Page 42 of High Value Target

CHAPTER TEN

Grady stood on the covered gallery outside his room, watching the rain and sipping on an inch of bourbon in a rocks glass. It had been one hell of a day.

He’d changed out of the tux and into a pair of cargo pants, and a t-shirt with a flannel shirt over it. It felt good to be out of the suits he’d been wearing nonstop and back into his normal clothes.

He went over in his head everything that led up to the fire. There had to be something he was missing; he just couldn’t put his finger on it. He remembered Tinsley had been in good spirits when they’d arrived. He’d seen her laughing at the comedian during the dinner, and then dancing with a smile on her face, but when she’d left the dance floor and headed to the restrooms, her mood had changed. What had he missed? And was it even important?

Chris said they’d checked out the leads JD had given them and had come up empty. He’d also checked out the stable hand. The man didn’t have a criminal record or any trouble in his past. Grady clenched his jaw and exhaled heavily. It was always easier when you knew your enemy.

The French doors to Tinsley’s room opened, and Grady glanced over his shoulder. She stood there dressed in the same skimpy pajamas he’d seen her in before. She was beautiful, but she looked tired.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’ll live.” She approached and stood next to him. “I always love it when it rains. Everything smells fresh and clean. We never seem to get enough of it, though.”

He noticed her voice was still hoarse. “What did the doctor say?”

Loretta had called in a favor, and the family doctor had made a house call just after they returned home.

“I’m okay. He didn’t think the damage was severe. I’m breathing okay now. He said as long as I don’t get worse, I should be fine. If I do start feeling worse, then I’m to go straight to the emergency room.”

“Look at me.” She did, and he held her eyes with a no-nonsense expression. “Do not take this lightly. You start to feel worse, you say something. Understand?”

“I understand.”

He grinned. “Your voice does sound sexier, though.”

She laughed. “Sorry, he said this is only temporary.”

A gust of wind blew through, and they both caught the spray on their faces and laughed. Tinsley rubbed her bare arms. Grady shrugged out of his flannel and wrapped it around her. “How’s that?”

“Warmer. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

She dipped her nose against the fabric and breathed in. “It smells like you.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

She grinned. “Good. I like it.”

He glanced toward the stable. “Looks like Sal’s spending the night again.”

“Pharaoh doesn’t like thunder. He’s probably with him. I’ve seen Sal curled up with a blanket, asleep in a lawn chair in Pharaoh’s stall a time or two.”

“That’s dedication.”

“That man loves horses. He truly cares about them. A man like that is hard to find.”

“I bet he is. You trust him?”

“Completely.” After a moment, she turned to face him, her brows pushed together. “You’re not suggesting any of this has been Sal, are you?”

“I’m just considering all the possibilities. He may not have motive, but he’s got opportunity. Loads of it.”

“Well, none of this is Sal.”

“You’re sure?”

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