Читать книгу Once A Ranger - Carrie Weaver - Страница 10

TONY SHOOK HIS HEAD as he walked the perimeter of the buildings. Glancing around as if enjoying the desert landscaping, he located casita number eighteen, right next door to Kat. He’d overheard Will tell Lola his suite number as he’d pushed her on the swing.

Tony didn’t like Sterling being close to the mercurial Kat Monroe, but he doubted she was the con man’s mark. Too young, too sharp and not nearly as liquid in assets as beer heiresses Lola and Lorraine.

He nodded at a middle-aged couple strolling hand-in-hand in the opposite direction. After glancing over his shoulder to make sure they’d walked around the bend, he veered off the path and went behind the casitas to check egress. Yes, there was a glass Arcadia door leading to a private patio, bordered by a three-foot stucco wall. Several large windows also faced the back. If worse came to worst, Sterling’s suite could be accessed without much trouble.

Quickly returning to the path, Tony was relieved to find no one in sight.

He categorized the flora and fauna as he walked, noting many plants similar to those in Texas. A few minutes later, he came upon two large stucco buildings. One had a discreet bronze marker saying Art Studio, the second Athletic Facilities.

As he approached, he saw a familiar redhead jog around a curve in the path. Tony stepped off into a stand of brush so she wouldn’t see him.

When she entered the gym, he headed back to his casita by the most direct path, grateful he’d brought plenty of workout clothes.

What better time than now to check out the exercise facilities?

KAT STARTED TO SWEAT in the short run from her casita to the gym. The higher elevation made her work harder.

Good. She intended to sweat Zach and Tony right out of her system. Exercise had a habit of taking the edge off her anger, too. Hadn’t she sworn off drama for the duration of her trip? Hopefully, she would return home in two weeks reenergized, with a whole new attitude. She was so tired of being mad. And even worse, feeling like a victim.

The blast of air-conditioning was a welcome reprieve when she entered the gym. The large, open space was light and airy, with state-of-the-art equipment. Nothing shabby here, and enough variety for the average fitness enthusiast. Since the resort was small—around fifty casitas and rooms—she wondered if the owners used Phoenix Rising as a tax write-off. Though the rates were steep, it would still be difficult to turn a profit. Especially since Phoenix Rising hosted a camp for at-risk kids for a month during the off season.

Her breathing slowed as she checked out the white-board for class information. Tai chi might be relaxing, but Pilates was probably more in line with what she needed to keep her butt from sliding down her thighs.

“Hi, I’m Brooke.” A svelte blonde with rock-hard abs and toned biceps extended her hand. She looked to be all of twenty. “I’m the fitness instructor and also provide personal training.”

“I’m Kat.” She’d already established a workout that suited her, though the blonde would probably think it wimpy. “Looks like you’ve got a pretty good setup.”

“My mom and dad believe in a balanced lifestyle, and we try to provide that to our guests while they’re here.”

“Your mom and dad? Linda and Garth Fremont?”

“Yes. I’m working for them while I finish up my bachelor’s degree online.”

“Linda doesn’t look old enough to have a daughter your age.”

Brooke laughed, showing off straight white teeth and a dimple.

Kat wanted to hate her, but couldn’t.

“I’ll tell Mom you said that. It’ll make her day. Do you want me to show you around?”

“You have some of the machines and weights I’ve worked with at my neighborhood gym. I may touch base with you later, if that’s okay?”

“Absolutely. Enjoy your workout.”

“I will,” she murmured, trying not to notice that everything on Brooke was perky. Kat decided to spend a little extra time on her glutes today.

Inserting her earbuds, she lost herself in the routine of warming up on the treadmill, then moving on to the weight machines. She switched her music to a favorite heavy metal track as motivation. As Green Day’s latest hit energized her, she focused on her breathing and her reps.

When she opened her eyes several minutes later, she was startled to see Tony looming over her. He was every bit as ruggedly handsome upside down as right side up.

She reluctantly removed her ear buds. “How long have you been watching me?”

