“I was just about to call you,” he grumbled.
“Detective Basher, Cy Davies and Gemma Perry. Cy, Detective Basher arrested your brother.” Ahmed looked somewhat amused, but it was hard for Cy to tell for certain.
“Jeez, how many of you are there?”
“He’s the target our two friends were really after. That’s why we’re here. We need to have a quick word with them,” Ahmed stated rather than asked.
“That’s why I was going to call you. Seems they were sitting down to lunch and got shanked in a little disturbance between rival gangs.”
Cy cursed. “This is a lot bigger than it seems and now our leads are dead.” Cy continued to curse under his breath and fought the urge to slam his fist against the old metal desk.
“What does that mean?” Gemma asked from beside him.
“It means your sister’s notebooks are our only lead now.”
Gemma nodded and her eyes showed steely determination. “Then let’s get back to Miss Lily’s. I have work to do. There’s no way I’m letting these guys get away with murdering my sister.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Cy paced his room at the bed-and-breakfast. An evening sportscaster was trying to get his attention, but the only thing keeping his attention was knowing that Gemma was right across the hall from him. After they got back to Miss Lily’s yesterday, she’d locked herself up for the rest of the day and night. This morning when Miss Lily had brought her a breakfast tray, Gemma had told her that she didn’t want to be bothered. When Cy heard that, he called Ahmed who sent a guy to watch her while he spent the day at the farm. He cleared brush, cut fence boards, and helped Pierce herd some cattle with the help of Cade’s dog, Justin, and Miles’s dog, Bill.
How could Cade let his dog run around with that bow? It was embarrassing. This week it was purple with white polka dots.
“You wouldn’t wear that, would you?” Cy asked Fred who was curled up in his arms. Fred looked up and stuck out his little pink tongue. “Exactly. You’re a man’s dog, aren’t you?” Fred gave a little bark and then rested his head on his tiny feet.
“You’re one to talk! You’re holding a frou-frou dog, for crying out loud, and you’re making fun of Justin?” Pierce had teased.
Cy had taken Fred with him to the farm where he had enjoyed running through the fields and leaping through the tall grass. When Pierce had asked for help, he hadn’t really known what to do with Fred. He dug around the barn and found a backpack that Fred jumped into happily. Cy put it on and he and Fred enjoyed the horseback ride, although Cy was a little worried that Fred was starting to get a big head. He barked as if he were giving orders to Justin and Bill as they moved the herd.
The sportscast resumed and Cy looked at the clock. Another hour had gone by. It was eleven at night and he had been cut off for as long as he could stand. It was time to see Gemma again. And maybe, just maybe, he would get to see a whole lot of Gemma again. She was mesmerizing. He’d never been with a woman so passionate and free in bed before. He couldn’t wait to find out what new things they’d try tonight. With a cocky grin, Cy opened the door to the hall.
Gemma rolled her neck from side to side to ease the cramping. She had gotten about four hours of sleep last night and was exhausted. While she had translated her sister’s notebooks, there were still key questions to be answered. The trouble was she just didn’t know how to answer them.
Gia had left clues she was sure made sense to her sister but ran Gemma in circles. She didn’t know who the contacts were that Gia referred to only by code names. After finally giving up, Gemma had turned to the flash drive only to meet a dead end there, too.
It didn’t help that every five minutes her thoughts ran back to Cy. The way he treated her as delicate china, always opening doors, helping her through crowded rooms, protecting her with his life during jailhouse riots. It wasn’t something the average woman could say. However, she now totally understood her friends’ fascinations with cowboys. The way his jeans fit, the way he looked wearing his cowboy hat, and the pure chivalry had her thinking relationship thoughts she wasn’t sure he wanted to hear.
