Love on the Forbidden Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  Not what he thought she was going to propose. Truth be told, he was a little disappointed. At least, his dick was. “And what if I win?”

  She laughed, like the possibility was absurd. “What do you want?”

  So many many things from this woman. But nothing he could take with a clear conscious, so he went with something safe. “We play cards. And no house rules this time.”

  “Lame, but fine. I’ll agree because I know you’re going to lose.” She held out her hand. “Deal?”

  Knowing a bet with Julie Ryder would never end well, he hesitated.

  “Scared of losing?”

  The woman was just asking to be taught a lesson. Too bad the only lesson plans running through his mind were the x-rated version.

  Grasping her hand in his own, he shook. “Deal.”

  The sound of a car horn honking behind them made him twitch in surprise. How long had the light been green? Pulling from the silky feel of her hand, he let off the brake, rolling through the intersection. That was why he needed to stay away from this woman. When he was around her, he didn’t think straight. He got distracted.

  “Pull in there. The parking lot is in back.”

  He followed her directions, pulling into one of the few spots left. “Popular place?”

  The click of her seatbelt hit his ears as she grasped the door handle. “When there’s only a few places in town, every restaurant is popular. But the food here is really good.”

  She carefully slipped out of the truck, and he took it as a good sign she didn’t wait for him to open her door. Not expecting chivalry meant it wasn’t a date. He still held the restaurant door open for her. Just good manners, he told himself.

  Merle’s Diner looked like every other diner in America. Booths running along the wall, a few tables out in the middle, and a line of stools at the counter. There was even a jukebox in the back. So far, the place did little to impress, but there was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen, so Liam held out hope.

  “Julie Ryder, is that you?” A woman with gray hair and wrinkles around her eyes stepped out from behind the counter.

  “Hi, Ellen. How are you?”

  “Ugh, back’s acting up, but I can’t complain.”

  “That’s not what she said last night!” came a shout from the kitchen.

  “Merle Stevens, you shut your old fool mouth before I come back there and shut it for you.”

  “Is that a threat or a promise, woman?”

  The teasing words were bantered about in a loving tone. No animosity, just a sense of a long relationship…the two must have worked together forever. A smile tugged at Liam’s lips. These two were obviously the owners of the establishment.

  “It is so lovely to see you, dear. You don’t come home often enough.” Ellen’s gaze fell his way, and her eyes narrowed. “And who is your gentleman friend?”

  Gentlemen friend? Did people still say that? This town was strange.

  “Oh, Ellen, this is Liam Graham. He went to the academy with my brother.”

  “Ah, the FBI agent.”

  Geeze, what is it with small towns and gossip? “Heard it through the grapevine?”

  “Honey,” the old woman began with a laugh. “I am the grapevine.”

  Good to know. He would make sure to watch what he said around this lady.

  Ellen turned back to Julie. “You look so beautiful in that dress, sweetie. But why so fancy? What are ya’ll doing tonight?”

  “I just wanted to get another use out of this dress, ya know? I hate buying something and only wearing it once.”

  Liam wondered if her excuse was true or she didn’t feel like exposing her drive Liam crazy with lust plan.

  “We thought we’d stop in for a bite then catch a show at the drive-in.”

  Great. Now, in a matter of hours, everyone in town would know their business.

  “Is that so?” The older woman eyed him with a smile. “I hear they’re playing that new romantic comedy with that English fellow.”

  “I can’t believe this town still has a drive-in.” He couldn’t believe any town still had drive-ins.

  “Oh sugar, this town has many hidden gems.”

  Her gaze darted to Julie, and he found he couldn’t argue with the woman.

  “Sit anywhere you like. I’ll be by in a moment to get your orders.”

  The sly proprietor motioned to the room. He deferred to Julie who made her way to a booth in the back corner. Dark, plenty of privacy.

  Just what I don’t need.

  He steeled himself, mentally talking his erection down while trying to read the menu. A fruitless effort on both parts.

