Lie to Me

by Verdenius, Angela

Well, until Ryder and Scott had matured and moved into more adult responsibilities. The Dawson brothers had continued on to be layabouts and troublemakers. They worked their father’s farm, lived with their parents in the ramshackle farmhouse that was falling apart, and pretty much kept to themselves except when in the company of their unsavoury mates from the nearest small town eighty kilometres away.

  Lost in thought, she was roused from her memories by Ryder gathering up the bag he’d used to put the soiled equipment in along with the bloodied tea towel and throwing it all into the bin followed by his gloves. Crossing to the small sink, he squirted liquid hand soap from the little container onto his palms.

  Standing gingerly, Jason pulled on his t-shirt. Yep, man had a good body.

  “Dee.”

  Her gaze switched to Ryder to find him looking at her. Good grief, a muscle was actually ticking in his tightly clenched jaw. Now what was wrong with him?

  He didn’t say anything more, just gave her a piercing look as he ran his hands, first palms then backs, down his pants legs to dry off the worst of the water. Striding to the table, he repacked the First Aid kit.

  “Thanks.” Jason nodded at her, gave another curt nod to Ryder. “I’ll be off.”

  Dee stood. “I’ll drive you home.”

  “No, you won’t,” Ryder said.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’ll take him home.” Grabbing the handle of the First Aid kit, Ryder strode towards the doorway. “Come on, Dawson.”

  Jason gave her another nod and followed stiffly and a little more slowly .

  How dare the big-headed sod? Anger spiking at Ryder’s arrogant attitude, she took off after them.

  As though he was waiting for her move, Ryder shoved the First Aid kit at Jason, not even waiting to make sure he grabbed it properly before he swung to face her, his gaze narrowed on her even as he ordered, “Take the kit to my car, Dawson. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “I’m coming-” Dee began heatedly.

  “The hell you are.” He barred the doorway with his body.

  There was definitely no shoving past him, or even shoving him back. Legs braced apart, arms folded, tall and broad shouldered, he was unmoveable.

  “You don’t tell me what to do, Ryder.” Angrily, she slammed her hands on her hips.

  “I’m telling you right now.” His eyes glittered, but it wasn’t with passion. No, it was with the same fury that apparently had not vanished but had simply been tamped down.

  “Get stuffed,” she shot back.

  “You.” He shoved his forefinger at her, the tip inches from her nose. “Will stay here.”

  “You don’t have the right to tell me what to do!”

  “You will stay here.” Finger still in front of her nose and definitely in no mood to tolerate any insubordination, Ryder bent down close, his voice deep, a little rough. “I’m taking Dawson home. I’m coming back.” He bent closer, so close that there was less than ten inches between their faces. “You will be waiting right here. Do you understand?”

  God, he was sexy when he got dominating. He was also an annoying jerk.

  She smacked his hand aside. “Up yours, Ryder.”

  In a movement so fast it caught her by surprise, his hand snaked around to clamp around her nape, carefully but firmly holding her in place as he glared down at her. His eyes sparked with barely concealed rage, his jaw was clenched tight, and the threat in the air had the breath escaping from her lungs in a whoosh. The fact his body heat was seeping into her, his clean, male scent playing havoc with her brain, didn’t help.

  “You will wait for me here,” he growled from between gritted teeth. “If you aren’t, I will hunt you down and find you and I swear to God, woman, I don’t care where you are or who is around, I will spank your arse black and blue. Do you hear me?”

  Her mouth fell open in shock. Jesus! Had he really just threatened her with a spanking?

  Had she really just had a deliciously naughty thrill chase down her spine?

  So shocked at this never before seen side of him, she could only gape up at him speechlessly.

  With a last, intense scrutiny of her face, he gave a curt nod of satisfaction and straightened, swinging on his heel and walking out the little back room to jerk open the door, ordering just before he pulled it shut behind him, “Lock the door.”

  The sound of it clicking shut woke her from her stupor. Had he really just - and then he’d left? Expecting her obedience? How bloody dare he?

