Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7), Kaylie Hunter [guided reading books TXT] 📗

“Good morning, everyone. How was your night?” Tweedle asked as she breezed through the doorway and set her purse on the counter.

We all mumbled various replies.

“Okay, then. I’ll just get started on breakfast. I promised Ryan I’d go on the scavenger hunt later. I’m so excited. I just hope I don’t do anything embarrassing.”

“Why do you care?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” Tweedle asked.

“Why do you care what anyone else thinks?”

“They’re all so impressive, of course. I don’t want to embarrass Ryan in front of his friends.”

“Ryan doesn’t keep those type of friends,” Wild Card said. “He’d never hang out with anyone who would judge you for being you.”

Maggie walked through the garage door, wearing the same clothes as the night before.

I shook my head. “Talk about no judgment,” I said, grinning.

She winked at me as she filled a cup of coffee.

“Tyler, can you call Ryan and invite him over for morning coffee?” I asked. “There’s no reason he can’t have breakfast with his wife for at least one morning.”

Tyler nodded, pulling his phone and sending a text.

“And Tyler?”

He looked up at me.

“I expect you to assign someone else to be in charge for a few hours while you sleep. You look like hell.”

Tyler smirked before walking out.

“I just don’t get it,” Donovan said, shaking his head. “You run your team ragged, working all hours of the day and night, and they still won’t quit and come work for me.”

“Maybe someday I’ll tell you my secret,” I whispered to Donovan.

“Enough about them,” Maggie said, sitting on the other side of me. “You haven’t asked me about my night yet.”

“Based on your walk of shame, I figured your night ended in bed with Billy.”

“I’m never ashamed,” Maggie said, grinning. “However, you are also way off base. I thought it would be more authentic if I slept in Hobbs’ apartment, but Billy-boy freaked out.”

Wild Card and Donovan looked at Maggie with puzzled expressions.

“Freaked out how?” I asked.

“He handed me clothes to sleep in—and left. He never came back.”

I turned to Tech. “Can you pull the footage and see where he went?”

“I thought we were spying on Daphne, not my guards?” Donovan asked.

“Are you telling me you don’t want to know?”

“Doesn’t matter what Donovan wants,” Lisa said, standing and moving behind Tech. “I want to know. I can’t imagine any man turning down—” she waved a hand toward Maggie’s body, “—all that.”

“Why, thank you, Lisa,” Maggie said.

“You’re welcome, but if you ever make a move on my husband—”

“Lisa!” I snapped. “A little less bat-shit crazy this morning, please. It’s too early.”

Lisa huffed but her attention moved to the computer monitor. “Well, that’s weird.”

“What’s weird?” Ryan asked as he entered through the garage door.

I walked around the table to join everyone else looking over Tech’s screen.

“Why is Hobbs sleeping in the hallway outside his apartment?” Ryan asked, looking at the video. “And why do we care?”

I started laughing when I saw the apartment number. “That’s not his apartment. It’s Daphne’s. I’ll be damned. Billy’s her stalker.”

“Excuse me?” Donovan asked.

My mind raced to put the pieces together. “When Maggie kissed Billy yesterday, no one could figure out why a man like him was so clueless. What if he reacted like that, though, because he didn’t want Daphne to see him kissing another woman?”

“That’s a stretch,” Wild Card said. “I’m not saying he doesn’t have feelings for her, because it happens, but that doesn’t make him a stalker.”

Tech looked over his shoulder at me.

I nodded. “You know the drill.” I moved back to my chair.

Tech started typing, pulling data.

“Shit,” Donovan said, rubbing his forehead. “Daphne started as a security job for a red-carpet event. She hired us a few times for special gigs—before she had a stalker.”

I couldn’t stop grinning. “The notes that accompanied the flower deliveries were also non-threatening. More like X-rated love letters from someone with no social skills.”

“Kelsey’s right again,” Tech said, shaking his head. “I’ve identified three of the gifts on Billy’s personal credit card. He’s our guy. He didn’t even try to hide the expenses.”

Wild Card and Ryan started laughing.

“This isn’t funny!” Donovan yelled.

“Donovan,” Hattie said, coming down the main stairs. “Inside voice, please.”

Wild Card hurried over, offering Hattie his arm. Lisa went to the kitchen to get her a cup of coffee.

“Sorry, Hattie,” Donovan said as he got up and walked toward the garage, grabbing my SUV keys on his way out.

“Why is Donovan upset?” Hattie asked as she sat in the end chair.

“He just found out one of his bodyguards is a stalker. He’s having a bad morning,” I said, glancing up at the clock. “It’s not even six, yet.”

“He’ll get over it,” Lisa said, placing a cup of coffee on the table by Hattie. Lisa rested her hand on top of Hattie’s. “I’m glad to see you’re doing better.”

“Me too, dear,” Hattie said. “I feel better than I have in weeks.”

“Just take it easy,” I said, pointing at Hattie. “If I hear you’re overdoing it, there’ll be hell to pay.”

“Like that time when you ran in a race after being exposed to chloroform?” Hattie asked, grinning over her coffee cup.

“That’s different,” I said. “Everyone knows I’m an idiot.”

Tech looked up from his computer at me. “Three thousand texts were just sent to the trucking company and the textile mill. Looks like everything’s going according to plan.”

“Was the package delivered for Miguel?” I asked.

“Last night,” Tech said, nodding. “If he heads to the airport, he’ll find it sitting on his private jet in his favorite leather seat.”

“What’s the package?” Maggie asked.

“A peace lily,” I answered, grinning. “The card has my burner phone number and