Chapter 11 Inferno
Dr. Benjamin and Verity Haywood’s luxurious ranch home was silent and dark when Bo drove up to the front porch.
No interior lights were on. No parents were reading or watching television when Ben tapped the security code into the wall panel and let them inside.
No housekeeper puttered around cleaning and cooking, though Kaya knew it was because Martha was sitting inside an interrogation room at the Heart Lake Police Department.
Bo helped them perform a quick, thorough search of the resort-like home, determining that nobody was home.
Kaya stared in awe at the two-story fireplace of stacked stone, imagining it would feel like being on vacation year-round to live in a place like this.
Everywhere she looked was as pretty as a painting.
There were big-screen TVs, marble insets, granite countertops, cedar wall panels, copper ceiling tiles, and ornate stair railings.
Ben gave her a half-worried, half-puzzled look. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, gulping. “Quick reminder. My dad was a roofer, an hourly worker whose biggest goals were to keep food on the table and the electric bill paid.” He’d never even aspired to own this many things or to live in a house this size.
“It’s just stuff.” Ben waved off-handedly at an iron eagle resting atop a built-in bookcase. Its gold-tipped wings were spread in a glorious pre-flight pose.
“To you,” she muttered. “To someone who’s never had just stuff, it’s a little overwhelming, okay?”
“Not for long.” Despite his worries about his dad, his eyes crinkled with warmth and amusement at her. “You’re a lawyer who’s about to be married to a dentist. You’ll be walking around with your pinkies up in no time.”
“Not if my uncle has any say in the matter.” She rolled her eyes. “He’ll probably guilt me into giving most of it away to the poor.”
“Oh, the horror!” He looked like he was trying to hold in a chuckle. “If you could buy one nice thing for yourself — one really nice thing — what would it be?”
“A Ferrari,” she said so quickly that they both burst out laughing.
Glancing over his shoulder to ensure they were alone, he two-stepped her way. “If my baby wants a Ferrari, my baby’s gonna get a Ferrari.” He sealed the promise with a lingering kiss that went on and on until Bo cleared his throat above them.
Kaya stumbled out of his arms, wondering if Ben had any idea he’d just finished kissing her silly. His kisses had a way of turning her insides into a melty fountain of chocolate fondue. Every. Single. Time.
“Where to next, Sherlock?” Bo’s voice boomed down to them from the catwalk.
“I’m thinking,” Kaya called back to him. Her brain still wasn’t working very well, thanks to Ben’s kiss. She tossed a self-conscious look at him and found him watching her with raw adoration.
He was the nicest guy. She was so fortunate to have him in her life. “I’m not in this relationship for what you can give me,” she hissed, hoping Bo couldn’t hear them. She needed him to know that.
“I am aware.” His heavy-lidded gaze caressed her. “You’re still mine to spoil.” He silently beckoned her to follow him to the other end of the living room where Bo couldn’t see them from his bird’s-eye vantage point.
“Speaking of spoiling…” His voice was husky with emotion. “You deserve to hear this over candles and roses, but my life is too crazy right now to wait for the perfect moment.”
He drew a black felt box out of the pocket of his jeans and opened it. Inside was a white and rose-gold band etched with vintage floral filigree. The central setting encased a brilliant moissanite diamond, with several tiny round diamonds dotting the surrounding filigree on the sides.
“It’s the promise ring we were talking about.” His gaze burned into hers. “I hope you’ll wear it for me.”
The ring looked as if it had cost him a fortune. Lightheadedness slammed into her. She wanted to scream, “Yes!” She wanted to slide it onto her finger so fast that smoke billowed and sparks flew from her hand, but she couldn’t find her voice.
“If you don’t like it,” he said worriedly.
“Ben!” She swayed on her feet, scrambling for the right words. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen! Like…I would never want you to swap it out for another one! I—”
He slid it onto her finger. “Whatever you want, Kaya. I just want you to be happy. And mine.”
“I was already yours,” she whispered tearfully.
“Good.” He glanced down at the ring with pride. “Now the whole world will know.”
Bo stomped down the stairs and started to say something stern. Then his gaze landed on the ring. “Kaya Dakota,” he drawled, “seems as if congratulations are in order.” He swung a big, beefy hand in Ben’s direction for a handshake. Then his eyes twinkled at her while he waited. And waited some more.
