FLOWERS and CAGES Page 19

  Instead, he rolled to his feet, stretching his arms over his head as he slowly made his way to the bathroom. A hot shower wasn't the perfect substitute, but it would have to do. He would take his time before joining Colleen. He smiled, picturing her on the balcony she found so intriguing.

  Twenty minutes later, he stood in front of the mirror. With a final swipe of his razor, the last of yesterday's stubble disappeared from his face, swirling down the drain. It had become a daily routine, one he did without thought or hesitation. For a man who had always hated to shave, it was telling. Colleen was a part of his life. A big part. If he had his way, a permanent part. He would do whatever it took to make her feel at home in his world. Protecting her delicate skin might seem like a strange way to go about it. It was a small step in a longer process.

  How to woo a woman by Dalton Shaw. Grinning, he wiped the last of the shaving cream from his face. No. Not a woman. A very specific one. Colleen McNamara. Some of it would be work. Some might not. As corny as it sounded, Dalton wanted all of her. Body, heart, and soul.

  Picking up his pace, Dalton threw on his clothes. As he expected, there was activity in the other room. Ashe was catching up on last night's baseball scores while Ryder's fingers flew over the keyboard of his laptop.

  "Too much testosterone." Passing by, Dalton slapped Ashe on the shoulder. Finding the balcony empty, he called out, "Where are the women?"

  "Before we fell asleep, Quinn mentioned that she planned on joining Zoe in the gym. I assume they took Colleen with them."

  It sounded reasonable. Except for one thing. Zoe always worked out at the crack of dawn. No matter what.

  "How long have you been up?"

  Annoyed by the distraction, Ryder shifted his focus to the timestamp on the computer screen.

  "Eleven o'clock? That can't be right. I was fiddling with this new music program and lost track of time. Ashe? Do remember what time I started?"

  "Nine thirty. Don't panic." Ashe sounded like the voice of reason, but he was the one jumping to his feet. "When did Colleen leave?"

  Frowning, Dalton shook his head.

  "Ryder? Did you see Quinn this morning?"

  "She was gone when I woke up."

  "Check Zoe's room," Dalton called to Ashe, already headed to his.

  Nothing was missing. Colleen's suitcase was in the closet. The dress she wore last night, flung over the chair where it landed after he pulled it off her. He tried to remember what she had packed. Not much. They weren't staying more than one night. Jeans? Sneakers? They were gone. So was her purse.

  Ashe returned to the living room, shaking his head. "Zoe's room looks like it did when we checked in. I swear. That woman is freakishly neat."

  "Quinn's camera bag is gone. Nothing odd about that. She takes it everywhere except the bathroom. Clothing wise, her workout stuff is all that's missing."

  "Call them."

  "Are we overacting?" Ashe asked, dialing Zoe's number.

  "Better safe than sorry is a cliché for a reason." Dalton paced as he listened to Colleen's phone ring. He stopped when it went straight to voicemail.

  "Hey, Red. Just checking in. Give me a call as soon as you get the chance."

  Ashe hung up after leaving a message for Zoe. "Considering the way you're clutching your phone, that sounded impressively calm."

  "Ryder?"

  "Same here. Voicemail."

  Ryder picked up the hotel phone. Just his luck. The night staff working the front desk went off shift at nine o'clock. The woman currently on duty was certain the women hadn't passed her way. She was a huge fan. If Zoe Hart were nearby, she would have noticed.

  "Can you check to see if Zoe's car is still in the parking lot?"

  "Right away, Mr. Shaw." There was a short pause while the woman used a different line. "According to our records, she had the car brought around just before six this morning."

  "Five hours ago."

  Dalton hung up. He had tried to tell himself that Ashe was right. In all likelihood, they were overreacting. So what if all three women were out. And not answering their phones. Or had bothered to leave a note. Zoe driving off in her car was no big deal. But at six in the morning? Damn it. What was going on?

  A familiar ringtone filled the room. The opening notes to the song Ryder wrote for Quinn. Relief showed on Ryder's face as he answered.

  "Hello, beautiful." Dalton admired his friend's ability to play it cool. "I missed you this morning." There was a long pause. Ryder's expression quickly morphed from relief to disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you do that?"

