Chapter 3
THREE
Rain drummed against Annie’s umbrella as she stood in the parking lot watching Tate discuss the attack with a patrol officer.
It was a miserable evening. Icy and wet.
She shivered and huddled deeper into her jacket.
A floodlight washed the area around Kayla’s Mercedes, but long shadows clung to the thick trees just off the edge of the lot.
Her handgun sat heavy against the small of her back.
She’d collected it from the house before leaving.
Too little, too late, but it made her feel better to have it.
Tate crossed to her on long strides. The borderline reckless teenager she’d known was gone.
In his place was a man who walked as if he’d made peace with himself.
No swagger. No need to be liked. A cowboy hat hung low on his brow, shielding his face from the rain.
Time had hardened his features, but in the best way possible.
Utterly unfair.
He was supposed to look worse. Time was supposed to have done its job. A receding hairline…a beer gut…something. Instead he’d gotten better-looking, and Annie resented him for it. More so when her heart tripped over itself as their eyes met.
Stupid hormones.
Tate came to a stop in front of her. The floodlight caught the cleft in his chin and the whiskers covering the lower half of his face.
Despite the freezing temperatures, he wore nothing heavier than worn jeans and a light rain jacket.
“You don’t need to be out here since the officer already took your statement. ”
“I want to know if you find anything.”
“We didn’t.”
To the point. He’d never talked much, even as a teenager, but back then she’d chalked it up to grief.
He’d moved to Oakwood to live with his grandmother after losing his parents in a car accident.
Annie had been his tutor, hired by his grandmother to help him with algebra and essay writing.
What started as a business arrangement morphed into a friendship and then, by the time of senior prom…
Well, then she’d thought it’d deepened into more.
A foolish schoolgirl’s fantasy.
She pushed the memories down. The attacker had run toward the two-lane road just beyond the gate. “When you arrived at the ranch, did you notice a vehicle parked on the side of the road?”
“No, but it could’ve been hidden in the trees.”
Annie frowned. The rain had likely destroyed any footprints, and she hadn’t gotten a good enough look at the assailant to provide much of a description. The gash on her arm burned. If she hadn’t protected herself, the incident would’ve ended badly.
Scratch that. If Tate hadn’t arrived when he did…
Annie didn’t like the thought of someone with a knife prowling around her property. “Do you think he wanted to rob me?”
“That was my first thought, and it’s still a possibility. The high school reunion was posted on the town’s social media. Someone looking to make a quick buck could’ve parked nearby, just waiting for the right opportunity. But I’d still like to question Kayla.”
Her brows lifted. “You?”
Tate met her gaze. “That officer is as green as they come. Oakwood doesn’t have a detective on staff, and the police chief is away for the holidays. I requested to take the lead on this investigation, and my offer was gladly accepted.”
Annie wasn’t sure how she felt about that. The responding officer was young, and Tate had saved her life tonight. Whatever happened between them in high school was a long time ago. He’d apologized. A weak and pathetic apology, but still…it was something. Even so, she didn’t trust Tate.
“I want to be there when you question her.” Annie checked her watch. “Everyone is supposed to be making s’mores by now. At least, I think so.” She should’ve asked Brooke for an updated schedule.
Tate’s mouth twitched. “I thought you were hosting this shindig. The Annie Paulson I once knew had her life planned down to the minute.”
“That was before I realized a plan is just wishful thinking.” It was only half-true. She was still a planner, but the reunion was something she’d actively avoided knowing too much about. Brooke had managed the logistics. “And it’s Jacobson now. Annie Jacobson.”
Something flickered behind his brown eyes. “You’re married?”
“Widowed.” The word never got easier to say.
Sadness creased his features. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” She tilted her head. “I was sorry to hear of your grandmother’s passing, and wanted to attend her funeral, but Mom was in the hospital with pneumonia at the time.”
“I saw your condolence card. It meant a lot. How is your mom?”
“She’s great. Met someone online after I went to college. She’s married and living in Colorado now. Loves it.”
The officer approached them. He was chubby-cheeked and fresh-faced.
“I’ve got to head out. There’s been an accident on Mill Road.
I’ve documented the scene and I’ll have the report completed by Monday.
” He shook Tate’s hand and then Annie’s.
“If it was someone looking for easy money, I don’t think you’ll have any more trouble tonight.
