Forever Hidden (Forever Bluegrass #2) (14 page)

Sydney had to give Deacon credit. He walked over to her father and held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir. I’ve heard a lot about you from Syd and Mrs. Wyatt.”

Her father looked at her and took in their state of undress. His lips tilted into a snarl.

“Dad,” Sydney warned.

“Marshall, what is it? Is Sydney okay?”

Oh great. Sydney shut her eyes as her mom raced into the room.

“I told you to stay in the car until I knew it was safe,” her father ground out. Her mother only rolled her eyes—eyes that quickly went from Deacon to her and back to Deacon.

“And who is your friend, dear?” Her mother practically cooed as the rust-colored Vizsla puppy bounded across the room and leapt into Sydney’s outstretched arms. Sydney and her father both groaned at her mother as Syd picked up the wiggly puppy.

“Deacon McKnight. Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Deacon said with a smile and a respectful bow of his head.

“Katelyn Davies, Sydney’s mother. It’s such a pleasure to meet a friend of my daughter’s.” Katelyn smiled a smile that had once made her a supermodel but now made her look like a scheming mother in search of grandbabies.

“Hi, Mom. What are you two doing here so early?” Sydney asked.

“Everyone was saying you were back in town, and we thought we’d find out how you were doing. And I thought I’d deliver Robyn to you. She’s only destroyed three pillows and a pair of Prada heels,” her mother said so sweetly that Sydney fought the urge to roll her eyes . . . again.

“At least she has good taste in shoes,” Sydney cooed at the puppy licking her cheek.

“We got in at four this morning. There wasn’t anyone to see us drive through town,” Deacon said with amazement.

“Freeze, asshole!” a woman yelled from the archway leading into the kitchen from the front door.

“Aunt Annie, it’s just us.” Sydney groaned yet again in embarrassment. Her aunt came through the door with her gun still pointed at Deacon. At least she was wearing her sheriff’s uniform. Her father was in plainclothes and had given Deacon no clue as to why a strange man was in her house with a gun.

“Who’s he?” Annie asked with zero subtlety.

“This is my boyfriend, Deacon McKnight. Deacon, this is my aunt, Annie Davies. She works with my father at the sheriff’s department and is about to tell us why she’s here, too.” Sydney stared at her aunt and couldn’t stop the eye roll when Annie just smirked at them. A smirk that got bigger as she looked at Deacon’s bare chest.

“I was responding to your alarm. Boyfriend, huh? How long have you two been dating?” Annie asked as she holstered her gun.

Deacon held out his hand and shook Annie’s. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. We’ve been dating, what, one day?”

Her mother and aunt smiled at each other. Her father had steam coming out of his ears.

“Deacon has been taking care of Great-grandma’s Atlanta estate,” Sydney told them.

“Oh, that’s nice. Do you do the landscaping and all that, too?” her mother asked.

Deacon grinned with amusement. “Yes, when I have time. I run my own business so that occupies most of my day.”

“How interesting. What kind of business?” her mother asked as she shot a winning smile to her husband as if to prove their daughter was dating someone who didn’t just sit in a mansion, playing video games all day.

“I’m a private investigator.”

“Well, shit,” her mother whispered under her breath as her father’s face turned five shades of red.

“Not that kind of PI,” Deacon said with an amazing amount of calm. “I only take cases I really want. I don’t muck up active police cases. In fact, I work very closely with police on missing person cases. Like now, I’m working with Detective Gentry of the Atlanta PD on a case to find a girl we believe was coerced into sex trafficking.”

Sydney looked to her father whose face had gone down a shade to bright red apple. “One day,” he muttered.

“Yes, but hopefully many more to come,” Deacon said as he put his arm around her shoulders. Robyn leaned over to sniff him, and Syd put her on the ground. The roly-poly puppy sauntered over to Deacon and gave him the once-over. It was as if she were deciding if his shoes were good enough to chew on.

Her mother clasped her hands happily together while Aunt Annie casually took her father’s sidearm. His face was back up to nuclear red.

“That’s wonderful, Deacon. We’re happy to have you visiting. You know, Sydney’s Grandma Davies is having a family dinner tomorrow night. It would be lovely if you joined us.”

