A hot little stab of something that felt very much like jealousy thrust between Suzanne’s ribs. Which was ridiculous. She’d never been jealous of her mother’s art or the way people fawned over her. Nor was she now. No, it was the label of bona fide artiste.

She wanted that, she realized. She wanted it badly.

Bob rose from his seat and clapped his friend on the back. “Since when have you been a patron of the goddamn arts?” He also offered his hand as he smiled at Simone.

Ray reluctantly let go of Simone’s hand. “My late wife was a huge fan of your work.”

“Oh?” Simone said as she briefly shook Bob’s hand. “Was she an artist? Did she sculpt?”

“A little. She dabbled. It was more a hobby, but we’ve been to a few of your exhibitions in New York and in Washington once, too.”

General introductions were made then, including Della and Albie and finally Suzanne. “And have you met my daughter yet?” Simone asked Ray. “She’s been in Credence for almost two weeks now.”

“The pleasure’s not been mine.” He bowed a little as he held out his hand to Suzanne, which she took and smiled back politely.

“No, well, that rancher boyfriend of hers is keeping her very much to himself in that cabin of his,” Simone said with an indulgent laugh. A sudden hot prickle shot up Suzanne’s spine, warning her what was coming next, but her brain scrambled and her mouth felt gummy and she was too slow to interject. “Grady knows a good thing when he sees it.”

Oh, crap. Crappity crappity crap. Grady was going to kill her.

She’d seen his barn—there were probably a dozen implements in there alone that he could murder her with and use to bury her body.

The entire little circle went quiet and motionless, blinking in unison. Like a parliament of owls. Della broke the stunned silence. “You’re Grady’s girlfriend?”

“Grady has a girlfriend?” Tucker added.

“And you’re living with him,” Ray said, studying her face. “At the cabin, you say?”

Bob just out-and-out stared in disbelief. “On the ranch?”

Everyone was staring at her like she’d announced she was the new linebacker for the Broncos, their doubt over her mother’s claim evident. She sure as shit hoped it was because Grady having a girlfriend was preposterous and not that him having her as a girlfriend was preposterous.

Meanwhile, her mother suddenly realized her faux pas. “Oh dear.” She looked around at the surprised faces and then at Suzanne with an apologetic look. “I didn’t realize it was a secret.”

“As I said on the phone, Mom,” Suzanne said with a smile that felt like spackle drying on her face, “we’re trying to keep it on the down low for a while.”