Page 82 of Unguarded

“Kacie is done working here. Do you know anyone else who can take her place until you’re feeling better?”

Rosie’s jaw slacks open. “I’m sure we can find someone. I’ll talk to Dolly. What did she do?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m too pissed the fuck off right now to explain it. I’m going to talk to her. Would you go to check in on Monroe soon? And don’t let anyone else around the bunkhouse except Duke. Can you ask him to keep an eye on her while I’m gone?”

Rosie nods, her eyes wide with concern. “Sure. I’ll take her some lunch.”

“Thanks.” I turn and walk out, heading to my beat-up white Ford F-150 King Ranch parked in the driveway.

Once I’m inside, I accelerate quickly, the dust behind my wheels filling the Texas sky.

I look over at the passenger seat, trying to picture Monroe in it. I can’t do it. I can’t see her hopping in my truck to go for a late-night drive down a back road. I can’t picture her dressed down, scooting over to place her hand on my thigh and lean her blonde head on my shoulder.

My grip tightens on the steering wheel. The picture of us under the shower is my fault. If I hadn’t lost control, it wouldn’t have happened. My only fucking job is to protect her, and I’m failing.

I slam my hand down on the steering wheel. “Fuck.”

I put my own selfish desires over her safety, endangering her reputation and exposing her. Not only that, but my ex-situationship is the one responsible for the photo, which puts the blame on my shoulders. My chest tightens when Iremember the look of mortification and horror on Monroe’s face.

All I could think about was touching her, feeling her trembling around me, seeing what her face looked like when she came on my fingers. I wanted to hear her scream. I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything. I wanted to experience her moaning my name in my ear. It’s all I think about when I’m in bed at night, alone.

Against my will, my dick starts to harden again at the memory of her taste on my tongue. My boot presses down on the accelerator, increasing my speed.

My phone starts to ring. I look down to see my brother Holden’s name on it. I press the button on the side to send him to voicemail. With one hand on the wheel, I do a quick google search for Monroe Blue. I grit my teeth when the photo of us under the shower fills the screen. The memory of our first time is now forever going to be tainted by the fact that the entire world got to witness it.

A few minutes later, I pull up to Kacie’s house. Her red Nissan car is in the driveway. I park behind it, turning off the ignition and opening the truck door before slamming it closed as I stalk up to the front of the little house her grandmother left her.

I bang my fist on the doorframe so hard that it rattles the old window next to it. A minute later, the door swings open to reveal Kacie. She’s dressed in a skimpy black nightgown that borders on lingerie. She chews her gum obnoxiously, a smirk on her lips. I never realized how annoying the way she smacks it was until now.

“Can I help you?” She leans her hip against the frame of the door.

I hold up the phone, the picture filling the screen. “I didn’t know you got into photography.” My words have a bite to them.

She doesn’t even look at the picture, eyes staying focused on mine.

She laughs, shaking her head side to side and turning around to walk into the house. “Come on in. Let’s have a chat.”

Against my better judgment, I follow her into the house. It’s always been a mess, and today is no different. Shoes are piled by the door. A litter box is in the corner of the living room, adding a stench to the unidentifiable smells filling the house. Kacie has three cats, making it impossible to keep hair off the furniture, carpet, and her clothes. She sits down at the painted wooden table, crossing her legs as she uses a lighter to light the end of her cigarette.

She gestures to the fridge. “Help yourself to a beer.”

I plant my feet, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m not staying, Kacie. Why the fuck would you share that photo? What could you possibly have to gain?”

She smiles, her pretty heart-shaped face looking uglier than I’ve ever thought before. “Ten thousand dollars.”

My breathing grows shallow. I stare at her face, searching for any hint of a lie. She inhales the cigarette again. Last time I saw her, she had quit.

“I know. I thought it might be a scam at first, but I thoughtwhat the hell, ya know? I saw the opportunity, and I took it.”

“Who’d you sell it to?” I snap.

She shrugs. “Someone found me on Facebook. They must have seen some old photos of us because they knew we had a history.”

I hold up a hand. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You mean, you were searching for an opportunity to take that photo because someone hadpaid youto stalk Monroe and get, what exactly?”

She jumps up, shoving her finger in my face. “Some of us don’t have family wealth, okay?! She’s a celebrity. I’m sure people take pictures like that of her all the time. And you’re playing with fire. You think Monroe Blue is going to dateyou?Please, be real with yourself right now!”

I grab her shoulders, leaning down until my face is inches from hers. The smell of smoke fills my nostrils.

---