Obviously nervous, Lacy propped on the edge of the desk. Nina placed her hands over her rounded stomach and forced a smile. “I need to tell you something.”
Worry in her voice, Beth asked, “Is something wrong with the baby?”
Her eyes lit up at the mention of her baby. “No, he or she is great. I think I’m carrying a punt kicker.” Grant and Nina decided not to find out the sex of their baby. Both wanted to be surprised at the birth.
She glanced at Beth, then Lacy before quickly looking at the floor. “I know this might not be a good time to admit what I’ve done, but the guilt is eating me up inside. I can’t bear the burden of secrets.”
Beth took a step and placed her hands on Nina’s shoulders. “Tell us already. You’re scaring me.”
Nina took several calming breaths as she met Beth’s gaze. “After mom and dad died, I packed up everything on the desk intending to go through the papers at a later date.” She pressed her lips together and chewed on her bottom lip. “I finally got around to going through them last night.” She hesitated. She reached for the stamped envelope on the desk and handed it to Beth.
Beth took a step back so Lacy could see what all the drama was about. Looking over Beth’s shoulder, Lacy scanned the document after it was opened. Her hand covered her mouth. “Dad did have a life insurance policy. I knew he wouldn’t leave us destitute.”
A check fluttered to the floor. Beth stooped and picked it up. It was dated two days before they died. “The check was never sent.”
Nina’s soft whisper could barely be heard. “It was my fault the check was never sent. I never considered there might have been something that needed to be mailed. If I would have seen the envelope on the desk where dad had left it, we would have received one million dollars.”
The room was deathly quiet. Lacy could hear the tick tock of the clock on the wall. “We could have paid off all the debts. We would…”
Beth interrupted, “You would never have rented out the room in the barn to Grant. You would never have met him and I would never have met Josh.”
Lacy propped against the desk next to Nina. “Beth is correct.” She took the document from Beth and handed it to Nina. “If you would have sent the check, our lives would probably be very different.”
Nina placed the document on the desk as if she didn’t want to touch it. “So you are not upset with me?”
Lacy picked up the document and tore it into tiny pieces. “Of course not.” She threw the paper in the air and all three laughed as it floated to the floor. “I have two fabulous brother-in-laws because that envelope was never mailed. I call that fate.”
“Are you ladies ready to eat?” Grant waited in the doorway not sure if he should come any farther. “By your smiles I guess they took the news well. I don’t see strangle marks around your neck where they tried to kill you.”
Beth and Lacy hurried toward Grant. Each kissed him on the cheek. “Why would we be upset? It’s only money.” Lacy leaned her head against his shoulder. “Money doesn’t make you happy.” Beth and Lacy took a step back.
He offered his hand to Nina. “Come, let’s eat. Everyone is waiting for us.” She took his hand and he pulled her into his embrace. “I told you not to worry.”
Lacy watched her sister lean into the man she loved with all her heart. All three of them had found love.
****
Bret Robertson punched his pillow as he tried to get comfortable on the horrid cot that would be his bed for the duration of his stay in prison. But then he didn’t intend to stay much longer. With the help of his father, he planned to break out of the hell hole as soon as he felt the time was right. Incarceration had him climbing the walls. He needed a drink. He needed a woman.
White’s loud snores vibrated off the ceiling. He considered placing White’s pillow over his face and suffocating him. It couldn’t make matters worse than they already were. One more crime wouldn’t make any difference. But then his next cell mate might not be as agreeable as White. He was being very cautious so his prison stay wouldn’t get extended.
After he got comfortable, he took out his flashlight and lay on his back looking at the picture one of his friends had photo shopped of Lacy. He managed to get the photo by the guards and into his cell after a visit from one of his frat brothers. He prayed Davidson and Wheeler, dumb and dumber, as he liked to call them, didn’t search his cell again.
It might not be her body, but was definitely her gorgeous face. Actually, the body was a Victoria Secret model. His friend had placed Lacy’s face on the body to make it look like she was a slut. He had distributed the photos all over Duke’s campus. The stupid bastard should never have used a model’s body. Everyone recognized the red and black teddy as one of Victoria Secrets and realized the photo was a scam.
