Texas Cowboy's Protection by - (top 5 ebook reader .txt) 📖

“Bo Stanley has a rap sheet.” Griff’s expression soured as he tapped his fingers on his desk. He motioned to the chairs across from him. “Thanks for coming here first thing this morning. You might want to take a seat.”

“What did he do?” Isaac waited for Gina to settle before claiming the leather club chair next to her. Michael had called first thing and left a message that there’d been no change with the Labrador, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The dog had stabilized.

“Swindled four women out of their life savings. Claimed he was a psychologist when he had no training or education to back it up. He hung a shingle in Katy, Texas anyway. Doled out advice to people he had no business counseling.” Griff picked up a pen and tossed it on top of a stack of papers on his desk, looking like he wanted to throw it against the wall. “He’s been married six times, including Brittany’s mother. Divorced four of them.”

“Wait a minute. Are you saying he’s still married to two women at the same time?” Gina’s question was valid.

“Yes.”

“This sheds a whole new light on the investigation.” Isaac would like to hear Bo answer a few questions. “If I remember correctly he was supposed to be out of town on the night Brittany was murdered.”

“What color eyes does he have?” Gina’s question came out without hesitation. It was an important question.

“Brown.” Him, and fifty-five percent of the population. Isaac had learned that fact from his law enforcement cousin.

“How old is he?”

“Fifty-seven. And he’s due to stop by at—” Griff stopped midsentence. His gaze locked onto his door, which Isaac knew they’d left open. Griff stood up, so Isaac craned his neck to get a look.

“Uncle T.J., what a surprise.”

“Came to see my son since he hasn’t availed himself to let me know he’s in town.” It was Isaac’s turn to stand.

“We’re in the middle of something here.” Isaac didn’t answer to T.J.

Dark hair, blue eyes, the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree when it came to T.J. Quinn’s sons. At six-foot-three, T.J. was a hair shorter than Isaac but the man was the same build of muscle and all king-of-the-hill attitude. He wore jeans and a Stetson.

“Can I ask when you plan on stopping by Quinnland?” The family ranch had been on Isaac’s mind but he was damned if he’d let his father order him around.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Right now, I have urgent business.”

“More important than family?” T.J.’s view of the world came down to the ranch and the family, as long as everything was done his way. Isaac wasn’t sure which came first, family or ranch. To say the man was set in his ways was a lot like saying yogurt was made from milk. It was blindingly obvious to anyone who bothered to look.

Gina stood. “Mr. Quinn, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Regina.” T.J. didn’t have a soft bone in his body. So, it shocked the hell out of Isaac when his father said, “Good to have you back in Gunner. I hear you have a beautiful little girl now.”

“Yes, sir.” The pride in Gina’s voice sent a shot of warmth through Isaac’s icy chest at seeing his father. He reminded himself of the fact his childhood had been a long time ago. Holding onto hurt and pain from the past was as smart as standing in the kitchen and stabbing himself with a steak knife. It would only put holes in him.

Looking into T.J.’s eyes, there was pain. Another emotion flickered behind the man’s gaze. Regret?

T.J.’s shoulders dipped forward.

“Any chance I can convince you to come to dinner tonight?” The uncertainty in T.J.’s voice caught Isaac off guard for the second time in this short conversation. Granted, he hadn’t been home in the past year, but T.J. couldn’t have transformed into a different man overnight.

Isaac wondered if these changes in his father. had anything to do with the announcement he wanted to make. Was he sick? Some men re-examined their lives when faced with a terminal illness.

Taking in T.J.’s skin tone and facial features, Isaac searched for any sign. Yellowing skin? Weight loss? The man seemed fine on the surface. Then again, T.J. had reached out from out of the blue. If he’d gotten a diagnosis, it could be too soon to see the signs.

“Tonight’s out of the question.” He wanted to know what T.J. was up to, so he didn’t shut down all possibilities.

“Let me know a good day for you. Bring Gina along with you if it’ll make you feel better.” T.J.’s tentative gaze moved from Griff to Isaac. “If you’d like.”

“I’ll let you know.” Isaac should make an effort. T.J. seemed to be trying to find middle ground. Even though the two of them had the kind