by Emma Ames
“Appreciate the information.”
“Is Mrs. Weston in trouble? When a Texas Ranger shows up, it usually means bad news. No offense.”
“None taken. I’m investigating Mrs. Weston’s murder.”
Ridge left with a bounce in his step. Marlene and Kyle Richmond. As Bubba would say. ‘This just keeps gettin’ better and better.’ Amen, Bubba.
According to the sign, Richmond Trucking furnished 24/7 towing, hauling, recovery, and repair. As Ridge parked, he eyed the garage. Ten bays, all occupied with trucks and an army of mechanics.
The receptionist was missing when Ridge stepped inside the small office, but a door behind the desk displayed a gold plaque that read “Kyle Richmond.” Ridge knocked, and a voice from the other side said, “Come in.”
Richmond had dark brown hair, blue eyes, and was tall enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ridge. He didn’t seem surprised to have a Texas Ranger in his office. Kyle extended his hand. “I wondered when you’d show up.”
Ridge glanced around the room. The guy matched his décor—slick. He wore a chunky gold nugget ring with a cluster of diamonds and a Rolex watch.
“So you’ve been expecting me?” Ridge clasped hands with him and sat.
Richmond eased into his chair. “I figured I’d blip on the radar at some point. To answer your questions, yes, I was having an affair with Marlene. Yes, it had been going on for a while. Yes, Carl knew, and no, I didn’t kill her. Anything else?”
“How long is a while, and I’d like details, not yes-and-no answers.” Ridge displayed his patented stone-cold stare.
Richmond leaned back in his chair. “We were an item in high school, but you know that by now. After we hooked back up at our fifteen-year class reunion, she called and wanted to get together again. What the hell? My marriage was on the rocks, so I told her to let me know when and where.”
He appeared to be enjoying his story because he was smiling. There must be a punch line coming.
“We’d meet once or twice a month, usually at the Radcliff, and then we’d go back to our lives.” He rocked in his chair and sipped from a coffee mug. “I’d never met a woman like Marlene.
Ridge could hardly contain himself. “Do you know if she was having an affair with anyone else?”
“No. But I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Would it bother you if she had been seeing someone else?”
“Listen. She and I weren’t in love if that’s what you’re getting at. I’ve seen other women all along, so if she’d been seeing other men, that would have been okay with me.”
“And you say Carl knew and didn’t care?”
“Right. He and Marlene didn’t love each other. Their marriage was more or less arranged by their families. They agreed from the start they’d be truthful with each other. Truthful, but not faithful. Carl had his woman, and Marlene had me.”
“What do you mean, he had his woman?”
Richmond laughed. “He’s been banging his secretary from day one, and Marlene knew it. They had ground rules. They couldn’t bring their lovers to their house, and they had to be discreet. Marlene made excuses to come to Dallas until the kids were in college. Then she used them as the reason. It was a lot easier for Carl. He’s got a bike trail from his house to Leah’s through the woods. He can go to her place without ever leaving his property.”
Ridge leaned forward and rested his arms on Kyle’s desk. “Did you ever meet Marlene at her lake house?”
He lifted his brows and lowered his chin. “Wasn’t aware she had a lake house. We only met at the Radcliff, and my apartment a few times.”
“You got an alibi for the night of the murder?”
Kyle opened a drawer and handed Ridge a piece of paper. “Here’s the number of the woman I was with. Should be easy enough for you to check out. Damn shame about Marlene. I’ll miss her.”
Back at his apartment, Ridge showered, then pulled on a tee-shirt and running shorts. Before he returned to Brownsboro, he’d change clothes before heading to Bubba and Rayann’s party. His thoughts went back to the case and how everyone considered Marlene and Boone different, but they were alike. She wouldn’t stand up to her parents to be with Kyle, and Boone wouldn’t stand up to Marlene to be with Tizzy.
Ridge had one more stop to make before he left the city, to pick up a gift for Gracie. But before he could get away, someone knocked. When he answered it, his neighbor, Ava Carlisle, stood in the afternoon sun. Auburn hair, blue eyes, and all legs, she stepped inside. “Hey, stranger.” She tiptoed to kiss him.
