Whiskey Undone

by Carrie Ann Ryan

“That was no slip of the tongue, Grandma.”

  “That’d better have been a slip of the tongue.”

  Kenzie and Ainsley fell onto the couch, holding their stomachs as they giggled like schoolgirls. Melody joined in as Ms. Pearl buffed her nails.

  “I’d say my work here is done, but I don’t want to leave without hearing all the dirty details.” Ms. Pearl leaned forward then, her eyes cooling. “I also want to hear about what happened last night. Fox didn’t say much, as I don’t know what he thought he could tell us, but I’ve had my times dealing with law enforcement over the years, young lady. If you need me, I’m here. Same with that boy of yours.”

  “He’s not mine, Ms. Pearl.” Ainsley hadn’t meant for those to be the first and only words she said. But, apparently, that was where they were going to start.

  “He’s yours, even if neither of you is ready to admit it.”

  “Grandma,” Melody warned again.

  Ms. Pearl held up her hands. “I’ll stop for now, but why don’t you start at the beginning, Ainsley. At least, the beginning of where you need to. You’re practically jumping out of your skin right now, needing to let some of what you have out. We’re all women here, all family. No matter what happens after tonight, what happens after this business with the law is over, you’re still one of us.”

  Tears stung Ainsley’s eyes, and Kenzie reached out and gripped her hand. She squeezed back, then leaned into Melody’s shoulder. Ainsley sat on the couch between her two new friends and in front of Ms. Pearl, the woman who was already a better mother than she’d ever had, and told them about her fight with Loch.

  The first fight and the lack of date that had led to their night together on this couch.

  The second fight that had led to him trying to rip her out of his life.

  The third fight that had ended before anything could be resolved.

  The fact that there had been so many fights recently between them hurt Ainsley, but she knew there had to be a resolution soon. She just prayed it would be something she could live with.

  And because she couldn’t finish talking about the final fight without mentioning Fox, Dare, and the police, Ainsley told them everything she knew about the investigation and the fact that she was indeed Loch’s alibi.

  “I don’t understand why they think Loch had anything to do with Dennis’s death,” Kenzie said with a frown. “Anyone who’s a local in Whiskey knew Dennis. He was a fixture at the gym and a few other places around town. I’m still pretty new here, and even I knew him.”

  “Same here,” Melody added. “It’s like the cops don’t know who to pin it on, so they’re looking at Loch just because he was found outside the gym. Unless there’s more to it.”

  Ainsley shook her head. “I don’t want to think like that. I want to think they are looking at all connections and will soon find the real person. There’s no way it could have been Loch, and I already said I’d sign whatever I need to, even go to court or whatever happens next for alibis. I’m out of my depth on this. But, you guys, it’s like Loch knows something we don’t. He sent Misty away to her grandparents, and he’s pushing me away to keep me safe. I just don’t know what he thinks he’s keeping me safe from.”

  “Then you’re going to have to find out,” Melody said quickly. “I can’t read that man, and I haven’t known him long, but I have a feeling I’m not alone in that. But if he wants to protect you from something, it’s all circling around whatever is going on in Whiskey right now. It has to be important. If anyone is going to get him to talk, it’s you, Ainsley.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “Of course, it won’t be easy,” Ms. Pearl added. “Nothing worth fighting for is easy. I don’t know that boy’s past, but there’s obviously something there from what he’s saying. And though he wants to keep you in the dark to keep you safe, that clearly isn’t working for either of you. Explain that. Because the best way to keep yourself safe is to know what’s going on around you.”

  “She’s right,” Kenzie said. “You can’t let him get away with his big, bad protector role he’s so good at. It took me forever to figure out what was hurting Dare, and you know my past, you know what I ran from. In the end, Dare and I knowing what each other went through helped us figure out how to get through what came after.”

  Ainsley gripped her friend’s hand again and squeezed. Kenzie had been through hell and back. Dare too for that matter. But now the couple was getting married and thinking of adding to their family.

  “I think he’s going to have to tell me what’s going on,” Ainsley said. “I’m not going to give him another choice.”

  “And what about the other thing?” Kenzie asked softly. “What about you and Loch?”

  Ainsley shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “I knew from the moment I saw you with him that you had feelings for him.” Melody winced at her words. “I mean, I’m sure others didn’t notice, but I was kind of on high-alert when I moved here and was thrust into your family.”

  Her family. They kept using those words, and Ainsley was afraid of what would happen if she and Loch didn’t mend things. Would they still be her family? And what if she and Loch tried…something, and it went to hell?

  What would she have then?

  She may have loved her best friend for years, but that didn’t mean she knew what to do with those emotions.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do about Loch, but I do know that I’m starving, and all of this looks amazing. Can we eat and talk about silly things for a bit? We can come back to the drama that is my life later, but right now, I could use some other girl-talk.”

  Her friends looked at her, then at each other before everyone dug into their food and drinks. Loch was always on Ainsley’s mind, even when she and the other women talked about TV shows and the latest Whiskey gossip that didn’t have anything to do with mystery and death.

