by Debbie Mason
She angled her head. “You surprise me, Harry. I didn’t take you for a nature lover, more the guy who hangs out at the après-ski bar.”
“Ah, I take it you’ve lifted your moratorium. I’m allowed to speak?”
“It’s a little hard to enjoy the peace and quiet when someone’s staring at you. So yes, you can speak.”
“I wasn’t…” She arched an eyebrow. He should have known she’d sense his attention. He shrugged. “You were watching me, too.”
She laughed, lifting her cup to her mouth. “So I was. You’re not who you seem, Harry. I’m trying to figure you out.”
“Au contraire, love. I’m an open book. Whereas you…”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not turning this on me.”
“All right, you can ask me anything you want. But first you have to answer a question of mine.”
“Okay, fine. What do you want to know?”
“Who broke your heart?” He meant to throw her off balance, distract her from asking about him, but as soon as he asked the question, he knew it was more than that.
She gave him a startled look, then covered her reaction with a frown. “I don’t know what—”
“Evelyn said you had a broken heart. She thought I might be able to help you with that.”
She snorted. “I hope you told her you weren’t interested.”
He forced himself to nod. “I did. I told the three of them I’m not looking for a relationship.” He wasn’t sure if the flicker of emotion that crossed her face was disappointment or relief. “I’m a good listener, Cat. It’s a small town. You know I’m going to hear about it. I’d rather hear about it from you.”
She bowed her head, then lifted it to look across the open field. “You’re right, you will. I’m surprised Chloe hasn’t already filled you in.” She glanced at him, twisting her mouth to the side as though weighing out her words. “I used to be a detective with the Denver Police Department. I met Michael while I was investigating what we suspected at the time was a murder, but later was ruled the suicide of his business partner. And no, I didn’t get involved with him until after the case was closed.”
He held up a hand. “I didn’t say anything.” But he planned to say something to Special Agent in Charge Turner. Grayson wanted to know more about Michael Upton’s business partner and his alleged suicide.
“I saw the look of disapproval on your face. Anyway, Michael wouldn’t take no for an answer. He could be very persuasive and persistent. He was also handsome and charming, and I fell in love with him. I thought he loved me, too, but looking back, I realize he loved himself and money more. He was running a Ponzi scheme out of his office in our home, my home.” She gave her head a quick, disgusted shake. “And I didn’t have a clue. Me, the youngest female detective in the Denver Police Department, didn’t have a clue what was going on right under my nose.”
He believed her. Her words were as convincing as the manner in which she delivered them, her posture and tone of voice. But he had to push a little harder if he was going to lay out a case in her defense to Turner. “Surely there were signs the wanker was up to no good.”
“Maybe there were, but obviously I missed them.” She cupped her mug between her hands. “We were having problems, and I was working a lot.”
“What kind of problems?”
“The wedding was a few months away. I wanted a prenup, he didn’t.”
“I see.”
“Yeah, too bad I didn’t. I lost everything because of him, a job I loved, my home.”
“Why did you lose your job? Surely no one believed you were in on the fraud.”
“Not everyone, no. My family, my captain, some of the guys on the force gave me their full support. But there were enough of them who didn’t, including my partner and the FBI. In the end, I didn’t have the energy to fight. The FBI never stopped hounding me. And I’d lost faith in myself, in my judgment.”
He understood how that felt and sympathized with her. He took her hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. “I’m sorry, Cat.”
She shrugged, but didn’t remove her hand from his. “Crap happens to everyone. It could have been worse, I guess.”
“It must have blown over by now. You could get your job back.”
She released a bitter laugh. “As far as the FBI is concerned, the file is still open on me. Besides, I can’t leave Chloe, not… not until she can find someone to replace me.”
Ah, so she did realize her sister was in danger. He could work with Cat. They’d make a good team. Though given her history with the FBI, it might not be wise to tell her who he really was, at least not right away. “Cat, there’s something I need…” He trailed off at the sound of a door opening.