Damn, she smelled good. He pulled away. “Ava.” The usual rush of arousal didn’t happen.
“Apparently you’re not as glad to see me as I am you. Were you leaving without a hello?”
“Figured you had flights, and our paths wouldn’t cross this trip.” He picked up his briefcase and laid it on the bed.
She slipped her arms around him again and nuzzled at his neck. “You can’t be in that big of a hurry. I’m off the next two days, and I hoped we could spend time together.”
He shrugged away and averted his eyes. “Just not going to work out, sorry.”
She took a step back. “What’s going on, Ridge? Why so distant?”
“I have to get back to Brownsboro, that’s all.”
She made herself at home, sat on the bed, and looked up at him. “You’ve met someone in that hick town, haven’t you? Who is she? A little country bumpkin with pigtails and freckles?”
It wasn’t any of her business who he dated. But things had changed, and he should explain. He owed her that much. He locked his eyes on hers. “If I ever led you to believe our relationship was serious, I’m sorry.”
“Relax. I’m not about to throw a fit. You made it clear from the beginning what you and I were all about. We had fun together, and now it’s over. I get it. No hard feelings. Be honest with me. You have met someone. Right?”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I have.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Tizzy sat on her back patio, watched the sunrise, and remembered what her Grandma Perry used to say. ‘With each new day comes the promise of hope, happiness, and possibility.’ Then why didn’t she feel happy or hopeful?
She slanted her eyes over at the azalea sitting on the porch, went to the faucet, and turned the spigot. She gave the plant a good soaking, drew a deep breath, then exhaled. Still not happy or hopeful.
Rayann was right. Inviting Jared to the party had been a bad idea. Tizzy had been impulsive, which was out of character when it came to men. She bit her bottom lip, sucked in more air, and tried to clear her head. Her goal today would be to make the best of the situation. At least Ridge wouldn’t be there to distract her.
She could pull off a few hours of pretending to be happy. Lord knew she’d done enough of that for the last several years. It wasn’t fair to Jared. She was using him as a diversion. On the bright side, maybe he’d be so charming she’d develop feelings for him and block Ridge Cooper from her mind. It could happen.
Hours later, guilt-ridden about her date, she stared into her closet and wondered if she’d made the right choice about what to wear. She’d bought the dress specifically for the party but was having second thoughts. Was it too fancy? She stepped into it and pulled up the zipper. White cotton, with a soft ruffle accenting the neckline from front to back. She put pearl studs into her earlobes and focused on her reflection in the mirror. Not bad. With that final assessment, she grabbed her purse and headed out the door.
Tizzy loved her childhood home. The large ranch style rested on land which had been in her family for over a hundred years. To get to there, she veered off the county road onto Lavender Lane and drove two more miles before she angled onto the long caliche driveway that led to the house.
The woods around the property always brought childhood memories to mind. Days spent climbing trees, playing Jane, while first cousin, Jinx, played Tarzan. She missed him. He was up for re-enlistment, and Sug
arpie had told her he didn’t intend to sign again. Maybe before the summer ended, he’d be back home.
Her eyes drifted to the three large barns that sat behind the house. Jumping from the loft onto mountains of hay was as much fun now as it was when she was a child. Maybe she’d bring Gracie out here later and teach her how to do it.
A tear escaped as she passed the three red metal buildings. The first one contained Dad’s farm equipment, the second, rolled Coastal Bermuda for the cattle, and the third belonged to her. Climate controlled, the unit housed the four classic cars she’d inherited from Boone.
The collection wasn’t extensive, but Tizzy never felt right about getting rid of them. She frowned, thinking about the Mustang. She’d lost her virginity in it. The worse five-and-half minutes of her life.
She pushed that memory to the back of her brain and thought about the only vehicle that wasn’t vintage. A 2003 golden anniversary red Corvette, Boone’s pride and joy. It was her favorite. Driving it always cheered her up. The way it hugged the road and the power of the engine, or maybe because Boone had loved it so much. She decided long ago to keep it for Gracie. The edition would be a classic by the time she graduated high school.
