“I was going to stitch Mr. & Mrs. Faulkner and our wedding date, but now it feels inadequate for this class,” Kenzie said, staring at the giant alien studded penis.
“The size of your embroidery doesn’t matter,” Miss Winnie said with a kind smile. “It’s the thought that counts.”
Miss Mitzy tsked her disapproval. “Don’t go telling the poor girl lies, Win. She’s about to be married. She should know that size does matter and the thought does not count. Performance matters.”
At this rate, Kenzie was going to have to give Gavin the Heimlich maneuver.
Winnie rolled her eyes. “I was talking about embroidery, Mitzy.”
Mitzy blinked her eyes. “So was I. What did you think I was talking about . . . oh.” Mitzy pursed her lips and looked off as if she were thinking. “Yeah, that holds true for sex, too. Gavin, I bet you wouldn’t want Ellery to say well, it was the thought of an orgasm that counts after sex.”
Yup, Gavin was definitely going to need the Heimlich by the way he was choking.
“This is not how I remember embroidery group,” he whispered to Kenzie.
“This is better than I ever could have imagined,” Kenzie whispered back with a grin before looking up at Miss Ruby. “Teach me everything.”
“For a price,” Miss Ruby said, looking to her friend Miss Winnie.
“What’s the price?” Kenzie asked hesitantly. They were clearly up to no good.
“Shirtless picture of your husband holding our pie. Even better if he’s naked.”
Kenzie didn’t know what to expect, but that wasn’t it as Gavin burst out laughing.
“Don’t worry, Doc, you’re up next year. We were thinking of you in nothing but your stethoscope,” Miss Winnie said, stopping Gavin’s laughter in an instant.
“But I get a pie a month, right?” Gavin asked.
“That’s right. The man who is featured on our festival posters gets an apple pie every month for a year.”
“Deal,” Kenzie said, already thinking of how to get Ryker to pose with the pie. He’d never knowingly do it, and he’d be pissed when he saw himself on the banner, but for a pie a month she’d take the risk. After all, the make-up sex alone was worth it. Add apple pie and it was a no-brainer.
Ryker’s door opened and his new executive assistant walked in. Elsa was in her late fifties. Her hair was up in a tight bun, but you could see a streak of bright red dye in it. She wore a fitted suit that was the height of professionalism. “Mr. Abel is here to see you.” Elsa then looked at Sebastian before turning back to Ryker. “He’s a bad boy who didn’t make an appointment. Would you like me to correct him?”
That elicited a response from Sebastian in the form of a raised eyebrow.
“That’s okay, Elsa. Thank you. You can show him in.” Ryker worked hard to hide his grin at seeing Sebastian uncomfortable.
Elsa let him through the door and then closed it behind her.
“Where do you find your secretaries, Ryker? First the nun and now the drill sergeant out there. What was she, a prison guard?”
“Dominatrix,” Ryker said casually. “She got carpal tunnel by whipping too many submissive men. As Kenzie treated her, she told her I was looking for an executive assistant.”
That elicited another lifted brow. “I’ve threatened to steal Mary Alice away from Nico, but she’s sweet compared to her friend Mary Margaret. I’m trying to convince Mary Margaret to come work for me now that she retired last month. Don’t ask how I’ve met the Holy Pinochle Group, but I have, and they think I need saving.”
“What’s wrong with your current executive assistant?” Ryker asked, thinking back to the pretty blonde.
“She makes Bianca look shy.”
Ryker’s brow creased as he looked at Sebastian. He wouldn’t say they were friends exactly, but they understood each other, and for men like them, that was probably the closest they got to being friends. “I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that didn’t bother you after your faithful executive assistant retired.”
A thundercloud passed over Sebastian’s face. “It bothers me now. I’m too busy keeping your cousin’s ass safe to be bothered with sexy secretaries.”
“What’s Greer done now?” Ryker tried to hide his smile, but it didn’t work and Sebastian glared at him.
“Don’t smile. She’s the biggest pain in my ass. She’s extended her tour with Dylan and Abby another three months. I had to send a stealth helicopter to extract her from a crumbling palace in the middle of a freaking desert two days ago.” Sebastian ran his hand over his face. “She’d been stabbed, Ryker. Stabbed! And the damn fool woman told me to stop being a mother hen.”
Ryker blinked in surprise at the entire statement Sebastian made. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, it only needed a couple of stitches, but she had the gall to tell me to calm down. Me? Do I look like the type of person who gets hysterical?” Sebastian asked with zero emotion, yet there was plenty of emotion simmering below the surface. He was definitely not the emotional type, so Ryker knew how much it cost him to admit his frustration with Greer. “If I don’t look out for her, she’s going to get herself killed.”
“What exactly is Greer doing with Dylan and Abby?” Ryker asked.
Sebastian just cursed under his breath and then pursed his lips. “Making my life hell, that’s what. Anyway, I didn’t come here to talk about that woman. I came to discuss a problem I’m having that I hope you can help me with.”
Ryker listened to Sebastian’s problem. The humor he’d found in Sebastian’s inability to deal with Greer vanished. “If the wrong people find out,” Ryker began to say, but Sebastian was already nodding.
“I know. I’ll be dead. So, can you help?” Sebastian asked seriously.
Ryker sat back and took a deep breath. “No one can know I’m involved.”
“You have my word your name will never be tied to it. I just need you to do me a favor.”
Ryker knew he was making a deal with the devil when he reached across the desk and shook Sebastian’s hand, but Ryker was never afraid to dance with the devil.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Ryker said, standing up, “I have a fiancée to see about a wedding.”
“Thank you. I’ll let you know if and when I need your help. Best wishes to you and your bride. I’ll see you at the wedding.” Sebastian stood and straightened his impeccable tie.
“You know, you could just not do this, find a good woman, and settle down.” Ryker felt compelled to try to talk him out of his plan.
“I’m not the marrying type. I know you’ve found love, and that’s great. But no woman is strong enough to put up with me. I’m married to my job, although in a way it’s a war with my job. I’ve fought for every shred of respect and every dollar I’ve ever made. I’m not going to bow out of the game now. But I wish you luck with your marriage. If you decide to back away from the game, know I’ll happily buy you out.”
Ryker pressed a button and a second later Elsa opened the door to escort Sebastian out. Ryker looked at the closed door after Sebastian left and took a deep breath. Maybe Sebastian was right. Maybe marriage would change the game, but Ryker wasn’t bothered by that thought anymore.