Chapter 18
“Here’s your drink, hun.”Lacey Tipton winked at Bella as she pushed a cup of coffee toward her. “You look like you could use it.”
Bella frowned. “Do I really look that bad?”
Lacey leaned her hip against the bar on the other side of the counter. Her gaze swept over Bella from head to toe. “Well, it doesn’t look like you’ve gotten a lot of sleep lately, if that’s what you mean.”
“Gee, thanks,” Bella said as she wrapped both hands around her mug and lifted it to her lips. “I guess that’s the nicest way you could say it.”
Lacey chuckled, grabbing a rag as she wiped down the bar. “No offense, but what do you have to lose sleep over? You’re not dating, and your job can’t be that difficult. What’s the worst that happens in Rocky Ridge, anyway?”
Bella lifted a brow. There were plenty of issues that had happened over the last couple of years from what she’d heard. She didn’t have to remind Lacey about everything that went down at Twisted Rivers Ranch. Then again, maybe she could use a reminder that not everything was cupcakes and roses even in a small town like Rocky Ridge.
Someone waved Lacey over and she held up a finger. “I’ll come get your order in a minute, Bella. Just take a look at that menu.”
“No need.” Bella tapped the front of the menu. “The cowboy ribeye is never a disappointment.” Unlike certain reckless billionaire cowboys.
Lacey nodded. “I can’t argue with that.” She took the menu. “I’ll put your order in right away.” She hurried off to the other customer, leaving Bella alone with her coffee and her thoughts.
Grant had managed to win her over before she knew what had hit her. He was charming and handsome but also infuriating. The man needed a lesson in common sense. Why couldn’t he see that she was right? He couldn’t be so dumb that he didn’t see the logic in what she’d said.
The worst part was the possibility that he wasn’t being negligent but rather intentionally deceitful. What if Grant had known all about Nick from the beginning and he was only now part of his life due to Dee’s death?
Her grip tightened on her mug and the heat stung her palms, but she couldn’t bring herself to release it. The possibility that he’d lied to her made the cracks in her heart deepen. Bella had never been one to allow herself to get involved this quickly, and for good reason. She knew better than to let her defenses come down when she barely knew the guy.
There was a reason people who’d been lied to found it hard to trust and Bella couldn’t know for sure if Grant had been telling her the truth. She’d allowed herself to become blinded, which was a big part of the reason they’d been arguing so much lately.
The pain in her hands became too much to take, causing her to release the mug. She shook out her hands and glanced around at those seated closest to her. Thankfully no one seemed to notice her poor decision-making.
She could only think of one bright side at the moment. If Grant had been telling her the truth, then at least he wasn’t a criminal. He wasn’t involved in illegal dealings, and he wasn’t currently married.
Bella groaned. Which meant he was a decent guy who had been dealt a bad hand. The cherry on top of that reality was that he was a billionaire.
An actual billionaire who had come to Rocky Ridge to raise a son he never knew he had.
She placed her head in her hands as it started pounding incessantly. This was where she stood, caught between two options. Either he was a narcissist who had manipulated her, or he was literal gold in male form—and so far out of her league.
Worse still, she couldn’t blame him for keeping that a secret. He was right on that front. Money changed people. She’d grown up with very little and even she knew it would be difficult not to splurge if she won the lottery.
Bella’s face heated with a vengeance as she thought about how she’d treated him. Her skepticism had pushed him over the edge. Grant couldn’t stand having the people in his life assume the worst.
The heat in her face shifted into something more volatile. She couldn’t believe she’d thought they were close.
Close? Ha! That was laughable. If they’d been close, then she wouldn’t have felt so out of the loop—enough that she went seeking out reasons to explain the things he said and did.
Everything was so messed up now.
A plate was pushed in front of her and Bella jumped, her eyes darting to find Lacey staring at her with concern. “Everything okay, sweetie?”
Bella wanted to shake her head. She would have loved to confide what was in her heart to her friend, but even she knew better than to believe Lacey was a real friend. Lacey was the kind of person a girl could spill her soul to when she was drunk, and she wouldn’t feel judged about it in the morning. But she wouldn’t give the sort of advice Bella was searching for.
So, Bella forced a smile as she grabbed her fork. “I’m okay.”
Lacey didn’t push her. She never did. “Well, you let me know if you need anything. I’ll be right over there.”
Bella nodded her appreciation and she dug into her food, but it wasn’t enough of a distraction from her turmoil. If there was one thing she’d learned as a kid, it was that a person’s experiences growing up made them into the people they were as adults. And if her absentee father had had this severe of an effect on her current relationship, how would it affect her when she became a mother and had to share responsibilities with someone she might never fully trust?
Grant had dodged a bullet with her, anyway. Maybe they both had. It was clear he didn’t trust her and she didn’t trust him. They weren’t suited for each other. She needed to move on.
She grabbed the knife and sawed at the steak, expecting it to be harder than it was. The knife went through the meat like butter. It was perfection. And still, all she could think about was what Grant had meant when he said he was leaving.