When she arrived at the house, Pattiecake and Sugarpie were busy decorating. Tables with folding chairs sprinkled the lawn under a canopy of oaks.
Gracie ran to greet Tizzy, and she lifted her into the air and twirled. “You’re beautiful.” She planted a kiss on the child’s sweet face, angelic in her yellow sundress. She put Gracie down, and she took off running.
Freddy and Troy approached. “Hey, let me have your keys, and I’ll move your car to the parking area,” Troy said.
Freddy stepped forward. “Have anything to unload?”
“Oh, I didn’t know we had valet parking.” She laughed. “Sure, I have bags in the trunk. Get those for me, please.”
While the young men carried packages, Tizzy distributed disposable cameras with instructions for guests to take candid shots during the event. She swept her eyes over the grounds. Everything—perfect.
Rayann was radiant in a pastel pink cotton dress. Her long blonde hair fell softly around her face.
Tizzy gave her a warm hug. “You’re gorgeous.”
Rayann twisted her mouth. “Thanks. Where’s your date?”
“I asked him to meet me here.” She faked a smile. “This way, I can avoid the whole should-there-be-a-goodnight-kiss dilemma.”
Bubba, more handsome than Tizzy had ever seen, came to stand beside his bride, then tilted his head and rolled his eyes. “Will there be another date?” He and Rayann were perfect together. Happy, and in love. A pang of envy tightened Tizzy’s chest. “Don’t start with me. I know you and Cooper became fast friends, and you agree with Rayann.”
He raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m not starting anything. It was only a question. Do you like Jared, or is this your way of trying to make Cooper jealous?”
Her eyes flashed. “I’m not trying to make him jealous. He won’t even know about this unless you tell him. Can we please not talk about him?” The sound of a car got Tizzy’s attention. “There’s Jared.” She took off to meet him. It was a good excuse to end the conversation about the one person she didn’t want to think about. Especially today.
Soon, the party was in full swing. While kids played in the pool, Pattiecake and Sugarpie stood guard. Dad tended the grill, and her uncle was in charge of two ice cream makers. Some folks milled around while others sat on the front porch. Tizzy soaked it all in—and wished to see Ridge. Then she pushed the idea from her head. She needed to concentrate on her date and forget about you know who.
Dust kicked up as a vehicle came down the long winding road to the house. As it got closer, she recognized Ridge’s truck. Her stomach knotted. She jumped to her feet and dashed to Rayann’s side. “Who invited him?”
“I did. This is my party. So get over it.”
Tizzy clamped her jaw. “I can’t believe you’ve done this. You knew I wouldn’t want him here. Especially—”
“What, Tizzy? Since you have a date? Well, excuse me. If I’d known you invited Jared, I wouldn’t have asked Cooper. I found out after the fact, and I’m sorry. You’ll just have to deal with it. Do you think you can do that?”
Tizzy gasped, unable to hold in her disgust. “Piece of cake.” What a lie. Panic flooded over her. Having both men in the same location was too much. Thankful for the cover of sunglasses, she couldn’t take her eyes off the new arrival dressed in jeans, denim shirt, both starched to perfection, cowboy boots, a brown Stetson, and a Silver Star bolo. A wave of heat slid across her skin, and she prayed for strength.
Gracie bounced onto the porch. “Trooper Cooper, Trooper Cooper.” She ran to him, and he lifted her into his arms.
“Hey, honey-bunny.”
Gracie hugged him hard. “Momma, Trooper Cooper called me honey-bunny.”
“He’s a silly boy, isn’t he?” Through the dark lens, she met his gaze then quickly turned away. Those blue eyes of his seemed to see right through her.
Gracie placed her hands on Ridge’s cheeks. “Swim with me.”
He gave her a light kiss. “I would, but I didn’t bring a suit.”
“You’re not getting off that easy.” Pattiecake shook her head. “I have swimsuits. All sizes.”
Ridge shrugged. “Okay, I guess I’ll swim. But first, I brought you a surprise.”
Her eyes widened. “What is it?”
“Come with me, and I’ll show you.”
