“You’re scaring me, Mom.”
She reached down and brushed back a lock of Griff’s hair. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I don’t know how to say this. It’s not something I ever thought I’d have to do.”
“What is it, Mom?”
“It’s your dad, Griff. He was killed. I’m really sorry.” She leaned over and pulled him into a hug, but Griff drew away, his eyes huge and uncertain.
“Dad’s dead?”
She nodded. “I’m so sorry.”
“Wh-what happened?”
“Someone shot him, Griff. It happened Saturday night. The housekeeper found him this morning.”
Griff’s amber eyes filled. “He can’t be dead. We were going to spend this weekend together. He promised to take me to the movies.”
Kenzie’s heart twisted. Lee rarely had time for Griff. Though Griff seldom complained, Kenzie knew he yearned for his father’s attention. Kenzie figured Lee’s sudden interest in his son was probably just a way to strengthen his custody case.
“I’m know, honey. It’s a shock for all of us.”
Griff cried for a while and she held him. Then he pulled away and just sat quietly beside her. Kenzie didn’t rush him. There was more he needed to know, but now wasn’t the time.
Eventually, they walked back to the car and she drove home. Kenzie had phoned Gran earlier to tell her about Lee. She wasn’t surprised when the smell of cinnamon and apples greeted them at the town house door. Gran’s solution to every problem, no matter how large or small, was a slice of warm homemade apple pie.
Griff ran to her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and started crying. Gran gave him a fierce, comforting hug, then led him up the stairs to his bedroom.
Kenzie breathed a grateful sigh once they were out of sight. Her grandmother was a miracle. She always knew exactly what to do in any situation. Her son was in good hands.
As she started for the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Praying it wasn’t more trouble, she checked the peephole and was surprised to see Reese standing on the porch, amazingly handsome in the pinstriped suit he’d been wearing that morning.
A mixture of emotions swept through her. Gratitude for the risk he had taken to help her, sexual awareness as her mind replayed the night they had spent together, something deeper she couldn’t explain. Her hand went to her diaphragm as she drew in a steadying breath and opened the door.
She managed to smile. “I’m surprised to see you. I know how busy you are. Come on in.”
“How’s Griff?” Reese glanced around in search of him. “Have you talked to him yet?”
She nodded. “He’s taking it hard. He didn’t know his father well enough to know the kind of man he really was and I’m not going to destroy his illusions.”
“Where is he?”
“Upstairs in his room. Gran’s with him. Would you like a glass of iced tea or something?”
He nodded. “Iced tea sounds good. I know the timing’s rotten, but we need to talk.”
“I know.” They headed for the kitchen and Reese sat down at the round white pedestal table while she went to the refrigerator and took out a pitcher of tea. Even in his expensive suit, he didn’t look the least bit out of place in her compact kitchen.
Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
Kenzie set two tall, frosty glasses on the table and took a seat across from him. Since she had no idea what to say, she took a sip of tea.
Reese’s beautiful blue eyes settled on her face. “I need to know about the gun,” he said softly.
Kenzie wasn’t surprised. Reese had risked himself to help her, but in return he wanted answers. And he wouldn’t settle for anything but the truth.
“As odd as it sounds, Lee had my revolver in his house. I bought it for self-defense after I graduated from college and got my first job. The neighborhood I was living in wasn’t that great. My dad had always had firearms, so he taught me to shoot it.”
“Are your parents still alive?”
