Love on the Risky Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  No problem. She could stay at home and relax…as soon as she knew where home was. It wasn’t Ryder’s house, and she could never go back to the apartment she shared with Jen. So, where did that leave her?

  “Do you need me to call someone to pick you up or do you have a ride coming?”

  “Actually, would it be too much trouble to ask you to call me a cab to the bus station?”

  The sugary smile died. “A cab? Oh sweetie, I don’t think the doctor wants you to go home if no one is there to take care of you. Don’t you have anyone you can call?”

  Tears gathered in the corner of her eyes and she swallowed a sob. “No, there’s no one.” Story of my life.

  The nurse worried her lip. Would they not release her unless someone came to get her? She couldn’t risk being here when Ryder eventually showed up. If she saw him, she didn’t think she’d have the courage to leave. And she needed to go, for his sake.

  “I-I mean no one is here yet. My mother is flying in to take care of me, but her flight doesn’t land for another hour. I’d really like to get home before that. Hospitals kind of scare me.” The lie rolled easily off her tongue. A first for her.

  The nurse’s worried gaze melted into one of understanding. “You’re not alone there, sweetie. I know a lot of people feel better in their own beds.” She wrinkled her nose. “I think it’s the smell of antiseptic. Kind of gets to you if you’re not used to it. I’ll contact City Cabs. They have the best drivers. I’ll also rustle you up some scrubs since the police took your clothes. Can’t have you leaving in that breezy gown now can we?” She stepped away, giving an encouraging smile over her shoulder as she opened the door. “Don’t worry, sweetie. You’ll be home before your mom lands.”

  Of course she would, because she had no mother, and no home.

  At least I’m alive.

  Kayla closed her eyes on a heavy sigh, and Ryder’s warm, dark chocolate eyes filled her mind’s vision. Unable to hold back any longer, she let the tears flow. Tears for a man too good for her. Tears for what could have been. Tears because, yes, she was alive, but what kind of life was she going to have without the man she loved?

  Chapter 30

  Ryder downed the last sip of coffee, placing his mug in the kitchen sink. He was anxious to get to the hospital and see Kayla, but he needed a morning caffeine boost first. Exhaustion was catching up to him after the chaotic events of yesterday and a long restless night.

  He glanced over to the kitchen table where Julie and Liam were playing a very heated card game.

  “You’re cheating again.”

  “Am not.”

  “You can’t play more than one card.”

  “Yes I can. It’s called match, play, match. It’s a house rule. Jake, tell him!”

  His sister had instilled Ryder house rules. Zeros switched hands, you could match a draw two, causing your opponent to draw four, and most importantly, you could get rid of a lot of cards with matching numbers and then playing another card and playing a match on that one. Match, play, match. It was a thing. In his household anyway.

  “She’s right, man.” He grinned at the miffed look on Liam’s face. The guy did not like to lose. Ever.

  “See.” She stuck her tongue out at the disgruntled FBI agent.

  Liam grumbled, pulling a card from the top of the deck. “It’s a stupid rule, and if you weren’t recovering, I’d argue you on it.”

  Julie grinned in triumph. She liked to win, too. It was one of her strongest assets in the courtroom.

  Seeing the two had everything under control, he grabbed his keys, the pull to be at Kayla’s side insistent.

  “You guys going to be okay if I leave for a little bit?”

  “For the last time, big brother, we’ll be fine.”

  “It’s just that I promised Kayla I’d be there before she woke up, and I’m running later than I expected. Chief Vic kept me on the phone longer than I anticipated and—”

  “Ryder, it’s fine, man.” Liam’s face held a serious note, a promise in his gaze. “I’ll keep her safe.”

  He knew it was over. David was locked up. His sister was safe. Still, seeing her in the hospital last night, bruised and bandaged, kept his fear churning at the forefront of his mind.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, big brother. Now, go get your woman so I can thank her for saving my life.”

  He chuckled, leaning down to place a kiss to the top of her head. “You got it, kiddo. Don’t whoop his ass too hard now.”

  Liam grunted.

  “No promises,” his sister called after him.

  Jumping in his truck, he turned the engine over and started down the highway toward the county hospital. He knew Liam would protect his baby sister with his life. Since arriving early this morning, the FBI agent had been very concerned over Julie’s condition. She assured him she was fine, as did Ryder, but Liam insisted she take it easy. Hence the card game at the table.

  He was glad his buddy was there to look after her, since the main portion of his brain was taken up with thoughts of Kayla. The need to see her, touch her, reassure himself she was okay was overwhelming.

  Ryder reached the hospital a little after ten in the morning. Not knowing if Kayla would be awake or still sleeping, he cautiously opened the door to her room. She wasn’t asleep or awake.

  She wasn’t there.

  The only person in the room was a nurse, stripping the bed. Kayla was nowhere to be seen.

  “Excuse me?” he addressed the blonde nurse.

