Grapes of Death (14 page)

Crap.
She knew better than to look at him but couldn't help herself. She saw it in his face the moment he put together what she'd done.

“Oh … my … God! You little sneak. You had it copied when you left Edmond's, didn't you? You knew I'd come for it and copied it before I could get there!”

“Don't be so dramatic. This isn't a covert operation we're talking about, and it's a stupid notebook, not microfilm or a secret computer chip.”

Jackson pulled off the highway into the H-E-B grocery store parking lot and turned off the engine. He shifted to face her. “Look me in the eye and tell me that's not exactly what you did.”

“Jax—”

“You can't do it, can you?”

Throwing up her hands, she confessed. “Okay, you got me. I had it photocopied on my way home. So what? It's not a crime.”

“Geez, El.” He shook his head. “Between your inability to butt out and Ross's reluctance to tell me the truth … don't you get that it makes my job that much harder?”

After her earlier conversation with her brother, Elise didn't want to go down that road with Jackson for fear of spilling her guts. So with a guilty twinge, she changed the subject.

“Do you want to know what I found out from Henry or not?” When he just sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers, she dove in. “For one thing, he told me he hadn't seen or spoken to Uncle Edmond for several days leading up to his death. But I ran into Boyd Cox in town—he works in the vat room out at Kohler's—and he said they were both out there the day before having a very heated argument.”

“An argument about what?”

“Boyd didn't know, but he said he clearly heard Uncle Edmond say that he ‘wasn't going to do it anymore' and that he ‘wanted out.' And that wasn't the only thing Henry lied about.”

“Yeah, we weren't buying that crap he was selling about how he was just trying to help out an old friend, either. He and Edmond were never friends.”

“So what did Denny have to say?”

“El.”

“Jax.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face, and then relented. “Denny has an alibi for the night Edmond was killed. He was at El Diablo and has a room full of people who will attest to it.”

“That doesn't mean anything. He could've had a couple of his goons do it while he sat in the bar and held court. Good way to give himself a solid-looking alibi.”

“True, but from what he told us, he didn't have a reason for killing your uncle.”

Elise frowned. “But what about the money he owed Denny?”

Jackson finally broke down and replayed the conversation for her.

“Uncle Edmond paid him off in full and then ran up another tab?” she asked when he'd finished. “No wonder Pam was angry. Especially if she forked over close to ten grand and he only owed Denny half of that.”

“Yeah. And Edmond was also bragging about a big payoff he'd be getting, but when Denny questioned him about it, he got really jumpy and clammed up. Told Denny to forget he'd said anything.”

“Do you believe him?”

“Yes, unfortunately, I do. And I'm gonna have another conversation with Pam Dawson. Seems she conveniently left out the fact that she dropped by El Diablo the night after Edmond was there and that's when Denny told her everything.”

“Speaking of Pam, did you notice her and Henry today? The other day, he tried to tell me that he hardly knew her, but he'd obviously forgotten that I found them all huddled up together at the Pit the day I went to see her. And then there he is today, drying her crocodile tears and murmuring words of comfort in her ear.” When Jackson raised an eyebrow at her, she shrugged. “Okay, so maybe that's a bit over the top, but not by much. I'm telling you: conspiracy.”

“There's nothing at this point to support that theory, and so far I've got more questions than answers.” He stared out the windshield for a moment before starting the car. “Like, where's the rest of the money that Pam gave Edmond? That's been really bugging me. And the biggest question of all, who was Edmond getting a payoff from and for what?”

Fifteen

Saturday turned out to
be a perfect day for a wedding and just the ticket to brighten the somber mood at the vineyard after Edmond's funeral services the day before. The gray skies of Friday night's thunderstorms had given way to the softest pastel blue Elise had ever seen, and the sun warmed the Hill Country air without the terrible humidity they'd endured for weeks.

Women roamed the Great Lawn of Lodge Merlot in dresses of every hue, some with matching summer hats adorning their heads. Men dressed in warm-weather attire strolled with them or stood talking in groups.

Elise loved weddings and the way they made her heart grow light and put a smile on her face. This one would hopefully scrub away—at least in the short term—the dark cloud that had begun with Edmond's murder. Not that Jackson's investigation would magically disappear, but it wasn't something she even wanted to think about today. Today was for hearts and flowers, joy and celebration.

Madison had outdone herself this time.

The vows would take place on the back lawn under an arbor bursting with wisteria blooms. Rows of white wicker chairs lined the flagstone walkway the bride would take to greet her groom under fragrant blossoms.

The reception would follow on the Great Lawn at the far side of the lodge with a stunning view of the vineyard as a backdrop.

Elise had to admit she was crazy for the way her sister had set up the area. Pristine white linen covered the round tables that would seat five each. At the center of each was a miniature ice bucket filled with trailing ivy, aromatic narcissus in full bloom, and perky Texas bluebonnets.

