Cold Snap, page 21
She stepped into the kitchen. The appreciation in Grady’s eyes when he saw her made her glow inside. He held her coat as she slipped into it, the touch of his fingers against the bare skin of her arms making her shiver.
“You look amazing.” His warm breath brushed her neck.
“Thank you.” Considering she’d taken fifteen minutes to get ready, she felt pretty damn amazing. She turned to face him. “So do you.”
He wore a pressed pale blue shirt that brought out the blue of his eyes, a navy tie, beige pants, and shoes polished to a high sheen.
Her breath caught at the interest she saw in his gaze. Then her stomach growled, breaking the sudden tension. She pressed her hand there. “I haven’t had anything to eat since before noon. I fed the dog all my cookies.”
“I am sure that dog appreciated them as much, if not more, than you would have.”
“True. Have you decided what you’re going to call him yet?”
His expression darkened. “Not yet.”
“That animal is so ready for a good home.”
“He’d love anyone who fed him cookies.” Grady indicated she walk ahead of him through the house and down the front steps to the Jeep. His touch burned her through all the layers of clothing when he helped her climb inside.
He got in, started the engine. Hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want him…” There was a subtle note of yearning in his voice.
“Then take him. Be his person.”
His eyes were worried. “I’m away a lot.”
“Surely there must be someone amongst your friends who can watch him when you are away?”
He frowned at her, then his expression cleared. “There’s someone who might. I’ll have to ask her.”
The her made Brynn trip. Did Grady have someone waiting for him back in Quantico?
She didn’t know. So, she made herself ask. She wasn’t getting involved with anyone she couldn’t trust, not even on a casual level. “A girlfriend?”
His eyes widened in surprise then grew both amused and pained. “No. The widow of a teammate.”
The woman he’d told her about earlier. “I’m really sorry for your loss.” The words felt hollow but what else could she say?
“Me, too.” He adjusted the temperature, and a little heat finally came through the vents.
It was still cold though, and she was touched when Grady reached into the back seat, grabbed a blanket, and handed it to her.
“Thanks.” She spread it over her lap and legs.
“Grace has spoken about getting a dog in the past, but I know she has her hands full with her kids right now. But if the dog can be trusted with the children and is well behaved, I’m sure she’d be cool with a part-time arrangement. I can hire a dog-walker to exercise him when I am away on assignment.”
“I’m sure he’ll be a great family dog.” A lump formed at the fact she wouldn’t be taking the dog home with her, but she was at the café six days a week until late into the evening, and in her “spare” time she was running her own business. Her dad might take him during the day, but he’d have his chickens to worry about.
It might do her dad good to have a dog, especially if—
Her mind screeched to a halt. She didn’t want to think about that future in any shape or form.
She’d talk to her dad. A shared puppy might bring them all some joy.
They drove out of town. The roads were icy but the four-wheel drive handled the conditions well, and Grady obviously knew how to drive. The blizzard was forecast to start tomorrow, which was not a fun prospect, especially when her mom had to travel almost daily for treatment. Maybe they’d stay in Bangor a few nights.
Brynn put it all out of her mind. There were only so many things she could worry about at one time, and she was about at her limit.
“Where are we going?”
“Clubbing.”
“Wut?”
“Golf clubbing.”
“Ha. Funny.” To capture the tourist market, the local golf club allowed non-members to dine there, especially during the low season. Maine in January was as low as it got. The flags were out of the holes and the greens covered in protective sheets beneath a thick layer of snow.
They arrived at the club house, which had a grand-looking stone façade. She folded the blanket and was surprised when Grady came around to her door and opened it for her. When he took her fingers, her nerves jumped.
The gleam in his eyes suggested he felt it, too, although neither of them commented. They walked through the doors and left their coats at the coat check. Inside, the lighting was muted and the tables topped in white linen and candlelight.
It was very romantic.
It hit her suddenly that the last time she’d been here she’d been having dinner with her parents and Aiden.
She stopped moving.
Grady rested his hand warmly on her back. “Is this okay?”
She swallowed. “Yes. Sorry. A few unanticipated memories.”
His eyes grew concerned. “We can leave.”
She shook her head. “No. No. I’d like to vanquish some of these ghosts. Today seems like as good a time as any.”
The pretty greeter waited at their table with a patient smile. Brynn forced her feet to move forward.
Grady held out her chair and then took the seat with his back to the wall and a view of the room. The greeter went away to find their waiter.
The town’s former sheriff, Temple York, was sitting across the other side of the room with his wife, daughter-in-law, and a small group of friends. Brynn could feel the speculation in their gazes as they took turns glancing over.
“You come here often with your parents?” Grady asked.
“Yeah, well, I did. They both like their golf, and this place is closer to their house than town so it was a regular stop. But Mom isn’t up to socializing since her diagnosis.”
Grady nodded. “You’re close?”
“Yeah. Very.” Brynn blinked. “My parents are great. We’ve always managed to have fun together as a family. I’m not sure what we’re going to do if anything happens to her.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I remember her well, and she’s a fighter. If anyone can beat it, she can.”
