Authors: Kortny Alexander
“Hello?” Summer had no clue which Durden woman this was. She knew it wasn’t one of
her
men’s sisters. There were six siblings in Dalton’s family, and Daisy was the only girl in that clan. Summer knew she had the lost look on her face.
The young woman stood up, walked around the receptionist desk and stuck her hand out with a teasing smile on her face. She wore a red cotton dress that stopped just below her knees; simple and casual. “You have no clue who I am, do you?”
Summer chuckled and shook her head. “Not a clue. You have too many cousins. There’s too many Durdens in this town.”
“That’s very true. My parents, including my aunts and uncles, wanted loads of children. Anyway, I’m Maci. Remy and Kane’s sister.” She shook Summer’s hand as she watched the recognition cross her face. Remy and Kane ran the real estate development firm that Summer had joined.
“You have a twin sister.”
“Yep. She’s working at our casino in Las Vegas.”
“I thought you were going there as well.” Summer remembered hearing the twins at a party discussing moving to Las Vegas together.
Maci held on to Summer’s hand as she began walking towards the stairs. “I changed my mind after I started working here. The last receptionist married and moved away and I was filling in temporarily. I think I might want to stay here. My degree in architectural engineering is almost complete.”
“Maci, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would you go to Las Vegas with an engineering degree?” The two women began climbing the stairs as they continued to chat like old friends.
“I’m twenty-two and I was just following my sister. I hadn’t really found my niche and she has a degree in business. It has taken me a little longer to finish my degree. And after Kane offered me a temporary summer job here, I actually fell in love with the different aspects of the business. I mean, you’re a landscape engineer. I thought that was boring until I learned more about it and I researched some of your work. You have a wonderful eye, Summer.”
Summer could only blush at the compliment. It was rare occasion when she received a compliment on her work. Most people complimented the architectural aspects of the job but not the landscaping. Most took the landscaping aspect of a building for granted. “Thank you, Maci. I’m glad you have found your passion.”
“Oh, yeah. I love it.” Maci came to a stop in front of an older woman who was sitting behind a modest oak desk. “Summer, this is your all-around-superwoman assistant, Agnes James. Agnes, this is Summer Showers.”
With introductions made, Maci made her way back to the staircase.
“Nice to meet you, Agnes.” They shook hands. Agnes gave Summer a warm smile. Summer turned in the direction of the staircase. “Thanks, Maci.”
“Anytime.”
Summer took a quick glance around and realized there were several other doors that had assistants manning the stations. She turned her attention back to the woman standing guard in front of her office. Agnes looked like a sweet woman who knew where all the bodies were buried. She was short and curvy with salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her smooth peaches and cream complexion would fool anyone when it came to guessing her age. She wore a knee-length denim skirt with a green cotton shirt and an oversized belt. The look was chic yet casual. Summer liked her instantly.
“I know I’m supposed to be at home enjoying my vacation before I start working but…”
“You got bored.” Agnes grinned and gave Summer a sideways hug. “It happens to the best of us, sweetheart. Come on in and get a look at your office. I didn’t know what to do with it. I wasn’t sure of your tastes, so I thought I would leave the decorating to you.”
Summer walked into her spacious office and gasped with surprise. It had already been decorated with a light, airy, and spacious feel to it. There was an antique white desk with matching bookshelves. An overstuffed burgundy leather chair sat behind the desk. Two leather burgundy chairs were placed in front of her desk. To the left of the desk, near the bank of windows, sat a matching antique white drafting table and more chairs.
Summer glanced at the framed black-and-white art on her wall and smiled. It took her a moment to realize that they were pictures of her work from different locations. Her eyes darted to Agnes who was quietly standing near the door.
“I love it, Agnes.” She walked over to her and hugged her once again. It was the nicest gesture anyone could have made.
“I’m happy that you do. I put in a call to your sister Spring. She was a huge help.” Agnes hugged Summer back.
Summer took a step back and glanced around her office again. “I cannot believe Bo left her alone to help you with this.” She knew Bo was overprotective of his wife. And now that she was pregnant with twins, he had gotten worse.
“Honey, Bo doesn’t frighten me. I’ve been around this family since all of those kids were in diapers. After I reminded him of that, he was happy to help as well.”
Summer couldn’t stop the laughter from slipping out. She liked Agnes. She seemed like a firm, take-charge woman. It was just what Summer needed.
“Come on, Summer. Let me show you where the conference rooms are downstairs. That’s where Remy and Kane hold the show-and-tell meetings with the clients. It gives them more space to move around in instead of using your personal office.”
As Summer talked with Agnes, she was glad she had decided to go into the office. Although Remy and Kane were out for the day, Summer was able to meet with some of the other employees. She loved the instant approval she received from everyone she met. There was nothing more refreshing than walking into an office and being welcomed with opened arms. She knew without a doubt that by accepting the job, she had found her home. Now if she could only smooth out the disaster that was her personal life.
Chapter 10
Four hours had passed by when Summer finally climbed behind the wheel of her car. She had received separate calls from Dalton, Denver, and Dillon during that time span. Their behavior had begun to change almost overnight. It might have had something to do with the fact that she hadn’t asked any of them to go into town with her. This was only the second time since moving to Whispering Mountain she had traveled anywhere alone. Now they were kindly keeping tabs on her.
As much as she wanted to yell at them for calling, she didn’t. They had all called to check on her and make sure she was doing okay. The fact that all three of them cared about her well-being was satisfying. She had relayed the same message to each of them. She was fine. Summer couldn’t understand what was with the sudden urge to become so protective. She’d try to get more out of them when she returned to the house.
