Secrets Collide (Bluegrass Brothers)

fat or something?
    “Nope, sorry,” Cy said easily.
    “Dang,” Miss Lily said under her breath. “Why don’t you introduce us to your friend?”
    “As many of you have met her already, I’ll keep it short. This is Gemma Perry. The same people behind Pierce and Tammy’s attempted murder and the dog-fighting ring murdered her sister. We need to keep her safe until we can capture them.” Cy paused as he saw the people nod their heads and whisper to each other. "Unfortunately, they’re after me, too, because of my time in the CIA.”
    “So, is she a witness you’re trying to protect?” Trey asked from his seat next to his friends.
    “Yes, exactly like that,” Cy nodded. Gemma looked around in confusion as the café groaned and Trey pumped his fist into the air. “So, Miss Lily, do you have room for us at the bed-and-breakfast?”
    “How many rooms?”
    “One” Cy said at the same time Gemma said, “Two.”
    Gemma jumped back as the broom was raised and smashed onto Cy’s head. “You rascal. There is no hanky-panky going on at my place. Now, if you promise to behave yourself, I’ll show you to your rooms.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Cy sounded humbled, but Gemma worried that the spark in his eye said he took it more as a challenge. She flushed with excitement or fear; she couldn’t tell which one she was more worried about.
     
    Cy thanked Miss Lily as he put his bags down in his room across the hall from Gemma’s. A large sitting room stood between her door and his, but Cy wasn’t concerned. It couldn’t be that hard getting past Miss Lily. After all, Kenna and Will are now married and so are Dani and Mo. The ladies both stayed at Miss Lily’s bed-and-breakfast when they first arrived.
    Cy started to unpack when his phone rang. “Hey, Miles. What’s up?”
    “Come on out to my farm. The brothers are getting together for a ride around the property and we thought you’d want to see yours. Also, it’ll give us a chance to talk without Ma listening.”
    “Sounds good. See you in twenty.” Cy hung up and dug out his cowboy boots from the bottom of his bag. His worn brown cowboy hat was in the back of his truck. Amazing how giving him those two things and a horse made him truly feel back at home.
    Cy slipped on his boots and headed across the sitting room to knock on Gemma’s door. He waited as he heard her stumble in her room and curse under her breath.
    The door was wrenched open and Gemma stood in nothing but a towel, her hair hanging in waves around her shoulders and her green eyes flashing with annoyance. “Yes?”
    Cy was momentarily stunned by the sight of the swell of her breasts and shapely legs under the fluffy white towel. “Brothers.”
    “What?”
    Cy cleared his throat and tried again. “My brothers are getting ready to ride the property lines. They want to show me what they’ve done to my farm. I’m going to head out there. There’s going to be a deputy outside if you need anything. His name is Noodle. Are you okay with me heading out for a bit?”
    Gemma took a deep breath and smiled. “Thanks for letting me know. I have a date with that amazing claw-footed tub and then I thought I'd open Gia’s box she left with the notebooks. Have a good time.”
    “Here.” Cy handed a piece of paper to her and was rewarded when the towel slipped a little. “It’s my number. Call me if you need anything at all. I’ll be back by dinner.”
     

CHAPTER NINE
     
    Cy leaned forward in the saddle and rubbed his horse’s sweaty neck as he looked at the massive fields. All of this was his and he was proud of it. His brothers raced to a stop next to him and stared him down.
    “Do you always have to race?” Marshall asked. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve run a horse that fast?”
    “Sorry, old man. I’ll make sure we go at a nice canter on the way home for you. Married with a kid on the way and look what happens to you. And you all wonder why I’m still single,” Cy teased.
    “Ha-ha. You’ll see. Don’t knock it until you try it. I held out longer than any of you and now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long,” Miles told them as he gazed out over the rolling fields dotted with cattle.
    “If you got married sooner, you would've ended up with a Belle,” Cade said with a mock shudder. “It’s just a good thing Morgan came back to town to save you from the summer picnics and charity galas.”
    “True. And now I’m going to be a father. I still have