If one person says something looks bad, maybe they''re just stirring the pot.


    But when everyone who''s seen it says it''s bad... well, that''s probably the truth.


    Ronald considered this for a second, then reached over and gave Ste''s cheek a yful pinch. "You and Susanna really do love a good gossip, huh?"


    He''d already noticed it back when they were living in Portis City. Most of what Ste knew, she''d picked up from Susanna''stest rumor mill.


    Honestly, Ste had changed a lot in the three years since she''d left Ferrond. At least back then, she hadn''t had much interest in gossip at all.


    Ste chuckled. "What can I say? Maybe it''s just a woman''s nature?"


    Ronald didn''t really care. If all Ste did was chat with Susanna on the phone, he could live with it. What worried him was that Susanna seemed to rope Ste into everythingtely, dragging her out of the house all the time. But if a little gossip brought Ste some fun, he wasn''t about toin.


    "Hey, do you think those twins are actually just someone''s stepkids?" Ste asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes.


    Honestly, Susanna''s theory sounded pretty believable to Ste. After all, the man who ran ck Gate had been an absolute heartthrob in his youth.


    Ronaldughed under his breath. "You''re impossible," he said, his voice full of affection.


    He didn''t bother to answer if the twins were really blood rtives or not, and Ste didn''t expect any real answer out of him anyway.


    They were still talking when someone knocked on the door.


    "Boss," called Idris''s voice from outside.


    Hearing him, Ronald gently nudged Ste from his arms and stood to open the door.


    Seeing Ste in the room, Idris hesitated for a split second, then turned his attention to Ronald.


    "What''s up?" Ronald asked.


    Idris nced at Ste, weighed his words, then leaned in to whisper something in Ronald''s ear.


    Ronald''s whole demeanor changed in an instant-his face grew cold and hard.


    "He ran?" Ronald''s voice was icy.


    "Yes," Idris nodded.


    A bitter smile yed on Ronald''s lips, but when he turned back to Ste, his face was soft and warm again. "I need to step into the study for a bit.”


    Ste didn''t know what was going on, but she nodded. "Alright, go ahead."


    Ronald left with Idris, and Ste wasn''t worried. After all, in Ferrond, there really wasn''t much Ronald couldn''t handle.


    The study.


    As soon as they stepped in, Ronald pulled a cigarette from his pack and lit up-a habit he''d given up ever since Ste got pregnant. Smoke curled around him as his eyes shed dangerously.


    "Why did he run?" Ronald asked, his tone frosty.


    "Hard to say for sure," Idris replied. "But Mr. Quarry''s been acting... let''s just say, unusually interested in Miss Quinntely."


    That "unusually interested" made Ronald''s already cold eyes downright cial.


    He let out a humorlessugh. "Interested? Please. Whatever he''s after, it''s filthy."


    Idris said nothing. Filthy was one way to put it. Once, Quarry had been


    head over heels for Urs, but after seeing her true colors, he turned his sights on Ste? If he really cared, it sure didn''t look like love. More likely, the Quarry family had their eyes on something behind the Quinn family. The Quarries were almost as greedy as the Larkins.


    Something urred to Idris, and his face darkened. "Hogan Freeman and Frost Quarry... they''ve gotten pretty chummytely."


    Ronald raised an eyebrow. "And?"


    "Just thinking—maybe Mr. Quarry''s interest in Ste is really about Frost."


    Ronald fell silent, letting the idea settle in the smoky air.


    Idris continued, "Logically, with Hogan back in the Quarry family, Mr. Quarry should be fighting him tooth and nail. But instead-"


    He trailed off, not finishing the thought. For all anyone knew, Quarry''s sudden obsession with Ste had some secret motive behind it.


    Ronald let out a short, coldugh. "First things first: find him."


    As for what he''d do once they caught up with Quarry-well, the dangerous glint in Ronald''s eyes made his feelings clear.


    Did the Quarry family really believe Hogan alone was enough to tip the scales?


    Meanwhile, over at Susanna''s ce—


    She was still sore, her legs aching and her whole body weak aftering down with a fever.


    At the kitchen table, Susannadled a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup for Hull and set it in front of him. As she did, she couldn''t help but notice a scratch on his forearm, right where his tattoo was.


    Her cheeks med red.


    Hull arched an eyebrow at her. “You''re being awfully sweet today."


    Susanna stammered, "Well, uh, thanks forst night."


    If it hadn''t been for Hull, she''d probably have been dragged off by those two creeps. And that scratch on his arm? She''d left it there herself-in the heat of the moment on the bedst night...


    "What''s got you staring? Your face is all red," Hull teased.