Microsoft Word - DeadHeat_wrp356.doc (20 page)

confide, she couldn't force it out of him. “Everything's

done here, except Rising Sun. He's still cooling out.”

“I'll take care of it.”

Jenna picked up a bridle and strode to the tack room,

still wondering what was up with Casey. The low voices

and laughter filtering from Rye's office grated on her

nerves. The door was open a crack. She deliberately

bumped into a chair. The loud scraping noise should alert

them they weren't alone.

Rye Cameron. Fastest man on the track to get into a

woman's pants. How often had she heard that? More

times than she cared to remember.

“Hey Jenna. Are you done for the day?”

Jenna glanced up and smiled at her friend standing

in the doorway. “Hi Dani. Almost. I've got an errand to

run.” A sudden thought popped in her head. “Do me a

favor?”

****

morning. Grooms and hot walkers had either left for the

day, or lazed around the horses swapping stories.

“I don't think this is a good idea, Jenna,” Dani said

for the fourth time as they walked to the other side of the

backstretch.

“Stop worrying. It's broad daylight, for God's sake.

Besides, that's why you're with me.”

Jenna hoped Charles would still be around. Unless

he'd changed his pattern in the time since they'd been

together, he'd be sitting at his desk, paying bills.

“What's going on with you and Rye?”

Jenna almost missed a step. “What do you mean?”

Dani laughed. “Get real. I'd have to be blind not to

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notice the way you two pant around each other.”

She hoped Dani couldn't see the heat rising in her

face. “You're imagination never ceases to amaze me.”

“Come on, Jenna. I've known you too long. You've got

it bad.”

Conflict twisted Jenna's stomach into one huge knot.

She'd like to confide in another woman. But could she

handle the pity in her friend's eyes?

A dull pain began in her lower jaw as a reminder to

unclench her teeth. She relaxed and smiled. “You're a

good friend. Next time we go out, I'll fill you in.”

“I can't wait. Then you can tell me about Rye's

brother.”

Jenna frowned. “What about him?”

Dani laughed. “Whoa. You should see the look on

your face. Why don't you like him?”

Jenna studied her friend's pixie face. “I don't dislike

him, exactly.” Liar. “Okay, I admit it. I don't like Brett.

His constant distrust wears on me. He protects Rye like a

pit bull guarding a bowl of food.” A sudden suspicion took

hold of Jenna. “Why are you asking questions about

Brett?”

Dani shrugged. “No reason. Just curious.”

Jenna stopped and took hold of Dani's arm. “You

don't have a thing for him, do you? Please, Dani, tell me

you don't.”

“Of course not.” Dani's gaze darted away. “He's at

least ten years older than me.”

“Brett hates women. Stay away from him. I don't

want you to get hurt.”

Oh, the irony of it all. What right did she have to

warn anyone to stay away from a heartbreaker?

“Brett hates women? How do you know that?”

Charles's barn came into sight, saving Jenna from

continuing the conversation. Her steps slowed.

Dani caught her arm. “Should I stay out of sight?”

Jenna grinned. “We're not playing cloak and dagger.

I want you to come with me. Safety in numbers.”

Charles sat behind his desk in the tack room, just

where Jenna hoped he'd be. He got to his feet, his eyes

widening. “Jenna. What are you doing here?”

She slid into an empty chair and waited until he sat

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again. Dani stood behind her. “I've come to talk. Isn't that

what you wanted?”

Charles raked his hand through his thick hair.

“There's no longer a need to talk.”

Jenna looked at the floor to hide her expression. No

sense letting him see her disappointment. “How come?”

Charles piled some papers together and shoved them

in a drawer. “The problem's been resolved.”

“So Rising Sun is mine to keep?”

“As far as I'm concerned.”

Talk about an ambiguous answer. “Charles? Are you

still involved with the mob?”

Color drained from his tanned face, leaving him pale.

“Mob? Why would you think that?”

She leaned forward. “I've heard the stories.”

He refused to meet her gaze. “Whatever you've heard

isn't true.”

“Then I guess there's nothing more to say.”

Charles quickly jumped to his feet and came around

to the front of the desk. “Don't go, Jenna. I do want to talk

to you.” His gaze moved to Dani. “Alone.”

The hair on Jenna's neck rose. “I'd rather Dani

stayed—”

“Please, Jenna.” His eyes, as well as his words,

pleaded with her to agree. Charles's hand moved to touch

her arm, then withdrew it as if he'd changed his mind.

How many times in the past had his soft brown eyes

won her over? Truth be told, she was interested in what

he had to say. “Five minutes and Dani stays right outside

the door.”

Relief relaxed his facial muscles. “Thank you.”

Dani cast a worried look at Jenna, but left the room.

Charles didn't take his eyes from Jenna's face. The silence

stretched on.

“Four minutes and counting,” she reminded him,

tapping the toe of her boot.

“I'm sorry for everything, Jenna. I wanted you to

know that. I realize now that you aren't the type of

woman to look the other way when your lover is

unfaithful.”

Astonishment robbed Jenna of an answer. The last

thing she'd expected was an apology. Images flashed back

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at her. Haunting memories and a sense of abandonment.

The young girl on the desk, her bare legs wrapped around

a naked Charles while they enjoyed a game of tongue tag.

The same desk she leaned on right now. Jenna shook the

images away. “It's all in the past. Leave it there.”

“Any truth to the rumor circulating about you and

Rye Cameron?”

Irritation partnered with embarrassment at his

question. “I don't know what you've heard, but...”

His eyes narrowed. He lifted his hand and trailed his

finger down her cheek. “Are you and Rye Cameron

lovers?”

Angry heat flooded Jenna's face. “That's none—”

“Baby, are you ready to go home?” Rye stepped

through the door.

