Page 16 of The Way to a Cowboy's Heart

“She just bugged out on you, didn’t she?” he said, leaning close.

“Uh-huh.”

“Thought so. We don’t have to go if you—”

“No, of course we’ll go. It’s fine. She… she’s just being Muriel. She’s always quite concerned that I’m on my own. Notinvolved,” she clarified. “As if that makes me some kind of cat lady or something.”

“Do you own a cat?”

“No.”

“There you go then. Officially not a cat lady.”

“I could have a cat. I rather want one.”

He just smiled at her. “We have a few barn cats we can spare.”

She laughed. “That might be—” As the crowd dispersed, Emily spotted a woman carrying a microphone and being trailed by a cameraman heading her way. “Oh, no.”

“What?”

“I can’t believe this. How did they find me?”

“Who?”

“Let’s go.” She tugged his hand pulling him in the opposite direction. “Hurry.”

“Ms. Quinn!” shouted the woman who was obviously a reporter fromChannel 8 News. “Ms. Quinn, can I ask you a few—”

“No!”

“But do you have any comment on William Bledsoe’s arrest? And were you involved in his bilking of millions of dollars from your clients at Bledsoe, Tamarin, and Carter?”

Emily froze. Horrified, she realized she was the subject of the stares of half a church full of people who’d turned to see what was happening.

She couldn’t quite catch her breath.Of course not! I would never, she wanted to scream, but all she could say was, “No comment.” Anything else was a minefield of trouble.

“The FBI is reportedly calling this a Ponzi scheme,” the woman shouted. “A lot of people find it hard to believe that those who worked under William Bledsoe were not also involved, including his partners in the firm. Do you have anything to—”

Emily ducked her head as Liam took her elbow, putting himself between her and the reporter. “You heard the lady. She said no comment.” He flagged a cab, and one pulled up to the curb. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here.”

“Ms. Quinn—” The reporter was still following them as they climbed into the vehicle. “What’s your reaction to the news that there may be others charged within this case? Ms. Quinn?”

She slammed the door and told the cabbie, “Drive! Hurry!”

“Central Park West,” Liam told the man. “Step on it.”

The driver nodded, squealing away from the church and leaving in his wake the horrified stares of a dozen people she actually knew.

Emily sank down in her seat, slamming her eyes shut. Oh, God. She’d never be able to show her face here again. And not only that, she’d be the talk of the reception, maybe ruining the day for Carolyn and Jess. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

Liam took her hand. “Shhh,” he whispered. “It’s okay now. They’re gone.”

She shook her head, actual tears sliding down her cheek. She swiped angrily at them with her fist. Somehow, she’d managed to put this whole mess at the back of her thoughts today for the service, but now the tears that had been lingering just below the surface since yesterday morning just erupted.

“I’m sorry.” She gulped back a sob. “I’m not a crier. I don’t cry. Ever.”

He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Never?”

---