Love on the Risky Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  He came back to the table and handed her the doctored drink. She took a small sip.

  “Better?”

  A little. She’d never order this at a bar, but Ryder was trying to help her calm down, so she simply smiled and nodded.

  “Liar.” He grinned back, shaking his head. “You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to, sweetheart.”

  “It’s fine, really. Thank you.”

  He watched her for a moment then shrugged. “I agree that it appears David is looking for you on his own, which means he doesn’t want his superiors to know he’s on your trail.”

  “How do we know he’s on my trail?”

  “We don’t, but if this got to Peak Town, there’s a good chance he’s reaching out to a specific area. Is there any trail for him to follow? Did you buy plane tickets or stay in a motel under your name?”

  She took another drink. The distasteful liquor concoction started to taste better. Shaking her head, she replied, “No. I didn’t stay in any motels, and I took a bus, paid cash.”

  He rubbed his chin in thought.

  “Although…”

  “What?”

  She grimaced, remembering her fear in the terminal. “There was a security camera. In the bus station in Kansas. It might have gotten a shot of me.”

  Ryder downed half of his whiskey in one sip.

  Good grief, the man must have a stomach of steel.

  “Okay, so assuming he saw the footage, we can presume he sent this out to every police station in a one to two thousand mile radius. Except the stations in Illinois, of course.”

  “Why not there?”

  “He wouldn’t want his boss to know what he was doing.” He paused a moment in thought. “Unless his boss is dirty, too.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve met Chief Vic. He’s a hard man, but fair. I don’t think he’s dirty.” Then again, she didn’t think David was capable of murder, so what did that say about her judgment of people?

  Ryder ran his finger around the lip of his glass. “Hmmm, still, I better have Liam look into him, too.”

  “Who’s Liam?” Her palms started to sweat.

  “Old police academy buddy. He’s FBI now.”

  She shot out of her seat. “You told the FBI where I was?”

  “Calm down, sweetheart.” Ryder lifted his hands as if she was a wild animal.

  Right now, she sort of felt like one—a trapped one.

  “I didn’t tell him about you. I have him looking into David’s background. We need evidence of Tyler’s temper if we’re going to prove he killed Jen.”

  Her heart raced. All this stress was going to give her a heart attack, she was sure of it. Grabbing her drink, she downed it in one swallow. Fire burned a path down her throat into her stomach. She focused on the burn, letting it take over and push everything else out.

  “So far, he hasn’t found anything, but he’s still looking. Julie found something—”

  “Julie? As in your sister?” She choked around her heated throat. “You have your sister looking into David, too?”

  More people involved meant more lives on the line. More people for David to target.

  She paced the kitchen, fearing she had doomed all these kind people to a crazy murder’s wrath. “No, no, no. Ryder you can’t. I never should have come here. I never should have let you talk me into staying.”

  Anger darkened his face as he stood. “So, you should have what? Kept running?”

  “Yes,” she screamed, frustrated that this man didn’t understand her dilemma.

  “Great plan, Kayla. When I found you, you were half-frozen, lost in the woods. Are you saying I should have left you there to die?”

  “Yes. You should have left me. Instead, you brought me here and got your friend involved…and your sister. When David finds me, he’s going to kill me and anyone who tried to help me.” Tears spilled down her face; she could do nothing to stop them. “I don’t want anyone to die because of me.”

  Ryder reached out, pulling her into his arms. She let herself go, reveling in the warm safety he offered. She shouldn’t be doing this. She needed to leave. To protect the man she was rapidly falling in love with and his loved ones, she had to leave and take her troubles with her. It wasn’t fair to put them on Ryder.

  “So,” he spoke softly against her hair, “you’re saying your life isn’t as important as mine? Because, honey, I have to disagree with you there.”

  “You have people who love you, people who depend on you.” She sniffed against his chest. “I’m an orphan whose best friend was killed less than a week ago. No one would miss me if I’m gone,” her voice cracked with the softly spoken confession.

