by Barb Han
And Rylan had crammed at the table with Will and a couple of ranch hands more than once. Being here reminded him of everything he’d lost, his mother and then his friends, and anger welled up inside him at his past weakness.
He couldn’t help but glance down at his daughter and feel nothing but pain at the fact she would never meet her grandmother. Had his mother been around for him? No. But she’d worked hard to keep food on the table and never asked for anything in return. As far as Rylan was concerned, the woman was a saint. It mattered little that he didn’t really know her. He loved her the same. Losing her had sent him into a downward spiral that had cost him everything he cared about, and most of his self-confidence.
The door opened and Amber slipped inside carrying a full armload of baby items.
“That was quick,” he said, ignoring the way his heart fisted when he saw her again, and how much he didn’t want to think about her but did while she was gone.
The kiss they’d shared on that couch had been out of nowhere and one he’d never forget as long as he lived. She’d turned to him, locked gazes and then pressed her lips to his. He should’ve stopped her and eventually he did. But not before a bone-searing kiss that left him wanting more than he could allow.
“I knew where everything was.” Before she could finish her sentence, he was by her side, helping her unload the supplies. She had a smaller and softer version of the baby carrier. She set it up next to the couch. “When she wakes and has a feeding, which should be any minute now, we’ll change her and move her to where she’ll be more comfortable.”
Rylan stood by helpless as she unfolded the cloth seat and opened the straps, so it would be ready for Brooklyn.
“Dinner’s in that bag,” she continued. “I grabbed a pan of Joyce’s lasagna from the fridge.”
“I miss her cooking,” he said.
“Heat it up and I’ll get everything ready over here.” This wasn’t the time for old memories. Rylan knew better than to allow Amber’s voice to roll over him like it was. He knew better than to think about the kiss they’d shared. And he especially knew better than to compare it to all the others since, because they came nowhere close to matching until she’d kissed him again the other day.
Amber Kent proved to be trouble he didn’t need in his already overcomplicated life. Damn that life could change with the snap of a finger. It had been like that when he’d lost his mother and had caught him completely off guard.
Being here on the Kent property, Rylan couldn’t help but remember the past—a part of his past that he wasn’t exactly proud of. He wouldn’t go back and change it if he could, mistakes and all. It had made him a better person. It had made him the man he was today. The kind of man who would step up and take care of his responsibilities no matter what else it cost him. A man who wouldn’t think twice about offering a helping hand to anyone in need.
Amber’s words from earlier started to take root. Maybe he hadn’t taken that first drink. Rylan hoped like hell that was true because if he had, that said there’d been no change in him, no growth, and after everything he’d been through to earn his sobriety, he didn’t want that to be true.
Brooklyn started to cry, and Amber went right to her while he fixed a bottle. They were getting pretty damn good at parenting together, and he couldn’t imagine doing any of this without her. Reality was a gut punch. Because once this ordeal was over, she’d go back to her life here on the ranch and he’d go back to his. For the first time, he felt unsettled about his decision to come back to Jacobstown. But where else would he go?
He chalked his feelings up to not facing the Willow family yet. It was part of his commitment to his sobriety to apologize to those he’d hurt in the past. He’d saved the Willows for last along with Will. Facing those two was going to be the most difficult, and he’d wanted to be strong.
Amber fed his daughter while he set the table.
Rylan’s cell buzzed, and he stopped long enough to answer. “What’s going on, Zach?”
“I did some digging around into Mr. Robinson’s business—”
“Hold on a sec while I put you on speaker,” Rylan interrupted. He moved to the couch and sat on the arm while holding out the cell between him and Amber while she burped the baby. “Amber’s here. You were saying that you poked around in Mr. Robinson’s business?”
“That’s right. It turns out that Alicia Ward was one of his employees. She left almost a year ago,” Zach informed them.
“That would be around the time Alicia got pregnant.” Amber looked up at Rylan, and his fingers flexed and released from wanting to touch her.
“There’ve been domestic violence and assault claims against Mr. Robinson by his wife and a woman by the name of Charlotte Pemberton. I traced her to an escort service out of Dallas. Most of the claims came from his wife, but she dropped each one. It’s the same story for Ms. Pemberton,” Zach said.
A picture emerged that made Rylan’s gut twist into a knot.
“Would those cases be enough to stop the Robinsons from being able to adopt a child since they didn’t stick?” Amber asked.
“A legitimate adoption agency would have a difficult time getting over physical violence charges. A good interviewer would be able to see right through the Robinsons.” Zach paused a beat. “Mr. Robinson also chairs a reelection campaign for the judge who resides over his county. George is influential in Texas.”
Several thoughts raced through Rylan’s mind. Had Robinson paid Alicia to get pregnant when he and his wife couldn’t have a child? And then had Alicia decided not to go through with it? That she couldn’t do that to a child? To the man she’d targeted to be the child’s father?
“I also found out that Alicia has a sister who lives in Austin. Her name is Adeline. The two were reportedly close until last year. Adeline claims not to have seen or heard from her sister in the past six months,” Zach stated.
