LATER THAT NIGHT, I had a feeling something was wrong with Raegan. Dinner had been fine, and Penny’s day had been made with a fresh burger. Sometime between eating and her mother hitting the sack, Rae became preoccupied.
I turned off the football game and she looked at me. “What’s on your mind, Rae?”
She aimed an innocent look at me, and I gave her a look that said don’t lie to me. That made her sigh.
“Normally I love that you’re a great investigator, but I have to say, right now I hate it.”
I twirled my hand at her to keep speaking. She rolled her eyes, but I ignored it –though the thought of spanking her later ran through my mind.
“I just don’t understand what happened to Wynnie. And even if the investigation says it was an accident, I don’t believe that. And how am I going to get anyone to believe me?”
“Come over here.”
She sat down, and I arched a brow at her. “That’s not close enough for me, mamita,” I said, before my arms shot out to pull her snug to my side.
When I had us situated, she whispered, “Are you satisfied, now?”
“Maybe. But, Raegan, you need to hear this. I believe you. Hell, I never thought it was an accident either, and you won’t have to convince anyone. I’m going to take care of that.”
She leaned up. “Why would you do that?”
I tried not to glare at her, but it was a lost cause.
“Are you shitting me? Raegan, I’ve loved you almost since the day we met, seeing as you risked your job sticking up for me. That only grew stronger the longer we were together, and believe it or not, I fell in love with your family, too.”
Her brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Clint,” she whispered.
“So, believe me when I tell you, I never bought the accidental death bullshit either. But not being a member of your family, I didn’t want to push that.”
Her brows knit. “What do you mean?”
“Someone insisting it’s not an accident will put Penny through a world of turmoil, and if she had a sense of closure, I didn’t want to be the one stirring that pot.”
She arched a brow at me. “You used to always stir the pot, and I doubt that’s changed.”
I smirked. “Good thing I didn’t leave you alone with Brock. He’s threatened to get me a t-shirt for as much as I stir shit up.”
She laughed, which made me feel good since that had been my aim. I hated seeing her with those tears in her eyes.
“That would make an excellent gag gift,” she muttered to my chest.
I cupped her chin with my hand tilting her face to meet my eyes.
“Don’t think you’re supposed to share that with me, sweetheart.”
A wan smile crossed her face. “I think you’re right.”
“Yeah.” I took in a very deep breath and exhaled. “I hate to say this, Raegan, but I think Wynnie’s death is related to your abduction. That wasn’t random, since they dropped you right at your mother’s door. The problem is that I have no fuckin’ clue who would have it out for both you and Wynnie.”
She looked past me for a moment. “Could it be mistaken identity?”
My head tilted to the side and back again, as I considered it. “I’d agree with that except you two couldn’t look any different from one another.”
She shook her head. “We weren’t twins, but she didn’t look that different from me.”
I shook my head. “Whatever. If someone killed her, it took serious premeditation since it looks like an accident. The only reason I don’t buy it is because not only was Wynnie an excellent swimmer, she taught aqua-aerobics and shit. She was certified to be in that water and knew how to save someone who couldn’t swim.”
“But bathtubs aren’t made for swimming,” she murmured.
I nodded. “Which is why it makes it so diabolical for whoever did it. If she was stressed out from caring for your mother –which she might well have been– then if she wanted to take her life, where else better than in the water, since she loved it so much?”
She leaned away. “Geez, I hadn’t even thought about it that way.”
I rubbed her back. “Nor should you have, Rae. You lost your only sister. That’s gonna take up the bulk of your headspace.”
Her face fell, and I felt like a dick.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to be so blunt.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s all right. You’re right. Which, deep down, is why I didn’t expect anyone to believe me. So, I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have you on our side, Clint.”
Chapter 17
Mr. Debenedetti Wants a Word
Raegan
I WOKE UP IN AN EMPTY bed on Sunday morning. As I propped myself up on an elbow, I heard the faint sound of the shower running from down the hall.
With a sigh, I slouched back into my pillow and tried to go back to sleep. After five minutes I knew it was a lost cause because my brain was off to the races. Rather than lounge in bed, I went to check on Mom. The house was a split floorplan, so I didn’t often hear her when she got up and around before me.
As I wandered into the kitchen, I saw she had just started the coffee. “Good morning, Mom.”
Her eyes met mine. “No shower shenanigans, eh?”
I closed my eyes and hung my head for a moment before I looked at her. “Seriously, Mom? I haven’t even had any coffee. And how can you be so nosy?”
She shrugged. “Vicarious living, dear. And for the record, I don’t recommend it.”
Strong arms slid around my belly before Clint rested his chin on my shoulder. “Good morning, Penny. You up for eating out this morning?”
She grinned. “You bet your bippy, I am.”
I turned my head while leaning back to take in his profile. “We’re eating out?”
He pecked my lips and I smelled his minty
