Stranded and Seduced

by Charlene Sands

  “Did you say the Russo property?” Holy crap. Risk almost came out of his seat. What was Shannon up to? “That farmhouse on the edge of town?”

  “Yes, she said she has personal reasons for wanting the place. And I think it has to do with you.”

  He had history with Shannon on that piece of property. Before it sold to the Russos, it had been a rental property, and Shannon had stayed there on her first visit to his hometown. The first time they’d made love in Boone Springs, it had been there. “You’d be right, April.”

  That’s all he was going to say on the matter. They’d been so hot and heavy in those days, Shannon thought it best to stay somewhere off the ranch so they could have privacy day and night. Those days had been memorable, but now things were different.

  “I see.”

  “I’m not restarting anything with Shannon.” He had to make that clear to April, since they were in this together.

  “You two looked pretty cozy sitting at the restaurant the other day.”

  “That was innocent. She walked in and spotted me at the table and came over to say hello. There was nothing illicit about it. It wasn’t planned.”

  “There’s been love triangle speculation all over the internet. This isn’t easy for me.”

  “I get that, but that’s why you should come to my aunt’s birthday celebration. To dismiss the rumors. The more we look like a real engaged couple, the less speculation there’ll be.”

  “Do you agree to see the lodge the very next day? It’ll be ready to be viewed by then.”

  “The lodge?” He’d barely given it a thought. He’d been focused on keeping up his pretend-fiancé role and dealing with Founder’s Day.

  “Risk, you do remember our deal, don’t you?”

  He had to admire her gumption. She was a go-getter. “If I say yes, then you’ll come to the celebration?”

  She thought about it, making him sweat for a few lingering moments, and then her smile turned her eyes a soft baby blue and wiped the perpetual frown off her face.

  “Yes,” she said finally, “I’ll come.”

  * * *

  Late the next afternoon, after a full day of overseeing the workmen at the lodge and putting her final touches on staging the rooms, April sat down at a café table at Katie’s Kupcakes three blocks from her office. She and Katie had both grown up in Boone Springs, and today they’d shared a few cordial words before she’d ordered a decadent brownie cupcake with a vanilla almond latte. She was exhausted, so feeling guilty about her indulgence wasn’t even a remote consideration.

  She’d worked her butt off this week, and she deserved a treat.

  She sipped her delicious drink and then bit into her cupcake. “Oh wow,” she groaned. Two bites later, she spotted Lottie Brown walking into the bakery. She had a smile on her face and looked well put together in a rose-colored blouse tucked into a belted denim skirt with pretty studded boots to finish off the look. Lottie had style and grace. April liked how she didn’t let her age bring polyester into her life.

  Lottie spotted her immediately and walked over. “Hi, April.” She glanced at her partially eaten cupcake. “Seems like you and I had similar cravings today.”

  “Did we?”

  “I’m here for Katie’s chocolate explosion cupcake.”

  “Would you care to join me?” April’s manners had her asking, but she wasn’t entirely sure that was all it was. Lottie was someone she wouldn’t mind getting to know better.

  “I’d love to.” Lottie took a seat, and within a minute Katie came over to take her order.

  “Katie, it’s good to see you. You haven’t been out to the ranch in a while.”

  “No, I’ve been busy. You know, with the bakery and my work at the horse rescue, I hardly know what day it is anymore.”

  “Mason and Drea’s wedding is coming up, too.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got to get my act together and plan Drea’s bachelorette party, too.”

  “I’m sure you’ll do a great job,” Lottie said.

  “I hope so. This is my first time...as maid of honor,” she said, then bit her lip.

  April knew something about Katie’s strained relationship with the Boones. Five years ago, Lucas had broken off his engagement to Katie’s sister right before the wedding. Katie was to be Shelly’s maid of honor. Her sister had been stunned and devastated, which put Katie in a tough spot. She and Lucas had been friends. Not so much anymore.

  Katie took Lottie’s order and walked off. Lottie turned to her. “April, it’s good to see you. Tell me, how’s my nephew treating you?”

  It was such an unexpected question, she paused a second. “Risk? Oh, just f-fine.”

  “Glad to hear it. You two are both good people. I wouldn’t want either of you being hurt again.”

  “That’s very kind of you to say. I’m sure...we’ll part ways without any fireworks.”

  Lottie raised her brows and then changed the subject, much to April’s relief. As they conversed, April found she had a good deal in common with Lottie, from the kind of music and books they liked to their sense of style and design.

  Half an hour later, April walked out of the bakery with Lottie. “I’m glad we bumped into each other,” April said.

  “Me, too.” Lottie sighed and stared into her eyes. “If I can say something... I sorta wish you and my nephew were the real thing. I see you together, and it just feels right. I hate to say it, but I knew going in that Risk and Shannon weren’t going to work. But I’m just Risk’s favorite aunt. What do I know?” She rolled her eyes, as if mocking herself.

  April laughed, not at all insulted by Lottie’s earnest opinion. Of course, she didn’t agree with her. She and Risk would never work. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t think we’ll—”

  “Oh no! Would you look at that!”

