Beneath the Stetson(37)

“A mole?” he asked.

Though both del Toros spoke immaculate English, perhaps the slang did not translate. “An informant. A corporate spy.”

Gabriella wrapped her arms around her waist, her lashes spiky. “We need additional security for my brother, Ms. Collins. Now that the truth has come out, he will have more enemies. And whoever kidnapped him will no doubt realize that he is an extremely valuable asset, a bargaining chip if you will. They may try again.”

“That will be a problem,” Bailey said. “My employers are chronically understaffed.”

Del Toro glared at his daughter. “Money is no object. I will hire bodyguards for Alejandro. And perhaps investigators of my own.”

Bailey was startled to see Gil stand up, his face a thundercloud. “Watch your step, del Toro,” he said, the words low and vibrating with anger. “This woman has spent more hours than you can imagine trying to find out why your son was kidnapped and by whom. You will give her the respect she is due.”

The older man bristled, but he looked at Bailey and waved a hand. “I meant no insult. I am sorry if I gave offense.”

As apologies went, it was weak, but Bailey accepted it at face value. She was stunned by Gil’s impassioned defense of her work. Stunned and deeply touched. But she didn’t need Gil fighting her battles. To allow him to do so would make her look weak.

She stood, gathering her things. “My job and my reputation are very important to me. And I have given my all to this case, though it isn’t necessary for Mr. Addison to point that out.” She scowled at Gil before continuing to address Alex’s presumed family. “I appreciate your cooperation, Mr. del Toro. Ms. del Toro. I will have someone return your identification papers in the next hour or two. I assume you both will be staying with Alex?”

“If he will have us.” Gabriella managed a weak smile.

Her father rose to his feet, as well. “My family will be together. And all of my resources are at your disposal, Ms. Collins. The sooner my son’s attackers are behind bars, the sooner we can return home.”





Eleven



Gil took Bailey’s elbow as they walked across the parking lot. “Well, that was a surprise.”

She nodded, her face troubled. “I felt like I was making definite progress with the investigation up until today, but del Toro’s revelations put things in a whole new light.”

“Does this mean Chance is off the hook?”

“I know you don’t want to think he had anything to do with Alex’s kidnapping. But I learned a long time ago that a surprising number of seemingly nice, normal people are capable of committing terrible sins in the heat of the moment. Chance certainly had motive.”

“Because Cara broke his heart? You don’t know that.”

“True. And he doesn’t act like he has a broken heart. But he could be hiding both his feelings and his guilt.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on the subject of Chance McDaniel,” Gil said as he backed her up against the truck, his hips pinning hers to the door. No one was anywhere around. He bent his head and kissed her, sliding a hand around the back of her neck. “I wanted to stay in bed with you this morning,” he confessed, his heart pumping as arousal brought his erection to full throttle.

Bailey’s brown-eyed gaze clung to his. “I appreciated the privacy and your note. It was awkward enough as it was running into your housekeeper. I felt like I had a scarlet A on my chest.”

He frowned. “Surely she didn’t say anything to embarrass you.” The woman had worked for him almost a decade, but he’d fire her on the spot if she had been rude to Bailey.

“Oh, no. She was lovely. But since you told me you’d never had a woman stay over, I felt extremely conspicuous.”

“My housekeeper is not paid to speculate about my private life.”

“People are human, Gil. She’s probably discreet, because you’re a good employer, but I know she was curious. Anyone would be.”

“Change of subject,” he insisted, kissing the side of her neck. “Tell me how soon we can be alone again.”

Her wince gave him warning of what was to come. “With this new evidence,” she said, “I have to buckle down on the case. I’ll be spending time interviewing Alex’s father and sister, assuming their story pans out. And I have to take a look at all my old notes in light of this new evidence. I can’t have any distractions. You understand, don’t you?”

She looked up at him so beseechingly, he had no choice but to swallow his disappointment and give her the support she deserved.