The Gamble

by Kristen Ashley

  I was also trying to form a plan on how I was going to avoid letting him do that and wondering, if he touched me and, God forbid, kissed me, even if I did form a plan, if I could manage to be successful in my endeavors.

  “Duchess?” he called at the same time I felt his hand wrap, warm and strong, around mine.

  “Yes?” I answered, looking from the side window to the front but not at him.

  “What’s on your mind, honey?” His voice was soft and he’d pulled my hand to rest the back of it against his hard thigh.

  I hadn’t felt his thigh until just then but of course it, too, was hard, inviting touch. I decided this was most irritating even though my brain registered the feel was totally amazing.

  I also decided not to fight at that juncture and leave my hand in his while I somewhat lied, though I thought of it more as not telling the full truth, “Bitsy.”

  His fingers gave me a squeeze as he said, “She’ll be okay.”

  “She loved him.”

  “Yeah.”

  I bit my lip then pointed out the obvious because he more than anyone knew. “That means she won’t be okay.”

  This was as good a time as any, in fact, better than most, for Max to share about his dead wife.

  He didn’t.

  He just repeated, “Yeah.”

  Jerk!

  “I’ll talk with her later, after the funeral, maybe in a few weeks,” he went on. “Get her to sell that house. Too many memories, too big for her, hell, it was too big for them when Curt was alive.”

  “Mm hmm,” I mumbled.

  He gave my hand a squeeze before he let it go to downshift in order to make a turn. He left it resting on his thigh and I moved it away, linking it with my other one in my lap, hoping he wouldn’t re-initiate the contact as he said, “We’ll look out for her. She’ll make it through.”

  “Mm hmm,” I repeated, hoping he meant “we” as in Wonder Max and the Townsfolk of Gnaw Bone, not him and me, something which would never be.

  This was another decision I’d come to and I’d come to it in the silence over lunch thus me knowing that being alone with my thoughts was not fun.

  I couldn’t live a life like the one I led with Niles.

  I also couldn’t live a life knowing the length of it, even if it was good, that I was second best.

  No, there wouldn’t even be a length to it because eventually, like everything else I’d risked, it would end in disaster. I’d had enough disaster with jerks, thieves, cheaters and beaters. I didn’t need the heartbreaking disaster that was all Max.

  I needed to be the love of someone’s life, like Mom was for Steve. They’d both waited a long time, Mom after a short marriage that ended in heartbreak, Steve after a long, loveless marriage that ended with his wife dying of a heart attack two years before he met Mom. I hoped I didn’t have to wait as long as Mom but I also knew down deep in my soul I needed to wait for that special person who felt that way for me, just me and only me so I could feel safe giving that feeling back to him.

  Max was silent through my thoughts then, before he made the next turn, he asked, “You still thinkin’ about your Dad?”

  “No,” I replied truthfully this time. My father was the last thing on my mind, which was the only fortunate thing that came from the vicious twists and turns of my day.

  “That Niles guy?” Max pressed.

  “No,” I replied, again truthfully.

  Max was silent again while he made the next turn and he noted, “Somethin’ else is eatin’ you, babe,” but before I could comment, he pulled in a sharp breath.

  I looked at him then followed his eyes. Then I pulled in a sharp breath too.

  Firstly, there was a Subaru parked in front of the A-Frame. Mindy and a tall man, the sun shining on their hair and both of them were leaning their backs against the Subaru’s hatchback. Secondly, there was my rental car at the edge of Max’s front clearing, obviously, and quite liberally, having been vandalized.

  “What the fuck?” Max clipped as he turned into the lane, drove down it and parked behind the rental.

  He didn’t glance at me when he got out. I followed him, my eyes also glued to the rental.

  It had been nearly covered in spray paint including the windows. The brake lights had been busted out, their plastic shards in the gravel of Max’s drive. The tires were flat, all four of them. The wing mirrors were hanging drunkenly by wires, the mirrors shattered.

  “Appears you got an enemy,” the tall man said, he and Mindy walking up to us.