  Lottie took off running, following a blond sheepdog trotting into the middle of the street. “Here, boy, here, boy,” she called out, trying to coax him to safety. But the dog kept moving. “Get out of the street! Go, go.”

  Lottie didn’t see the car rounding the corner. “Lottie!”

  April ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She heard the screech of tires, saw the car swerving right before she shoved Lottie out of the way. April went down, her knees scraping the blacktop as she fell, the smell of burning rubber reaching her nostrils, the heat of the car’s engine blasting in her face.

  She opened her eyes and stared at the big blue sky, and then Lottie appeared in her line of vision. “Dear Lord, April. Are you okay? Did you hit your head?”

  “No, no. I’m fine. I think.” She did a mental scan of her body. She hadn’t hit her head when she went down. And she hadn’t been hit; she fell while pushing Lottie out of the way of the car. It was a stumble and luckily only her knees were bruised under her skirt, though she was pretty sure her whole body would be sore as hell tomorrow, because that’s how it worked. Fall today, ache tomorrow.

  “You saved me and put yourself in danger. You could have been hit by that car,” Lottie said. “That was a very brave thing to do. Thank you. I don’t know what to say.” Tears welled up, and she wiped them away. “Do you think you can get up?”

  “I think so.”

  Lottie took hold of April’s hands and helped her up. She straightened, locking her bruised knees, her entire body shaking. She felt her knees burn now as a small amount of blood oozed out. “We should get you to a doctor,” Lottie said.

  By then, a crowd had formed, and the lanky young driver of the vehicle came over, a look of fright on his teenage face. The car had come to a careening halt only inches from where April had fallen. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I didn’t see anyone when I made the turn.”

  “It’s not your fault, young man,” Lottie said. “I chased after a dog darting out into the street, and you did your be
st to avoid hitting anyone. If anything, you did a great job,” Lottie assured him.

  He nodded. “Miss, are you gonna be okay?” he asked April.

  “Yes, I think I’ll be fine. I’m just shaken up a bit.”

  “Should I call nine-one-one?” a voice from the small crowd asked.

  “Oh no, please. I’m going to be fine.” April looked out into the sea of people gathering.

  Cell phones were pointed her way as onlookers snapped pictures of her. She heard whispers. Some had recognized her as Risk Boone’s fiancée.

  “Let me take you to the doctor, at least,” Lottie said gently, taking her by the arm and leading her to the sidewalk in front of Katie’s Kupcakes.

  “Lottie, I think I’ll go home and clean up my bruises. It’s nothing serious.”

  Katie ran over, handing her a washcloth. “Here you go. It’s clean. I rinsed it with cold water. If you’d like to come inside the bakery, you can clean up in there, April.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Lottie said.

  “No, that’s not necessary, Katie. But thank you for the washcloth.” The last thing she wanted to do was make a scene. Once news got out, which was sure to happen with all the photos that were being snapped, reporters would show up. Her body cried out for rest. It had been a busy, crazy day. She dabbed at her knees with the cloth. They were only bleeding slightly, and the washcloth really helped. “That feels better.”

  “Let me drive you home. I insist,” Lottie said.

  Lottie wanted to help, and April wouldn’t deprive her. “Okay, thanks.”

  She walked arm in arm with Lottie Brown to her car parked a short distance down the street. Once April put on her seat belt, Lottie turned to her, her usually jovial face sober and concerned. “Are you sure you don’t need a doctor?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “How about I take you to Rising Springs, where we can take care of your bruises and let you rest.”

  “I wouldn’t think of it, Lottie.”

  “You are Risk’s fiancée.”

  “For the rest of the week only.” After their conversation about Risk being right for her, April had to remind Lottie their engagement had a very short shelf life. She and Risk had no future.

  Lottie pursed her lips, admitting defeat. “Okay, to your apartment then. Point the way.”

  April gave her directions, and Lottie drove carefully, going ever so slowly. That’s when April realized Lottie had been shaken up, too. As Lottie parked in front of April’s apartment complex, she asked, “Lottie, I didn’t hurt you with that shove, did I?”

  “Considering I might’ve been flattened like a pancake if you hadn’t come to my rescue, I’m doing great. Don’t even think about it.” Lottie took April’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I can’t thank you enough.” Then Lottie reached over and gave April a big, squishy, loving, mama bear hug.

  She relished the feel of the older woman’s arms around her. She hadn’t been hugged like this in a long time, and it made her miss her own mother, who was in Spain at the moment. Lottie lent her comfort and showed her gratitude, which was what she needed right now. Once the embrace ended, April smiled at the older woman. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “Can I walk you to your door?”

  “That’s sweet, but not necessary. I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”

  “Okay then. Be sure to call if you need anything.”

  “I promise I will. Goodbye, Lottie.”

  April got out of the car, her knees still burning, but she waved to Lottie and watched her drive off before she turned to enter her apartment complex. She really needed to cleanse her wounds and collapse on her bed.

  “April!”

  Hearing the fast pace of footsteps behind her, she squeezed her eyes shut.

  Oh no.

  It was Risk.

