Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies (An Adams Grove Novel) (19 page)

When the pilot came back he motioned toward them. “Ready?”

“We are.” Jake carried his backpack of toys. She balanced her camera case on top of the rolling bag, and then took Jake’s hand with the other. “Here we go.”

Just a few minutes later they were all climbing the stairs into the airplane. A large crate was rigged to D rings against the front wall. Kasey took the dog’s favorite toy from the overnight bag and put it inside the kennel. Shutterbug went right in and lay down.

“That was easy,” the pilot said.

“Surprised me too.” She buckled Jake into the seat, strapped herself in, then said to Jake, “Once we get in the air
you can get up, but we have to stay in our seats until the pilot tells us, okay?”

“Okay.”

She took out her phone and texted Cody. W
E
’
RE GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF
.

He texted right back. I’
LL BE WAITING FOR YOU
. S
EE YOU IN AN HOUR
.

Sweaty fingerprints dotted her phone. She wiped it on her shirt, and prayed like heck she was doing the right thing for the right reasons.

Midway through the flight the pilot let Jake come up to the cockpit. Jake asked questions rapid-fire, but Captain Rogers seemed to be enjoying it.

Kasey enjoyed being an observer for a change.

“See that over there? That’s where we’re going to land,” Captain Rogers said.

Kasey leaned forward and looked out the window, but it didn’t look like Nashville. A pang of panic swept through her. “But that’s not BNA. I’ve flown into that airport enough times to know this isn’t it. That looks like a field.”

He must have noticed the panic in her voice because he turned and gave her a smile. “It’s the landing strip at Hillcrest. It’s just outside of Nashville.”

“Cody’s ranch?”

“Yep. Time to get your seat belt back on, sport. We’ll be there in just a few minutes.”

“Come on, Jake.” He ran back to her and sat in his seat. Kasey buckled him in.

His own airstrip? Just how rich is he?

She looked out the window. There weren’t many houses nearby. She wondered how many acres you’d need to even have enough space to land a jet.

She listened to the sound of the engines’ transition as they got ready to land.

What do you say to someone when you land in their yard, in their private jet?

I’m in over my head.

The lush green grass swept by in a blur. The plane slowed and the pilot made a landing so perfect they didn’t even bobble in their seats.

The plane did a quick half turn then finally came to a stop.

She laid her hand on Jake’s lap, becoming more and more nervous.

The engines started powering down.

The pilot came forward. “We’re here. You ready?”

Jake unbuckled himself and crawled down to unlatch the crate where Shutterbug had lain quietly the whole flight. “You were so quiet. Were you scared?”

Shutterbug gave him two big licks, wagging her tail as she stepped gingerly out of the kennel.

The pilot pushed open the door and lowered the stairs.

Kasey took the leash and walked toward the door. She went first and led Shutterbug down, then turned and put her arms out for Jake.

Cody stood leaning against an antique cherry-red pickup truck with his legs stretched long and crossed in front of him. She could barely breathe. He’d probably done this a million times. How many times had he flown someone in to stay for a visit?

Emotion swept over her and she wondered if she might cry. But why?

Cody walked up behind her. “Let me get him for you.”

“Hey, you.” She tried to sound nonchalant as she stepped aside.

“Hey.” He opened his arms and Jake jumped from the top step straight into them, laughing.

“Hi, Cody!”

“Hi, yourself.” He put Jake down and Jake grabbed Shutterbug’s leash and let her lead him around the grass, both of them running off the extra energy pent up during the plane ride.

He turned to Kasey. “Good flight?”

“Perfect and fast.” She looked around. There wasn’t anything in sight except a hangar and a little outbuilding. “How far are we from your house?”

“We’re here. The house is just on the other side of the property. Jump in the truck. I’ll get your stuff for you.”

“Sure.”

He loaded their luggage into the truck, then walked over and shook the pilot’s hand. Cody rounded up Shutterbug and coaxed her into the back of the truck with the luggage. He slammed the tailgate and then helped Jake into the front seat between him and Kasey.

She couldn’t help it. The first thing that came out of her mouth when Cody walked back up was, “You have a landing strip at your house.”

“I do.”