  Dee yanked open the door to see his car reversing into the lot from the footpath in front of her back door. “Ryder!”

  He looked at her out of the side window.

  “Did you just bloody threaten me?”

  “No threat. A promise.” With that, he put the car into gear but instead of just driving away, he let it idle and watched her.

  She couldn’t see Jason in the gloom of the cabin, but she could feel the weight of his gaze. Not to mention Ryder’s level, hard regard.

  Furious, she slammed the door shut and locked it. If the bloody man thought he was going to get back in, he had another think coming. She wasn’t opening the door for anyone.

  Striding back into the kitchenette she looked around, not quite believing what had just transpired. Cripes, Ryder had been so angry, so furious, and he’d never, never, threatened her.

  Well, that wasn’t strictly true, he’d threatened her with nameless things before, veiled hints, but he’d never actually told her what he’d do. Threatened? No, promised. But it was still a threat, wasn’t it?

  Staring at the table, she felt a flutter deep in the pit of her stomach. Oh boy, just the thought of Ryder hunting her down and finding her, then - cripes, did her bum cheeks actually tingle? It matched the spiralling sensation in her stomach, a wicked little string of emotion that strung taut and vibrated.

  Holy cow, was she really feeling a flutter of sinful delight along with a healthy dose of fear? How sick was she?

  Or was it because she finally had Ryder’s complete attention? His undivided fury?

  Flicking off the lights with a hand that trembled a little, she hurried up the stairs and onto the landing, her hand by habit trailing across the top of her grandmother’s sideboard as she moved into the little lounge room. Dropping onto the sofa, she waited for her wildly beating heart and shaking hands to steady. As the minutes ticked past and she concentrated on deep, even breathing, she started to think more clearly.

  Okay, Ryder was mad for whatever reason but he was harmless, the town Casanova, her childhood friend who’d laughed, teased and chatted with her. They argued, got angry at each other, and made up. Her heart yearned for him but she’d never knuckled under to his bidding. Ever. If he’d shown any inclination or interest in her as someone more than a friend…no, not even then.

  With a sigh, Dee leaned her head back against the sofa. No, she wouldn’t have just fallen lightly into his bed like every other woman he’d wooed with a single wink and roguish smile. She wanted more, needed more, and she’d known that since the night he kissed her while lying drunk on his bed as a horny, party-loving teenager.

  Romantic it wasn’t, but it had sealed her fate. One kiss from a drunken teenager, one kiss that was surprisingly firm if a little off-kilter, and her heart had fallen right into his hands. He’d never known, never remembered, and she’d told no one, not even Del.

  Was it any surprise that any thought of him laying a hand on her was enough to kick her nerves into overdrive? His kiss had scorched the soles of her feet, and the thought of his hand on her backside, well, that had her nerves jitter-bugging in delighted horror. Or horrified delight. Maybe just horror. No, not just horror, there was a definite little perverted side of her that squealed a little with glee.

  Yanking the tie from her ponytail, she strode to the little bathroom and brushed her hair, looking at her reflection as she redid the ponytail and resecured it with the hair elastic. Her cheeks were flushed and, oh boy, her eyes were shining.


  Jesus, she was sick. Maybe she was coming down with the flu, had the fever or something, imagining things. She felt her forehead. Yeah, she was sure she did feel a little warm. Probably had some weirdo dream and woke up on the sofa.

  If only she could believe that.

  Bracing her hands each side of the basin, she looked again at her reflection. Commonsense kicked in and she sighed. “Dee, you moron. By the time he drops Jason off home he’ll be over his anger. He spoke in the heat of the moment, he didn’t mean it. He’ll just come back, or probably just go straight home. Don’t be a dick. It’s no big deal.”

  Pushing away, she walked with a heavier heart into the kitchen, opening the door of the ‘fridge to study the food inside. Her appetite was gone, no doubt about it. Cooking something didn’t appeal to her, she just couldn’t be bothered.

