“Now I see what has you so distracted,” Molly said, snapping a finger in front of Lacey’s eyes.
“What? Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” Lacey admitted. She refocused her attention on Molly, telling herself whatever was going on between Ty and that woman was none of her business.
It was a lie and she knew it.
“You haven’t been paying attention to me for a while.” Molly laughed, her good nature coming through.
“How’d you know?”
“The scowl on your face gave you away. Nobody frowns over a good clothing sale!” Molly laughed but quickly sobered, her stare traveling to the couple in the corner. “You have to realize she’s no competition for you.”
Heat rose to Lacey’s face. “I can’t believe you caught me watching them,” she said, mortified.
“It’s human nature to be curious.” Molly snagged a peanut from a dish on the bar and popped it into her mouth. “But what I said about her not being competition is true. I’ve seen the way Ty looks at you and whew!” She fanned her face with a small napkin.
Lacey couldn’t deny Ty’s heated looks, but she’d noticed something disturbing—an intimacy—when she’d watched him with the other woman. “They’ve slept together.”
“And you know this how?” Molly leveled her with a curious stare.
“Woman’s intuition.” Lacey shivered and folded her arms across her chest.
“Even if you’re right, it’s over now,” Ty said, coming up behind her.
“Caught again.” She covered her face with her hands and groaned.
Molly chuckled. “I think this is where I excuse myself. I see some friends from work. It’s time for me to join them.” She waved and walked away, leaving Lacey to face the music.
“I’m sorry I was spying on you.” She bit the inside of her cheek.
“I’m not. I’d have told you about our talk anyway.” He pulled out the stool Molly had used and seated himself next to Lacey.
She swallowed hard. “But you hadn’t told me yet. In fact, you never mentioned her at all while I told you all about Alex.”
For all that she and Ty had been close, she realized now there were still things they didn’t know about one another. There were still secrets between them.
“I didn’t tell you because there was nothing for you to know. Gloria filled a need in my life just like Alex filled one in yours.” He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
His hand was warm, his touch arousing. That was the problem, she thought. He could distract her easily and make her forget anything but him.
She refused to get sidetracked now. Although he’d said it was over, there was still something she needed to know. “Did you love her?”
As Lacey spoke, she suddenly understood how Ty must have felt hearing about her relationship with Alex. It hurt to ask. It would hurt even more to hear about it.
He shook his head and a weight lifted off her chest.
“There’s only one thing you need to know about Gloria,” Ty said in his gruff, sexy voice.
Butterflies took up residence in her belly, a warm fluttering feeling she savored. “And what’s that?”
“She wasn’t you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. She felt ridiculous reacting in such an emotional way, but she couldn’t control her relief or the overwhelming gratitude filling her. She couldn’t speak but figured the wide smile on her face would be a good enough reply.
He cupped his hands around her cheeks and tilted her head back. Slowly, without his gaze ever leaving hers, he lowered his head and let his lips touch, then seal their emotions. All the things they hadn’t said, Lacey felt in the sweet, reverent way his mouth lingered on hers.
Too soon, he pulled back. “I really have to get back to work.”
She nodded and gave him permission with a flirty wave of her hand.
They both knew where they’d pick up later on.
Hunter had been going over questions for a witness when Ty called. Although he’d never have said no based on the urgency in his friend’s voice, he could definitely use the break. By the time he strode into Night Owl’s, it was nearing eleven. Since he’d still have to finish up at the office later, he didn’t glance around, not wanting to waste time on small talk with friends.
Five minutes later, he, Ty and Lilly were seated around a small table in the back. Four college students had finally stumbled out, laughing and making way too much noise. Hunter couldn’t ever remember being as loose and carefree in those days—he’d been too preoccupied with “making good,” as he’d come to think of his quest to achieve.
“I didn’t know you’d asked Hunter to come by. What’s going on?” Lilly asked.
Hunter raised an eyebrow. He’d figured Lilly was up on everything Ty knew.
“I got a call from Derek earlier, and he said your uncle had an interesting visitor today,” Ty said.
“Who?” Hunter and Lilly asked at the same time.
Ty leaned forward in his seat. “Not long after we left his office this morning, Paul Dunne paid Dumont a visit. Unless there’s a piece of the puzzle I’m missing, I can’t think of a damn reason why, unless it had something to do with Lilly’s trust fund.”
“Oh, man.” Hunter ran a hand through his hair.
Lilly, who’d grown pale on hearing Ty’s rationale, remained silent.
“Do you know something I don’t? Does Dumont have a relationship of some kind with Paul Dunne? Are they golfing buddies?” Ty asked. “Help me here because otherwise—”
“Let’s just stop looking for excuses where there are none,” Lilly said at last. “We all know Uncle Marc wanted my trust fund ten years ago and that hasn’t changed. What has changed is that now he also wants me dead.”
The word reverberated between them.
“I agree,” Ty said.
“So do I. The question is what are we going to do about it?” Hunter asked.
“I’m not going to go into hiding,” Lilly said before either Hunter or Ty could suggest it, although Hunter thought the idea had merit.
