Shock was evident in their eyes. Kendall asked, “What are you going to do with it?”
They hadn’t tendered an official proposal to her yet, but Maya knew exactly what she wanted to do with at least a part of it. Invest it in a promising Texas cattle ranch known as the JWB.
* * * *
Maya cuddled up to Kendall as they drove to San Marcos the second week in June to finalize the sale of her house. Since it was just the two of them for the trip, they were riding in her sporty Cadillac. Kendall put his arm around her so she could scoot even closer to him. It was early morning, and they had a long drive ahead of them.
Kendall, Boone, and Richard had been incredibly patient regarding her incapacitated status, cooking meals, doing all the laundry and housework, and helping her with the physical therapy she’d recently started for her left arm and shoulder. The wounds had healed, and the nightmares that had plagued her for a few weeks were also beginning to diminish. Frank Reeves was in the custody of the State of Texas and likely to remain there a long time. He was now facing prison time not only for Maya’s attempted murder, but for Morgan’s murder, as well. New evidence incriminating him had been uncovered that linked him to Morgan’s death.
During her recuperation, her men had backed off from making love to her as often as she might’ve liked. She’d practically had to beg the first time, after reminding them her doctor had released her from any restriction regarding intercourse. Her only limitation had been the bulky cast on her arm which had been removed earlier in the week.
The closing on the house went without a hitch, and they had the rest of the hot June afternoon and evening to look forward to. They had made reservations at a quaint little bed-and-breakfast on the outskirts of San Marcos, which was owned by a friend of Maya’s.
After Charlotte had them situated in their little cottage, she showed them the room’s features. It was a well-known fact among the local BDSM and kink community that The Lasso Inn catered discreetly to an unconventional clientele.
With a naughty twinkle in his eyes, Kendall pointed to a fern-bedecked plant stand located by itself in the corner of the room. “Is that what I think it is?”
Maya giggled and nodded. “Yes. Charlotte gave Morgan and me one just like it for a Christmas present several years ago. Her husband builds them himself.”
“Yes,” Charlotte said in her genteel, Southern accent. “Zane has made quite a niche for himself online in the kinky, convertible furniture business.”
The innocuous-looking plant stand was in actuality a convertible St. Andrew’s Cross, completely ready to use with eyebolts for securing a naughty sub by their wrists and ankles.
Charlotte also demonstrated a sliding panel on the side of the bedroom armoire that hid an assortment of impact play toys, such as floggers, paddles, whips, and canes. Maya stifled a snicker at the eager gleam in Kendall’s eyes.
“I put something special inside for y’all,” Charlotte said, opening one of the doors indicating a gaily wrapped present inside. “Think of it as an early engagement gift, but don’t open it until later tonight. The girls still want to take the two of you to supper. If you open it we may not see you for the rest of your stay.” The merriment in Charlotte’s blue eyes and the pink in her cheeks made Maya wonder what was in the gift.
Closing the cabinet, her lovely, blonde friend led them out the French doors and showed them their private patio. “There’s a wedding reception being held later tonight. Unfortunately,” she added gesturing to the pavilion roof on the other side of the cedar fence, which gave them complete privacy, “the pavilion backs up to your cottage. I hope it won’t be too much of an inconvenience.”
Maya shook her head and started to reassure Charlotte, and then noticed the devilish twinkle in her eyes. “You kinky little minx!”
Charlotte shrugged and giggled. “I just thought you’d want to know, that’s all. Nobody will be able to see onto your patio. And with the band playing they probably couldn’t hear either.”
Maya replied, “That’s good to know.” Kendall never said a word, but Maya noted the mischievous grin on his face.
When Maya had let the rest of her friends know she was back in town overnight, Sheryl, Trina, Linna, and Charlotte all insisted on taking them to supper once more.
Linna, one of the realtors Morgan had worked with, quizzed Kendall about Divine, asking him what the real estate market was like and if decent housing was easily available. Sheryl was less bashful this time and wanted to know whether the citizens of Divine gave Maya a hard time for being in a polyamorous relationship.