“Okay, fine!” She leaned his way to curl an arm around his enormous frame in a side-to-side hug. She probably looked ridiculous — like a midget hugging a giant — but the soft look that stole across his leathery features was worth it.
He straightened. “Have you decided where we’re going to look next?”
“I’m still thinking.” She dreamily pulled out her cell phone and held out her left hand to take a photo of the gorgeous promise ring.
“April is going to go bananas when she sees this.” Her new phone, which her Uncle Uri had purchased for her, auto adjusted the lighting and rendered the most beautiful photo.
It took her breath away. It also triggered an idea.
“Ben?” Her head whipped up from the stunning ring. “Have you and your dad ever shared the tracking feature on your phones with each other?” It felt like a long shot, but they were running out of ideas.
He fiddled with his phone. “It’s a fair question. My first inclination as a nearly thirty-year-old man is to say, ‘No way!’”
“But…?” Excitement infused her as she watched him. It was possible he was on a family plan since he was still single.
He scrolled through his settings and let out a low whistle. “This is one of those situations where I’m glad to be wrong. When I was a kid, he turned on my tracker so he always knew where I was. Football practice, basketball, math club…”
Of course, you were in math club! Knowing him, he’d probably served as its president. He was the hottest nerd on the planet. She cuddled up to his side to peer around his shoulder. “Where does the pin drop say he’s at?”
“Somewhere in Alpine, Texas.” He frowned at the screen. “The only thing that would take him to Alpine is the nursing home where Aunt Callie is staying.”
“That’s it!” Kaya didn’t need to think twice about it.
She tugged his arm, pulling him toward the front door.
“We need to go. Now!” A sense of urgency tightened her throat.
If Ben’s dad was there, it meant Ben’s mom was there, and Callie had already made a big deal out of letting everyone know that she was there.
The nursing home in Alpine was definitely where the action was.
“Whoa!” Bo stepped in front of the door, barring their exit. “This might be a good time to call April and Bear with an update.” He looked coldly concerned. “Since you can’t reach Dr. Haywood on the phone, you have no idea what you’ll be walking into.”
She started to sputter, “But—”
“Bo is right.” Ben covered her hand with his, anchoring her at his side. “Whatever it is, my dad must not think he’s going to survive it. I think that’s why he transferred the deed for the clinic into my name.” His voice cracked. “It was his way of saying goodbye.”
Kaya mashed the speed dial button for her uncle and raised her phone to her ear.
It took him longer than usual to pick up. When he finally answered, she could hear cheering and chattering in the background. “Where in the world are you?”
“At a party.” He sounded younger than his fifty-four years and infinitely more lighthearted that the last time she’d seen him, which was only a few hours ago.
“Did I miss something?”
“Yeah, you did, kid. April and I got engaged.”
So am I! Almost. She wasn’t a hundred percent sure she understood the concept of a promise ring. A sigh of wonder slid out of her, but she quickly swallowed it. “Congratulations! Really.”
“But,” he prodded, growing serious.
“Ben can’t reach his dad.”
“April mentioned that to me. Where are you?” He was all business now.
“At Ben’s parents’ house, heading to Alpine next.”
“Why?” He grated out the word.
She filled him in about the tracking feature on Ben’s phone that placed his dad at the nursing home.
“Ben is really worried about him, and I am, too.” She told him about the deed to the clinic being moved to Ben’s name.
“Dr. Haywood made sure the clinic remained out of Callie’s unscrupulous hands.
If she’s as vindictive as her reputation says she is, she might, er…
” The shudder passing through Ben’s hand to hers made her change the adjective to something softer. “You know, um…retaliate.”
Uncle Uri informed her that the police were planning to raid the nursing home in the morning. He also told her about Callie’s threat about burning “the whole thing” down. “Nobody’s sure what she’s talking about, but April thinks it has something to do with her criminal operation as a whole.”
“Now everyone seems to be congregating at the nursing home.” Kaya’s thoughts raced.
“Ben’s dad is smart. That’s why he deeded the clinic over to Ben.
Whatever’s about to go down, he went to great lengths to keep his son and the dental clinic out of it.
And even though he’s not returning his calls — maybe because he can’t — he left his tracking feature on.
It feels like a cry for help, Uncle Uri. ”
“You may be right,” he conceded, sounding cautious.
“If we’re going to do something, it needs to be tonight,” she urged. He needed to snap out of party mode and smell the roses. If they waited until morning, it might be too late.