  Grabbing an apple, she bit into it and shut the ‘fridge door, moving by habit to the lounge to pull the curtain aside a little and peer out at the street. Several cars drove past, the street lights shone on the footpaths, and the pub looked to be full. Laughter sounded when she opened the windows, her lips twisting wistfully. At least someone was happy.

  She was still standing there when the sound of the back door opening and shutting came from below. Alarmed, the memory of Jason’s bloodied face shot to her mind.

  “Dee?”

  Ryder? A flash of delight followed by confusion slid through her as she hurried to the top of the stairs to see him standing at the bottom looking up at her. “What the - how did you get in? The door was locked.”

  Silently, he held up his keys.

  “You don’t have my key.”

  “I swung by Del’s house.”

  “She gave you my spare key?”

  He started slowly up the stairs, each tread deliberate.

  “That bitch.” Not to mention traitor. She’d rip her cousin a new one in the morning.

  Continuing up the stairs, Ryder slid the keys into his pocket.

  Noticing how silent he was, Dee stiffened. Shit, surely he wasn’t still angry? Oh boy, one look at his glittering eyes assured her that he definitely wasn’t amused.

  Lowering the apple, she took a step back, her heart kicking up a notch. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”

  His gaze never wavered as he continued ascending, booted feet placed firmly on each step, strong thigh muscles pushing him upwards. “What am I thinking, babe?”

  Don’t retreat. Never retreat. Besides, it’s just Ryder, no big deal, remember? Standing her ground, she arched an eyebrow at him. “I don’t care. Turn yourself around and get out.”

  “Not happening.” He stepped onto the landing and kept walking.

  Cripes, he was going to give her a heart attack. One look at him, one whiff of his unique scent, one naughty thought of his promise, and she had enough adrenaline running through her body to bottle and stock a big city hospital emergency room.

  Big deal or not, it was either stand her ground and have Ryder come smack bang against her, or retreat. Refusing to retreat, she sucked in a deep breath as he advanced, three long strides and his chest pressed against her breasts.

  Oh boy. Oh boy.

  One touch, one hot sizzle, one spark that ricocheted from his chest to her breasts and her nipples were pebbling.

  That had her back-pedalling fast, her back hitting the wall.

  Ryder just stood and looked at her from beneath half lowered eyelashes. She’d have thought he was being lazily contemplative if it wasn’t for the gleam in his eyes. That gleam was all predator.

  That gleam was aimed right at her.

  Her knees shook a little, that wicked, taut little string inside her twanging away like a guitar string.

  Ryder had never looked like this at her.

  Ryder had never acted like this towards her.

  Ryder always acted quickly, was never silent, never quiet. He was either laughing, joking, teasing, mouthing right back at her, or trading insults with her, but never had he ever been so silent, so…dangerous.

  Then he started walking towards her, every boot tread firm, steady, his arms swinging loosely by his sides.

  Walking, or stalking? She wasn’t sure. And shit, what did he mean to do?

  All Dee could do was watch him with slightly parted lips, her breath coming fast, her nipples shamelessly pressing against her shirt, her heart thumping erratically.

  Ryder kept walking deliberately, walked right up to her until there was less than five inches between them, then he lifted his arms to place his hands against the wall either side of her head. Leaning forward, he looked down at her, studying her face from beneath those thick eyelashes.

  Man had always had sinfully thick eyelashes, they went so well with his sinfully handsome face and sinfully horny nature.

  Nervously, Dee moistened her bottom lip before biting it as she watched him, her nerves strung taut, heart jitter-bugging in her chest.

  The silence stretched between them as she tried to guess his intent. The situation was one she’d never before been in with him.

  Now she could see the anger still simmering in his eyes, only more controlled. And something else she didn’t recognise.

  His lashes lowered as his gaze dropped, lingering on her lips, sweeping over her chin and down to her shoulders, further down to where her nipples boldly pushed against her shirt, then slowly he retraced the pathway, leaving a burning on her skin in his wake.

  Slowly his gaze moved, sliding upward until those thick lashes lifted and his eyes burned into hers.

