Blame It on Texas (27 page)

Pay dirt. Rick looked around to make sure the Bradford office was still empty, then he quickly pulled out the file that listed past employees beginning in the 1980s.

Taking the file to the desk, he flipped it open. Bradford had only seven employees at the time of the kidnapping, and that included yard people. There wasn’t anyone with the name Adams, but Rick pulled out his pad and jotted down the info.

Tomorrow, he planned on seeing if he could find the cold-case file on the Bradford murder. But who knows if the cops back then had their facts right? Hell, who knew if he could find the damn file after so many years?

Writing the last names down, he felt antsy and hurried to replace the file. Getting caught snooping wouldn’t
be good. And around here, one never knew who was around. Bradford had more guards on duty than the damn president.

Sure the man had money, but Rick would bet the biggest source of thieves were the old man’s family. When Tyler had first mentioned the job, he explained that the old man had always been a bit paranoid, but after his granddaughter had been kidnapped he went off the deep end.

Sitting back at the desk, Rick reached for a phone book and started making the list of day cares he’d call tomorrow.

He’d almost taken the night off. But he’d already taken the afternoon off at Miller PD to do his day care research. Besides, the day cares weren’t open this late, and he might as well do something useful with himself instead of sitting at home fretting. Not that his afternoon off had proven to be that useful. He’d visited seven day cares, and not a one of them with openings offered the hours he needed. The ones that offered the right hours were filled and placed him on a waiting list.

Not that it helped. He possibly needed someone to watch Ricky in three weeks. Another thought hit: who could he get to watch Ricky for his night job? Were there nighttime day cares? Could he afford them? He wouldn’t be paying child support, but they couldn’t be cheap. Maybe he’d have to quit this gig.

He remembered being hauled back and forth from sitter to sitter while his mother worked her shifts as a nurse. Maybe quitting the night job was best. He didn’t want Ricky to feel as if he didn’t have a real home.

Rick’s mind churned on the things he needed to do—childproof the house, buy the kid a new bed, maybe a bike.
Thank God, he already owned a gun safe. Could Ricky ride a bike yet? Or did he still need training wheels?

Earlier he’d gone by the grocery store and scouted out some kid-friendly foods: goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, and macaroni and cheese in fun shapes. What was considered junk food? What kind of food did Ellen feed her kid?

Jabbing his pencil at the phone book, he recalled how she’d nearly run over his foot to get away from him earlier. She’d totally misconstrued what he’d wanted to talk to her about. Pissed him off, too. He’d thought they’d gotten along when he’d changed her tire, and then when she’d called him to come by the office.

Leaning his head back, he wondered about this Bob she dated. Was he good to her? Did he know how to treat her in bed and out? What kind of men did a woman like Ellen go for? Someone who could show her a good time, but the kind she didn’t mind hanging around her kid.

Somehow he suspected the latter was probably important to her.

The last woman he’d dated, which was too damn long ago, told him men like him were more of an acquired taste than every woman’s dream. And that was fine, because most every woman’s dream ended up being his nightmare. Between Sophie who’d stolen his car, or Vicki who lived with him for two years and maxed out his credit cards in the process, only to discover she’d been sleeping with her ex the whole time, and then… Candy.

Oddly enough, he didn’t imagine Ellen doing any of those things. Maybe that made her too good for men who were an “acquired taste,” but would it kill her to give him a few parenting tips?

“A penny for your thoughts.”

Rick twisted in his chair to see Mrs. Daniels, Bradford’s fifty-something daughter, standing in the doorway. She wore a tight red dress and a seductive cougar smile.

“Afraid my thoughts aren’t worth that much.” He stood up.

“Why? Are they naughty?”

Rick weighed his words. His gut warned him earlier that she was sizing him up for something other than a conversation. Frankly, he didn’t enjoy her conversations, and the idea of more didn’t stir his interest.

Then again, it had been a long time since he’d had sex. He weighed his decision before taking the option off the table.

“Not very naughty,” he said.

Tyler’s bedroom had dark oak furniture with accessories of different shades of taupe and red—masculine but classy. “Nice. Interior designer?” she asked.

“Cousin,” he answered.

She found her gaze on the unmade king-size bed. “Hmm.”

