Heard it Through the Grapevine

by Lizbeth Lipperman

  After several rings, a gruff voice answered. “Yeah.”

  “We’ve got trouble. He’s been talking to the pigs.”

  TEN

  “DAMN IT! I KNEW he was a loose cannon.” He slipped out of bed, careful not to wake up the woman spooning him. Once the door closed behind him, he spoke into the receiver, his voice low. “Where is he now?”

  “In the bar downing double scotches like he’d just spent three weeks in the Sahara. What do you want me to do?”

  “Get him out of there before he starts shooting off at the mouth about our deal. I don’t care how you do it. Just get it done.”

  “Not a problem, boss, but I only stopped back to check on him before I left for business in Dallas. I’ve already earned my pay tonight. Anything extra will cost you.”

  He frowned, the lines creasing his brow. This wasn’t the first time this joker had come back with his hand out, and it was starting to be a problem. But the extra money didn’t even come close to the millions that would go down the toilet if Porter fucked up the deal. “Don’t I always make it worth your while? Keep him in sight and call me the minute he’s back in his room.”

  “Can do, but I expect the compensation to be worth what I’m giving up.”

  “You know I’m good for it,” he said, more annoyed than he wanted to let on. “Just do it.”

  He slammed the receiver and opened the bedroom door. “Goddamn it,” he swore under his breath as he crawled under the covers. There would be no more sleeping until after the next call.

  _____

  Jerry Moretti stared at his wife as she sashayed out of the bathroom wearing a long dark fur coat. When she was directly in front of him, she did a slow turn to give him a better look.

  “Isn’t it gorgeous, lambkins? Russian sable.” She ran her hands down the rich brown fur provocatively. “See the silver threads? That’s how you can tell how expensive it is.” She made a graceful pirouette in front of him. “I got it for a steal.”

  Jerry took a deep breath, trying to calm down before he spoke. “Do you really need one more mink coat to go with the other four hanging in your closet, darling?”

  Roxy pouted, her lower lip protruding in the cute way that usually made him putty in her hands.

  Not this time!

  “Vladimir was only in town one day. The trunk show at Market Hall was by invitation only. It’s an honor to be on his short list.” She opened the front of the long coat to allow him a peak at what she was wearing, or more correctly, what she wasn’t wearing.

  His mouth watered at the sight of his naked wife, still turning him on after two years of marriage. Quickly, he looked away. “Goddamn it, Roxy. Where were you the other night when I explained money would be tight for a while?”

  Roxy stepped toward the bed until she was standing right over him. In a quick motion, she heaved herself on the bed and straddled him, moving her hips suggestively as she touched the expensive mink to his cheeks. “A man like you deserves to have a woman next to him wearing the most expensive fur in the world, doesn’t he?”

  She purred as she replaced the fur rubbing his cheeks with one of her breasts. “A coat like this tells the world you must be one helluva stud to have a woman like me. You do want people to think that, don’t you, angel face?”

  Damn her! She knew he couldn’t resist those tits. He opened his mouth and suckled the huge brown nipple.

  “See, baby, I’m worth every penny you spent on this coat.”

  “You are, Roxy. No argument there,” Jerry said between licking and sucking. He wiggled her other breast out of the coat and squeezed. “It’s just that until we get Tessa’s brat paid off and I get the vineyard back in my family where it belongs, we need to go a little easy on our spending.” He closed his mouth on the second nipple, tracking his hand past her cleavage and down the length of her body. “You’re wrong, though, dumpling. This is the most expensive fur in the world,” he murmured as he grabbed her crotch.

  “Ooh,” she squealed. “You can’t have one without the other, sweetheart. You knew the day you met me I wouldn’t come cheap.”

  Tell me about it, he thought, right before her hand snaked down and stroked him. “Oh, Christ, keep the fucking coat,” he said between fast choppy breaths. He flipped her on her back and positioned himself above her. There was something to be said for sleeping buck-ass naked.

