Secrets Collide (Bluegrass Brothers) (16 page)

“Sounds good,” Gemma smiled back.

Cy opened the door to the café and walked in behind her. The café went quiet and he felt Gemma stiffen.

“It’s like they all know we slept together,” Gemma whispered as she hesitantly smiled at the patrons.

“That’s because they do, sweetheart.” Cy placed a quick kiss on her forehead and the patrons groaned.

“Yee-haw.” Noodle jumped up and pumped his fist in the air.

“I take it you won the bet?” Cy asked, smiling. No wonder he missed this town.

“I sure did. Today was my day. I gotta call Emma. We’re upgrading to a suite for the honeymoon now.” Noodle pumped his fist in the air and reached for his phone.

“They bet on us?” Gemma hissed incredulously.

“They bet on everything.” Cy saw her shoot him a
yeah, right
look and decided to prove his point. “Miss Daisy, what’s the line on Dani and Mo’s baby?”

“Two to one that it’s a girl. August third is the leading due date. Want in?” Miss Daisy asked as she set down a plate of bacon and eggs at the closest table.

“No thanks, but I do think we’ll have two orders of biscuits and gravy.” Cy pulled out a chair at an empty table for Gemma as she sat.

Gemma tasted the food and felt happy. A fluffy biscuit was smothered in gravy. It was the perfect comfort food. The conversation in the café had resumed to a normal level and she was surprised how easily she and Cy talked. For once, Hollywood wasn't interrupting and she enjoyed hearing about all the residents of Keeneston.

“Cy Davies?” a tall woman with strawberry-blonde hair asked as she stopped by the table. Gemma almost threw down her fork in frustration. Hollywood just interrupted. Gemma didn’t know who she was, but she was striking even though she was wearing black cargo pants and a tight black scoop-neck shirt.

“Yes?” Cy was polite as he looked up into a face lightly sprinkled with freckles.

“Bridget Springer,” she said with a sweet voice that held nothing but authority in its tone.

Gemma was suddenly jealous. She wished she had the confidence Bridget did. She seemed so secure in who she was and maybe that was Gemma’s problem. She was suffering an identity crisis. She wasn’t happy with her job, just lost her sister, and had no idea what direction her life was going in.

“And I’m Gemma Perry,” Gemma said with a smile as she held out her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you both. Mr. Davies hired me to train Marko for the sheriff and I ended up staying here. And, from what I’ve heard, I’m the reason you’re at the bed-and-breakfast instead of Paige’s. I was just going to offer to move out if you need the space.”

“Nonsense,” Gemma waved the idea away. This woman was a strange contradiction. While there was authority there, she seemed to be a genuinely kind person and Gemma definitely wanted to get to know her better.

“Thank you. Just know the offer stands.” Bridget paused for a minute before looking back to Cy. “Forgive me if it’s none of my business, but I also had some ideas about the case.”

“Well, then, take a seat and tell us what you think.” As Bridget sat, Cy filled Gemma in. “Bridget is an elite K-9 handler. She’s worked the front lines of the War Against Terror, guarded the president, escorted ambassadors, and more. She’s very well respected in the security world.”

“Thank you,” Bridget said with a slight nod before lacing her fingers together and turning serious. “I think the men Ahmed turned over to the police may be of some use to you. As you know, they were the ones charged with finding you. They could be able to tell you how they found you. If you have that information, then you can work your way back up the food chain, so to speak. Also, if they’re personal security, for example, then they may have information on the boss they protect and run these kinds of errands for.”

“That’s a good point. I had just assumed they’d be hired henchmen, but you may be right. I wish I knew if they had a tattoo. That would tell me if they were hired or part of the security team.”

“They had a small black tattoo on their wrist. It was a Roman numeral X.” Gemma jumped back as she heard Ahmed answer from directly behind her. She hadn’t heard the bell ring or even felt anyone standing behind her.

“Then we need to have a talk with them,” Cy agreed.

“I thought the same thing. It’s why I came to see you. Miss Springer,” Ahmed acknowledged with a quick nod of his head.

