HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) (23 page)

They turned into the driveway leading to the school. Megan eased to a stop in front of the jock barn.

“Will you at least let me know…what you f-find out,” she asked, trying to keep her voice from cracking.

“Yes. And thanks for the hamburger and the drive.” But Eve said no more. She just pushed open the door and disappeared inside.

Oh, my God. Megan jerked the truck into the parking lot, then dropped her forehead on the steering wheel. Her mother would be delirious with joy. If, if, if…so many ifs. She sucked in a breath, cast a last wistful glance at the row of lights shining from Eve’s dorm, then turned and walked into the barn.

“Hey, Megan. Are you here to help with night hay?” Peter asked, his voice hopeful.

Megan dropped the plastic bag of chocolate bars and slumped onto the closest bale of hay, too drained to walk any further. “Sure, I’ll help,” she said. “But I didn’t know it was your turn.”

“Yeah, only guys are allowed to feed at night now. Joey broke into Lydia’s villa. All the girls are terrified.”

“What!”

“Yeah. Lydia’s okay but Garrett and Scott were here an hour ago. Garrett made some more rules. Also his fancy Quarter Horse is moving into this barn.” Peter’s eyes narrowed on the bag at her feet. “Oh, wow. Did you bring more chocolate?”

Megan nodded, still absorbing Peter’s words. Joey broke into Lydia’s villa? It was all too staggering, especially after Eve’s possible pregnancy. She picked up a whip, gripping it in her hands, trying to find stability in something, anything. “But nobody saw Joey,” she managed. “At Lydia’s. Why is he always blamed for everything?”

Peter shrugged. “Who else would it be? And apparently they know from what was taken.” He pulled out a Mars Bar and gave a conspiratorial wink. “Tami won’t want hers for a while. She’s still upstairs, holed up with Miguel.”

Pain spiked behind Megan’s eyes, and she pressed a palm against her forehead. Pregnancy, break-ins, Joey. She wanted to crawl into bed, and pray and cry and pray some more. Unfortunately her room was off limits, and Scott was expecting her.

She stared down at the whip. Scott wanted her to practice using it on the ground, but her fingers felt numb and the idea of being able to switch whip hands while galloping now seemed ludicrous.

“Hey, move your ass.” Peter’s boots shuffled in front of her. “I need that bale of hay.”

She looked up, blinking.

“Never mind,” he said. “You just sit. I’ll grab another bale.”

Stall doors clanged open and shut while Peter tossed hay, but her thoughts remained wrapped around pregnancy. She was older. Single. She didn’t want to ride for a living. Maybe Eve would let her keep the baby—if Eve would only carry it to full term. But was she even pregnant?

“I’m almost finished.” Peter materialized in front of her, his kind face concerned. “Just need to check some water.” He cocked his head. “I’m assuming you didn’t go to your room because Tami and Miguel are there. Want to hang out with me and Skip?”

“No, but I appreciate the offer.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure Miguel will leave soon.”

“I wouldn’t if I were him,” Peter said.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“I won’t be able to sleep a wink.” Lydia shuddered. “Knowing Joey Collins was in my bedroom.”

“What makes you think he was in your room?” Scott asked. “You said the iPod was on the kitchen table, ready to go in the mail.”

Garrett raised an amused eyebrow but blanked his face when Lydia looked at the two men.

“I just know,” she said, “that I don’t feel safe.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Scott. “Is there another place I could stay?”

“Yes,” Garrett’s voice bubbled. “Scott’s villa is big enough—”

“Garrett has seven empty bedrooms,” Scott broke in, “so if you really think safety is an issue, that’s the logical alternative.”

“There’s no need to panic,” Garrett said quickly. “The measures Scott suggested will be enough. And I don’t think Joey is a big threat.”

Scott leaned forward. It was hard to get an accurate gauge of Joey Collins. He ranged from a violent kid to a gang dealer and then to a hopeless addict. Now he was harmless? Even Garrett waffled.

“But he was certainly a threat to Rex,” Scott said.

Garrett shrugged. “Yes, but with this last incident he took nothing but his own iPod. That’s not exactly stealing.”

Scott rubbed his forehead in frustration. According to Ramon and Lydia, Joey was a hard-core dealer with an expensive habit and gang affiliations. It was difficult to understand Garrett’s ambivalence, especially with a group of students on the grounds.