Leaving Sagebrush or leaving Rocky Ridge altogether?
It doesn’t matter what he decides to do. This isn’t about your relationship with him anymore. You need to let him go and just focus on finding the threat.
Easier said than done.
Bella picked up her fork and moved the mashed potatoes around her plate. She wasn’t hungry anymore. A group of cowboys moved toward the bar, five in total. Their conversation was loud, but mostly about the ranch where they worked.
She blocked out their conversation until she heard the names Bo and Eli. Then her ears pricked right up. Bella glanced over to the men out of the corner of her eye. At least three of them looked familiar.
Tucking her hair behind her ear so she could hear them better, she forced herself to sit still and not be obvious about it.
Why?
Why was she intent on listening to these men just so she could hear how Grant was doing? They’d practically ended it. If they hadn’t, it was as good as over. Still, she couldn’t help herself. She turned to face the one closest to her. “Excuse me, but you work with Grant Shaw, right?”
The whole group stopped their conversation to look over at her, and her face flushed.
He nodded. “I work out at Sagebrush, why? You looking for him?”
She glanced away, still embarrassed that she was acting like a teenager. Clearing her throat, she shook her head. “No, I was just curious if he was planning on coming out with you guys?”
The men exchanged looks of amusement. “Grant?” One laughed. “Grant wouldn’t come within ten yards of a bar. He doesn’t drink.”
Another piped up after taking a swig of his beer. “Yep. Grant is too strait-laced for that. Doesn’t touch the stuff.”
Bella huffed. “Just because he doesn’t drink doesn’t mean he wouldn’t come out and spend time with you guys.”
The first one chuckled, his blue eyes flashing. “He’s got a kid. He’s probably helping him with homework or taking him for an evening walk.”
One of the men who hadn’t spoken yet nodded. “It’s a real shame that he’s a terrible ranch hand. Eli really likes the family-man type. They’re less likely to be involved in?—”
Someone elbowed him and he coughed on his drink.
“What? I was just saying that no one thinks he’s involved in all that stuff. But Eli’s getting tired of having to deal with it. I think it’s only a matter of time before he asks him to leave.”
There were some murmurs of agreement between them. Then the guy closest to her leaned closer. “It’s too bad Dee kept his kid from him. That boy could have used a dad like that when he was younger. Good man.” He turned to the others with a laugh. “Do you think little Nick will take to riding with Grant being his father?”
More laughter. “Remember when Buckeye threw Grant to the ground without giving him even five seconds in the saddle?”
The closest cowboy turned to her again. “He’s no cowboy, but at least he’s trying.” He cocked his head. “Wait a minute. You’re that deputy that’s been hanging around, right?” He waved his finger at her. “I almost didn’t recognize you with that makeup and your hair down.” He winked at her, leaning close again. “What would you say if I asked you out?”
She gave him a patient smile. “Thanks, but I’m not looking to date right now. I… just got out of a relationship.”
He shrugged and turned to his friends to join in on their conversation again.
Well, she’d gotten one thing out of this interaction. Grant was telling the truth about Dee. She’d kept her son from Grant.
Wait, no, she confirmed two things. The other was about his drinking. He’d said he didn’t drink; he’d insisted as much to the doctor. If he wasn’t a drinker, then why were all those beer bottles in his truck on the day he was drugged?
Bella reached over and tapped the cowboy. “Does Grant ride at all?”
He looked confused for a moment before understanding lit his eyes. “You mean horses? Heck no. The man can barely stand to be in the saddle for more than ten minutes. He wasn’t built for riding. Most of the horses are skittish around him—probably because they can sense his nerves. That’s why he drives his truck.”
Grant wasn’t in the saddle much. His truck was his mode of transportation. That meant whoever wanted to frame him was likely aware of this fact and had counted on him driving the truck to the work site. They could have easily planted the bottles in his truck so they could call in the DUI suspicions.
Her stomach flipped. She was getting so close she could almost see the full picture. Her assumptions about the suspect being on the ranch had to be correct. If only she could figure out which one was responsible.
Bella glanced toward the men. None of them seemed to harbor any ill will toward Grant. They all seemed to look up to him despite his inability to keep up.
Her phone buzzed and she picked it up. She wasn’t on call today, but it was her office number. Strange.
“This is Whitfield.”
“Fire at Sagebrush Ranch,” the voice blurted. “You were working with them on their vandalism case, right?”
“Yes, but?—”
“You should probably get out there. Grant Shaw’s RV is on fire.”
Her heart stumbled to a stop. “Grant?” Her voice was small, and she wouldn’t have been surprised if the person on the other end didn’t hear her.
“Yes. It just started. The fire department has already been called. You probably want to get over there right away.”
Her hands shook. Her voice trembled. But she managed to get out the words, “I’m on my way,” before she hung up and pulled herself down from her seat. Bella threw a couple twenties on the bar and waved to Lacey. “Pack this up for me. I’ll come get it later.”