Heir to Murder

Dressed now in the soft lemon-yellow sundress and feeling more in control of her thoughts and her body, Rachel stepped out of the bedroom, a smile curving her lips. “I bet you’re hungry.”

Noah had his back to her and seemed to be staring down at something in his hand, his body stiff and unbending.

“Noah?” A cold sensation trickled down her spine as she crossed the room to where he stood and touched his arm.

He jerked away.

Her heart pinched in her chest. “Is something wrong?”

“I thought it was mine.” Turning, he held out a cell phone. “But it wasn’t. Landry texted you.” He stared straight into her eyes.

Rachel could feel the blood leaving her face. She didn’t have to look down at the phone to get the gist of what he’d discovered. “I was going to tell you tonight.”

“Before or after we made love?” he asked, his voice soft, barely above a whisper, but the anger behind it as hard and as sharp as a steel-edged knife.

“Before. But—”

Noah held up a hand. “Save it. I need to go back to where I belong.” He snorted. “Trouble is that I don’t know where I belong anymore. I don’t think there is a soul in this world I can trust.”

“Please, Noah. I can explain.”

“What’s to explain? You were spying on me.” He jammed his shirt into the waistband of his jeans and buckled his belt. “You did a good job of fooling me. You’re a good actress, Rachel. And I suppose you always knew how to ride a horse. And you were probably acting when you pretended to like me.”

“No. I mean yes, about the riding, but no, I really do like you.”

“You and Landry must have had a really good laugh about me.” He bent to grab his wallet from the floor.

“No, Noah, it wasn’t like that.” Once again, she touched his arm. “It started out as a favor. But my feelings changed. I got to know you. You’re kind, gentle and patient and I could see what a good person you are, and I genuinely like you.”

This time, when he jerked his arm away, his lip curled back in contempt. “The sad thing is that I really want to believe you.”

“You can. Just give me another chance.”

“No. I’m done playing games with you and the Adairs. I may be related by blood, but I’m not like them and have no desire to be like them. And I guarantee, I won’t let my guard down ever again.” Noah reached the door, yanked it open and marched out.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Rachel called out, her voice trailing off on a sob as Noah slammed the door behind him.

The phone in her hand buzzed and she looked down at it through a wash of tears.

Did you get my last text?

Rachel sank to the floor, tears trickling down her cheeks as she read through the messages. It couldn’t have been worse timing. After several minutes, she texted Landry— He knows.

And?

Rachel stared at the word and couldn’t move her hands to respond.

More tears escaped.

Landry’s ringtone sang out and Rachel nearly dropped the phone. When she finally held it steady, she pressed the talk button and pressed the phone to her ear.

“Rachel, honey, are you okay?” The sound of her friend’s voice only made the tears flow heavier. “Sweetie, are you there?”

She swallowed her sob and croaked, “I’m here.”

“He didn’t take it well, did he?”

“No. I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest. Is that normal?”

“Oh, baby, you’ve got it bad.”

“I know.” She sniffed and reached for a tissue in the box on an end table. “I wasn’t supposed to care. He was just the interloper.”

“But you do.”

“Yeah.” She dabbed at her puffy eyes. “I do, and he’s part of your family now.”

“Do you want me to come over?”

“No. I’ll be all right. No one ever died of a broken heart.” She laughed, though it sounded more like a sob. “I’ll be okay.”

“You don’t sound okay. I’m coming over,” Landry insisted.

“No, that’s not necessary. I really can’t stay here.” Rachel lurched to her feet, too upset to be alone. “Do you mind if I come over to your place?”

“Not at all. Come. Stay the night. We can crack open a bottle of wine. I could call Georgia over and maybe we can put our heads together and finalize Elizabeth’s baby shower. That might take your mind off Noah.”

Rachel doubted it. Baby talk would only make her want to be with Noah even more. She could picture sandy-haired, blue-eyed little boys with those cute little clefts in their chins. She had to stop thinking that way. It would never happen now. “Let’s keep it just you and me, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

“Wait.” Rachel stopped on her way to her bedroom. “What will Derek think about giving you up for a night?”

“Don’t you worry about him,” Landry said. “I love that man like no other, but he can live without me for a night. He’ll understand. You’ve always been there for me. It’s my turn.”

Rachel glanced around the town house. There was nothing holding her there. No reason to stay and plenty of reasons to leave. “I’m on my way. I’ll see you in thirty minutes.”

“Are you sure you’re up to driving?” Landry asked. “I could come get you?”

“No. I’ll manage.” Rachel ended the call and stood in the middle of the living room trying to think through her next step. She wanted to go to Landry’s place. Staying in the room where she and Noah had shared their passion just made her want to cry. She had to get away.

Grabbing her purse, she slung the strap over her shoulder, dug her car keys out of the bottom and headed for the door. She was halfway outside when she remembered she hadn’t put on any shoes. Back in the town house, she dug out a pair of sandals and headed out the door, locking it behind her.

Night had settled in around San Diego and streetlights shone out over the city below. From her hillside townhome, Rachel could see much of the city and the harbor below dotted in lights.

She climbed into her car and pulled down her driveway, blinking through the tears welling up yet again. She never cried this much. And never over a man. She’d learned long ago not to fall in love. Hadn’t her mother taught her that?

Rachel’s multibillionaire father had cheated on her mother more often than either her mother or Rachel knew about. When her mother finally decided enough was enough, she’d filed for divorce.