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I shake my head. “It’s okay. This is all my fault.”
“How is it your fault?” Austin asks.
Carly pokes him. “Mind your business.”
Austin widens his eyes, obviously just catching on. “Oh.”
Okay, so they don’t know. Correction—theydidn’tknow. They do now. Clearly Miles didn’t mention “us” to his family. Can’t say I blame him, after I couldn’t bring myself to tell Mark the truth at first.
If he’s not interested in more, telling his brothers about one amazing night with me wasn’t necessary. Or maybe he doesn’t kiss and tell, which is good, but his abrupt departure from the table means he’s still pissed. Either way, I’m in big trouble.
I plunk back down into my seat, feeling defeated. “Tell me how to fix this.”
“We don’t know our brother that well yet, Sadie,” Chance says. “But youarea detective on a case that involves our land. Us.”
“Yeah. But I don’t for a minute think any of you were involved. He knows that.”
“Your partner seems to think otherwise.” Chance clenches his jaw.
I frown. “He’s trying to be a hard-ass, but he’ll see reason. He’s a good cop…for the most part.”
“For the most part?” Austin raises his eyebrows.
“He goes a little…vigilantesometimes. I mean, it’s pretty slow around this cow town most of the time, so he’s gunning to make an arrest and solve this dead body case. It’s not too often we have one, so it’s a big deal. But he’ll see reason, and the evidence. And if he doesn’t, I’ll go over his head if I have to.”
“To the sheriff?” Austin asks.
I shrug. “Yeah. Or to the mayor. I hate to do it, but the evidence doesn’t support any of you being involved.”
“Thanks.” Chance leans back in his chair. “That means a lot to us. And I promise you that we—my brothers and I—had nothing to do with that poor soul who lost his life somewhere on this ranch. My dad had a lot of enemies. Apparently a lot more than I even knew about.”
“The guy was a dick.” Austin shakes his head. “He knocked up my mother and then left when she found out she was pregnant. He did the same to Miles’s mom. And then he divorced Chance’s eventually as well. We never met or talked to each other until a few weeks ago.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard the story. I’m sorry you all didn’t get to grow up together.”
“We know about each other now,” Chance says. “It was tough going at first, but we’re mellowing.”
Austin huffs out a laugh. Apparentlytoughhas a story or two behind it.
“Can you tell me about Miles? About how he grew up?”
Chance shakes his head. “We’ve met Austin’s mom, but Miles hasn’t shared any of his own details with us.”
Hmmm. That’s interesting. What secrets is Miles Bridger hiding, if any? And are they why he was so quick to react?
I will find out. I rise again. “I’m going to find him.”
Austin points across the kitchen. “Go out the back door off the kitchen and try the detached garage outside, the first one.”
“Okay. Thanks for dinner. Well, for the bite of salad, anyway.”
“It’ll still be here,” Carly says. “Good luck.”
I smile at her. “Thanks.”
I’ve a feeling I’m going to need it.
11
