Page 18

Chapter Eighteen

Drake

I headed over to Albert and Moira's place, hoping to get some answers. As I approached their front door, I saw Albert out in the yard with the pittie they'd taken in. The dog was looking healthier already, though still a bit skittish.

Moira must have seen me from the window because she came hurrying out. “Are you okay? We saw the lights, but that nice young girl Dixie told us Mr. Rawlings was looking out for you.”

I smiled at the young girl comment. Dixie Sutter was in her early forties and had been an army helicopter pilot until she retired with her hubby. They both worked for Rawlings now. “I’m okay. It was a work thing, but it’s fine.” She nodded happily.

“How’s that young lady doing? Don’t forget, I’m available for babysitting.”

I grinned and promised I might take her up on it soon since it was almost Shae’s birthday. Which reminded me. “Tammy’s going to be three in ten days.”

Moira clapped in excitement. “A cake! I’ll get right on it.”

I kissed her cheek in gratitude, and she clasped my arm. “When Shae’s ready, Tammy might like to see Penelope. I still have the little cart she pulls.”

Penelope was the meanest little shit of a pony I had ever met. I had no intention of saying anything to Moira, but there was no way Tammy was getting anywhere near her. Moira bustled away mumbling about cake recipes, and Albert chuckled and nodded to the dog. “I thought you might have come to check on our new friend here. Going to call him Joe. Had a collie called Joe when I was a boy."

I smiled and crouched down, letting the dog sniff my hand before giving him a gentle pat. "He's looking good. How's he settling in?"

"Oh, he's a sweetheart," Albert said fondly. "Bit nervous still, but he's coming around."

I stood up, brushing off my hands. "Albert, I was hoping we could talk for a bit. There are some things I need to ask you about."

His expression grew serious. "Of course. Let's head inside."

Once we were settled in the den with coffee, I got straight to the point. "Albert, has anyone from Dearden Construction contacted you?"

Albert's eyebrows shot up. "Dearden? The big housing developer?"

I nodded. "We have reason to believe they’re shopping around for land. Large amounts, and protected farmland doesn’t seem to stop them."

“I regularly have offers, but I don’t recall one from them. Heard of them, of course.”

“They own Tulip Homes.” He shook his head.

I flushed because I felt I was grilling him, and it wasn’t my business.

“When you get to my age all you get is people wanting you to pay for your damn memorial or charities wanting your money.” He chuckled but my gut tightened.

“Charities?”

He rolled his eyes. “Moira’s been giving to them all for years. Not that I blame her. If you saw what some people do…”

I swallowed. “What about an animal charity called Paws for Aid?”

Albert’s eyebrows went up. “Actually, yes, they want to rent the pasture surrounding the house. We’ve only got three horses now, including Dolly, that are retired and a private stable rents the four acres at the back, then a farm rents the rest for grazing.” He sighed. “Moira hates it. She always dreamed of this place being a large sanctuary, but since I can’t help her…” He sipped his coffee. “I’m sorry if Shae feels like he’s under too much pressure to take the job, especially now that he has Tammy. Maybe we ought to just let them have it. At least Moira will get to see them, even if she’s not directly involved.”

“Albert, can you hold off on any decision about the land?” Ughh, I hated this. “We have reason to believe Ryan's working with Dearden, trying to get his hands on both your land and mine. He’s also on the board for this charity. I can’t prove anything, but he’s been seen with one of the guys that sources land for them. We don’t know anything else yet.”

Albert was quiet for a long moment, his face troubled. "I suspected Ryan might try something like this, eventually. He's always been greedy, never satisfied with what he has. Jim tried to teach him right. Ellie was the best mom. It made her so upset he never came to help with his dad."

I took a gulp of coffee. “Some people are never happy with what they have. There were plenty of times when I was a kid that I’d have done anything to live here.”

Albert chuckled. “You tried a time or two, as I remember. How many times did I catch you in the barn?”

I’d run away twice, desperate to get away from Dad’s fists, only to be told if I did it again, if I breathed a word against my dad, that he was a cop and could cause a lot of trouble for both Albert and Jim. I’d believed him and while I still visited daily, I always made sure I was home by whatever time Dad had dictated. He didn’t want me at home, but he didn’t want me out enjoying myself, either.

I stood, because I didn’t want to leave Shae too long. “We’ve still got the place covered, but if you’re worried, you have the list of numbers to call. I’m hoping it’ll be all straightened out soon.” At least my immediate worries about the cartel finding Albert seemed to be put to rest, although we’d have to be careful. By comparison, greedy lowlifes like Ryan were a piece of cake.

Shae listened and agreed that Ryan was easier to deal with. “He’s still clearly desperate, though. I mean, Dearden paid sixty-five million dollars for that land? That’s insane.” I agreed. It was silly money.

“Danny’s going to dig into his online stuff and see if he can find if this hacker is linked to anything else for Ryan, and this charity because the charity status had to be created. Financial records produced. It’s either legit or he has to have paid through the nose for all of this. There has to be a record somewhere.”

I tipped up the bottle of beer I had and took a swig. We’d finished supper. Tammy had enjoyed splashing in her bath so much I think I was wetter than she was. Even Maxie had beaten a retreat when the bubbles started flying, and Tammy was now asleep.

Shae leaned into me. “What do you think about what Moira and Albert want me to do?”

We were sitting on the couch. Or I was sitting. Shae liked to sprawl. Not that I minded in the least. I glanced at him, considering the question. “I think the important thing is, what do you think?”

“It’s been going round and round in my head. If my heart repairs itself, maybe I should offer help to Diesel after all the help he’s given me? But then who would look after Tammy?”

Drake smiled. “It would fit with Tammy for you to work here. Moira’s champing at the bit to help with her, and I don’t think you need to worry about Rawlings.”