It was also hard to stop thinking about him with the bed right there next to her. No matter where she went in the room, as soon as she turned around she saw the bed and her mind instantly went to the other night and the following morning. Cy had proven that sometimes dreams can’t live up to real life. She had never been so secure with someone before, and it left her both slightly embarrassed and wanting more at the same time. She couldn’t believe she’d done that thing she’d only read about in magazines. She really should write them and tell them it worked. But then she would also think about the pictures sent to his phone and an imaginary bucket of ice water would hit her. Women were trying to claw their way into his bed and she not only fell into it, she literally leapt into it after a few nice words from him.
Stop thinking of it, Gemma scolded herself. She needed to focus on what was before her. The bed was literally right before her. Oh God, she was thinking about it again. Gemma turned and banged her head on the desk. Focus, she told herself as she tried to banish the image of Cy before her with his hands and mouth and . . . Dammit. Gemma jumped up from where she was sitting and headed straight for the windows. She needed air to clear her head.
Cy opened his door in eager anticipation and didn’t see the white-haired woman sitting in one of the armchairs in the comfortable reading nook that filled the space between the two rooms.
“Good evening, Cyland. Is there something I can get for you?” Cy depended on years of training to not show his surprise. His roommate during training had thought Cy was joking when he told him about the three sisters from his hometown who could bring the whole government to their knees if they wanted. But he was serious. They had eyes in the back of their head and he was pretty sure they could read minds.
“Good evening, Miss Lily. I was just checking to see if Gemma needed anything before I went to bed,” he said as he shot his most innocent look to Miss Lily.
“Humph. And I’m here because I like the view. Has anyone ever told you that you're a bad liar?” Miss Lily set down her knitting and drilled him with a knowing look as she picked up her broom and pretended to sweep the floor.
“Actually,” Cy paused, “no. You’re the first. Others thought I was so good the U.S. government put me undercover. You could say I’m a professional liar, so much so Cy Davies has ceased to exist for many years now.”
Miss Lily swatted him on the bottom with her broom and glared at him. “Nonsense. You’re a spy. It’s a job. It’s what you do, not who you are. You’re the same boy who used to help my sisters unload their groceries and who rescued that poor cat that got stuck in the tree out front there. You just need to remember that and stop lying to yourself about who you are. Now,” Miss Lily said with finality, “it’s time for bed. Off with you.”
Cy chanced a quick glance at Gemma’s door that didn’t go unnoticed. “Good night, Miss Lily.” Cy may have lost the battle, but he hadn't lost the war. He shot Miss Lily a smile as she put her broom down and picked up her knitting. She had reminded him of the mighty cat rescue and now he had an idea.
Gemma took a deep breath of the night air and enjoyed the inspiration from the stars twinkling in the dark sky. What was she doing wrong?
“Mom . . . I don’t want to wear the same thing as Gia.” Gemma stomped her pre-teen foot on the ground and crossed her arms.
“You’re twins. You’re the only ones who can get away with wearing the same outfit. It’s cute. Now put it on.” Her mother handed her the matching floral dress.
“While we may be twins, we’re not the same person. I hate flowers and Gia loves them. It’s not fair.”
Gemma felt her heart speed up. That was it. They aren’t the same person. Gemma hurried back to her seat, pulled out her cell phone, and starting scrolling through her contacts.
She was sending texts when she suddenly felt as if she were not alone. A hand came d
own and suddenly covered her mouth before she could scream. A strong arm wrapped around her chest, pinning her to her chair. She felt the man press her body tight to his as he lowered his head to her ear.
Gemma tensed as she felt his warm breath on her neck. “You look so beautiful when you’re concentrating.” His hand left her mouth and Gemma whipped around and smacked Cy’s stomach.
“You scared me to death!” she hissed. “How did you get in here? My door is locked.”
“I came in through the window. You have a guard dog outside the door—about five feet, white curly hair, sensible shoes, and large knitting needles.” Cy leaned against the table and pulled her from her chair to stand between his legs. “It’s good to see you again.”
