Yours to Hold: Ribbon Ridge Book Two (9 page)

“Why?” He pulled onto the freeway.

“Because we’re going to get to the bottom of this drug thing, and then we’ll be done.”

“Why?”

“Because . . .”
I can’t be in a relationship with the brother of the guy who died on my watch.
“Because we just need to be.”

He cast her a sly glance, and she thought maybe
he
should’ve been the fox. “What are you afraid of, Maggie? That we might like each other a little too much?”

Yes, exactly that.
“Maybe I’m dating someone.”

“Are you?”

“No. But I might want to.” Him, probably.

No, no, no
.

“I’m a little shocked you’re available,” he said. “Must be by choice. I imagine plenty of guys ask you out.”

Ha
. “Not as much as you might think.” It was kind of hard when you only frequented your place of employment, the nursery, the grocery store, and the gas station. “And anyway, I’m content to focus on my career right now.”

“Hmm, that sounds like you’re actively choosing not to date. Why? Bad relationship?”

Now who was therapizing whom? “Yes.” And why had she admitted that?

The look he sent her was one of surprise, as if he’d asked himself the same question she had. “What did the prick do?”

Her insides melted at his immediate support. “Things just ended badly.”

“Were you together a long time?”

“Nearly three years—most of grad school.”

“Why did it end badly?”

“You know, I think I’m going to take a card from your deck and change the subject.”

He laughed. “Fair enough. But I can’t promise I won’t ask you again someday.”

She was shocked to realize she wanted him to. The rest of the ride passed quickly as they talked about food and plants, which were clearly their primary passions. When they arrived at the gym, she was sorry the trip was over.

Kyle shut the car off and looked over at her. “Ready?”

“Yes, are you?”

“As ever.” He got out and came around, but she was already stepping out of the car. He closed the door after her and led her through the small parking lot into the gym. Again, his hand lightly touched her lower back, and she craved a longer connection.

An arctic blast of air conditioning met them as they moved inside. They stepped toward a wide front desk manned by a perky young woman. “Can I help you?” she asked.

“We’re here to see Shane Dawkins,” Kyle answered.

Perky Girl smiled. “Sure thing. I’ll buzz him.”

She punched something into an iPad, then looked up at them. “If you want to wait over there, he’ll be right up.” She pointed to a small waiting area with a handful of chairs.

Kyle walked over but didn’t sit. Maggie followed him, holding her purse over her shoulder. She could sense the tension in him and considered touching his hand but advised herself against it.

A minute later, Shane came to the front. He was a beefy guy with massive biceps and tree-trunk legs, though he was a few inches shorter than Kyle. His face lit up when he saw Kyle. “Bro! I didn’t think I’d see you.” His gaze drifted to Maggie, but he didn’t comment on her presence.

Kyle moved close to him. “Can we talk somewhere private?”

Shane’s expression sobered. “Sure, sure. This way.” He led them into a nearby office. It was gray and nondescript, probably where they signed up new memberships. “Have a seat.” He indicated a pair of chairs on one side of the desk as he closed the door.

Maggie sat, then looked up at Kyle’s clenched jaw. Throwing her own advice to keep him at arm’s length out the window, she clutched his fingers and pulled him to sit beside her.

His hand came around hers, holding her fast. She didn’t mind. On the contrary, her body thrilled to his touch.

Shane went to the other side of the desk. “What’s up?”

Kyle wiped his free hand over his mouth. “I don’t know how to segue into this casually,” he said, glancing at Maggie. “We’re looking for something, and I thought you could help us.”

Shane’s dark brows pitched low over his eyes. “You know I’ll help you if I can. Haven’t I always been there for you?”

Kyle’s hand tightened around hers, and she gave him a comforting squeeze, willing him to breathe through his anger. Why was she so good at monitoring and managing other people’s stress while she completely sucked at doing the same for her own? Amy’s words came back to her: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Totally
.

“Yeah.” Kyle’s voice sounded strained. “This is my . . . friend, Maggie.” Shane’s gaze dipped to their joined hands and reflected his disbelief. He judged them to be more than friends. So much the better for their ruse. Kyle continued, “She’s recovering from an injury and needs some oxycodone, but her prescription is out and she can’t get any until next week. Do you know where she can get some?” His words came out fast to her ears, but she felt very attuned to his anxiety. Probably because she felt it too, though not at the same level. Or maybe she just cared about him.

