Page 169 of Embracing the Change

“Indeed,” I murmured.

Civilities over, she launched in.

“I know Jamie thinks he’s got things under control, and it isn’t like he doesn’t know this, but I’m gonna tell you. AJ seems like a snake, but he’s a cat. Sneaky. Lethal. And he’s got nine lives.”

Before I could say anything, her hazel gaze pinpointed on me.

“And yes, I’d put money down AJ put Jeff up to that arson shit, because Jeff would do anything for his dad. I also think AJ was genuinely hurting today. Jeff was the only kid who hadn’t turned his back on him. Now he’s very alone, because that woman with him doesn’t have her heart in it, and AJ isn’t dumb enough about women to think she does. But I also think he’s gutted Jeff bit it in that fire, and not because it might make things iffy about him collecting the insurance.”

Oh dear.

“Might make things iffy?” I asked.

She shrugged. “If AJ left any trail that fiasco was his idea, sure. His insurance companies are set to lose a shedload on that payout. They’re gonna be poking around to find anything that might let them off that hook. And the police are all over it. Jeff has been a pain in their ass for a long time, and AJ’s attitude about his kid being able to do whatever he wants on their patch or any other hasn’t been their favorite thing. Word I heard, they’re turning over every flake of ash on that ranch. So AJ better have covered his ass.”

Interesting.

“Another thing, Nora,” Reid went on. “I know Morgan Rawlins. Known him for years. He’s a good man. His sons are good guys. But my sense is, Jamie doesn’t think Morgan knows about him, when I can tell you, he does.”

My heart skipped a painful beat.

She kept talking.

“It isn’t that he told me. It’s that I already knew, or at least I suspected. I knew Morgan was foreman at Oakbilly, Jamie’s the spitting image of him, and Jamie looks a whole lot more like Boone and Cassidy than anything close to Andy or Jeff. And we both know, even if it wasn’t his doing, Jamie hasn’t stayed out of the spotlight. Boone and Cass might have missed it, because they wouldn’t be looking for it, but Morgan’s also quick as a whip, so I can guarantee he didn’t.”

Oh dear again.

Reid wasn’t done. “Since you’re here, and he’s got both his kids with him, I’d lean on Jamie to head out to Morgan’s place. If you want, I’ll act as go between so Morgan and Belle have a heads up.”

“We’re all leaving tomorrow.”

“I’d suggest you stay an extra day.”

“I’ll speak to him.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m very sorry for you and Greer, Reid,” I said quietly.

She stared at me hard, then she said, “Leave it to Jamie to find a fancy, rich, city girl with a heart of gold.”

I leaned toward her and whispered conspiratorially, “Don’t tell anyone.”

She grinned. “Woman, if you think you’re pulling wool over anyone’s eyes, I’m sorry to inform you, you aren’t.”

I shrugged.

She kept grinning.

And we rocked in the cool Texas breeze watching the sun set.

I was dying to get Jamie to myself in order to talk to him about what Reid had told me.

I was also dying to get his take on Paloma and AJ’s differing responses to Jamie’s mention of those two hundred thousand dollars.

But I would be foiled in both of these, at least for a while, because Patricia had left Reid’s early so she could change her hotel to ours, and at Jamie’s request, I’d texted her to let her know we were arriving, so she could meet us at the bar.

I was also taking a backseat to Dru, who was leaning into her father and holding his hand as we walked into the lobby of our hotel in Dallas after returning from Reid’s, because Dru was new to this information about Jamie’s origins, not to mention, much of the larger story about AJ.

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