Gemma snuggled into him as he wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer. He smiled down at her and she couldn’t help but notice his eyes were darker tonight right before he brought his lips to hers. He kissed her softly but soon his hands were sliding downward as he deepened the kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth while his hands were busy pulling up the hemline of her jersey skirt.
They were combustible, Gemma decided. He made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world and he couldn’t breathe unless he had her right then and there. That feeling gave her such a rush.
The knock at the door had her jumping back. “Miss Lily,” she whispered as she looked around for a place to hide him.
“Gemma, dear? May I come in?” came the inquiry through the door. She turned back around and Cy was gone.
“Coming,” she called out. “Cy?”
“Over here.” Gemma looked and then saw the very edges of his fingers on the windowsill.
“Oh my God.” Gemma rushed over to where Cy was hanging from the window.
“Sweetheart, can you please get the door and put your guard dog to bed?” he asked calmly as he dangled two stories from the ground.
“Don’t fall in her azalea bush or she’ll kill you,” Gemma grinned before answering the door. “Yes?”
Miss Lily stepped into the room and looked around. “I was just going to bed. Is there anything I can get you before I retire?”
“No, thank you. You’ve done more than enough.” The woman had kept her fed and undisturbed as she worked. For that she was grateful. But now she really wanted to get the man hanging from her window into her bed.
“Okay then, dear. Good night.”
“Good night, Miss Lily.” Gemma closed the door and quietly locked it.
“Now we have all night together,” Cy whispered against her ear as he slid his hands under her shirt to gently cup her breasts.
“How . . .” but she was cut off from asking how he snuck back into her room when he whipped her around and kissed her again. She pushed him back to the desk and kissed him back.
Gemma ran her arms down his back, clinging to him as his hands slid up her legs and pushed her skirt up. Dink, dink, dink. Gemma pulled back. “Seriously? You couldn’t turn off your cell phone? Who’s begging to sleep with you now? Because it sure isn’t going to be me.” Gemma shoved down her skirt and crossed her arms over her chest. She was tired of all these women coming between them, and it was clear she shouldn’t even be thinking of a future with him when he couldn’t tell these women to back off.
“My phone is in my room,” Cy snapped back as he stood up. “That’s all you, sweetheart.” He turned and walked to the window to look out and Gemma felt horrible. She had just hurt him and now she didn’t know what to do to fix it.
“Cy, I’m so sorry. I guess I just don’t know what we’re doing. I’m not used to that. Usually there are dates, movies, and then comes the mind-blowing sex. And I’m certainly not used to competing for a man with America’s Sweetheart and women who get paid to be beautiful. Please say you understand.”
Cy turned around and she saw the frustration on his face. “But don’t you see? There is no competition.” Dink, dink.
“Are we okay?”
“Yes. And now we’ve had our first fight. Let’s get to the make-up sex,” Cy grinned. “ Dink, dink. “But first why don’t you get that. Once I get started, I don’t want to stop.”
Gemma nodded breathlessly and picked up her phone. “I found something.” She scrolled through the text messages and quickly typed back. She felt Cy come and sit on the edge of the bed, waiting for her to finish typing. “See, I figured out why I couldn’t get to the bottom of my sister’s notes. I was trying too hard to be her. I needed to do what I’m good at.”
“That thing last night where you put your leg . . .”
Gemma blushed. “No, I mean gossip. I’m good at finding out gossip,” Gemma laughed as she answered her now ringing phone.
Cy leaned back and watched Gemma man the phone. She talked, texted, and emailed all at the same time as she worked to find the identity of some of the main players.
“I’ll get you into the Pink Rose as a VIP as soon as I get back to L.A. if you can get this for me. Thanks.” Gemma hung up and immediately took another call. “That’s perfect. I’ll get you Lakers tickets when I’m back.”
Cy felt a knot in his stomach. It was crazy, but the idea of her going back to California didn’t sit well with him. He was done with that life. The other night had meant more to him that he’d even admit to himself. Since then, he’d been thinking of starting a family here in Keeneston with her. But as she talked about getting home to L.A., he decided he must've read too much into it.
