by Lexi Post
Vince leaned back, his mind racing with possibilities for all three of the people she ruled out. Emergencies, change in living circumstances, even blackmail could cause a person to act out of character and do something he or she usually wouldn’t do.
But he wouldn’t have that conversation now or Rachel would warn those people he would be looking into their behind-the-scenes lives. He was surprised, however, by her conclusion. “If we rule out those people, then why do you think it’s a hacker? Why not a bank employee? Or a stranger who looked over your shoulder?”
Rachel’s shoulders fell. “It’s just a guess. I don’t know who else it could be and since the Oteros were hacked recently and I sell to them, I figure maybe that gave the hacker access to my accounts.” She raised a shoulder, clearly at a loss and his heart engaged again.
He reached across the table and placed his hand over her clasped ones. He didn’t fail to notice the roughened edges of her knuckles. “Don’t worry. We’ll get this figured out.”
She pulled her hands into her lap and looked at Hunter. “That’s why I called you. I might be able to figure this out, but by the time I did, I’d be broke.” She turned to Vince. “I moved funds from the other accounts to make new payments, but there’s not much left. I have no money to hire anyone. I don’t want to take a loan out against the ranch. The news would spread like wildfire in this town. In Daisy Creek, everyone knows everyone else.”
He gave her a steady look, the idea that he would charge was a kick to his gut, but she didn’t need to know that. He moved his gaze to Hunter. “I’d like to take the lead on this case.”
“Sounds good.”
“No.”
The contradictory responses were no surprise. Hunter elbowed Rachel lightly. “Rache, listen. You know I’d do anything for you, but I know what I don’t know. My computer and finance knowledge is no better than yours. I couldn’t find anything this weekend either, but I’ll still stay at the ranch and help with the investigation. Adriana is busy training a new bartender and if she misses me too much, she’ll just show up on your doorstep.”
Hunter’s lips quirked up slightly as if he hoped his girlfriend would do exactly that. The two of them really did need to catch up.
He piggybacked on Hunter’s statement. “I’ll tackle the behind the scene issues as that is my expertise.”
Hunter broke in. “You know what we called him on the police force?”
Rachel shook her head, but still didn’t look at him.
“The arranger. If you needed something done with no one knowing about it, Vince was your man. I’m sure you want to keep this issue quiet. Texas is a big state of small towns.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s one way of putting it. You’re lucky you moved.”
“Where are you now?” Vince had two reasons for asking. One he was curious, but more importantly, he wanted to gauge which people he could have Hunter tail. The man was quieter than the wind.
“I’m in Arizona now. Working security for Poker Flat Nudist Resort.”
Vince was well versed in hiding his feelings, but he couldn’t help widening his eyes at that. “A nudist resort?”
Hunter shrugged. “I don’t have to worry about people hiding guns in their clothing there.”
Understanding dawned. His friend had served two tours in Afghanistan. That had to have an impact on a man. He wanted to ask how he was doing, but didn’t. Since he had his own demons to contend with, maybe a couple beers with an old friend might put some of them to sleep, but not in front of Rachel. They’d only reconnected because of her.
He focused on Rachel and caught her studying him, but she looked away. She wouldn’t be able to hide for long. “I’ve got a couple loose ends to tie up for the Oteros this morning, but I’ll drive out this afternoon and start looking at your books. I’ll need user names and passwords to all your accounts.”
“The Oteros?” Her whole body stiffened. “I didn’t know you worked for them.”
He nodded. “Good. You aren’t supposed to. Roscoe and I work for them privately.”
She squinted at him. “Did you know I sell cattle to the Oteros?”
“Yes. I know everything there is to know about their operation and a lot about their family.”
She sat back in surprise, but he couldn’t tell if it was because he’d left her alone like she wished, or if she couldn’t believe he’d really known about her connection to the family. He’d known for years, but she’d made it clear when she changed her phone number that they were more than done.
Now fate had brought them together and he would move mountains if he had to in order to save her ranch. But they would have a talk. He wanted closure on their relationship. This time he wasn’t going anywhere until he decided it was time to go.
Chapter Two
Rachel didn’t understand the ache in her chest since she’d left Vince and Hunter at the diner and headed home. He’d known they worked with the same family and had stayed away. She should feel grateful, but part of her was crushed.
“Shit, Rachel, he did what you told him to do. He stayed away. You have no reason to be hurt that he kept his word. He’s a damn cowboy for criminy sake. What’d you expect?”
Her double cab pick-up hit a rut and bounced her up, almost hitting her head on the ceiling. That rut had been there since last month’s wash out.
“Good job. Now you can’t even drive with him on your mind.” That was part of the problem seven years ago. He filled her every waking thought and even half her nighttime ones. She’d been a mess wondering if he was alive or dead while she tried to keep her little sister out of trouble after her dad died. She’d failed at that, too.
Her mother probably could have fought the cancer, but she had no will to live. The second her dad was gone, her mom handed everything over to her. To this day, she was thankful she’d already graduated college. Her sister was in her senior year of high school and the death of their father hadn’t helped her emotional state.