They’re predicting freezing rain. Everyone in their right mind is hunkering down until tomorrow afternoon. ”
Tate helped the officer pack up his equipment, including the floodlight, and then retrieved his duffel along and Kayla’s laptop bag.
The patrol car eased out of the parking lot and headed down the drive.
Annie lifted the collar of her jacket. Her fingers and toes were numb, and she longed for a cup of hot cocoa.
Tate fell into step beside her as they hurried to the main lodge.
“How’s your sister?” Annie asked. Tate’s older sister, Jenna, had been in college during the brief time Tate lived in Oakwood. She’d visited a few times, and Annie had liked her.
“Good.” Tate’s smile was quick and genuine. A dimple flashed in his left cheek. “She’s married now, with two little ones.” Pride thickened his voice as he reached for the lodge door. “She’s a nurse, but is thinking about going back to school for her master’s. She got all the brains in the family.”
“Not all of them.”
The words were automatic, and Annie blushed.
Complimenting Tate shouldn’t be something she did anymore, even if the man had rescued her.
She slipped past him into the lobby. Warmth washed over her.
Music played low over the sound system, but the seating area near the fireplace was empty except for Brooke and her husband, Evan.
They were speaking in hushed tones that immediately died down.
Brooke’s gaze shot to Annie before skittering to Tate. Guilt pinched her features before her lips stretched into a welcoming smile. “Tate! You made it.”
She crossed the room, Evan on her heels.
Like Annie and Brooke, Evan had grown up in Oakwood.
The former star baseball player wore jeans and a thermal t-shirt.
He towered over his petite wife, but his round cheeks and soft chin gave him a teddy bear appearance.
He shot Annie an apologetic look before shaking Tate’s hand. “Nice to see you, man.”
“You too.”
Brooke consulted her clipboard. A walkie-talkie hung from the pocket of her fashionable jeans.
“I’ve got you in room 10, Tate. It’s here in the main lodge.
” She turned to her husband, speaking a mile a minute.
A sure sign she was feeling guilty about withholding Tate’s arrival from Annie.
“Evan, can you show Tate his room? I’m sure he wants to get settled in, and then we can all head to the s’mores event.
Everyone is over there and…” As Annie pushed her wet hood back, Brooke gasped.
“Oh my gosh, what happened to your head?”
Annie blinked and then lifted a hand to the goose egg near her temple. “There was an incident in the parking lot.” She ran through what happened, including Tate’s rescue. “I’ll show Tate his room and then we’ll head over to the activity center. We need to speak to Kayla.”
Evan’s heavy brow creased. “What can we do to help?”
“Nothing at the moment.”
Brooke laid a hand on Annie’s arm. “Evan, hon, show Tate his room. I need a minute to speak to Annie.”
Her husband nodded, and the two men strolled across the seating area. Brooke waited until they disappeared around a corner before turning back to Annie. She winced. “First of all, how are you, really? That goose egg is gonna be black and blue tomorrow.”
“Goody, something to look forward to.” She sighed. “I’m fine. Took some Tylenol a while ago, and while my head is pounding, it’s manageable.”
“I’m sorry about Tate. I should’ve told you he was coming.” Brooke bit her lip. “I was going to say something earlier tonight, but then Kayla interrupted us and… Well, it’s a poor excuse. I should’ve told you the moment I knew he was attending the reunion.”
Annie was too tired and too upset by the attack to harbor any anger toward Brooke. It also seemed childish to be worked up over Tate Atwood. Yes, he’d hurt her in a big way, but they’d been kids. “Yes, you should’ve told me. I appreciate that you’re protective, but there’s no need to be.”
Brooke nodded. “You’re right. It won’t happen again.”
Annie hugged her. “Then you’re forgiven.”
Evan and Tate reappeared. Annie thanked her friends before leading Tate outside. The rain had stopped, but the temperature was dropping quickly. That was typical of Texas cold fronts. Within a day, it would probably be back in the fifties.
She shoved her hands into her jacket pocket and led the way to the activity center, a new structure she’d built for arts and crafts.
The wide doors stood open at both ends, and her property manager had cleverly positioned a portable fire pit near the entrance.
A table held drinks and s’mores ingredients.
The scent of roasted marshmallows and wood smoke hung in the air.