“No!” Sydney said a little too loudly.

“I think that’s a great idea,” her father said with a feral smile on his face. Aunt Annie bent down and removed the gun strapped to Marshall’s ankle.

“I’d love to.” Deacon smiled like an idiot. The poor man didn’t know the hell he had just walked into.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Sydney looked up at the house she had spent so much time in. A house that held warm memories, the smell of fresh-baked cookies mixed with pipe tobacco and secrets—Evelyn Seeley’s secrets. Sydney was determined to find them and complete the quest her great-grandmother had tasked her with.

“So, this is Mrs. Wyatt’s home. It looks just like she described it. And wow, what a farm,” Deacon said with wonder as he took in the rolling hills dotted with horses and lined with black fences.

“It’s beautiful here. It’s why I moved nearby. I don’t have the time to take care of this much property, though. That’s why she left it to my younger brother, Wyatt. He’s a large-animal veterinarian and spent the last couple of years helping Great-grandma take care of the farm,” Sydney told him as she put her key in the lock and opened the old front door.

The inside of the house seemed frozen in time. Wyatt hadn’t wanted to move in yet. He said it still caused him too much pain to think about living in the big house alone. Sydney walked into the entranceway and set her keys on the side table. On her immediate right was a formal sitting room. Up ahead on her right was a large wood-paneled office that had belonged to her great-grandfather. On her left was the living room that led to the dining room, which was next to the kitchen. All the bedrooms were upstairs.

“I think we should start in her master bedroom. Look for anything this key could fit,” Sydney told Deacon as he followed her upstairs. “I’ve called some friends to help with Bailey’s case. We’ve agreed to meet for lunch, so we only have a couple hours.”

Deacon followed her into the master bedroom and took his time looking around. “Sounds good. I still don’t know how your friends in this small town, while very nice, would be able to help locate Bailey.”

Sydney just shook her head as she opened the nightstand by the bed. “We may be small in number, but trust me. They’ll be able to help.”

Deacon and Sydney worked in silence. He opened every drawer, knocked on every section of the wall, and practically cleared out the large walk-in closet. Still there was no hidden compartment, no large trunks, or anything that seemed out of place. He was about to give up with he heard a floorboard squeak in the old house.

Sydney was searching under the bed and was luckily out of sight. The sound came again, this time from out in the hall. Deacon quietly slipped behind the bedroom door and waited for the intruder to enter the room. It seemed like an eternity before he did. His instinct to protect Sydney at all costs prepared him to confront the intruder without hesitation.

The man finally stepped past the door, and Deacon could tell from his hair, height, and build that he wasn’t Marshall. This man was younger, had slightly lighter brown hair, and was strong. Not that Marshall wasn’t, but from behind this man seemed to have even larger shoulders than the sheriff. He was tall, about Deacon’s height, and would be an equal opponent.

Deacon made his move when the man cocked his head and began to bend down to look under the bed. Deacon leapt from behind the door and wrenched the man’s arm behind his back. Normally this caused people to freeze, but the man promptly lowered his shoulder and tried to fling Deacon over it. This man was trained in combat.

The intruder stomped his heel onto Deacon’s foot and flung his head backward in an attempt to smash Deacon’s nose. Deacon darted out of the way, but the man took advantage and spun around so the two men were facing each other.

“Where’s Sydney?” he growled.

“Someplace you’ll never find her,” Deacon snarled back as he threw a hard right cross.

The man blocked it and returned with a jab that glanced off the forearm Deacon had used to protect his face. The battle continued—cross, block, hook, block. Back and forth they challenged each other. Deacon never took his eyes off the man as they traded blows.

“Stop!” Sydney yelled.

Deacon let his eyes move from the man to Sydney, and that was all the guy needed to land a solid punch to the stomach. Deacon’s breath whooshed from him as he reflexively bent over. Sydney screamed, but Deacon ignored her as he tackled the man by ramming his lowered shoulder into the man’s gut. The men crashed to the ground as Sydney raced over to them.

“Wyatt! Stop! This is my boyfriend, Deacon. Stop,” Sydney screamed as she tried to pull Deacon off this man named Wyatt.

