by Julie Benson
“She hasn’t had any parking tickets. No one’s reported having problems with her.”
Zane leaned forward bracing his arms on his thighs. “Why would someone who worked in Houston as a wedding planner take a job here as Ginny’s assistant? Am I the only one who thinks that doesn’t make sense?”
“Haven’t you heard? Moving to a small town to get away from big city life is the trend. Maybe that’s what McKenna wanted.”
Zane shook his head. “Driven career women only leave a job for a better one or a raise. But she took a lower level position, and I bet she took a pay cut, too. Why do that unless she was desperate?”
“Have you asked McKenna why she took the job?”
Zane explained though he hadn’t asked her directly, she’d mentioned Lucky Stars had potential and wanted to help it grow.
“What’s really going on?” AJ stared Zane down.
Damn. Combine his chief of police intensity with years of knowing Zane and intimidating didn’t begin to describe AJ’s look.
Resisting the urge to confess his every sin, Zane remained still. What could he say? He had a missing shadow box. An employee with an unknown past. No evidence a crime had occurred. Nothing solid only his suspicions. Even if he leveled with AJ, what could his friend do? Probably nothing.
“When I leave, Ginny will need to rely on McKenna more. I want to make sure she’s worthy of her trust.”
“How well did Ginny check her background before hiring her?”
“She claimed she called references and the past employer, but if she didn’t, she wouldn’t admit it, and I doubt she ran a background check. Can you run one for me?”
“I’ll call an old contact in Houston. That’ll be quicker, but we need to keep this between us. I don’t want folks thinking I’ll run a check on every Tom, Dick, and Harriet if they ask.”
Five minutes later, AJ thanked his acquaintance. “Something turned up in McKenna’s background.”
Damn. Pain squeezed Zane’s chest, followed by a numbing cold flowing through his veins. How could he have been so stupid, so blind? He forced the words out. “What did you find?”
“Cash went missing from the company she worked for. She was the main suspect and was questioned several times.”
Stolen money, and now his grandmother’s antique diamond pin was missing. “Was McKenna arrested?”
AJ shook his head. “The police lacked evidence. She was fired, though.”
He’d actually believed McKenna’s open and honest routine more than anyone he’d met. How funny was that? Betrayal crashed through Zane, followed by anger, sharp, paralyzing, and overwhelming.
“If you suspect a crime’s been committed, I need to know.” AJ leveled him with another damned unnerving cop stare.
“There hasn’t been.” At least he couldn’t swear one had, and he refused to accuse anyone, especially McKenna, without evidence. ’Course, if she’d stolen from her last employer and gotten away with it, what were the chances he’d find evidence this time? “The minute that changes I’ll let you know.”
“Anything I can do for you as a friend?”
“Not unless you can fix stupid.”
*
As McKenna drove to work, the warm, bubbling feeling that exploded inside her last night still had her smiling this morning. Last night erased any lingering suspicions about whether Zane was the womanizer her father was. He possessed a character, an honor, her father never would. When their tall, pretty, brunette waitress had flirted with him, Zane hadn’t noticed. To make it clear they were together, when she returned with their drinks, he’d clasped his hand with hers.
And Erin. For the first time in McKenna’s life, someone ignored her baby sister, and chose her. She’d shed the pain and insecurity she’d felt all her life last night. No longer would she allow her little sister to relegate her to less-than class status.
Secondly, last night convinced her she was in love with Zane.
But knowing the fact failed to change anything between them. When Ginny received clearance to go back to work, probably next week, Zane would return to California. She wouldn’t cry, at least in front of him, beg him to stay, or nag him about keeping in touch. She’d gone into their relationship knowing what the future held, and despite her changed feelings, she’d honor her promise. She’d smile and say maybe they could see each other when he visited Ginny.
She’d have wonderful memories of Zane, but her life would go on, and she’d be forever grateful to him. He’d taught her having a career didn’t mean sacrificing her personal life. He’d shown her a man could want a smart, driven, successful woman.
What a load of crap, him leaving would crush her, but she’d keep telling herself she’d be fine until it became a reality. But for now, she’d enjoy every second she had left with Zane.
McKenna unlocked the office, stepped inside, and gasped. Furniture had been pulled away from the walls. Garbage cans emptied on the floor. Cabinets stood open and had been rifled through. Her desk drawers lay open. Her heart hammering from fear that whoever had done this was still here, McKenna tore outside to discover Zane exiting his pickup.
“Zane, we need to call the police. Someone tore up the office.”
“I did.”
“What? Why would you do that?”
“We need to talk.”
There were those words again. She searched his face. His eyes could only be described as cold and hard. Then his right eye twitched. Pair that with his stiff posture and how awful the conversation had been the last time he said those four little words, and her chest tightened, pinching her heart. Something was very wrong. “Tell me what happened.”
“My office, or rather my grandmother’s. Now.”
When he started to walk away, she grabbed his arm, halting him. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it together.”
He jerked away. “Now that’s funny. Probably the biggest joke you’ve told yet.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Tell me about your last job in Houston.”
