The following morning, everyone seemed more cautious than normal. Evan and Mitchell spent the morning calling various security contractors. Knowing surveillance equipment was needed for the first time ever on the ranch caused some unease between the brothers, but the last month had proved it was past time.

As they looked at the aerial maps of the ranch, the office phone rang. “Riverton Ranch,” Mitchell said before he moved to put the phone on speaker. “Good Morning, Sheriff. You’re on speaker and Evan’s right here. What can we do for you this morning?”

“Just wanted to tell y’all that Harley Youngener is bein’ released today. I don’t think he’ll head back there, but y’all have the right to know,” the Sheriff said.

“Thank you, Sheriff,” Mitchell said.

“Thanks,” Evan added.

When they disconnected the call Mitchell asked, “Do you think he’ll come back?”

“No, but it just adds another reason to get a security system installed.”

“Agreed. This is a lot of land, how are we going to monitor all of the property?”

“I don’t know, but the security company needs to see it as well as us, and maybe we should install it on an extra phone.” Evan told Mitchell about the man Daniel saw over the weekend with the binoculars as well as explained the type of system he thought they should get.

While Mitchell made the calls, Evan went to check on the girls out by the pool. Outside, the girls had their eyes closed so he approached quietly. He stood between them and leaned down to cup Ginger’s pussy and whispered, “Don’t you need a bathroom break?”

As he helped her up Kayla said, “Damn Evan, already?”

“Sorry Kayla, but I can’t keep my hands off of her for too long.” His smile reached his eyes.

“I know you and Mitch don’t want us going out by ourselves so we’re going to the store together. Plus I think she’s going stir crazy being here all the time.”

Evan turned his attention to Ginger. “Did you know about this?”

“No,” she softly said.

“She was my friend long before you met her. We’ve done pretty well taking care of each other. Surely, there’s not a problem with us going to the grocery store,” Kayla said as she held his stare.

Every instinct in Evan said no, but Kayla had a point. Come next week, Ginger would be on her own for a few days and needed her confidence back before then. “What time are y’all leaving?”

“As soon as we can get dressed.”

Evan turned back to Ginger and cupped her face. “Do you want to do this?”

“I’d be lying if I said I’m not nervous, but I think I need to,” she admitted.

“Why don’t y’all let us finish setting up these meetings then we can go, too?”

“No, Evan. You’ve had her all weekend. Just give us a little time away from here to ourselves for God’s sake. It won’t kill you.” Kayla’s hands were on her hips as she stared at Evan.

Evan was ready to say something to Kayla that he knew he shouldn’t in front of Ginger, but she touched his arm to break the staring contest. “Evan, maybe she’s right, and I need to get out on my own. I can’t be a prisoner forever.”

“No, you can’t. Otherwise, I’d have you locked in our room. Hell, I’d even duct tape pillows on the corners of the furniture just in case,” he said as he placed a hand on her tummy.

“I know you would,” she said with a smile as she hugged him.

“You know I’m gonna worry until you get back, right?” Evan bent his knees so he could look into Ginger’s eyes.

“Yes,” she said as she held his gaze.

He lifted her so she wrapped her legs around his waist. Without breaking eye contact with Ginger he said, “Kayla, she may have been your friend first, but she’s mine now. She comes back unharmed, you got me?”

“I hear you.”

“And Kayla, don’t do something that’s gonna make her a bigger target. Get what we need and get your asses back here.”

Kayla rolled her eyes as she said, “Okay. And I thought Mitch was bad. I’m going to get dressed and will be ready in ten minutes. Ten minutes, Evan. That’s all you have.”

Evan chuckled. “I really don’t have that. Mitchell is waiting on me. Darlin’, please be careful. Keep your eyes open and y’all watch out for each other.”

“We will.”

When Evan walked back into the office, Mitchell questioned what took him so long. “Your girl was trying to get mine in trouble so we had to come to an agreement.”

“Anything I need to know?”

“Not right now.”

They spoke with a contractor who knew all the equipment Evan wanted installed and agreed to meet with them later in the week. They had just finished the call when Mitchell heard a car crank up, so he walked into the living room and saw Ginger’s car pulling out of the driveway. When he returned to the office he asked, “Did you know about the girls leaving?”

“Yes, and believe me I’ve been arguing with myself for the last ten minutes.”

“Where the hell do they think they’re going?”

“Grocery store.”

“And you’re okay with this?” The surprise in Mitchell’s voice couldn’t be hidden.

“Hell no, but Ginger will be on her own next week and she needs to know she can handle it. The minute I heard the car crank up I thought I’d puke.”

* * *

As soon as they got in the car, Kayla texted someone and then said, “We’re not just going to the grocery store, we’re meeting Cat at the café on Main Street.”

“What? Kayla, Evan will be so pissed,” Ginger said.

Kayla turned to face Ginger. “Listen, you needed to get away from the ranch for a little while. Tell me, how did you handle seeing the first picture?”

“It took me back to all the insecurities. Evan has been great, though. We went riding and out to dinner. He’s really kept my focus on us, but you know my brain.”

“Yeah, that brain of yours is your downfall. So what about the last one?”

“I feel like my privacy has been invaded. You know how you feel when someone breaks into your house or car, almost violated?”

“That’s never happened to me, but I get what you’re saying.”

“I’ve had my car broken into plenty of times. Each time it took a while to feel safe in it again,” Ginger said with a shrug. “I know I’m safe at the ranch, but just don’t like the thought of being by myself. I didn’t hear or see anything, didn’t get the feeling I was being watched, so now I don’t trust my gut.”

