“So, is that a yes?”
“I love Japanese food. What time should I pick you up? And where is it?”
“The reservation is for seven, and it’s the old Longhorn Prime Rib.”
He laughed. “I know it well. Okay then, seven it is.”
“And you won’t be paying, either. My boss wants me to show up for the grand opening, and he’s picking up the tab for both of us.”
“So I’m part of your assignment?”
“You’re dessert,” she blurted, her hand shooting up to cover her mouth.
“I like the way you think, Jordan. Nothing tastes better than free food.” He paused. “And delicious dessert.”
Before she could respond, he said, “Hold on.”
She heard his muffled voice explaining about the restaurant, which gave her cause for concern. She hoped whoever he was telling hadn’t caught the subliminal message in their dessert banter.
“Sorry. Your brother’s here and wanted the details. Since we can’t really connect the monkshood from the greenhouse to Rusty’s killer, we’re working on what our next move should be. Gotta run. I’ll see you around six thirty.”
She hung up and unwrapped the Ho Ho she’d taken from the drawer, deciding it would be lunch for the day. With free food on the line, it would be a sin to go to the restaurant any other way but starving. She loved Japanese food. The visual of just the two of them finally alone and maybe even drinking a little sake while their very own chef prepared chicken fried rice in front of them was enough to get her through the rest of the day.
“Isn’t this fun? All of us together for your last night in town?” Victor held up his drink and the others followed suit. “To good friends and free food.”
Jordan stole a glance toward Alex, and he responded by squeezing her knee under the table. She’d be the first to toast good friends and free food.
Just not tonight.
“Hey, Jordan, this was a great idea,” Danny said. “Don’t you think so, Sandy?”
Sandy nodded as Danny leaned in closer to whisper something in her ear. Apparently it was funny, because Sandy actually giggled. Watching her brother at work with the opposite sex was not high on her list of favorite ways to spend an evening.
With his hand now massaging Jordan’s knee, Alex turned to Michael. “So tell me again how you managed to get a free meal out of this?”
“KTLK FM. I knew my job would come in handy one of these days.” Michael and Victor fist-bumped.
“Even if the owner took out an ad, I still don’t get how you wrangled gratis meals for—” Jordan stopped to count. “Six people.”
“It’s not an ad, Jordan, that’s how. Instead of him paying hundreds of dollars for a thirty-second spot tomorrow, I’m going to talk about how I ate here and how I liked the food.”
Victor slapped his partner on the back. “That’s freaking brilliant, Michael. Aren’t you glad our Rosie thought of it when Danny told her that Alex and Jordan were coming here tonight?”
Jordan shot Rosie a look that said she’d deal with her later.
So much for a nice romantic dinner for two. But she still had high hopes for the after party. Surely, the gang wasn’t planning a sleepover at Alex’s tonight.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the chef appeared to cook their meal, with the waiter on his heels, carrying another round of drinks. Given her history with alcohol, she’d already decided she would be a teetotaler tonight. She wanted to remember every single detail in the morning. Glancing toward Alex, she wondered if he was thinking the same thing. He’d barely touched his first drink and waved off a second.
She’d waited long enough for some alone time with him, and there was no way she would ruin it by falling asleep before they even made it back to his place.
She jumped as a huge flame ignited in the middle of the cooking surface at the center of their table, and her eyes focused on the onion volcano in front of the chef that had everyone cheering.
For the next twenty minutes, the chef entertained them with culinary skills she’d give up her Ho Hos to have. When they were finally eating the delicious meal, the owner stopped by to introduce himself to Jordan and Michael.
Unlike the last time she’d reviewed a restaurant, Jordan didn’t have to pretend she liked the food. “Honestly, Mr. Tamaki, this was so much fun tonight. And the food was first class. My readers will be flocking here in droves after I mention this.”
“And my listeners will be right behind them,” Michael added.