  “What do you recommend?”

  She wasn’t even looking at her menu. “The cheeseburgers are fantastic here.”

  Perfect. Burgers were not date food. They were messy and usually came with onions. “Sounds good.”

  He glanced across the table at the soft tapping footfalls of someone approaching. Ellen stopped by, dropping off waters. He watched as Julie took a long drink. Her lips closed around her straw, cheeks hollowing as she sucked the liquid up into her mouth. His dick pressed into his zipper so hard he knew it would leave marks come morning.

  “Have ya’ll decided what you want?”

  Those sinful red lips pulled off, a drop of water glistening on her bottom lip. “Yes, we’ll both have cheeseburgers please.”

  Liam watched as Julie’s sweet, pink tongue peeked out, catching the falling drop of water before retreating back into her mouth. Holy hell. His entire body was burning from the inside out. He’d never felt fire like this before. What in the world had he been thinking agreeing to go out with her tonight?

  “Two cheeseburgers it is.”

  Ellen started to turn away, and he reached out a hand to stop her. “With onions, please. Extra onions.”

  He ignored the strange looks both women sent his way. If he was going to survive this night, he needed all the ammo he could get.

  Chapter 8

  Her game plan proved much harder than she originally believed. Julie walked with Liam along the sidewalk, inches between them, but miles apart. She’d been putting out her best moves tonight. Granted, her moves were a little rusty. Her last boyfriend had been…yikes, two years ago? Still, flirting was like riding a bike. You never forgot. She just needed a little more practice.

  When she first stepped out into the living room, she’d expected to roll Liam’s tongue back into his mouth. Fantastic on a girl’s ego to make a man speechless. But he hadn’t said anything. Instead, the guy practically ran for the truck. It hadn’t been until she flat out asked about her appearance that he said something. And even then, it hadn’t been very flattering.

  Then at dinner, he waffled between flirting and clamming up cold. And what had been the deal with the extra onions thing? She never knew him to be a big onion lover before, so why the specific request?

  Deep down she knew. People only ingested massive amounts of the smelly vegetable when they wanted to keep someone at bay. Someone like…her?

  That was a depressing thought.

  Trying to keep her discouraged musing from ruining the rest of the night, she nudged Liam with her shoulder. “So, what did you think of the burgers?”

  “Fantastic. You were right about Merle’s being good.”

  “When will you learn?” She gave him a wink when he glanced at her. “I’m always right.”

  He chuckled, shaking his head. “No, you’re just too stubborn to admit when you’re wrong.”

  “Hey, I admit it. It just happens so infrequently I have a hard time remembering.”

  Rich laughter boomed out from his chest. She liked making Liam laugh. The man looked seriously sexy when he was happy. Julie never understood women’s obsession with the dark and brooding type. Ugh, give her a happy, funny guy any day. She had no time to figure out a mystery or cheer up a brooder. How could someone who spent all day moping about make anyone else happy?

  “The cupcake sh
op is across the street—and they’re still open! We should cross here.”

  She glanced both ways, but at this time of night not many cars were out. With a place the size of Peak Town, there weren’t many cars out at any time.

  Liam placed a warm, firm hand on her lower back as they stepped out into the street. Her entire body heated from the simple touch. Breath caught in her throat, she tried not to react too much. It didn’t mean anything. The guy had been blowing hot and cold since she first arrived, but he’d always been chivalrous. He was simply helping her across the dangerous roadway.

  Yeah, he’s saving me from all the deadly dandelion fluff floating around.

  As much as she wanted to interpret his gesture as something more—considering there were no cars in sight—she knew he didn’t mean anything by it. Liam was a protective person. Came with his job she supposed. So, color her surprised when they finished crossing and he didn’t drop his arm, but instead looped it around her waist. Her eyes grew so wide she was afraid they’d pop right out of their sockets.

  Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, she leaned into his side, inhaling the sharp, spicy scent of his aftershave.

