Page 20 of Pay Dirt

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, the oil workers think he just brought you home to hide you away. They think Nathan’s saving you from an abusive relationship, thanks to your black eye and busted lip.”

“So, in other words, I didn’t fool anybody.” My gaze went out to the barn. “Well, Amanda may have believed me.”

“She doesn’t. She’s a teenager and already snapped your picture with her cell phone while you are eating dinner. If I had to guess, she’ll upload it onto the Internet tonight and see if she gets any hits on familiar pictures.”

My mouth parted, and words escaped me. How had I not even noticed that?

“Don’t feel bad. These teenagers are going to rule the world one day, and I came prepared.” Clayton pulled a magnet out of his pocket and held it up. “If it comes down to it, this sucker should erase her entire phone, including your picture.”

“Genius,” I whispered.

“I know.” Clayton chuckled. “What’s your take on Ed and Pete?”

“I wasn’t around them long enough to get a feel about them one way or the other.”

“What’s so interesting about that ground where they’re pointing?” Clayton asked.

“That’s the next place that the Murray family is going to strike black gold.”

“Oh…that’s right. Gwen says her sisters each have abilities. I should have known that you’d havesomething.”

“I find things. That’s all.”

“Expensive things?” Clayton wiggled his brows.

“Lost and missing things.”

We were still out on the porch talking when Mildred appeared and handed me a glass of tea. She took a seat beside me and pushed the swing to get it moving again as Nathan came out onto the porch and sat in one of the rocking chairs.

We sat out on the porch until the moon rose in the sky and a million stars twinkled above. I’d never seen such beauty, not where I live, not anywhere. I was starting to understand why Texans loved the outdoors. I might, too, if I were able to play under this stage of lights.

“It’s getting late, and we need an early start tomorrow.” Nathan held out his hand, and I took it, letting him pull me up from the swing.

“Cassie, you can have your own room,” Mildred called out.

I grinned like a woman on a mission. “It’s fine. You guys might know the truth, but not everyone else does.” I gestured to Ed and Pete.

“Right.” Clayton wiggled his brows. “Keeping up appearances is part of the fun.”

Nathan cleared his throat. “Right, well, good night.”

Nathan guided me upstairs to his room. I grabbed some clothes and changed into a pair of boy shorts and a tank top. I came out of the bathroom, and Nathan was already in bed. He was wearing lounge pants and was shirtless. “I hope this is okay.”

“Sure,” I said, trying hard not to stare at his abs. I flexed my fingers when all I wanted to do was trace the indentions and kiss a path over his body. “No problem.”

I crawled into bed and pulled the covers up. Nathan reached over me and turned off the light. His face was only inches from mine as he stared down at me. “Thanks for coming clean to my dad. I don’t like lying to him.”

“I didn’t like lying to him either.”

He leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to my lips, as if it were a nightly ritual. When he pulled back, he said, “I’m sorry.”

I grinned. “I’m not. Just consider it practice for all of the locals we have to convince.”

“Practice,” he said as his gaze landed on my mouth.

I licked my lips.

He didn’t move and stared down at me. His gaze slowly traveled north to my eyes. “Good night, Cassie.”

Nathan rolled back over onto his side of the bed, proving he had more control than me. If I’d taken the lead, we wouldn’t need separate sides of the bed; then again, we wouldn’t be getting any sleep.

“I appreciate you helping me.”

“If I hadn’t helped Herbert Guillot, he might still be alive,” I said as Nathan turned off the lamp on his side of the bed, plunging the room into darkness.

Another person dying because of my ability had shaken me. Serving subpoenas and notices to appear was one thing. It was only my wellbeing I had to be concerned with. I stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling and, for the first time ever, debated if I’d done the right thing.

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