  "Do what?" Dalton demanded. "Is she with Colleen and Zoe?"

  "They are in Arizona."

  "What the—" Dalton snatched the phone. "Let me talk to Colleen."

  "She's fine, Dalton." Quinn sounded breezy, as though this was a conversation they had every day. "A bit of business popped up. Rather than bother you, Zoe and I offered to keep her company. Sort of a girl's day out."

  "In Midas, Arizona? You know that isn't going to fly, Quinn. Where is Colleen?"

  "Talking with her mother. Lovely woman."

  "You are in Midas?"

  Ashe cursed. Ryder paced. Dalton wanted to smash something into a million pieces. This was why he took up the drums.

  "We made excellent time." Quinn tried to keep it light, but she was starting to rush. "Zoe and her heavy foot. Somehow, we sailed through without getting stopped. Colleen called it good karma. I have to go, Dalton."

  "Quinn. Don't you dare hang up."

  "Tell Ryder I'll talk to him soon. We may stay overnight. Bye."

  "Son of a bitch."

  Handing Ryder the phone, Dalton opened the balcony door, walked to the rail, gripping it tightly with both hands. Taking a deep breath, he let out a blood-curdling yell. Finished, he breathed in and out before returning to the hotel room.

  "Feel better?" Ashe asked.

  "Not even a little. I never thought I would say this again. I need to get to Midas. Right away."

  "The plane will take us to Phoenix. Less than an hour." Ryder checked his wallet before placing it in his back pocket. "I called Alden. All I said was that we would be out of town for a couple of days."

  "That must have gone over well." Their manager was notoriously overprotective. Especially where Ryder was concerned.

  "Alden's hurt feelings are the least of my worries."

  "I can't believe they drove to Midas. And without letting anybody know." Ashe shook his head, right beside them as they left the hotel room.

  Dalton didn't ask if Ashe was coming. It didn't occur to him. It was what family did. The elevator descended quickly, stopping once to pick up a man and woman. They were almost to the lobby when his phone rang. Praying it was Colleen, he looked at the screen. Well, shit. Definitely not Colleen.

  "When it rains, it pours."

  "Who is it?" Ryder glanced over Dalton's shoulder.

  "My sister."

  Any other time, Dalton wouldn't have bothered. The last thing he needed was another tear-filled plea for mercy. Or an attempt to lay on a thick layer of guilt. Maggie was in Midas—so was Colleen. It was the only reason he answered.

  "Dalton? I need you."

  "I don't have time for this, Maggie. Have you seen Colleen?"

  "Dalton. I—" There was a catch in her throat. One Dalton had heard a thousand times. "He hit me."

  "Your husband?" Dalton found that hard to believe. He found anything Maggie said hard to believe. But he couldn't ignore what she was saying.

  "Not Norris. He would never…"

  The elevator doors opened. Following Ryder and Ashe through the lobby and out the doors, Dalton slid into the back of Ryder's waiting car.

  "Who hit you, Maggie?"

  That got his friend's attention. Ryder glanced back as he hit the gas. From the front seat, Ashe sent him a worried look.

  "It was Collier Langley."

  Dalton closed hi
s eyes, running a hand over his mouth. It just got shittier and shittier.

  "Are you at home?" Dalton had no idea why he sounded so calm. How he was holding it together.

  "Yes."

  "Stay there. I'm on my way."

  "What the hell?" Ryder zipped through traffic with the skill of a trained stuntman. "Do you believe her?"

  "Do I believe somebody hit Maggie? Yes."

  "Collier?" Ashe looked as sick as Dalton felt.

  Dalton thought about it. He couldn't rule out that Maggie was telling him the truth. Why, was another matter. It felt wrong. Too convenient considering the history between him and Collier Langley.

  "I guess we'll find out." Dalton took a deep breath, pounding his fist into the seat. "Goddamn Midas, Arizona."

  WINCING, COLLEEN HELD the phone away from her ear. Modern technology had its upside. Getting a tongue lashing over voicemail did not qualify.

  "Wow," Zoe said, swallowing her bite of greasy hamburger. "I don't think I've ever heard Dalton go off like that. His temper tends to be a bit more controlled."