“Hmm, what?” he asked.

“You’re the unmade-bed type.”

“Your bed wasn’t perfect,” he said. “You tossed the covers over it.”

“But that quick blanket toss says a lot.”

He grinned. “It says you’re a tad more of a neatnik than I am.”

She laughed.

“The books are on the nightstand.” He grabbed a bag out of his closet and started filling it with clothes.

She sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the books.
But her mind wasn’t on the titles, rather on the feel of her hand pressing against the Egyptian cotton sheets and letting her mind wonder what it would feel like to lay on them naked.

Oh, hell, tonight in the shower hadn’t she shaved her legs for this very reason? She looked back at Tyler.

“Find anything you like?” he asked.

You.
“Yeah.” She tried to find the right words.
I’ve changed my mind about the two weeks. You wanna prove how good at sex you really are? Come here, big boy, and let me show you a good time.

None of the lines felt right. Did that mean this wasn’t right? Oh, hell, was she making a mistake?

“You okay?” he asked when she continued to stare.

“Fine,” she said. “I just—”

A chime rang in the apartment.

“My doorbell.” He took one backward step toward the door, never taking his gaze off her, as if trying to read her. He grinned. “Don’t snoop while I’m away.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He walked out.

She sat there, wondering if the interruption had been divine intervention. A few minutes passed, and then she heard voices. And a crying infant.

Curious, she went to the door.

Tyler stood by two women; one of them held the noisy infant, and beside her was a little girl holding a… a carrier. A little meow came from the cage. It took Zoe a second to recognize them. Tyler turned as if he sensed her standing there. He wore a frown on his face as did his sisters.

“Zoe, these are my sisters, Sam and Lola. This is
Anna. And little squirt.” He pointed to the infant. “Who isn’t happy right now.”

“Hi.” Zoe took another step into the living room, hoping to distance herself from Tyler’s bedroom. They already thought she was sleeping with him. The fact that she was considering it didn’t make this
any
easier.

Sam and Lola didn’t appear overly happy to meet her. Anna, however, offered Zoe a big smile. “Are you Tio Tyler’s married girlfriend?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“I’
M NOT MARRIED
.” Zoe looked to Tyler for help.

“She’s not married,” Tyler said.

The baby screamed louder. “That’s good.” Sam bounced the baby in her arms. “Nice to meet you. I’m sorry, he’s hungry. He cries when he’s hungry.”

Zoe couldn’t help but wonder if Sam wasn’t hungry, too. Her eyes looked red and puffy.

“I need to heat his bottle.” Sam ran off into the kitchen.

“It’s good to meet you, Zoe.” Lola, the older sister, smiled.

Zoe saw Tyler glance at Lola with questions in his eyes. Lola glanced down at Anna.

Tyler looked at Zoe, and she guessed what he was thinking before he spoke. “Anna, why don’t you take Zoe to my bedroom and show her your cat?”

Anna’s brown eyes looked up at Zoe. “His name is Damien.” She started toward the bedroom. Zoe followed.

Zoe shut the bedroom door and watched Anna kneel beside the cage and open the door. An orange kitten came swaggering out of the carrier.

“I have a red tabby cat, too.” Zoe sat down on the bed.

“Where is he?” Anna looked around.

“He’s at Tyler’s office.”

Anna picked up the cat. “Tyler gave him to me for an early birthday present. He saved him from being run over on the freeway. He said they both nearly became grease spots.”

Zoe grinned. “Well, I’m glad they didn’t.”

“Me, too.” She glanced at the door. “You know they wanted to get us out of the room so they could talk, don’t you?”

“Do you think that was it?” Zoe asked, not sure what to say.

“Yeah, they do that all the time. Because I’m young. I don’t know why they didn’t want you not to hear.”

Zoe scratched the kitten on his forehead. “Maybe it’s private.”

“Not really. It’s about Mama getting another divorce.” The child pulled the cat closer. “Not that I care. I don’t like Leo.” She looked at the door again. “Leo hit Mama. And then Tyler hit Leo. And now Leo’s nose looks really funny.”

Zoe remembered Tyler’s bloody knuckles. “That’s not good,” she said, unsure if Sam would want Anna to spill the family secrets.