He closed his eyes and went back to the night he drugged and raped Tiffany Swift. God, she had been so beautiful. He had met her at a party. Shy and timid, it took a lot of effort to get her to warm up to him, but that was part of her allure. The moment he gained her trust, he slipped some ecstasy into her drink. Everyone thought she had had too much to drink and didn’t think anything out of the ordinary when he helped her to his car. Bret stroked his erection as he fantasized about Tiffany.
Everything was okay until Chad Grey showed up and threatened to tell everyone what he had done if he didn’t share her with him. Grey was high on cocaine and out of control. Before he could stop Grey, he choked the very life out of Tiffany. He begged him to stop but he couldn’t pull him off her. The sight of his hands around her neck, sounds of her gasping for breath still haunted him.
Grey was so stoned Bret had to dispose of the body himself. If anyone had discovered what they had done, his basketball career would be over. He couldn’t let that happen.
An ugly, little laugh escaped his lips. Now there was a chance he’d get a life sentence. He held Chad Grey responsible. He thought of Dylan Bauer. He whispered, “I also hold you responsible Agent Bauer.” The man had been relentless to prove he had raped other women. If Dylan would have left things as they were, he would be a free man instead of behind bars.
He would have his revenge. The moment he escaped from prison, he would kill Dylan Bauer and Lacy Reynolds. He never had the urge to murder until now. His hatred had simmered to a full boil after months in prison. Someone would pay for the pain he had endured. They would not get away with destroying his life.
****
Lacy and Dylan sat on the sofa waiting for Michelle. He looked at his watch. “What is taking her so long?”
“I don’t know.” But Lacy did know. Even though Michelle kept trying to convince her she had no feelings for Scott, Lacy didn’t believe her. By her behavior tonight, she was attracted to Scott.
They had gone shopping at the mall earlier in the day so Michelle could buy a dress for Sherry’s party. Usually, Michelle didn’t have patience for shopping. It had taken her an hour to decide which dress to purchase. In the end Lacy had to help pay for the dress since it was above her budget. Another first for Michelle, taking money from Lacy. She was very proud and had never done so in the past. For some reason she wanted to look great for the party and she felt that reason was Scott.
Michelle had pretended uninterested when Sherry sent Dylan, Lacy, and Michelle an invitation to her twenty-first birthday party. She just sat on the sofa staring at her computer as if it were more interesting. She didn’t even bother reading it when Lacy had offered the elegant invitation, said she’d read it later. Lacy had seen through her facade and knew she was eager to see Scott.
Dylan tucked his finger into his collar to loosen his tie. “I don’t like wearing monkey suits.”
“It looks very nice on you.” She straightened the black tie. “I kind of like you in a suit.”
“I don’t look as nice as you, or should I say hot. Is that a new dress?”
“No, it was one of my mother’s. I didn’t see any point in buying a new dress when my mother has a closet full.”
She smoothed her fingers over the black dress that fit her figure like a glove. She thought of the last time she had seen her mother wear the dress. Her parents had been going to a gala at the country club. Both looked striking, happy, and in love. It seemed like yesterday.
“Practical and sexy. I’m a lucky man.”
“The opposite of me, my mother loved to shop. Nina and I have more dresses than we’ll ever wear.”
“What about Beth?”
“Beth can’t get her ass in any of mom’s dresses. She’s much too curvy.” She flicked a hand over the dress. “In fact, Nina wore this dress on her first date with Grant.” She leaned in closer and whispered in his ear, “It brought her luck so I’m sure I’ll get lucky tonight.”
“Woman, you are turning me on.” He was on her in an instant. Flat on her back, Dylan straddled her. His hand found its way inside her dress and along her thigh. Tingles spread through her system. He devoured her mouth.
“Would you two please give it a rest?”
Dylan lifted his head and gazed at Michelle in time to see her roll her eyes. “I see why it took you so long to get ready, Fireball. You look gorgeous.”