“Not long,” he drawled in a Tommy Lee Jones way, probably aware it was sexy as hell.

“You’re breaking my concentration.”

“Sorry.” He seemed anything but sorry as he handed her a sheet of paper. “Brooke asked me to give you this revised class schedule. She said the testosterone’s getting thick in the kickboxing class and she’d love for you to attend. I hear it really works the glutes.”

Kat couldn’t decipher his deadpan tone. Was that a lame come-on? Or was her butt genuinely that saggy? Then a truly horrifying thought occurred to her. What if he was drumming up business as a way to curry favor with the svelte Brooke?

He grinned, sauntering off.

Glaring daggers at his retreating back, Kat was determined about one thing. No kickboxing for her. Unless it meant kicking his ass…

AFTER SHOWERING AND shaving, Tony arrived at the dining room a few minutes late, a fact that irked him. He prided himself on being early.

Linda smiled as she came around the hostess stand. “Even though you’re now in the main dining room, I’ve taken the liberty of assigning seating one last time. Howard’s great-grandchild was born today and he’s cutting his stay short to return home. I thought the guests who’d met him might want to wish him well. Lola and Lorraine in particular seemed quite attached to him. I’m afraid he’s the only single man in his age group here right now.”

“Sure, no problem.” And it wasn’t. Tony would be seated at the same table as Sterling.

“Follow me.” Linda led him to the appropriate table. The Southwestern decor was the same as in the Copper Dining Room, but this space was much larger, with round tables and crisp white tablecloths. He figured it probably maxed out at a hundred people, though not all the tables were occupied.

Gesturing at an empty chair, she said, “Right over there between Lola and Lorraine.”

He raised an eyebrow.

Leaning close, she whispered, “I split them up to encourage them to mingle more with other guests. They spend plenty of time together as it is. Bicker like crazy, but seem devoted all the same.”

Nodding, Tony took his seat. He located Sterling, sitting on the other side of Lola. And on Sterling’s right, Kat.

She nodded, her gaze frosty.

Her ambivalence would work perfectly for Tony. He could pursue her without having to worry about actually catching her. He had his ethical limits.

The waiter served his salad, which Tony, never a fan of green leafy stuff, moved around with his fork. Vegetables had their place, but he preferred something more…substantial.

He felt someone come up behind him and he turned his head to find Brooke leaning close. “Thank you for helping me out today,” she murmured.

“It was nothing.” He felt the tips of his ears burn, and hoped no one noticed. It wasn’t as if he was unaccustomed to women hitting on him. They did, fairly regularly. Not that Brooke was hitting on him. She’d told him about her boyfriend, who wanted to become a cop, and Tony had given her some Web sites to help him prepare for the exams.

No, his discomfort had more to do with Kat’s smirk, as if he’d confirmed some suspicion she had.

Sterling complimented Lola on her dress, and she preened like a junior high girl at her first dance. Lorraine, however, was unusually quiet, studying Sterling when he wasn’t looking.

Tony wondered if one of the older women would become Sterling’s next victim. He would have to find out more about them.

Howard leaned close to Lorraine. “My granddaughter’s husband sent me this picture of the baby.” He opened his phone and fiddled with the buttons for a minute or so, until he pulled up the photo. “See? Strapping boy.”

“He’s gorgeous,” Lorraine gushed.

“Beautiful,” Lola concurred, passing the phone to Sterling.

“Um, great kid.” Will handed it on to Kat.

Tony watched her eyes cloud for a moment before she smiled. “He’s great, Howard. You have every right to be proud.”

She slid the phone toward Tony, past the two empty spaces where the elusive newlyweds were supposed to sit.

Picking it up, Tony saw a newborn with eyes squeezed tightly shut and brown fuzz for hair. “Handsome boy, just like his great-grandpa.”

“Always nice to know,” Sterling said, “there’s family to carry on after we’re gone.”

“Our father would have dearly loved for Lorraine and I to have lots of children, but it wasn’t to be.” Lola’s lips trembled, but Will smiled at her and she rallied.