Shane looked at Maggie, his eyes sympathetic. “I wish I could help, but I’m not into that sort of thing.”

Kyle sat forward, dropping Maggie’s hand so that he could put both on the desk in front of him. “Come on, Shane. You know everybody. If you can’t get it, you know someone who can.”

“Probably, but I don’t get involved in that sort of thing.” He gave Kyle a stern look. “I know you think I’m a demon or something, but I’m not.”

The muscles in Kyle’s jaw worked, and Maggie could see the tension rioting through the pronounced veins in his arms and legs. “What about your boss? He’s gotta be into that stuff.”

Shane backed his chair up from the desk and stood. “Listen, bro, I need to get back to work.”

Kyle leapt up and circled around the desk toward Shane. “Don’t ‘bro’ me. I know Alex called you. Your number was in his contacts under a pseudonym. Tell me how you got him the drugs.” His voice was pitched low, and she could practically feel his fury resonating in the small room.

Shane held up his hands. “Dude, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I didn’t give him any drugs.”

“Bullshit!” Kyle pushed him in the chest, sending him back against the wall with a thud. “My brother is dead because some asshole sold him drugs that would kill him.”

Maggie jumped out of her chair and went around the desk. She clutched at Kyle’s arm. “Kyle, stop. Step back.”

He didn’t move, just stood there glaring at Shane.

Shane’s eyes narrowed, and he straightened his T-shirt. “Listen to your girlfriend and step off, bro.”

“You’re a lying sack of shit,” Kyle spat.

“Look, I didn’t have anything to do with whatever drugs you’re talking about. I placed some bets for him, that’s all.”

Holding Kyle’s arm, she felt some of the anger seep out of his frame. “What?”

Shane shrugged. “He called me up and placed some bets from time to time. Nothing big. He wasn’t a major player like you. I think it gave him some excitement since he couldn’t get out much.”

Maggie saw the change in Kyle’s expression—it was as if she was watching a flower wilt and die before her eyes.

Kyle’s shoulders sagged, the fight leaching out of him. “That’s all you did?”

“That’s it, bro, I swear.” Shane clapped Kyle’s shoulder, but he flinched away, moving back around the desk. “Kyle, I wouldn’t do that to you. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

Without looking back, Kyle strode from the office and left the gym.

Maggie had to jog to catch up to him. When they got to the car, he went directly to the driver’s side. “Hey, aren’t you going to open the door for me?” she asked, trying to defuse his frustration.

He came around, pinning her to the car. “I have nothing now.”

About the drugs. They were back to square one. “You don’t have nothing,” she said quietly, hating the agony in his voice. “You have me.”
What the hell, Maggie?
She wanted to bite the words back, but looking at him, seeing the vulnerability hiding just beneath his confident exterior, she felt a pull that wouldn’t let her.

He stared down at her, his blue-green eyes thunderous. “Do I?” He inched closer, his body pressing her back against the car. Thank goodness it wasn’t an excessively hot day, or the metal would’ve burned her. Or maybe not. As it was, she was far too aware of the heat in front of her to care what was behind her.

Knowing she was going to regret it, she ran her hand up his shirt and wrapped her palm around the base of his neck. Her fingers had barely met his flesh when his mouth came down over hers. She hadn’t really known what hot was before. A scalding, burning desire raced through her as his tongue edged around her lips, opening her. She tilted her head and pressed her hand against him, urging him deeper.

He ground his hips into hers, and God, she didn’t know if she’d ever felt a hunger like this. He was totally wrong for her with his past string of casual girlfriends, off-limits because of who he was and the way his family would judge her, the very embodiment of something she couldn’t have and shouldn’t want. And that only made it sweeter.

She brought her other hand up and tangled it in the hair on the back of his head as she kissed him back, thrusting her tongue against his.

His hands settled on her waist, digging into her through the thin T-shirt she wore. He pulled her against him, then drove her back, showing her exactly how he would make love to her, if she’d let him. Right now, she would’ve permitted him anything. Right now, she wanted to give him everything.

A catcall drew her back to reality—that, and the fact that they were making out in a parking lot in the middle of the afternoon.

She slid her hands from his neck and pulled away. His fingers still curled into her hips as he looked down at her, his eyes gleaming with their intensity.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, scooting to the side.