“We know she’s alive,” Rylan stated. “Or she was. Otherwise, Brooklyn wouldn’t be in the world. We know Alicia was alive a few days ago because she fits the description given by Chess.”
“That’s what I’ve found out for now. Technically, I can hold Mr. Robinson for seventy-two hours, but that’s a risky move. For now, the Robinsons are in my office. I’m treating them like victims rather than suspects. I thought you should know where we stood,” Zach said.
“I appreciate it,” Rylan offered.
“Zach, before you go. Can I ask a question on a different subject?” Amber asked.
“Go ahead.”
“It’s about Breanna. With everything that’s going on, have you been able to locate her parents?” Amber’s voice was low and reverent. Rylan could see the sadness in her eyes when she spoke about the victim.
“No, I haven’t. I have a deputy dedicated to searching for them, though,” he said.
“Word was that they moved to San Antonio a few years ago.” Amber paused a beat. “I’d heard Breanna was back and that she was still using. I know that won’t affect how vigorously you work to bring justice to her killer, Zach. I’m just saying we might want to look into that community to see where she’s been and who she’s been hanging around with lately.”
“I’ll make a list and start there, Amber. Thanks for the information.” Zach’s voice was somber.
“You’re welcome, Zach. Are we back to the same suspects?”
“Reggie Barstock still tops the list. I’ll look for any connection between him and Breanna. There were no signs of a struggle, which leads me to believe she was familiar with her killer.” Amber visibly shivered, and Rylan figured it was the thought someone she knew could do something so unimaginable.
“There’s one more thing,” Zach said. “I had Deputy Perry poke around in Teague Thompson’s practice, and he’s been associated with illegal adoption rings in the past. The guy is dirty but he’s also connected. His uncle is a senator, and
their connections in Texas run deep.”
“Sounds like one hell of a web,” Rylan stated.
“It is, which means we have to build a solid case for you and Brooklyn in order to keep the two of you together. Perry is on his way over to Alicia’s sister’s house in Austin. Turns out Alicia’s laptop is at her sister’s place.” Zach was a miracle worker and a damn fine investigator once he had a trail to follow. “Hang in there a little longer. I’m tying up the Robinsons here, but I don’t have enough evidence to hold them if they decide to walk out the door. If I can support the emerging picture, I’ll have enough evidence to make an arrest.”
“Any sign of Alicia?” Rylan asked. The unspoken possibility was that Mr. Robinson had already gotten to her and she was already dead.
“Nothing yet but her laptop might give us a few leads,” Zach said.
Rylan ended the call after thanking the sheriff for the update.
“I vaguely remember Reggie Barstock growing up. What’s the deal with him?” he asked Amber.
“He was Maddie’s boy,” Amber told him.
“I remember her. Sweet lady.” Rylan didn’t know the family very well, and he had no memories of Reggie. “She had that business downtown for the longest time.”
“That’s right,” Amber agreed. “All I remember about Reggie is that he stuck to himself in school. He didn’t play any sports, and I don’t remember him being much of a student. I think Deacon was a little surprised he graduated from high school. My brother said there’d been some talk of Reggie being held back for grades or absences. Maddie Barstock was a saint. No one could figure out how Reggie had turned out so opposite except that he’d had a no-good father. You know how the town can be once they lock on to something. Anyway, his mom’s reputation was golden, and she’d been a kind employer to everyone who’d worked for her. She passed away last year and left Reggie out of the will. Ms. Barstock left everything to her grandniece, Chelsea.”
Rylan perked up at hearing the name. “The same one I met at your home the other day?” he asked.
“That’s her. She’s an amazing person, and she owns the craft pizza restaurant on the town square.” Amber practically beamed with pride. She’d always been all about family. But then the Kents were a tight-knit bunch. Rylan had seen it firsthand even though he’d learned to appreciate so much more now that he was a grown man.
“I’m sure Reggie didn’t take too kindly to what he would view as his inheritance going to someone he didn’t know,” Rylan concluded.
“It was strange knowing he’d been slipping in and out of town without anyone seeing him. Zach found out last year and since Reggie has a limp on his left side—”
“Those are easy dots to connect, considering you said it was always the left paw or hoof. And now Breanna’s left foot was—”
She flashed her eyes at him like she could hear the details even though they both knew what had happened because of the crime scene photos.
“So, yeah, the guy disappeared after high school and most had believed him to be gone for good. He resurfaced last year full of bitterness, and not the least bit sad about his mother’s passing. All he seemed to care about was his inheritance. He tried to scare Chelsea into leaving town, which was awful. Apparently, he’s been living in Louisiana all this time getting in and out of trouble,” she said.
“What kind of crimes was he committing?” Rylan asked.
“Zach said it was small-time stuff. But everyone agrees that he needs to be watched. I mean, he knows Jacobstown, having grown up here. And, sure, a picture has been emerging that he’s the one, but Zach isn’t convinced yet. No one can reconcile the fact that he didn’t come across as the smartest guy, and the profile of the Jacobstown Hacker indicates someone with a higher IQ.” She blew out a breath in frustration, and he realized how taxing it was for her to talk about this.
