“Then why are you worried?” Paris wanted to know.
Because the sexy leopard-print panties Paris had brought into the yard last night connected him to someone else entirely. Someone he’d promised Paris he’d never mention again. “I’m afraid that Moretti woman got hold of them. That she’ll try to make more of them than she should.”
“How could she do that?”
He preferred not to go into detail. Paris was already a nervous wreck. And that hang-up call last night certainly hadn’t helped. “She’s convinced I’m guilty. She might even try to say they belonged to April.”
“That can be proven one way or another. If they were ever worn, there’s DNA on those panties, like in the movies, right?”
“That’s why I’ve got to get them back.” He’d said more than he wanted to, so he concentrated on stirring his coffee.
“What if she has them? She was inside the yard while we were arguing. She could’ve heard about the panties, decided to steal them.”
If she’d heard about the panties, she could also have heard Julia’s name…. “You would’ve had to drop them for that to happen. Did you?”
She blinked rapidly as she struggled to remember. “I don’t know. I was so upset. I—I wasn’t worried that someone might find them. I—”
“When’s the last time you saw them?” He broke in to keep her focused so she wouldn’t fall apart.
“In your office.”
“I checked there.”
Nonplussed, she shook her head. “Then they have to be in the yard.”
“Son of a bitch.” Setting his cup aside, Butch grabbed his truck keys off the hook.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I need to take care of some business.”
She grabbed him by the arm. “What kind of business?”
“Let me go.”
“You’re not going to confront that Francesca woman…”
“I have to. Don’t you understand? I need to get those panties back before she hands them off to someone else. It might be too late already.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry. I’ll be home as soon as I can. If your parents ask, tell them Dean’s watching the yard. He should be able to handle it for a couple of hours.”
“Butch?”
He turned.
“If only you’d quit like you promised.”
He wished he had, wished he could. What compelled him to do what he did? He’d asked himself that since he was a boy, but he was just…different, and there didn’t seem to be anything he could do to make himself normal. “I’m sorry.”
“Be careful,” she said. Then she closed her eyes and her lips moved in what looked like a silent prayer, but Butch knew prayers wouldn’t save them. He’d never been acquainted with any god, couldn’t believe one existed. Even if there was some deity that took a benevolent interest in humankind, he wouldn’t protect Butch’s family. Not with the life Butch had lived. Not with the things he’d done. Butch had to take care of his own.
With a wave, he headed for the door.
“When will we be able to put it all behind us?” she whispered from the entrance to the kitchen.
He paused to look back at her, and gave her the same empty promise he’d given ever since she’d first caught him cheating. “Soon. Real soon.”
“It won’t end, Butch. It’ll never end, will it.”
“Sure it will.” Flinching at the tears in her eyes, evidence of pain he’d caused, he stepped out on the porch, where he stood gazing down at his son.
“Look, Daddy!” A grin spread across Champ’s face as he held up his Corvette. “This car goes fast.”
“That’s a cool car,” Butch agreed. He knew in that instant that he wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever he had to, but another voice interrupted him before he could leave the porch.
“Going somewhere?”
Butch jerked his head around to see Dean standing in the shade of the overhang near the empty dog run. “What are you doing out here?” he asked. “You’re supposed to be in the yard.”
“Don’t worry. I’m keeping an eye on things.”
“Not the things you’re supposed to.”
His smile grew faintly mocking. “For now, I’m keeping an eye on you.”
“Be careful with that,” Butch warned.
Straightening his frail, slim body, Dean pulled a woman’s thong from behind his back and twirled it around his finger. “Don’t worry. Your secrets are safe with me.”
Francesca watched Jonah from her driveway as he moved his luggage into his rental car. “I guess this is goodbye,” she said.
Jonah wondered how quickly he could arrange a flight. If he didn’t do it fast, he might change his mind. “I guess so.”
“I never dreamed I’d see you again. Let alone kiss you,” she added.
“Yeah, well, that kiss could’ve turned into a lot more,” he teased. “My mistake.”
“Actually, you did the right thing.”
“Why’s that?”
“It taught me something about you.”
“Like…”
“You’re not all bad.”
“Is that meant to be a compliment?” he said with a laugh.
“Yes. I appreciate all you’ve done.” She held up her injured arm. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
“You’re welcome.” He bent his head in farewell as he took his keys from his pocket, but she surprised him by closing the distance between them and putting her arms around him.
“It was good to see you again,” she murmured.
He wanted to apologize to her, to finally let her know how guilty he felt about what he’d done when they were together. She seemed more open now. He thought she might allow him that opportunity, might actually believe him this time. But a blue van pulled up at that moment, and Adriana got out.
“Hi.” She fidgeted with her keys while glancing from Francesca to him. She looked a lot different than when he’d seen her before. With her hair curled and her makeup on, she’d obviously gone to some trouble to clean up. Jonah wished he didn’t get the impression she’d done it for him, but that old feeling came over him, the one he remembered from ten years ago, and it had the same suffocating effect.
Francesca’s smile tightened as she released him and moved away. “Hi. What’s up?”