Tony sipped from his water glass, acting unconcerned with the interplay.

A waiter brought bread baskets and set them on the table, before moving on to the next.

Sterling grabbed one, peeling back the napkin to present the rolls to Lola with a flourish. “Ladies first.”

“Why, thank you, Will. You’re a lovely boy.”

“You’re a lovely woman.” When she had chosen her roll, he selected one for himself. “Your husband must be very proud.”

“I’ve never married. I had a fiancé once, but he left me at the altar for another woman.”

Sterling touched her arm. “I’m sure he was sorry later. He had to have been an idiot.”

“He was killed during a thunderstorm, drowned in a flash flood. His wife was left a penniless widow. Of course, I would not have been penniless. And I might have had children to carry on the family business.”

Tony watched Sterling closely, but the only emotion he saw was concern for his dinner companion as Will said, “Your father probably appreciated having two daughters. I’m sure he knew you would take care of the business. Didn’t you say you’re in the restaurant trade?”

“We own Nash Brewery.”

“Oh, yes, that’s it.” Will turned to Howard. “And you were a postal carrier, weren’t you?”

“For forty years. I invested well before I retired.”

“And what is it you do, Will?” Kat asked.

“I’m a life coach. I help people develop positive patterns to become more successful in life and relationships.”

“That sounds fascinating,” she said. “Much more interesting than the number crunching I do. I’m a CPA.”

Tony almost did a double take. Kat seemed more the wild, artistic type.

“Kat, dear, tell them about your lottery win. I’m sure everyone will be most entertained. It’s such a cute story,” Lorraine said.

Everyone turned to Kat and waited expectantly.

She hesitated.

“Come on, Kat. You’ve got to tell us now,” Sterling prodded.

“Well, it happened about a month ago. I’d…broken up with my boyfriend and I have this breakup tradition. I buy lottery tickets, and the numbers I use are all the special numbers from the relationship. Our first date, his birthday, my birthday, things like that.”

Lola sighed, obviously a dreamer. “How tragic. And romantic.”

“It gets better,” said Lorraine. “Tell them the rest.”

“I bought tickets the day Zach moved out. And, well, I won with our special numbers.”

Clapping her hands, Lola pronounced, “Then Zach will come back to you. It was meant to be.”

From the way Kat had said her boyfriend’s name, Tony suspected she was well rid of him.

“More likely it means you did the right thing to kick the guy to the curb. Kind of like the universe smiling on your decision,” he said.

Kat selected a roll, taking her time tearing off a piece and slathering it with butter. “Fate is overrated. I think it means the little white balls simply dropped in that order.”

“Lorraine was right, it’s a great story.” Sterling beamed at Kat, his gaze warm. “We’re honored to have a millionaire in our midst.”

“Three millionaires,” Lola crowed.

Lorraine elbowed her sister, giving her a meaningful look.

Lola didn’t seem to notice. Tony wondered if she’d always been so guileless, or if a small stroke at one time had affected her judgment. Or it could even be the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Kat held up two fingers. “Just a pair. After the jackpot was split among five winning tickets, and Uncle Sam took his chunk, I received a lot less than people think.” She blotted her mouth with her napkin. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fabulous thing and I’m extremely grateful. But I’m not likely to join the millionaires’ club anytime soon.”

“Still, it’s a nice windfall.” Lorraine leaned forward. “If you need the name of a top-notch investment firm, I can refer you to the one we use. Our advisor has been very helpful in growing and safeguarding our assets. A single woman can never be too careful.”

“No brothers to help?” Sterling asked her. “Or nieces and nephews?”

“No.” Lorraine’s voice was tinged with loss. “We had a younger sister, but she died as an infant.”

Tony could almost see the wheels turning in Sterling’s head. Him selecting a new victim meant Tony might find evidence. But it also meant the Nash sisters would get hurt.

Will leaned forward. “Tony, what is it you do?”

“I’m a security consultant.”

