HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) (21 page)

“Oh, Scott, it was great,” she said, stopping Jake. “You’re the best teacher ever. Ramon let Eve and I leave early. Even Miguel is still out there riding. And you’re right. Jake is the best horse in the barn. I didn’t have to do anything coming from the gate except stay on. Tomorrow Ramon wants me to go for less mane and more rein, and I need to practice with my whip but it was the most fun I’ve had since I was a kid.”

She stopped to take a breath. Her eyes were shining and she looked so damn sweet, he impulsively dipped his head and kissed her. She didn’t seem to have any walls up today, thank God.

“Are you finished with Jake?” He dragged his head up but kept a hand on her slim hip. If she was in a receptive mood, he intended to stay close.

“Yes. I was just putting him in his paddock. Everyone else is still riding.”

“I brought some alfalfa.”

“Really? Thank you!” She gave an excited wiggle. “Jake was so good today. I’m too big to be a jockey, but now I think it might be really fun to be an exercise rider.”

“That’s reassuring.” He tilted his head. “Especially since that’s the program you’re enrolled in.”

She edged back, holding onto Jake’s lead, her face suddenly serious. “Yes, well about that. I’d like to ask you something, privately. Can you come to my room?”

“Sure,” he said quickly, checking over her head. Lydia’s group still bumped around in crooked circles while Ramon addressed his string of riders. “We can get the alfalfa later.”

She nodded and led Jake into his paddock, next to a big bay with a scar on his left cheek and an arrogant eye. “You’ll get some alfalfa too,” she called. But the bay merely stared over her head, as though absorbed with something far more important than mere humans.

“That’s my other horse, Rambo,” she said, with an affectionate smile. “I’ve been picking grass so he expects it. When I first came he barely tolerated me, but now I can lead him without a chain.”

Scott shot another glance at the horse. Rambo had an imperious head and a stubborn glint in his eye, and if the gelding had been at the track, he definitely would have been worth a bet.

“That guy has a good opinion of himself,” Scott said, eying Rambo’s deep chest and powerful hindquarters. “He probably won some money in his younger days and expects special treatment.”

“Really?” Megan shot Rambo a dubious look. “Everyone here just thinks he’s a jerk. No one can ride him. But it would be neat to know more.”

“We can check his race record.” Scott slipped his hand around her waist and urged her back to the barn. “But not right now.”

She seemed oblivious to the fact that his mind was on more enjoyable pursuits but walked up the steps and to her door. He pushed it open, automatically checking the tiny room, then turned the door lock.

“Tami will be back soon,” she said. “And I wanted to ask you something.”

“Ask me anything.” He grabbed her hand and coaxed her closer. “But after staring at Garrett’s ugly mug last night, I need a little loving first.”

“Okay.” She smiled up at him and curved into his chest as though made to fit. “I thought you were getting your car fixed?” she asked. “Did you end up drinking with Garrett? You looked a little grumpy in class this morning.”

And she’d looked a little emotional. So much that he’d shortened the lecture. But he didn’t want to get into heavy talking right now. She smelled of sunshine and peaches, and it seemed like a week since he’d seen her.

He inhaled her scent then covered her mouth with his, drinking deeply, savoring her taste. She wrapped her arms around his neck and arched against him, making him glad he’d locked the door. He tugged her shirt from the waistband of her jeans and slid his hand along the hollow of her back. She was sweet and soft and receptive, and his blood heated as he caressed the flare of her hip, the curve of her ass. He palmed her breast, enjoying her soft sighs, and backed her purposefully to the bed.

Clip, clop
. Voices drifted and a horse nickered. Someone charged up the stairs with a thunderous step. The entire building shook with activity. Obviously, Lydia’s class had returned.

Groaning, he lifted his head and whispered into her neck, “This would be easier if you dropped my class and moved into my place.”

“I’ll drop your class. I don’t need it anyway.”

Something nibbled in the back of his brain—she was oddly quick to give up a university credit—but he was absorbed by the weight of her breast, how it fit so perfectly in his hand. “It’s not in your best interest to drop it,” he said thickly. “But we can talk about it tonight. What do you want for supper?”

“Oh, but I can’t come over until later.” She pressed an apologetic kiss into the hollow of his throat. “I’m driving Eve into town. We’re going to eat there. She’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Eve? Isn’t she the jock who hung out with Joey Collins?”