  “I would.” His voice broke as he held her tight. “You’re not alone anymore, Kayla. You have me.”

  Then his lips were on hers, tasting, taking, loving. His hands slipped under the oversized T-shirt, running up and down her body, setting it alight with fire. He backed her up until her backside hit the table, then he grabbed her and lifted, placing her back down on top of the polished oak.

  “I care about you, Kayla, and I will never let anyone hurt you. Ever again.”

  His words were a vow. One she didn’t want to look into so deeply right now. At the moment, she wanted Ryder, inside her, filling her with his strength.

  “I need you, Ryder. Now.”

  She reached for him, dipping her hand into the soft cotton pajama bottoms to find him waiting for her, hard and ready. Gripping his cock, she pumped up and down. He felt amazing, so soft and yet so hard at the same time. His dark eyes flared with heat as he gazed down at her. His fingertips played between her legs, testing her, preparing her.

  One hand reached into the pocket of his pajamas and produced a foil wrapper.

  Oh, so that’s why men’s pajamas have pockets. How handy.

  In less than a second, he had the package open. She took the condom from him and rolled it on his length. When she released him, he crushed his lips to hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. She clutched his shoulders as he opened her with his fingers and drove home in one deep plunge.

  No soft and sweet this time. This was a battle. As if Ryder was trying to prove something with this lovemaking. His mouth devoured her, and his body took her to the highest peak of pleasure. The assault on her senses was overwhelming. Every thrust sent him in deeper, every retreat made her want more. In only a matter of minutes, she felt her body tighten and explode in the most amazing release she had ever had, causing her to wrench her lips from his and scream his name. He pumped into her twice more before shouting out his own finish.

  They sat there in the aftermath, breathing heavily, partially disrobed and sweaty, foreheads pressed together, her shirt tangled around her shoulders. Ryder’s pants had fallen to his ankles.

  “I don’t think this was the intended purpose for this table.” She gave a small laugh.

  He pulled back, eying her devilishly. “You’re right.”

  Gently, he laid her down on the surface. Then he pulled her hips to the edge and went to his knees. Bobbing his brows, he gave her a wicked smile. “It was meant for feasting.”

  Chapter 21

  Sweeping up cupcake crumbs from the shop floor, Kayla smiled, noting how quickly the week had passed. They didn’t speak about David or the APB again. Ryder told her he still had his friend and sister looking into the crooked cop. He assured her one of them would eventually uncover something that would help lead them to David’s guilt.

  She wasn’t going to hold her breath. David was one slick bastard.

  In the meantime, she spent her days at the Denning Ranch or at the cupcake shop. She was becoming fast friends with the two women. Lizzy and her outrageous personality and Maggie with her sweet, nurturing attitude, not to mention all the yummy cupcakes she could eat, who wouldn’t be taken in? Kayla even liked Colton and Dade. The brothers were true cowboys, strong, kind, gallant. Not too bad in the looks department either. And they adored their fiancées, showering
the women with love every chance they got. That alone got them gold stars in her book.

  Her nights were filled with Ryder. He would pick her up after work, they’d head to his house and make dinner, then spend hours making love. Some nights they stopped to watch a movie or play cards. One night, he even tried to get her to ride Wind Chaser again, but she distracted him from the idea by removing her clothing. She had nothing against the horse, but the animal was huge. She’d stick to a merry-go-round thank you very much.

  In between worshiping each other’s bodies, they talked. He shared more about the pain of losing his father, the pressure he felt becoming the man of the house, the need to look after his mother and sister. When his mother passed, he was both happy and sad, happy she was reunited with his father, but also grieving the loss of his only remaining parent.

  It felt as if she’d known him for years.

  Kayla shared her past, too. The sadness she grew up with knowing no one wanted her. The good homes she hated to leave, the bad ones she couldn’t wait to escape. Ryder held her as she talked, whispering comforting words in her ear, telling her how strong she was. He made her feel safe, cherished, wanted, and made her want him and this life in return…

  But she couldn’t have it. As long as David and the Chicago Police were looking for her, she could never have a normal life.