Driving the truck up to the porch that ran the length of the two-story ranch house, Rachel parked it. She stared at her home. It wasn’t huge, just four bedrooms upstairs with the living room, long kitchen and den downstairs, but it had seen so much love. The outside was still in good shape as well. The pale blue painted clapboard siding contrasted nicely with the white shutters and trim, but what made it home was the memories.
Two rockers sat on one end of the porch where her parents used to spend time quietly talking after dinner while she and Crystal rocked in the big porch swing on the other end. Even she and Vince had spent some time in that swing. Her body heated, and she quickly turned the truck off and opened the door.
Would coming back here bring painful memories for him, too? He loved her parents as if they were his own. They practically were since he had no real parents. That he’d turned out so well despite that fact had always attracted her to him. “Stop mooning over something that was never meant to be. You have work to do.”
She jumped out and grabbed a bag of groceries and her purse.
“Need some help, Miss Rachel?” Sam strode out of the horse barn, his bowlegged walk giving him an awkward gait. The smile beneath his heavy mustache never let on that he’d just started physical therapy to get more mobility. Like every stubborn cowboy, he’d refused to go to the doc’s when he was younger and now at forty-two, he was paying for it.
“Thanks. There’s two more bags on the other side.”
As Sam moved to the passenger door, she brought the bag of cold food through the farmhouse and into the kitchen. Plunking it down on the twelve foot oak table that was the long kitchen’s centerpiece, she opened the refrigerator.
Why hadn’t she asked Hunter who he was calling in to help her? He’d been living in Arizona for so many years, she never expected he’d bring in Vince.
She set the milk on the second shelf. The man was just as broad and confident as he was when they’d been close. Hell, who was she kidding? They’d been lovers with a w
hole future ahead of them. She’d always told herself it was just bad timing—his undercover work, her dad’s and mom’s deaths, the ranch responsibilities, her sister’s drama.
He’d wanted to help, but he was gone for six months. That wasn’t a man she could depend on. She’d been right to break it off. It wouldn’t have—
“Ah, Miss Rachel, aren’t you too young to be having them hot flash things?” Sam put the other two bags of groceries down on the table.
“What?”
He pointed to the open refrigerator door. “I know the fridge here is cool, but you could turn up the air conditioner.”
She closed the door and shook her head. “No, I was just thinking.”
Sam’s gaze grew shrewd. “Men or money?”
Whoa, he was way too close. It was both and neither if her account was any gauge. “Just thinking about the Oteros’ cattle order. Did Esteban call yet?”
Sam smiled at her, clearly not buying her story, but he was too much of a gentlemen to push it. “No, but I was riding the north fence and the reception is spotty.” He pulled his cellphone from his belt and looked at it. “Nope, no calls.” He smiled. “But I did get a text from Eva.”
“Your six year-old daughter is texting?” She returned to the grocery bag with cold food in it and continued emptying it.
He flipped the phone around so she could see. “Actually, she posed for Marie and made her send the picture.”
Rachel looked at the photo of the little girl in a ballet outfit posing while leaning on one crutch. She’d fallen out of a tree two weeks ago and broke her leg. She was a handful. “She’s growing so fast.”
He looked at the phone once again then clipped it back to his belt. “Yeah. I’m just glad I get to go home every night. Some of the men here are working two jobs.”
Her stomach tightened. She paid her cowboys well, but it wasn’t anything a person could buy a house with or start a family. She’d actually hoped to give raises come calving season, but that didn’t look good now. “How are the feed levels?”
“They’re fine. I’ve got the Hereford out in the west pasture. There’s good eating out there right now.”
Thank the Lord for that. She should probably tell Sam that Vince was coming over, so he wouldn’t wonder like he had when Hunter showed up. She’d expected her old friend to advise her over the phone and the next morning he was on her doorstep. Since Hunter’s sister was older than him, he liked playing big brother to her and right now she was fine with that.
She pulled another grocery bag toward her. “We’re going to be having more company today. Do you remember Vince Gallagher?”
Sam’s widening eyes said more than he did. “Yeah.”
She turned to put the bags of beans away and spoke over her shoulder. “It turns out he’s an old friend of Hunter’s. He’s going to stop by.” She had to turn back and face Sam to get another item out of the bag.
He stared at her, a frown on his face. “Yeah?”
She nodded and quickly grabbed the spaghetti from the bag. “Yes. The two of them are working on, uh…something.” She couldn’t tell him the ranch was in trouble thanks to the missing money. She didn’t want to worry him unless absolutely necessary.
“Miss Rachel, we all know you had a thing for Vince. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
She nodded but wouldn’t look him in the eye. Any reference to Vince sent her heartbeat racing. She hadn’t told anyone yet of the bounced checks. She’d rather keep it between herself and her creditors. She burrowed into the bottom of the grocery bag and pulled out the chocolate chips she’d bought. “I think I’ll make my monster cookies for the men today. Hunter always did like Mom’s homemade treats.” But Vince is the one who loved her monster cookies the most.
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that.” Sam remained silent while she started unpacking the other bag. Finally, he shook his head. “Well, I better get back to work. If you need me, just holler.”
