“Because some quarters are idiots.”

Red and the apple/pill-chewing horse eyed each other. “Plenty of idiots in this old world. And I got another on that. I think she likes it, likes thinking she’s tormenting Cate, and the rest of them, too. I don’t see her giving that up.”

Dillon thought it over while they fed, watered, medicated.

“What if it’s not her? Could Sparks pull this off?”

“I don’t underestimate what Sparks could pull off.” And Red believed wholeheartedly he had the scar to prove it. “I don’t know what it gains him, but if there’s an angle to it for him, I think he’d find a way.”

They started the rubdowns, adding the scent of insect repellant to the mix in the air.

“He has reason to want to hurt her, just like it said on the phone. She didn’t do what she was told, and he got caught.”

“Then I guess we’ll keep looking out for her.”

Red glanced over, watched Dillon run his hands down a gelding’s foreleg.

“You’re what I’d call more conventional in some areas than your grandmother and me.”

The statement brought out a grin as Dillon worked. “About everyone of my acquaintance is more conventional than Gram and you.”

“That’s why I’ve been crazy about her for going on twenty-five years now. You know she’s got me rolling the yarn she’s making. I’m trying to watch the ball game last night, and I’m rolling yarn like some pigtailed little girl in a pinafore.”

“Well, that’s a look,” Dillon murmured.

“Listen, Dil, I’m not your father, your grandfather, but—”

Turning his head, Dillon met Red’s eyes directly. “You’ve been the next best thing on both of those scores most of my life.”

“Well then, I’m going to ask you straight out. Are you going to ask Caitlyn to marry you?”

Dillon coated a hind leg, moved around the back of the horse to the next side in a way Red never felt quite easy about doing himself.

“In due time.”

“You’ve been in love with her for a while now.”

“I more than half believe since I was twelve.”

Red walked around his horse on the front side. “I think you’re right about that. Any reason you’re waiting now?”

“She’d say no now. She’d feel bad about it, but she’d say no. I don’t see any reason to make her feel bad, so I can wait until she’ll say yes.”

“And you’ll know when that is.”

“Pretty sure I will. She’s got tells.”

“I never could beat you at poker, even when you were a kid. What tells?”

Dillon moved on to the next horse. “She’s got a few. One’s the bracelet—the one she wears a lot. She rubs on it when she’s anxious.”

“I’ve seen that.”

“If she thinks she’ll be anxious or nervous, she makes sure to wear it. She curses under her breath in foreign languages when she’s frustrated. I don’t know the language, but I know a curse when I hear it. When she’s going to take a big step, she’ll have that bracelet on. She might mumble under her breath something I don’t understand, but it’s not curses. It’s more like I’d say a mantra.”

Dillon coated the horse, taking his time, being thorough.

“So I’ll know when.”

“I’m going to bet you will.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

As they had for Lily’s departure, Cate and Hugh stood together outside waiting for her return.

“Any minute now.” Cate checked her watch, calculated the time since Lily’s text on landing. “Even with the traffic.”

“She’s bringing perfect weather with her. The air’s bell clear. She’ll want to walk around the gardens after being cooped up in the plane and the car all day.”

“They’ve never looked better. Then she’ll want a martini on the seaside terrace or up on the bridge.”

“Most definitely.” He slid an arm around Cate’s waist. “We know our girl.”

“We do. Oh, that’s the gate. I heard the gate. I wish we’d hired a brass band!”

“I wish I’d thought of it. She’d love it. There she is.”

They watched the limo, sleek and black, round a turn below. “Now I’ll have my two best girls home.”

The limo wound its way up, slid smoothly to a stop. Cate started to rush forward to open the passenger door herself. And her father stepped out.

“Dad!” Giddy with joy, she ran to him, jumped into his arms. Laughed as he swung her in circles as he had when she was a child. “Oh, what a surprise. What an amazing surprise. I thought you were still in London.”

“I wrapped a couple days ago. Then Lily and I conspired.” He swung her again. “I missed the hell out of you, Catey.”

“Best surprise ever.”

“What am I, chopped liver?”

Cate looked over to where Lily stood, holding hands with Hugh. “The finest pâté, with truffles.” She turned into Lily’s arms, breathed in her scent. “To quote another Sullivan, I missed the hell out of you.”

“Mutual. God, it’s good to be home! Oh, look at your hair! There’s so much of it, and all beautiful. And smell California, feel that air. I love New York, but it was already eighty degrees and humid enough to bathe in when we left this morning. Consuela!”

She swung around, caught the housekeeper in an enthusiastic hug.

“Welcome home, Miss Lily. Welcome home, Mr. Aidan.”

“It’s so good to be home. To see you.”

“I will see all the bags are taken in. Mr. Aidan, your room is ready.”

“You knew?” Cate demanded.

Consuela simply zipped a finger over her lips, mimed turning a key.

“You’re a treasure among treasures, Consuela,” Lily told her, and left her to supervise the unloading.

“Did you?” Cate pointed at her grandfather.

“Not a hint. I married a sneaky woman.” He embraced his son. “Stay awhile, will you?”

“I’m planning on it. You look very fit. I’d say Cate’s been taking good care of you.”

“If she’s not dragging me into the gym every morning, it’s into the pool. Water aerobics of all things.”

“That I want to see.” Lily rolled her shoulders. “But right now these legs need to walk off hours in a plane.”

“We’ll catch up,” Cate said when Hugh lifted Lily’s hand to his lips, when they started to walk away. “Give them a little room,” she murmured to her father. “It’s nice to see people in love after a couple of decades together.”

“And it gives me a little room with you.” Aidan took her hand in turn. “How’s my girl?”

“Happy. Even happier right now.”

“Water aerobics?”

“They’re tougher than you think, but you’ll find out tomorrow when you report at eight a.m., poolside. Everybody into the pool.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m giving you and Lily a small break while your body clocks adjust. Grandpa’s an early riser. We usually start at seven-thirty. I’m a working girl, you know.”