“Arden Amelia, when will you remember that you add the milk first and then the tea?”
Elaine had spent several years in London with her husband and to this day was quite passionate about her tea rituals. She’d also acquired a bit of a British accent, which she zealously held onto in memory of her late “darling Charles”.
Arden smiled at the scolding. “Sorry, Grandmother. I’ll do better next time.”
Her grandmother sat back with her delicate china cup and sighed. “I’m sure you will. So tell me what the police and West Anderson said. He runs a tight ship in this town. Much better than your father ever did, I must say.”
And there it was. Elaine Graham couldn’t stand Ben Cavendish and never missed an opportunity to say so. She’d begged her only daughter not to marry him but to no avail.
“They said that Dad isn’t missing if he left a note, plus I have to wait seventy-two hours before filing a missing persons report anyway. I told West that Dad’s car was still in the garage and that he wasn’t answering his phone but he didn’t think that was anything to worry about.”
“Hmmm…he has a point, dear. Your father is an adult, and if he wants to run off to God knows where for some secret reason he can do that. He doesn’t have to tell you every detail of his life.”
Arden was aware but she couldn’t stop the worried feeling in her gut telling her that something was very wrong.
“I know that…” Arden trailed off, not wanting her grandmother to think she was overreacting but in truth she felt she was under-reacting. “It’s just he always answers his phone, no matter what, no matter where. I’ve been calling since last night and…nothing.”
Elaine’s expression softened and reached across the coffee table to pat Arden’s hand, a miraculous show of affection for the old woman. “I can see why you’d be concerned. Was West no help at all?”
“He said he’d run Daddy’s credit cards and see if he had used them to go somewhere. He also said he’d have the police talk to the local cab service. They might have taken him to the airport.”
“It sounds like West is doing all he can. Is there something else you wanted the police to do?”
Frustrated, Arden fiddled with her tea cup. She wasn’t ungrateful for West’s help but she’d hoped for more. “I guess I just wanted them to care a little bit. They acted like it was no big deal and that I was worried for nothing.”
“Maybe you are,” Elaine suggested gently.
“No, I know there’s more to this. There’s something going on.”
Her grandmother appeared to be searching for the right words. “Your father hasn’t always done business ethically. He’s made enemies along the way.”
It had taken years for Arden to admit that fact. She and Shane had fought so many times about that very subject. She owed him a big, fat apology because he’d been right about so many things.
“I know, and that’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t even know that Daddy wrote that note since it was printed off of the computer. Anyone could have written it and then taken him somewhere.”
“All the more reason for you to stay out of it. If someone ‘helped’ him leave then it’s dangerous for you to go poking around, child. Stay out of it.”
“How can I? He’s my father, no matter what he’s done.”
Setting the cup back on the table, Elaine nodded. “I suppose if you’re that worried you could ask for private help.”
“Private? I’m not sure I follow you.”
Steepling her fingers, the older woman sat back in the cushions of the settee. “Shane’s cousin West is a former cop, his other cousin Jason is a former federal agent. Plus, he has all sorts of law enforcement connections that might be able to find your father for you. But you’d have to ask, of course.”
Elaine couldn’t possibly be suggesting what Arden thought she was. It was idiotic. Insane. Crazy. And a few other synonyms she couldn’t come up with at the moment but might later.
“I cannot ask Shane to help me, Grandmother.”
“Why not? You two were quite close once.”
Arden groaned and rolled her eyes. “Sure, before I left him. Let’s not even discuss how our families can’t stand each other. Why on God’s green earth would Shane want to help me find Daddy?”
“Shane cared about you. Did things go badly when you saw him at the party last night?”
They hadn’t invented words yet that described how poorly their meeting had gone. Arden had handled it all wrong but at the same time she didn’t know what she would have done differently.
“I don’t know. I was scared and excited too. But there was a sense of dread because although I’ve seen him at a distance over the years, I’d never spoken to him until the night of the party. He’s…bitter.”
“He has reason to be, I think. I doubt Benjamin was kind when he told him you left.”
“The Andersons weren’t happy either about him dating me–”
“Pish posh,” Elaine interrupted, her scowl demonstrating in no uncertain terms she didn’t want to hear excuses for Arden’s father. “You may not have been their first choice but they never intervened. Not like him. He had to have everything his own way.”
Arden sipped her rapidly cooling tea. She had no words of defense – not for him or for herself. She was just as culpable as Ben Cavendish.
“I just need to try and stay away from him.”
“That sounds like the worst idea in the world, my child. I doubt you’ll be able to achieve that goal in a small town like this. It would be best if you and Shane Anderson sat down and talked this all out. Cleared the air, so to speak. I’m sure he’s moved on emotionally. My question is…have you?”
“I’ve been married, Grandmother. Doesn’t that sound like moving on?”
Chuckling, Elaine picked up a small cookie from the delicate plate on the tray. “It depends on whom you marry, I suppose. How is that bastard Michael? Still screwing his secretary?”