“Thanks, I will.” She didn’t look up, not willing to let him know how rattled she was. She was the owner of the Sunnyview Ranch. It was her responsibility to take care of things and if that meant having Vince in her house again, then she’d just have to suck it up and deal with it.
She’d just put away the last of the groceries when she caught sight of a dust cloud coming up the dirt driveway. She grinned. Just what the doctor ordered, a bit of sunshine from her little sister.
Crystal had a rough time in high school, and losing her baby had sent her into a worse depression than when their dad died. Then there were the drugs she’d used to cope. But after seeing a psychiatrist, she’d finally come into her own in college, graduating with a degree in accounting. She was a whiz with numbers and had finessed a few deals over the years to benefit the ranch.
When the convertible came to a stop, Rachel walked out onto the porch. Her sister came by two or three times a week, always unannounced and always welcome.
“Hey, Rache!” Crystal waved from the driver seat before stepping out onto the hard-packed dirt that served as the front yard in a pair of red strappy heels, a knee length floral dress and a dozen bangles on her wrists. Her hair was golden blonde and despite the wind from the drive, fell perfectly about her shoulders. “We really need to pave that driveway.”
Rachel laughed. “That would look pretty funny having a paved driveway off a dirt road that comes to a dirt yard.”
Her sister sauntered up the steps and gave her a hug, the knock-off perfume she wore engulfing them both in hyacinth. It smelled wonderful.
“Good point. Guess I’ll just have to learn to put the top up.” Crystal shrugged her shoulders and moved toward the door. “Is Hunter still here?”
She followed her sister into the house all the way to the kitchen in back. “Yes, I think he’s staying a few more days. He’s catching up with old friends.”
Crystal went to the refrigerator and took out the sweet tea. “Did he say why he wasn’t staying with his parents?” She poured the tea into a tall glass and put the pitcher away.
Rachel sat at the table, in no hurry to tell her sister what she’d received from the bank. Not yet anyway. She didn’t want to worry her either, plus Crystal wouldn’t take it well. She hated making mistakes and if this was her mistake, Rachel wasn’t sure how she’d handle it. “Hunter said he wasn’t ready to see them. He’s still working through his wife’s death and everything he went through overseas.”
Crystal raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure he’s taken again?”
“Absolutely. Besides, he’s far too old for you.”
“Of course, he is. I didn’t mean for me.” She winked and took a sip of tea.
“Oh, no.” Rachel waved her hand as she shook her head. “We’re just friends, like brother and sister. Don’t even go there.”
Her sister pouted then brightened. “Hey, then why don’t you come down to Big Joe’s Friday night. They’re having a live band and there’ll be two stepping and lots of cowboys.”
It sounded great, but her party days were over as quickly as they’d started. “I’ll see.”
Crystal pulled out a chair across from her and sat, crossing her legs and staring at her. “That means you plan to put on one of your oversized t-shirts and curl up on the couch with a book or a movie. Come on, sis. You need to interact with more than just Sam and the guys. You’re becoming a recluse.”
“Hah.” She snorted, not caring how unladylike she sounded. “I’ll have you know I went to the diner this morning and the grocery store afterwards. See, I do get out.”
“Very funny.” Crystal gave her a saucy look before taking another sip of her tea. “I came by because I can’t work on the books until this weekend, so I thought I’d check and see if you needed any bills paid before then.”
Shit. She rose and walked to the fridge as she answered. “No, I’m good.” She pulled out the sweet tea. “I didn’t realize how dry I was until I saw you drinking this.” She pulled a glass from the cupboard and pour
ed herself the tawny liquid. She actually was thirsty. “How’s work going?”
When Crystal didn’t answer, she looked over her shoulder at her. She was staring out the window.
Following her sister’s gaze, Rachel swallowed hard. Vince had driven up and stood chatting with one of her men who’d just ridden in. She glanced at the clock. It couldn’t be after noon yet, could it?
She was wrong. It was five past the hour. She’d forgotten how punctual he was.
“Rache, do you have something you want to tell me?” Crystal stared at her, her brow knit with worry, her light brown eyes concerned.
She waved her off and leaned her hips against the counter, crossing one arm over her waist as she took a sip of tea. “It’s nothing. Vince is working with Hunter on a project.”
Her sister’s gaze didn’t move. “And you’re okay with this? I thought you never wanted to see him again?”
She hadn’t, but she’d never told Crystal why. She didn’t want her feeling guilty. “It’s been a long time. I’m fine.” And I’m a big fat liar.
She put her glass on the counter and headed around the table.
Crystal’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. “Hey, there’s no rush.” She looked back at the window. “He’s busy. Tell me why you never wanted to see him again. I was so wrapped up in my own problems back then, I didn’t pay attention to yours.”
She glanced out the window, stalling for time. What could she say? “It was his job. He went deep undercover for six months and I had no way of knowing if he was dead or alive. I couldn’t be in a relationship with someone who did that on a regular basis. It was too heartbreaking.”
Crystal let her wrist go. “That makes a lot of sense. Do you still have feelings for him?”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. That was a long time ago. We both have our separate lives now.”
“You didn’t answer my question, which means yes.” Crystal’s shrewd gaze softened. “You want me to show him in?”