  Oh God, did his eyes burn. Hot, angry, gleaming, and something else that had her blood turning sluggish. Carnality.

  Jesus, what was he thinking?

  Just when she thought she couldn’t take the silence any longer, he spoke softly. “Did you enjoy looking at Jason’s half naked body?”

  Whoa. Dee blinked. What?

  Chapter 7

  She looked up at him, those startlingly pale blue eyes wide, the thick lashes surrounding it making the blue even more defined. Those apple cheeks held a sweet flush, those soft, plump, rosy lips moist. Her ample breasts rose and fell with more agitation than he bet she realised she revealed.

  Oh yeah, Dee Miller was uncertain. Dee was never uncertain. Dee knew exactly what she did and said at all times, being uncertain was alien to her. Off balance, she watched him with varying degrees of cautiousness and alarm, and no doubting it, a touch of anticipation.

  That made two of them, only Ryder’s anticipation had been building since he’d walked into the back of the newsagent to see Dee with her arm in Jason’s hand. It had snowballed from there, by hell. Oh Lord, had it just.

  “You are in so much trouble, babe,” he said softly.

  The wariness in her eyes just did it for him, how sick was that? In fact, how sick was it that he’d been looking forward to this confrontation since he’d walked out the door with Dawson?

  “I’ve done nothing wrong.” There was a definite small tremble in her voice even as she refused to break eye contact.

  Oh yeah, there was his Dee, brazening it out regardless. He just loved that about her, the woman never gave in. It made their clashes all the more tantalizing. “Is that so?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How about I list all the things you did tonight?”

  “How about you turn your arse around and get it out my door?”

  God, she was a witch. He smiled slightly, his smile quirking a little more at her swallow. “Speaking of arses…” Oh yeah, that had her eyes widening, alarm skittering across her pretty face. Heh heh.

  “You wouldn’t - you wouldn’t dare.”

  He arched one eyebrow. “Wouldn’t I?”

  “I was here when you came back.”

  “You had no intention of opening that door to me, babe. Don’t even try to deny it.”

  That small chin lifted defiantly. “You had a key.”

  “Let’s get back to your transgressions.”

  “Let’s get back t
o your arse out my door.”

  “How about my hand on your arse?”

  “How about my foot up yours?”

  There was no doubting her backbone, something that had always secretly delighted him, but now wasn’t the time for her to get the upper hand. The fury of earlier had died down to a simmer, but it was there nevertheless and he meant to address some very serious issues with her.

  Slight smile vanishing, he leaned down closer, just an inch, but it was enough to have her pressing back against the wall. The woman might have backbone but she didn’t know how to handle this situation.

  Luckily, he did - his way.

  “Right,” he said quietly, “let’s start at the top. You brought a known troublemaker into your home while you were alone. That pisses me off, babe, pisses me off big time.”

  “I make my own decisi-”

  “You tend to his bloody wounds with no gloves, no protection. That man has screwed just about every lowlife sheila everywhere he’s been and he did a lot of it drunk, so God knows if he ever used protection. He could have any blood or saliva borne disease and you put yourself at risk by not taking standard precautions.”

  “I knew what I-”

  “That pissed me off big time.”

  She tried to fold her arms but they were too close, so she dropped them back to her sides. “Look, you can’t-”

  “I told you to stay put on the other side of the table while I went out to get the First Aid kit. I came back in and you were tending to him.” Moving his head a little lower, he saw his own grim reflection in her wide eyes. “Pissed me off big time.”

  Her breath was coming faster, her hands lifting to press flat against his abdomen in an unconscious gesture of holding him back. God, her touch felt good, so very good, but he pushed that to the back of his mind. First things first, her defiance in the face of her own safety.

  “Ryder, I-”

  “I’m not finished.”

  “How can there possibly be more?”

  The woman could argue in the face of a cyclone. One had to admire that if it wasn’t so bloody frustrating right now. “Because it’s you, Dee.”

  “I think you’re making things up now.”