Brooklyn started fussing, and before he could react Amber was at the little girl’s side. It was a good time for him to think about getting a meal into Amber and making sure she got rest. He could see that she took care of everyone around her. But who took care of her?
“The baby’s settled,” Amber announced with pride that stirred places in his heart he thought long since dead. He’d been dead inside far too long.
“Come eat.” He’d set the table, and the lasagna smelled damn near out of this world.
Amber joined him and took her seat. Tired and frazzled, she was still beautiful. She must’ve been starved because she didn’t say a word until she’d cleared half her plate. Rylan liked watching her enjoy a good meal. There were other things he liked about her that he didn’t want to focus on.
“I know Joyce is an amazing cook but this food is beyond good,” Amber said. The sound of appreciation in her voice stirred his heart.
Rylan glanced down at his empty plate with a forced smile. “Like I said, I haven’t had this good of a meal in longer than I can remember.”
“I’m going to finish eating, take a shower and then I want to talk about why that is, Rylan.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rylan made a pot of coffee. He’d been successfully avoiding the topic of his and Will’s blowout up until now, but he figured he owed Amber an explanation. She deserved to know the reason because he could see an emotion stir behind her eyes that he hadn’t been able to pinpoint until now. It finally dawned on him that she blamed herself, that kiss, for him running off to join the military. So, she most likely blamed herself for the fight between him and Will.
He’d showered in the spare bathroom downstairs while Amber used the one in the apartment. He knew his way around the Kent Ranch, so it was easy to navigate even with little lighting. He also knew where all the supplies were stocked. He’d found an extra set of clothes that roughly fit, brushed his teeth and had settled at the table with his first cup when Amber emerged from the bathroom.
Her hair was down. It fell well past her shoulders. She had on a Grateful Dead T-shirt and shorts that were almost hidden by the oversize tee. Her long legs looked silky and smooth. He clenched and released his hands. Then, he picked up his coffee mug and forced his gaze away from her attributes. After taking a sip, he stood up. “You want a cup?”
“Stay right where you are, Rylan. I’ll get it.” She shot a smile that was a dagger to his heart. It was difficult to maintain objectivity when she was in the room and everything about her was temptation.
After pouring her cup and doctoring it up, she joined him at the table.
“You should probably get some rest,” he said to her.
“I highly doubt if I could. I keep thinking about Breanna and what happened. And then this situation, the uncertainty… Besides, if I’m really that tired, I could drink a cup of coffee on my way to bed and still sleep,” she said with a half smile. It didn’t reach her eyes and he knew why.
“You want to talk about it?” He liked talking to Amber even though he was normally the silent type.
“I know you and my brother got into a fight but you left and never looked back. I didn’t think I’d see you again.” Her voice hitched and her cheeks flushed as though the admission, the sadness, embarrassed her.
When she looked up at him with a mix of hurt and defeat in her eyes, his heart fisted in his chest.
“I’m sorry I disappeared on you,” he admitted. “My life had spiraled down a bad path and…”
“Was it because you kissed me? Because I’ve been thinking about that night here in the apartment a lot lately and it was my fault, Rylan. You didn’t kiss me. I distinctly remember that I kissed you.” Suddenly, the rim of her coffee mug became very interesting to her. Her cheeks flushed with what looked like embarrassment, and he’d be damned if it didn’t make her look even more beautiful.
“There was so much more to it than that,” he said, hating that she’d carried a sense of shame with her all these years. “My life became a mess.
That’s why I kissed you back and—”
“Oh. You don’t have to explain—”
“Hang on. I didn’t mean it to come out like that,” he said, backpedaling. “What I’m trying to say is that there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Kissing your best friend’s little sister behind his back is not exactly a stand-up thing to do. Mine and your brother’s relationship was already strained. I had no right to do that.”
Amber stood, picked up her dish and silverware from earlier, and said, “You don’t need to defend yourself.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” He stood and followed her into the kitchenette where there was barely room for one.
She turned on the faucet and rinsed her plate, keeping her back to him. The only time she ever did something like that was when she was too angry or too embarrassed to talk, and his heart took a hit thinking he’d caused her reaction.
He’d gone and made a mess of the situation.
“Amber—”
“Don’t, Rylan. I’m not in the mood to be insulted by the person I’m in the middle of helping. A person who won’t tell me why he won’t sleep inside the main house. A person who disappeared into the military after a blowout with my brother and never looked back and won’t tell me what happened in the first place.” She kept her back to him as she stood in front of the sink.
“You think I walked away and never looked back?” He was so close behind her that her flowery scent filled his senses. He could reach out and touch her, so he did. He put his hands on her shoulders and felt her skin heat a little under his touch. Her body’s reaction to him stirred an already awake part of his anatomy that was difficult to hide underneath jogging shorts.