Nell McBride popped her head around the corner of the house and yelled, “I found him. He and Cat are canoodling by the fire.”
* * *
Cat tore her hand from Harry’s, sloshing hot chocolate on the blanket. She jerked her gaze to where Nell stood at the side of the house, grinning. “You can go back inside, Nell. We’ll be right in. Harry… Harry was… Just go inside, okay?”
“Are you all right, love? You didn’t burn yourself, did you?” Harry asked, sounding concerned.
Shaking off the blanket as she prayed to God her sister hadn’t heard Nell, Cat jumped to her feet. “No, it was cold.” She lowered her voice. “And stop calling me love. You’ll give her the wrong idea.”
“You mean them. Nell’s friends have joined her.” He leaned into Cat, taking the blanket from her hands. “Do you think perhaps you’re overreacting a tad? They’re three harmless old ladies. What—”
She turned, and sure enough, Evelyn and Stella stood with Nell. Cat latched on to a corner of the blanket, saying, “Harmless? Keep it up, mate, and you’ll see how harmless they are.”
His perfect, even white teeth flashed.
“You think it’s funny, don’t you? Believe me, you won’t if they get it in their heads that”—she motioned between them—“you and I are a perfect match. They’re like heat-seeking missiles. They won’t give up until the job is done.”
He lifted a shoulder, his mouth quirked. “I can think of worse things.”
They both looked up when they heard Chloe say, “What’s going on out here?”
Cat briefly closed her eyes. She knew that tone of voice. She was going to pay, and pay big-time, for being caught alone with her sister’s supposed beau. She tried to come up with something to put Chloe’s jealousy to rest… and got nothing.
Harry handed Cat the blanket and walked to her sister, taking both her hands in his. “Chloe, my dear, your sister was just filling me in on the history of your lovely home. I must say I’m impressed that someone as young as yourself owns such an extensive and storied property.”
Cat stared after them as he tucked her sister’s arm through his and led her into the house. What was he talking about? Nell, Stella, and Evelyn looked from Chloe and Harry back to Cat. When Nell opened her mouth, Cat raised a finger. “Not a word.”
Nell crossed her arms. “I was just going to tell you to be careful with that one.”
For once she agreed with Nell. Lord Harry Halstead was dangerous, and not only because he got her to spill her guts. She didn’t like the quiet sense of companionship she felt sitting with him under the stars. How the feel of him watching her had sent her heart ricocheting in her chest, or how warmth flooded her body when he took her hand in his.
The warm and fuzzies left Cat as soon as her mother joined the three older woman with a disappointed look on her face.
“Mom, I can—”
“Nell, Stella, and Evelyn, would you mind giving Grace a hand? She’s cutting the sugarplum cake.”
“Now, don’t you be too hard on Cat, Liz. There was no hanky-panky going on. I was just teasing.”
“Thank you, Nell. But I’ll deal with my daughter as I see fit.”
Nell and the two older woman shared a look and headed inside.
Cat
wrapped the blanket around her mother’s shoulders. “Really, Mom. You’re going to deal with me?”
“You know what I mean.” She waved a distracted hand. “What came over you, Cat? How do you think your sister felt hearing that you were outside in the moonlight with her boyfriend?”
“We…” She released a frustrated sigh. “Mom, Harry isn’t interested in Chloe. They’re not dating.”
A worried frown creased her mother’s brow. “Does this have something to do with Easton? I know you were upset with Chloe, but surely you’ve gotten over it. You were in high school, Cat. That’s far too long in the past to be making your sister pay for her little indiscretion now.”
“You’re kidding, right? You can’t honestly believe I’m that petty.”
“Well, no, but it’s the only thing I can think of to explain your behavior tonight.”
“Unbelievable. Did you not hear what I said? Chloe and Harry aren’t dating.” She held up her hand when her mother opened her mouth, no doubt to argue the point. “If you don’t believe me, ask Harry.”
