But as warped as Linx was, she would never do something this heinous, wouldshe?
Grady took a deep breath and watched Linx, Jessie, and Betsy get into Linx’s SUV and driveoff.
He was overreacting, overwrought due to the rash of suspicious fires. Many people had dark hair and eyes, especially inCalifornia.
Sheesh. At the rate he was going, every child he saw would trigger his paternal instincts. He needed to focus on the arson investigation, and the only way to find out if the fires were connected was to go to the source and retrace the arsonist’ssteps.
* * *
“The gig is up.”Tami blew her way into the dog rescue office and flung her large kente cloth purse on thesofa.
Linx looked up from giving Ginger a bath in the kitchen sink. “What happened? Whatgig?”
Tami marched toward her with her hands on her hips. “Grady, that’s what. Tell me what’s goingon.”
“Nothing’s going on between me and him.” Linx wrapped a fluffy towel around little Ginger and dried her. “We had a date night, and that was it. He brought Cedar back, and we’ve buried thehatchet.”
“That’s not what concerns me.” Tami opened the refrigerator and grabbed a can of soda. “It’s Cait. She showed me a picture Grady texted her of you andJessie.”
“Where? What picture?” Linx’s pulse ratcheted up a few notches. “I haven’t taken any pictures withher.”
“Grady took a picture of you two hugging Betsy yesterday,” Tami said. “He texted it to Cait. You two look liketwins.”
“So? What did Cait say? She can’t proveanything.”
“She didn’t say anything. She showed me the picture and watched myface.”
“Oh, crap. Did you give meaway?”
“Of course, I didn’t, but I’m sure she suspects. You better fess up to Grady and comeclean.”
Linx held Ginger close to her chest and paced around the kitchen table, her heart throbbingwildly.
“I’m finally getting along with him. I can see us being friends, and maybe develop into something normal. I know I have to tell him, but he’s only going to hate me again. He hasn’t forgiven me for stealingCedar.”
“Oh, posh. Any man will forgive any woman if you have him in the right position.” Tami waved her hand dismissively. “I’ll tell you how to do it. Invite him over for a bottle ofwine.”
“Won’t work. We already shared a bottle of wine and nothing happened.” Linx swallowed the frustration bottled up inside of her. “He insisted on taking Cedar for a walk. After we returned, he kissed me goodnight outside and left me high and dry. Of course, I’d taken sex off the table, but I thought he’d at leasttry.”
“Did you flash a boob? That should work. Or start stripping. That’ll get hisattention.”
Linx cuddled Ginger and put her in the playpen while she mixed her formula. “Yeah, but we don’t talk much when we’re in the throes ofpassion.”
“Then tell him while he’s still basking in the afterglow.” Tami poked her upper arm. “Look at you. You’re wound up as tight as a virgin in a chastity belt, and you need to get good andlaid.”
Linx rolled her eyes. “You’re tempting me, but I don’t think a good lay is going to fix what’s wrong between me andGrady.”
“It might not, but since you stopped giving him favors, he’s been as grouchy as a grizzly wearing a beehive on his tail.” Tami swatted Linx’s behind. “Get going. I don’t want to see you back until you’re wearing that delicious ‘I just got laidgrin.’”
“Right, it’ll be more like my ‘I just got laid and dumped’ cryingface.”
“At least you got laid first. Yep, I’d definitely get off first and answer questions later. It’s about time you two had a heart-to-heart talk anyway. And if you don’t, I’ll reserve the right to tell Grady foryou.”
Linx narrowed her eyes, feeling smoke seep from her nostrils. “If you do, I’ll never say a good word to my brother foryou.”
“You’ll thank me, girlfriend.” Tami grinned. “Besides, a bad word might get me further with thatsquarepants.”
“Fine, I’ll put out feelers with Todd foryou.”
“You do that,” Tami clapped both hands on Linx’s shoulders. “It’s about time he stops letting me off with a warning. I mean, he needs to get me good and arrested so I can flash him a boob ortwo.”
“I’ll work on it. Promise. My brother can be pretty dense when it comes towomen.”
“No denser than you when it comes to men.” Tami pitched the empty can of soda into the wastebasket. “Text him now and ask him to come over. Don’t make him hear it fromCait.”
“Did you spill?” Linx grabbed her friend by thehand.
“No, but you know how my face gives everything away.” Tami’s lips twisted downward and she blinked. “I’msorry.”
