Page 51 of Bridles and Bribery

“You left without telling me,” Gil accused, latching on to that part of her confession. There was no mercy in his gaze. No understanding whatsoever. “Leaving Jillian home alone.”

“I’m sorry.” She had no excuse to offer him.

“Who sent the flowers?” He glanced around the room in search of them. His gaze landed on the bar where Jillian had set them.

“We don’t know,” the two women chorused.

He strode across the room to peer more closely at them. “I’ll run ‘em over to Lonestar and have their forensics team take a look at them. Did both of you handle them?”

“No.” Jillian shook her head. “Only me. We were getting ready to call you about them.”

He glanced with concern at her. “Are you feeling alright?”

“I am now.” She gave him a weak smile, leaning backagainst the arm of the sofa. “A few minutes ago, I had my first contraction.”

He gulped and dove for his phone, dialing someone with the push of a single button. “Jillian had her first contraction, and there’s been a delivery of flowers to their home. No note. Sender apparently wishes to remain anonymous.” He listened for a moment. “Yes, I know what he’s gonna do, but we promised him we’d tell him everything.” He paused and listened again. “Maybe our forensics team will rule out any connection to the case. In the meantime…yeah, I got it.” He disconnected the call. “Dave’s on his way,” he said simply.

Jillian laughingly said something about not wanting her husband to see her like this. Eloise shook her head, wishing she knew a way to assure her daughter-in-law that her son wasn’t going to care how pregnant his wife looked. He was simply going to be kiss-the-ground-happy to see her again.

Dread filled her chest at the risks he was taking to pay her a visit in broad daylight, but that was Dave. He must have some non-negotiable parameters in place with Lonestar Security — boxes that when checked would result in his immediate transport to his wife’s side.

Gil stepped in Eloise’s line of vision, angling his head at her to follow him to the front door. He reached for a pair of napkins and used them to pick up the vase. He carried it to the door.

She stood and trotted after him. “I’m truly sorry, Gil.” She could only assume he’d called her away from the others for a well-deserved scolding. “If anything had happened to Jillian while I was next door…” She shuddered at the thought.

Gil halted in front of the door and pivoted to face her. “I’m as worried about your safety as I am hers!” He scowled ferociously down at her. “If you think for one second that Dave’s enemies wouldn’t use you to get to him, just as quickly as they’d use her…”

She spread her hands, trying to make light of it in order to calm him down. “If that happens, y’all can just write me off as collateral damage.” She’d lived her life. More importantly, she’d finally made her peace with the Lord.

“You don’t get it, do you?” His scowl grew darker. “You’re his mother, Eloise. If they get to you, itwillaffect him. It’ll affect his will to keep fighting for justice. It’ll affect his ability to testify in the trial.”

She lifted her chin defiantly. “My son wouldn’t throw a case for me.” The very idea was preposterous. Dave was made of sterner stuff.

“He’d do it in a heartbeat,” Gil snarled, looking incensed that she would suggest otherwise.

Eloise was completely floored by his response. “He said that?” She shook her head, feeling dizzy.

“I’m his best friend. What do you think?”

So much for her attempt to lighten the mood between them!

Gil ducked his head to get eye level with her. “You’re one of two women in the world Dave would do anything for,” he growled. “No matter the cost to himself.”

“Me?” she whispered. She hadn’t been the best mother to her son. Far from it! She’d been absent for far too long to deserve that kind of devotion.

“Love isn’t something you earn, Eloise.” Gil’s voice grew quieter. “It’s freely offered. All you can do is accept it.”

Something inside her broke. “Oh, Gil!” Her hands flew to her mouth. Though his anger with her wasjustified, she was two snaps away from ugly crying in gratitude for what he’d just said.

“When this mess first started, I asked you to stay stateside as much for your own safety as for Jillian’s.” He edged closer to the door, clearly eager to be on his way. “You’ve made our job of protecting you that much easier by being present.”

“Thank you.” She lowered her hands to her sides, fisting them to keep them from trembling. “I guess I didn’t realize y’all have been including me in the whole equation.”

“Unbelievable,” Gil huffed, reaching for the door handle.

“I’ve got it.” She moved around him to unlock it and open it for him. “And before you say something pithy, I promise to lock it this time.”

“You’d better.” His hard mouth twitched at the corners. “Just for the record, I’ve enjoyed our sparring matches, Eloise. I’m not looking forward to them coming to an end.”

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