“You understand that there is no shortage of over-inflated ego amongst these guys, right? Start calling them that, and you won’t be able to be in the same room with them.”
“You’re one of them, Decker.”
I smiled. “That’s what I’m talking about. You’ve already busted my balls about my over-inflated sense of self.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud, but maybe it isn’t so inflated.”
I poured her another cup of coffee and one for myself, and then sent a text to Rile, letting him know we were headed to the main house.
“Good morning,” said Grinder, who was standing in the kitchen when I walked in with Mila. He motioned to a pot. “Coffee?”
“No, thank you,” Mila answered.
“If that’s Quint’s coffee, I don’t recommend anyone have more than a cup. That shit will float a horseshoe.”
“I figured that out.” When Grinder tilted his cup, it looked as though half of what was in it was milk.
“Good morning, my friend,” said Rile, joining us in the kitchen. He walked straight over to Mila and looked into her eyes. “I regret upsetting you last evening.”
“It’s okay. I was in shock more than upset.”
“I know this is difficult for you.”
I rolled my eyes. Damn smarmy Spaniard. I looked at Mila, who was smiling at me, perhaps thinking the same thing I was. Rile was smooth, no question about that. I was happy to know that Mila saw right through him.
“We’re going to ride out this morning. When we get back, the five of us can continue our discussion from last night.”
Rile nodded, walked over to the cupboard, and poured himself a cup of coffee, which he proceeded to drink black. I cringed, remembering how bitter that shit was. It figured that Rile didn’t seem to think it so.
> “Did I hear you say you were riding out this morning?” asked Edge, walking into the room.
“Yep.”
“I’ll ride along.”
I nodded. When he was last at the ranch, Edge rode out every chance he got. At first, I thought having him along would be a pain in the ass, but the Brit held his own and then some. He was an accomplished rider who took to ranch work like he’d been doing it all his life.
“Got a minute?” I asked Rile.
“Of course,” he responded.
“Edge, can you show Mila where the tack room is? There should be something of Wren’s in there that she can wear.”
“Do you want some coffee first?” Grinder asked.
Edge made a face and shook his head. “I don’t know how anyone drinks that bloody stuff.”
Once the back door closed behind them, I sat down at the kitchen table.
“What more were you able to learn about Marshall Livingston’s relationship with Judd Knight?” I asked.
“They were roommates in college. After they graduated, they went into business together. They had a falling out in 2002.”
“Around the same time Judd and Nancy divorced.”
“That’s correct,” confirmed Rile.
“Obvious assumption is the two were related,” said Grinder.