Tea definitely wasn’t strong enough for this conversation. Arden needed alcohol to withstand her grandmother’s blunt questioning.
“I have no idea. He was when I caught him that day in his office. Whether he continued to do so is his own business now. He says he’s in love.” Arden slapped the cup down on the table. “Father wants us to reconcile.”
Elaine’s lips curled in distaste. “Your father is a heartless idiot. If he loves Michael so much maybe he should marry him. But if you were thinking of perhaps taking that snake back, let me tell you, young lady, I will write you out of my will. I can call my estate attorney right now.”
“I’m not going to take him back, not that I want your money. I want you to live a very long time indeed.”
Elaine sniffed delicately. “No one lives forever, my child. That’s why you can’t take a day for granted. Now back to the important topic at hand. What do you intend to do about Shane Anderson?”
Arden had assumed that subject was over with. “Nothing…I mean…it’s all in the past. There’s nothing…to do.”
Elaine Graham leaned forward, her gaze trained on her only grandchild. “The past, my dear, has a way of rising from the grave. My query is what do you intend to do about that if it happens?”
Arden didn’t have an answer, and she feared she never would.
Chapter Five
‡
All Shane wanted to do was kick back and relax, maybe have a beer and read. He’d spent the better part of the afternoon in the office trying to get through a pile of paperwork but had made little progress. He’d spent too much time thinking about Arden.
As he drove down the pitch black lane to his log home on the outskirts of the Anderson ranch, he hit the remote clipped to his car’s visor and a flood of lights came on as his garage door slowly creeped up, illuminating the house and the grounds. It was then that he saw the car parked in front of his house, the engine running but the lights off. Tensing, he pulled his car into the garage but didn’t lower the door, his hand automaticall
y reaching for the handgun he kept in the glove compartment. He kept his eye on the vehicle as he palmed the cold metal but then chuckled as Arden stepped from the car.
As nasty as they’d been to each other the night before, he was sure she wasn’t here to rob or kill him. But that begged the question as to why was she here?
He swung out of the driver’s seat and stood next to the SUV waiting for her to join him. She was wearing her hair down tonight and he had to quell the urge to reach for one of her curls and tug at it.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Shane.”
She stopped right in front of him looking more beautiful than she had any right to. He’d spent the last fifteen years comparing every woman he’d ever met to her and none of them measured up. Arden wasn’t beautiful in the classic sense; her chin was too short and her nose had a slight bump on it that he thought was cute, but she had that something that glowed from within. Shane didn’t know what it was exactly, perhaps intelligence, humor, or simply a zest for life, but she had it in bucketloads and it meant that he’d never been able to forget her.
“I hope you didn’t wait long.” Shane jerked his head toward the door to the house. “Would you like to come in and tell me why you’re here?”
It was a bad idea but he couldn’t turn her away after she’d waited for him. They should stay far away from each other and they would. Tomorrow. He couldn’t ignore the nagging ache inside that constantly chanted her name in his head and made him remember the good times they’d shared.
Following him into the house, she stood uncertainly in his kitchen before placing her handbag on the table and unbuttoning her coat. “I wasn’t sure you’d let me in.”
Shane grabbed two bottles from the refrigerator as she draped her coat over a chair. He opened the beers and offered one to her, watching her hesitate and then accept it with a small smile. “You thought I’d leave you out in the cold. That’s not very chivalrous, Arden. I’m an asshole but not a jerk.”
She pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sank down into it while he settled himself across from her. “I never thought you were, but you have to admit we weren’t kind to one another at the party last night.”
And that’s something else he’d always loved about her. Arden had been the kindest person he’d ever met. People, animals, you name it. She’d had a soft heart and didn’t bother to hide it.
“It was a shock seeing you. I wasn’t prepared for it but I am now.” He took a long swig of the icy cold beer. “So to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”
Her fingertips ran up and down the bottle and he inwardly shivered as images of the two of them besieged him…moans, caresses, hot summer nights, and hotter kisses. They’d never had a problem in the sex department, despite her inexperience.
She didn’t answer right away, instead staring out the window into the darkness. She couldn’t see a damn thing out there with the external lights off but that didn’t seem to matter. He thought he was going to have to ask the question again when she finally answered, her blue eyes stormy.
“My father is missing.”
Shane steeled himself, not allowing a flicker of reaction to cross his features. “Missing? Are you sure? I heard he left you a note that said he would be gone for a while. That doesn’t sound like missing.”
Arden shook her head and leaned forward, her palms flat on the table. “Something is very wrong, Shane. I know it. His car is in the garage but the cab company says they didn’t pick him up. A vehicle ran me off of our private road when I was coming home from the party. Was my father in that car? Plus, the note wasn’t handwritten. It was printed off of a computer—anyone could have written it. And finally Daddy isn’t answering his cell phone. He’s never done that. Ever. He loves that phone and he loves talking on it. If he’s not answering it’s not because he doesn’t want to. It’s because he can’t.”