“Ahmed,” Bridget responded in kind. Gemma had to hide a smile behind her napkin. There was certainly a spark there, but it was strange. They were both so good at hiding their feelings, she couldn’t tell if it was love or hate.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” Cy asked as he placed some money on the table. “It’s about time these guys meet who they were looking for.”

Cy followed Ahmed into the Lexington police station. The old concrete building somehow looked like every other police station in the world. Overworked and underpaid people living off caffeine ran them all. The old tile floors somehow darkened the fluorescent light beating down as their steps echoed down the hall.

Ahmed stopped at the front desk and quietly spoke to the woman behind the plastic window. She nodded and then picked up the phone. Just as quickly as she dialed, she hung up. “Detective Basher will see you now. Through the doors and up to the third floor.”

Gemma came and stood near Cy when a man in handcuffs was led down the hall by two uniforms. He liked the way she instinctively felt protected by him. She probably didn’t even notice she did it.

“It’s this way,” Ahmed said, paying no attention to the man in cuffs now cursing and struggling as the officers tried to control him.

Cy slid his arm around Gemma’s waist and urged her forward. After they passed through the doors, the environment turned more office-like. They pushed through a swinging door and into a large room filled with desks. An older man stood up solemnly on the far side of the room. His hands rested on his hips and Cy knew it wasn’t good. The man’s lips were pierced into a tight line as he waited for them to approach.

“I was just about to call you,” he grumbled.

“Detective Basher, Cy Davies and Gemma Perry. Cy, Detective Basher arrested your brother.” Ahmed looked somewhat amused, but it was hard for Cy to tell for certain.

“Jeez, how many of you are there?”

“He’s the target our two friends were really after. That’s why we’re here. We need to have a quick word with them,” Ahmed stated rather than asked.

“That’s why I was going to call you. Seems they were sitting down to lunch and got shanked in a little disturbance between rival gangs.”

Cy cursed. “This is a lot bigger than it seems and now our leads are dead.” Cy continued to curse under his breath and fought the urge to slam his fist against the old metal desk.

“What does that mean?” Gemma asked from beside him.

“It means your sister’s notebooks are our only lead now.”

Gemma nodded and her eyes showed steely determination. “Then let’s get back to Miss Lily’s. I have work to do. There’s no way I’m letting these guys get away with murdering my sister.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cy paced his room at the bed-and-breakfast. An evening sportscaster was trying to get his attention, but the only thing keeping his attention was knowing that Gemma was right across the hall from him. After they got back to Miss Lily’s yesterday, she’d locked herself up for the rest of the day and night. This morning when Miss Lily had brought her a breakfast tray, Gemma had told her that she didn’t want to be bothered. When Cy heard that, he called Ahmed who sent a guy to watch her while he spent the day at the farm. He cleared brush, cut fence boards, and helped Pierce herd some cattle with the help of Cade’s dog, Justin, and Miles’s dog, Bill.

How could Cade let his dog run around with that bow? It was embarrassing. This week it was purple with white polka dots.

“You wouldn’t wear that, would you?” Cy asked Fred who was curled up in his arms. Fred looked up and stuck out his little pink tongue. “Exactly. You’re a man’s dog, aren’t you?” Fred gave a little bark and then rested his head on his tiny feet.

“You’re one to talk! You’re holding a frou-frou dog, for crying out loud, and you’re making fun of Justin?” Pierce had teased.

Cy had taken Fred with him to the farm where he had enjoyed running through the fields and leaping through the tall grass. When Pierce had asked for help, he hadn’t really known what to do with Fred. He dug around the barn and found a backpack that Fred jumped into happily. Cy put it on and he and Fred enjoyed the horseback ride, although Cy was a little worried that Fred was starting to get a big head. He barked as if he were giving orders to Justin and Bill as they moved the herd.

The sportscast resumed and Cy looked at the clock. Another hour had gone by. It was eleven at night and he had been cut off for as long as he could stand. It was time to see Gemma again. And maybe, just maybe, he would get to see a whole lot of Gemma again. She was mesmerizing. He’d never been with a woman so passionate and free in bed before. He couldn’t wait to find out what new things they’d try tonight. With a cocky grin, Cy opened the door to the hall.

