The Calamity Janes: Gina and Emma: To Catch a Thief

“Because it must be hell having everything you’ve worked for put at risk through no fault of your own.”

Startled, Gina merely stared. “You finally believe I wasn’t involved?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“Then go back to New York,” she pleaded. “Concentrate on finding Bobby and getting to the bottom of this. Do it for your clients and, unofficially at least, do it for me. Not that I can afford to pay you. My cash, as you know, is somewhat limited these days.”

Unfortunately, before the words were out of her mouth, he was shaking his head. “I can’t work for you. It would be a conflict of interest. And I can’t leave. You’re still my best lead. If Bobby contacted you once, he’ll do it again. Next time we’ll be ready.”

“Ready how? You’re not going to tap my parents’ phone, are you?”

“No, but a caller ID could help. Do they have one?”

“No, and my father will hate it. He doesn’t know what’s going on. I told my mother this morning, but we agreed that he doesn’t need to know. It will only upset him, and his blood pressure is already bad. I mean it, Rafe. I don’t want him involved in any way.”

“Then we’ll find another way,” he said, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe we should both go back to New York.”

“No,” she said flatly. “I told you yesterday, I won’t leave while Karen’s under so much pressure.”

“Then you make a suggestion.”

Gina considered an idea she’d been toying with ever since Caleb’s funeral. “I need an excuse to keep hanging around,” she said slowly. “Karen will hate it if she thinks I’ve put my life on hold because of her.”

“Okay. Any ideas?”

“I could go to work for Tony,” she said with a surprising lack of enthusiasm. She knew it would feel as if she was only marking time, but it was the best she could do. “I’d tell everyone I’m just helping him out for a while. Maybe he’d even take that trip to Italy he’s been promising Francesca.”

“That keeps you in town, but how does it help with pinning down Bobby’s whereabouts?”

“We could put the caller ID on the restaurant phone. Tony would agree. He knows what’s going on, and he’d want to help nail Bobby.”

Rafe shook his head. “That’s only a partial solution. Right now Bobby’s contact number for you is at your parents’ house. He can just keep right on using that. Unless...” His gaze met hers.

Gina’s pulse skipped a beat at the heated look in his eyes. “Unless what?”

“Unless you moved in with me at the hotel,” he said slowly.

“Oh, no,” she said at once, despite the decided leap of her pulse. “That is a really bad idea.”

He grinned. “I don’t know. I think it opens up some fascinating possibilities.”

“You would.”

“Are you saying that you’re not even a tiny bit intrigued by what could happen if the two of us were sharing close quarters?”

“I’m saying that your clients would be horrified to discover that you were getting up close and personal with a suspect. Not five minutes ago you pointed out that it would be a conflict just to unofficially help me out.”

“I could always tell them that I’m keeping you under surveillance.”

Gina laughed at that. “Is that what you call it?”

“Okay, do you have a better idea?”

She considered the question. “I’ll get my own place,” she said eventually.

Rafe seemed completely taken aback. “Your own place? That sounds awfully permanent.”

Gina shrugged. “Who knows? Given the situation in New York, coming back here might be the smartest thing—the only thing—I can do.” Ever since her conversation with Bobby, she felt as though she’d lost the will to fight.

“You’re conceding defeat on Café Tuscany?” Rafe asked, studying her with a shocked expression. “I don’t buy it.”

“I may not have any choice. Deidre’s keeping things going for now, but we can’t keep playing this shell game with the creditors forever. Maybe declaring bankruptcy is the way to go.”

“Surely you don’t believe that! I thought you cared about that restaurant.”

“I do, but isn’t that what you’ve wanted all along, to drive me out of business?” she asked, unable to keep a trace of bitterness out of her voice.