Blake's jaw tightened.

"Blake, I know you don't want to hear it, but Monty thinks your grandfather would do anything to protect James. Maybe he's doing that now."

"I hope not. And you're right - I don't want to hear it. That doesn't mean I haven't thought of it. So I'm not speculating. I'm finding out."

CHAPTER 25.

What Devon and Blake walked in on wasn't a business meeting. It was c.o.c.ktail hour.

Everyone was in the living room. Edward and Anne were seated on one sofa. James sat across from them on the other. And Louise stood by the windows. All of them were nursing drinks.

"Blake, there you are." Edward waved him in. "Come in and join us." He turned to the butler, who was standing at the sideboard. "Albert, pour Blake a Jack Daniel's on the rocks."

"Very good, sir." Albert reached for the bourbon.

Blake angled his head slightly toward Devon. "Will you be okay alone?" he asked quietly.

"I'll be fine," she a.s.sured him. "Do what you have to."

"Join us, Dr. Montgomery," Edward added. He looked less than thrilled. But, clearly, he thought Blake was annoyed at the omission. "Just tell Albert what you'd like to drink."

"Thank you. I'd love some water." Devon entered the living room, trying to ignore the twin icy stares being leveled at her by James and Louise.

"You don't drink?" Edward inquired.

"I do, sometimes."

"And tonight's not one of those times?"

"No," Blake interceded. "It isn't. And it shouldn't be for you, either. Jack Daniel's wasn't on the list your cardiologist gave you."

Edward snorted. "If I followed that list, I'd die of boredom. I'd rather take my chances with life."

"Suit yourself." Blake met his grandfather's gaze head-on. "I need to speak with you."

"About my drinking habits? No thanks. I don't need a lecture."

"It has nothing to do with that. But it's important."

Edward's brows shot up. "I'm listening."

"Not here. In private. It'll only take a few minutes."

"All right." Edward rose and set down his gla.s.s. "Let's go to my office."

Blake nodded, and the two men left the room.

Silence hung behind them.

"Great," James muttered, reaching for his gin and tonic. "More drama. Just what we need."

His grandmother gave him a reproving look that screamed don't-air-our-dirty-laundry-in-front-of-strangers. He got the message loud and clear, and bit back whatever else he'd been about to say.

Another silence, this one more uncomfortable than the last.

The clock in the hall chimed five.

"I wonder what's keeping Ca.s.sidy," Anne murmured. "She was due here a half hour ago."

"She's probably tied up in a meeting," Louise surmised. She turned to give Devon a cool, inquisitive look. "You take Mondays off?"

"Not usually, no," Devon replied, taking the gla.s.s of ice water Albert handed her and nodding her thanks. "Today's an exception. I needed a break."

"I'm not surprised. You've had quite a hectic week." Sarcasm laced Louise's tone. She didn't wait for Devon's reaction, but averted her gaze, glancing from James to Anne. "Excuse me a moment. I'd like to freshen up for dinner." She breezed out of the room and headed for the powder room.

"I'll call Ca.s.sidy and make sure she's on her way," Anne announced. She eased to her feet, her sharp blue eyes flickering over Devon as if she were invisible, then fixing on James, silently ordering him to control himself. "I asked Frances to have dinner on the table at six so we can make it an early night."

"Thanks, Grandmother," James responded. "I appreciate it. I'm beat."

"I realize that." Anne laid a hand on his shoulder as she pa.s.sed by. "You'll rest tomorrow. The plane will take you back to the compet.i.tion tomorrow night." She paused, glancing back at Devon almost against her will. "You and Blake will stay for dinner." It wasn't a request. "I a.s.sume you like chicken." Without waiting for an answer, she went down the hall.

"So, it looks like it's just you and me," James observed. He indicated the now empty sofa across from him. "Have a seat. My headache's too bad to get into anything heavy. Besides, there's already enough tension in this room to blow the roof off."

Skeptically, Devon perched on the edge of the sofa.

A corner of James's mouth lifted. "You look like a frightened bird about to take flight. Like I said, the fireworks are over. Last night was the emotional scene. Today's the dawn of a new day. New beginnings and all that." He sipped his drink. "Did you intend to stay for dinner, or did my grandmother just put a crimp in your plans?"

Devon kept her expression nondescript. "No crimp. Blake and I didn't have any ironclad plans. Besides, I'd enjoy seeing Ca.s.sidy again."

"Ca.s.sidy. Right." James gestured for Albert to fix him another drink. "Any idea why Blake was so h.e.l.l-bent on talking to my grandfather?"

"You'll have to ask him."

"Did you?"

"No." Devon shook her head. "I make it a point not to interfere. Whatever Blake has on his mind is between him and your grandfather."

"How magnanimous of you."

"Not magnanimous. Respectful. I understand Blake's commitment to his family. I have the same commitment to mine. We all do what we have to, to protect the people we love."