  I glanced at him. He had dark red-brown hair, somewhat familiar blue eyes and tanned skin. He was nearly as handsome as Max and, now that I was becoming somewhat of an expert at identifying them, I noted he was also total Mountain Man wearing a thermal under a jeans jacket, faded jeans and boots. His eyes were attached to me.

  “I –” I began.

  “I’m so sorry, Neens,” Mindy interrupted me, coming to his side, she was biting her lip, looking worried, her eyes appeared red rimmed as if she’d been crying.

  It was the red-rimmed eyes that took my attention therefore I forgot about my unknown new acquaintance and asked, “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head and announced, “Damon did this.”

  “Did what?” I asked stupidly, feeling my heart start beating faster and my palms start itching.

  “Your car, honey,” Max answered and I looked to him.

  “My car?” I repeated, my mind stuck on thoughts of Damon getting to Mindy in town, doing something to make her cry and wondering where Max kept his gun.

  He tipped his head to the rental and his arm slid around my shoulders. “Damon, he did that to your car.”

  I glanced at my car then my gaze went back to Mindy.

  “Did you see him do this?” I asked.

  “No,” she answered.

  My voice was softer when I went on, “Have you seen him at all, darling?”

  “No,” she replied.

  “Did he call you?”

  “No.”

  “Then how do you know he did it?”

  “That’s just,” she flicked a hand to the rental, her breath hitched then she pulled in a deep one to cover it before she went on, “what he’d do.” Then tears gathered in her eyes and she concluded, “I’m so sorry, Neens.”

  Then she covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.

  I pulled out from under Max’s arm and swiftly walked forward, gathering Mindy in my embrace.

  “Sweetheart,” I cooed to her, “I have full coverage on that rental. It’s no big deal.”

  Well, it was since I really now couldn’t escape Max unless I somehow managed to make off with his Cherokee in the dead of night but I couldn’t tell Mindy that.

  I’d worry about that later, though hopefully not too much later. I had to worry about Mindy now as she was hiccoughing and still hadn’t taken her hands from her face even though I was holding her.

  “Yes, but it’s such a dick thing to do,” Mindy said from behind her hands.

  “You’re right about that, still, if he didn’t do it, really I would just be throwing that insurance cover away. I should find him, thank him for making that financial outlay worthwhile.”

  Her body jerked, her hands went down and her head came up.

  “What?” she whispered and I looked over my shoulder at the car then back at her.

  “And, Mindy, seriously, he made that insurance really worthwhile. I mean he was thorough. Don’t you think, darling?” I teased.

  A surprised giggle came up her throat, she gulped it back and I smiled at her as I pulled one side of her hair over her shoulder.

  Then I put my hands to her face and used my thumbs to rub away the tears as I said softly, “All right, you’ll probably shed more tears over that Neanderthal before you’re well and truly over him, but please, don’t do it on my behalf. Okay?”

  “You aren’t pissed?”

  Oh, I was pissed. Damon Matthews had taken away all hopes of es
cape and he was, indeed, a very serious dick. Still, Mindy didn’t need to know any of that.

  “I’m of the opinion, the more evidence he presents that you can so way do better than him, the better it is.”

  “Already, I like her.” The deep, rumbling voice of the redheaded man came from close.

  I dropped Mindy’s face and stepped away, looking up at him.

  “Brody,” he introduced himself, hand up, eyes (Mindy’s eyes, which was why they were familiar) smiling and open as well as openly curious.

  But I wasn’t breathing.

  Brody. Mindy’s brother. Max’s best friend! Here to “check me out” no doubt. Why did this continue to get worse? Why?

  “Nina,” I introduced myself back, unquestionably unnecessarily, and I took his hand.

  His grip was firm, strong and overlong. Overlong in the fact that he didn’t actually let me go. His hand, like Max’s, engulfed mine.

  “You’re pretty,” he told me.

  “Um… thanks?” I answered on a question, giving a small, polite pull which was met with firm, impolite resistance.

  “You’re right,” he said, eyes still on me but I got the sense he was talking to someone else and his next words would prove me correct. “She’s got fuckin’ great eyes.”