  Nine

  “April,” Risk called again.

  What was he doing here? He was supposed to be having dinner with the mayor. She stopped walking and turned, bumping into his chest. He’d been right behind her. “Oh.”

  He reached for her, holding her arms still. “I heard what happened,” he said softly.

  “Already?” She knew what they said about small towns, but this was crazy.

  “Katie called me. I was in town, at the office. Are you okay?”

  Genuine concern entered his eyes as he scanned her body up and down. “You’re bleeding.”

  She looked down. A few tiny droplets of blood trailed down her legs.

  Before she could react, Risk scooped her up in his arms and began carrying her to her apartment. She clung to his neck, a bit shocked by his bold move. And a little bit turned on. It was a white-knight sort of thing for a man to do, one that many women secretly fantasized about. “I can walk, Risk. You don’t need to carry me.”

  “Yes, I do. You were limping.”

  “I was not limping.”

  “I say you were.”

  “That’s because you—” Then it hit her, and she lowered her voice. “Oh, I get it. You think someone’s watching us, taking pictures.”

  He snapped his eyes to hers, his face twisting into a scowl. “Yep, you got it. That’s why I’m carrying you.”

  She clamped her mouth shut, uneasy at the tone of Risk’s voice, the look on his face. Something was off, and suddenly she wasn’t sure about anything. Maybe it was fatigue, but being in Risk’s arms again, soaking up his strength, breathing in his musky scent didn’t feel all so terrible.

  “Give me your key,” he said as they reached her front door. She snatched her key from her purse and he unlocked the door.

  “You don’t need to baby me,” she said softly, noticing his jaw twitch.

  “Don’t I?” He brought her into the apartment and laid her down on the sofa. “Stay still, April. Don’t move. I’m gonna take care of your knees.”

  “Risk, you don’t...”

  But he was already walking down her hallway. She heard him scavenging around her bathroom, and after a few moments he was back with a handful of medical supplies, a look of determination on his face.

  He sat at the foot of the sofa and gently pushed up the hem of her dress. His fingers brushing her thighs sent hot waves zipping up and down her legs.

  “Let me know if it hurts,” he said, fully intent on his task. He began applying a soapy cloth to her knees and the thin trail of blood running down her legs. He wiped her knees dry and lathered the wounds with antibiotic cream. “What you did today,” he began, then cleared his throat, “was a foolish thing.”

  Her eyes flashed to his.

  “You could’ve been killed.”

  He sounded sincere. “I didn’t think so. I just reacted, calculating I could get to Lottie before the car mowed her down.”

  Risk bandaged both knees. It wasn’t a pretty sight, but she did feel better not having open wounds. “You saved my aunt’s life, April.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Not maybe. I saw the video.”

  “There’s a video? My God.” How on earth did that happen so quickly?

  “It’s the world we live in today. Someone on the scene sent it to the Tribune, and they immediately called for my reaction.”

  “And you rushed right over here?”

  He nodded.

  “What about your dinner with the mayor and his wife?”

  “What better reason to cancel than my fiancée getting injured in an accident? He wouldn’t expect any less from me.”

  “Because it wouldn’t look right.” Of course. That had to be it. “Sorry, I know that dinner was important to you.”

  “It’s just business, April. It’s not as important as—”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t want to see your aunt,” she interrupted, stopping Risk from saying anything she didn’t want to hear. She coul
dn’t start believing he actually cared about her, actually worried about her well-being.

  “Katie assured me Aunt Lottie is fine. I’ll talk to her in a little while.”

  “Well, thank you for patching me up. My mom would say we’re even Steven.”

  “How so?”

  “I took care of you when you lost your memory, and you just repaid the favor.”

  He ran his hand down his face, staring at her for a moment. “April.”

  “You really don’t have to stay. I’m fine now.” And he’d done his fake-fiancé duty by rushing over here to check on her.

  He set his jaw, stubbornly. She’d seen that determined look before. “You must be thirsty,” he said, ignoring her comment. “Let me get you some water.”

  “Water? A glass of wine would be more like it,” she blurted. As long as he was going to stay, she might as well have a real drink. She deserved one after the day she’d had.

  “Got it.” He rose, and she watched him make his way into her kitchen. She heard cabinets being opened and glasses clinking. He popped his head out of the doorway. “Red or white?”

  “Red, please.”

  He smiled, a killer smile giving her silly nerves a workout. There was something different about him tonight. He was being...nice.

  Because he felt he owed her something for saving Lottie.

  By the time he returned with two goblets of wine, April was sitting up. He handed her a glass. “Thank you.” He sat and met her eyes again. “You tired?”

  “I was. It’s been a crazy day, but now I think I’m a bit too antsy to sleep.”

  “There’s a great movie on right now.”

  “Which one?”

  “A Day in the Life.”

  It was one of her top-ten favorites. They’d discussed this just a few days ago. “A girlie movie. I’m up for that.”

  “Me, too.”

  The wineglass halted midway to her lips. “You’re going to watch it, too?”

  He shrugged. “For a little while, until I finish my wine. If that’s okay?”