HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) (24 page)

He positioned himself over her, pushing in with the familiarity of a longtime lover. She arched to meet him, closing her eyes, wanting to keep the morning at bay.

But he slowed his strokes. His hand cupped her face until she opened her eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked, and she could sense his alertness even in the dark room. “It’s only five. Want me to stop?”

“Don’t you dare.” She hooked her legs around him. “Or I’ll tell everyone at the school you’re a lousy lover.”

He chuckled, but she could feel him studying her face in the dark and then didn’t feel anything but his sweet kisses…and his hard body.

She must have dozed off. Woke to the feel of his hand stroking her back.

“It’s time to get up,” he murmured.

“What time is it?”

“Almost six.”

“Oh, no!” She jackknifed out of bed, grabbed her clothes and rushed into the bathroom. Yanked her hair in a ponytail and washed her face. She borrowed his toothbrush. No time to check the guest bathroom. Besides, after the night they’d shared, it seemed pointless.

When she returned, the light was on in the bedroom and he was pulling jeans up over his tapered waist, all gorgeous, naked male. She felt rather self-conscious, but he gave her such a tender smile, her chest kicked.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Go back to sleep. I can walk.”

“You’re not walking.” He tugged on a T-shirt, crossed the room and gave her a quick kiss. “Let’s go.”

“How long does it take to feed and muck out?” he asked as they walked to the car.

“About forty minutes. Then we shower and have breakfast.” She looked up at him as he opened the car door. “Guess I’ll see you at class.”

“It’s Saturday, sweetheart. No lectures today, only an update.”

“Oh, perfect.” She leaned back, relaxing against the headrest. The weekend. Maybe she and Eve could go for a drive tonight. Talk about babies and all the positives of keeping the little one—if Eve really were pregnant, that is—although then Eve’s riding career would be put on hold, and Megan really had no say in the matter. She didn’t want to interfere, but the prospect of Joey’s baby filled her with a sharp and bittersweet longing.

And then there was Scott. It was clear he was bored at the school and wanted a playmate but she was falling much too fast, and this was the point where it was prudent to step back. She’d think up a few excuses, maybe see him again on Tuesday. That would give her a few days to regroup, forget the feel of his mouth and hands, at least until the next time.

Of course, he’d require a little more diplomacy than her previous sex partners, simply because she’d see him daily. However, it shouldn’t be a problem. Especially if she dropped his class. He might even be relieved. A guy was always keen until they’d taken you to bed. Then their ardor cooled considerably.

She faked a yawn. “I’m going to catch up on my rest tonight. How much sleep did we have, a couple hours maybe?”

He threaded the powerful car along the twisting driveway and didn’t respond. Didn’t make the usual trite reply after a hookup. She glanced at his handsome profile but couldn’t read his expression, despite the muted glow from the road lights.

“Three hours maybe?” she asked. “Anyway, it was quite a session.” She kept her voice light, careful to show it was no big deal. Not to him. Not to her. She shot him another quick glance, wondering why her throat felt so tight. He definitely was silent. Had to mean something. Probably that she shouldn’t talk anymore.

“Anyway it was nice,” she said lamely.

He reached over and squeezed her hand, but that simple gesture made her feel better.

“I’m going to see Rex tonight,” he said. “Come with me. We can eat in town.”

“Oh, but I have to wash clothes and sleep and—”

“I heard the dog is depressed. Not showing much interest in Garrett.” Scott’s voice was carefully neutral. “A visit from you would help.”

She clasped her hands, wringing them in her lap as she pictured Rex and the last time she saw him. Poor dog. “Yes, of course,” she said. “What time are you going?”

“I’ll pick you up at five. Bring your laundry. You can throw it in my machine on the way.”

“Okay,” she said slowly. But she absolutely wasn’t sleeping over, even if he invited her. She shot him a sideways look, wondering if she should make that clear right now. However, it didn’t seem necessary. His stubbled jaw looked tight under the shadowed light, not at all like an eager lover.

Of course, that was a good thing.

They bumped into the parking lot and she leaned forward, checking the activity. Shadowy figures drifted between the stalls, but neither Ramon’s nor Lydia’s cars were in the lot. “I think I beat them,” she said, her voice thick with relief.

