Chapter Seven

The next morning, Starr woke to hoots and howls worse than a pack of coyotes on roadkill. The alarm clock read seven a.m. JJ’s school bus would come at seven thirty, but he had the animals to take care of, unless…

She grabbed her robe and scooted out of her room through the kitchen and to the porch screen door.

“How did he get in there?” Outside, hands on hips, Spencer stood next to the chicken coop, shaking his head at the goat who’d managed to get stuck inside.

“He squeezed in the pop-door,” JJ squeaked in between giggles.

“The what?”

“The little front door.” JJ pointed. “The one with the flap. That’s how the chickens get in and out.”

Spencer scratched his head. “He fit through there?”

“He squeezed,” JJ said in a tone that begged for an “of course” at the end.

“Well, how do we get him out?” The awe on Spencer’s face coupled with the frustration in his voice sent Starr into a fit of laughter.

“We open the back door, like this.”

Starr tiptoed away from the screen door, not wanting to interrupt the highly technical farm work taking place. She grabbed a mug from the cupboard, filled it from the full pot of coffee on the counter, and made a mental note to thank JJ for making it.

Sliding into a kitchen chair, she continued to watch the action through the window. They’d managed to get the goat out of the coop and were now congratulating themselves like they were best buds. Amazing. Spencer had somehow managed to gain JJ’s trust in an incredibly short period of time. Since JJ sensed intentions of people—and animals—that others didn’t, she couldn’t doubt Spencer’s sincerity. But she sure was surprised by it. Just like she was surprised last night when he’d agreed to go to the arraignment with her.

He’d been pushing her, tempting her—and dear Lord, she’d almost fallen for it. So, she put out her own challenge, one she thought would mark him as an undesirable cad when he declined.

Instead, he’d agreed.

What was she missing? What was he up to?

She watched the guys approach the house. JJ must’ve given Spencer one of Noah’s T-shirts, since she doubted he’d packed one with a University of Nevada wolf logo. Lord, he made that wolf look sexy, stalking across the yard like a predator on the hunt. Though she was pretty sure Spencer could make overalls look sexy with that body.

“Hey, good morning, sleepyhead,” Spencer said, as JJ held open the screen door and they walked through the doorway.

“Morning, boys. Did you eat breakfast, JJ, and are the chores all done?”

“Yep and yep,” JJ said.

“Any issues with the animals?”

“Nope.”

She noticed Spencer wink at JJ and bit down her smile. “How’d JJ manage to wrangle you into helping with the morning chores?” she asked Spencer.

“I won at Xbox this morning!” JJ announced.

“This morning? I didn’t hear a peep until just now with the… Well, until just now.” Some ranch stories were better left unshared. “What time were you guys up?”

“Five thirty, like normal,” JJ offered.

“I was up before four,” Spencer said. “Time change. Couldn’t sleep. I had a client call to make to London, anyway.”

She’d had a tough time sleeping, too. But it wasn’t time changes or avalanches that kept her up. She couldn’t forget the look on Spencer’s face last night when he’d asked her what she wanted. She recognized desire; she hadn’t had the multitude of partners like no doubt he had, but she wasn’t inexperienced, either. Still she’d never been the subject of a look so raw, so intense.

And when he said she could name what she wanted, she was shocked at the heat that zoomed through her veins. She could almost feel it now.

She shook those thoughts—and those accompanying shivers—away. No good could come from them.

“Go get changed, JJ. Your bus will be here in a few minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am.” JJ saluted and ran from the room.

Starr laughed. “I don’t know where he gets his energy so early.”

Spencer shrugged. “He’s a good kid.”

“You’re good with him.”

He grinned, not denying it. “I have many talents. I was hoping to show you some of the more specialized ones last night.” His angel-sweet dimpled grin turned pure devil.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you have a one-track mind?” Starr felt her cheeks heat. His chuckle made it worse. Jerk. A change of topic was needed. Pronto.

“So is your name Margery or Starr?” Spencer asked.

To any topic but that. Everyone knew her as Starr. “Starr’s my nickname. My dad started it.”

Spencer raised a brow.

She shrugged. “He used to say my smile was as bright as a shining star. In fact, I used to hate when he used my real name. Margery Starr Taylor, come here now.” She mimicked her dad’s tone then gave a laugh. “’Cuz it usually meant he was mad about something.” She took a breath, her dad’s voice ringing in her ears. Now the best days were when he remembered her at all. “Who told you?”

“JJ mentioned it.”

Starr stiffened. “What else did JJ mention?” JJ usually didn’t talk about personal things, and they’d tried to keep most of what she was going through from him. Still, that didn’t mean he didn’t know. The kid was quiet and socially awkward but smart as all get-up. Though he didn’t typically share his knowledge with strangers.