“Deacon, this is my brother!” Sydney yelled as the two finally stopped swinging at each other.

Deacon looked from Sydney to the man on the ground. They both had hazel eyes, only Sydney’s were more golden and Wyatt’s were greener. “Damn. How many men are in your family anyway, and why do they all come sneaking into your house?” Deacon asked as he stood up and held out his hand to Sydney’s brother.

“Her house? I’ll have you know this is my house. It’s you two who are sneaking around. And I’ve heard plenty about how you were sneaking around this morning at my sister’s house, too,” Wyatt shot back.

Deacon stopped himself from saying anything about this morning. This was Sydney’s brother, and he could tell by the look on her face that she was mortified. “I’m sorry about this. I just wanted to protect her. I’m sure you can appreciate that. Mrs. Wyatt told me how close you two are.”

Wyatt raised an eyebrow as he saw Sydney’s hand gripping his. Deacon watched as Wyatt took them in and then gave him a quick nod as if saying he got that they were together. By the way Wyatt’s jaw was still clenched, Deacon didn’t think Wyatt liked it, though.

“You knew my great-grandmother?”

“Yes. We wrote for five years. She left something for Sydney, and I was just helping her look for it,” Deacon explained.

“I thought you were here on some case.” Wyatt folded his arms over his chest and stared him down.

“I am. We have a meeting at the Blossom Café soon, and I was helping her look while we had some spare time,” Deacon explained.

Wyatt turned from him and looked at his sister. “What are you looking for?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know. She left me this key.” Sydney handed the key to her brother who examined it.

“I don’t know what this could be for,” Wyatt said as he looked at the key. “But there’s all sorts of hiding places in this old house. Now, why don’t you tell me about this case that got my sister assaulted.”

Sydney sighed. “Did Mom also tell you Deacon was the one who protected me?”

“Yes, but we’ll discuss your
boyfriend
later. What’s the case?” Wyatt ignored Deacon, who could see why Sydney tended to roll her eyes.

“Look, it’s almost time to meet the group at the café. Just meet us there and then we only have to explain it once.” Sydney was frustrated, and Deacon wanted to comfort her. Mrs. Wyatt had told him how close the family was. He didn’t understand why Wyatt was giving her such a hard time.

“Darlin’, why don’t you head downstairs and get the car? I need to apologize to your brother here for getting the jump on him.” Deacon purposefully needled Wyatt and as he expected, Wyatt immediately ushered Sydney out.

“What the hell was that about?” Wyatt demanded as soon as Sydney was downstairs. “You didn’t get the jump on me.”

Deacon held up his hands. “Look, you held your own. I’d rather have you on my side than against me. However, Sydney has just been attacked by two of the most important men in her life for dating me. I think it’s time to back off.”

“And I think you need to realize my sister isn’t someone you sleep with on the first date and use until you’ve made a name for yourself,” Wyatt shot back.

Deacon let out a long breath. “One, it wasn’t our first date. We’ve been together since she left Keeneston. Second, it’s none of your business. In case you haven’t noticed, Sydney is a grown woman. And third, I love her. I’ll never use her for any reason.”

“That’s what they all tell her. Well, I learned better even if my sister hasn’t. You love her now, but when she cuts off your funds or doesn’t let you use her jet, then suddenly you’re out of love.”

Deacon really wanted to roll his eyes. Sydney was definitely wearing off on him. “I don’t need your sister’s money. Google me and then see if I have any reason to use your sister. But I’ll tell you something. I do love her, and I will protect her. I won’t have you and your father hurting her by making her feel bad for having found love,” Deacon told him as he worked to unclench his jaw.

Wyatt stared at him for a moment, then slowly held out his hand. “Truce?”

Deacon breathed in relief. “Truce,” he said, shaking Wyatt’s hand.

Ten minutes later Deacon held open the door to the Blossom Café for Sydney. He had smelled the cooking from the time they parked along a very crowded Main Street. Sydney had said it was her favorite place to eat, but as he looked around downtown Keeneston he noticed it was the only place to eat.

“Syd, welcome home. How ya doin’, hon?” a curvy, reddish-blond knockout asked as she wrapped Sydney up in a hug.