For a second, Jordan thought the man was going to tear up, and he bowed several times.
After he left, Danny stretched his legs under the table and pushed his plate away. “I can’t eat another bite. It was the best steak I’ve ever eaten.”
“Speaking of steaks,” Ray said, leaning around Lola to talk to Danny. “How’s your investigation coming along? Catch any cow thieves yet?”
“No, but I will.”
“Did you ever figure out how those stolen cows they found in Kansas ended up with a legitimate bill of sale? Can the owner explain how that happened?”
“You know we can’t talk about an ongoing case, Ray.” Danny chugged what was left of his drink before continuing. “I will tell you this much. The guy still swears he never sold those cows to the rancher. When he investigated further, he had several Wagyu missing from his herd, too. Sooner or later, someone is going to make a big mistake, and we’ll send them all to jail where they belong.”
“Maybe they already have made a mistake, Danny. Did you ever think of that?” Jordan asked.
He dismissed her comment with an am-I-stupid look, then turned to Alex. “That reminds me. Did you bring the pictures you got off Delaney’s computer down at the station?”
Alex pulled out his cell phone and handed it to Jordan, who took a quick peek at the first photo and then did a double take rather than pass the phone to Danny. “Wait, I know him.”
Danny scrambled out of his seat and came around to see what she was looking at. “Who is he, sis?”
“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “He just looks familiar. Alex?”
“He’s one of six guys with rap sheets who work at Taylor’s Wagyu Ranch.”
“What are you talking about?” Ray asked, stretching across the table as he tried in vain to get a look at Alex’s phone.
“Sorry, Ray. As much as I’d like to bring you in on this, I can’t.” Alex retrieved his phone and shoved it back into his pocket. “Well, guys, it’s been fun, but I want to have Jordan to myself for a few hours before I hop on that plane in the morning.”
“Sandy and I will ride with you.”
Jordan turned to her brother and glared. “No, you and Sandy will not ride with us. You came with Ray—you’re leaving with him.”
Danny narrowed his eyes, then laughed. “Okay, okay. I can take a hint.” He turned to Alex. “I don’t know when I’ll get to see you again, but I hope it’s sooner rather than later.”
“Me too.” Alex shook Danny’s hand, then reached for Jordan’s. “Come on. We have a lot of good-byes to say.” He nudged her toward the door.
Jordan giggled, then scolded herself for acting like a teenager. She was twenty-eight years old, for God’s sake. She said good-bye to her friends and made a face at Victor when he whispered in her ear, “The man makes those jeans look like they were made for his tush.”
She decided Victor had perfect eyesight when Alex walked away and she had the opportunity to see for herself.
On the ride to his house, they were strangely quiet, as if neither of them knew what to say.
Finally Alex broke the silence. “I have no idea when I’ll see you again.”
Jordan took a deep breath, afraid to meet his gaze, afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back her emotions. She didn’t know if she loved this man or not, but she was positive she’d never felt this way about anyone else. Not even her love affair with her college sweetheart compared to this, and she’d followed him all
over Texas after graduation, fully intending to marry him.
Of course, that was before she found out his intentions were a little different and involved a petite blond weather girl. The gold digger had used him to move up the ladder and then dumped him for the station manager.
She couldn’t help but appreciate the poetic justice.
It had always been about Brett back then, and although she still loved him on some level, she’d never felt for him what she felt for Alex.
“What are you thinking about?” Alex asked.
She sniffed, cursing her female hormones. “How much I’m going to miss you.” Gulping a few times, she finally trusted her voice. “You scare me and excite me all at the same time.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Welcome to my world, Jordan McAllister. I’ve faced the worst criminals in the world, seen the most heinous human behavior imaginable, yet in my heart, I know that after tonight, nothing will ever be the same.” He glanced her way for a second. “And trust me when I say that scares the hell out of me.”