  Oooh, mama! A girl could get drunk off that smell. If she ever found out what he used, she would buy it in bulk just to take out and sniff on a hard day.

  “Cupcakes Above the Clouds?” he read the window sign as they approached the shop. “Clever name.”

  “Maggie inherited it from her grandmother.”

  “She as good a baker as the grandmother?”

  “Better.”

  His face squinted up in a doubtful expression. Ha! The man would soon learn never to doubt her.

  “Come on.” She pulled out of his embrace, reluctantly, so she could head through the front door, but grabbed onto his hand, unwilling to let go of the physical contact he finally established.

  The bell over the opening chimed. Tony, the young man who worked part-time stood at the counter. A grin split his handsome face, revealing two swoon-worthy dimples.

  “Ms. Ryder, how nice to see you again.”

  “Hi, Tony it’s nice to see you, too. And I thought I told you last time to call me Julie.”

  “Yes, Ms. Julie.”

  She chuckled at the ever-polite employee. “How are you? Last time I saw you, you were just about to take your citizenship test. How did you do?”

  His face took on a pleased glow. “I did very well. I am now a US citizen.”

  “He’s more than that,” said Maggie, coming from around the back. “He just got accepted to a very prestigious culinary school in New York.”

  The petite, auburn-haired woman smiled, patting Tony on the shoulder like a proud parent.

  He ducked his head with a shrug. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

  Maggie lightly smacked his shoulder. “It is, too. I’m proud of you, Tony. We all are.” She turned back to them. “Julie, it’s so nice to see you.”

  She opened her arms for the hug she knew was coming. Sure enough, the pint-sized baker came around the corner for a warm embrace. Over the past year, she and the two owners of the shop had become very good friends.

  “Good to see you, too. I’m surprised to find you open so late.”

  “Just during the summer weekends. With the tourism booming and the great press we’ve been getting, Lizzy thought it would be a good idea to stay open later to bring in more revenue.”

  Glancing at the almost empty display case, she guessed Lizzy was right.

  “I think she just wants me to make more cupcakes for her to eat.”

  “I heard that!” Came a shout from the back. “I do not eat all the cupcakes.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes.

  “I only eat about half of them.” The shop’s co-owner came around the corner, a huge grin on her face. “Hey, Julie. I didn’t know you were coming to town.”

  “Kind of a last minute trip.”

  “I see.” Lizzy eyed Liam, gaze gleaming with curiosity. “Are you going to introduce us to your friend?”

  Liam dropped Julie’s hand to extend his forward. She didn’t know if he disengaged because of her friend’s over-curious tone or if he was just being polite. Whatever the reason, the disconnect stung.

  “Liam Graham. I’m a friend of the Ryder family.” He shook both women’s hands as well as Tony’s.

  “Ah, yes. The FBI agent.”

  He turned to her, exasperation plain on his face. “Does everyone in this town know who I am?”

  She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Probably.”

  “Small town, not a lot to talk about,” Maggie explained with a chuckle.

  “Don’t worry. I felt the same when I first moved here from LA, but that’s not the only reason I know about you.” The tall woman gave a genuine smile. “You’re the one who helped Julie with my little problem a while ago. Thank you for that, by the way.”

  Like the white knight he was, Liam had come through for her then. They caught the bad guys thanks to the information he had gathered for them. How could she not be attracted to this man?

  “That was you?” Maggie asked.

  He shrugged like it was no big deal. Another reason she adored him. With his skill and drive, he could be a cocky son of a gun, but he wasn’t. To him, it was just his job. Something he was happy to do.

  “I think that qualifies you for—”

  “Free cupcakes!”

  She laughed as the women finished the sentence in unison. Lizzy and Maggie were wonderful. They had serious friendship goals.

  “That’s actually why we’re here. I told Liam you made the best cupcakes in the world, Maggie.” She nudged him. “We even bet on it.”

  The petite woman blushed, eyes widening. “Oh my, way to put on the pressure, Julie.”