“Look, do you want to catch this guy or not?” Scott asked, crossing his arms. “I can run a check. Find the area he works. Snake knows most of the gangs—”

Garrett shook his head. “I don’t want you to spend any extra time on this. There’s no need to scare the students. Just concentrate on teaching your course. And if you see anyone hanging around, nab him.” Garrett turned to Lydia. “About that other matter, can you spare me a racehorse?”

“I don’t think so.” Her brow furrowed in thought. “The grooms need the quiet ones. Sphinx is out with a tendon, Cody pulled his stifle. We don’t have any extra mounts.”

“Then we’ll have to ship Rambo.”

“Not Rambo!” She jerked forward but quelled under Garrett’s hard stare. “I hate to send Rambo to Mexico,” she added, settling back in her seat. “You know what will happen to him there. He deserves better.”

Scott had been scanning his phone, hoping for a message from Megan, but glanced up, alerted by the genuine passion in Lydia’s voice. She wasn’t pulling any helpless act now.

“What’s Rambo’s story?” he asked, remembering the name of Megan’s horse and the animal’s regal appearance.

“He’s an old stakes horse,” Lydia said. “Won almost a million dollars. Donated to the school. Supposed to be semi-retired.” She shot an accusing look at Garrett.

“He’s supposed to be teaching students to gallop,” Garrett said. “Not how to hit the ground. And if that horse isn’t any use, he’s going on the trailer next week.”

Scott’s phone vibrated. Probably Snake again. However, the screen showed ‘Megan Spence.’ He leaped to his feet and walked into Garrett’s office.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said, her voice subdued. “I just have to grab some stuff from my room, and I’ll be right over.”

He wished she’d grab everything and move in, but at least she was coming. “Don’t walk,” he said. “There’s been another incident. I’ll pick you up.”

“Okay, but I need to wait a few minutes. To get in my room.”

“Yeah, fine,” he said. “I’ll be right there.”

Garrett and Lydia were in deep discussion about the scarcity of usable horses, and it sounded like Ramon had now joined in, via speaker phone. Scott poked his head in the kitchen, gave a quick wave and escaped out Garrett’s back door

He strode back to his villa and slid into his car. Drove quickly, keeping a watchful eye on the shadows. Both barns and adjoining dorms were well lit, but he circled the parking lot, relieved Megan’s truck was parked close to the side door. He didn’t like the idea of her hanging out with Joey’s old girlfriend. Lydia said it had been a transient affair. However, if Joey was looking for Eve, Scott wanted Megan a safe distance from any action.

He parked by the end door and walked in, passing a bright-eyed student with hay sticking to his chest and a dark smear on the side of his mouth. “Good evening, sir,” the student said.

Scott nodded but his gaze swept the aisle. Megan sat on a bale of hay, practicing switching her whip hand. She rose slowly to her feet.

“Peter told me Braun is moving here tomorrow,” she said.

He’d been eager to see her, to touch her, but hesitated. There was something strained in her expression, a darkness to her eyes, and her voice had an accusatory note. “That’s right,” he said, keeping his hands at his side. “Garrett is rounding up some horses for Mexico. He wants to use the cowshed as a base.”

“And I also understand Joey broke into Lydia’s villa.”

“That’s also correct.” He stiffened at the hostility in her voice, the aggressive way she twirled the whip, almost hitting him in the chin. He reached out and stilled the whip, gently guiding it to her side. “Which is why you shouldn’t be sitting in the aisle alone,” he added.

“I’m not worried. And Peter stayed until he heard your car.” She swallowed and her words came in a rush. “Do you really believe Joey is doing all this stuff? That he was into drugs? Eve knew him better than anyone else. And she swears he was clean.”

“I think Garrett and Lydia know his history best,” Scott said cautiously.

“But all these accusations. Whenever anything happens, it’s blamed on him.” She waved the whip again. “It isn’t fair.”

“What’s really bothering you?” he asked, watching her face. She’d gone to town with Eve. Had Joey already made contact?

“Not a thing,” she said. “We had a great night. From beginning to end.”

It didn’t look as though she’d had a great night. Tension radiated from her, and she fiddled with the whip as though unable to keep still. He remained silent, waiting.

“Most of the night was good,” she finally added, tugging at her bottom lip. “But Miguel and Tami are upstairs. I’m not sure when I can get into the room, and I really wanted my toothbrush and stuff. I’m just tired.”