She moved closer, swiping at her eyes. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear, Moreland. Now, put the pedal to the metal and get me back to your place before I really give you something to fear.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jordan rolled over in bed and reached for Alex. When she came up empty except for the cold sheet, she called his name. Hearing no response, she sat up, noticing the light on in the living room through the slightly ajar door. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she reached for the button-down shirt Alex had worn to the restaurant that was now lying in a heap on the floor along with the rest of their clothes.
As soon as she put her arms in the sleeves, the smell of his aftershave, a pleasant, musky scent, wafted up, bringing memories of the last couple of hours. She felt a rush of warmth travel through her body when she opened the door and saw him on the sofa staring at his phone.
As she entered the living room, he glanced up and grinned, patting the sofa next to him. “I don’t think I’ll ever wear that shirt again without thinking of you.”
She sat down beside him, unable to hide the concern she knew must be all over her face. “Is something the matter, Alex? Did you get bad news?”
Outlining her lips with his fingertip, he held her eyes captive, sending chills up her arms. “Nothing like that. I’m just taking a final look at all the information we have on the poisoning, that’s all. I hate leaving my doctor friend without anything to go on.”
She leaned in and pressed her lips against his. “You’re not. If it weren’t for you, the police wouldn’t have discovered all that monkshood at Karen’s greenhouse.”
“That was because of you, not me,” he interrupted. “I just wish I had a little more evidence for him to go on.”
She snuggled closer and looked at the phone where the same photo she’d recognized earlier flashed by in a slide show with several other faces.
“Go back,” she shouted, waiting until he came to the picture again. “It’s the guy that I said looked familiar at the restaurant. It’s killing me that I can’t remember where I’ve seen him before.”
“His name is Jake Richards. He hauls cattle for the Taylors.” He showed her the rest of the pictures. “These are the only six employees at the ranch who have records.”
“Geez! Why would a smart guy like Marcus Taylor hire someone with a record?”
“Everyone deserves a second chance, Jordan. We discovered Marcus himself could have ended up with a different life had it not been for a wealthy cattle owner who saw something good in him and gave him another opportunity.”
She huffed. “My money’s on a past that included assault and battery. And he’s so jealous and control—” She gasped, pointing at his phone. After staring at the phone for several seconds, she was sure.
“What?” he asked, watching her intensely.
“This guy was at the Cattlemen’s Ball. I remember noticing his crooked nose and wondering if he was a boxer. He was the one who served our drinks.”
CHAPTER 17
Still thinking about the good-bye kiss Alex had given her on his way out the door that morning, Jordan nearly collided with Sandy, who greeted her as soon as she walked into the newsroom.
“I had a great time last night, Jordan. Your friends made me feel so welcomed.” She giggled. “Especially Danny.”
“Yeah, he’s a real gem.” Jordan bit her lip to hide a grin. When she’d returned to her apartment before coming to work, there had been no sign of Danny. Either he’d already been out and about, or he’d enjoyed some dessert of his own. Considering that his damp towel wasn’t littering the bathroom floor as usual, her money was on the latter.
“He’s such a sweetheart,” Sandy gushed. “Even went out and brought back my favorite doughnuts for breakfast.”
Bingo!
As much as she and her brother constantly teased one another, Jordan was glad he had finally hooked up with a girl their mother wouldn’t have to scare off with stories about his childhood. Jordan could still remember how mad he’d get at her, but it had worked every time. Sylvia McAllister could run off even the most persistent bad girl.
“Jordan, did you hear me?”
She blinked a few times, willing her mind back to the present. “Sorry. I was thinking about how happy it would make my mother to see Danny with a sweet girl like you. What were you saying?”
“I tried to spend the night at the lake house the other day, and I just couldn’t do it.”
“Did you hear the knocking again?” In her head, Jordan was already planning another séance, but this time she’d make sure her brother and Victor didn’t show up and ruin it.