He stepped back and let her go. “I’m not. You hungry?” He opened the door for her.

She stood there and gaped, her entire body aquiver. He’d seemed as impacted by the kiss as her, but now . . . now he was hungry?

Her stomach growled in response. “Apparently so.” She climbed into the car and wondered how things had turned so quickly—not now, but before. When they’d come out to the car. That . . . kiss. That . . . passion.

He’d been upset. Because of Alex. And maybe because of Shane. What had he said?
I wouldn’t do that to you. Not after everything we’ve been through
.

Kyle started the engine, but Maggie put her hand on his forearm, needing to understand just what she was dealing with here. With him. “You need to tell me what’s up with you and Shane. Or you can take me home. What’s it going to be?”

Chapter Six

K
YLE LOOKED OVER
at Maggie, her dark curls caressing her face the way he longed to do. When she’d pulled away from their kiss, he felt as though he were being deprived of air, like when he held his breath waiting to see if he’d won the wager and then he lost . . .

He fought now to reclaim his equilibrium and not succumb to the dark thoughts swirling in his head. Part of him wanted to go back inside and place a bet with Shane. But most of him wanted to drag Maggie into the backseat and lose himself in her.

She’d asked him a question—given him an ultimatum really. Spill his guts about Shane or take her home. Either way, they had an hour-plus drive ahead of them. Did he want it to be chilly or flirty, the way the ride in had been?

He started the car. “Do you like tacos? There’s a food cart not far from here with the best Asian fusion street tacos.”

“Does that mean you’re going to talk?”

He threw her a gimlet eye. “Do I have a choice?”

“Of course you do. I’m not forcing you to talk to me, but I’d like to be here for you. If you’ll let me.”

He backed out and drove out of the lot. “Are you going to bill me?”

“I meant as your friend.”

“Is that what we are?” He glanced at her, saw that her lips were pursed.

She looked over at him. “Yes, I think so. Don’t you?”

He was sort of hoping that kiss meant they were more than friends, but was that such a good idea? Hanging out and working together were one thing. Anything more than that would be counterproductive to what he was trying to do. He couldn’t very well prove to his father that he’d changed while dating the one woman Dad would never be able to look at without thinking of his dead son.

Kyle ran his hand through his hair as he turned a corner and headed for the food cart. “I already told you how I met Shane.”

“Yes, but you didn’t tell me why he feels as though you have some sort of bond. Your addiction drove you out of town. Why? What happened?”

“I got in over my head, and I needed a change.” Growing antsy from the topic of conversation, he pulled over and threw the car into park. “You’re supposed to ask me about Shane, not about my addiction.”

She speared him with an unwavering stare. “Aren’t they irrevocably intertwined?”

He pulled the keys from the ignition and huffed out a breath. “Yes.”

“Have you ever dealt with your addiction? I mean, talked to someone?”

He kept his gaze fixed on the food cart on the next block, only sparing her a brief glance. “Therapy? No. I quit cold turkey when I moved to Florida, and that worked just fine.”

She was quiet for a moment, then her fingers touched his hand. “Did it?”

He opened the door. “Let’s eat.”

She jumped out and met him on the curb. “Not yet. What was Shane talking about when he mentioned what you’d been through together? What aren’t you telling me?”

He wanted to avoid the frank concern in her gaze. It reminded him of his family and their judgment. “Maybe I should just take you home.”

She stepped closer. “What are you so afraid of?”

“That you won’t like me very much.” He scowled. Why had he said that? Because it was true.

“I don’t think that’s it.” Her stare was unrelenting. “I think it’s because
you
don’t like you very much.”

“Oh for Christ’s sake, can you stop already?” He brushed past her and started walking toward the food cart. When they got there, he went immediately to the window and ordered. Irritation prickling through him, he turned to look at her. “What do you want?”

He’d expected her to look annoyed, but her face was serene. And that only frustrated him more. “Whatever you’re having,” she said.

He ordered and paid for the food and picked up their drinks. When he turned around, he saw that she’d snagged one of the few tables set off the sidewalk. Wondering why in the hell he hadn’t gotten back in the car and driven her home, he sat down beside her.

He knew why he hadn’t. He wanted to be here with her. He liked her. Far too much.

“You’re nosy,” he said at last.