Shutterbug stuck her head through the open sliding-glass window.

“I’ve always liked the rounded fenders of these older-model trucks,” Kasey said, then felt stupid for even trying to fill the quiet with small talk.

“Me too.” Cody put his hand on her leg and squeezed it. “I’m glad you’re here. Relax.”

Easy for you to say.
That little squeeze sent a zing all the way up to—well, there and to her heart.
Just who the heck do I think I am dropping everything to come stay with Cody Tuggle at his house on a moment’s notice?

Shutterbug stretched through the window and nuzzled Cody’s neck. Right at that moment she couldn’t help but be a little jealous of Shutterbug’s position.

“I see you have that effect on all the girls.”

Cody put both hands on top of the steering wheel and shrugged. “That’s just a rumor.”

“Says you,” she said. “I’ve seen it in action, remember?” As they turned a corner an adorable white house with a long Southern porch came into view. “It’s beautiful.” Crape myrtles graced both sides of the driveway that led to it. “I love the tree-lined driveway. It feels so cozy.”

Cody turned to Kasey. “Oh, that’s not my house.”

“Looks like a house to me.”

“My mom lives there.”

“Your mom?” She wasn’t doing a good job of hiding her surprise.

“Yeah. My mom. Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like I still live at home or in her basement or something weird. She just lives on my property.”

Jake’s face grew serious. “I’m going to live with my mom forever. I’m going to take care of her when she’s real old like a grandma too.”

“You’re a good boy,” Cody said.

With her own parents always at a distance, and Riley’s gone, she just never really thought about how parents played into the day-to-day of the lives of other people her age. She didn’t even have any in-laws to compare since Nick had been raised by his grandparents and they were long gone too.
Cody had said he was close with his mom. It probably shouldn’t surprise me that he’d have a house on his property for her.

Kasey looked at the grassy pastures. “The horses. They’re beautiful.”

“Yeah. That’s all Mom too. She loves horses, especially racehorses. She’s been around them her whole life. It’s been fun for her to be able to live the life she’d always dreamed, plus when I’m not around, she kind of keeps things going at my house too. Waters the plants and stuff that the staff can’t seem to do right, according to her.”

Cody turned right at a fork in the lane and they drove down a long, wide driveway. “Sorry, no tree-lined driveway. I have to have room for the bus to get down here.”

Huge oak trees that had to be hundreds of years old grew strong and straight. A black boarded fence flanked the far side of the extrawide lane—like Arty Max’s ranch. She wondered who had theirs first.

Cody turned off into a narrower driveway. This one was fashioned of fancy reddish-colored pavers of some sort, and then his house came into full view. It stretched for what
looked like a whole city block. A separate four-bay garage in the same architecture of light brick and stacked stone sat catty-corner off the far left wing.

Kasey stared at the behemoth of a home. “I love the blue tiled roof. It’s got fabulous old-world charm.”
How tacky would it be for me to dig out my camera right now?

“Yeah, but it has pretty fabulous technology. Those tiles have solar panels in them.”

“Get out.”

“Seriously.” Then he pulled up closer to a beautiful entryway.

“Wow. Cody?” She couldn’t even finish the thought. The huge arched doors rose like a sculpture in the center of the stacked rock facade. A heavy wrought-iron lamp hung like something from long ago.

Jake sucked in a loud breath. “It’s a castle!”

Cody laughed. “It’s not a castle. It’s my house.”

With his brows pulled tight Jake asked, “Could we fit your airplane in that house?”

“Ya know, if we took down a few walls, it probably would fit. I’d never considered that.” Then he leaned down and whispered to Jake, “But I
have
ridden my motorcycle inside the house.”

“No way! I would be in so much trouble. That is so cool.”

Kasey rolled her eyes. “Oh, great. You know what he’s going to want to do now, don’t you?”

“I’ll hook you up, man.” He reached across Kasey and fist-bumped Jake.

Cody turned off the truck and left the key in the ignition. “Come on, y’all.”

He jogged around to the passenger side of the truck, opened the door, and held his hand out for Kasey.

How sweet. Chivalry ain’t dead after all.
She slid out and walked to the bed of the truck. The juxtaposition of the old red pickup sitting in front of this amazing house made her giggle.