She patted her upswept hair and twirled in a circle. “I love this dress.” The emerald green dress shimmered in the light. “I feel like Cinderella. I just hope I don’t find myself wearing rags at twelve o’clock.” She fluttered her lashes and asked, “How do you like my shoes.”
“What does it matter, no one will be looking at your shoes.”
She peered down at her chest squeezing her breasts together. “Do you think I’m showing too much cleavage?”
Dylan smiled wickedly. “I don’t think so.”
Lacy pushed at his shoulders. He fell off the sofa with a thud. She struggled off the sofa and smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress. Color seeped into her cheeks. Michelle giggled and pointed a finger at her head. “You need to go fix your hair. Rolling around on the sofa has destroyed your hair style. Looks like you have been rolling around in a haystack.”
“Sounds intriguing.” Dylan pushed off the floor. “Ladies, we’d better be leaving or we’ll be late. While you ladies think that it is okay to be fashionably late, we gentlemen like to be punctual, especially this gentleman.” Michelle offered him a hand and pulled him to his feet.
“I’ll fix my hair. It won’t take me but a moment.”
Dylan started to follow Lacy to the bedroom, but Michelle caught his arm and jerked him around. “I thought you said you didn’t want to be late. If you go to the bedroom with Lacy while she is wearing that dress, we’ll never get to the party.”
He smiled. “She does look stunning.” His eyes shifted to Michelle. “What do you think about Scott?”
“Why do you ask?”
He flicked a finger across her cheek. “Don’t play innocent with me. You see the way he looks at you. The man has it bad.” His eyes stopped on her cleavage. “That dress is going to drive him over the edge.”
Michelle moved to the counter and grabbed her matching clutch. “I’m not ready for a relationship. Men can’t be trusted.”
“Do you want me to do a background check on Scott?”
Tilting her head, she gave Dylan a long stare. “No, because I’m not interested in Scott. I’m not interested in any man.”
Keep telling yourself that, thought Dylan. Michelle might not want to admit to herself, but he knew. She had a thing for Scott Wallace.
Lacy returned with a red velvet case in her hand. “I had Josh drop this off today. I thought it would look great with your dress.”
Michelle took the case and opened it. Inside was Hilda’s emerald necklace. Ten green stones sparkled up at her, the center one the size of a baby’s fist. “Oh, my gosh! I can’t wear this. It’s much too valuable.”
“Sure you can.” Lacy took it out of the case and stepped behind Michelle latching the necklace around her neck.
Michelle ran her fingers over the stones. “I’m afraid I’ll lose it.”
“You’re not going to lose it. The latch is very sturdy.”
“Are you going to wear the rubies?”
“No, I prefer the pearls. I think they look better with black.” Dylan picked up Lacy’s camera that was on the counter. “Smile ladies.”
Both looked into the camera and smiled. Lacy felt blessed to have the man of her dreams and a friend like Michelle. They had helped her to heal after Billy’s death.
Chapter Twelve
“Now I really feel like Cinderella.”
“Me too.” Lacy giggled.
Standing between them, Dylan gaped at the front of the Wallace Mansion. Five miles outside of Raleigh, the one hundred acre estate sprawled over green pastures and forests. “It’s even fancier than I imagined.” Five huge, white columns stood three stories high across the front of the red brick mansion. “What do people do with all that room?”
“It seems a bit excessive to me.” Michelle laughed nervously.
He tugged them toward the front steps. “Let’s see how you ladies are going to navigate the steps in those shoes. I hope no one breaks an ankle.”
Michelle dug her heels into the pavement. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to go inside.”
Dylan gripped her arm tighter and pulled her along. “Too late for second thoughts now, Fireball. Where’s all that spirit and courage?”
“Suddenly I feel like a sow’s ear. I don’t think I want to hobnob with the rich and privileged.”
“Nonsense, you and Lacy will be the prettiest women at the party. You’ll fit right in.” Before Dylan had time to ring the doorbell, Sherry opened the door, a dazzling smile on her shapely lips. The white knee length dress looked perfect on her tall figure. Her matching flat shoes looked much more comfortable than the ones Lacy had chosen to wear. “Thank you for coming.” She opened the door wider and stepped to the side so they could enter.
