, so I have nothing really to put together. I’ll freshen up my makeup, make a smoothie, and then hangout until Kynan is ready to leave.





CHAPTER 13




Kynan


This isn’t my first trip to Cunningham Falls, Montana, but it’s been a long damn time. Jameson had been hired by Joslyn’s mother to provide protective services for her. Joslyn was headlining a major casino in Vegas at the time. While she probably wasn’t under any direct threat by fans, it made her mother feel better for Joslyn to have security guards. Plus, she’d negotiated it into the contract for the casino to pay for our services.

I’m not quite sure when I fell in love with Joslyn, but our fate was sealed by the end of the trip to Cunningham Falls. She’d come to give a charity benefit concert, the proceeds of which were going to a hospital wing named after her late father. Madeline had not wanted her to do the trip, but Joslyn had held firm in her resolve. I think it might have been the first time she’d actually stood up to her mother, a sure sign she was going to try to keep some control over her career. Perhaps that had actually been the beginning of their business relationship foundation cracking.

Regardless, we were here for two nights. It was on the second I gave into my desires and made love to Joslyn. We’d both fallen for each other fast in the few weeks I’d been assigned to protect her. We had hours during the day where it was just me and her, and it’s surprising how fast people can grow to like each other when they have nothing to do but talk. Of course, the attraction was through the roof. It only took me kissing her in her hotel room in Cunningham Falls that night after the concert to know I could probably never stop kissing her.

We’d been stupid fucking kids. Just a few weeks later, her mom had shown Joslyn the doctored reports to make it appear as if I’d cheated. Let’s face it… she didn’t know me well enough to trust in me.

I drive the rental car through the sleepy town of Cunningham Falls. It’s nearing four, and the sun is starting to hang low in the sky. It throws a beautiful shade of orange and pink over the snow-covered mountains, and I have to admit… this is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been to in my life.

Joslyn hadn’t called her mom, so this is going to be a surprise visit. I’m also using this trip as a way to test the stalker. I had Joslyn schedule the private jet by using her phone and credit card rather than Jameson resources as I’d been doing, which I would bill to Joslyn later. I wanted to lay some easy breadcrumbs to see if the stalker was on the same hacking level as Bebe. She laid down some triggers on the credit card company to see if an outside source pings her information. I’m doubting this guy is that sophisticated, but there’s no telling.

I follow Joslyn’s directions out of town to Madeline’s new home. Other than conveying short and succinct sentences to me, obviously still more than a little annoyed with my behavior last night, Joslyn hasn’t been much of a conversationalist. I did learn Madeline had married a man named Darren Dawes, who is a successful cattle and sheep rancher. I couldn’t tell, though, whether Joslyn actually likes the guy as she’s not in a sharing mood.

In Montana, it’s possible to go miles and miles without seeing a house. There is no walking across the street to borrow a cup of sugar outside the city limits. We eventually come to a turn-off from the highway with a wooden arch held up by rough lumber posts that spell out—DoubleD Ranch.