“Why the hell not? Would you rather make yourself a walking target? Because the next time, he probably won’t miss.” Ty visibly shuddered at the possibility.
Lilly frowned. “Well, I’m finished hiding from the man. Wasn’t that the reason I came back in the first place? To face him down? To deal with my past? Well, I’m going to deal with it.”
Hunter decided it was time to step in between the two disagreeing lovers. He hated to side with Ty and piss Lilly off, but the other man had a point.
Hunter turned to Lilly, who’d called him this afternoon to explain the trust agreement. “I don’t know if you realize, but considering the terms of the trust fund, you have three weeks to—how do I put this delicately?—you have three weeks to remain alive in order to claim your trust fund. I don’t think waving a red flag in front of your uncle is going to help you do that,” Hunter said.
“Exactly.” Ty emphasized his point by pounding his fist against the table.
Hunter winced, sensing that his friend’s take-charge manner was going to set Lilly off.
She rose to her feet but smartly kept her voice low. “I’ll give you two choices. I can go home for the next three weeks and come back to claim my trust fund on my birthday.”
“And make yourself an easy target in the big city where nobody knows Dumont or can keep an eye on him in any way,” Ty countered.
“Or I can stay here and make myself an easy target. We’ll just have to be one step ahead of Uncle Marc and be ready for him when he strikes again.”
This time Ty rose to his feet, as well. “Absolutely not.”
Hunter groaned. “Will you two sit down? You’re calling attention to us and that’s not what we’re looking for.”
Surprisingly they both lowered themselves back into their chairs.
“I think Lilly’s right,” Hunter said to Ty. “Either we draw him out by keeping her out in public or
he’s going to strike again when we aren’t prepared.”
Ty frowned.
Hunter knew Ty well. Eventually he’d come around to their way of thinking, but not because he was afraid of confrontation. He wasn’t. Because Hunter was right.
“You know I’m right. Dumont is going to come after Lilly either way, so we might as well let her live her life and be ready when he does.” Hunter pointedly glanced at Ty. “Well?”
“Yeah,” he muttered, obviously unhappy with the situation.
Lilly put her hand over his. “I appreciate the support,” she said quietly.
Ty inclined his head, saying nothing. But Lilly didn’t need words, nor did she need to be right for the sake of it, Hunter thought. This was why they were such a perfect fit. Lilly didn’t gloat over a victory, nor did she push Ty past what he could handle. She stood up for herself but also respected his views. Hopefully they’d have a chance at a future when all this was over.
Hopefully he and Molly would, as well.
Hunter stood. “I have to get back to work. I wish like hell I could help you two out, but the court has me tied up with this case.”
Lilly slid her chair back and rose.
Ty did the same.
“I’m just glad you’re here and able to listen.” Lilly walked over and gave Hunter a quick hug.
“You’re doing exactly what we need,” Ty said, his gratitude evident in all he didn’t say.
“Listen, I’m going to go the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.” Lilly headed to the door a few feet away.
Ty turned back to Hunter. “One more thing. I have a favor to ask.”
“Name it,” Hunter said.
“See what Molly knows about Dumont’s relationship with Paul Dunne. I didn’t like the man at all, and if they’re connected in any way, it can’t be good.”
Hunter nodded. “I hear you.”
Ty cleared his throat.
“I’m just sorry Molly’s involved with that bastard at all,” Hunter said. “Have the cops found anything remotely connecting Dumont to the fire?”
“No, because there’s nothing to be found,” Molly said as she came up behind Hunter, wearing a tight-fitting, fire-engine-red spandex top.
Hunter refrained from whistling. He was in deep enough shit already.
Ty glanced at Molly and grimaced. “I tried to warn you,” he said to Hunter.
“Well, you needn’t have bothered,” Molly said. “I deserve to know exactly what Hunter thinks of my soon-to-be stepfather.” She folded her hands across her chest, glaring at him.
“Bye, guys,” Ty said, and with a regret-filled glance, he stepped away, leaving Hunter to deal with Molly.
Ty had done the right thing. Molly’s anger was directed at Hunter. He had to fix things alone. Unfortunately, he didn’t think anything would mend this rift.
Not anymore.
After the start they’d made the other night, this was a huge setback and a knifelike pain stabbed him in the gut. Her opinion of him mattered and he’d obviously lost both her trust and her respect.
He stepped closer, speaking quietly. “To be fair, you know I never liked the man.”
Molly straightened her shoulders, her walls firmly in place. “But I didn’t think you’d go so far as to accuse him of attempted murder. My mother’s marrying the man. She’s in love with him. And I’ve seen the other side of him, the one you refuse to believe exists. I’m telling you, no matter what Marc did in the past, he is not a murderer now.”
Hunter merely nodded, acknowledging her words if not agreeing with them.
“You do realize that I was with Lilly at the mall. Marc wouldn’t win any brownie points with my mother by running me over.”
“I didn’t say what we believe is flawless. But if he hired someone, that person might not know who you were.”
He already knew now he and Molly would never see eye to eye on this subject. Too bad this wasn’t something on which either of them would be willing to compromise.
Instead of discussing the impossible, he changed the subject. “What’s Dumont’s relationship with Paul Dunne, do you know?”
