Losing Ladd (15 page)

Jillian laughed softly. “Next week.
You will still be ready and willing, no?”

Jack didn’t like to beg. Worse, he
didn’t like it when a woman made him feel like he was begging. Made
him look desperate. But hell... After the other night who could
blame him? “Fine. Sure. Monday?”

Jillian laughed again. “Maybe
Monday.”

As Jack hung up the phone, his gut
tightened. Ladd better not be two-timing him. As he pulled
Jeremiah’s card from his wallet, it occurred to Jack that he should
have taken the card Jeremiah gave Jillian when he had the chance.
It would have ensured no contact between them.

Jack’s instincts hummed.
It was too coincidental that Jillian and Jeremiah both had plans
tonight, plans that
didn’t
include him. Envisioning the two of them cozied
up over drinks settled it. Maybe catching them in the act would ice
their libidos, huh? Maybe walking in on them would put them on
notice that he was a man not to mess with. It wasn’t like there
were a ton of places they could go, leaving him a good chance at
running into them. Shoving the card back into his wallet, he made
the decision. He would pay a visit to some of the more popular
establishments in town and see for himself. Something was luring
Jillian away. Time to find out what that “something” could
be.

Pulled up to the granite center island
of their new kitchen, Nick Harris stretched out his legs. His lower
back ached, his head hurt. He was angry over learning Jillian had
tried to goad Delaney this afternoon. “I’m throwing her
out.”

“
You can’t,” Delaney
objected. Standing beneath the overhead recessed lighting, she
wiped down a stainless steel pot and placed it alongside the cast
iron pan she’d used to cook the cornbread. They’d designed the home
together but this space was Delaney’s favorite, claiming the
kitchen was the gathering place, the heart of any home. It’s why
she insisted on the expansive island, the host of chairs lining it
on three sides. “If you do, then she’ll think she’s
won.”

“
She hasn’t won anything,
but I’ll be damned if she scores any more points.”

“
It was no big deal. She’s
a vindictive woman who knows she’s been beaten. I, for one, refuse
to let her get to me.”

Nick cocked a brow. “Not that I’m
upset to hear the change of heart but why? I thought you didn’t
want Jillian anywhere near the hotel.” Or him for that matter, but
Nick wasn’t about to salt that wound. Jillian was taunting Delaney
and Nick didn’t like it. Allowing it to continue was a show of
weakness.

Setting her hands to the counter,
Delaney dropped her weight into them with a heavy sigh. “Isn’t
there a saying, it’s better to keep your friends close and your
enemies closer?”

“
Not in my book. Keep your
friends close, your woman closer and put your enemies out of
business.”

“
Jeremiah is the one I’m
concerned about. Have you been able to put the two together with
the money? Do we know if she paid his casino debt?”

Nick shook his head. Pushing off from
the island, he stood. “We can’t prove it was her. Malcolm looked
into it and the money came from here.”

“
Here
?” Delaney straightened. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Cash transaction. It
doesn’t rule Jillian out completely, but it does open the door to
your ex.”

Delaney gaped at him. “You think Jack
had something to do with bringing Jeremiah onto the
scene?”

“
It’s a possibility.” Nick
walked over to her and took her hand. Delaney allowed herself to be
led to the sofa. Leather furniture was arranged beneath a massive
overhead chandelier, exposed beams criss-crossed above, interior
walls revealed genuine log construction, this was his favorite
spot—other than their master suite. Heavy wood tables and shaggy
floor carpets made the room feel solid, warm and comfortable.
Easing down, Nick guided his wife onto his lap, wrapping his arms
around her narrow waist. Her cabbage and onions and cornbread might
count as comfort food, but
this
was his. The last thing he wanted to be
discussing was their exes but facts were facts—these warranting his
urgent attention. Squeezing her to him, Nick said, “Jack knows the
players. He would know the connection better than anyone. Someone
paid Jeremiah’s marker, someone with a reason to see him set loose.
You have a better idea?”

