Mac needed to set this lady straight and allay her fears. “Give me the phone, Kendall.”
“Who’s that I can hear? Who’s there with you, Kendall? Sweet Jesus, please tell me it’s not the cops.”
Eager to say his piece, Mac took the phone from Kendall. “Ashley, it’s good to hear that you’re okay, and just to put your mind at ease, I’m not the police.”
“Then who are you?”
“I’m Mac Buchanan, Kendall’s boss. The guy she stole a million bucks from to save your ass.”
“Oh, no. Please, Mr. Buchanan, please listen to me. Kendall stole that money for all the right reasons. She didn’t steal it for herself. Please don’t tell the cops. Or if you do, tell them it was all my fault. I’ll willingly go to jail if I need to.”
Mac laughed, and realizing he had an opportunity to do some good in this fucked-up world, decided to put her mind at ease. “Ashley, you’ve been to hell and back, and to keep you alive so has Kendall. I give you my word that no one’s going to prison, apart from that degenerate Karl Graves.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Buchanan. You don’t know how much your kindness means to me. I can rest easy now, knowing that Kendall isn’t going to suffer because of me.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“Thank you once again, sir. Would it be possible for me to speak to Kendall again please?”
“Sure thing, honey. Consider it done, and good luck with the rest of your life.”
Kendall smiled at him. A genuine happy smile, one that let him know that everything was right with the world again. The constant worry that had drained the blood from her beautiful face had now vanished, leaving a healthy glow in its place. He handed her the cell phone. “Here, Ashley wants to speak to you again.”
“Kendall?”
“Yes?”
“I have to go now. The doctor has just arrived.”
“Okay.”
“Just wanted to let you know that your boss is one hell of a guy.”
Kendall looked deep into his eyes. “Tell me about it. Mac’s one in a million.”
“Mac, huh? First name terms with the boss?”
“You bet. Love you. Talk to you soon, Ash.”
“You, too, baby girl.”
As she closed the connection, Mac took a moment to reflect. Kendall’s revelations had certainly changed the dynamic of their relationship. Initially, it had been about payback. She’d stolen a million bucks from him, and he’d wanted it back, in one form or another. She’d reluctantly agreed to sex as payment. However, that was before he knew the whole story.
The truth was, Kendall hadn’t stolen the money for herself at all. She just wasn’t wired up that way. No. She’d stolen it to help a person she loved dearly, Ashley, and to his way of thinking that was an extremely unselfish act.
Unselfish?—that wasn’t a word he could use to describe himself, because he’d selfishly used Kendall’s beautiful body for his own sexual gratification. Now he knew everything, he felt like a guilty shit, and so he should. Well, he couldn’t change the past, but he sure as hell could change the future.
He held her perfect face in his hands and angled it toward him. The tears had finally stopped. “Kendall, honey, listen to me.”
“I’m listening, Mac.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“The agreement was sex, any time and any place of my choosing for ten days. After that your debt would be paid in full.”
“I know. How could I forget?”
“Well, as I make the rules, I can break them or change them at will. In fact, I can do whatever I fucking well please.”
“What are you saying, Mac?”
“Oh, honey, do I really have to spell it out to you?” The way she stared at him, he figured he did. “Kendall, don’t you get it? I’m falling in love with you, so I’m releasing you from the contract. From this moment on your debt is paid in full. You owe me nothing. I’m setting you free.”
Chapter Ten
“You’re falling in love with me?”
“Yes, very much so.”
“Enough to set me free?”
“Yes.”
In total surprise, Kendall put a hand to her mouth. Mac’s revelation had come completely out of the blue, hitting her like a speeding freight train. When she finally spoke, her feeble output consisted of a single barely whispered word. “Only…”
“Only what, honey? You should be happy that I’m setting you free.”
“Only…”
He laughed. “You’re an articulate, intelligent woman. How come you’re finding it so hard to string a sentence together?”