  “Hey, Tony,” she said, pulling herself away from her thoughts. “What do you have there?”

  The young man blushed. When he smiled, she noticed twin dimples. This one is going to be a heartbreaker.

  “Oh, it is a care package for my friend, Jamie.”

  “You mean girlfriend.” Lizzy made a catcall sound from her desk in the back of the shop. They had locked up and were doing nightly closing duties.

  Tony blushed deeper, his dark skin flushing with a red hue. “We are just friends, Ms. Lizzy.”

  “Jamie used to work here part time,” Maggie explained from her position at the sink. “She went off to college this past fall. Harvard.”

  Kayla bent down and swept the pile of cupcake crumbles into the dustpan then tossed them into the garbage. “Harvard? Wow, that’s impressive. Really far away though.”

  “Yes, she is very intelligent and beautiful. I cannot imagine her having trouble making friends. But she told me she was missing home, so I thought sending her some of her favorite cupcakes might cheer her up.”

  She wondered if the young man realized he called Jamie beautiful. He could protest all he wanted, but she suspected there was much more than friendship there.

  “That’s so thoughtful of you, Tony.” Maggie wiped her hands on her apron. “Next time you talk to Jamie, tell her I say hi, okay?”

  “I will, Ms. Maggie. Do you need anything else from me tonight?”

  “No. I think we’re all done for today. Go on home. Hey, when is your citizenship test? I thought you said it was coming up soon, right?”

  Tony nodded. “After the holidays.”

  “Well, let me know if you need any help studying. I mean it, Tony. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

  “Yeah,” Lizzy chimed in. “We’re all rooting for you. Any help you need, let us know.”

  “Thank you. Goodnight, Ms. Lizzy, Ms. Maggie, Ms. Kayla.”

  Tony clutched the small box tightly to his chest and headed out the back door. Kayla stared after him with an amused grin.

  “That boy is so polite.” Maggie said.

  Lizzy snorted. “Yeah, at least I got him to drop the last names, finally.”

  “He’s sweet. Are he and your former employee truly just friends?”

  The small baker untied her apron and hung it on the wall hook. “I think so, although, it’s clear both of them want more.”

  “Yeah,” Rubbing a hand over her round belly, Lizzy shook her head. “But long distance relationships rarely work. Especially when you’re as young as those two. Jamie is off at college studying and experiencing new things. Tony is going for his citizenship. Their lives are kind of going in different directions.”

  Her heart sank. Not only for Tony, such a nice boy in the deep stages of a first love, but also for herself. Tony and Jamie’s situation brought her and Ryder’s into stark parallel. Sure, she was here now, but with this thing with David and her murder charge…? And if they did manage to beat David…what would happen to her and Ryder when she went back to her life in Chicago?

  She’d be lying if she said the idea of staying hadn’t crossed her mind. It had. Like ten times a day. There had been nothing special about Chicago, she’d simply got a full ride to the University of Illinois, so that’s where she went. A teaching job in the city came right after school. She loved her job, but she could teach anywhere. Good teachers were in high demand in every part of the country.

  And now that Jen’s gone—

  Her eyes misted. The pain from the loss of her friend stung like a sore that wouldn’t go away. She kept reliving it, unable to stop prodding at the open wound because of her situation. She wished this whole thing with David was resolved and over so she could finally deal with Jen’s death and start healing. Maybe then the ache would lessen. Deep in her heart, though, she knew it would never fully go away.

  No, she had no ties to Chicago anymore. She could leave if she wanted. Move anywhere, even a small, charming, little mountain town in Colorado. Still, there was the fact Ryder had not asked her to move here. They had never discussed it, truthfully. They talked about their pasts a lot, but never their future. Did that mean this was just a fling? He cared about her, she knew. He said it time and time again. But caring for her didn’t mean he wanted something permanent.