Leaning into him, Delaney dropped her
head onto his shoulder. “I wish I did. The thought of Jack and
Jeremiah teaming up is almost worse than Jillian and
Jeremiah.”

“
Triple J for triple
jinx.”

Chapter Thirteen

Consumed with thoughts of his father’s
letters, Jeremiah’s unexpected visit and his daughter Emily, Cal
Foster knew what he had to do. With his gun collection secured and
stowed away in his new home, he had to prepare himself for what
came next. If Jeremiah set foot on his property again, it would be
his last visit. If he caused trouble anywhere else, Cal would see
him put in jail. It was a man’s job to defend his homestead, his
family and it was a job he took to heart.

Heart
. Cal’s ached for his father. He hadn’t seen him while at the
house retrieving his gun collection. Thankfully, he hadn’t seen his
mother either. Cal wasn’t sure he could look either of them in them
eye without divulging that he knew. Susannah Ladd had been Gerald
Foster’s greatest love. She had been his first, his strongest, and
from what the letters implied, his only true love. It broke Cal’s
heart to think his mother knew, to think she felt second-best all
these years. But if she had ever laid eyes on those letters there
would be no doubt in her mind.

There was no doubt in
Cal’s.

But Daddy couldn’t be still pining
after all these years. He had a family. Four sons and a wife who
loved him. That meant something to him, didn’t it? Reflecting on
his childhood, Cal couldn’t recall any discord between his parents.
They didn’t fight and argue, were always there for Cal and his
brothers. Sure, first love burned hot in a man’s heart, but
eventually it turned to embers. A man moved on, found the woman of
his adult dreams and built a life with her. Like Cal had done with
Caroline.

And now Annie. You made a commitment
to a woman and devoted yourself fully until life stepped in the way
or until “death do us part.” It was the way of families, bonds that
tied the generations together. Cal couldn’t imagine keeping any
love letters for all these years. It was one thing to understand
the rapture and power of first love, but to keep it alive and well
and stored in the attic of the home you shared with your wife? Was
Daddy insane?

Maybe he forgot them.
Maybe Daddy had stowed them away when he was young and invincible
and plain forgot about them over the years. The house had been in
his family for generations before him. It was possible. Cal hoped
that was the case. Either way, it was a topic he planned to discuss
with him. Him
and
Delaney.

But it was a discussion
that would have to wait for another day. Tonight was Serenity Scape
and Emily was dying to go. The minute she’d heard there were going
to be banjo players, she lost it. Banjos were something she’d only
seen in the movies. To see them in real life would be
amazing
. Cal smiled.
Well, they lived and breathed right here in Tennessee he’d told
her, and she’d get to see them in the flesh.

Slowing for a red light,
Cal’s attention was drawn to a big red truck. Shiny, it looked
brand new.
Don’t see too many sweet rides
like that one around these parts
. A man
came out of the gas station’s mini-mart, stuffing a wallet in his
back pocket as he walked toward the truck. He was wearing a light
purple shirt, his blond hair shining in the sunlight. Fair-skinned,
medium build, he looked about forty. Cal honed in on the man.
Something struck him as familiar. He watched as the guy plucked the
gas pump from his vehicle and hooked it back in place.

Cal’s insides hardened. That was
Jeremiah Ladd. The light above turned green and Cal jammed his foot
on the accelerator. Swerving from his turn lane, he barreled across
the intersection and into the parking lot. As she slammed his
brakes, his truck lurched with a squeal of tires. Cal leapt out and
stormed over to Jeremiah.

Alarm seized Jeremiah’s features as
Cal approached.

“
I want to have a word
with you, Ladd.”

Surprise cracked in Jeremiah’s gaze.
“Well, what do you know? Cal Foster!”

“
This isn’t a pleasure
visit,” he snapped, hit by a whiff of gasoline. “Annie told me
about your visit to the house, and I’m here to warn you it was your
last. Stay away from my family or you’ll be dealing with
me.”

Jeremiah laughed. “Jack said you were
playing big man these days.”

