Behind the bar, dozens of bottles of alcohol rested on clear-glass shelves: Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Stolichnaya, Beluga Gold, Grey Goose, Sapphire, Bombay, Cuervo, Patron, and dozens of others, all beautifully illuminated by lighting below each shelf.
Cain rose as Jenny approached. In crisp blue jeans, white shirt, and a brown tweed sport coat perfectly tailored to his broad-shouldered, V-shaped body, he looked yummy.
He turned to her, a faint smile on his lips, reminding her of what had happened in his room last night. Desire clenched low in her belly. Faraday also stood up, distracting her, thank God.
Cain reached for Jenny’s hand and pulled her toward him, leaned in, and brushed a light kiss on her cheek.
“You remember Nick?” The detective was black-haired and good-looking, with a keen intelligence in his intense blue eyes.
“Of course. Nice to see you, Nick.”
“You, too, Jenny.”
Cain seated her in the chair next to his, and the bartender appeared at the table. Cain and Nick already had rocks glasses in front of them. Cain drank Johnny Walker Black.
“I’ll have what Cain’s drinking,” Jenny said. Whiskey not wine. Cain’s mouth edged up. By now, he knew she was different from the other women he’d dated. He would get used to it. Or not.
He turned back to Nick. “Where were we?”
“We were talking about the last stolen horse being found.”
“Where?” Jenny asked.
“The gelding was running loose in a rancher’s field east of Phoenix,” Nick said. “Which only leaves Sun King and makes it clear the theft of the other horses was just a distraction. Stealing Cain’s stallion wasn’t only about money. I believe it was personal.”
Jenny’s spine straightened, but Cain remained calm.
Nick continued, “Clearly, you have an enemy willing to go to great lengths to hurt you.”
“I’ve made millions of dollars in the years since I found that molybdenum deposit. Success breeds enemies. That’s just the way it is.”
“I need a list of anyone and everyone who would go this far to steal something from you.”
Cain laughed. “Let’s see, should I start with my housekeeper in Scottsdale? She steals the toilet paper every time she cleans my house.”
Nick did not see the humor. “I hardly think that’s the same. Sun King’s worth half a million dollars. He’s a horse you want to breed. Whoever stole him wants you to feel it.”
Cain took a drink of his whiskey. “All right, I’ll get you that list.”
“Soon,” Nick said, rising from his chair. He downed the last of his drink and set the glass on the table. “We have no idea how far this guy is willing to go.” He flicked a glance at Jenny. “There might be other things he’d be willing to do in order to get to you.”
Cain’s jaw went ironhard. He nodded. “I’ll have it for you by the end of the day.”
* * *
Back in his suite, Cain sat down in front of the computer in his study, and Jenny walked up behind him. Resting her hands on his shoulders, she dug her fingers into the taut muscles, kneading the tension away. Unfortunately, the feel of her small hands working him over had the opposite effect, and arousal slipped through him, making him hard.
He forced himself to concentrate on the list he was trying to make.
“Do you even know where to start?” Jenny asked.
Cain eyed her over his shoulder. “What? You think I stepped on so many people trying to make money, I can’t even remember their names?”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Just the opposite. You’re a man of integrity, Cain. I saw that right away. I wouldn’t be interested in a guy who hurt other people to get what he wanted.”
Some of his tension eased. Jenny had faith in him. It shouldn’t feel so important, but it did.
“I’m not saying I was a saint. I worked hard. I had to claw my way to the top. I refused to let anyone or anything stand in my way. But I stayed within boundaries. I didn’t destroy other people’s lives to get where I am today. I didn’t lie or steal from them.”
