Page 20 of Disorderly

Not that my age and inexperience were the only things the partners worried about. I couldn’t count on two hands the number of times I’d been reminded about keeping my nose clean, of the need to present a wholesome, conservative, family values front. Mr. Greyson even told me that “my antics in Winnipeg with my social life wouldn’t be tolerated in a conservative, small, prairie town”. Not that they needed to fear me embarrassing them that way. Since the summer, the idea of random hook-ups, and spending my free time trying to sleep with as many women as possible seemed old and tiresome.

After a couple of pops and cracks, I returned to the open file on my computer with a grin. I had thirty minutes left before Katy would be walking through the front doors. The highlight of my day.

It had become our routine over the past few weeks. After cheerleading practise was over each day, she walked the few blocks from the school to my office and hung out with me, doing little tasks or her homework until I was ready to leave. It gave her routine, something she could control. And it gave her an excuse to have a little freedom from her mom when her mom wasn’t at work.

Not that her mom was bad or anything. Instead, Mrs. Nelson—like all good moms probably—went a little overboard on the overprotectiveness since the incident at the waterpark. She didn’t want Katy out of her sight when she wasn’t working and it was driving Katy nuts, making her feel like she’d lost all control of her life. Her mother had even suggested that Katy go to the hospital after school on days that her mom worked the day shift so that Katy wouldn’t be alone at home. Something Katy really hadn’t wanted. So this plan became the compromise, giving Katy some freedom while her mother knew she wasn’t alone at the house.

And I reaped the benefits… for now… extra time with Katy without Peter—or Jason—around.

The soft chime of the doorbell rang, letting me know that someone entered the office. Another glance, this time at the watch on my wrist, proved that I hadn’t entered a time warp. I still had half an hour before Katy arrived which meant the newcomers were either existing clients or potential clients. Either way, I’d have to deal with them since Angela was back in Winnipeg this week, attending some lectures as she worked on her MBA remotely.

Two deep, male voices responded to Michelle, our new Office Assistant, after she greeted them. They weren’t voices I recognized, but then, unless they were clients I was already familiar with or were friends of Jason and Peter’s, chances are I didn’t know them. Without any background music playing in the office, I heard the clip of her footsteps on the wooden floor as she walked towards my office. “Excuse me, Mr. Sutherland, do you have a minute for Mr. Weston and Mr. Windell? They’d like to talk to you about the services we offer.”

I was right. I didn’t know them. But I knew of them. And that’s all that mattered. I pushed my chair back and stood, brushing my hands down my dress pants to loosen any creases. These men owned WestWind Ranch, a prominent horse rearing and training facility along with a large cattle ranch not too far from town. Both were former rodeo champions back in the day and two of their sons were at the top of the rankings for their age and experience. In other words, if I could land them as clients, it would prove to the naysayers within the company that I was not only the best person for the job, but that having an office in Voyageur Bay was great for the company.

“Of course, I have time for them.” And even if I didn’t, I would have made time for them.

I followed Michelle out to the reception area where two tanned men stood, wearing dusty jeans, cowboy boots, and the all-important flannel shirt with the arms rolled up to their elbows. The only things missing were the cowboy hats and the giant belt buckles; both which I knew they owned because they wore them during the long weekend rodeo.

After exchanging pleasantries and names, I ushed them back to my office and into the two nicely padded chairs on the other side of my desk. Katy had chosen those chairs after sitting in the original ones that had been sent by the Winnipeg office. She’d complained about how hard the originals were, saying they’d make people avoid coming into the office since they’d been dealing with boring finances and horrible seats. I’d taken her word for it and asked her to pick out some replacement ones. They’d arrived earlier in the week and every person who sat in them relaxed and became more engaging, proving her point.

