Ropes and Revenge (12 page)

Percy’s lips parted, but Jenner pushed on before she could respond.

“But if Lily was murdered, I had nothing to do with it. Nothing. I would never hurt her. She’s my friend and I care…” He swallowed. “I cared about her. A lot.”

He set his drink down, his expression twisting with a mixture of pain and regret. “I was in love with her. When we were kids. She was the first real person I ever met. Every other girl at our prep school was more concerned with what kind of car you drove or how much influence your family had. But Lily was just Lily.” A half-smile crept across his lips. “Even after we went our separate ways, I hoped she was happy. She had a place in my heart if you know what I mean.”

“I do,” Percy said gently. “And no one thinks you hurt her.” At least she didn’t, not after seeing how hard it was for Jenner to wrap his mind around the fact that Lily was gone. “We’d just love to know what you saw. Even if it seems insignificant. It might not help give John the answers he’s looking for, but it might grant him a little peace.”

Jenner’s jaw worked for a moment before his shoulder’s relaxed ever-so-slightly away from his neck. Percy knew she’d gotten through to him, even before he said—

“I was in town last March for a photo shoot with this up-and-coming band out of Austin. We were out in the desert all day and came back to town sunburnt and thirsty. We hit the bar for a beer and that’s when I saw Lily. Some creep in a suit had her pinned against the jukebox. He had his hand on her ass and she obviously wasn’t happy about it.”

He looked up, motioning toward Clint. “The bartender wasn’t around, so I stepped in and told the guy to get lost. He wasn’t much taller than Lily, so when he saw me he tucked tail and ran pretty fast.” He took a large swallow of his drink. “Afterward, Lily and I ended up ditching the kids from the band and going across the street to have a drink at the Mexican place. We had a couple margaritas, talked old times, and I told her to call me if she was ever in Dallas and wanted to come by the studio and see my new work. That’s when I gave her my card. She put it in her jacket pocket, we hugged goodbye, and…that’s it.”

“Do you remember what day that was?” Percy asked.

His brow furrowed. “It was a Saturday in March. I’m pretty sure it was the third weekend, but let me check my calendar.”

As Jenner tugged his phone from his back pocket, Percy’s gaze shifted to the front of the bar in time to see Mia push through the swinging doors. She had to finish up, make her excuses to Mia, and go tell John what she’d learned, but she was still curious about a couple of things.

She caught Mia’s eyes and lifted an arm, holding up a finger and mouthing, “One minute.” Mia nodded and claimed a stool farther down the bar.

“No, I was wrong. It was the second Saturday,” Jenner said, confirming he’d seen Lily just a few days before the accident.

“Thank you for checking,” Percy said. “Do you have any idea who the man in the suit was, or why he was bothering Lily? Did she tell you his name or if they had a history of some kind?”

Jenner downed the last of his drink in one long gulp. “She said the guy’s father owned an oil company and he thought that gave him the right to do whatever he wanted to the people in this town. I didn’t get his name, but it didn’t seem like they had a personal history. Seemed like she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was supposed to meet her girlfriend for a drink, but the woman canceled at the last minute. Lily was on her way out when she got ambushed by the creep.”

Percy nodded as she reached into her purse. “Thank you. I’m sure that will make it easier to find out his name. But is it okay to call you if I have any follow-up questions?” She held up her card. “And you can call me if you remember anything new after you leave.”

Jenner hesitated but finally plucked her card from between her fingers. “All right, but I want you to promise me something.”

“If I can,” she said, casting a glance to where Mia sat, not surprised to find the other woman already deep in conversation with a couple seated a few stools down from her own. She was clearly a social creature and seemed to be on a first name basis with half the town.

“Promise me you’ll call me if you find out Lily’s death wasn’t an accident.”

Percy turned back to him. “Why?”

“Because I want to be able to follow the trial, write a letter about the kind of person Lily was, testify if the prosecution needs me to,” he said, heat creeping into his blue eyes. “Do whatever it takes to make sure the person who took her life pays for it. No one deserves to go before their time, but Lily was just—” He broke off, his throat working. “She was special. There was nothing but good in her heart.”

Percy touched his shoulder. “I will. And I’m so sorry you lost a friend.”

Jenner’s lips twitched. “Yeah, well, I lost her a long time ago. I was stupid to think she’d ever call. Even if she’d wanted to, she would never have done anything to upset John and staying in touch with me was definitely on that list.”

Percy eased off her stool. “Well, I’m sorry anyway. It was nice to meet you and thank you so much for your help.”

“Wait.” Jenner reached out, capturing her hand before she could move away. “Listen, I know it’s not my place, but you seem sweet and I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t say something to warn you.”

“Warn me about what?” she asked, her brow furrowing.

“About John,” he said earnestly. “He was crazy about Lily. Obsessed with her if you ask me. You’re fighting a losing battle. Even if you find out what happened and put all his questions to rest, he’s never going to care about you the way you care about him.”

Percy bristled as she pulled her hand away. “I appreciate your concern, but what I feel or don’t feel is none of your business.”

“It’s not,” Jenner agreed. “I’d just hate to see a beautiful, kind woman waste too much of her life pining for a man whose heart is dead and buried.” He reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty that he dropped on the bar. “It’s too late for Lily, but it’s not too late for you. Take care of yourself, Miss Styles.”

He circled around her and headed toward the exit. After a moment, Percy followed, doing her best to pull herself together as she approached Mia.

But Jenner’s words had thrown her off balance.

If her growing feelings for John were that transparent to a total stranger she’d only spoken to for a few minutes, how could she ever hope to conceal them from John? No matter how much she wanted to help him, maybe it would be best if she removed herself from the situation. The last thing he needed was more stress or pain and the way their walk had ended last night had been painful for both of them.

