Seven Sisters - Earlene Fowler [73]
He chuckled. “For her or him?”
“Depends on how I’m feeling that day.”
“Well, you’re thirty years up on me on that grace thing,” he said. “I didn’t comprehend that little fact until I was well past qualifying for Medicare.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Believe it. Wisdom has nothing to do with time served on this earth. In my observance, it’s learning to let go and let a higher power have the control you foolishly thought was under your puny command. Mr. Gabriel Ortiz is a luckier man than he realizes. Hopefully he’ll understand that someday.”
“Well, if he doesn’t, there is always the bullwhip.”
He laughed. “Lordy, I’d never want you mad at me.”
I tucked my arm through his. “You are one special gentleman, Mr. Isaac Lyons, and I was very wise about one thing. Letting you into my life.”
“And next to your gramma, Benni Harper, you are the light of my life.”
I hugged his arm to me. “Ha, gratuitous flattery will get you everywhere with a Ramsey woman.”
“So I’ve discovered.”
“I’m not touching that comment with a ten-foot cattle prod.”
WHEN I ARRIVED home, my lightened mood turned black again when Gabe’s car was still gone. That bullwhip was looking better and better. I was in bed cruising the television stations when he came in at ten forty-five. I heard him call out to me, then listen to the message on the answering machine before turning out the living room lights and coming into the bedroom.
“What’s that sheriff’s detective talking about?” he asked, walking into the bathroom while unbuttoning his shirt. “You are cooperating with him, aren’t you?” When I didn’t answer, his head popped out of the bathroom door. “Benni, I asked you a question.”
“Hello, Gabe. Yes, my day was great. How was yours? Of course I missed you as much as you missed me. I agree, it was such a long day without you. Of course I’ll tell you everything, but, please, you go first.”
He walked back into the bedroom slowly, his head tilted in wariness. “Querida, are you all right? Did something happen today to upset you?” The sight of the dark circles under his tired eyes softened my irritation.
I sighed, climbed out of bed, and went to him, pulling his shirt out of his jeans and running my hands up his warm back. Sarcasm wasn’t going to solve this. “No, Friday, I’m just . . . It’s nothing. I’m fine. You were later than I expected and I got worried.”
“We ended up spending the whole day with Lydia’s mother, and then she wanted to take us out to dinner. After we dropped Sam and Bliss off at JJ’s house, Lydia and I started talking about Sam, and then one thing led to another. I’m sorry. I should have called.”
I pinched his lower back. “Yes, you should have.”
He jerked. “Ow! Okay, okay. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
I laid my cheek on his bare chest, his musky scent so familiar and yet still so mysterious to me.
His hand stroked my hair, and I rubbed my face against his coarse chest hair. “About that message from the detective . . . ” he said.
“I’m cooperating with Detective Hudson as much as I can.”
He grasped my shoulders and held me away from him, staring down into my face. “What’s that mean?”
“Well, I...” I didn’t know how to explain that the detective was asking me to do exactly what Gabe was asking me not to do.
“Benni, it’s one thing when you defy me and get involved in investigations, but please don’t embarrass me in front of another agency. I want you to do whatever Detective Hudson requests of you.”
“But...”
“No buts. I’m too busy right now with Bliss and Sam to be worrying about you. Please, for once, curb your urge to snoop. If you have some information the detective needs, give it to him and then stay out of his way.”
“It’s not what you think, Gabe. Detective Hudson—”
“Has a job to do and doesn’t need you getting in the way. No more discussion. You’ll do as he asks, comprende ?”
“Understood,” I said, my voice cool. I pushed away from him and climbed back in bed.
He joined me a few minutes later. “Sweetheart, let’s not argue. I know I sound like a drill sergeant sometimes . . . ”
“That’s putting it mildly.”