  By the time she made it to the first-floor guest room she’d share with Kenzie for the night, she was full, exhausted, and emotionally drained. Her friend had gone back to the library for a bit to talk to Dare on the phone, and Ainsley figured she’d fall right to sleep.

  She didn’t count on Loch’s name popping up on the screen of her phone as soon as she sat down on the bed.

  She didn’t want to answer.

  She had to answer.

  “Loch.”

  “Wanted to check on you.” His gruff voice sent shivers down her spine, and she did her best not to moan. Because now when she heard that deep voice of his, she could only remember what he sounded like when he yelled as he came inside her.

  She wouldn’t be sleeping well tonight, after all.

  “How’s Misty?” It was the first thing she thought to ask without letting herself get angry with him or herself again.

  “I talked to her earlier. She’s having fun with her grandparents for the week.”

  “Are you going to tell me why she’s there?”

  “You know we planned a week with them.” He didn’t answer the question, not really, and they both knew it.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t know it was this week.” Ainsley knew it had to do with whatever else was going on with him, but as long as Misty was safe and loved, Ainsley would try to understand.

  “Well, it is.” He cleared his throat. “Be safe tonight. I’m sorry I yelled. But there're things you don't know.”

  She bit her tongue so she wouldn’t yell before she spoke. “I can't know them if you won’t tell me.” A pause. “I thought we were friends. That there weren’t any secrets between us.” The latter was a lie since she’d always kept her feelings from him, but it wasn’t like she was on a pedestal or anything.

  “We are.”

  “Then you aren't very good at it. Because you need to tell me. I can’t stay safe like you want unless I know all the facts.”

  “I can't.” He didn’t sound as sure as he had, though. But it still hurt to hear.

  “Then things will have to stay as th
ey are, uncertain and not good for either of us.” She let out a shaky breath. “Goodnight, Loch.”

  She hung up before he could say anything else, afraid that she’d let her tears fall. If she weren’t careful, she’d lose everything. The problem was, if she didn’t take a chance, she was afraid she’d realize she didn’t have anything at all.

  Something moved outside the window, and she froze, telling herself it was just a trick of the moonlight because she was already on edge. But, still, she went to the window, staying out of eyesight, and quickly shut the blinds before Kenzie came back.

  Loch was keeping her on edge for more reasons than one, but someone had died in Whiskey, and the killer hadn’t been caught yet. Being uneasy might just be her new state of being.

  Chapter 10

  Loch’s muscles strained as he finished his last chin-up, his body not showing it since he could do these in his sleep, but his mind was already exhausted from another sleepless night—not a good way to stay on top of things.

  He let go of the bar, dropped to his feet, and started stretching. He was doing his best to act normal and not let anything going on around him visibly affect him. Riker had sent that note, Loch was sure of it now, and that meant that Loch couldn’t be too careful when it came to anything having to do with Dennis—and now the company. His company.

  Shit.

  He hadn’t done anything about that other than tell his lawyer. He didn’t know what he was going to do, but dissolving it and walking away seemed like the best option. Yet he didn’t know how to do that, especially with all the sensitive data the company dealt in, so it was just another item on the list.

  After finding Riker.

  Loch had sent word to his contacts to keep an eye out but not make a splash about it. He hoped to hear something soon, because things were getting a little tricky here, and Loch wanted to make sure his family was safe.

  His family, including Ainsley.

  He closed his eyes tight, pushing away those thoughts as he set himself up for box jumps. His gym had an open floor plan with a few rooms off to the side for classes, so as he set up his station, he could still check out the rest of the gym and who was working out.

  He knew Ainsley was over on the elliptical, getting her workout in for the evening. He had known she was there since she first walked into the building. He didn’t want her walking outside alone, not at night, and wasn’t even comfortable with her doing it during the day, so he’d find a way to make sure she had someone with her when she went home.

  But because he was a mess, he wasn’t sure it would be him.

  Loch rolled his neck then squared his shoulders, preparing for the jumps. He’d go slow and easy at first, get his rhythm and his balance, then increase the intensity over time. His spotter, another of his trainers, stood by, ready to help if needed. Loch may own the place and know what he was doing, but he wasn’t stupid—contrary to how he felt lately.

  He landed the first jump with ease, then started his counts. He was sweaty, his body aching, and almost ready to call it a day when the first whistle shot in the air. He didn’t falter, but he did glare at the woman who’d done it. The woman in her sixties on the treadmill just winked, giving him a wave, and he rolled his eyes before starting the next jump.

  He did it two more times, ignoring the crowd staring at him, and when he landed his final jump, one of his highest but not the highest he’d ever done, the gym erupted in cheers and applause.

  His crew was laughing, and he wiped the sweat out of his eyes as some of the women in the room cat-called. He wasn’t a fan of anyone doing that to any of the people in his gym. This was a safe place for everyone, but since the whole place had been filled with tension for the past few days after what happened with Dennis, Loch let it slide.

  This time.

  If it happened again, everyone would find out exactly what kind of asshole he was.

  Then Loch looked up into Ainsley’s face, laughter in her eyes and a smile quirking the corners of her lips, and he swallowed hard. Things weren’t good between them. Hell, things were pretty damn terrible because of words spoken and decisions made. But if she could laugh, even with her eyes, and give him a small smile, then maybe it wasn’t so bad.