“Yep.” She smiled, and her eyes crinkled in the sexiest way. “But I’ll stop. I don’t want to piss you off. I do think you should talk to someone about your addiction. It’s not something you overcome once. The temptation is always there.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Hell, he thought about placing a bet every damn day. It was amazing how little things could be turned into a game of chance—how many gallons would fill his gas tank, whether the coffee pot would be full when he got to work, the number of times he’d think of kissing Maggie before he fell asleep tonight.

“Yes, I do. I really will shut up now.” She sipped her iced tea. “Okay, one more question. Sorry. Are you really still friends with Shane? He made it seem like you were close.”

“No. I’m sure he’d like to be.” He snorted. “He’d like to bleed me dry again.”

She scoffed. “Some friend.”

“My sentiments exactly.” He didn’t want to be mad at her. He wanted to figure out what the hell he was going to do now that he’d hit a dead end. “We’re still right back where we started with these stupid drugs.”

She exhaled. “I know. Do you have any ideas?”

“Not one.” He took a drink of iced tea, wishing he’d gotten a beer instead. Damn, today was a disappointment—kissing Maggie notwithstanding. “I guess I’ll just go back to the beginning. Pore over every phone number, e-mail address—”

She jerked her head up. “E-mail. Have you read his e-mails?”

“Some.” There were thousands on Alex’s laptop. Kyle had skimmed through them, reading ones from people he didn’t know, but he hadn’t found anything to do with drugs. Plus, he’d done a search for certain words, including the names of the drugs. “I can go back through them. Scratch that, I
will
go back through them.”

“What about hiring a computer forensics specialist? Aren’t there people who can look for data on computers that might be hidden?” She shook her head. “I have no idea how that works, and maybe it’s a Hollywood trick that doesn’t actually exist.”

Excitement pulsed in his chest. “No, I think it does. I know what you’re talking about.” And he couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it sooner. “I’ll look into it.”

The vendor called Kyle’s name, so he got up and collected their food. They ate in relative silence. Kyle’s mind was working fast and furiously as he contemplated this new angle. All of his frustration and angst from earlier twisted into anticipation and enthusiasm.

“These are really good,” Maggie said, finishing her last taco. “Thanks for bringing me.”

“My pleasure.”

Her gaze caught his, and he sensed a thread of heat stretching between them. “Seems like I should get to interrogate you now that you’ve had your fun with me.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh, you think so?”

He shrugged. “Only seems fair.”

“Okay, one question.”

“One? Didn’t you ask me at least three? Maybe four? And really, one of them was an ultimatum.”

The little lines appeared between her brows.

He reached over and smoothed them away. “Stop that. I don’t want to cause you concern.”

She relaxed her features and folded her hands on the edge of the table. “Okay. Two questions.”

Two questions. He had to make these good. Immediately, he knew what he had to ask and turned the tables on her. “Your bad relationship. What happened?”

She said something almost inaudible, but he was pretty sure it was “motherfucker.” He suppressed a grin.

She looked at him dubiously. “I have to answer that?”

“Uh-huh.”

With a loud exhalation, she got up and took her empty paper tray to the garbage. He leapt up and followed her as she started toward the car.

“He was controlling. Things got . . . weird.”

He snagged her elbow and drew her to a stop. A primitive urge to find this asshole and beat him to within an inch of his life pulsed through him. “What do you mean?”

“He demanded too much of my time, wanted to decide who our friends were, where we would work—together.” She shook him off and walked quickly back to the car.

Kyle rushed to open her door, waited until she was situated, then closed it and went to his side. He started the car and pulled into traffic. “That’s it? You’re going to leave me hanging?”

“There’s not much more to tell. I didn’t think we were doing specifics here.” Her tone had gone cool.

“Hey, you started this, Nosey Parker.”

She threw him a quizzical look. “What’s a Nosey Parker?”

“You!” He laughed. “Okay, look, we’ve clearly entered a new stage of our relationship here. We’re friends, I guess. Friends get to know each other, and that’s what we’re doing. I’ll be here for you when you want to talk about Assclown.”

She chuckled. “Good name for him.”

For some reason he thought about the night he’d been waiting for her outside of her office. “I get one more question. That night that I scared you, had that happened to you before?” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. If she said yes, he really might hunt this bastard down.

She was quiet a long time. Too long. “Yes. He . . . stalked me. But I got a restraining order, and I haven’t heard from him in well over a year.”