“No, but my imagination got the best of me, and I couldn’t make it to my car fast enough. I was gone by eleven.” Sandy swallowed, obviously trying to stop the tears from forming in the corners of her eyes. “I might as well resign myself to the fact that I won’t be able to save Grandpa’s house.”
Jordan patted her arm. “Don’t give up so easily. You said there was no pounding. That’s a start.”
“Not really,” the girl said, sniffing. “I usually hear it around two or three in the morning and only on the weekends. But I can’t go back out there. What if Lola didn’t get rid of the ghosts? What if she only made them angry and they take it out on me?” Her entire body began to shake.
Jordan drew her close. “That’s not how ghosts work. They’re just ordinary people like you and me who need closure before they can enter the spirit world.” She closed her eyes remembering Poltergeist. The ghosts in that movie were anything but good spirits.
“I still can’t go back.” Sandy sighed, pulling away. “I’m going to call the bank this afternoon and start the paperwork on the foreclosure. No sense delaying the inevitable any longer. Maybe then I can quit worrying about paying the back taxes and get on with my life. Let someone else deal with the ghosts.”
“Don’t do that yet. Isn’t it worth one more try before you throw in the towel?”
Sandy shook her head. “I wish I were as brave as you, Jordan, but I’m not.”
“What if I spend Friday and Saturday night out there with you? Together, we’ll scare the ghosts away once and for all.”
Sandy’s eyes lit up. “You’d do that? You’re not afraid?”
Jordan laughed. “Terrified, but we’ll team up and send those poor lost souls back to where they can be at peace. We can leave directly from work Friday and head out there.” She saw a smidgeon of hope forming in Sandy’s eyes. “It’ll be fun. I’ll even bring some games, and we can stop for wings or something on the way out.”
Sandy threw her arms around Jordan and squeezed. “You’re such a good friend, Jordan. Gramps has a fishing boat and several bicycles. The house sits on a cove with a great bicycle trail, plus I can give you a tour of the lake in the boat.”
“I can’t wait,” Jordan said, remembering the view of Lake Texoma from her table facing the water the last time she
ate at Longhorn Prime Rib.
Watching Sandy walk back to her own cubicle, Jordan concentrated on coming up with a good lie to tell Danny, so he wouldn’t show up this time. Maybe she’d say she was going to spend the weekend with a friend, and without naming names, give him the impression that friend was Brenda Sue Taylor.
She frowned. That idea had one major flaw. Brenda Sue was no longer speaking to her after her house had been ransacked by the police in the middle of the night. Jordan could still hear her usually soft voice shouting obscenities in that cute southern drawl, accusing her of befriending her only so she could spy for her brother.
That wasn’t true, of course. The real reason she’d gone out to Brenda Sue’s house was to find out about Maria and Diego, but somewhere along the way, Jordan had discovered she actually liked the woman. It was highly unlikely they could ever be friends now. Danny knew that as well since he’d been in the living room when Brenda Sue called and had made no attempt to cover up his overt eavesdropping.
Her thoughts wandered back to Sandy and the upcoming weekend. Jordan really didn’t believe in ghosts, but Sandy was so convinced they were there, even thinking about it made Jordan uncomfortable. Despite putting up a brave front for her friend, she was more than a little squeamish about actually spending the night in that house. As always, her mouth had opened before her brain had time to filter her thoughts. She’d popped off about spending the weekend out there with her friend, and now she’d have to go through with it.
But not without liquor.
She decided she’d stop on her way home and pick up a bottle of Baileys just in case they’d depleted Sandy’s supply making Almond Balls the last time. The expensive liqueur would put a huge dent in her budget for the month, but it definitely qualified as one of those rainy-day emergencies.
Despite her plan to drink more than her fair share, Jordan had no illusions about getting any sleep out there. She’d run over to Lola’s apartment when she got home and borrow one of her bazillion paperback mysteries. On second thought, Jordan decided that might not be such a great idea. She’d better stick to a romance novel.
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