  I didn’t know if he was talking to Max or Mindy but I didn’t ask nor could I care because I was back to not breathing and he still hadn’t let go of my hand therefore I had more pressing things on my mind.

  “Um…” I muttered.

  “You wanna let her go?” Max suggested and there was humor in his tone, humor mixed with an indication that his words weren’t entirely a suggestion.

  “Not really,” was Brody’s insane and alarming answer and he coupled this with his grip becoming stronger.

  “Brody,” Mindy said on a mini-giggle, “quit jacking around.”

  Brody obviously was in the mood to “jack around” and he didn’t let me go.

  Instead he remarked, “I thought you English people were reserved.”

  “I’m not, um... exactly –”

  He cut me off noting, “But you’re sweet.”

  “Um…”

  “Can you cook?” he asked, still holding onto my hand.

  “Cook?” I asked back.

  “I heard English food sucks.”

  I tried another pull, met with more resistance and answered, “I think that’s what Americans think when they go to England and eat American food. English food is delicious. English doing American food isn’t as successful.”

  “Yeah, Arlene said she had some kind of fish casserole thingie-ma-bobbie over here last night that Neens whipped up and Arlene said it was unbelievable,” Mindy put in.

  Brody looked toward Max. “Arlene’s havin’ dinner at your house?”

  Max came up close to my side and answered, “She’s taken a shine to Nina.”

  This for some reason made Brody throw his head back and burst out laughing.

  “Brody,” Max said over his laughter, not a lot of humor in his voice, in fact none at all, “would you fuckin’ let her go?”

  Brody let me go, then again anyone would let me go with the way Max asked for it to be done. I stepped back, my shoulder hit Max and his arm immediately curled around my waist from behind.

  “Relax, bro, just bein’ friendly,” Brody said over my shoulder.

  “Too friendly,” Max said back.

  “We’re that,” Brody’s eyes came to me, “friendly.”

  “I’ve noticed,” I replied.

  Then Brody asked, “Arlene?”

  “We got slightly snockered with Arlene at The Dog before Max kicked Damon’s ass,” Mindy shared.

  “Ah,” Brody nodded, light dawning, “Arlene held the sacred ritual. Snockered with her at The Dog. She’s usually ornery as hell but you’re in now, Nina, never to be let out.”

  “You make that sound not so good,” I noted.

  “Arlene’s good people, if she likes you, but when she likes you, she’s opinionated, in your business good people.”

  “Oh dear,” I muttered and Brody burst out laughing again.

  Max gave my waist a squeeze.

  “Either of you think to call the cops about Nina’s car?” Max asked.

  “Yeah, about fifteen minutes ago. They’re on the way up,” Brody answered.

  “Mick should set up an outpost next to the house, he’s been here so fuckin’ much this week,” Max muttered.

  “Why’s Mickey been here?” Brody asked and I felt Max’s body get tight against mine.

  “Mins?” Max called and Mindy nodded so Max carried on with a one word answer that was obviously meant to explain all. “Dodd.”

  It apparently did for Brody nodded.

  “He needs you for Bitsy,” Brody guessed.

  “That and he wanted my alibi,” Max informed him.

  Good-natured, teasing Brody disappeared and his heavy, auburn brows snapped together dangerously before he bit out, “What the fuck?”

  Here we go again, I thought.

  “Brody, it’s fine. He’s talked to a lot of people,” Max assured him.

  “Yeah, but you?” Brody was still unhappy.

  “Can we go in?” Mindy butted in. “I need a soda or somethin’.”

  “Yeah,” Max said, his arm coming from around my waist but I felt his finger hooking, this time in a back belt loop of my jeans and putting pressure on to propel me forward.

  “Doubt Mickey’ll come up on a vandalized car, not when he’s workin’ a murder,” Brody noted as he walked beside us up the steps. “Probably send Jeff or Pete. Still, gonna have words with him ‘bout visitin’ you for an alibi.”

  “Let it go,” Max said softly but firmly, sliding his key into the lock at the front door. “He’s just doin’ his job.”

  Max opened the door and pushed me in front of him but I still saw the look Mindy and Brody exchanged.