Gracie took his hand, and he led her to his truck, then opened the back door, reached inside, and produced a box. She peered into it and squealed, “Momma! Trooper Cooper brought me a kitty!”
Tizzy walked to the end of the porch. “Cooper! You didn’t!”
In her arms, Gracie cradled a soft, fuzzy, yellow, ball of fur. “She’s so sweet.”
Tizzy knelt beside her daughter, then looked up at Ridge. “Really, Cooper, don’t you think you should have asked before showing up with a pet?”
His lips thinned into a grin. “That was kind of hard to do since you weren’t speaking to me. Besides, you would have said no. I had to go over your head.”
Tizzy’s heart slammed against her ribs. The sight of him with Gracie made her want to cry. She had attached herself like a little spider monkey. Tizzy didn’t know what to do. First, the azalea, and now, the kitten. Ridge Cooper was a dangerous man.
She removed her glasses and narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean over my head?”
“I asked your mom. She approved.”
Tizzy whirled around to find her mother. “Is that true? Did you tell him he could bring Gracie a pet?”
“Simmer down. If you don’t want the kitten at your house, she can keep it here.” She winked at Ridge. “Now, about that swimsuit. Let me show you where they are.”
Tizzy fumed. Mom, Rayann, Bubba, and everyone else were determined to play matchmaker. She took a deep breath and vowed to not let them get the best of her. She returned to Jared, and for the rest of the day, ignored Ridge.
But as the party wound down, her luck ran out, and he headed her way. She moved closer to Jared.
When Ridge reached them, he stuck out his hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Texas Ranger Ridge Cooper. Bubba tells me you’re a lawyer.”
“That’s right. Jared Medina. Nice to meet you.”
Ridge eyed Tizzy and curled his lip. “So now you don’t go anywhere without an attorney?”
“He’s not here as my lawyer. He’s here as my date.” She kept her tone soft and even.
Before he could say anything else, Gracie came running, holding her kitten in one arm and a book in the other. “Read me a story, Trooper Cooper.”
“Okay. But first, have you decided on a name for your kitten?”
Her big brown eyes doubled in size. “I’m gonna name her Cuddles!”
Ridge raked damp strands of hair away from her face. “I like that name.”
<
br /> “C’mon. Read to me and Cuddles.”
Ridge sat, hauled Gracie on to his lap, and began the story. “Once upon a time, pirates sailed the seven seas.”
Tizzy’s heart faltered. It was one of Gracie’s favorite books. She pointed to the red-haired character. “Why does he have that on his eye?”
“That’s a patch. He has something wrong, so he wears it to keep it safe while it heals.”
“Like a boo-boo?”
“Yeah.”
Tizzy wanted to jerk the book out of his hands. Why did he have to be so patient with Gracie? Why did Gracie have to love him so much? She looked at him with the same affection she did her grandfather. Damn Ridge Cooper for stealing the little girl’s heart. When he left, she’d be devastated.
Gracie’s sweet voice rescued Tizzy from her misery. “How’d he hurt it?”
“I’m not sure,” Ridge said.
“Did somebody poke him in the eye?”
“I guess they did.”
Gracie giggled. “They poked him in the eye and made him a pirate.”
Ridge locked eyes with Tizzy. She couldn’t help but smile, sharing the moment with him like parents when their child says something clever. Her eyes misted. He was killing her.
By the third page, Gracie slumped against him. Her long brown hair formed soft ringlets around her face. Cuddles snuggled in her lap. Gracie looked so sweet curled against Ridge. Tizzy wanted to cry. When she thought of her relationship with her father, she knew what Gracie was missing, and that broke her heart. And when Ridge returned to Dallas for good, it would break even more. Gracie’s, too.
As the day drifted to twilight, all the guests were gone, except for Tizzy’s date. Average height and weight, Jared had black hair, dark eyes, and a complexion most women would kill for. His smile could light up a room. Too bad it was lost on her. She sat next to him on the front porch and forced conversation. “Thanks for coming. I hope you had a good time.”
“I did. Thanks for inviting me.” He held her hand. When he stood, he pulled her up with him, then started toward his car. “Would you like to go out again?”
