Page 22 of Kissing Kayley
“No offense intended, but Secret Service already checked that out and requires a ground landing in the event that’s necessary, especially if winds are high. Nothing personal, but it’s a hard no from them because it doesn’t meet their risk mitigation criteria.”
“No one’s crashed through the roof yet but suit yourself.” Derek slowly rocked back in his chair. “I suppose I could tell the staff to spread word we might have an aerial survey conducted, so no one’s surprised by a helicopter.”
“Like I said, I sincerely doubt that will even be necessary. Frankly, if any situation develops that impacts your daily ops it would mean an event on the scale of the Yellowstone caldera exploding, or some crazy idiot in North Korea lobbing nukes. In that case, we’re all equally fucked and I’m reasonably certain confidentiality and normal daily ops will be your absolute last concerns.”
Derek snorted. “Very true.” He sucked his teeth. “If you have to deploy a helicopter, I want immediate notification before it flies in.”
“You’ll probably know before I will,” Leo said, “because my people will coordinate with your security and have the authority to do that without me clearing it first.”
Derek glanced at Vic and nodded. “Okay, that’s reasonable.”
“Anyway,” Leo continued, “consider this a dry-run for when my husband’s out of office and the heat’s off enough we can book our own stay. I’ve heard nothing but glowing reviews from friends.”
“If this seamlessly plays out the way I’m sure we all hope it will,” Derek said, “then I’ll welcome you two as guests.”
“Three, but thanks.”
Derek’s eyebrow arched only slightly, as if hearing about a throuple was business as usual for him. “Sorry. Three, then.”
“Is there anything else you need from me right now?” Leo asked.
Derek seemed to weigh his options, looking first to Vic, then me. “I’ll take this chance,” Derek eventually said. “But if at any time I think it’s negatively impacting the Ranch I’ll send them away.”
“That’s fair,” Leo said. “And let me add their tab is on me. Have your manager call me at this number using this burner phone and I’ll give them my credit card deets. Happy birthday, sis.”
I wearily laughed. “Buying me a kinky vacation wasn’t on my bingo card, but thanks, bro.”
Vic ended the call and pocketed the phone while Derek sat studying Vic for a long moment. “Cedro is on an extremely short list of people I’m willing to stick my neck out for like this because of the trust I have in him. But I mean it—if someone on my staff brings you your car keys when you haven’t asked for them, you immediately get in your vehicle and leave with no questions asked, and all your belongings will be moved to Cedro’s. Understood?”
Vic nodded. “Understood and agreed.”
Derek looked at me. “Understood and agreed,” I said.
My stomach decided at that point to let out a long and embarrassing growl in the quiet office that made my face heat and made Vic and Derek laugh. It felt like the tension immediately drained from the three of us.
“How do you feel about macaroni and cheese?” Derek asked me.
“I love it.”
“Good.” He pushed away from the desk and stood. “I’ll take you over to meet Erika and we’ll get you squared away. Because of how late it is, I’ll have her set an appointment for tomorrow for you to come see me so we can finish our usual questionnairesand handle the new-guest business. That way, you can sleep late.”
My gaze locked with Vic’s. “That sounds great to me, thanks.”
Although I hoped we’d be doing way more than just sleeping late tomorrow morning.
CHAPTER 10
Kayley
Derek handed us off to Erika before bidding us good-night. The check-in process was quick, easy, and Vic called Leo on the burner and passed it to Erika to complete the payment process.
“Can I have packages mailed here?” Vic asked her.
“Depends on what’s in it,” she said.
He glanced at me. “Just a small piece of jewelry.”
From the way Erika’s face lit up, I knew she immediately misinterpreted what I suspected was Vic requesting a replacement tracker fob for me.
