The Victorian-era ranch came into view as she drove up the long driveway. Such a beautiful old house, well-loved and maintained, surrounded by trees and graced with a gorgeous view of the mountains. She thought back to the conversations she and Carla had the other day. Looking at this view, was there any question at all why Kyle would want to establish his business here?
But the money… Always follow the money.
She pushed away her doubts. Arden was a good woman who would never get caught up in a cartel. The idea nearly made her laugh. And she wouldn’t want to marry someone who did.
Would she?Sylvie also knew how much this ranch, which had been in her family for generations, meant to her. How far would she go to keep it? It had been built by her great-great-great grandmother, a notorious Old West madame and rumored cattle rustler. Not that Arden had a criminal bone in her body, but.
Sylvie shook her head. “Thisis why I’m a cop, Chewie. I never stop asking questions. I need to work on my trust issues. Innocent until proven guilty.”
The dog yawned. He was used to her talking to him about dumb human things that didn’t involve treats and chew toys.
“Now, I just need to figure out our living situation, buddy. Looks like I’m apartment-hunting as of tomorrow until I can get the house on the market. Or maybe an Airbnb.” She was tired just thinking about having to move, but she saw no other choice. They wanted her out, so out she’d go, and she’d hope to find a friendlier neighborhood.
“Well, I did all right the first time around with finding Mom and Dad, didn’t I?”
She parked her cruiser beside a couple of rentals and a Watchdog SUV on the wide apron in front of the house. Alex would be coming after he finished up work. She squared her shoulders and prepared to act neutral when he got there.
“There you are,” Arden greeted her at the door. “I thought I heard a car pull up, so I checked the cameras.”
“I’m a little hard to miss.” She pointed over her shoulder at the cruiser.
Arden laughed. “True. Come on in. You’re off-duty now, right? We have wine.”
“Sounds lovely. Lead the way.”
They walked through the house out to the wide back deck overlooking a horse barn that also housed alpacas, cats, goats and who knew what else. She kept chickens too—and of course, Camo ruled the entire spread.
“I just love this place,” Sylvie told Arden. “I’ve loved it since the first time I saw it as a girl when George and Cynthia brought me to one of your folks’ Christmas parties. It was like a magical house in a snow globe.”
Arden covered her heart. “Thank you.” Her smile beamed. “I’ve always thought this place was at her best at Christmas after a snowstorm, with all the twinkling lights and the decorated trees. It was always my job to put the blue star on the top of the outdoor tree in the backyard.”
Then her expression dimmed and Sylvie remembered everything Arden had lost over the last few years. She gripped her hand on impulse. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
Arden squeezed back. “Not at all. Last Christmas would have been the worst, until Kyle came along. I wasn’t even going to decorate. I still have no idea what made him go up into the attic and surprise me with the decorations. He gave Christmas back to me.” Her gaze crossed the deck to her fiancé beside the grill talking to some of his buddies.
“Sylvie, glad you could make it,” Rachael said from one of the chairs around a table already heaped with food and bottles of wine. Caroline was there, along with another woman who looked familiar but Sylvie couldn’t place her.
Rachael patted an empty chair beside her. “Come sit and tell us stories.”
The other woman laughed. “Yes, please, she’s been mining the rest of us for song ideas, now it’s your turn.” She stood as Sylvie and Arden approached the table. “I’m Harper.” She extended her hand for Sylvie to shake. Now she knew who the woman was. Harper had been at the center of a very public, very ugly divorce. If it hadn’t been for Watchdog, it would have ended her life. Now she was engaged to one of the bodyguards who had saved her.
“Don’t tell Sylvie that, you’ll scare her away,” Rachael told Harper as she laughed.
“No worries, I don’t scare easily,” Sylvie reassured her as she sat down. “I imagine I can tell you a few stories, but I have to keep tight-lipped about ongoing investigations.”
“Caroline mentioned that you’re as big a fan of dogs as Kyle and Alex.” Rachael took a sip of her wine while Arden poured Sylvie a glass.
Caroline nodded. “She’s taking those classes for the K9 Unit.”
“I am. And, well, it looks like I’m in.” Sylvie couldn’t help herself.
“Congratulations!” Caroline raised her glass and the others followed. “Here’s to you.” They clinked glasses and drank.
“I owe it to Alex for being a fantastic teacher and for bailing me out when Chewie and I needed him.” She quickly told them about her housing situation. Their smiles turned to frowns.
“That’s just awful,” Caroline said. “There is nothing worse than being pushed around.”
“Who’s pushing you around, Ice?” Wolf came up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her from behind before planting a kiss on the top of her head. “Nobody at this table.” He gave them all a fierce, protective smile that let them know that as far as he was concerned, anybody who loved his wife was also under his care. But Caroline was at the tip-top of his list.