“You did.” Scott reached over and opened her door, his warm arm brushing her thigh. “Garrett’s having a breakfast meeting with the instructors. You can relax and clean stalls at your leisure.”

“Oh, good.” She paused, checking his expression. “I imagine you’ll be talking about Joey?”

His expression hardened.

“Because,” she grabbed her courage, “Eve and I think he got a bum rap. I’m sure someone with your experience would discover he wasn’t doing drugs, or selling them, so that means his disappearance was very weird. I know Garrett wants you to catch him but maybe Joey’s not here. Maybe he’s even d-dead.” She fumbled for the door, her control crumbling.

“Hey, wait.” He leaned forward, sliding a hand over her shoulder. “What’s wrong? Is this important to you?”

His concern shredded her composure and she swallowed convulsively, desperate to hold back her tears, didn’t want to break down in his car.

“Don’t worry.” He leaned over and pulled the door shut then wrapped her in his arms. His calm hand slid beneath her hair, stroking her neck. “I’ll dig a little deeper, okay? See what I can find.” She let him tuck her head against his chest, temporarily soothed by the comforting rumble of his voice. “I gather your friend, Eve, is pretty tore up about this?”

She nodded into his chest but a little sob escaped, spurred by his empathy. “I’ll pay you. I mean…Eve will pay.”

“No need. I’m happy to do it.” He still rubbed the back of her neck, but his voice lowered in warning. “But she might not like what I find.”

“It’ll be a relief though,” Megan managed, “to finally know the truth.”

He opened the glove compartment. She didn’t realize she was crying until he dabbed a Kleenex against her cheek. She dipped her head, needing two more tissues, then reached once again for the door handle and sucked in a fortifying breath. She wanted to escape his sharp gaze but wasn’t ready to walk into the barn and have everyone stare. She just needed a moment.

His hand covered hers, stilling the door. “Braun’s moving to your barn today,” he said. “I hope he doesn’t get that dark stall by the wash rack.”

“Yes.” She sniffed, grabbing the change of topic. “That’s not a very nice stall.”

“He’s used to a window and a big paddock,” Scott said, his tone thoughtful. “I wonder what horses think. If they miss their old stall or wonder why their water bucket is in a different corner. Or maybe they’re secretly cheering when they luck out and get a sweet groom who brings them alfalfa.”

She managed a wobbly smile as he filled her head with more mundane thoughts, things she’d often wondered but never imagined a tough guy like him would ever consider, much less ponder aloud. She even released her grip on the door handle, letting her fingers entwine with his.

“It would be hard to be a horse,” she said, “not controlling when people come and go in your life.”

“Yeah, and imagine when your best buddy is sold.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb gently over her hand. “And the guy you play halter tag with just disappears.”

“And you’d wait every day,” she said, “wondering if he’s ever coming back.”

“Dogs have it much better than horses,” he said. “People make a lifetime commitment to a dog.”

She impulsively leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m good to go now.”

“Go on then,” he said gruffly, and pushed open her door.

Feeling much lighter, she walked across the parking lot and into the barn, wincing when she saw Jake’s and Rambo’s hungry heads shoved over their stall doors.

Jake nickered, but Rambo kicked the wall in displeasure, irritated his breakfast was late. She grabbed their grain from the feed room and carried it into their stalls, afraid Rambo might splinter another board if she didn’t hurry. They clearly felt ill-used. However, they weren’t the last animals to be fed. Both Tami’s horses swung their heads over their doors, eyes anxious. Megan returned to the feed room and fed them as well.

It was odd Tami hadn’t grained yet. Had Miguel stayed the entire night?

She climbed the steps to her room, fervently hoping he was gone. She wanted a shower and after she mucked the stalls hoped to grab a nap, before the weekly update. She was emotionally and physically drained. Breakfast didn’t seem worth the walk to the cafeteria. Joey, Scott, Eve, Rex—it was overwhelming.

She groped in the planter for her room key, grumbling at the new lock-up rules. Joey wouldn’t hurt anyone, and he definitely wasn’t responsible for the iPod disappearing from Lydia’s villa. It was bizarre how the Joey stories mushroomed.

She knocked softly then unlocked the door. The room was dark, but clearly there was only one person in Tami’s bed. And she’d fed her horses so Tami could just keep sleeping. Lucky girl.