Megan edged back, tilting her head.

“Garrett asked me to hunt down the guy,” he went on. “He filled me in on all the details and what students Joey’s most likely to approach. Eve was top of his list.”

Her eyes widened. “You mean…he hired you? You’re working for him? As an investigator?”

Her voice quavered and he dropped his hand to her hip, rushing to reassure her. “Don’t worry. Joey Collins is the guy who hurt Rex, but there’s little danger. Small time dealers don’t generally hang around when it gets hot.”

“J-Joey hurt Rex?” She stiffened, her body rigid.

“Garrett saw Joey that night. He wants me to catch him. Keep an eye on the dorms. Step up safety.”

She shook her head. “But that doesn’t make sense. Garrett
saw
Joey?”

“Yes. He didn’t want to scare you but that kid is definitely bad news. Obviously he left Mexico under a different passport.”

She backed away so abruptly her legs pressed against the bed. “You’re sure of this? Garrett saw him?”

“Yeah. Kid must have a vendetta against the school. It’s hard to tell what a druggie thinks. Rex may have scared him or he may have been trying to hurt Garrett. Maybe he had an argument with some of the other students too, maybe Eve.”

She pulled away and walked into the bathroom. Water splashed. She reappeared, blotting her face with a towel. Another good thing about country girls. They didn’t waste much time with hair and makeup. Hell, when you looked like Megan you didn’t need help.

But when she lowered the towel from her face, he could only gape. He didn’t know what she’d done in the bathroom but she looked different, almost radiant with happiness. Her eyes, even her skin, glowed.

She tossed the towel on the bed, oblivious to his reaction. “I have to go see Eve now,” she said, “to…warn her.”

He blinked and lowered his arm. Realized he’d been automatically reaching for her. Wanting her. “Good idea.” He cleared the gruffness from his throat. “But let’s get the hay from my car first.”

She gave him such a brilliant smile, he grinned back despite his disappointment that the room visit seemed to be over. “What did you want to ask me?” he added, hoping to wring out a few more minutes.

But she opened the door and slipped into the hall.

“Wait,” he called. “Students need to lock their rooms now.”

She glanced over her shoulder, staring for a blank moment as though she’d forgotten he was around. But she didn’t stop.

“Come back and lock your door.” His smile slipped and he crossed his arms. “Junkies are unpredictable,” he added. “You don’t want to surprise him in your room.”

“I’m not worried,” she said. “And I can’t lock it now. Tami doesn’t have her key. Come on. We have to get the hay from your car so you can go.”

“Megan…” His protest trailed off. She was almost skipping, had nearly reached the stairwell. Damn, she was hell on the ego. It was brutally clear he was the more interested party, and he didn’t like the feeling. Physically she seemed willing enough, but emotionally she shut him out at the most inconvenient times. Normally a woman who preferred to keep things casual was a definite bonus, but with Megan, it only gave him a headache.

He shook his head and followed in her wake, back down the steps and into a barn aisle that bustled with activity. Sweaty horses clomped past, swishing their tails, eager for lunch. He slipped on his sunglasses and stepped outside, ignoring students’ curious looks, hoping to discourage their conversation.

Megan was already halfway across the parking lot, her shiny ponytail bouncing. It looked like she’d just received a happy drug. She radiated joy, a polar opposite to her anguished look in his classroom. He liked to see her happy—but he didn’t understand the mood shift.

He’d have to check out this Eve girl too. Damn, he wished Megan chummed around with someone safer. If Joey came looking for his girlfriend, he didn’t want Megan tangled in the backwash. Not after seeing how brutally Joey had dealt with the dog.

“Scott.”

Lydia. He blanked his face and turned.

“I see you’ve already been checking the dorm.” Lydia flashed an approving smile. “Garrett said you need a list of students and room numbers. I’ll have it to you in an hour. Let me know if there’s any other way I can help.”

“Thanks.” He glanced back over his shoulder and couldn’t stop his mouth from twitching. Megan poked ineffectually at his car lock, trying to open the trunk. When it didn’t open, she threw her hands up in exasperation. Rambo rushed to the adjoining fence, head high but expectant. And now Jake decided treats were imminent and began to paw.

Megan couldn’t race off to see Eve now, not with both her horses waiting in anticipation. She’d have to return and ask for his car keys. Maybe he could entice her with lunch.