Michelle replied, “We wouldn’t have missed it.” When he snorted, she elbowed Dylan in the ribs.
“Happy Birthday.” Lacy would have felt better if they’d brought a gift for Sherry. The invitation said no gifts. Anyway, she doubted they had enough money to buy the kind of gift she was accustomed to receiving for her birthdays. Prada handbags and accessories were much too expensive for her budget.
“Thank you, Lacy. You guys look great.” Her mouth fell open. “Is that emerald necklace real?”
Michelle’s fingers fumbled with the emerald stones. “Yes, but it belongs to Lacy. She was kind enough to let me borrow it.”
Sherry leaned over and examined the necklace causing Michelle to feel even more uncomfortable. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. Where did you ever find something so unusual?”
“The necklace has been in my family for over a hundred years. I have some other pieces I’ll show you the next time you visit Twelve Oaks.”
She straightened to her full height. “I can’t wait to see them.”
Everything gleamed and shined as they followed Sherry to the ballroom. Classical music softly played. The navy and white tiled floor glistened from the many chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Urns adorned with pussy willow, pomegranates, and red branches lined one wall. Extraordinary opulence and elegance was everywhere Lacy looked. Well, almost everywhere. She had to swallow a giggle when they stopped in front of a huge fireplace. The mantel was massed with statues of golfers in loud, plaid pants in unusual poses. Beth had said Scott’s father loved to play golf in his spare time. The statues were garish and flashy, the total opposite of the rest of the room. Guests moved around the huge dance floor talking and laughing.
“Appetizer?”
Sherry took one of the small crab cakes from the tray offered by a female servant dressed in black and white and popped it in her mouth. “Delicious, you have to try one.”
Each of them took a crab cake. “Thank you, Mary.” The servant smiled then crossed the room offering appetizers to the other guests.
Michelle took small nibbles and
looked around the huge room. Lacy wondered if she was looking for Scott.
“We eat in an hour.” She pointed at the bar across the room. “Enjoy the drinks and appetizers.” She made her way from guest to guest. Funny, she didn’t seem so shy around her guests. Maybe it was only strangers that made her uneasy.
“I’ll get you a Pepsi, Lacy. How about you Michelle?”
“I’ve always wanted to try a martini; shaken not stirred.”
“It’s not your birthday. You’re not twenty-one yet. While on my watch you’ll have a Pepsi.”
Michelle licked out her tongue at Dylan. He ignored her as he made his way toward the bar on the other side of the room. “It’s hard to believe your boyfriend was once a drug dealer. He seems awfully serious to me.”
Still holding a little crab cake, Lacy popped it into her mouth, chewed, then swallowed. “You know he cares about you. You haven’t gone to a party or had a drink since Chad Grey was arrested. Maybe it’s a good time to stop drinking.” Lacy laughed. “Or maybe until you turn twenty-one. Even you have to admit you were doing a lot of partying.”
“I hate to admit it, but I do feel better since I stopped drinking. Hangovers are not fun.”
Lacy touched her fingers to Michelle’s cheek. “You look better. Your skin is gorgeous.”
Michelle smiled. “Here you are giving me compliments when you’re the prettiest person I know.”
Over Michelle’s head, Lacy saw Scott approaching. He was jaw-dropping handsome in the white starched shirt. “I was afraid you weren’t coming.” He bowed and gallantly kissed the back of Michelle’s hand. His eyes stopped on the emerald necklace glinting against her creamy chest. “Great emeralds.”
Her fingers stroked the expensive necklace. “Thank you. It belongs to Lacy.”
Obviously nervous, Michelle kept fidgeting with the emerald stones. “Quite a shindig.”
“Yes, mother knows how to throw a party.” For seconds he stood staring at Michelle taking in every inch of her. Finally, he asked, “Where’s Dylan?”
Blood of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Book 4) Page 15