Kayla held up her indext finger. “First, Evan was with you and he didn’t see anything either, and that’s not like him. He’s always observant so you must’ve really had his blood pumping.” She held up another finger. “Second, you won’t be by yourself. Evan and Mitch are there, and the men. Cat and I will be with you at lunch.”

“I know.”

“The sixty-four thousand dollar question is, what does Evan say about your patch?”

Ginger took a slow deep breath. “He says if I’m not pregnant, he’d gladly get me there.”

“Well damn, girl. That’s hot and sweet, and so unlike him.” Kayla smiled with a twinkle in her eyes.

“But what if he’s just saying that until it’s confirmed? What if he changes his mind?”

“Ginger, Evan isn’t like that.” Kayla laid her hand on Ginger’s arm. “Listen, I saw you after the whole thing with David and watched you fight back from that. Evan and Mitch may be dominant and possessive and protective, but they’re not cheaters. It’s not in their DNA. You can trust him.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” She crossed her heart. “Have you not seen how he’s been with you?”

“I don’t know how he was with others.”

“Not like he is with you. It’s like you’re his sun and he orbits around you. I see it as him taking care of what’s his. Are you his?”

“Yes. He says he wants forever and I want that with him too.”

Kayla nodded.

The drive into town was short, but Ginger found herself continually looking around as she drove. Kayla pointed to Cat’s car, and Ginger parked behind her. For the first time since they left the ranch, Ginger relaxed and felt like a school-girl out having lunch with her friends. As they walked toward the café, they were absorbed in their conversation and didn’t notice the angry glares coming from the dark-haired girl down the street.

When they entered the café, they were laughing and giggling so much several heads turned as they waited in line to place their order. With their backs toward the door, they didn’t see the dark-haired girl walk into the café, but just as Kayla reached into her back pocket, the girl grabbed her wrist. She wasn’t gentle when she turned Kayla’s hand over to look at the ring sitting on her finger. Kayla snapped her head around. “What the hell, Sally?”

“That was supposed to be mine! You left him! You weren’t supposed to come back, you bitch!” Sally screamed and all heads turned toward them. Ginger looked nervously around the café, and Cat’s mouth gaped open.

“Mitch was never yours. Neither was this ring. Thank you for occupying his time while I was gone, but your services are no longer needed.” Then in a conspirator’s whisper Kayla said, “I know how much he likes calling my name in bed, don’t you?”

Sally’s face turned bright red as her eyes grew wide, and she stomped out of the café. Kayla watched her leave, then finished paying as if nothing happened. The three of them sat at a corner table close to the front windows and enjoyed their lunch until Linda, one of Kayla’s cousins, stopped by their table as Ginger gave Cat her phone number. Linda congratulated Kayla on her engagement and told her she couldn’t wait for the wedding. Kayla introduced Ginger, and told Linda she was dating Evan. Linda’s surprised reaction caught Ginger off guard, and Kayla knew the grapevine would have plenty to discuss today. When she walked away, Ginger saw a woman across the restaurant staring at her and caught her eye as a man arrived at her table.

“Cat, who’s that woman?” Ginger nodded her head in the woman’s direction.

Cat’s face paled as unease washed over it. “Um.” Cat looked at Kayla, but Kayla shrugged because she couldn’t see the woman behind her. “That’s Ruby.” Kayla’s eyes widened as she looked at Ginger.

“Oh.”

The girls ate in silence for a while before Kayla said, “Ginger, they’ve been over for a long time.”

“I know. I just don’t understand why she’s staring at me.”

“Maybe because she wants a threesome. What are the odds two of Evan Riverton’s women would be in the same room? She may charge extra for that, but Evan can afford it,” Chief of Police Curtis Taylor said as he walked up behind her.

Ginger’s head snapped around and held Curtis’s stare as a creepy smile spread across his face. “Hell, I’d pay her double if she’d let me watch. I’ll put in my request when she’s not on a date,” he said as he walked off. Ginger watched him head outside and greet a man staring through the window. He put his phone away when the Chief shook his hand.

“Shit, that’s our cue,” Kayla said.

“Cue for what?” Cat looked at her curiously.

“I promised Evan we wouldn’t do anything to make Ginger a bigger target. Now that Curtis has seen her, we need to go.”

“A bigger target? Girl, you need to explain,” Cat said.

As they walked to their cars, Kayla told Cat about the pictures of Ginger. While they all hugged, Ginger looked around, because unease crept over her. Did Evan follow her? When she finally looked across the street, she saw the man so she started the car and waited for Kayla to get in. When the man saw her eyes lock on his, he turned in the opposite direction. Neither Ginger nor Kayla said anything for a while on the drive to the store. Finally Ginger asked, “Did you see the man outside waiting on the Chief?”

“No why?”

“I was hoping you’d know who he was so we could tell Evan.”

“I’m sorry Ginger. I didn’t see him.”

“Evan is going to be pissed when I tell him about this.”

“I know. Mitch will be too.”

“Are you going to tell him about Sally?”

“Yeah, we promised no more secrets. They cost us five years, and I don’t want them coming between us again.”

“Us too. I mean, we agreed to no secrets. Do you really think Evan will blow a gasket?”

“Yelling Evan is better than quiet Evan. When he’s really angry, he doesn’t yell. The softer he speaks, the angrier he is.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I haven’t seen that side of him.”

“Something tells me you’re about to.”