“We’ve done some checking and discovered that you provide accounting services for ProudBi Construction.” I nodded at John Weston, wondering, but not surprised with this line of questioning. Voyageur Bay was situated in the heart of conservative country even if the town wasn’t. Jason had experienced mixed reactions when he came out during high school and there were still many in the area who weren’t as receptive to those who didn’t practice atraditionalrelationship. But, for the most part, people in town had become more accepting. Gunnar, who was making the conference table, was in a polyandry-type relationship where he and his two best friends all shared the same girlfriend. And they weren’t the only ones. If the media reports were correct, two of their sons—the rodeo stars—were sharing a girlfriend.

“We’ve been using a firm in Winnipeg for the last five years or so, but we aren’t seeing them eye-to-eye on some of their opinions.” I nodded again.

“What John’s trying to say nicely is that they’ve been making veiled remarks about our sons and what the media is saying about them. Things we don’t agree with.” Jason cracked his knuckles as he stared me straight in the eye. “Would you or your company have an issue working with clients who are LGBTQ or in non-traditional relationships?”

I wished I could give them the positive answer they were looking for, but I wasn’t sure how my company would react. For the most part, they were all about the money. They wouldn’t care if their client was an elephant so long as the money kept coming in, but if it ever faltered, if others were planning on leaving them because they found out about the elephant, then they’d willingly hand the elephant out to dry. Of that, I had no doubt.

I pressed my fingertips together as I rested my elbows on the desk. “You’re correct in that I am the account holder for Proud Bi Construction. I’m a good friend of Jason’s and was doing his books and accounting while I was still in training, so I brought them in when I was hired. I do have some other accounts for companies owned by people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ and I’m not the only one. But money talks.”

“And you?” John pushed. “Would you drop clients due to their relationships or would you be willing to walk away if they were to go with you?”

The question surprised me. I’d never had one of my clients ask that before. But it was something I’d been thinking about. A dream of mine had always been to own my own company so having this chance to run an office was a great trial. A chance I didn’t want to screw up and lose. Still, the idea of owning a company, one where my clients, all clients, felt welcome intrigued me. And scared the shit out of me.

I’d told myself that I took the job with the company because I needed experience—true—but it wasn’t the only reason. I wanted the stability or what stability there could be in the employment market instead of the unstable ground that would have come with owning a company. I needed control and being employed, strangely enough, gave me that.

Still… it was an idea. And I told them so.

“Then consider us your new clients.” John and then Jason shook my hand. “We’ll contact our other accountant and get them to send everything over. Once you’ve got it all, we can set up a meeting to go through everything.”

As I led them back to the reception area, the front door opened, sounding the chime, drawing our attention.

“Jarrod, you wouldn’t believe wha—” Katy came to a sudden halt, mouth open as her cheeks turned a pretty pink. “I’m, uh, sorry. I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”

I felt Jason and John’s gaze exam me before returning to Katy. The urge to reach out, to pull her to my side, to protect her had me clenching my fists. Considering our previous topic of conversation, I hoped they wouldn’t anything of our familiarity with each other. Not that there was anything going on between us even if I dreamed about the possibility. Even so, if there was, it would be perfectly legal. Maybe not conventional, especially when you added the physical relationship between me and the guys, but everything would be acceptable according to the law.

“It’s quite okay, we were just finishing anyway.” John cocked his head a little. “You’re Katy. The new cheerleader, correct?”

Katy’s gaze darted to me. I saw the tremor in her hands which broke my heart. Speaking to men she didn’t know shouldn’t have made her so fearful. If I could ever find those two guys who did this to her, I’d make them wish they’d never laid eyes on her.

Before she could say anything, John pulled me around his body until I stood between him and Katy. I didn’t know how John knew it was what she needed, but I was grateful.

The tremor in her hands stopped as she brushed her arm against mine. And the smile on her face firmed. “Yes, I am.”

“You’ve been a fabulous addition to the squad. And my daughter, Lily, is happy you joined.” John turned to Jason. “We should go. Our wives will kill us if we’re late for supper.”

“Gosh, yes. Sherry’s been on a rampage with her pregnancy mood swings.” My eyebrows rose at that bit of news. I hadn’t heard that Jason’s wife was pregnant. He turned to look at me. “We’re expecting twins.”

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