  She glanced up, her smile growing broader as she took him in. “Can I help you, sir?”

  “Where is the woman who was in here yesterday? Kayla Jenkins.”

  Her smile faltered. “Are you family?”

  He hated that damn question. He understood the need to respect patient’s privacy, but family wasn’t always flesh and blood. Family was what you made it, and he wanted to make Kayla a part of his.

  “I’m Sheriff Ryder,” he said, going for another route and pulling out his badge. “I came in with her last night. I need to follow up.”

  “Oh, well, she left about an hour ago.”

  “Left?” What the hell? “Did she say where she was going?”

  The nurse hesitated.

  “I still have some questions for her.” Like why did you leave, where are you going, and do you love me, want to stay here, and live the rest of our lives together in blissful happiness?

  “She said she was going home.”

  To Chicago? Without saying goodbye?

  Not if he had anything to say about it.

  “I called her a cab. She told me her mother was flying in tonight.”

  Ryder smelled something foul. Kayla was running again, but not from a murderer this time. She was running from him. The only question now was, why?

  “Can you get me the name and number of the cab company you called for her?”

  “Of course, Sheriff.”

  The nurse hurried out of the room. He didn’t know why Kayla left without telling him, but he was damn sure going to find out. He loved her.

  Yesterday, he thought he lost her forever. No way in hell was he going to lose her today.

  ****

  Kayla unwrapped the plastic covering from her leg. After asking the cab driver to drop her off at the bus station, the man informed her the last bus had left Peak Town for the day. Lack of public transit was a hazard of a small town. Thankfully, they also had silver linings, like the sweet, old Mrs. Bess who the driver informed Kayla often took in wayward travelers down on their luck. Boy, did that describe her to a T. The cabby had dropped her off at Mrs. Bess’ door. One look at Kayla hobbling on her crutches and the kind octogenarian whisked her right back to a small cottage in the back yard.

  Auntie Bess—as she asked to be called—insisted Kayla take a long, hot shower while she prepared something warm to eat. The doctor instructed her not to get her bandages wet, luckily for her, her generous savior had some plastic wrap on hand so she could enjoy the glorious
streams of scalding hot water.

  A sigh escaped her, body now blissfully refreshed. Too bad she couldn’t say the same for her heart. The poor thing was as bruised and battered as her body right now. Worse.

  She had done the right thing. She knew that. So, why did it hurt so much?

  Foregoing the hospital scrubs, she put on the fluffy bathrobe hanging in the closet right where Auntie Bess said it would be. A hot meal and the comedy channel sounded like heaven to her right now. Thank goodness for small town kindness. Peak Town had certainly gone far in restoring her faith in humanity.

  A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. For one brief moment, she feared David had come after her again, but he was locked away. He would never hurt her or anyone else ever again.

  She shook her head at the silly bit of panic. It had to be Auntie Bess with the promised hot meal. Her stomach rumbled in anticipation. She made her way to the door, hobbling on the crutches the hospital gave her.

  Peering through the peephole, she gulped as her heart jumped into her throat. Long, dark hair and warm, brown eyes filled her vision.

  A warrior stood at her door. Her warrior.

  “Open the door, Kayla.”

  Undoing the chain, she threw the door open. “Ryder? What are you doing here?”

  He glared, moving his way past her into the room. “I might ask you the same question. Why the hell did you leave the hospital without calling me?”

  Why was he angry?

  “I, um…they released me.”

  “And so you called a cab to take you to “—he glanced about the room—“Auntie Bess’ Home for Wayward Souls?”

  Home for Wayward Souls? Did the townspeople really call it that? The cab driver hadn’t. Seemed a bit dramatic.

  “I was coming back to get you, Kayla. Why didn’t you wait?”

  “I didn’t…”

  “What?” He glared when she didn’t continue. “You didn’t need me anymore now that David is locked up?”

  “No!” How can he think such a thing? She shifted on the crutches, winching as pain shot up her injured leg.

  “Shit, you shouldn’t be standing.” He gently took her arm, slinging it over his shoulder and carefully sweeping her up into his arms. The crutches fell to the floor, but Ryder simply stepped over them.

  He set her down on the bed and stood before her. Dark eyes gazed at her with concern, but his posture was stiff and hard. “You didn’t think I deserved a goodbye or at least a damn phone call telling me you were leaving?”

  “Ryder, please stop shouting. That’s not why I left.” She had never seen him this way. Not quite angry, more upset, desperate.

  “What the hell am I supposed to think then? David’s locked up, you’re free to go, and so you just pack up and leave without a word. Your protection detail is over, so you’re out of here?”

  “No, dammit! That’s not it.” She was shouting now, too, but she couldn’t help it. He had it all wrong, and he looked so hurt by her actions. She was trying to save him from pain, not cause more.

  “Then why, Kayla, why? Why did you leave?”