Spencer shrugged. “Not much. Said you were named after your mom. That she died before he got to meet her. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, but it’s okay.” Relief trickled through Starr that the topic was her mom and not her skiing. Relief followed by guilt for being more comfortable talking about her mom’s death than her own life. Her therapist would have a fancy name for that, she was sure. “My mom died twenty years ago. From breast cancer. I was just a child.” She paused, not knowing what else to say. That was more than enough soul baring. They barely knew each other. And now a serious change of topic was required. “We’re still on for this morning, right?”

As soon as the words were out, she wished she could reel them back in. She hadn’t really wanted him to come with her. She wasn’t the weak or needy type, at least she didn’t used to be.

His grin fell away. “Are you asking me if I’ve changed my mind about going with you to the arraignment?” He seemed surprised, almost hurt.

“No, I…” She hadn’t meant it to come out like she doubted him, even if she did. “But if you have something else you need to do, it’s no big deal if you don’t come.”

His brows furrowed. “I told you I’d go, so I’m going.”

What was he up to?

“I just wish you’d change your mind about getting involved in that mess,” he continued.

Oh…he was coming to watch her, to make sure she didn’t do more crazy moves. She pressed her lips together, holding back a snarky response. Something told her fighting would only motivate him more. Besides, there was no need to have that battle, not when he’d be gone by tomorrow night. “Well, I appreciate you coming with me. Thank you.”

Spencer’s phone rang. “Hello?” His face lit up in surprise. “Really? That’s…that’s great.” Spencer looked at Starr as he listened. “What happens next? I see.” He sighed. “Yes, I understand. Thank you.” Spencer hung up. “They found my wallet.”

“Really? Where? Is your stuff still in it?”

“Downtown in the bushes outside the Lucky Lane, and yeah, my ID, credit cards, even the cash. Unbelievable.” He rubbed both hands over his cheeks, maybe checking to see if this was real or if he was awake. “Apparently one of the maintenance workers found it and turned it in, and the hotel notified the cops. I can pick it up at the station any time.”

“That’s great,” she said. “This will help Matt’s case, right?”

“Having the stolen goods returned is good, sure, and even better if they weren’t used. My secretary canceled the cards yesterday, but using someone else’s credit card would’ve been fraud and a felony.”

“So, if you’ve got your stuff back, the DA won’t press charges, right? I mean, you’ll be able to convince him not to.” And if he wouldn’t do it for Matt… “For me?”

Spencer stared at her with an almost wistful look. “There’s nothing I can do. Matt didn’t tell the police where to find the wallet; in fact, he refused to. So the DA still wants him to see the judge today, and he won’t get off scot-free. But it’s his first time…” Spencer shrugged.

Crap. Well, at least there was one other good that would come from this. “We could go now, as soon as JJ leaves for school, and get your wallet,” Starr said. “You could be on a plane this evening. Don’t worry, I’ll FedEx you back your passport when it arrives tomorrow.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Yes. “Of course not. You’re the one with the big deal at work.”

“What about the arraignment?”

They stared at each other. What was with him? Here was his chance to get out, something she thought he’d been begging for.

“Fine, do what you want. Come with me.” She couldn’t win with this guy.

JJ zoomed back into the kitchen, dressed and with his backpack in his arms. “I’m ready.”

Starr stood. “Do you have everything? You need lunch money?”

“Yep and nope.” He pushed open the screen door. “Bye, Aunt Starr. Bye, Spencer!” He ran out the door.

“Oh, JJ,” Starr called after him. “Thanks for the coffee.”

“What coffee?” he yelled, without looking back or stopping.

But that means…

Starr shut the screen door and turned toward Spencer. “You made the coffee?” And not at four when he woke up, because the pot had been full and still hot when she poured it.

He stood up and gave a half shrug. “I turned it on before we went outside, so it’d be waiting for you.”

It was a sweet gesture but confounding. “What’s your angle?” Did she just say that out loud? She covered her mouth with her hand. How mortifying.

He laughed. At least he didn’t offend easily.

Still, why was she getting so paranoid? She should just accept this as a nice little gesture. It was coffee, not some international counterplot. “I’m sorry,” she said. “What I meant was, thank you. Thank you very much.”

“I know.” He stood up, still smiling. “I’m going to take a shower. Chasing goats is hard work.” He winked.

Halfway out of the room, he stopped, turned back, and pierced her with a look very similar to the one from last night. It made her stomach jiggle, just like last night.

“It’s 180 degrees, by the way,” he said.

“What is?”

“My angle. I prefer horizontal.”