She cocked her head to one side. “The trustee of Lacey’s parents’ will? I’d think that would be obvious.”
He appreciated her spunk. “Why don’t you enlighten the less informed among us?” He didn’t know another way to get her to open up than to frustrate her with sarcasm.
She narrowed her gaze, clearly annoyed with him. “Paul Dunne is the trustee,” she said slowly, enunciating each word as if he were an idiot. “That means he dispenses the money as per Lacey’s parents’ wishes. Which also means he met Marc over ten years ago. So whatever plot you think you’ve concocted between them, give it up.”
At least she was answering his questions, so Hunter figured he might as well keep going. “What about Anna Marie?” he asked.
“What about her?” Molly’s tone grew even more wary if such a thing were possible.
“When Anna Marie overhears things, who does she repeat them to?”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Nearly everyone. Why?”
He didn’t have a direct answer he could give Molly. Not yet. “And when Anna Marie finds out things in the courthouse from her job, have you ever heard her repeat them?”
“I’m not sure. What kind of things?” She lowered herself into a chair, indicating she wasn’t going anywhere for the moment.
Though he hadn’t breached her barriers, at least he’d piqued her interest. It was either that or the fact that he’d turned his questions away from Marc toward Anna Marie. Either way, the sparkle had returned to her eyes and she leaned toward him, not away from him.
He considered his answer carefully. “Things like which judge is sitting on my current case.”
As he spoke, he joined her at the table, careful not to sit too close and rile her up again. No matter how much he wanted to break through the distance between them, he knew better than to think she’d allow him to.
He paused before continuing and pinched the bridge of his nose, deep in thought. He could trust Molly and fill her in on his suspicions or he could walk away. For Lilly, and most of all for the sake of any relationship he might salvage with Molly, he opted to trust.
“I think Anna Marie told her brother, Paul Dunne, about my court case, and he had her move it up on the docket so I’d be too busy to get involved with Lilly and her trust fund.”
Molly’s nose scrunched up as she considered this. “Why would Anna Marie care about the trust fund one way or another?”
“I don’t think she does. You know Anna Marie. She talks for the sake of talking without considering the consequences. In this case, it would be like collateral damage from a bomb when you consider who Anna Marie’s brother is and his connection to Lilly’s trust fund.” He picked up the pepper and shook it upside down, letting the grinds spread all over the table. “You never know what’s going to get hit or who’s going to get hurt.”
Her chin propped in her hand, Molly studied the pepper from his analogy, obviously mulling over the possibilities before speaking.
He enjoyed watching the wheels turn in that sexy brain of hers. And he did find her mind as intriguing as her looks.
Finally, she glanced up, meeting his gaze. “Okay, so Anna Marie tells her brother about her latest case—”
“Or maybe her brother asks her what’s on my plate at the moment,” he said, following the theory that the older woman was merely an innocent gossip. “Either way, I’m out of the picture. That leaves Ty and Lilly.”
“Why would Dunne care who inherits the trust fund? He’s just the trustee. The distributor of funds.”
“Now that’s the question that begs to be answered.” Knowing he’d captured her interest and that she had the time as well as the means to question her older landlady, Hunter made his suggestion. “Maybe you could have tea on the porch and find out?”
“I could,” Molly said slowly. “But let me make something clear. I woul
dn’t be doing it for you. I’d be doing it to clear Marc’s name.”
Hunter nodded. “Fair enough.”
He’d get the information Ty and Lilly needed, and Molly would discover Hunter had been right. Her faith in Dumont was misplaced. As much as Hunter would hate to see her hurt, she’d be better off knowing the truth.
Without warning, Molly pushed her chair back and rose to her feet. “I have to go.”
“Wait.” He stood and came up beside her, grasping her hand before she could pull away. “You and I may not agree right now, but I’m on your side. I only want what’s best for you and I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Moisture filled her eyes and she blinked back tears. “Well, I’m sorry I can’t appreciate that at the moment. I was honest with you. You know how important family is to me. You know this is my first chance at even having a relationship with my mother.”
Hunter tried for pragmatic logic. “Don’t you want that relationship to be real and not based on a middleman who might not be what’s right for her?” Hunter asked.
“I can’t argue with that, and I’m not as big a fool as you might think. But I just can’t let myself wonder about what would happen if you’re right about Marc. I don’t want to imagine myself all alone in the world again.” She stepped back, pulling her hand out of his. She nearly tripped on a chair, steadying herself before he could help her.
Her pain lanced through him. “Molly, I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “Maybe. But you care more about being right than you do about what I need. I’ll let you know if I find out anything.” Without another word, she darted past him and wove her way through the crowd until she disappeared from view.
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, Lacey curled up on the bed in Ty’s old room with Digger by her side. She opened her agenda and phone book and checked in with all of her clients, making sure everyone was happy with the week’s service and nothing had been missed in her absence. Then she called Laura to check on how the employees were handling things. To her relief, all was well, but still, a part of her missed being needed. She’d been gone for a while now, and the business she’d previously thrown all of her attention and devotion into was running smoothly without her.
Cross My Heart Page 18
