Dead Silence (Stillwater Trilogy #1)(53)
Author: Brenda Novak

“It’s hot out here,” Kennedy said, unwilling to argue. “Let’s go in the water.” Standing, he pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the sand.

Joe rose, too, and grabbed Kennedy by the elbow. “If you got serious with Grace, your parents’ll leave their money to charity.”

“I’m more worried about being disowned than disinherited.”

“Still, no woman’s worth that amount of money.”

“From what I hear, you have your own problems to worry about,” Kennedy said.

Joe assessed him coldly. “What are you getting at?”

“Buzz said you’re racking up quite a few new gambling debts.”

A touch of belligerence showed in Joe’s manner. “I can take care of them.”

“I bailed you out last time. But I won’t do it again. If your father finds out what’s going on, I won’t be the only one disinherited, so I suggest you mind your own business.”

“And keep my mouth shut around your parents.”

“Exactly.”

Shaking his head, Joe laughed as though the conversation had been nothing but a joke all along. “I can’t believe it. I’m being blackmailed by Dudley Do-right.”

“If that’s how you choose to look at it.”

“Kennedy, if you take her out, they’re going to hear about it without my help.”

“At least you won’t be involved, stirring things up and making them worse.”

Joe sobered. “You think I’d do that?”

Kennedy doubted Joe would hesitate if there was something to be gained from it. “Of course not,” he lied. “I’m just making sure you’re covering my back, that’s all.”

“I’ve always covered your back, brother,” Joe said. “Haven’t I proven that?”

Joe’s was the hand that had gripped Kennedy when he was drowning…. “Sure you have,” he said. “Let’s go swimming.”

“There you are. We got no worries. What our parents don’t know won’t hurt ’em, right?” he said and took off for the water.

Kennedy didn’t answer. He was thinking of the reverend’s Bible, still in the glove box of his SUV, and wishing he could agree.

That night Heath and Teddy insisted on having Grace lie down with them so they could tell spooky stories in the dark. But with all the exercise they’d had, it wasn’t long before the tent grew quiet. She could hear the steadiness of their breathing as they slept, but she stayed a while longer, simply because it felt so good to be with them, curled up in their sleeping bags, one on either side.

And she wasn’t eager to face Kennedy and Joe again.

She could hear the men talking out by the fire. She liked the sound of Kennedy’s voice, but since Joe had arrived, Kennedy hadn’t been the same man. His eyes rested on her often enough, but he didn’t speak to her if he could avoid it. He stood aside when Joe offered to rub sunscreen on her back and didn’t step up when she refused, said nothing when Joe insisted on carrying her water during their hike, and watched silently as Joe baited her hook when they went fishing. Joe brushed against her at every opportunity, too—with a hand, an arm, his chest.

His touch made her recoil.

“I wish Cindy would get a freakin’ job,” Joe said, his voice rising easily to her ears.

“What do you care if she’s still living off the divorce settlement?”

“It bugs me,” he said. “Anyway, she has too much time on her hands.”

Grace tried to block out his voice. The scent of dirt and lake water on the two sleeping boys made her smile. They’d had so much fun.

“I heard she wants to open her own restaurant,” Kennedy said.

“Can you believe it? She actually had the nerve to come to me for money, wants me to invest ten thousand dollars.” Joe laughed incredulously.

“Don’t you owe her at least that much?”

“Hell, no.”

“That’s not the way she tells it. She says you pawned her grandmother’s ring and—”

“I don’t care what she says. I don’t owe her jack shit. I paid for groceries and rent while we were married. Does she owe me for that?”

Grace felt herself drifting away and forced her eyelids open. She shouldn’t fall asleep on Kennedy’s sleeping bag. Getting up, she attempted to cross quietly to her own tent, but the zipper gave her away.

“There you are,” Joe said. “Come sit down with us for a few minutes.”

Grace would’ve refused, but she needed a drink of water, anyway, and a final trip to the restroom.

“Kennedy thinks I should give my ex-wife ten thousand dollars,” Joe said as she poured herself a cup of water from the jug on the table and took the chair on the other side of the fire. “What do you think about that?”

Cindy had been one of the more popular girls in school. She and Joe hadn’t gotten together until after Grace had left Stillwater, but Grace thought they’d probably made a good couple because they were both so shallow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t owe her anything.”

“If you say so.”

The shadows caused by the flickering fire made it difficult to see much detail, but something in Kennedy’s expression made Grace wonder what he was thinking. Today, she’d sensed a certain amount of conflict in him when he was around Joe and was a little surprised by it. They’d always seemed so close.

“You ever been married?” Joe asked.

She took a sip of water. “No.”

“Do you ever plan on marrying?”

Wincing at the reminder of her breakup with George, Grace cradled her cup in her hand. “At this point, I’m not sure. There’s certainly no rush.”

She already missed the security and affection George had provided. But she was also experiencing a slight sense of relief. She’d dragged around so much guilt for being unable to give him what he wanted that she felt lighter now. Somehow free.

Kennedy stirred the fire. She met his gaze through the sparks, then glanced away. Whatever was going on between them wasn’t diminishing from lack of interaction. It was growing stronger, more difficult to resist. Remembering the taste and texture of his kiss, she felt an unmistakable response.

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Joe asked.

She cleared her throat. “No, thanks. I’m about ready to turn in.”