“I don’t hit anyone.” Anna shook her head.

“That’s good.” Zoe searched for a safer subject. “Tyler said you like to read.”

“I just finished
Charlotte’s Web
.”

“Oh, I like that one.” Zoe was impressed. Anna looked like a first grader.
Charlotte’s Web
was way above her grade level.

“I didn’t,” Anna said. “Charlotte died.”

“Yeah, it was a little sad.” Zoe searched for a new topic. “Are you going to school yet?”

“I started first grade last week,” she said. “But it’s boring.”

It would be for a gifted student, which Zoe suspected Anna was.

The kitten climbed up on the bed, and Zoe brushed her fingertips across his back.

Anna crawled up on the bed next to Damien. “Are you Tyler’s girlfriend?”

Zoe hesitated before answering. “I’m his friend.”

“So you don’t kiss him and stuff?”

Zoe had to bite back a smile. “We mostly just talk.”

“That’s good.” Anna shrugged. “ ’Cause Tyler says he doesn’t want to get married. Mama says it’s because he still loves Lisa. But she fell in love with someone else.”

Three hours later, Zoe walked out of the office apartment’s bathroom, dressed in a pair of cotton shorts and a large T-shirt, her usual sleepwear. Tyler leaned against the hall wall. Lucky ran circles around his ankles.

They’d left Tyler’s apartment and had gone to the grocery store. He’d been quiet the whole time, too. Oh, he’d thanked her for occupying Anna, and even explained that Sam had some marital issues and was going to be staying at his old apartment for a while. But gone was the playful mood they’d previously enjoyed.

Zoe figured out the reasons, too. No doubt, his sister’s trauma brought back some of his childhood woes. Sort of how being in Texas brought out her own.

“It’s all yours,” she said, motioning to the bathroom door.

“You okay?” His gaze moved over her.

“Just dandy, and you?” She hadn’t missed the haunted look in his eyes when he’d talked about his father. Tonight when they’d left his apartment, she’d spotted it again.

However, she couldn’t blame the mood change all on him.

She didn’t have a clue what it was that bothered her about Tyler currently being, or possibly having had been, in love with someone else, but it did bother her. For some reason, believing his past had left him incapable of getting involved with anyone was one thing. Yet knowing he was capable of it but just didn’t want to get involved with her made it feel personal. As if she wasn’t good enough for him to really care about.

But damn if her feelings weren’t a jumbled mess.

“I wish you’d take the bed,” he said.

“Sofa’s fine.” She started down the hall and then turned around. “I’m going to need some of my stuff from my place soon.”

“I’ll pick up a few things tomorrow. Alone. Just in case someone is watching the place.”

She nodded.

He took a step closer. “I appreciate you occupying Anna while we dealt with that family stuff.”

Zoe tried to push back the crazy feeling swirling inside her. “No problem. She’s a smart girl.”

“She is special,” he said with pride.

They stared at each other for a long second. “I set the books on the coffee table, if you need something to read.”

“Thanks.” She started toward the living room.

“Zoe?”

She turned around but didn’t say anything.

“Do you want me to leave the bathroom light on?”

She knew he was thinking about her phobia. Why did that suddenly annoy her? “That would be great.”

He took a step closer. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this. I’m going to find out who tried to shoot you yesterday and who kidnapped you when you were a kid. I want to fix this for you.”

“Who’s going to fix you?” she countered before she could stop herself.

“Do I need fixing?” He looked perplexed.

“Nah, I’m sure you’re perfect.” She continued down the hall. And she’d bet Lisa thought so, too. Or had.

Right then, the most absurd realization struck. She was jealous. Jealous of a woman in Tyler’s past. Now that didn’t make a lick of sense! Heck, when she got back to Alabama she might need to go find herself another shrink.

“Hey,” he said.

She looked back. “What?” A knot of complicated emotion formed in her throat.

“You can’t just say something like that and walk away.”

Yes I can. Watch me.

“Good night, Tyler.” She moved into the living room and dropped down on the sofa. Lucky climbed up on the back of the sofa and started purring in her ear.

Zoe suddenly wanted to cry. Not too much of an uncommon thing lately. She’d cried more since she’d been in Texas than she had in five years. Well, with an exception of when her mother died.