“I bet that’s fascinating work. Foiling corporate espionage and all that?”

“Yes. But because of the spread of identity theft, more and more of my work is securing client information. It’s become a real liability issue.”

“I can imagine. I’ve been meaning to update the security software on my computer to make sure my client files don’t fall into the wrong hands. Do you have a card?”

Removing his wallet from his back pocket, Tony pulled out a pseudo business card. “I’ll give you a discount, since you’re a friend.”

“Great. I’ll call you after I get back from vacation.” Sterling slid the card into the breast pocket of his button-down shirt.

The thought of getting his hands on Sterling’s computer practically made Tony salivate. It was the easy kind of lie that cons used to bond with people, but still…

Lorraine and Lola regaled them with tales of their youth until their meals arrived.

Tony had selected the top sirloin with mixed seasonal vegetables from the Phoenix Rising garden. A footnote on the menu had indicated guests’ help in the garden was always welcome.

“These vegetables are wonderful,” Kat exclaimed. “Why can’t I cook them this way?”

“My guess is they taste so good because they’re fresher than a lot of grocery store produce,” he answered.

“You cook?” She seemed intrigued in spite of herself.

“Not much, but I’m learning. My ex-wife was big on buying locally grown, organic. I don’t cook when I’m working long hours, but now that I have my own business I sometimes have slow times.”

She tried to turn to Sterling, but he was deep in conversation with Lola.

“Do you garden?” Tony asked Kat.

“No, I’ve always been busy, too. But I’m realizing just how close to burning out I was. It’s not good for me to work sixty hours a week and never take vacations….” Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t know why I told you that. My life is fine the way it is.”

Tony was curious. On one hand, Kat seemed independent, with a streak of wildness, on the other she was solid and dependable.

He sipped his wine. “Sure, we all think our lives are fine right before we crash and burn.” He winced at the bitterness in his voice. Where in the hell had that come from? Striving for a more casual tone, he asked, “If there was one thing you could change about your life, what would it be?”

Man, he’d been spending too much time listening to marriage counselors.

She hesitated. “I’d quit expecting other people to make me happy. I’d do more things that were good for me, without considering what anyone else thought. All those activities I’ve dreamed about over the years, but said I didn’t have time for. Maybe learn to cook. Grow a few vegetables and flowers in a garden. I don’t know, it’s something to consider.”

“Sounds like a win-win proposition.” He shook his head. “Don’t tell my ex I said that, though. She was always after me to have more balance in my life. Less work, more play and relaxation.”

“You don’t impress me as the relaxed type.”

The waiter came and refilled their water glasses. Tony was tempted to elbow the guy out of the way so as not to lose the headway he’d made with Kat. At the same time, he tried to follow the conversation between Will and the sisters.

After Kat thanked the waiter, she turned to Tony, raising an eyebrow. “Well, am I right? You’re an adrenaline junkie?”

“Hey, I can be as relaxed as the next guy,” he protested. “But when I’m involved in something, I’m involved one hundred percent.”

“I can relate.” She picked up her water glass and stared into it for a moment before taking a sip. “I’m that way in my relationships. I’ve been told it leaves very little room for the other person…to contribute.”

The last thing Tony wanted to do was contemplate his failed marriage and whether he’d contributed enough. Because, hands down, Corrine had done the lion’s share. At the time it hadn’t been so obvious. Or maybe he simply hadn’t wanted to know.

Shaking his head, he forced his thoughts to the present. “So what made you think I’m an adrenaline junkie?”

She nodded at his feet. “The biker boots. And I saw you in the lobby carrying a helmet. I figure you’re a weekend warrior with a Harley. That, and you’re always scanning the room as you talk, plus there’s this undercurrent to you, as if you’re spring-loaded.”

Tony wondered if he’d chosen the right woman to pursue. She was too damn observant for his comfort. Never a good thing in undercover work.

“You’re sharp,” he said.

“Not really. I simply have a talent for finding the one bad boy in every room. You might even call it a curse.”