The bride and groom would sit at a similarly adorned table on the side veranda, overlooking the spread of guest tables that were situated under huge canopies to shield them from the worst heat of the afternoon sun. The bandstand and flagstone dance area were off to one side within view, but out of the main pattern of foot traffic.

The wedding cake—an incredible four-tiered display of decadence—held court inside Lodge Merlot. Colorful sugar paste flowers matching the bride's bouquet swirled around the top tier and then poured cheerfully down the sides. The artful cascade ended by wrapping halfway around the bottom tier. It was truly spectacular.

The mayor had spared no expense for her only daughter's wedding, and Maddy had delivered in masterful style. The effect was elaborate without being over the top, with a light, summery ambiance. The pride Elise felt for her sister swelled in her chest as she watched the proceedings from the lodge's wraparound porch.

Fortunately, the ceremony itself was mercifully short. Upon its conclusion, the guests strolled around the building to the reception area while the bride and groom, along with family members from
both sides, had their photo session under the colorful arbor.

Though Deana Wilkinson wasn't the prettiest woman in Bastrop County, today Elise thought she was radiant. The new bride's face was drenched in joy, and love shone in her eyes each and every time she looked up at the man standing next to her. And Peter Adams, her groom, was all smiles and looked about ready to pop.

I would love to have that someday
, Elise thought as she walked around the lodge to the reception area. To have so much love for one person—someone you could count on to know exactly what you needed and when you needed it—would be wonderful.

However, it was a bit troubling that instead of thinking of Stuart, her thoughts seemed to naturally gravitate toward Jackson before she could redirect them. She'd felt herself drawing back, pulling away from Stuart for weeks now. If she were honest, she would have to admit that C.C. may have been right when she'd said he wasn't the man for her. And she wasn't doing either of them any favors by dragging out the inevitable.

But was Jackson the one her heart had been waiting for, or just a convenient target for her libido?

On the heels of that troubling idea, Elise scanned the sea of faces and zeroed in on him, picking him out of the crowd like he was magnetized. As if sensing her thoughts, Jackson looked up at that very moment and met her gaze. He said something briefly to the couple he was talking with and turned, striding toward her with a carefree smile on his face.

Her heart did a quick two-step in her chest.

“Hey, darlin
'
,” he said when he got closer.

“Hey, yourself.”

He made a show of giving her the once-over, his smile growing. “You look pretty today, fresh as a Texas wildflower.”

Her traitorous heart did another fast stutter.

“Thanks,” she managed and couldn't help the way her lips curved in response. “You clean up awfully well yourself.”

He held out his hand to her. “Come on. Walk with me?”

She hesitated. “I should really wait for Stuart. He had to take a business call.”

Jackson nodded. “I saw him heading down toward the Wine Barrel talking on his cell. I think you have time for a quick walk with an old friend.”

An old friend I can't get out of my mind lately
, she thought. “All right,” she heard herself say, knowing it wasn't the smartest move, but one she was helpless to resist.

Taking his hand, she let him lead her around the side of the lodge, across the gravel road, and down into the rows of grapes away from the festivities.

“Where are we going, Jax?”

Halfway down the row and out of sight from prying eyes, he stopped and turned to her. “I was wondering if you'd made up your mind yet about moving to Dallas.”

“Geez, not you, too,” she said and tried to pull away from him, though he held fast to her hand. “I'm getting really tired of everyone telling me what they think I should or shouldn't do.”

“Hey, I'm not judging, El. And I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I get it; this job is a great opportunity for you. I just want to make sure you've considered all the angles.”

She jerked her hand out of his grasp and glared at him. “And of course, I'm such an idiot that I surely wouldn't have considered
everything
.”

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, and his eyebrows dropped as he stared back at her. “That's not what I meant, so don't put words in my mouth.”

“Yeah? Well, then what did you mean, Jackson? Because that's what it sounded like. Let me tell you something,
pal
, it's my damn choice—my life!”

She stopped abruptly when she realized she was yelling at him, and for the life of her, she couldn't say why. It wasn't Jackson's fault he was voicing aloud concerns she'd been wrestling with internally for weeks. This was something she normally would have talked out with her family the moment Stuart had made the proposal, but she'd kept it to herself. Why? Though her uncle's murder had played a part, she'd used it as an excuse not to tell anyone. When she thought it through, that was probably the most telling aspect of all.

And in that instant, she knew her decision had been made long ago, whether she'd recognized it or not.

With a heavy sigh, she gave him a rueful look. “Look, Jax, I'm sorry. I've been a little stressed out with everything lately. I didn't mean to take it out on you.”

He looked down at his feet and kicked around in the dirt with the toe of his cowboy boot. “I'm not trying to tell you how to run your life, El.” When he looked up, something else flared in his eyes, something that made her heart pound a bit faster. “Your family doesn't want you to go. They'd miss you, even though you'd only be five hours away.”

“I'm aware.”

“Don't go.”

“Jax—”

He pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it out to her. “It may be unfair, and I know our timing has pretty much always sucked, but I don't want you to go either.”