She stripped and gratefully slipped beneath the covers. For a moment she wished Scott’s arms were still around her, but she firmly banished that thought. She was used to sleeping alone, preferred it.

“Megan?”

“Go back to sleep, Tami,” Megan whispered. “I fed Winnie and Freckles. As long as we clean their stalls before ten, we’re good.”

“Did Ramon or Lydia notice I wasn’t around?”

“No. They’re in a meeting so we can sleep in.” Megan rolled over and grabbed her pillow. Maybe there was no harm in pretending the pillow was Scott, just this once.

“I’m sorry about hogging the room.”

“It’s okay,” Megan said.

“Where did you sleep?”

“Scott’s.” Megan rolled over on her back, keeping her eyes shut.

“He’s a big guy.”

Megan cracked open her eyes and glanced toward Tami’s bed. Dawn’s colorless light crept through the curtain, but the room was shadowed. She couldn’t distinguish Tami’s face, but she sounded in a weird mood. Big? What the hell was she asking?

“About six two, I think,” Megan said cautiously.

“I heard cops like to use cuffs. That’s normal, right? Guys want to do that stuff all the time?”

Megan opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Scott certainly hadn’t needed cuffs. “Scott’s not a cop,” she said. “Not anymore. He’s a private investigator.”

“So you’ve never let anyone tie you up?” Tami sounded troubled. “Maybe some of the other guys you slept with? Other boyfriends maybe?”

It was a relief the room was dark. Megan had never talked candidly like this with anyone and even in the dark, she blushed. “I haven’t had many boyfriends,” she admitted. “Certainly not one I’d trust, not like that.”
Although I would trust Scott. He’s a good man
.

“I’m sure younger people do it all the time though.” Tami’s voice wobbled.

“Hey, what’s wrong, kiddo?” Megan sat up, fumbling for the light switch. She switched it on and groaned.

Tami’s eyes were swollen, her face distorted from tears. Even her hair was a tangle.

“I look awful, don’t I?” Tami mumbled. “My eyes always get puffy when I cry.”

She must have been crying all night. Megan rushed across the room and dropped to her knees by the bed. “What happened?” she asked, keeping her voice gentle even as she raged inside at Miguel.

“I don’t think Miguel likes me, not as much as I like him. He was a little frustrated and his phone rang, and I think it was that girl who rides the gray. He left. He just walked out.” Her voice quivered. “It was like he didn’t even care.”

“Sometimes we have to accept that,” Megan said. “The trick is not to get involved. Don’t let yourself care too much.”

Tami stuck her jaw out and sat up, fumbling for her hairbrush. “Well, I’m already involved,” she snapped. “I like him, and I’m going to make him like me.”

Megan sighed, remembering her efforts, her mother’s efforts, even Joey’s attempts. It hadn’t swayed her father one bit. “Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that, Tami. You can try—try real hard—but they still leave. And then it hurts even more when they go.” She paused, certain something else was bothering Tami. “Can I help with anything? Did he want to tie you up or do something…weird?”

“No,” Tami said, yanking the brush through her hair with single-minded determination. “And if you really want to help, please get some ice for my eyes. I don’t want to look like a hag when I see him.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Students gathered in a restless circle outside the barn, listening to the instructors’ weekly update. Megan couldn’t concentrate. She peeked again at Eve’s flat stomach. “I can’t believe you’re pregnant,” she whispered, unable to hide her delight.

“Don’t you dare tell anyone. Not a soul.” Eve scowled. “I don’t know what I want…or what I’m going to do. It’d be different if Joey were around. Now shush. Ramon is looking, and he already doesn’t like me.”

Eve was pregnant! Megan tried to blank her face and listen to Ramon. One student had dropped out, the guy who had struggled in the starting gate yesterday, and Braun was now stabled in the big stall next to Jake. Fairly routine stuff but it was the horses’ day off and listening to the instructors was easier than riding.

Pregnant!

Joy leaked from the corners of her mouth. Scott stood on Garrett’s right and she averted her gaze. He was so astute, he’d know something was up if he saw her grinning. But Joey’s baby. She fervently prayed Eve would keep it.

“And now we’ll have Scott’s update on the anticipated apprehension of Joey Collins,” Ramon said.

She jerked to attention, no longer merely pretending to listen. If they could find Joey, it would help Eve. Help her make an important decision.