  "This town has that effect on people." Colleen sighed. She knew she should call Dalton. Even a text would be a step in the right direction. Instead, she put her phone back into her purse. Out of sight, out of mind. My ass.

  "It isn't Midas that has him bellowing like a blue-balled bull. Take credit where credit is due, Colleen."

  "Blue-balled bull?" Quinn snorted as she covered her fries in a layer of salt and pepper. "Good one, Zoe."

  With a self-satisfied smile, Zoe took a sip of Coke. The hard stuff. No diet or caffeine-free for her. "I liked it."

  "Dalton is pissed." Colleen felt too justified in her motivation to feel an ounce of guilt. However, not being a fool, she wasn't looking forward to their next meeting.

  Quinn looked at her watch. "I give them an ETA of between three and four o'clock."

  "That soon?" Colleen finished off the last of her turkey club.

  "Delays happen. Don't bank on it."

  Nothing out of the ordinary had occurred since they arrived in Midas. Colleen didn't know what she had expected. Booby traps around every corner. Collier Langley—or some goon he hired to do his dirty work—firebombing Colleen's car? Nothing. Unless she counted waiting at the police station while the paperwork concerning her burned-out car was ready to sign.

  "I appreciate the company, but the two of you could have saved yourselves a trip. This looks like it is going to be pretty routine."

  "Maybe it's routine because we are with you?" Quinn wiped her mouth, tossing the napkin into the trash can across the room. Swish. Nothing but net. "If the point was for you and Dalton to ride into town alone, Zoe and I put a major crimp in the plan."

  "And if burning my car was nothing more than childish retaliation?"

  "I get the chance to see Midas and find out what all the fuss is about."

  Colleen waited, eyebrows raised. Quinn shrugged.

  "I don't get it. I've driven through dozens of towns just like this one. The vibe is the same. It's a small town."

  "You know the term walk a mile in my shoes? Try living here for over ten years. There is an undercurrent that can't be picked up in a few hours."

  "We stayed after Dalton was arrested." Zoe tapped her foot, the toe of her bright blue running shoe knocking against the metal desk they used as a dining table. "Colleen is right. This town is creepy weird."

  "Everybody looks so normal."

  "Exactly." Colleen and Zoe answered at the same time with the same word. Eyes meeting, they laughed. Quinn joined in.

  "Now isn't that a nice sound." Sheriff Gil Lott sauntered out of his office. Middle aged, with a full head of artificially enhanced jet black hair and an increasing waistline, the sheriff liked to think of himself as a lady's man. There were ladies in Midas who would agree. Others, including Gil's wife, had a less favorable opinion. "I can't recall ever hearing you laugh, Colleen. These lovely ladies must be a good influence."

  "You don't walk around town yucking it up?" Zoe's blue eyes were cool as she spoke to Colleen but looked at the sheriff. "Shame on you."

  "Gil Lott." All smarmy charm, he took Zoe's limp hand in his, raising it to his lips. Zoe tugged free before he could complete the kiss. Undeterred, Gil's smile didn't slip. "And you are."

  "Zoe Hart. We've met."

  Without being asked, Quinn handed over a tube of hand sanitizer. Zoe squirted a large portion into her palm. Holding the sheriff's gaze, she deliberately rubbed in the clear liquid, concentrating on the patches where his fingers touched hers.

  Gil either didn't understand the insult or was too busy trying to figure out how he and Zoe were acquainted.

  "Hart?" Gil frowned. Suddenly, the confusion in his expression cleared, replaced by a trace of unease. "As in…"

  "You interviewed me after the unjustified arrest of Dalton Shaw. Though at the time it was Deputy Lott. Nice promotion."

  Gil retreated several steps. He looked nervous. "He was convicted of the crime."

  "You say potato… I say railroaded."

  "Now, see here—"

  "Sheriff."

  Colleen stood, putting herself between what was gearing up to be a battle of words. Zoe was packing all the ammunition, but it was a war she couldn't win. Like it or not, ten years ago the court sent Dalton to prison. There was no changing the past. Pissing off a man who carries a gun—and was authorized to use it—was not the best use of their time.

  "Why are you here, Colleen?" Gil kept a wary eye on Zoe.

  "My car was set on fire. Remember?"