She looked down at the hand he offered and then met his gaze. Though everything inside her yearned to take his hand, she shook her head and took a step back. “I'm sorry, but I can't do this now. We should go back. Stuart's probably looking for me.”

She turned to go, but he didn't let her get far.

“Huh-uh. I don't think so.” He grabbed her by the wrist and spun her back around and into his arms. “Not this time.”

Then his lips were on hers in a smoldering kiss that she had no will to stop. God help her, she'd known that it would be this way with him. Desire burst into full bloom in an instant, and she found herself drawn to the heat. Slipping her arms around his neck, she sank into the kiss with reckless abandon.
This is it
, she thought. This is what she'd been craving.

Jackson.

Time spun out and moments passed as her world seemed to narrow down to only him. She could taste the cold beer he'd been drinking and smell the combination of soap and sunshine on his skin.

And then the sound of a child's giggle broke up the moment.

She and Jackson sprang apart in guilty fashion just as three children ran by them on either side.

“Kissy-face, kissy-face,” the littlest of the three, a cherub with golden curls and big blue eyes, yelled at them as she raced after the older two.

On their heels came a woman calling out, “Sasha! Angelica! Grayson! Come back here this instant.”

The woman rolled her eyes and shook her head as she got closer. “Sorry for the interruption. Sometimes I wonder why I had children in the first place,” she said with an apologetic grin before continuing after them.

Elise stole a glance at Jackson, who continued to watch the woman's receding back with a half-smile playing about his lips. When he turned back, the smile slowly faded. “I'm sorry, El. I shouldn't have pushed.”

“Jax, I—”

She was interrupted at that moment by a woman's scream and raised voices coming from the direction of the road. Without another word, they both ran back up the row of vines, and when they emerged, saw Harmony Gates and her ex, Bud Thornton. Bud had a hold of Harmony's wrists and she seemed to be struggling to get free.

“Let go!” Harmony screamed. “You're hurting me.”

“Baby doll, would you stop and just listen to me for a minute?” Bud yelled back.

Elise and Jackson got there just seconds behind Ross and Darrell Yancy. Darrell stepped between the two and shoved Bud back several paces.

“What the heck's going on here?” Darrell asked. “Are you trying to screw up my cousin's wedding reception?”

Bud shook his head. “No, of course not.”

“I want to take out a restraining order,” Harmony cried dramatically, tears and mascara running down her face. “He's been stalking me, and I'm afraid for my life.”

“What?” Shock flooded Bud's face as he stared over Darrell's shoulder at her. “Harm, you know that's not true. Why would you say that?”

“Bud, why don't we take a walk and you can tell me what's going on?” Darrell said as he led the big man away.

“Why would she say that? I just wanted to talk to her. That's all,” Bud told Darrell as they headed down the road toward the Wine Barrel.

“Harmony, are you okay?” Ross asked, offering her his hand-
kerchief.

She took it from him, blotting her eyes before sniffing and nodding. “I am now. Thanks.”

“Would you like to go up to the house and freshen up?” Elise offered.

“That would be good.” She looked over at Ross with a shy smile. “I must look a mess.”

He smiled back at her. “You look fine, but why don't you go with Elise? Might make you feel better.”

When Harmony looked away, Ross gave Elise a look that very clearly said
help
, so she took pity on him. “Come on, Harmony. Ross is right. It will make you feel better.”

They walked up the road to the residence in silence. When they got there, Elise showed Harmony to the powder room then gave her some space. Ten minutes later, the woman came out looking almost as if nothing out of the ordinary had taken place.

“Hey, what happened back there? If you don't mind me asking.”

Harmony waved the question away. “Oh, nothing really. I probably just overreacted. Bud's been nagging me something awful since we broke up. He just won't let go. I've tried to tell him that I'm in love with someone else and what we had is over, but he doesn't want to hear it.”

“I'm sorry. Breaking up can be hard if the feeling isn't mutual.”

Harmony nodded. “Exactly. People grow apart or take different paths every day, but sometimes it's hard to accept.”

“That's true.”

“And sometimes timing that hasn't been right suddenly is and you have to act. Kind of like you and Jackson.”

“Me and Jackson?” Elise gave the woman a puzzled look. “What are you talking about, Harmony. I told you the other night at the Dew Drop that I'm seeing someone from Dallas. Stuart is actually here this weekend.”

Harmony nodded, but her smile was sly. “Yeah, that's what you said, but I've seen the way you look at Jackson
and
the way he looks back. Like I said, Elise—timing.”

Elise stared at the woman for a moment. Her attraction to Jackson was something she didn't want to discuss with anyone, let alone Harmony Gates. But it had her wondering who else had noticed. Was their spark that obvious?

“What are you going to do now?” she asked in an attempt to change the subject. “Are you going to go through with the restraining order?”

“No. I don't know why I even said that. I don't want to hurt Bud. He always treated me like a princess, and I really do wish him the best. I just can't keep going through this with him. I'll probably have to sit him down and explain it again. And hope that it finally gets through to him.”