  “No pressure if it’s true.”

  “Um, what kind of cupcake would you like?”

  Julie watched him glance over the mostly empty case.

  “What do you have left?”

  “May I suggest the Chocolate Volcano Madness?” Tony spoke from behind the counter. “It is Ms. Maggie’s most delicious in my opinion.”

  Kind, good looking, and a sweetheart, the young man was sure to be a heartbreaker if he wasn’t already. She had to agree with his suggestion. That particular cupcake was one of her favorites as well.

  “Sounds delicious.”

  The young employee grabbed a dark chocolate cupcake from the case, setting it on a plate. Red cream filling oozed out the top. Julie noted Maggie held her breath and Lizzy smiled a knowing grin as Liam brought the dessert to his mouth. Those tempting full lips opened, pearly white teeth closing around the dark, moist cake. She watched as he chewed, Adam’s apple bobbing with his swallow.

  A flush rose as her body went molten.

  Good grief. She was getting turned on by the man eating a cupcake. She had issues. Yeah, not-getting-laid-for-two-years issues.

  A low groan escaped his lips, and she swore she felt it between her legs. She’d heard of food porn before, but she doubted this was what the phrase meant.

  “So?” she asked once she could regain her senses. “What do you think?”

  The air filled with anticipation. It wasn’t just her, everyone in the shop held their breath. Maggie looked worried, Lizzy confident, and Julie was just plain turned on.

  Eyes bugging out with awe, his jaw dropped. “That is the best damn cupcake I have ever eaten.”

  “I knew it! I win.”

  “Of course it is.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  “I knew you would agree.”

  Though everyone had spoken at once, Julie knew Liam heard her. His gaze slanted her way, golden eyes filled with too many emotions for her to sort out.

  “You’re really going to cash in?”

  “Did you make a bet with Julie?” Lizzy laughed. “Oh man, you are such a sucker. Don’t you know the Ryder family cheats?”

  “House rules,” she insisted. “And no one can los
e when betting on Maggie’s cupcakes.”

  “You won’t get any argument from me on that one.” He quickly shoved the rest of the cupcake into his mouth, groaning around a smile.

  After a bit more small talk—and a few more cupcakes—she and Liam said their goodbyes. The sun had started to sink behind the mountains, casting the clouds in beautiful hues of gold and purple.

  “It’s beautiful up here. The city has sunsets, but nothing like this.”

  “I love it here. Aspen is nice, but I really miss this place some days.”

  “Why don’t you move back?”

  Liam once again guided her across the street with his hand on her lower back. Much to her dismay, he didn’t continue the contact once they reached the sidewalk. She sighed. “Not much call for lawyers in Peak Town. The few that practice here have been doing so forever.”

  “Shouldn’t they retire soon then?”

  Yeah, but that didn’t mean she would take their place. She loved her hometown and thought about moving back on numerous occasions, but the timing never felt right. There was always something…missing.

  She glanced at the man walking beside her. Something…or someone. She knew what kept her from moving back home—the slim hope that one day Liam would wake up and see her as a woman, a woman he wanted. She knew his job with the bureau had him traveling at times, but most of his time was spent in Denver. A move back home would signal permanence to her, settling down. She didn’t want to do that if there was a chance, any chance, she had a shot at a relationship with this man.

  Not to toot her own horn, but she could practice law anywhere. Aspen was just a town she enjoyed with a job at which she excelled. But she was confident she could excel anywhere she landed. Aspen, Peak Town, Denver, anywhere. So, until Liam opened his eyes—or heaven forbid, flat out rejected her—she would keep her moving options open. A move back home felt permanent. She wasn’t ready for that yet.

  “Perhaps, but I’m not really looking to relocate just yet.” They reached the car, and she leaned against the passenger side door. “Anyway, I know what you’re doing.”

  Liam stood a few inches in front of her, arms crossed over his impressive chest, one light brow raised. “What am I doing?”