“
Jack?” Cal asked, taken
aback the two had spoken. When had Jeremiah and Jack
reconnected?

“
He said your new job was
going to your head, and I guess he was right.”

“
Forget about Jack,” he
thrust, getting in Jeremiah’s face. “It’s me you need to be
concerned with—me and my family. I know what you were up to last
time you came to town, and I’m here to tell you it won’t fly. Not
this time.”

“
Save your idle threats,
Cal. You don't have it in you. Jack maybe, but not you.” Jeremiah
dropped a brief glance to Cal’s chest. “Never did.”

“
Go ahead and test me,”
Cal grumbled, longing for Jeremiah to start something. Right here,
right now, in broad daylight. “Go ahead and see exactly how much
has changed.”

“
Don’t tempt me,” Jeremiah
bit back. “But speaking of Jack, I ran into him at Whiskey Joe’s
the other night. Seems he and I are of like mind when it comes to
Delaney and that Parker kid.” Jeremiah chuckled, pausing before he
opened his car door. “Guess it’s true what they say, ‘what goes
around comes around.’”

“
It is,” Cal said evenly,
watching Jeremiah slide into his truck. “Mark my word.”

“
Thanks for coming
tonight,” Felicity said, walking alongside Travis as they headed
for the Serenity Scape bonfire. “No problem,” he replied. “You know
I think it’s pretty cool what they do.”

Held every Sunday night, the event was
one of her favorites. Musicians assembled to play pieces ranging
from simple and country to complex and sophisticated, using
instruments common to the region. Malcolm Ward had invited Felicity
to perform a flute solo one evening, and while she had been nervous
at first, unaccustomed to performing in public, she’d lost herself
in the composition, playing three encore pieces for a delighted
group of guests. Travis had to hand it to Mr. Ward. He knew his
venue. Even to Travis’ untrained ear, music seemed to dance in the
sky, float through the trees as it drifted upward into the starry
night. And while Felicity thought the cooler evening temperature
would adversely affect the sound and pitch of the instruments, it
didn’t. Not to any significant degree. Both agreed the music
sounded great.

Though to be honest,
Travis would rather be discussing his findings with Mr. Harris than
hanging around listening to music. He had lost his tag on
Jeremiah’s whereabouts, but he knew he could pick up the tail any
time he wanted. He knew where Jeremiah was staying. It would only
be a matter of waiting for him to show before he could follow him
again. But he couldn’t talk to Mr. Harris because Felicity insisted
Travis be a part of the festivities tonight. Cal Foster’s daughter
would be in tow and everyone should meet her. While Travis didn’t
particularly care about meeting some twelve-year-old girl, he knew
Felicity did. More importantly, he knew Felicity felt he
should
want
to
meet the girl.

Because she was family. His
family.

Sort of. Travis thought it a stretch
to call his brother’s wife’s stepfather’s kid a member of his
family, but Felicity didn’t. She stretched the ties and looped the
knots, and so long as she didn’t choke him with it, Travis didn’t
mind. Lately Felicity seemed hell bent on getting him and Troy to
make amends, which made for tension. It wasn’t like he hated his
brother. He didn’t. But he wasn’t interested in closing the space
between them either. Not yet. Not until Troy proved himself worthy.
Stable.

In order to do that, Troy needed to
secure his freedom. If Travis helped Troy beat the charges against
him, maybe Felicity would see that he didn’t hate his brother. Only
his choices.

He held a branch from her path as they
walked, the scent of pine served up by a misty breeze. It wasn’t
cold by any stretch of the word, but when the sun dipped below the
horizon, so did the temperature, even this time of year. Soon he’d
be headed back to Nashville for his second year at Vanderbilt, and
the winter weather wouldn’t be far behind.

“
So did you ever find
anything out about who paid Jeremiah’s debt?” Felicity
asked.

“
Yes and no. It was
someone around here, but I wasn’t able to pinpoint it.”

“
Here?”

“
The money was transferred
from a local bank.”