“Thanks, Poppy. I’m hanging in there.”

Another woman came from the back of the café and held out her arms to Sydney. This one was more svelte and her hair a little more blond than red. “We’ve been thinking about you, hon. Now, who’s the hunk?”

“Zinnia, I’m wounded you don’t recognize me.” Deacon turned to the deep southern drawl coming from behind him. Wyatt sauntered in with his hands over his heart.

Zinnia smacked him on the shoulder with a wooden spoon. A trickle of what looked to be a sauce of some kind was left behind. Wyatt swiped at it and smiled. “You even made my favorite.”

The woman sent him a wink, and all eyes turned to Deacon. Wyatt’s distraction only lasted so long. Sydney came and put her arm through his. “Poppy and Zinnia Meadows, this is my boyfriend, Deacon McKnight. Deacon, Poppy and Zinnia are sisters. They filled in for the Rose sisters and are now running the Blossom Café and the bed-and-breakfast up the street.”

“Ma’am,” Deacon said as he shook each woman’s hand. He sent them a smile that made them blush. If there was one thing he knew how to do, it was flatter a group of women. Debutante balls were certainly good for learning that.

“And these are the Rose sisters and their husbands,” Sydney told him as she pulled him to a table filled with white-haired seniors. Well, seniors may be too generous. Dinosaurs may be more accurate. But there was a twinkle in their eyes that made him smile. They looked like they knew how to get into trouble.

“Afternoon,” Deacon said as he was introduced to the shorter woman sitting next to the man with a jolly belly.

“This is Miss Lily and her husband, John Wolfe,” Sydney introduced. “And that is Miss Daisy and her husband, Charles Lastinger.”

“Sir, ma’am. It’s a pleasure,” Deacon said to the slightly taller, thinner woman and man smiling up at him.

“And this is Miss Violet and her husband, Anton Vasseur,” Sydney ended.

“So, young man, are you going to save that young Bailey?” John asked.

Deacon stared at him for a second. How did he know about that?

“While you’re thinking about it, how about our Sydney here? I know you busted in and protected her from that Vic character, but you better keep a closer eye on her. He shouldn’t have been able to attack our girl in the first place.”

Deacon’s mouth dropped open, but no words came out.

“Oh hush, John. Can’t you see the boy’s in love with her? He probably feels horrible about it,” Miss Lily said as she swatted her husband’s arm.

“How . . .?” Deacon stuttered.

“Aliens,” Sydney whispered as the door opened. “But here are my friends. We’ll see you later,” she said louder to the group.

Deacon gave them a weak smile as they all beamed back at him. Then Miss Daisy held up some money, and Poppy ran over. The rest was a blur of money and dates. He was so lost. “What’s going on?” Deacon asked.

“Oh, they’re just placing bets on when you and my cousin are going to tie the knot,” a tall man with Sydney’s hazel eyes and dark brown hair said with a grin. “Ryan Parker. And this is my wife, Sienna.”

“Hello,” the pretty auburn-haired woman said as she held out her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. Even if I haven’t heard anything about you.”

Sydney stuck her tongue out at Sienna and the two laughed. “Sienna’s my best friend. And this is Nash Dagher; he’s the second in command of security for Dani and Mo,” she told him as she pointed out a lightly tanned man with large muscles, black hair, and almost black eyes. He didn’t say anything, only gave a quick nod of recognition and headed for a table in the back of the café.

“And this is Zain Ali Rahman. One of Dani and Mo’s twin sons.” Sydney introduced the tall serious man in a suit. His hair was dark brown—cut short and perfect. His jaw and nose had sharp angles that screamed power.

“Nice to meet y’all. I’m Deacon McKnight. I appreciate any help you can give me on the case.”

As the group smiled at him and moved to the table where Nash was already seated, Deacon turned to Sydney. “Who are Dani and Mo, and why do I feel as if I should know them?”

“They’re the Prince and Princess of Rahmi. Zain is in line for the throne, albeit a way down the line. But he has a lot of resources, to say the least. His twin brother, Gabe, is also a diplomat, but he’s currently spending this month in Rahmi with his uncle, the king. As I said, we’re a small but mighty town.”