television in there, but she didn’t care. Maybe she’d read, or go for a walk.
Annoyed with herself for giving in to a minor irritation, she straightened and squared her shoulders.
“I get the feeling that something is wrong. Something that affects me or perhaps that I caused. Am I right?”
Rocky kept his eyes on his plate and made short work of his food. Dena was convinced he was about to bolt.
“Rocky isn’t happy about your intention to live here at the house,” Zeke said, and took another sip of wine.
“Why?”
“Well, us being strangers, and of different gender,” he said, and a flush of what she thought was embarrassment darkened his cheekbones. “Irma goes home at nine each night, and she has Sunday off.” He stared down at the table. “Today is Saturday.”
This was unbelievable. “Don’t you ever have house guests?”
Zeke shook his head. “Not since Mom was alive.”
“Yeah, but still,” she said, then scoffed. “We’re not kids. We’re both in our thirties, for heaven’s sake, and—”
“It’s wrong.” Rocky put his silverware on his plate and pushed the plate away. He stood, rested a hand on the back of the chair. “It isn’t right. People will talk.” He made eye contact. “Besides, it isn’t safe here. For you.”
Was that a threat, or concern? “But you seemed to go along with everything earlier,” Dena said, and held his dark stare. She almost shivered but refused to back down. “What happened?”
“I thought it might be true, about the girlfriend thing. Zeke told me you explained to Quimby it was a lie. They all know now—”
“Big deal,” Dena said. “I don’t see why staying here would be a problem. I’m going to work with Zeke.”
“You were going to work with Zeke,” Rocky said, his voice cool, his face expressionless. “There’s too much at stake. You being a spin doctor, you should understand—”
“I do. But I also know something else is going on in this town. Something unsavory—”
“This is about the welfare of Three C’s, not some—” Rocky raised his voice, while one hand flapped about “—Los Angeles celebrity event.”
Dena frowned. “I still intend to work with Zeke. And if this—me staying here—doesn’t bother him, why should it bother you?”
Rocky worked his lower jaw but remained silent.
“We are going to talk before Dena goes home, Rocky,” Zeke said, apologetically. “It could help.”
Rocky stared at Zeke. Should she have included him in the earlier conversations? Paved the way, perhaps? He couldn’t be upset about her sleeping in the same house as Zeke, could he? She sensed he didn’t like her and didn’t want her anywhere near Three C’s, but this couldn’t be the reason for his sudden display of anger.
“Well, you’re the boss.” Rocky held his arms rigidly at his sides. “You’re the farmer.”
Dena eased back a little in her chair. Rocky’s anger was now directed at Zeke, she’d heard the deliberate taunt. Zeke had two bright red spots on his cheeks, but he didn’t respond.
“Goodnight,” Rocky said, pushed the chair in a little further, and strode out of the room.
Dena kept her eyes on her plate for a few seconds, as she listened to the click of his cowboy boots on the tile floor of the long hall. How could she have thought that angry, self-righteous man was handsome? Rocky’s face had been dark with anger, and she’d certainly seen another side to him tonight. His truck started up. She turned toward the window when the headlights flashed a beam of light toward the dining room, then he drove away.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, taking a quick glance at Zeke. “I didn’t mean to upset him, or you.” She gave a little shake of her head. This was the oddest thing. She couldn’t believe it. These two men acted like she was a young innocent. “Why on earth would he—?”
“Religion.” Zeke blew out a huge breath, and then shoved a hand through his hair. “It’s his moral code. He’s very strict about such things.”
“He’s Catholic, right?
Zeke nodded.
“I understand. So is my family. I’m not very religious myself…at least I’m not into organized religion. Not anymore.” She grimaced. Maybe that was too much information to share. “But anyway, this is your home. How can you let him dictate to you like that?”
****
The flicker of a dozen different emotions crossed Zeke’s face. How un-Christian of Rocky to behave as he had done. “Surely you’ve entertained women here, and—”
“Dena, stop.” Zeke raised both hands, palms facing her. “You forget two women died on my land, and in a horrible way.