  Shoving her spread legs over her head, he entered her. Slowly, at first, before he pumped, rocking with her in perfect harmony.

  He stopped grinding and looked at Roxy after a shrill ringing nearly scared him out of his skin. “Shit!”

  “Don’t answer it,” she whispered hoarsely. “You’ve got me wetter than an ice sculpture in the middle of a Texas heat wave. Keep going, Jerry, please.” Roxy tightened her ankles around his neck and pushed her lower abdomen into his.

  “I have to take this call,” he said, raising up and reaching for his cell phone. “I’ve been waiting all night.” He walked into the hallway before he gripped the receiver. “Yeah.”

  “You remember that problem we talked about today?” The words were slurred.

  It was all he’d been able to think about.

  “I had a nice visit with your new partner tonight before the sheriff interrupted. I think he wanted some of that action himself. Before they left, she mentioned needing money to get out of Texas. She’ll be an easy sell.”

  He took a deep breath as he flipped the receiver shut. The man was three sheets to the wind, but if what he said was true, if he could get full ownership of the vineyard before the big deal, Roxy could get ten of those damn coats if she wanted.

  “Where was I?” he said, walking back into the bedroom. The unmistakable anger in his wife’s emerald eyes wiped the smile off his face. He would have to grovel.

  “Goddamn it, Jerry, you know how hard it is for me to get off without a vibrator! I was almost there when you had to go answer that stupid phone. What could be more fucking important than me coming all over you?”

  He raised her legs up again and entered her for the second time. “Right off the top of my head, I can think of two million things. All green.” He reached for the vibrator that stayed permanently plugged in and turned it to the highest mode. “Get ready, sugar. Daddy and his Big Mac are gonna make your day.”

  _____

  As soon as Colt drove through the gate, the dogs appeared out of nowhere, barking in near harmony as they escorted the car down the gravel driveway like Secret Service protecting the President.

  “How many dogs do you have?” Lainey asked, remembering Colt had always loved animals, had even planned to go to veterinary school before his father died.

  Colt laughed. “Only two, but they’re fiercely protective. Once they decide they like you, they won’t even let me get close.”

  “Maybe that’s a good thing,” she blurted before she could stop herself.

  That was stupid! All night there’d been this electricity between them, especially when he’d held her in his arms at the hotel, but whatever she’d felt, it was gone now. He was simply the town sheriff doing his job to keep her safe. She was an idiot for bringing it up when he obviously blew if off. Keeping her distance was definitely a good idea until she left for Florida in a few days. The man had generously offered his home to her. The last thing she wanted was to make him uncomfortable.

  “That probably is a good thing,” he answered, turning to flash that drop-the-panties grin Tessa had warned her about. “The sooner we get you out of that dress, the better.” He stopped the car in front of a small brick cottage situated a few feet from the main house, then turned to her, a touch of mischief in his eyes. “That really didn’t come out the way it should have. I meant—”

  “I know what you meant,” Lainey interrupted. She opened the door and slid out. Forget getting out of the dress. The faster she got away from him period, the better. The faint smell of his musky aftershave was messing with her mind. “Nice place. Who lives here?” She bent down t
o pet the two dogs lapping at her heels and was immediately subjected to the wettest kisses she’d ever received.

  “Fred! Ginger! Leave her alone,” Colt commanded as the dogs jockeyed for her attention and now had her flat on the ground. “I’m so sorry. They aren’t usually this overwhelming.”

  When the dogs finally moved away to sit obediently next to Colt, Lainey sat up, swiping at the slobber that covered her face and pulling at the dress that had ridden up her thighs. “Some watch dogs you have, Winslow.”

  His shoulders relaxed when he realized she was kidding. “They don’t get to see women out here very often. Apparently, they like that dress as much as the suits at the bar did.” He grabbed her arm and helped her up before walking back to the car and opening the trunk. “Come on. I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

  He hauled her small suitcase out with one hand and closed the trunk with the other. “And to answer your earlier question, no one lives here. It used to house the ranch foreman, but after I bought the place from Josh Keating, I turned it into guest quarters. My mom stayed here after her knee surgeries.”