He gave her a quick hug, surprised at how cold she felt. Obviously she’d been sitting in the aisle a long time. “Let’s go home.” He turned her toward the door. “Garrett keeps my villa well stocked. There are extra toothbrushes and a bunch of stuff in the bathroom.”

“What about chocolate?” she asked. “Do you have any of that?”

He almost groaned, aware his cupboards were empty of anything but liquor. But he could drive like hell to town, if necessary. “Is that a deal breaker?” he asked cautiously.

“Not at all.” She flicked the whip and gave a glimmer of a smile. “I already bought some chocolate bars. And you can have your pick except I’d like to save a Crispy Crunch for Tami.”

“Of course,” he said solemnly, suppressing his prick of annoyance that a self-centered teenager monopolized the room while Megan shivered in a barn aisle. Even worse was the realization that Megan might only be going home with him because she needed a place to stay.

He paused. “I can wait with you, if you’re tired and want your own bed. The car’s warm.”

“But I want to go home with you.” She looked at the whip and tossed it on the hay. “I was practicing switching hands and didn’t mean to be waving the whip in your face. Sorry. Did I scare you?”

“Oh, sweetheart.” He blew out a sigh of relief, pressed a hand against the small of her back and urged her to his car. If she only knew how scared he was.

He drove quickly down the curving driveway. The ornamental lamps cast some light but he didn’t bother checking the shadows. He just wanted her in his bed. If Joey Collins stepped in front of his bumper now, he’d give the guy a free pass.

He rammed the car close to his front entrance.

“When does Rex come home?” she asked, as she slid from the car and glanced in the direction of Garrett’s house.

“Not sure. Apparently he has a cast and needs rehab.”

A few lights glowed over the tree tops, but all was silent, and he prayed it would remain that way. He didn’t want any interruptions. Not tonight. He entered the code on the security pad and pushed the door back.

The light was on in the kitchen and he didn’t flip any more switches. Just kicked the door shut and tugged her close, before she could feel uncomfortable, before that wariness crept back into her eyes.

He dipped his head and her lips met his, her mouth soft and inviting. His hands splayed over her back, pressing her close as heat shot to his groin. He’d intended to offer a drink, but the taste and feel of her blew that idea from his head. “I want you in my bed,” he whispered thickly. “But maybe you want something else? Wine, food, Jacuzzi?”

Her arms tightened around his neck, and she shook her head.

He scooped her up and carried her into his bedroom. Laid her on the bed and removed her boots then tugged off their shirts. Her bra gleamed whitely, but he concentrated on her mouth, sucking in her sweetness until her tongue mated with his, sharing his urgency.

He trailed his mouth down her neck, kissing her fluttering pulse, then palmed her breasts until her nipples tightened beneath the thin material of the bra. He tugged it aside, took a nipple in his mouth, and her soft moan nearly blew away his careful control.

He tossed the bra on the floor, caressing her breasts until she arched against him. Jeans rustled. The faint sound of a zipper was erotic in the darkness. Finally it was skin against skin, the air thick with feverish exploration and breathy whispers.

No dog crying, no interruptions, thank God. But he grabbed a condom, driven by a sense of urgency, a feeling she could be snatched away if he wasn’t careful.

He scooped his hands over her hips, adjusting himself between her legs. She clung to his shoulders, eyes closed as he entered. Sweat beaded his forehead but he kept it slow, deliberate, not thrusting all the way, not until she hooked her legs around his and moaned with impatience.

He gave a last fierce, possessive kiss then drove hard and deep, moving faster, until her soft shudders undid him and he found his own release.

And in that final moment of intimacy, she opened her eyes and their gazes locked, gripping each other as if unwilling to let go.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Megan snuggled into Scott’s hard chest. It was still dark and she didn’t want to wake up, loved the feeling of being safe and cherished, relaxed from their lovemaking. But something nagged at her, prodding her from a luxurious sleep.

Eve. Oh, God, she stiffened, flooded with memory. Was Eve pregnant? Would she keep the baby?

Scott’s arms banded around her. “We don’t have to get up yet,” he murmured, his warm breath tickling her neck.

“What time is it?” She tried to find a clock but his hand was already stroking her breast, his mouth trailing a suggestive line along her collarbone. She shivered. God, he was attentive. Her mind was busy listing baby options, but her traitorous body was on a much different tangent. His hand drifted to the inside of her thigh, coaxing her legs apart.