“All right, but she obviously has feelings for him even if they’re not returned. And I expect you to respect that. You know how easily hurt and emotional she is.”
“I live with her. So yeah, I get it.” Cat caught her mother’s shiver. “Come on, you’re cold. Let’s go inside.”
“Don’t be upset with me, darling. I can’t help that I’m overprotective of Chloe.” She slid an arm around Cat’s waist. “We nearly lost her, you know. You’re the strong one. You always have been.”
“You might be surprised how strong she is, Mom. Maybe it’s time to stop coddling her.” Cat held the door open for her mother, then followed her inside.
“You sound like Ethan.”
She wished her brother and his wife were here. Cat could use the backup. They picked a fine time to go on vacation. She’d been hoping to ask them to help her keep an eye on Chloe. Though at the moment, Cat didn’t feel much like protecting her sister.
As they walked through the mudroom, she took the blanket from her mother’s shoulders and hung it on a hook. At the sound of Harry’s deep laugh and her sister’s flirty one in response, Cat remembered what Harry had said. She reached for her mother’s arm, stopping her at the entrance to the great room.
Her mother turned. “What is it, darling?”
“It’s probably nothing. I’m sure I misunderstood, but you haven’t sold off some of the ranch to Chloe, have you?”
Her mother grimaced, her cheeks pinking. “Well no, not exactly.”
“What do you mean, not exactly?”
She sighed and put a hand on Cat’s shoulder. “Do you remember how emotional Chloe was last Christmas after Ethan’s wedding?”
“When is she not emotional, Mom?”
“Don’t be like that. She missed your father. His death was a huge blow to her.”
“It was a blow to all of us. But Daddy died more than five years ago, so I don’t understand—”
“She was talking about how much she loved the ranch. And—”
Cat rolled her eyes. “She hates the ranch. She couldn’t wait to leave Christmas.”
Her mother glanced over her shoulder. “Keep your voice down. I don’t understand where this is coming from, Catalina.”
Oh, so she was using her given name now. That never boded well. Her mother had a long fuse, but when she lost her temper… “I love the ranch, and so does Ethan. It’s our birthright, too, not just Chloe’s.”
“Your sister would never deprive you or your brother of your home. If something happened to me, I’m sure she’d allow you full access to the house and grounds.”
It took a moment for Cat to recover from her shock. “You left the ranch to Chloe in your will? You cut me and Ethan out completely and left everything to her?” Her legs went weak, and she leaned against the wall for support.
“I didn’t leave everything to her. You and Ethan will be amply provided for.”
“It’s not about the money. It’s about our home.”
“Ethan’s campaign was costly. And you barely make enough to get by. If it wasn’t for your sister supporting you…” Her mother grimaced. “The only one who can afford to carry the ranch is Chloe. I did it to protect this place. To protect the O’Connor legacy… Cat, where are you going?”
She skirted several of the guests and headed straight for her sister. “What did you do to get her to leave everything to you? Come on, Chloe, tell me. I really want to know.”
Her sister paled, her hand creeping to her neck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, yes, you do. Even he knew about it.” She jerked her thumb at Harry.
“Cat, I don’t think this is the time or place for this.” Harry reached for her. “Perhaps—”
She shook Harry’s hand from her arm. “How did you know?”
He scratched his cheek. “My manager may have mentioned it.”
She looked from her sister, who was chewing on her thumbnail, to Harry, and then, ignoring everyone in the room staring at her, Cat said, “We had a deal. I get one question.” He responded with a curt nod, his pale blue eyes laser sharp. “Are you one of those British lords with a title and no money?”
“I am. I work for a living. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Only if you’re after my sister for her money.”
“Of course I’m not. I… Chloe, are you all—” He lunged for her sister, catching her before she could gracefully crumple onto the slate floor.