  “I’ll get the drinks,” I announced, ignoring their looks, telling myself all this mystery was none of my business anymore not that it ever was. “Mindy, you want a diet?”

  “Yeah Neens,” she answered, skip-dancing to a stool.

  I shrugged my purse off my shoulder and plopped it on the dining room table, calling, “Brody?”

  “Beer.”

  “Max?” I asked when I’d hooked my jacket around a chair.

  “Beer, honey.”

  I nodded and hit the kitchen. Mindy sat on the stool. Brody pulled himself up to sit on the opposite counter. Max assumed his usual position with hips against the kitchen sink. I got the drinks and then took my can of diet and went to sit beside Mindy on the other stool. When I settled in I chanced a look at Max to see I was right about feeling his eyes on me. He was watching me and I got the impression he didn’t like that I put space and a counter between us.

  “Stayin’ at Mins’s place in town,” Brody declared and Max’s eyes went to him. “Gonna look for Damon, have a word, finalize shit.”

  “How much time you get off?” Max asked.

  “Gotta be back Wednesday,” Brody answered.

  “Brody and I decided we’re all goin’ to The Rooster for steaks tonight,” Mindy announced, bouncing twice on her stool with happiness at this idea and Max’s eyes took her in before they cut back to me. This was both good and bad. Good because his eyes cut to me rather than him going to his gun, bad because he didn’t look happy.

  “Made a reservation and Mindy got Bonnie to cover for her at The Dog tonight,” Brody added.

  Mindy turned to me and explained, “The Rooster’s steaks are awesome and you get to dress up!”

  “Um…” I muttered, feeling the heat of Max’s stare and feeling the pressure of his unhappiness.

  “I’m wearin’ high heels and this absolutely fab… you… las top I found at the outlet store. It’s designer but they mismarked it and I got it for a song. You’ll love it.”

  “That’s great, darling, can’t wait to see it,” I said to Mindy and then glance
d at Max to see he, unlike Mindy, was not thrilled at the idea of The Rooster and he, unlike me, could indeed wait to see Mindy’s designer top.

  “What’re you gonna wear?” Mindy asked.

  “Oh,” I muttered, looking away from Max, “I’ll find something.”

  “If you didn’t bring anything, you could come into town with me and go through my closet and Becca’s!” she finished, obviously excited about a girlie closet trawl.

  “Um…” I muttered again.

  “I’m sure she’s got somethin’,” Max put in.

  “But, maybe she –” Mindy started.

  “She’s got somethin’,” Max repeated.

  “But a girl’s gotta –”

  “Mins, babe, she’s got somethin’,” Brody said firmly and Mindy looked between the men then at me.

  “Okay,” she whispered and grinned at me, bugging out her eyes.

  I grinned back then turned and saw Max’s eyes go between Mindy and me to look out the window.

  “Pete,” he said, pushing away from the sink and I twisted on my stool to see an SUV with lights on top and a star on the door rolling down the lane.

  “We’ll let you deal with this. Reservation’s at six thirty,” Brody said. “You wanna meet us in town or you wanna meet us at The Rooster?”

  “Rooster,” Max answered as Brody walked by his side, still holding his beer, to the front door.

  “Gotcha,” Brody replied.

  “Honey,” Max called to me when he had his hand on the door handle, “best get your rental papers.”

  “Okay,” I replied, sliding off the stool and heading to the stairs.

  “See ya later, Neens,” Mindy yelled as I wound my way up the stairs.

  “Yes, darling, see you,” I yelled back.

  “Nice to meet cha, Nina,” Brody called.

  “You too,” I called back.

  Then I hit the loft and went to my overnight bag.

  One thing I could say for Damon and his antics, he’d provided the perfect tactic for avoiding Max’s afternoon plans.

  Still, he was a dick.

  * * * * *

  I was sitting on my side of the bed finishing up my call to the rental car agency when Max hit the loft after sending Brody, Mindy and eventually Officer Pete on their way.

  After I met Pete I decided if I were to stick around, if Jeff didn’t work out for Mindy I was going to try to fix her up with Pete. He wasn’t as cute as Jeff but he was still nice.