Secrets Collide (Bluegrass Brothers)

was relieved when Gemma sat quietly in the truck watching the farms pass by. He was tired of playing the playboy. The models and actresses had irritated him when he started working in Hollywood, but it was all necessary for his cover. The thing was, he didn’t even sleep with them—well, not many of them.  He guessed that was what made him so popular with the famous women. They weren’t used to having someone say no. Unfortunately, it was an unintended aphrodisiac.
    After the first year of undercover work, the acting had turned real. He got used to the secret games and power plays of making movies. He fit in with ease at parties, clubs, and on the set. He was popular, confident, and one of the best at his job. And it didn’t hurt that some of Hollywood’s hottest starlets took a shine to him.
    But then Cade had problems with drugs at the high school and Marshall busted up a dog-fighting ring.  That’s when he realized he had missed so much in life. Sure, he’d done amazing things and gone to faraway places, but that wasn’t really him. It was Cy Davidson who had done those things. All he’d done with the CIA was try to live up to the legacy left to him by the older brothers he had idolized his whole life. He wanted to give back to his country just as they had done.
    Somewhere along the way, though, he had lost himself. Cy had thought as soon as he came home, everything would be as it was; the real Cy Davies would return. But it wasn’t happening. He didn’t know how to be himself anymore.
    “Cy? Cy . . . is everything okay?” Gemma’s voice shook him out of his reflections.
    “Hmm?”
    “Are you okay? I’ve been trying to ask you a question, but you seemed in another world.”
    “I’m fine. What did you need?”
    “I was wondering what you think Marshall can help us with?” Gemma asked with a concerned tone in her voice.
    “I want to see his files. He said he’d call the others and they’d bring everything they have. They found a black book on Nancy and arrested hundreds as a result. I’m hoping some of the names match up with some of those pictures you have. Maybe it can give us a lead to identify Mr. X.”
     
    Cy pulled the truck to a stop in front of the farmhouse he used to live in whenever he came back to visit. It looked like his brothers were already there and waiting for him. The grass in the surrounding pasture had just been cut and the smell hung in the air. The large round bales of hay were tightly coiled, waiting to be used to feed the animals through the winter.
    “How is Fred with other dogs?” Cy asked when he opened Gemma’s door.
    “Great. He loves running at the dog park with them, why?”
    “You’re about to find out,” Cy barely had time to say before Katelyn opened the front door and a herd of dogs came running out. Justin, with his bright yellow bow, led the way as Bob, Chuck, and finally Bill ambled out to see them.
    “Aw, look how pretty she is,” Gemma cooed as she petted Justin.
    “Don’t say that too loud or he’ll get his feelings hurt. His name is Justin. Pierre, the dog groomer, just doesn’t believe me when I tell him no more bows. But the darn things work at keeping the hair out of his eyes,” Cade said as he came outside. Justin’s big black nose shoved her arm as a way to try to figure out what Fred was.
    “Looks like Justin has a mini,” Annie joked as she watched Justin’s big, hairy tail wag and his brown eyes light with glee when he looked at Fred.
    Gemma bent over and placed him on the ground and then screamed and jumped when something cold and wet hit her bottom.
    “Sorry about that. Bob likes to goose the women. It’s actually rather embarrassing, but it’s the least outrageous of his quirks,” Marshall said, not looking the least bit embarrassed as Bob trotted over and leapt up onto the porch swing.
    “He’s not the only one with an embarrassing dog. Paige kicked Chuck and me out of her shop. Someone may have gotten into a whole can of refried beans,” Cole cringed.  Chuck let out a timely fart and thumped his thick tail in response as his ears stuck straight out of the side of his head. Gemma could've sworn Bob rolled his eyes as he moved upwind of Chuck.
    “It looks like Fred is doing just fine with the gang. Come on in. I have drinks set up for you all and I'll take the dogs for a walk while you all work . . . if that’s okay with you, Gemma?” Katelyn asked.
    “That would be great. Thank you,” Gemma smiled. Poor