“I also need a list of empty rooms,” he said, turning his attention back to Lydia. “Just in case Joey’s holed up here. Tell everyone to lock their doors, even when unoccupied. Let’s not make it easy for him.”

He shifted, watching his car over Lydia’s head, trying not to grin. Megan was in a quandary now, and knew it. She’d have to wait for Lydia to leave—Megan’s desire to stay low-key, not his. They really should have lingered a few more minutes in her room.

His eyes held hers for a moment and it was apparent she knew exactly what he was thinking. But she tilted her head, her rueful smile changing to such an imploring look, it was impossible to ignore.

Lydia was still talking, completely unaware as he aimed his remote at the car. The trunk silently opened.

“Thank you,” Megan mouthed. She pulled out the bag and split the alfalfa between Rambo and Jake. Tossed the empty bag back into the trunk and slammed it shut. She blew him a grateful kiss, then starting running. Didn’t stop until those lovely long legs disappeared into the jock barn.

The day turned a bit duller. They could have squeezed in lunch before her next class, maybe even a little more. Damn, he was still turned on. And she was nothing but gone. And why the hell was she so eager to visit the girlfriend of a drug trafficker? If Eve was hiding Joey, Megan really should keep her distance.

He dragged a hand over his jaw and turned to Lydia. “There is one other way you can help,” he said slowly.

Her head bobbed. “Anything,” she breathed.

“I’d like a complete copy of the school’s files on Joey and Eve.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“He’s alive!” Megan burst into Eve’s room, her chest thumping with joy. “Joey’s alive.”

A hairbrush fell from Eve’s fingers and clattered to the floor. “Where is he? Did he call?”

Megan shook her head, still charged with adrenaline. “He’s here, right here. Garrett saw him. He thinks Joey hurt his dog but of course, that’s not true.”

“What are you talking about?” Eve pressed her hands over her mouth, her hopeful eyes clinging to Megan’s face.

“I tried to hire Scott,” Megan said, her words tumbling in eagerness, “but couldn’t because Garrett had already asked him to find Joey. That’s when Scott told me that Garrett had seen him.”

“Are you kidding?” A vertical crease appeared between Eve’s eyebrows. “That’s crazy. If Joey were here, he wouldn’t be sneaking around.”

“Well, maybe he’s acting a little crazy but at least he’s alive.” Megan’s voice faltered. “I had my doubts before. And no matter what kind of trouble he’s in, I can help. I’d rather him doing drugs than dead.”

“Megan. Listen.” Eve stepped forward and grabbed her wrists. “They didn’t see Joey. Maybe they saw someone who looked like Joey but it wasn’t him. He would have called especially since…well, believe me, he would have called. And what’s this about a dog?”

“Someone clubbed Rex, Garrett’s dog. Broke his leg. It was horrible.”

“Well, there. That’s proof enough.” Eve shook her head in disgust. “You know Joey wouldn’t go around clubbing dogs. He loved animals.”

“Loves. He
loves
animals.”

“Megan.” Eve’s grip tightened, her eyes turning a sorrowful black. “I’d like to believe it too, but Joey isn’t coming back. Something terrible happened down there.”

Megan yanked her hands away and sank onto the bed. She dropped her head in her palms, her earlier euphoria replaced by a wrenching pain. She’d wanted to believe so badly. Had been ecstatic for fifteen wonderful minutes.

But this was worse. To be given hope, and then have it wrenched away.

“You’re right,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Joey wouldn’t hide. He always faced things head on. Oh, God. I was so excited. I almost called Mom.”

“At least the school is finally doing something, hiring Scott.” Eve dropped on the bed beside her. “He has a good reputation. And if he digs up something, Garrett will have to listen.”

“But Scott thinks Joey’s a worthless goon.” Megan squeezed her eyes shut. “And he’s looking in the wrong place.”

“Then hopefully we’ll find something in Lydia’s villa,” Eve said, “so we can point him in the right direction.”

***

“Aren’t you going for supper?” Tami asked as Megan veered from the cafeteria door and headed toward the exercise room.

“Not yet.” Megan paused, trying not to fidget. She was supposed to meet Eve in the exercise room at five but was running late. Rambo had kicked a stall board loose and she had trouble finding a hammer. She was hot and edgy, and already her heart raced at the prospect of sneaking into Lydia’s villa.