  “You run the ranch by yourself?”

  “Not hardly,” he said with a grin. “I rent out the back pasture to a neighbor who raises longhorns. We passed his place when we turned off the main road. The arrangement works for both of us. He gets to have more cattle, and I make a little extra without all the hard work.” He pointed to the barn on the other side of the house, his face lighting up with pride. “I use the revenue for the upkeep of my horses. Gracie is becoming quite the quarter horse expert.”

  “Her mother loved horses, too.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Lainey wished she could take them back. “I’d love to see Gracie ride,” she added, hoping to get his mind off the earlier remark. From what everyone said, Tessa and Colt’s friendship had been a casualty of the divorce.

  He met her gaze momentarily before walking up the two steps. At the door, he turned. “Come on in. You must be exhausted.”

  _____

  He answered the phone before the second ring, springing out of bed and racing to the door. A backward glance confirmed she was still asleep. Must be all the wine she’d drunk earlier. “Did you get him to the room?”

  “Yeah, but there was a problem.”

  Dammit! It was too late in the game for problems. “What kind?”

  He heard the other man laugh nervously. “I told you he was shit-faced, didn’t I?’

  “You mentioned it.”

  “Well, when I finally got him to his room, he started fighting me. He wanted to toss back a few more with another drunk he met downstairs. I poured him straight bourbon from the mini bar, but he wasn’t interested.”

  He rubbed his forehead, trying to ward off the migraine now building on his left side. “You got him in bed, right?”

  “Not exactly. With all that booze in him, he thought he was Muhammad Ali.”

  His head started to throb. “I’ll deal with him in the morning.”

  “Ah, boss, like I said. There was a problem.”

  “Spit it out. What kind of problem?” He never did like this guy. Never really trusted him.

  “He’s dead.”

  The color drained from his face. “What the fuck did you do?” he screamed, then opened the door to see if he had awakened her. Her gentle snoring was a testimony to the wonders of alcohol.

  “He came after me like a fucking bull. Even took a swing at me and busted my lip. When I shoved him, he fell into the nightstand and cracked his head. There was blood everywhere.”

  This morning everything was right on track. A dead body definitely changed things. “Are you sure he’s dead?”

  “His head was split wide open. Brains and shit were hanging out. I nearly puked.”

  “Where are you now?”

  “In the hotel parking lot trying like hell not to smear his blood all over this rental car.” The man paused. “By the way, my fee just went up another twenty-five grand, and I need it now so I can skip town and lay low until this blows over.”

  The rage only made his head pound harder. “I don’t have that kind of money lying around.”

  The man laughed. “Sounds like you have a problem then. I’d hate to have to tell the cops about you if they catch up with me.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “Take it any way you want. I just need my damn money.”

  After a moment he said. “Meet me in the alley behind the hotel in twenty minutes. I’ll bring the cash.”

  “Wise move. I’ll be waiting.”

  He disconnected and walked back into the bedroom. His clothes were strewn across the chair exactly where he’d thrown them last night while she was still sober enough to be worth anything. He didn’t bother to wake her to tell her where he was going.

  Porter was never really a player in the deal. He’d just let him think he was, promising to allow the drilling if he got Tessa and Jerry to agree to sell. His plan was to make Moretti think the Houston man was the only one interested in the vineyard because he knew neither Tessa nor Jerry would consider what his investors would do with the land. He should have known Porter couldn’t keep his mouth shut, should have realized making him part of this was a mistake, especially since he was one of only a few who could identify him. Now he was dead and there were other problems to contend with.

  He pulled out the hidden compartment in his nightstand and grabbed the Beretta on his way out the door.

  ELEVEN

  I’VE SLEPT WITH A lot of dogs in my life, but never one that actually barked.