Chapter Nine
Cat woke up to the ringing of her cell. It took a moment for her to remember she was in her childhood bedroom with its black-and-white decor. Another moment to recall the events of last night. She was groaning at the memory of the scene that had ensued once her sister recovered from her fake faint when she answered the phone.
“Caught the front page of the Christmas Chronicle, did you?” her brother Ethan’s smooth, lawyerly voice came over the line.
“Oh God, please tell me you’re joking.”
“He’s not. But don’t worry, Cat, it’s only online. And I’ve told Nell to take it down.” Vivi Westfield’s husky voice came over the line. She was the owner and publisher of the Christmas Chronicle.
“Thanks… Wait a minute. What are you doing with my brother?”
“We’re all here, sweetie. You’re on speaker,” her sister-in-law Skye said.
Cat sat up in bed and rubbed her head. “You guys suck. How could you go on vacation when you knew we were coming to town?”
“Chance has sworn us to secrecy. We’d have to kill you if we told you,” her brother said.
“O’Connor,” a deep male voice growled in the background. It sounded like Chance McBride, Vivi’s fiancée.
She heard a muted conversation, then Ethan came back on the line. “Cat, what’s going on? The article said ‘Cat fight at the O’Connors’. Daughters duking it out over the duke.’”
“He’s not a duke, he’s a lord, and we weren’t fighting over him.”
“Whatever he is, he’s hot. Like, smoking hot,” Skye chimed in.
“Does he have one of those sexy Brit accents, too? Because that would make him off-the-charts hot,” Vivi added, laughing when two male voices muttered their disgust.
“Yeah, he is, and he does, and I totally agree, but it doesn’t matter because he’s not interested.” She knocked the back of her head against the white leather headboard a couple of times. “I mean, I’m not interested. And we have a bigger problem than Harry. Someone’s trying to kill Chloe.”
There was dead silence, and then the four of them started firing questions at her at the same time. Once she managed to get a word in, Cat filled them in on what had been happening on the set.
“You have to tell Chloe, Cat. Shut down production until—” her brother began.
“You can’t shut down production. Maddie worked too hard to make it happen,” Skye said. “Besides, they’d probably sue
the town if you did.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” her brother, the district attorney, said. “All right, but at least tell Chloe so she can be on her guard.”
“You’re talking about our sister, Ethan. The one who has a breakdown when she gets a cold,” Cat reminded her brother.
“Okay, you’re right,” Ethan reluctantly agreed. “Does Chloe have anywhere to be today?”
“Yes, there’s a casting call scheduled at the town hall this afternoon, and they’re holding a meet and greet for the fans at the same time.”
“Probably best to come up with an excuse to keep her at home today,” Ethan said.
“That might be tough. I doubt she’ll speak to me, let alone listen to me.” After she’d recovered from her “spell” and Paul had examined her, Chloe tried to kick Cat out of the house, saying that she feared for her life. Then her mother had tried to coerce Cat into staying with them in town. Which she gladly would have done if she didn’t have to protect her sister.
And there may have been a small part of her that didn’t want to leave Chloe alone with Harry. Cat brushed the thought aside. The twinge in her chest when Harry swept Chloe up in his strong arms, depositing her gently on the couch, holding her hand as he crouched by her side, was due to anger at her sister, not jealousy.
“Cat, who are you looking at for this?” Chance asked.
“So far, I’ve narrowed it down to three people: George, Molly, and Sam.”
“You can count me in when we get back to town. We fly home tomorrow night. Easton’s… on a job, but he should be able to give us a hand, too.” Chance paused. “On second thought, we’ll use him as a last resort. The way he feels about Chloe, we’d probably have to add him to your suspect list.”
“Send me whatever you have on them, Cat. And I’ll start digging on my end,” Vivi said with a touch of excitement in her voice. There was nothing the former investigative-crime reporter liked more than working on a case. Vivi’s passion and ambition to get the story drove her overprotective fiancé a little nuts, which probably meant the grumbling Cat heard in the background came from Chance.
