Page 86 of The Texas Ranger: Saddled Up
“I understand.” Grimes stood and held out his hand.
“I want to say I’m sorry too, for accusing you of having a thing for Aasia.”
With a limp shrug, Grimes nodded. “She’s beautiful but that is furthest from the truth.”
After staring at the offering for a second, Bear stood and shook Grimes’ hand. “All the shit is under the bridge. I wish you luck with Phoebe and the baby, whatever you two decide.”
Once the door shut behind Grimes, Bear fell back into bed and dragged Aasia’s pillow into a hug. He inhaled her scent and felt his heart kick up in speed. He missed her, and he’d never missed another human a day in his life. She’d managed to crawl under his skin and had awakened parts of him he never knew he had. And he wasn’t mad.
Swiping his phone off the nightstand, he started to reach out to Aasia, but a text from Echo paused Bear.
“MedLabOne’s accountant manager, Deacon Clark, was found dead earlier. Shot in the chest, I thought you should know.”
Bear bounced off the bed and stared at his phone.
Who the hell would want to shoot the manager? Bear’s mind wandered back to the conversation he heard between Fletcher and Clark at the gala. It had been tense and full of anger. Could Fletcher have killed Clark?
Bear had a few theories he needed to check out.
He started for the shower when his phone rang. It was a number he didn’t recognize.
Clicking “talk” he said, “Yeah?”
“Hi, Bear! It’s Phoebe. I have a favor to ask.”
Chapter Thirty
Pink.
Everything pink. And frilly. Like a five-year-old girl decorated.
The color pink had barfed on every inch of the farmhouse living room.
Except for the dress her mother was wearing. It was not pink. It was red and very flirtatious. The tight-fitting number showed off Anne’s heavy bosom and hourglass figure.
“Surprise! Happy birthday!” Everyone yelled and clapped their hands as they stepped out from their hiding place in the hallway.
Aasia glided her gaze from the happy faces of her mother, Phoebe, Pedora, Tansy, CaDee, Margo, Ursula, and a man. A man Aasia had never met before. He had to be Harvey.
“Oh. Wow! You got me.” Aasia allowed her take out Chinese bag to slip out of her hand as she met Bear’s tight smile who was standing next to her. “Were you in on this?” she whispered.
“Don’t hate me.” His smile was forced.
“What do you think?” Anne rushed forward. Apparently, she’d already started the party in a tumbler filled with a cocktail.
“This is…wild?” Aasia monitored her words. She thought her mother had forgotten her birthday. Truthfully, Aasia would have given just about anything to have a party like this at eight, maybe even at ten, but not at thirty-one.
Anne’s mouth tapered at the corners. She looked concerned, which could only be considered foreign for her. But it didn’t last long. “There’s someone I want you to meet. “Baby, come here.” She called to the man who was a stranger among Aasia’s friends and family. She grabbed his elbow and dragged him over. He stood there, awkwardly, holding his paper plate and fork like it was a wand. “Aasia, Harvey. We’re getting married.” Anne flashed her left hand. A small diamond twinkled from her fourth finger.
From what Aasia could recall, this was the first time one of her mother’s “fiancé’s” had put a ring on her finger. This was a start.
“Nice to meet you, Harvey. This is Bear. My friend,” Aasia said.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Anne said in a flirtatious tone. She always could be a full-blown, lip-stained, overly perfumed problem. She looked up at Bear with an innocent gaze that didn’t fool anyone. “I had no clue that Aasia had a boyfriend until Phoebe told me.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Aasia muttered.
Anne’s thin brow arched. “Well, if he’s not, he definitely should be.”