  Her heart shattered. “Because I love you, and I only bring pain and death to the people I love.” She slumped back on the bed. “David was right. I’m cursed. No one has ever wanted me. I should be alone forever.”

  Ryder rocked back on his heels as if her words were a forceful blow to his midsection.

  Tears streamed down her face. Embarrassed by her outburst, she wiped them away with the sleeve of her robe.

  “Oh, sweetheart. Come here.” He sat next to her, wrapping his arms around her.

  Unable to stop herself, she leaned in, clutching him tight, breathing him in. He smelled so good. She had been afraid she’d never smell his scent again. She shouldn’t lean on him, but selfishly, she wanted to keep him.

  “Okay, let’s take things one at a time.” Ryder’s deep voice washed over her. “David is a lying dickhead. You are not cursed, sweetheart. You had some shitty parent who never deserved you and a wonderful best friend who just took up with the wrong guy. None of that is your fault.”

  Okay, all true points. She’d give him that. “But he almost killed your sister and you, that’s my—”

  “No,” he interrupted harshly. “That is not your fault. That is all on David Tyler’s shoulders, and he will pay for what he did. You saved my baby sister’s life, and mine. I’ll be forever grateful to you for that.”

  She lifted her head, mouth open to argue that Julie wouldn’t have needed saving if she didn’t put her in harm’s way in the first place, but he captured her chin in his hand, staring deeply into her eyes. Those sinfully dark eyes held a world of truth in them. Ryder had never lied to her, not once in the entire—admittedly not long—time she’d known him. Ergo that meant…he had to be telling the truth. His words began to sink in, and the whole situation became clearer. He was right, this wasn’t her fault, and by blaming herself she was letting David win.

  Stroking her cheek, a smile tilted his lips “Now, about that other thing. The bit about you loving me.”

  Oh shoot. Had she really blurted that out? She tried to say something, but he placed one finger over her lips, shushing her.

  “I gotta say, sweetheart, I’m relieved as hell to hear you say that…because I love you, too.”

  Blinding white light obscured her vision for a moment. Surely, she hadn’t heard him right. He couldn’t have actually said the words her heart was aching to hear.

  Kayla sniffed, lip trembling. “You do?”

  He smiled, and her heart skipped a beat.

  “How could I not? You are the strongest, most amazing, beautiful woman I have ever met. I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you shivering in the snow wearing those ridiculous shoes.”

  She swatted him playfully. “Hey, I like my shoes.”

  He hugged her tight. “I do, too, honey. But we have to get you some new ones for day-to-day stuff. They’re just not practical up here in the mountains.”

  “Up here…?”

  His palms gently held her face. He leaned down, brushing his lips across hers. “I love you, Kayla. The thought of losing you, in any way, is something I can’t live with. I need you in my life. Move to Peak Town. Marry me. Be a part of my family, and together, we can make it even bigger.”

  The words went in her ears, but her heart was so filled with happiness she could barely decipher them.

  “You want to marry me? And have a family?” A family. The one thing she always wanted. Only, she never imagined a man as wonderful as Ryder to share it with.

  “You already are my family, sweetheart. Family is who you love. And I love you with every ounce of breath I have in me.”

  More tears flowed from her, but these were tears of happiness. Ryder didn’t blame her. He wanted to be a family with her. She wasn’t cursed.

  He loves me! She couldn’t get over it.

  “I hope those are happy tears?” he asked with a tentative smile.

  She nodded, unable to speak through her joy.

  “You’ll stay in Peak Town with me? Marry me?”

  “Yes,” she cried, finally finding her voice. “Yes, yes, yes, to everything.”

  “Hot damn!”

  He scooped her up into his arms, covering her mouth with his in a scorching hot kiss that made her muscles clench in anticipation.

  “Please tell me you’re naked under this,” he murmured from deep in his throat.

  She giggled—she was so happy, her heart felt as if it would burst right from her chest. “I just got out of the shower.”

  Grinning like a kid on Christmas, he laid her gently back down, being cautious of her injuries. Taking off his hat, she spied the small row of stitches on his head. She hated that he’d been hurt, but they were both alive and most importantly, together.

  Ryder sank down beside her on the soft pillow top. “About that family? Wanna get started right now?”

  She tucked a hand in his shirt, pulling h
im closer and giving him the answer with her lips, hands, and every other part of her body, which would now and forever be a part of a family. His.

  The Ryder family.

  It had a nice ring to it.

  A word about the author…

  RWA® Golden Heart®-nominated author Mariah Ankenman began writing at the tender age of five. Her first book, George and the Green Glob, received high praise from her mother. Many years and green glob stories later, Mariah received a playwriting degree from the University of Wyoming. After a few years in Hollywood, working in “the biz,” she came home to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. When she’s not writing, Mariah loves to read, crochet, and play her ukulele. She loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website, Twitter, or Facebook.

  www.mariahankenman.com

  twitter @MAsbooks

  www.facebook.com/mariahankenmanauthor/

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