  “You never know, Lizzy. Long distance can work sometimes.”

  Maggie’s voice snapped Kayla out of her morose ponderings. All this talk of love and long distance was wearing on her already heavy heart.

  “So, Lizzy, tomorrow’s the day you find out the gender right?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

  The pregnant woman perked up. “Yes, I am so excitvous I could burst.”

  She glanced to Maggie, sharing a grin before saying together. “That’s not a word.”

  “Excited and nervous.” Lizzy stuck out her tongue. “We’re having the doctor put the gender in a sealed envelope. I’m going to give it to Maggie, and she’s going to make blue or pink cupcakes, depending on the results.”

  “Ooooo, sounds like fun.”

  “You and Ryder should come over for dinner tomorrow night for the big reveal.”

  “I’d love to. Let me check with him and get back to you.”

  “Check with me about what?”

  She turned at the sexy, familiar voice behind her. “Ryder.” The man really was quiet as a mouse. “When did you get here?”

  “Just now.”

  He walked over and bent to kiss her. Soft and sweet and over too soon. Still, Lizzy and Maggie were grinning like idiots when Ryder released her.

  “Oh, shut up, you two.”

  Her new friends burst into laughter, so infectious she had to join in. It felt good to have a friend again. Not only one, but two. How lucky could a woman get?

  “You ready to go?” Ryder whispered in her ear.

  Hot chills raced up and down her spine. Luckier. Much, much luckier.

  “Maggie and Lizzy invited us to dinner tomorrow night. They’re going to reveal the gender of the baby.”

  “Sounds exciting. Count us in.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she settled against his chest, enjoying the feel of his hard, strong body surrounding her.

  “Can we bring anything?”

  “Just yourselves,” Maggie said.

  “Will do. See you ladies tomorrow. Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go home.”

  She reluctantly left his embrace to place the broom and dustpan back where they belonged, trying hard not to think about how good it felt to hear him say those three little words.

  Let’s go home.

  ****

  David c
losed the door on another shitty motel room. This one just off of the shady end of downtown Denver, Colorado. He’d been staying here three days waiting for Lang to get back to him—three days too long. He’d just begun to think the hacker was losing his edge when, finally, that morning, he received a text message with an address for one Ms. Julie Ryder.

  The time has come.

  He jumped into his car, ignoring the pock-marked guy trying to sell him “mind candy” and the forty year old trying to pass for twenty offering him a “date.” This part of town was goddamn disgusting. But it was a place no one would look for him, so that was where he hid out.

  No more hiding, he thought with a grin. Time to put his plan into action.

  He still didn’t know where Kayla was, but he’d bet his well-padded inheritance Julie Ryder did. All he needed to do was find the lawyer bitch and have a nice friendly chat with her.

  He peeled out of the parking lot and headed toward the highway.

  Next stop, Aspen, Colorado. Julie would tell him where Kayla was, or he’d make her suffer.

  He chuckled to himself. Who was he kidding? That bitch would suffer anyway. They both would. Then, they would die.

  Nobody messed with David Tyler. Nobody.

  Chapter 22

  “Kayla, honey. Wake up.”

  Soft lips brushed against her ear. She moaned, in that sweet state of not quite awake but not fully asleep, and rolled to her side, reaching for Ryder. Kayla slid her hands down his firm chest and around to his fantastic buns of steel. The man’s backside was seriously yummy. She’d bet you could even bounce a quarter off it.

  He chuckled in her ear. The vibrations moved through her body, causing tingles of awareness to spark between her legs.

  “As much as I would love to stay and finish this little exploration of yours, sweetheart, I’m afraid I have to go.”

  She opened her sleepy eyes, trying to focus in the dim morning light. “Go?”

  Long, dark hair shifted as he nodded. “I just got a call. Drunk driver swiped a minivan.”

  That woke her up faster than a bucket of cold water. “Oh, no! Is everyone okay?”