Brynn remembered he’d lost his own mother at a young age and felt selfish for not being considerate of his feelings.
“Do you remember your mom at all?”
He withdrew his hand to pick up the menu. “Barely.”
“That must hurt.”
He looked surprised she’d thought about it.
“What happened to her?”
She watched his Adam’s apple move up and down before he spoke. “Brain aneurysm. It was quick. She didn’t suffer. Thankfully, we were with a sitter at the time, so I didn’t see her…” His mouth firmed. Then he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry. I don’t talk about it much. It was tough. My mom made a happy home for us once my father was out of the picture. Losing her at such a young age shattered my world.” He pressed his lips together. “As a kid, it hurt to see everyone else have loving parents, and I was a little shit about it sometimes. I don’t think of her much nowadays.”
“It must have been awful.”
“It wasn’t easy.” His expression changed. “Don’t get me wrong, Gran was great. Better than great. In her safe deposit box at the bank today, I found a bunch of family photographs that reminded me of some of the good times. She’d left the photos for me, and I was such a dick I hadn’t even thought to look.”
She could tell that the find had moved him. “Thank goodness the robber didn’t steal those.”
“They’re worth more to me than the deeds to the house. Don’t tell Crystal.” His lips tipped up at one side. “Did you have anything taken during the robbery?”
“No. My parents keep their will and property deeds there. All the legal stuff. No gold bars or family heirlooms—more’s the pity.”
The server came over and they ordered.
Steak for Grady. Pasta with lobster sauce for Brynn. She saw the tall cowboy and his girlfriend walk in and loudly ask for a table. Then she noticed Darrell York arrive behind them, still in uniform. It took him a moment to spot them, but when he did, he headed straight for their table.
She swore.
He removed his sheriff’s hat. “Brynn. You look good. You feeling better?”
“I’m feeling better now that animal is locked up, and I don’t mean the dog.”
A frown marred Darrell’s forehead. “Quayle made bail.”
“You let him go?” A shiver of alarm ran down her spine, and she slumped back in her chair. “Well, that’s great.”
“Judge granted bail. Not a lot I can do about it.” He gave her a sly smile. “Maybe you should get your boyfriend to move up here to protect you.”
Was he trying to call her out on her lie? Out her fake relationship with Bowie to Grady? Or was he insulting her ability to look out for herself as a woman? He seemed to have covered all three.
“I was hoping that law enforcement might do their jobs and deal with it. More fool me.”
Darrell flushed angrily. “The law doesn’t always work the way civilians expect.”
“How about fellow professionals? The guy punched her in the face and would have seriously hurt everyone in that office if he’d had the opportunity.” Grady let the words rest for a moment.
“Well, luckily you were there to save the day.” There was no missing the snideness in Darrell’s tone now.
“When do I get my gun back?” Grady asked.
“Why the hurry?” asked Darrell.
“Because you confiscating it is bullshit, and I know my rights.”
“As soon as we get the results back from the lab you can pick it up—assuming the ballistics don’t match.”
“Match what?” Grady picked up his water and took a drink. “I heard the bullet was too fragmented for comparison.”
“Who did you hear that from?” Darrell’s eyes narrowed.
Grady said nothing but a small smile caught the outer edge of his lips.
“You’ll get it back when you get it back.” Darrell rolled his shoulders and raised a hand to his family’s table. “I’m sure a highly trained professional like yourself doesn’t even need a gun.”
“Depends who I’m dealing with.” The derision in Grady’s tone was clearly aimed at the sheriff.
Darrell’s smile grew spiteful. “Well, unfortunately your alibi doesn’t clear you for Milton Bodurek’s murder, so I’ll wait on the official ballistics report. The ME says the body was likely only in the water for a few minutes and was still warm when he examined him. You had time to shoot him if you wanted to.”
Brynn felt nauseous. How close had she been to seeing the murder?
Grady looked unconcerned. “Then I guess I’ll have to get my lawyer involved unless you confiscated every handgun in town?”
The cowboy laughed loudly with his server, drawing Brynn’s attention. The pretty, dark-eyed woman he was with caught her gaze. The direct stare made Brynn shift uncomfortably in her seat.
“You know I can’t comment on an active investigation.” Darrell hitched his pants. “I’ll let you two get back to your meal.”
Grady gave him another lazy smile. “Tell your wife I said ‘Hi.’”
Darrell froze then nodded curtly before walking away with a scowl.
Brynn watched Darrell lean down to kiss Lorraine on the cheek in a rare display of public affection. Lorraine looked surprised, then blushed prettily.
Brynn turned to Grady and asked suspiciously, “Did you date Lorraine before she married Darrell?”
Grady grinned. “Way back. In high school. But his interest in you is not why I asked you out tonight,” he assured her quickly.
“I’m sure it played a part,” she said wryly. “Nothing like competition to whet someone’s appetite, if my memory serves me.”
He snorted. “I guess. But I don’t poach someone’s girl.”
“I’m nobody’s girl,” she said sharply. “I don’t belong to any man and don’t want to. Especially not a married man.”