  “I’m done.” He spoke to his spotter as he cleaned up, but he wasn’t positive he wasn’t talking to himself, as well. Because the hell of it was, when he looked at Ainsley with her darkening eyes and the sweat running down her chest as she worked out, he wasn’t sure why he was staying away.

  He wasn’t sure why he’d ever wanted to.

  And that was the problem, wasn’t it? He wasn’t sure of anything anymore, and it was making his thoughts tangle, and his words come out harder than he wanted. He kept making mistakes, and that could be costly when it came to whatever the hell was going on. With everything.

  Riker was part of this, Loch knew it. He was almost positive the note had to do with him, knew the company had to be closed, and knew that whatever had happened with Dennis was only the beginning. And because it was all happening at once, Loch didn’t even have time to mourn Dennis, the man he’d worked with and known in his life for long enough for it to truly matter. Or maybe, he had the time but couldn’t let himself do it because if he did, he’d make more mistakes.

  That’s how it usually worked for him.

  And if he made mistakes now, those he loved would end up getting hurt.

  Including Ainsley.

  Yes, Loch loved her, always had, but the idea that it could be a different kind of love wasn’t something he’d allowed himself to think about for years.

  Now, it was all he could think about.

  He made his way to his office, closing the door behind him since he needed time to think and to work. Ainsley would be safe with so many people around, and his staff knew to come and get him when she was ready to leave. They might not understand what was going on between him and Ainsley—not like anyone did, including himself—but they knew that Loch was watching out for her. And since all of them were mourning and on edge themselves with Dennis’s death, they were careful. Hell, everyone was doing such a good job of acting normally, at acting as if they weren’t afraid of what was going on around them, that maybe thinking about Ainsley and Loch and what might be between them was a salve.

  The door opened after a perfunctory knock, and Loch almost scowled until he looked up and saw Ainsley walk in, sweat on her brow and a guilty expression on her face. She locked the door behind her, and he figured that she didn’t want anyone else to hear what she had to say.

  He did his best not to notice the way her leggings cupped her ass or the fact that her sports bra pressed her tits together perfectly. Then he tried not to think about how she would look if he slid his dick between those tits of hers, and he had to quickly adjust himself behind his shorts.

  Then…then, he thought about the fact that he’d already seen her naked, felt her naked, and wondered if maybe it was okay that he thought all those things. Because from the way her eyes darkened, he didn’t think her thoughts were any purer than his.

  “Hey,” he said, his voice gruff. It was always gruff, but it tended to be deeper around her. He’d tried to think it was because he could be himself around her, and that was part of it, but it was more. So much more. Damn it.

  “Hey.” She blew out a breath. “So, I’m here to apologize.”

  He stood up, his eyes widening. “What the hell do you have to apologize for? I’m the one being an asshole.”

  Ainsley shook her head then looked him in the eyes before shrugging. “That might be the case. And it’s usually the case since we’re friends and we tend to be assholes to each other. I mean, if we can’t trust each other to act like idiots, then what’s the use?”

  She was right, but before he could say anything in response, she continued. “I’m here to say I’m sorry for hanging up on you last night. It was a crap move. Yeah, you kicking me out of the house was a crap move, too, but I figured you did it because of whatever
you’re hiding. And when I figure that out, it’ll all make sense.”

  He shook his head, confused as usual when it came to Ainsley. “You seem pretty confident that I had reasons that make sense.”

  She stepped closer, and he had to adjust himself again. He couldn’t help it when she was near, especially wearing a tiny outfit and covered in sweat. It did it for him.

  She did it for him.

  “I’m always confident. Though not when it comes to you. Not lately. But that’s something I need to work out on my own. I mean, if you don’t like having sex with me and don’t want to do it ever again, then fine. But maybe we can comment on it. Or…not. But what I came back here to tell you is that I’m sorry for hanging up. I was tired and whining, and I don’t like when I act like that.”

  He had no idea where to start with that comment, but he spoke anyway. “You weren’t whining. And I gave you cause to act however you wanted.”

  They were standing right in front of each other then, their bodies close but not touching.

  “We keep calling each other best friends. And for so many years, we acted like it. We were. But for the past couple of days, we’re not acting like it. And I know for a fact that being friends means standing by each other, even in the hard times. And, Loch? These count as hard times. Don’t they? We should stick together when things aren’t perfect.”

  Loch cursed under his breath, then cupped her face. He hadn’t meant to touch her, then again, he hadn’t meant to do a lot of things recently. “Ainsley.”

  Then he did the thing he shouldn’t.

  He kissed her.

  Her tongue brushed along his, and he growled, deepening the kiss as he kept his hands on her face, needing to keep them there in case he moved too quickly, in case he scared either of them by doing what he shouldn’t.

  By stopping the denial.

  When he pulled away, her eyes were wide, and they were both panting.

  “Nothing’s been perfect between us for a while, Ainsley, but that’s not on you. It's me trying to keep my hands off you because you're one of the most important people in my life. And me and sex…we don't mix. My partners always leave, Ainsley. And I can't have you leave.”