“Also not true.” Logan gestured toward the house. “Why don’t we go inside?”
She took a step toward the basement door, then stopped. “Are you inviting me into the basement or the upstairs?”
Kendall tilted his head to one side. “The upstairs?”
“Well, you both own this house, don’t you?” She smiled as if she’d figured something out.
His eyebrows traveled to somewhere near his hairline. “How do you know that?”
“I did some research on the owners of the Old West Town park. In a decade-old news article, your names were mentioned.”
“I see.” Kendall would have to check on that. He thought all public information had been scrubbed long ago. “Let’s go
upstairs
then.”
Logan didn’t look at all happy about her knowing their status as wealthy park owners, but he followed along up the front stairs and into the opulent home they shared.
Kendall led her into the den and didn’t mince any words. Nothing was happening until they’d shared some information. “Something has happened since you left. Some surprising information has come to light. We’d like to set things straight before anything else of a sexual nature happens between us.”
Her eyes widened. “What is it?”
Her phone buzzed in her pocket as if she’d either gotten a message or received a text. She looked annoyed by the interruption, but still retrieved the cell, and excused herself to study the screen.
“Hmm,” she said as if surprised.
“Everything okay?”
Her amazing green-eyed gaze fastened on his face, and she grinned. “Yes. Just that someone unexpected is apparently asking about me through some back channels. Probably business related.”
“Back channels? For business?”
She hesitated, then admitted, “Yes. I have my own business. I think someone is doing a security check to see if I’m legit.”
“And are you legit?”
“Of course.”
“What sort of business do you operate?”
“I have a private computer security consulting business.” She wasn’t hiding her occupation?
Interesting
.
He and Logan shared another despondent look. “Is that how you really found out we owned this house? Because you can gain access to information not in the public domain with your skill set?”
She looked startled. “While I will admit that I possess the skills necessary to get facts not publically available, in this case I didn’t have to use them. I can show you the article I found from over ten years ago, listing both of your names as part owners of the newly opened Old West Town park. The ownership of the house just seemed logical.” Kendall remained dubious, but why would she lie?
“Do I need to show you?” she asked, gesturing to her phone, even though her tone sounded hurt.
Her cell phone beeped once more. She huffed, but focused her attention back to the device. Distracted reading the screen, she didn’t see the look that passed between them. Her fingers fairly flew over the front, likely she was texting someone. A client? A cohort? Another man? Why was that so distastefully disturbing?
Logan was obviously despondent about her knowledge of his wealth. He would never in a thousand years admit that he had loads of money. Not ever. He’d been born into a wealthy family, but that was knowledge he also kept hidden. Logan’s ex had initially hidden the fact that money was the only reason she was willing to accept a lowly stable master into her life.
Jocelyn having knowledge of their financial status would not endear her to Logan. If fact, the opposite was more probable. Likely they were
not
about to delve into a possible round-two scenario.
Kendall put his focus back on Jocelyn. She’d stopped fiddling with her phone and shoved it into her front pants pocket.
He gestured to her phone. “Problem?”
“Not exactly. Just someone
really
digging into my life. Sometimes potential clients cross the line just to see what I’ll do before they’ll hire me.”
“Are you working for someone now?”
Her head tilted to one side. “As in working against you? No. Of course not.” Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she ignored it. “Is that what you think? That someone has hired me to look into your business? I don’t do that. People hire me to find the weakness in their own security systems. I don’t accept employment to hack into anyone else’s systems.”
Her phone kept buzzing four times then going silent. Then buzzing four more times and stopping. Someone was really in a frenzy to get her attention.
“If you need to get your phone, go ahead.”
“No. I’d rather clear up whatever has made you distrust me so much.”
Kendall shrugged. Even though he didn’t have a shred of proof, he pretended he did. “We know you hacked into our system three weeks ago before visiting our Western park. And also that you accessed it again while you were staying downstairs here a week ago.” Time to put his cards on the table and let the chips fall where they may.
“So I’ll ask again, did someone hire you to hack us or did you do it for yourself?”
Whatever Jocelyn had been expecting, having Kendall announce all of her guilt-ridden secrets out loud wasn’t it. Even Logan looked shocked by Kendall’s accusations, but he remained silent. His dour focus went to her once more.
Truthfully, she’d planned on admitting everything. She’d just wanted to wait until after the round-two sexual pleasures before confession time ensued.
She felt her face heat up when she answered, “No one hired me to hack your system. But you’re right. I did do it for myself. And honestly, I’m glad it’s out in the open. I’d planned on telling you all about it sometime during this visit anyway. Just not up front.”
“Why not?”
She allowed a small smile to shape her lips. “Didn’t want to put a damper on the sexual possibilities.”
Kendall and Logan looked at each other for like the fifth or sixth time as if sharing a telepathic connection, and had been since the moment she arrived. “Why are you two looking at each other? I swear I didn’t do anything malicious to your computer. I wanted to confess, or maybe explain is a better word, exactly why I accessed your computer. But I’m uncertain what the real problem is, so let me in on the heated looks.”
Logan took a step in her direction. “We’re trying to discover, without asking point-blank, if you only had sex with us so you could have easier access to our computer files after failing to locate what you hacked in to find the first time three weeks ago, before meeting us. And additionally that if learning we’re rich was another factor in your prompt return to us for further sexual pleasure?”