  Lainey shot straight up in bed at the sound of her sister’s voice. “Where have you been? You hung me out to dry at the bar with Bozo.”

  You obviously handled yourself pretty well.

  Lainey glanced at her wrist. Just as expected, a purplish bruise had formed on the inside where Porter’s fingers had pressed. “Yeah, I was freaking Rambo,” she deadpanned.

  Ginger lifted her head from her curled-up position at the end of the bed and sniffed. Fred opened his eyes, looked up, then immediately went back to his loud snoring, snuggling closer to Ginger on the thick comforter.

  Just like a man, Tessa said. Fun to look at but not too bright. Kinda like a lava lamp.

  “Did you know someone shoved a threatening note under my door at the hotel last night?” Lainey asked, ignoring the quip.

  Tessa’s smile faded. Is that why you’re here?

  Lainey propped the pillow behind her and leaned back. “Someone wants me out of town in a hurry.”

  Welcome to my world. Every woman in Vineyard would have loved to ship my ass off to Timbuktu or some damn godforsaken place.

  “No, seriously, Tessa, Colt thinks I’m getting too close for someone’s comfort.”

  I wish I knew who that someone was. Tessa crinkled her nose. I can’t believe you slept with these mutts. They smell like old lady Roberts every time she wore her fur coat. She flashed the famous Tessa smile that Lainey knew always preceded a wise crack. Remember how we called it her wet coyote mink?

  Lainey smiled. She did remember that coat. “It rained pretty hard last night, and I felt sorry for them.” She reached down and rubbed Ginger’s head. “They’re sweet dogs.”

  Colt always did have a soft spot for animals. It killed him when he had to leave A & M to come home and take care of his mother after his dad was killed.

  Lainey turned away. That was the year her world had fallen apart. She’d come home on spring break and discovered Tessa had stolen her journal. They’d never really gotten along, but when Tessa found out about her crush on Colt, her teasing turned relentless. Then Tessa got pregnant and the next thing Lainey knew, she and Colt were getting married. The day Tessa told her, eyes flashing victory, was the day Lainey left Vineyard and never looked back.

  Suddenly, both dogs jumped up and ran to the door, their barks deafening. Instinctively, Lainey moved closer to Tessa, unable to stop the horrified gasp that escaped her lips.

 
; “Wake up, sleepyhead. Breakfast is served in five minutes.”

  Hearing Colt’s voice, way too cheery this early in the morning, Lainey let out the breath she’d been holding.

  Not once in all the time I was married to that man did he ever fix me breakfast.

  _____

  Lainey stared down the driveway, waiting, wondering how Gracie would react when she found out she had to spend the morning with an aunt she didn’t even know existed until her mother died. It was not the ideal way to get acquainted. Lainey remembered when she’d found out her own father had died. She’d known he’d been sick and had spent a lot of time in hospitals, but she’d fallen apart the day he didn’t come home. She’d been angry for several weeks—at her mother, at God, at anybody who would listen.

  “Go back and get him,” she’d shouted, blaming her mom for coming home without him. Granted, she’d been a little older than Gracie, but the loss nearly killed her. She hoped Gracie would have an easier time with her grief.

  She moved closer to the window, feeling the chill of the March morning, her breath fogging the glass. The rain had clumped the leaves around the base of the big oak tree that shaded Colt’s porch almost like a blanket protecting it from the nip in the air. She pulled the oversized gray sweater tighter around her body. Colt’s sweater. Somewhere in the middle of the bacon, eggs, and biscuits and gravy, she’d mentioned she was cold. Within minutes, he had the big sweater draped over her shoulders, unaware his touch on her neck had sent chill bumps up her arms. He’d assumed her sudden shiver was from the low temperature, and he’d upped the thermostat.

  She stepped back from the window and took a good look at Colt’s house. Like him, it was warm and masculine, but definitely lacking a woman’s touch, although he did say his mother had selected the curtains. Dark green with burgundy trim, they kept the house cool and dark. Probably just the way he liked it.