“Actually, I—”

Rye moved to her side, cupped her chin and grazed

his lips across her mouth. “Did you forget we have an

appointment? We're running late.”

Jenna fumed. She refused to make a spectacle by

creating a scene in front of the two men. Rye Cameron

would soon learn he couldn't make decisions for her.

She pasted a smile on her face. “Sorry. I did forget.”

She turned her smile to Charles. “I'll catch you later. And

thanks.”

****

tensing of her muscles. He nodded at Kincaid. Holding

Jenna close to his side, he steered her out the door where

Dani stood, nervously shifting from one foot to the other.

Jenna kept her temper under wraps until they were

several feet from the barn. Rye was impressed at her self-

control. Then she jerked away from him. “What the hell

are you doing?” Her gray eyes grew stormy.

“Are you crazy?” Rye refrained from actually shaking

her. “Why did you go see Kincaid by yourself?”

“I wasn't alone. Dani was with me.”

Rye rolled his eyes. “You brought the big guns.”

“Hey. Watch it,” Dani piped up. “I may be small, but

I'm tough.”

“Whatever. Two women visiting a man suspected of

working with the mafia is nothing short of pure lunacy.”

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Jenna sidestepped a goat wandering toward them.

“Whatever was going on appears to be over. At least as far

as Rising Sun is concerned. Charles told me that the

horse is no longer an issue.”

Rye wasn't about to admit to anyone, least of all

Jenna, the surge of jealousy that shot through him when

he walked in on Kincaid stroking her cheek. He'd wanted

to choke the man. Demand he get his hands off Jenna.

Is that what Jenna felt when she saw him with

Maria earlier this morning? He'd flirted with Maria to

assure himself he could lust after someone other than

Jenna. The test had failed. Maria had done nothing but

annoy him. Even her not-so-subtle seductive movements,

like brushing her breasts against his arm or bending over

so he could glimpse her cleavage did nothing to excite

him. Those antics used to amuse him, arouse him. Today

he saw them for what they were—silly sex games he no

longer had an interest in playing.

And that realization pissed him off.

Jenna's hand waving in front of his face penetrated

his brain. “Hello? Are you with us?”

“Sorry. I was thinking.”

“Tsunami and Rising Sun are ready for that little

test race out of the gate.”

His spirits rose a notch. “Great. Still on for

tomorrow?”

“Dani can go to the track office and make

arrangements to have the gate available.”

“We agreed on six furlongs, right?”

Jenna nodded.

Dani almost danced with excitement. “Who am I

riding?”

“Tsunami,” Jenna answered. “I've asked Miguel to

ride Rising Sun.”

“I'll go make the arrangements now. Early in the

morning?”

“The earlier, the better, as far as I'm concerned,” Rye

said. “The fewer spectators, the happier I'll be.”

“I'll stop by the barn in a few minutes and let you

know the exact time.” The tiny woman took off at a run.

Rye watched Dani race toward the main office. “What

a bundle of dynamite.”

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Jenna laughed. “That's for sure. She makes me tired.

She has a crush on your brother.”

Surely Jenna was teasing. “You're kidding?”

“I wish I were. I warned her off.”

Thoughts of Dani and Brett vanished when Rye's

barn came into view. Brett, along with several men in FBI

jackets and Sergeant Hills stood in front of Tsunami's

stall. He took off at a run just as an ambulance pulled up.

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A black cloud hung over the barn. “What happened?”

Jenna panted, arriving on Rye's heels.

Sergeant Hills’ gaze pinned her in place. “Why is it,

Ms. Green, that dead bodies show up wherever you

happen to be?

Ignoring Hills, her gaze flew to Tsunami's stall, the

focus of everybody's attention. Relief flashed through her

when she spotted Casey walking the horse. Thank God

Tsunami hadn’t been injured. Another murder Hills said.

Who this time?

She saw Rye down the shed row talking to Brett.

Stunned, she stood back and leaned against a rail. If she

was the reason behind these murders, perhaps she should

leave. Move to the west coast.

A hand curled around her shoulders, the roughness

of familiar calluses reassuring against the bare skin of

her arm. “You're pale. Come sit down.”

Rye steered her toward an upside down bucket and

gently pushed on her shoulders until she sat.

“What happened?” Did she truly want to know? Or

did her conscience prick her into asking the question?

“According to Brett, Casey found Jamal's body in the

stall with Tsunami.” Rye tilted her chin. “I've got to

answer some questions for the authorities. Will you be

okay by yourself?” He gestured toward the empty stall.

“I'll be right over there.”

A quick nod was the only assurance she could give

him. Left alone, she cradled her chin in her hands, elbows

resting on her knees. Ants scurried about in the dirt at

her feet, carrying their dead. Where did they take the

bodies? Perhaps in the ant world, they had a massive

funeral every few weeks. More likely, they stockpiled

their fellow dead for food in times of famine.

Jenna giggled at the thought. The sound must have

been louder than she’d thought because heads turned in

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her direction. Both Rye and Brett hurried over.

“I'll take her home,” Rye said as if she weren't even

there. Was she invisible? Why didn't Rye talk to her? She

bit the inside of her mouth to stifle another giggle. What

was wrong with her? Was she having a nervous

breakdown? No. She'd read that if a person thinks they're

having one, then they're not.

She smiled. “Take your time. I'm in no hurry.”

“Where were you two when the body was discovered?”

Brett inquired.

Jenna's gaze slid to Brett. “Right here until about an

hour ago. Dani stopped by and we walked over to see

Charles Kincaid.” Her lucidity returned. “My God.

Charles. He'll be next.” The bucket went flying when she

jumped up, clutching Brett's arm. “You've got to do

something. Assign him a bodyguard. Take him into

protective custody.”

A frown furrowed Brett's brow. “Did Kincaid indicate

he's in danger?”