Stroking his chin, Shane didn’t answer right away. She’d made a few good points, especially about Ben’s cell phone. The man’s ear was sealed to the damn thing.
“Let’s assume what you’re saying is true. Someone else wrote that note and someone took your father from the house. Let’s even say that he’s being held against his will.”
“Or worse,” Arden interrupted, two spots of color on her pale cheeks. “It could be much worse.”
He held his hand up to halt her words. “Easy, honey. I can see you’ve spent too much time thinking of all the worst-case scenarios. Chances are this is just Ben being a thoughtless asshole. Something your father excels at. You’re letting your imagination scare you.”
Pressing her lips together, she blinked a few times, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
“I know who and what my father is and that’s why I’m concerned about him. He’d never leave the way he did of his own free will. I think something has happened to him and it’s not just my imagination.”
“So you’re admitting that Ben is involved with some unsavory characters? After all these years I never thought to see the day.”
Arden jumped up from where she was sitting to pace the kitchen. “Do you want me to say it? You were right, Shane, and I was wrong. My father has made some unethical and possibly illegal business deals.” She took a deep breath and turned to face him. “There. Are you happy now? You get to be right.”
“I wish I’d been wrong only because I know the truth had to come as a shock to you.”
A smile played on her lips as she sat back down at the table. “Careful, Shane. You almost sounded nice for a moment. Like you forgot about the past.”
Shane took a big slug from the longneck before he replied. “Actually I never want to forget something that has been so instructive in my life. I learned about human nature and it’s been invaluable. Really, I should be thanking you.”
His tone had been more caustic than he’d planned but he wasn’t trying to win friends and influence people here. He was simply trying to get through this encounter with Arden with some sort of sanity intact. Dignity wouldn’t be bad either.
“I suppose I am the villain in your story and I’m sorry that time has made you so cynical.”
He took another drink of his beer and then slapped it down on the table, watching in satisfaction as Arden jumped at the sound. “So you haven’t answered my first question, princess. To what do I owe the honor of this visit? It wasn’t just to tell me Daddy took a powder, was it?”
Her lips trembled and her tongue darted out to wet them nervously as her hands twisted together in her lap. “I’m here…to…ask for your help.”
His eyebrow quirked but he said nothing, giving her the floor to keep speaking. Her chin lifted and her knuckles turned white as her fingers gripped each other tightly.
“I’m asking for your help to find my father. I don’t have anywhere else to turn.”
He didn’t know what he’d expected her to say but that wasn’t it. It was his turn to stand and put some distance between the two of them. He leaned his hip against the stove and tried not to laugh. The entire situation was bordering on hilarious.
“You want me to help,” he repeated calmly. “What about the police? That’s their job.”
“They won’t do anything until he’s been gone for seventy-two hours, and even then I don’t think they’re taking me seriously because of that note. I need someone to start looking now.”
Not to mention most of the town would just as soon leave old Ben missing if they had a choice.
“Then hire a private investigator. I’m sure there’s one that would be glad of the work.”
Standing, Arden moved closer so she was looking up at him. He could smell the light floral and vanilla of her perfume and it made his gut contract painfully to gaze down into her pleading blue eyes.
“I could but I don’t know who to trust, honestly. I know you have connections, Shane. You, West, Jason, and your brothers too. I need someone I can trust and that I know will be discreet no matter what we find.”
His lips turne
d up at the corners. “You make me sound like some kind of secret spy. I’m a businessman, not a cop.”
“I told Grandmother you’d say no.” Arden was staring out of the window now, disappointment ringing clearly in her tone. “She insisted you’d say yes. She said you were the only person I could trust with this.”
Elaine Graham was a formidable woman but Shane wouldn’t have ever said he was close or even friendly with her. She lived in a large house just outside of town and didn’t venture out much these days, although she had when she was younger. She’d never made a big deal about Shane dating Arden but he hadn’t thought she was on their side either.
“Listen,” he began carefully, not wanting to upset Arden any more than she already was but needing to put an end to this request. She was asking too much. “I know you’re upset and worried. But you need to let the police do their job before jumping to any conclusions. Ben is probably just off with a lady friend or something. He’ll be home in a week or so with a big smile on his face and everything will be fine.”
It was true he knew people that could be helpful and he was more than capable of leading an investigation, but if he agreed to this he’d be around her, immersed in her world. He wasn’t sure he could survive being that close to her without breaking.
Arden turned and began shrugging on her coat, studiously avoiding looking at him. He had a sinking feeling she was crying and her tears had always been his kryptonite. “I’m sure you’re right. I’ll go before you have to throw me out. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
Now he felt like shit. “You’re not bothering me and I’d never throw you out, princess. I just think you need to give this a little time to shake out, that’s all.”
Her back was facing him as she slipped her purse strap over her shoulder. “Thank you for listening anyway. I…need to go now.”
She walked quickly out the same garage door she’d come in with Shane right at her heels and feeling about two inches tall. A part of him wanted to help her but dammit, he just couldn’t without ripping his heart into pieces again.
Embracing Danger Page 3