The not-so-subtle anger in his tone had her taking a step in retreat. When she processed the meaning of his words, she felt tears well up in her eyes. This meeting was nowhere near what she’d expected. They
were
truly angry over what she’d perceived as fairly harmless.
Given her profession, she shouldn’t have been so blasé about hacking into their computer, but she knew her intentions were innocuous and they didn’t. Plus, she’d never expected anyone would ever even find out she’d been looking around in there. The complexity of their security system had been very unexpected. Which didn’t make what she’d done right, but she hoped they’d at least understand and give her a chance to explain.
Would her need to locate her sister be a good enough reason for what she’d done? A glance into their surly expressions didn’t help. Maybe no reason would be good enough. Just like her father and his adamant
my way or the highway
attitude regarding pretty much everything she did. It was a bit startling to discover these men might not be as sympathetic as she’d originally thought.
Bottom line, what she’d done was inexcusable. Angry at herself for her own stupid actions, Jocelyn’s eyes filled with irate tears, and she hiccupped, trying to catch her breath to steady her volatile emotions. Should she try to explain or just leave and never come back?
“Why are you crying?” Kendall asked.
Jocelyn took a deep breath, planning to say nothing and simply leave.
She started talking before realizing she intended to speak. “Because I did something I shouldn’t have. However, I never expected anyone to find out. And I’m not even sure how
you
ever discovered I’d hacked your system to look around in the first place.
“I thought I got away clean. I mean…that’s what I do. Up to now, I’ve always been pretty good at it. But because of the way you found out about what I’ve done, nothing I say now will be good enough to convince you that I wasn’t doing nefarious things to your security.
“And I know it’s not an excuse. I really do. There is not really
any
good excuse, but I swear to you that I had what I considered a really good reason to hack in and take a quick look. Additionally, I would never use sex as a means to get into your system. You probably don’t believe that either, but it’s true.
“Only now that you’re angry, you’ll never believe any explanation that I give or trust me ever again, and I’m pretty sure round-two sex is off the table…and…and I find that…really sad.” She hung her head and let tears fall from her closed eyes to the floor below. She should suck it up and head for the door.
“Something just occurred to me. Something I’d completely forgotten,” Kendall said quietly.
Jocelyn sniffed. “What?”
“I’ve really missed your rambling explanations.”
Her head popped up, and she opened her eyes to find both of them smiling at her.
Kendall moved forward and took her into his arms. Jocelyn practically melted into his frame, so grateful that he wasn’t too angry that he would dismiss her completely, like she expected.
“I’m really sorry. And I promise I didn’t do anything bad or damaging to your system. Not at all,” she added, and then sobbed uncontrollably with relief. She hadn’t realized how important it was to have them forgive her until this minute.
Kendall squeezed her tight, and seconds later, Logan pressed against her back and leaned his face on her shoulder, each of them comforting her. But she didn’t deserve it. She’d crossed the line when she’d hacked their system the first time. Then she’d added insult to injury by sneaking in to take a look the second time.
She didn’t know what she’d have to do to make amends to these men, but she would. As long as they gave her a chance to redeem herself.
“Does this mean you’re willing to forgive me?” she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. The phone in her pocket suddenly chimed an unexpected sound, and she startled. “No. No. No.” That signal meant someone had tracked her private account and found a very secret number. She hadn’t ever expected anyone to call her from this number.
Kendall and Logan had stepped from her the moment the phone rang. She retrieved her cell and answered the completely unanticipated call.
“Who is this?” she asked angrily.
“Ms. Demarco? My name is Clayton Forrester. Do you know who I am?”
Her gaze went immediately to Kendall. She stared a hole in him. His eyes narrowed in return. “I know
of
you, however, I don’t believe we’ve ever met.” She kept her stare on Kendall. He returned the intense look.
“That is correct.”
“How did you get this number?” she asked, although if this were truly Clayton Forrester, she knew
exactly
how he got it. He had similar skills to hers. A rush of information suddenly filled her brain. Kendall’s last name was Forrester, but she’d never consciously connected it to the legendary Clayton Forrester until this moment. Were they brothers? Cousins? Definitely related somehow.
“I think you know. Just as I know you hacked into a certain secure perimeter in Montana a while back.”
“And how do you know
that
?” Her gaze on Kendall never wavered. His return stare wasn’t angry any longer, but definitely intrigued by her phone conversation.
“I traced the location of your cell phone. I know where you are, Ms. Demarco.”
“That’s not possible.” Her line was untraceable. Unless he possessed better equipment than she had.
“Sure it is. As we speak, you’re ensconced within the perimeter of the very private Montana compound you hacked three weeks ago, aren’t you?”
Fuck
. He
did
have better equipment. She was caught.
“What do you want?”
“I get the impression—although I have no proof beyond my gut—that your reasons for both the uncharacteristic break-in and the current visit to Montana are entirely different in purpose. However, they are also purely personal and not malicious in nature. Would you say that’s a fair assessment?”
Jocelyn warred with herself for several seconds on whether to answer or not. “Yes. That is correct. And now I need to know your intent. For both reasons.”
“Are you with my brother right now?”
“Yes.”
His darkly amused tone suddenly asked, “Did I interrupt anything?”
Brows crinkling in disbelief of his personal question, she answered honestly. “Not yet.”