So, who in the world was ringing my doorbell—I glanced at the clock on the wall—after ten o’clock at night? I cleaned my brush, killing time and hoping whoever it was would give up and go away. But they didn’t. The doorbell rang again.
I need to get that gate latch fixed. And maybe electrify it. Would that be bad? With my luck, I’d zap some Girl Scout selling cookies, and she’d have curly hair for the rest of her life.
With that random train of thought winding through my head, I paused at the kitchen counter where I’d laid my purse to pull my gun out and stuff it in the back waistband of my yoga pants. After the events of today, I wasn’t taking a chance with my safety. I knew all too well what could happen if I wasn’t careful.
Not thinking about that. I’ve moved on.
And I had. The last week held the longest stretches I’d gone without thinking about that night. I took that as a huge win.
The doorbell rang again and a strong, steady knock followed.
I peeked through the sidelight. Crap. Rhett.
He’d had way too many questions in his eyes when he’d stood in the gallery earlier today. He knew that Trinity had been missing, and then I’d dodged answering when he’d asked if I’d found her. Tack on a picture of her wrapped around a brick, and anyone would be suspicious.
I unlocked the dead bolt and pulled open the door.
“A little late to be stopping by to invite me for coffee,” I said, shooting for breezy and carefree.
He didn’t smile. His gaze dropped to the paint on my hands and clothes—and probably on my face.
“How many of the paintings in your gallery are your work?”
Of all the secrets I had, that one used to be my most closely guarded. Oh, how my life had changed recently.
“None.”
“But there was. The anonymous artist. That was you.”
It didn’t seem worth the effort to lie about that anymore. “Yes, but no one knows.”
“Why were you so surprised to see it there? Hell, you were straight shocked.”
Dammit, his perceptiveness was really starting to become a pain in my rear.
“Because I didn’t know it was there. Someone decided to push me into showing a piece to prove a point.”
“Who?” His gaze narrowed.
“Does it matter?” I countered. “Because that can’t be why you’re here.”
“Are you going to invite me in?”
I glanced out the front door to see his Jeep parked on the opposite side of the street. Would Rix notice? Or would he sneak in unaware?
My heart thumped in my chest at the thought of Rhett and Rix coming face-to-face in my house. In my head, Desi Arnaz’s voice said Lucy, you got some ’splaining to do. I really didn’t want to do any ’splaining tonight, but what choice did I have?
“It’s pretty late, Rhett.”
“I’ll make it quick.” His expression stayed blank. This was not a social call, or at least not a lighthearted one.
I opened the door wider and stepped back. “Then come on in.”
I made espresso, in part to keep my hands busy, and partly because I wasn’t planning on falling asleep before Rix showed up. Rhett didn’t start talking until I turned around with two espresso cups in hand.
I set one on the counter where he leaned, opting not to take a seat on a bar stool.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re here, or are you going to make me guess?” At this point, I decided playing dumb was probably my best bet.
“I’m pretty sure you know why.”
“Stop being a cop for thirty seconds and cut the crap, Rhett.”
That finally got a hint of a smile out of him. “I like the fire when you stop keeping it banked.”
I said nothing and sipped my espresso. I was still gathering the words to let him down easy when Rhett tipped his double shot back and downed it in a single gulp. His smile faded and he cut right to the point.
“Where’s Trinity?”
Lie or don’t lie. What the hell do I do?
The back stairs that led into the kitchen creaked, and I froze.
Oh. Fuck. I didn’t use the F-word very often, even in my head, but using it right now made a hell of a lot of sense.
I didn’t turn to look. Maybe Rix would see Rhett and duck back up the stairs. And how the hell did he get upstairs? He had to have used the front stairs in the foyer.
Rhett’s eyes went wide with shock.
Oh shit. Oh fuck. I bit my lip, which was a good move considering the voice I heard next.
“I’m right here.”
I spun around, shock and relief coursing through me. My eyes searched every inch of Trinity for evidence of injury or mistreatment. Sweeter relief followed when my inspection revealed a well-rested, well-fed, unmarked girl. She’d never looked more lovely to my eyes. Her hair wasn’t in its usual intricate style, but it looked like she’d recently showered.
My gaze darted to the stairs for a moment. Rix had to be up there. He’d gotten my girl back, and I couldn’t wait to deliver on what I owed him, even though technically I already had. Mostly, I just wanted to throw myself at him and climb him like a tree.
My chaotic thoughts and emotions ran together as Trinity came toward me and stopped beside me, leaning slightly against my side. I wrapped an arm around her and hugged her tight.