Shae grinned. “She offered to watch her while I see to the dogs, assuming she takes on anymore rescues.” He glanced up at me. “I like being with the dogs, and I’m sure I can learn whatever she needs with the horses, it’s just…”

“What?” My heart started beating faster. We were so new. Instant family. What if Shae already felt trapped? What if I was trapping him? Or worse, because he now had Tammy, I was the easiest option?

“I’m no good on a computer.”

I blinked, thrown for a moment. It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting. “Neither am I,” I said honestly. “But I don’t get how you think that matters.”

“She says she wants me to run it, and, well, that means business stuff, doesn’t it?”

I didn’t laugh or brush it off because I could see this was a genuine worry. I also knew Shae had missed a lot of school. I’d never asked, but I knew he wouldn’t have graduated high school. “Well, the way I figure it, I don’t think she wants that from you.”

“But she mentioned a friend in Dallas that runs a boarding kennel.” His voice rose, panicked. “And she’s still paying me and I’m not doing anything.”

“Is looking after the animals something you want to do?” I didn’t want to second-guess him, but he’d seemed happy around the dogs.

Shae paused but then nodded. “Yeah, I’d love to. I’ve never been an inside type of guy.”

“Then we’ll talk to them both if you like. But I’ll only come with—”

“No,” Shae bit out. “That would be great. I want you there.”

I watched as he relaxed and my mind returned to the decision I’d made a few days ago. The one where I told myself I was going to help Shae gain confidence. Even if that meant him walking away.

“To be honest,” I said. “They don’t need the money even if someone did want to buy their land. You might find she only mentioned the kennels in case it was something you wanted to do. They’ve had this place for years, and never ran anything except the charity and she pays someone to do the business side of that.

“We could talk to her tomorrow, and it’s Tammy’s therapy appointment on Tuesday.”

I smiled. “I can’t believe the first time she spoke to us she said the dog’s name.” Shae chuckled and relaxed as I hoped he would. I imagine he worried over that as well. “Moira wants to make her a birthday cake. I think we might be having a party.”

He looked so unsure I had to kiss him, and I got lost in his taste for longer than I’d intended. When I broke off, he was flushed, and I loved putting that look on him.

“We need to get this Ryan business over with, but then we’re gonna talk. I was thinking about that domestic partnership stuff.” I was actually thinking about something else, including adopting Tammy, but I didn’t want to freak him out, and we needed to settle at being us, first.

Liar.

Because I knew deep down, I was still convinced he wouldn’t want me long-term.

Shae’s eyes widened and his lips parted adorably.

And there I went again with that fucking word.

“I don’t want you thinking that this isn’t yours and Tammy’s home.”

He didn’t speak for a long few seconds. “You know, I think Pink was right about you.”

“Oh God,” I groaned. “What did she say?”

“She said you were a banana. Soft inside, but you had to peel back the layers.” I groaned again. “Indy heard her and started calling you a ‘nana.’”

“Crap,” I whispered. “I heard her once and assumed she meant Pink’s mom.”

Shae, of course, found this hysterically funny. “Tell me about the people that Rawlings has on protection. Moira asked me yesterday, and I didn’t know what to say.” Which was a good idea. “Well, Alec and Dixie are working today. Dixie’s sound. Used to be a pilot, she and her hubby retired together. Emilio, Dixie’s hubby, is really good at being a close-quarters bodyguard. Dixie’s better at looking at the whole picture. They’re both excellent, just have different ways of looking at a situation.” I leaned back and dragged Shae’s bare feet onto my lap, liking where his heels pressed. From his smirk, I thought he did too.

“I’ve only worked with Alec once. He’s only the second non-military person Rawlings ever employed. Worked as a firefighter for eight years. Not sure of his story, but he has to be good if he’s on Jay’s team.

“Pink told me Jay’s really good at defensive driving,” Shae said. “I met him a few times at Diesel’s. They have a track out back that goes into the woods, and Jay offered to teach me.”

“Yeah?” The fuck? Something possessive wound its way into my gut.

“I mean, I can drive obviously, but I’d love to try. He even offered to take me on his bike.” Shae’s eyes lit up.

I sat up quickly and Shae copied in alarm, looking around as if I’d heard something. “You don’t want to go riding on his bike.”

Shae sent me a puzzled look. “Why?”

“Because it’s not safe.” Which was the wrong thing to say, and I knew that as soon as I heard myself.

“But he’s a defensive driver,” Shae said slowly. “Surely, of everyone, he’s the safest driver, and the best person to teach me.”

“Sure,” I snapped. “At the same time as trying to get into your pants.” Jay was maybe thirty-eight, nine. Good-looking and he knew it. And a good ten years younger than me.

Shae was silent for a moment while I squirmed.

“I don’t think any of Diesel’s guys would be that unprofessional,” he said carefully.

“Professional? Professional. You wouldn’t know what professional was if it hit you in the head.” I could hear the insane words spewing out of my mouth, but didn’t seem able to stop it. I stood abruptly. “But he’s good-looking, I suppose, so—”

Shae speared me with glittering eyes. “If the next words out of your mouth are what I think they’re gonna be, I’m leaving.”

And here it was. It had taken him less than two weeks, but I’d always known he was going to leave me. I shrugged.

His eyes narrowed. “What the hell is wrong with you? That’s what you want?” I could hear the hurt in his tone, and didn’t want to see it in his eyes, so I turned away.

“Drake,” he said softly, and I turned to apologize, to beg him not to go. To explain I was a fucking idiot that didn’t deserve him and shit, my moods were giving me whiplash, so God only knew how he felt.

But then both our phones lit up like Christmas trees and I heard the rev of engines and the sound of gunfire. “Get Tammy,” I roared and raced for my gun. Shae blurred so fast I didn’t see him move.