Maybe it would be better if she left town tomorrow, no matter how much unfinished business she was leaving behind.

But he was getting nowhere before you came, he said so himself. And if you hadn’t shown up when you did today, he and Jenner would have ended up in a fistfight. You’re meant to be here.

You’re part of this, no matter how much it hurts, or how hard it will be to say goodbye when the job is done.

The thought made her chest ache as she came to stand next to Mia’s stool.

“Hey, there you are!” Mia turned to her with a smile that faded quickly as she got a good look at Percy’s face. “Are you okay?”

“I am, but I’m afraid I need to cancel,” Percy said. “Something’s come up. I need to go take care of it and make a few phone calls.”

“Okay.” Mia’s forehead wrinkled with concern. “We can get together some other time. But call me if you need anything, all right? I’d love to help if I can.”

“Me too,” Clint seconded from behind the bar. “I appreciate your help diffusing the situation with John. I know I speak for Yasmin and myself when I say we’re here if you need us.”

“Thank you,” Percy said, eyes stinging at the unexpected show of support. If only she were the person who needed help. But John was the person in need, and she had no idea what Mia, Clint, or Yasmin could do to help him. She was the only one who could help John, which was even more reason for her to hurry upstairs.

The sooner she told him what she’d learned from Jenner, the sooner they could move on to the next stage of their investigation. She had to focus on finding answers and getting out of Lonesome Point before the town and all the people in it—one man in particular—became too precious for her to imagine leaving them behind.

CHAPTER TEN

John

As soon as John heard the description of the man who had been harassing Lily, he knew it had to be Chad Cutter. Unfortunately, confronting the man was going to have to wait.

Or maybe, fortunately.

Considering how poorly things had gone with Jenner, John could clearly use some time to hone his interrogation tactics.

“Tuesday will be fine.” John thanked Cutter’s secretary for her help and ended the call before turning back to Percy. She sat cross-legged in the window seat of the hotel room, the late afternoon sun turning her auburn hair into a beacon that demanded attention.

She was so beautiful it hurt to look at her, but he couldn’t seem to look away.

“Cutter’s out of town on a cruise,” he said, sliding his phone into his back pocket. “I’ve got an appointment to speak with him next Tuesday. I’m going to visit Wayne Wheeler at the prison that morning, but I’ll have time to get back to Lonesome Point before the meeting with Chad in the afternoon. That way I’ll only have to take one day away from the ranch and the kids.”

“That’s good,” Percy said, her elegant fingers twisting the bottom of her tee shirt. “Though I know it must be frustrating to have to wait another week.”

“It is, but I’ve been waiting seven months so…” He trailed off, clearing his throat as he prepared to tell Percy goodbye. It was the only decent thing to do, but now that the time had come to tell her thank you and so long, the words wouldn’t come.

Instead he said, “Thanks for talking to Jenner. And for stepping in before I made an ass of myself.”

She nodded but didn’t say a word or lift her gaze from the fingers fidgeting in her lap. She was obviously upset, and John could only guess it had something to do with him.

“But I’m sorry you had to,” he added, shame flooding through him all over again. “That’s not the kind of person I am. I don’t go off half-cocked. I’m… I haven’t been myself. I’m not thinking things through. If I were, I never would have let you help me in the first place.”

Percy glanced up, her hands stilling. “Why not?”

“Because I’ve put you in danger,” he said. “Sooner or later, whoever killed Lily is going to realize I’m getting close to finding out who they are and what they did. When they do, anyone who knows what I know is going to be a target.”

He sighed, hating what he had to say next, but knowing it was best. For both of them. He couldn’t put Percy at risk, especially when he had so little to offer her if she stayed.

“That’s why I’m going to ask you to leave,” he said. “Tonight if you think you can get a flight out. I’ll pay for the change fee.”

Percy’s lips parted and hurt flashed in her eyes.

“It’s not because I’m not grateful,” John hurried on. “I am. So grateful. But I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you. I need to know you’re safe before this goes any further.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to me,” she said softly. “Nothing ever does.”

John sighed. “I know you see trouble coming, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always be able to stay out of reach. And I don’t—”

“That’s not what I meant,” she said, her legs unfolding as she rose from the window seat. “I meant, nothing ever happens to me. Time rushes past, people come in and out of my life, and I say hello and goodbye, but nothing ever happens. Nothing sticks; nothing stays.”

“I don’t understand,” he lied. He did understand, but he couldn’t stick and he couldn’t ask her to stay, no matter how much he wanted her to.

“I’m always on the outside looking in,” she said, taking another step closer. “I’m always just visiting, even in the place where I live. But here… There’s something special about this place, this moment, and I’m not ready to say goodbye. Not yet.”

“Please,” he begged, struggling to ignore the awareness that thickened the air between them. “I know you’re the psychic, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this. If you stay, I’m going to hurt you.”

Percy’s lips curved in a bittersweet smile. “Maybe, but at least something will have finally happened.” She lifted her hands, bringing them to rest on his chest, sending a sharp wave of longing sizzling across his skin.

“I can’t,” he said, but he could hear the weakness in his voice. He wanted to touch her so badly it was hell to keep his hands at his sides. “I won’t use you like this.”

“I’m not a child, and my eyes are wide open.” Her palms slid down his chest, over his stomach, until her hands slipped beneath the bottom of his tee shirt.

Her cool fingers brushed against his bare skin and his pulse leapt, his breath hissing out through his teeth as his cock thickened in his jeans. His mind and heart were still confused, but after seven months of celibacy, his body knew exactly what it wanted. It wanted Percy. It wanted her naked on that bed, pinned beneath him. It wanted to drown in her taste, get drunk on her touch, and forget all the hurt in the world as he lost himself in the passion he knew he’d find in her arms.