He knew. She didn’t know how he’d discovered she’d been fired, but he knew. The fury radiating off him filled her with the urge to run. Her knees grew weak and she swayed. “How did you find out?”
“That you were accused of stealing money and fired?”
She nodded.
“AJ called a colleague in Houston.”
“I didn’t steal the money. Erin did.”
“That’s easy to say when there wasn’t any evidence.”
“I wish there had been since it would’ve cleared me. But I’m telling the truth.” McKenna clasped her hands in front of her. “You have to believe me. Erin confessed that night when I asked her if she knew anything about the missing money. Her latest loser boyfriend had been stealing her share of the rent before he ran off. We had a client, Mr. Jenkins, who loved to flash cash. It made him feel important. My appointment with his daughter, him, and his wife ran late. When my next client arrived, Erin offered to finish the paperwork and take their deposit. When he gave her seven crisp hundreds and a fifty, she pocketed the bills.”
“That’s a good story, but as many times as you recited it for the police could make it sound damn believable.”
He towered over her. His body tense, his gaze shuttered. “Did you tell Ginny about what happened?”
McKenna shook her head. “I hinted I left on good terms.”
“You lied.”
His words rang in her ears. Everyone lies. The only difference is some people lie almost constantly and on important matters.
She’d proved him right. “Yes.”
“That’s why you took an assistant position.”
“I was unemployed for a year and a half.” Her cheeks burned as she fought the tremors and nausea threatening to overtake her. “I was honest in my first interviews, but no one believed me without proof.”
“I’ll make a deal with you. Return Ginny’s shadow box, and I won’t press charges.” His eyes dull, his voice remained flat.
“Ginny’s shadow box? The one behind her desk?”
He nodded. “It’s missing. That’s why I tore apart the office.”
McKenna tore into Ginny’s office. Behind her desk, where the shadow box should have been was empty wall. She closed her eyes, praying the box materialized when she opened them. But no. How could this be happening? Again? How could she be blamed again for something she didn’t do? Not when her life was perfect. When she had everything she wanted. Not when she loved Zane.
Standing behind Ginny’s desk, she placed her hand on the wall, unable to believe the reality facing her. “It was here when we left last night.” She grabbed the filing credenza, yanked it forward, and collapsed on the floor, searching, praying she’d find the frame.
“Don’t bother. I checked everywhere.”
McKenna crawled along the floor, searching under the desk. “It has to be here. It can’t walk off.”
“It can if you stole it. That’s the only explanation left. The doors haven’t been tampered with. Whoever took it had a key. That’s three people. Me, Ginny, and you.”
She stood and faced Zane, flinching at the accusation ringing in his voice and clouding his gaze. “Why would someone take the shadow box? All it has is sentimental value.”
Muscles bulged in his neck, and a vein throbbed wildly in his forehead. “The pin’s been in my grandfather’s family for generations. He gave it to Ginny on their wedding day. He always said he thanked his lucky stars the day he met her. The last time Ginny had the pin appraised it was worth almost six grand.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I’m dead serious, sweetheart.” His sneer, his hands clenching and unclenching along with the bitterness when he said sweetheart sliced through her, leaving a raw, gaping wound.
“What on earth is a pin worth that kind of money doing hanging on the wall? It should be in a safe somewhere.”
“You had no idea how much it was worth? That’s hard to believe.”
“My first day here Ginny pointed out the shadow box. She told me about her husband, the pin, and how the ranch got its name, but she never said it was valuable. In fact, she said it was rhinestones.”
“So you say.”
“Have you asked Ginny?”
“No. She’ll be devastated it’s gone especially knowing someone she trusted stole it.”
“Talk to her. Maybe she took it for some reason.”
“Since her surgery, my grandmother hasn’t left the house except to see her surgeon.”
“What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
“That applies to the law, not me. Don’t make this harder than it already is. Just give it back.”
“I can’t because I didn’t take it!”
Zane was rigid and unyielding. There had to be a way to reach him. To make him see she couldn’t have done this to Ginny, but more importantly to him. She walked toward him, but he stiffened more. When she reached out, he stumbled backward as if she’d hit him.
“Do you really believe I could steal something? That I could I do that to Ginny? To you? After all we’ve shared? I care too much to hurt you that way.”
I love you.
She swallowed the words, knowing he wouldn’t believe her. He’d think she said them to gain his sympathy.
“There’s no other explanation.”
“If you really think I’m capable of this, there’s nothing else to say.”
She held her breath, praying he’d say he believed her. That she couldn’t have done this, and they’d discover what happened. For a brief moment, Zane’s stance and gaze softened. Then he clenched his jaws, and he crossed his arms over his chest.
She’d lost him.
How could she have gone from being happier than she’d ever been to her world falling apart in a few minutes? Nothing this bad should happen without notice. There should be a life warning siren like for tornadoes or floods to allow a person to brace for impact.
Not that it would ease the pain or the devastation. Nothing could. Including time. This would leave a scar, but at least she would’ve have been caught unaware.
“I’ll pack my things and be gone in five minutes.”