Gemma continued to work with her back toward him and he could tell she was in her element. He wasn’t going to distract her now. He quietly unlocked the door and made his way back to his room, hoping he could figure her out. How could he be a spy, a professional at reading people, and yet Gemma was a mystery to him?
* * *
The irate boss slammed his fist on the Brazilian wood table and cursed. His most trusted advisors were around him giving him an update on his enterprises. Sure, they were all going well and he was making money hand over fist on the black market, but his one mistake was still haunting him.
“I’ve had to kill two of my men and organize a riot in a prison to fix this Keeneston matter. I don’t care about anything else. I want this fixed.” With a satisfying crash, he threw his coffee mug into the wall and watched it shatter.
Sergei cleared his throat. “Sir, I think we should take him down before he digs any further.”
“Oh? You think?” he spat. Luckily, that prison warden had contacted Sergei or he’d never have found Cy Davies’s identity. He turned to his right-hand man, the only one he’d been able to depend on for all these years. “Get your ass to Keeneston and get a base set up. I’ll be there by the end of the week.”
* * *
“Come in,” Gemma yelled as she hung up the phone. Cy walked through the door and into her room. “Hey. Where did you go last night?”
“I know how important this is to you and you were on such a roll I didn’t want to interrupt. How is it going this morning?”
“Excellent. I have something big, but now I don’t know what to do with it.” Gemma jumped up and started pacing the room. “I tracked down the man with the goatee that Senator Bruce told us about. Then I had a buddy from the IRS pull his records. Guess what I found?” Gemma knew she was waving her hands around like a mad woman, but she was just too excited.
“What?”
“He has a huge house in the suburbs of D.C., but he also has a very nice condo downtown. I have a gut feeling his wife may not know about this second house because the taxes were filed separately, almost like he was hiding it from her. Do you know why I think that?”
“Why?”
“Because he writes it off as rental property he’s owned for two years. Funny thing about it, though—he’s never collected rent.”
“A perfect place to hide a girlfriend,” Cy stated with less excitement than she had hoped. “We just have to find a way to turn her. Shouldn’t be hard. She probably doesn’t know he’s married.”
“I might have already done that.” That got his attention. Gemma almost laughed as Cy’s head snapped up. “I kinda called and pretended to be his insurance adjuster and said someone filed a claim against him for hit and run. I told her he needed to come into the police station immediately as they were looking into criminal charges.” Gemma paused and took a deep breath. They finally had a lead and she did it her way. She couldn’t stop smiling.
“And?” Cy coaxed.
“And she told me he left for Kentucky this morning and gave me his cell phone number so I could call him.”
Cy stood up and hurried to her desk. “Where’s the number?” he asked.
“Here.” Gemma handed him her notes with the number circled. “What are you going to do?”
“Track it. I guess they’ve found us out. Let’s take the offensive and see what they’re up to.” Cy opened her laptop and started typing. Screens popped up and Gemma was lost as to what he was doing. Then all of a sudden a map appeared on the screen with a little dot on it. “Bingo.”
“Where’d you learn to do that?”
“Spy school. I’m full of neat tricks.” Gemma remembered some of those neat tricks and suddenly felt hot. “It looks like he’s right outside of Keeneston. Let’s see what he’s been up to.”
Cy’s fingers flew over the keyboard as he typed away. “What are you doing now?” Gemma asked.
“Pulling up all his financials and all the information I can on that address. It’s a private residence on a horse farm right outside town. It was for sale, but a cash offer was made today, probably by our guy. Oh, and look at this. He just purchased a ticket to the Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball in Lexington tonight.”
“Why would he do that? Fly into town, buy a house, and attend a ball?” Gemma wondered.
“He’s laying the groundwork. His boss is very powerful and he may have connections here . . . or he will shortly.”
“So, what are we going to do?”
“Dance. You need a gown, sweetheart.”
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