"I'll drink to that." James held up his gla.s.s, regarding Devon with a pensive expression. "This dinner should be fascinating. I can hardly wait."

DOWN THE HALL, Edward shut his office door and turned to face Blake.

"Okay, what is it?"

Blake shoved his hands in his pockets. "Devon and I were at the stables. We planned on going riding. I showed her around first. She noticed Sunrise looked sick. When she checked her out, she found that Sunrise's right front leg was swollen. Apparently, she'd been given injections. We think Vista administered them."

Edward had sunk down into a chair. "What makes you think that?"

"We spoke to him."

"When?"

"We just came from his trailer."

"At the Best Western?"

"No. At our stables. I called and asked him to come by. I implied that you wanted to see him. So he came running. We confronted him about Sunrise. He didn't admit anything. But he reacted like he was guilty."

"Great." Edward rubbed the back of his neck. He was clearly upset. But he wasn't surprised.

Blake's eyes narrowed. "What the h.e.l.l is going on, Grandfather? Is Vista being paid to experiment on our horses?"

No reply.

"s.h.i.t." Blake's jaw began working. "You do know about it. I kept hoping otherwise, that he was orchestrating this without your knowledge. But, as usual, you're protecting him. Even about something as vile and unethical as this."

A watchful stare. "What are you talking about? Protecting who?"

"James."

"I'm not protecting James. Not in the way you mean."

"Go on."

Edward slammed his fist on the desk. "Fine. You want the truth? This research isn't James's doing. It's mine."

"Yours," Blake repeated flatly. "You're paying Vista to experiment on Sunrise?"

"It's more complicated than that." Edward stared Blake down. "Devon Montgomery was with you when you spoke to Vista?"

"Of course. She was the one who discovered Sunrise's illness. She was furious. She's a veterinarian; her job is to keep animals safe and healthy. How do you think she reacted to Sunrise being used as a guinea pig?"

"I don't give a d.a.m.n how she reacts. I don't want her sticking her nose in this."

Blake's gaze hardened even more. "You'd better explain."

"There's nothing to explain. I pay Vista. He's a genetic consultant. He's taken a couple of skin samples from our horses to send out for a.n.a.lysis."

"Biopsies."

"Yeah, biopsies."

"Why? What kind of a.n.a.lyses are being done?"

"Evaluative ones. Genetic testing. Vista is a.s.sessing for strength, endurance - all the qualities that make an Olympic champion."

Blake frowned. "How does a tissue sample tell him that?"

"How the h.e.l.l should I know?" Edward waved his arm in the air. "I'm not a scientist. That's why I pay him. All I know is he's working to find the best genetic combination - my mares and to-be-determined stallions. My goal is for him to perform inseminations that result in entries like Stolen Thunder. To secure James's future, and Kerri's."

Some truth. Some glaring omissions.

Blake still wasn't buying.

"If that's the case, then why the secrecy?" he demanded.

"There is no secrecy. There's just protecting my interests, and staying ahead of the compet.i.tion. Vista's doing cutting-edge research. I don't want that information leaking out so some richer b.a.s.t.a.r.d can buy him out from under me and beat me to the punch. And the last thing I need is some altruistic veterinarian interfering because Vista's methods offend her principles."

"It's not about principles," Blake responded carefully, studying his grandfather's expression. "It's about medical ethics. And potential illegalities. The drugs in Vista's cabinets are - let's say, unusual."

"How would you know?"

"I wouldn't. Devon would. She didn't recognize the labels."

Twin splotches of red stained Edward's cheeks. "She went through Vista's cabinets?"

"Briefly. He stopped her."

"Big surprise. He's got to be ripping mad. I'm sure he'll be calling soon to read me the riot act. I'm lucky if he doesn't quit." Edward dragged a palm over his face and glared at his grandson. "Don't screw this up for me, Blake. Not now."

Blake bit back his reply. Time to stop. He'd exposed enough of his hand. His grandfather wasn't going to fill the gaping holes or explain the flagrant inconsistencies. That would have to come from elsewhere.

"Fine," he said tightly. "I won't interfere."

"And your girlfriend?"

"What about her?"

Edward rose slowly. "Keep her out of this, Blake. I mean it. Get her to back off. Or I will."

That brought Blake's head up. "Are you threatening Devon?"

"I'm securing my family's future." Edward's eyes were blazing. "You know that nothing stands in the way of that. Not for me. Vista's research is going to make Pierson one of the most prominent names in equestrian compet.i.tion. That, along with Pierson & Company, is my legacy - one I mean to provide. I won't tolerate outside interference. So divert Devon Montgomery's attention elsewhere." A piercing stare. "That should be easy enough. You're sleeping with her. Take her to bed, and keep her there. Now let's go. Your grandmother's waiting."

He yanked open the door and stalked out of the office.

IF c.o.c.kTAILS HAD been a frosty affair, dinner was positively glacial.