“And I like independent women.” Grady smiled at her with those wicked eyes fully engaged, and Brynn felt the jolt all the way to her toes.
Her skin felt hot just from one look.
She resisted fanning herself. Their food arrived, and she suddenly realized how ravenous she was. For food. For excitement. For life.
35
Grady hadn’t discovered much at dinner except he liked Brynn Webster. A lot.
She was smart, independent, and spoke her mind. She struck him as straightforward and honest. He admired that about her, too.
But his conscience was seriously starting to trouble him. He wanted to get in deeper with her on a personal level. He wanted her. He really wanted her, but he was living a lie that would hurt her when she learned the truth.
They had almost finished with their main course when the two Russian tourists walked in.
He exchanged a quick look with Ryan, who reached out and grabbed Donnelly’s hand and kissed it, eyeing her like he wanted to drag her across the table and eat her for dessert.
Son of a bitch.
But Grady knew what the other man was doing and, when a few minutes later Ryan and Donnelly asked for their food to be boxed up to go, it looked more like they were ready for a hot and heavy hook-up than an opportunity to do a little covert B&E.
Brynn excused herself to use the restroom.
Grady decided it was time to go say hello to Temple York and his cronies. See if any of them looked like they could be the fugitive he was searching for, or if talking to them shook lose any memories.
He sauntered over, knowing the former sheriff clocked him immediately. The guy had always been a good tactical lawman, even if his ethics had been questionable.
Grady held out his hand and shook that of his former boss. “Temple. Good to see you. Rose.” He nodded to Temple’s wife who smiled at him with narrowed eyes. He scanned the table. He recognized some of the players. Brian Gesbriecht, the mayor, and his wife. Constance Fenneck, a local author, and her husband, who was about the right age and height for Kane.
There were way too many middle-aged white dudes in this damn town.
All three couples had safe deposit boxes at the bank.
“Lorraine.” Grady nodded.
The girl he’d dated in high school had been replaced by a woman with soft cheeks and tired eyes. He knew she had three kids now and seriously doubted Darrell spent much time doing hands-on parenting, too busy chatting up other women around town.
She smiled. “Grady Steel. As I live and breathe. I heard you were in town.”
Grady nodded. “I had a little time on my hands.”
“I heard.” Temple guffawed.
Rose snorted nastily. “We all heard.”
Grady ignored the digs while mentally consigning Agent Ropero to the depths of hell and simultaneously hoping she found some dirt on the couple. “Figured it would take the lab a couple of weeks to process the vehicle to clear my name, so I decided to drive up and talk to Crys about what to do with Gran’s house. I hear the real estate market is hot around here.”
He held Rose’s gaze and watched her expression flicker.
Interesting.
“Market prices are still going up. Don’t let Crys undercut you when she buys you out, although I thought she already had.” Temple leaned forward and picked up his wine glass.
“I’m a silent partner.”
“No one ever accused your sister of being silent.”
The laughter grated across Grady’s nerves. They might not get along, but Crystal was the only blood he had left that counted. He moved his lips into an easy smile that made his face ache.
“Maybe I’ll hold onto the place and move out to your neck of the woods in a few years when I retire. Do what you guys did. Buy a plot of land and build a dream house. You have a builder you can recommend?” He noted the glance Temple and Rose sent one another.
Definitely something hinky going on there.
Did it have something to do with Kane, or was it some tax dodge or insider deal?
Grady only cared about Kane, but he’d be lying if he said he wouldn’t be happy to dish out a little humility to this crowd. People who’d lied and been willing to sacrifice him in favor of one of their own. And then failed to live up to their promises until he’d forced them to.
Pride.
He was full of it.
He glanced over his shoulder, and Brynn was back at their table looking like a million dollars in her figure-hugging green dress.
“Excuse me. I better get back to my date.” He held Darrell’s gaze, deliberately wanting to get a rise out of the guy.
“Have a good night, Grady. Keep your eyes on the road on the drive home.” Darrell’s beady eyes gleamed with malice. “Don’t want to hit anything.”
“You’d know all about that now, wouldn’t you, D?” He sent Darrell and Temple a pointed look.
Grady walked back to Brynn. Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Were you causing trouble?” she asked on a murmured laugh.
“Perhaps.”
“What did you do to the back of your head?”
He’d forgotten about the injury. He touched a tentative hand to the wound not quite hidden by his short hair. It was healing well. “I went for a walk last night to see if I could figure out where the dog was hiding. Slipped on the ice and whacked the back of my head. Ended up driving to the nearest ER to make sure I wasn’t concussed.”
Her eyes were wide as saucers. “You should have woken me.”
He pulled a face. “You have enough going on, and I felt like a fool.” He hated lying but he was all in for this mission. No point blowing it now. “Probably wasn’t smart driving, but the docs patched me up and said I was fine.”
The Russian couple were still eating and, as much as he wanted to get out of here, he needed to make sure they stayed put for a little while longer.
“I don’t know about you, but after the things we’ve been through the past few days, I think we’ve earned some dessert.” He raised his hand to their server and asked for the menu again. “Are you a whoopie pie or a wild-blueberry type of girl?”