Cody lifted her overnighter out of the bed, and Shutterbug stood at the end of the truck bed wagging her tail.

Kasey started to follow Cody then stopped. “Do you want to leave Shutterbug out here? I don’t think she’d go anywhere.”

“Don’t be silly. She’s a house dog.
Mi casa es su casa
and Shutterbug’s too.” He dropped the tailgate and Shutterbug jumped to the ground, then Cody led the way to the porch and opened the front door.

“You’ll realize soon enough that my dogs actually own this place. Not me.”

“I know how that is.” Kasey followed Cody inside then stopped midstep. The coffered ceiling and warm wood tones somehow made the foyer feel cozy even though the space was big enough for a party of a couple hundred people easy. “Cody. I don’t know what to say.”

A woman probably about her age came into view. “Welcome!” she said with a Southern twang. “Hi, Jake. Cody told me all about you and your girl Shutterbug here. I’m Victoria, but everyone calls me Tori.”

“Say hello to Tori,” he said to Kasey.

A big lump stuck in Kasey’s throat.

Jake put his hand out to shake Tori’s. “Oh honey, I’m not a hand-shaker, I’m a hugger. Mind giving me a hug?”

I’m a hugger.
Sweet Jesus, what have I walked into? Is she an employee or one of the family?

Jake reached up and gave Tori a hug and then Tori leaned down and patted Shutterbug on the head.

Shutterbug lifted her paw. “You are just about the prettiest thing.” Tori shook her paw, then turned her attention back to Jake. “You hungry?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Come on. I’ll fix you a sandwich. It’s going to be a while before dinner and you’ve got to be hungry. Flyin’ always makes me hungry.”

“Is it okay, Mom?”

“Sure, honey, go on. Thank you, Tori.”

“My pleasure. Come on, Shutterbug. You come with us.”

Kasey stood there next to Cody as Shutterbug’s nails clicked off a tempo until they disappeared around a corner at the end of the hall.

Cody smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here. Let me show you around.”

Kasey stood there taking in the grand surroundings, almost unable to move.
How many others had passed through this hallway?

“Come on.” He took her by the hand.

She relaxed a little as they worked their way through the downstairs. It was huge—there was no getting around that—but the rooms were comfortable. Oversize furniture and lots of personal memorabilia made the grand surroundings somehow still feel homey. Just about every extravagance you could imagine was tucked away somewhere in what was more of a country star’s indoor playground than a house: an indoor lap pool, a full gym, even one whole section set up
with a pool table, foosball, and old-style pinball machines. It was like an arcade the size of her house and the whole back wall of that room was sliding doors that opened out to the big pool.

“And I was worried about you being able to sit still while you were here laying low.”

He smiled sheepishly. “It’ll be way better with you here.”

“I think you would have found something to do.”

“Let me show you upstairs.” When they walked back into the foyer he picked up the suitcase and toted it up with them.

When they reached the landing there was a platform probably all of forty feet wide, and a balcony that looked over the property. The sun streamed through the windows and doors.

Kasey was drawn to the balcony. Cody followed along.

“The view is beautiful from here. What’s that?” She pointed to an apparatus at the far right of the balcony.

“Oh that?” Cody’s face developed a slight tinge of pink. “It’s a zip line.”

“A zip line?”

He gave her a crisp nod. “Yep. It goes all the way down to the pool.”

“Now I’ve heard it all. I bet you’ve had some wild parties here.”

“I’m not going to lie to you. Rock stars aren’t the only ones who know how to have a good time, but it’s all in good fun. My days are a bit tamer now than they used to be.”

A
bit
tamer? Good Lord, just how wild were things around here?
“I sure hope so, because I don’t think you’re going to get me on that thing.”

“You’ve never zip-lined?”

“No.” Kasey leaned over the railing and took in just how far the drop was. “And I think I’m okay with that.”

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” He laughed and said, “Come on. Let me show you Jake’s room.”

She followed him to the far end of the hall, pausing as he slid her suitcase into what she assumed would be her room.

The bright green and yellow when he opened the next door was almost a shock to the eyes, but Cody was right. Jake was going to be in heaven.