“Good. That saves me from firing you, and Ginny from paying unemployment.” Zane stared through her as if she weren’t there. “Congratulations, sweetheart. You’re the most expensive lover I’ve ever had.”
*
As Zane watched McKenna drive away in her stupid orange car, he berated himself for being a first-class idiot. He’d been careful in relationships since he started dating. He’d had been satisfied with his life when he’d returned to Wishing. Then he met McKenna and foolishly let down his guard. He’d let her past his defenses and was happy. Maybe for the first time since college. Had he fallen in love with McKenna?
Of course you did. Otherwise her betrayal wouldn’t have nearly destroyed you.
He fought the urge to collapse. He’d wanted her as battered and bruised as he felt, hoping her anguish would ease his. But the final insult he’d thrown at her had been beyond brutal. When McKenna recoiled as if he’d hit her, he knew his blow had drawn blood. However, he hadn’t counted on his comment almost leveling him, too.
How could he have been so wrong? Between dating and working together he’d thought he knew her, but it had been an act. How would he tell Ginny what McKenna had done? That the woman she’d almost trusted to manage her business in her absence had stolen from her? Maybe he could wait a while.
Working together. Damn. His chin sank to his chest. Nausea rolled over him. With McKenna gone, until Ginny returned everything with Lucky Stars Weddings fell to him. Client meetings, weddings, rehearsal dinners, receptions. He’d have to tell his grandma because without McKenna to rely on, he’d have questions about upcoming weddings.
He’d tell her about McKenna quitting, but not about the shadow box. Not yet.
Don’t tell me you’re dumb enough to hope she’ll change her mind and return the box?
Brushing aside the thought, he headed to the main house and found Ginny on the back porch, sitting in her rocker. He kissed her cheek, wished he could be anywhere but here, and sank into the other rocker. The one that had belonged to his grandfather.
A cold sweat enveloped him. He set the chair in motion, the rhythmic creaking pounding in his head. What could he say when he’d failed the woman who, along with his grandfather, had saved him?
I let you down, too, Granddad. I didn’t protect Gram.
Ginny patted his arm. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”
“I had AJ check into McKenna’s background,” he blurted out.
“Why’d you do that?”
Because I thought she was a thief. He swallowed hard. “That doesn’t matter. What does is AJ found something.”
“Are you talking about her being fired after cash went missing from her previous job?”
“You knew?”
She swatted his arm. Her stern gaze of disapproval drilled into him. “I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday. I created a successful business from nothing. Could I have done that hiring people without checking references and calling previous employers?”
“No, ma’am.” Zane cleared his throat, feeling as if he was sixteen again, being chewed out for breaking curfew. “If you knew, why did you hire her?”
“I almost didn’t, but I was so impressed with McKenna in the interview. She had such enthusiasm, a fresh attitude, and an energy I wish I still had. She reminded me of myself in my younger years.”
“You went with your gut?”
Ginny shook her head. “Of course not. My instincts got me thinking about the odd feeling I had when I met McKenna’s boss, Darby Sotzen at an industry trade show. Since we use many of the same suppliers and vendors, I contacted a few. They said Darby’s not always aboveboard. Word is she wouldn’t know an honest person from a hole in the ground.”
“What about the police considering McKenna the prime suspect in the theft? D
id you consider that?”
“Pish, posh, pooh.” Ginny waved her hand through the air in dismissal. “Without evidence, they were guessing based on information and suspicions from Darby and other employees.”
“What exactly did Darby say when you asked about McKenna?”
“She said while McKenna didn’t confess to stealing the money, she took responsibility because she was the senior staff person when the theft happened. That means there were other employees around who could’ve taken the money. Pair that with my instincts when I met McKenna, and I took a chance on her.”
But now Ginny’s shadow box had been stolen and McKenna was his prime suspect. Zane gripped the rocking chair arms to keep his hands from shaking. He stared at the Angus cows grazing in the far pasture trying to decide where to go from here. One incident was problematic, but two hinted at a developing pattern.
“I know McKenna hasn’t worked for me long, but a million little things have shown me her character.”
His rested his sweaty hands on his thighs. Before today, he’d have said the same thing. Small actions like returning the extra dollar she’d received in change. Then there was her not giving his grandmother an earful about what an ass he’d been when they’d started working together. Instead, McKenna had refused to be responsible for damaging his relationship with his grandmother.
Zane resisted the urge to jump out of the rocker and start pacing because he didn’t want to scare his grandma Had he made a mistake? Thinking back, McKenna’s insistence Erin stole the money hadn’t sounded outrageous. Erin, who last night had confirmed she and McKenna worked together. Erin, who’d shown her lack of character by hitting on her sister’s boyfriend.
Could McKenna’s scenario be true? Would Erin steal the money to get out of a pinch and let blame fall on her sister? The woman he’d met would do anything to get her butt out of trouble.
A vein throbbed in his forehead and his right eye twitched at a frantic rate. Damn. He didn’t know what happened to his grandma’s pin but be believed McKenna’s version about the theft. He’d been a complete ass and destroyed whatever future he could’ve had with the woman he loved.
He turned to his grandmother. “I screwed up, Gram.”