Oh yeah, if he ever saw that guy, he was totally punching him in the face. “What’s his name?”

She shook her head. “Uh-uh. Two questions. And it’s in the past. There’s no need for you to go all
Gladiator
on him for me.”

“I completely disagree, but I won’t debate you.” Time to get back to the easier conversation they’d enjoyed earlier. He needed to lighten things up if he was going to snag another kiss when he took her home. “
Gladiator
? Why
Gladiator
?”

She rolled her gorgeous brown eyes. “Because it’s an awesome movie, duh. Russell Crowe kicks major ass.”

“You’re comparing me to Russell Crowe in
Gladiator
. Damn, that’s about the best compliment I’ve had all week.”

She punched him in the arm, reminding him sweetly of his sister Sara. “All week? You’re pretty full of yourself, you know that?”

“Look at me, baby; wouldn’t you be too?”

Her peals of laughter filled the car, and their conversation for the next hour centered around movie star comparisons and the benefits of a healthy ego.

When he pulled into her driveway, he was sorry to see their date come to an end. Date? Yeah, that had felt like a date.

This time when he got out of the car, she waited for him to open her door. He took her hand and helped her out, awareness tingling along every one of his nerve endings. Disappointingly, she withdrew her hand as he walked her to her front door.

She turned and looked up at him—the distance between them not very great since she was a good five foot eight. “Thanks for a fun afternoon. I’m sorry it didn’t quite turn out the way you wanted it to, but I’m hopeful you’ll find something in Alex’s laptop.”

“Yeah, me, too.” He edged closer, inhaling her floral, citrusy scent. “I’m pretty happy with the way today turned out. And today’s not technically over.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “I . . . uh, I have plans tonight.”

“Do you?” He moved even closer, and she backed against the door.

“Yes.” She pursed her lips.

“When you do that, I just want to kiss you, and it looks as though your mouth wants me to, too. Does it?”

She blinked up at him. Her tongue darted out and glossed her lower lip.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he murmured before claiming her mouth. He laid his palms flat against her door as he leaned in and angled his head to deepen the kiss.

Her mouth opened beneath his. He drove his tongue inside, sweeping against her moist heat. She tasted like sun and summer and everything he loved about life.
Delicious
.

Her hands came up and grasped the front of his T-shirt, holding him fast and steady while she rose up to meet him. It wasn’t enough; he wanted to feel her flush against him, breast to chest, hip to thigh, groin to pelvis, like in the parking lot earlier. God, that had been amazing. He’d wanted her right then and there, public indecency be damned. And now here he was contemplating picking her up and spreading her thighs . . .

He pulled his head up. “Let’s go inside,” he rasped.

“No.” She pushed him away—gently, but still away from her.

He frowned down at her. “What’s the matter? You were totally into that.” Yikes, if he wasn’t careful, he might venture into ex-boyfriend assclown territory. “I mean, am I reading this wrong?”

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, there was a certainty in her gaze. “You’re not, but I’m not ready to invite you in.”

He brushed her hair back from her face, his fingertips lingering on a soft, springy curl. “I’m not a vampire. It’s not like I’ll take advantage if you do.”

She smiled. “I know. Just not today.”

He exhaled, disappointed but hopeful since she hadn’t said never. “Fair enough.” He dipped his head and caught her lips once more. The kiss was brief but hot, and when he drew back, he tugged her bottom lip with his teeth and then grinned. “Next time, Maggie.”

Pivoting, he walked back to Hayden’s car, whistling. He knew when he turned around, she’d still be outside her door watching him. He wasn’t wrong. She waved as he backed out.

No, today hadn’t worked out the way he’d imagined at all. It had turned out far better.

K
YLE SIPPED HIS
iced coffee, tapped his foot to the song on Pandora, and smiled to himself as he looked over the final plans for the Ribbon Ridge Festival booth. He didn’t remember the last time he’d been in such a good mood. Yesterday had been amazing, despite the dead end with Shane. After leaving Maggie’s, he’d spent the evening scouring Alex’s computer, and this morning, he’d scheduled an appointment with a computer forensics specialist for early next week.

Things were good. Now if he could only figure out a way to take Maggie to the Ribbon Ridge Festival. Maybe he could pass her off as someone other than Alex’s therapist. No one else in the family had met her, as far as he knew. Perhaps he ought to verify that.