  "That hasn't been determined. The investigation is ongoing."

  "Somebody broke into the garage attached to my apartment. Hauled my car away. And what? It magically caught on fire while sitting in the grocery store parking lot? I saw what was left of it, Sheriff. That was no accident."

  "Perhaps you aren't as great a mechanic as you like us all to believe. Faulty electricals could be the cause. Either way, it will be several days until we can say for sure."

  "That isn't what Officer Brinkley told my mother. Or me when I called from her house. I was told the paperwork for me to give my insurance company was ready for me to sign." Colleen looked at her watch. "That was over an hour ago."

  "You were misinformed. Go home. Someone will call you."

  With one last slit-eyed glance at Zoe, the sheriff strode into his office, shutting the door with a decisive click.

  "What do you want to do?" Quinn laid a hand on her shoulder. "Head out or wait for the guys?"

  "Leave."

  "But?" Zoe stood, adjusting her purse across her body.

  "I feel like something is in the air. Besides the usual miasma of sweat and discontent."

  Quinn breathed in as they left the police station. "That's a charming—and sadly accurate—description."

  "I hope I'm wrong. But if there any is any information to be had, there's only one place in town to go."

  "Where is that?" Zoe hit the remote, unlocking the car.

  "Get ready to be buffed within an inch of your life. Next stop, gossip central. Or as my mother likes to call it, The Curl and Swirl.

  "Lord help us," Zoe muttered.

  With a slightly concerned frown, Quinn checked her cuticles. "Amen to that."

  THE FLIGHT TO Phoenix gave Dalton plenty of time to brood. And think. Logically, he understood what Colleen was doing—with the help of Zoe and Quinn. She wanted to protect him. Which meant she cared. If they were in Los Angeles, he would be celebrating.

  That was where logic ended, and the unreasonable Neanderthal that lurked inside of every man took over. Colleen attempted to flip the natural process of things. Dalton did the protecting—the saving. Not the other way around.

  "Do you ever wish women were less…?"

  "Let me save you a shitload of grief, my brother. Never think, let alone speak that sentence again. And whatever you do. Never, ever finish it." Ryd
er laughed at Dalton's sour expression. "Ignore my advice and spend the rest of your days taking solace in the arms of lesser women. A strong woman is the only way to go. Frustrating? Sure. Worth it? You bet your ass."

  "What are you smirking for?" Dalton tossed his empty water bottle at Ashe who easily swatted it away. "Just wait. Your time will come."

  "Bimbos, my friends. They are tons of fun without the work."

  "When did you ever date a bimbo?" Dalton got past Ashe's defenses with a wadded napkin. Bam. Right in the kisser.

  "When did he ever date?" Ryder asked, crossing his arms.

  "None of us date."

  There was no comeback for that. Ashe was right. Until Quinn, Ryder's relationships rarely lasted more than a long weekend. Dalton couldn't claim anything different.

  "I guess there wasn't time." Dalton hadn't thought anything of it before now. "We were building our careers. Either on the road or in the studio. Downtime meant fun and games."

  "I'm happy for you. Both of you." Ashe looked at his friends with complete sincerity. "Do me a favor? Don't turn into those guys. Now that you are happy and settling down, don't start pushing me to do the same. If the day ever comes when I meet the love of my life, let it happen naturally."

  For the first time that day, Dalton laughed. It was more of a surprised bark, but it qualified.

  "Care to share the joke?" Ryder asked.

  "You won't like it."

  "When has that ever stopped you?"

  "Fine." Dalton shrugged. "What about Zoe's love life?"

  Ashe's snort turned into a cough when he met Ryder's glare. "It's a fair question, Ryder. We talk a lot about women. The ones we have slept with. Are sleeping with. Want to sleep with. I know she's your sister—our sister. But all this conversation about Quinn, Colleen, and my maybe sweetheart? Not one of us thought about Zoe finding a man."

  "I want Zoe to be happy," Ryder insisted. "Her love life is not something I want to think—or talk—about."

  Dalton agreed. Still, Zoe listened to their crap, but who listened to hers? In all the years they had known each other, he was embarrassed to say this was the first time he had contemplated the question. She was so self-sufficient. Strong. At least, that was how it seemed.