She hadn’t expected to stay as long as she had at her job, but she couldn’t stop herself from jumping in and looking over some of the projects that were already going on. She really loved her career. She had stayed so long that she had decided to pass on stopping by her house to check on the remodeling. Instead, she would go and see Spring before heading back to the house she temporarily shared with Dalton, Dillon, and Denver.
Summer was so deep in thought as she guided her luxury car through the tight switchbacks of the winding road, unaware until the last moment that a car was swiftly closing the distance between them. A flash of red grabbed her attention. She eyed a speeding red car switching lanes, as if to pass her.
It made her a little nervous and her palms began to sweat as she swerved her car just a bit but regained control. Unfortunately, her nerves were rattled.
She slowed down. If this person had somewhere they needed to be, she was happy to let them pass. Except, as the red vehicle pulled alongside of her, an eerie feeling came over her. Summer could swear she felt other the driver staring in her direction. Although she was now frightened and creeped out, she couldn’t be sure of it because the windows were tinted pitch black.
As if compelled, she turned in the direction of the red car. She was so rattled by the other driver she slowed down a little more. When she slowed down, so did the red car beside her.
What the hell?
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she pressed the accelerator, speeding up. The red car beside her did the same. She pressed the accelerator even harder. The red car matched her speed. Summer slammed on the brakes. So did the red car.
Fuck!
“Leave me the fuck alone!” she screamed, banging her fists on the steering wheel. Tears began pouring down her face. She’d gotten turned around on the winding road. She didn’t think she was far from the turn-off that would take her to the ranch. Summer pressed the accelerator. If this asshole was crazy enough to follow her to the ranch at least she would have the guys waiting for him. They would either shoot him, beat his ass, or both.
Summer began to sweat. She felt her hands shake again as she reached in the cup holder for her cell phone. She didn’t look away from the road. She couldn’t. Not with this lunatic driver beside her. Just as she wrapped her fingers around her cell phone, the red car, still beside her, swerved in her direction. She dropped the phone, screamed, and jerked her steering wheel in the opposite direction. Her quick thinking just barely kept her car from getting sideswiped. Her heart was pounding and she was scared to death. She dug her fingernails into the steering wheel.
What’s wrong with this idiot?
They appeared to be the only two cars on the road. Summer prayed the car would just pass her, but it didn’t. He was playing a dangerous game, and Summer didn’t want to participate. The asshole continued to ride beside her, adjusting his speed to hers. It took her a few moments, but Summer finally recognized the car as a red Camaro.
Just as she picked up her cell phone that had fallen into her lap, the driver swerved in her direction once again. This time he didn’t pull back. He kept moving in her direction. To avoid a collision, Summer swerved, spinning out of control, until she skidded off the road and slammed into a ditch.
“Shit! Shit! Oh god! Shit!” Summer was shaking all over. She could see the Camaro speeding off into the distance while she was stuck in a damn ditch. It took her a few moments to calm herself enough to find her cell phone. She didn’t want to make the call, but it would be a lot worse if she didn’t.
It didn’t take long for the whir of sirens and squealing tires to disturb the eerie silence Summer had sat in. The longer she sat there, the more frightened she had become. She was so afraid that whoever was behind the wheel of that car would come back. But they never did. She could hear Dalton yelling. He was getting closer and he sounded absolutely pissed.
“Why is she still in the car, sheriff?” Dalton yelled. Astonishment shone in his eyes. He could see skid marks that lit up the road like a path to Summer’s car. He had expected her to be sitting in the back of an ambulance, wrapped up, or even the sheriff’s squad car, not still sitting in her car looking scared and lost.
“Denver. Dillon. Get your fucking brother under control before I lock his ass up,” Sheriff Stallings threatened. “Cousin or no cousin, I will do it. You know I will. Ask Daisy.”
Dalton eyed both his brothers but calmed down just a little. They all knew how many times the sheriff had pulled Daisy out of a fight and locked her up for a couple of hours. It wasn’t an idle threat.
“I told you, she won’t get out of the car. She’s shaking like a leaf. She’s afraid. I think she’s in shock. She’s soaked with sweat. She was out here alone for a short time, and I think it got to her.” The sheriff looked from one brother to the other and then to the other. “This was intentional. I have no doubts about that. This was a cowardly act and whoever is behind it better run like hell.”
“Let me go over and talk to her. Maybe I can get her out of the damned car,” Dalton said as he began to walk towards the car.
There wasn’t a mark or dent on the portion of the vehicle facing the road. Dalton could only imagine how the side that was stuck in the ditch looked. He looked around at all of the firemen and police. A passerby would have thought that this was vehicular homicide. They were all waiting for Summer to get out of the car so they could pull it out of the ditch. And she looked as if she was ready to camp out in her car.
Dalton wasn’t having any of that. He was angry at himself for not protecting her better. He was angry that she hadn’t told the sheriff what had happened or given a description of the car. He had a shitty feeling that he knew what type of car it was. As he got closer to the car, he buried his anger. She was scared and still shaking. Luckily, her car door was open.
He knelt down beside her. “Summer.” He stroked her cheek as she slowly turned and stared at him with tears silently running down her face.
Fuck!
Her skin was cold and clammy. “Come on, baby. Let us take you home.” He waited, watching as Summer simply stared at him, unresponsive. Her entire body was shaking, and he felt completely helpless. The only thing he knew for certain was that it would be best to sit and wait her out. He’d never seen her like this before.