Gemma rolled her neck from side to side to ease the cramping. She had gotten about four hours of sleep last night and was exhausted. While she had translated her sister’s notebooks, there were still key questions to be answered.  The trouble was she just didn’t know how to answer them.

Gia had left clues she was sure made sense to her sister but ran Gemma in circles. She didn’t know who the contacts were that Gia referred to only by code names. After finally giving up, Gemma had turned to the flash drive only to meet a dead end there, too.

It didn’t help that every five minutes her thoughts ran back to Cy. The way he treated her as delicate china, always opening doors, helping her through crowded rooms, protecting her with his life during jailhouse riots. It wasn’t something the average woman could say. However, she now totally understood her friends’ fascinations with cowboys. The way his jeans fit, the way he looked wearing his cowboy hat, and the pure chivalry had her thinking relationship thoughts she wasn’t sure he wanted to hear.

It was also hard to stop thinking about him with
the
bed right there next to her. No matter where she went in the room, as soon as she turned around she saw the bed and her mind instantly went to the other night and the following morning. Cy had proven that sometimes dreams can’t live up to real life. She had never been so secure with someone before, and it left her both slightly embarrassed and wanting more at the same time. She couldn’t believe she’d done that thing she’d only read about in magazines. She really should write them and tell them it worked. But then she would also think about the pictures sent to his phone and an imaginary bucket of ice water would hit her. Women were trying to claw their way into his bed and she not only fell into it, she literally leapt into it after a few nice words from him.

Stop thinking of it
, Gemma scolded herself. She needed to focus on what was before her. The bed was literally right before her. Oh God, she was thinking about it again. Gemma turned and banged her head on the desk.
Focus
, she told herself as she tried to banish the image of Cy before her with his hands and mouth and . . .
Dammit
. Gemma jumped up from where she was sitting and headed straight for the windows. She needed air to clear her head.

Cy opened his door in eager anticipation and didn’t see the white-haired woman sitting in one of the armchairs in the comfortable reading nook that filled the space between the two rooms.

“Good evening, Cyland. Is there something I can get for you?” Cy depended on years of training to not show his surprise. His roommate during training had thought Cy was joking when he told him about the three sisters from his hometown who could bring the whole government to their knees if they wanted. But he was serious. They had eyes in the back of their head and he was pretty sure they could read minds.

“Good evening, Miss Lily. I was just checking to see if Gemma needed anything before I went to bed,” he said as he shot his most innocent look to Miss Lily.

“Humph. And I’m here because I like the view. Has anyone ever told you that you're a bad liar?” Miss Lily set down her knitting and drilled him with a knowing look as she picked up her broom and pretended to sweep the floor.

“Actually,” Cy paused, “no. You’re the first. Others thought I was so good the U.S. government put me undercover. You could say I’m a professional liar, so much so Cy Davies has ceased to exist for many years now.”

Miss Lily swatted him on the bottom with her broom and glared at him. “Nonsense. You’re a spy. It’s a job. It’s what you do, not who you are. You’re the same boy who used to help my sisters unload their groceries and who rescued that poor cat that got stuck in the tree out front there. You just need to remember that and stop lying to yourself about who you are. Now,” Miss Lily said with finality, “it’s time for bed. Off with you.”

Cy chanced a quick glance at Gemma’s door that didn’t go unnoticed. “Good night, Miss Lily.” Cy may have lost the battle, but he hadn't lost the war. He shot Miss Lily a smile as she put her broom down and picked up her knitting. She had reminded him of the mighty cat rescue and now he had an idea.

Gemma took a deep breath of the night air and enjoyed the inspiration from the stars twinkling in the dark sky. What was she doing wrong?

“Mom . . . I don’t want to wear the same thing as Gia.” Gemma stomped her pre-teen foot on the ground and crossed her arms.

“You’re twins. You’re the only ones who can get away with wearing the same outfit. It’s cute. Now put it on.” Her mother handed her the matching floral dress.

“While we may be twins, we’re not the same person. I hate flowers and Gia loves them. It’s not fair.”

Gemma felt her heart speed up. That was it. They aren’t the same person. Gemma hurried back to her seat, pulled out her cell phone, and starting scrolling through her contacts.