The Detective’s Undoing Read online

  “I have something on the inheritance case,” he said, cursing himself for forgetting, even for one moment, how important this would be to her.

  “What?” She took a step toward him and grabbed his shirt in her fists. “Tell me! What did you find?”

  Her eyes were wide. Eager. And his heart ached again. “I finally got my hands on a copy of your mother’s death certificate. There’s an address listed.”

  “Okay.” She processed this, then, still holding on to him, gave him a little shake. “What else?”

  “I was able to locate the owner of the property, who told me an old friend of your mother’s still lives in the building. Dottie Owens. I’m going to go see her—maybe she’ll know something about your father.”

  “In Los Angeles?”

  Her fierce determination made him wary. So did the death grip she had on his shirt, which also involved a few chest hairs. “Yes.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “Delia—”

  “Don’t even try to stop me.”

  He remembered when he’d accompanied her on her trip to see Jacob, remembered how, in spite of her anger, she’d appreciated the company, whether she admitted it or not.

  Somehow, in reverse, he didn’t think he would appreciate her company, not when everything about her—her hope, her warmth, her independence, her strength—was packaged into one beautiful willowy desirable woman who drew him as no other had in far too long. “No,” he said hoarsely.

  “Yes.”

  So much for getting away from her.

  Chapter 7

  The outdoors had never attracted Delia before. That it did now was a source of wonder. Normally the land was rich with vibrant colors, but now, facing the onset of cold weather, a sort of hush had fallen over the land.

  Delia pulled on a heavy coat and gloves, drawn by something she didn’t understand, and made her way to the bluff overlooking the river.

  There she stood, staring down at the awesome sight of the rushing water, thinking how this land didn’t seem so alien now. That maybe it had started to worm its way into her resistant heart.

  You’re coming back…to see me?

  The words echoed in her head from the phone conversation she’d just had with Jacob. He’d been taken off guard and, being so young, had been unable to hold back his first reaction, which had been hopeful joy.

  Then he’d caught himself and had reined in his emotions. “Didn’t think you’d come back home,” he’d stated.

  “I’m coming back,” Delia had said, her voice a little thick with emotion, “over and over again. But my home…is here in Idaho.” And for the first time she really believed that, and it felt good. Into his bleak silence, she’d said, “Maybe you’ll want to come here someday.”

  More silence.

  “We have animals here,” she said desperately.

  “Like horses?”

  “Lots. You could ride one if you like.” It was pure bribery, but she’d use whatever it took.

  “That’d be fine,” he’d said casually, but he hadn’t fooled Delia. It wasn’t indifference he felt, only fear, which broke her heart. He was testing her, making sure she was going to stick around.

  Which she was, through thick and thin. He’d never be disappointed by family again.

  She heard a horse approaching from behind, and thinking Zoe had come seeking her out, she turned with a smile meant to assure her sister she was all right.

  And met Cade’s gaze, instead.

  He was still fifty feet back. Would he actually acknowledge her, she wondered, or ignore her as he’d done his best to do these past few days?

  Granted, they’d all been busy with their guests, but it was more than that. For whatever reason, ever since he’d told her of his lead, Cade had backed off.

  She told herself that was just fine with her, but she still tensed at the mere sight of him.

  A gust of icy wind blew, loosening her hair so that it whipped her face. Below them the roar of the water blended with the sound of the wind and the rustling trees, producing a symphony only Mother Nature could create.

  Delia shivered, but it was more from a heightened sense of awareness than the actual cold. Still, she was grateful for the sun beaming down on them, weak as it was.

  After a long moment, Cade nudged his horse closer, then closer still, and her breath caught in a vexing sort of anticipation, because no matter how she tried to put it out of her mind that only this man could make her ache and burn, her body would never let her forget.

  Only the knowledge that he could obviously turn the heat on and off, that he could plan on leaving and not worry about coming back, kept her cool.

  Cade swung down from the saddle, murmured something to his horse and came closer still.

  “You look at home,” he said.

  She shrugged, having finally found her mental distance. “Tell that to Zoe, who thinks I’ll never give up my city ways.” Delia didn’t have to admit she still missed the city—the malls, the grumpy crowds, the restaurants. The culture. She missed it all, but much in the way one missed school once it was out. It was with a sort of fondness, not any real ache.

  In spite of herself, this place was becoming home. Tilting her head back, she studied the sky. No smog. No planes. Just glorious brilliant blue sky.

  “We need to leave in an hour,” he said.

  “I’m packed and ready to go.” They’d go together, investigate the address he had. Then she’d see Jacob and come back to the ranch, to her home.

  As for Cade, he’d be off. She had no idea when she’d see him again, but she considered that a good thing.

  Their guests had gone, and when they’d left, they’d been full, content, happy and thrilled with their experience.

  Delia was happy, too, and knowing she had until Thursday before the next group of guests arrived helped ease her guilt at leaving her sisters for a few days.

  They didn’t need her, she reminded herself. They’d function fine without her. Fact was, neither Zoe nor Maddie resented her trip in the least, but she felt a moment of shame that she’d expected them, too.

  They loved her, and even after twenty years, the knowledge still thrilled her. What didn’t thrill her was the thought of yet another trip with the tall enigmatic man in front of her. But she couldn’t let him go without her. She had too much at stake, not to mention years of curiosity and buried hurt.

  “I know you’re packed,” he said quietly. “But are you really ready?”

  “Does it matter?”

  He stared at her a moment before turning his too-intense gaze to the river. The wind continued to tug at them, at her clothes and his, at the long-sleeved shirt he wore, molding it to his chest and back.

  “It matters,” he said grimly. “You matter.”

  “But you don’t want me to matter.”

  “No more than you want me to matter to you.”

  Well, he had her there.

  “I know why I resist this…this thing between us,” she said. “But why do you? What’s haunting you, Cade?”

  His jaw hardened. He slipped his hands into his pockets. “Nothing I’m willing to talk about.”

  Fair enough, she supposed. And not for the first time, she realized it was almost comforting to know it would never go further than this, that sexual attraction was all they had. Lust could be ignored.

  Their arms brushed lightly.

  And she had to tell herself again that all they had was that lust, nothing more. But the truth was, his touch soothed her. His strength fed hers.

  How could this happen when her own strength had always been enough?

  “I don’t know what we’ll find,” he said. “But it might be rough on you—”

  “I’m going.”

  “Okay, but—”

  “No. No buts.” She sighed, speaking her thoughts out loud, shocking herself with the weakness she couldn’t control. “Why do you think my mother didn’t want me?”

  He looked at her wit