Somebody To Love (Ryker Falls Book 1)

by Vella, Wendy

  “I want you now, Bailey. Tell me you want this too?”

  “Yes, I want it, Joe.”

  He stepped back, and she watched as he pulled out his wallet and removed a condom. He unbuttoned his jeans, and sheathed himself.

  This wasn’t like last time, Bailey knew. That had been a slaking of lust on the man’s part, and curiosity on hers. This was hot, sensual, and achingly sweet. Feeling Joe’s skin, having his hands and mouth on her, it was beyond words.

  He stepped between her spread thighs again, and she felt him there at her entrance, the thick, hard length of him moving slowly forward. Their gazes caught and held as he eased inside her. His kiss was slow, their lips clinging, as he took her with a slow, deep thrust.

  “Are you okay?” His arms held her tight.

  She nodded, her head burrowed into his neck. She felt stretched, and possessed. She’d never experienced something like this before, and because it was Joe, it was so much more, almost too much emotion to handle.

  “Bailey?”

  “I’m okay, please don’t stop.”

  He lifted her face to meet his. “Never.”

  He started to move, his rhythm slow at first, helping her adjust. The feel of his body leaving and entering hers tore a moan from her lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on.

  “Let go for me again, baby.”

  She did with another moan, and it was deeper and more shattering than the last time. It robbed her breath and made her light-headed. Joe followed.

  He stayed there, between her legs, holding her against his body, as if she was the most precious woman in the world. One hand on her head, the other wrapped around her.

  “Are you all right, Bailey? I didn’t hurt you?”

  “No. It was wonderful.”

  He snorted. “It was beyond wonderful, and yet I knew it would be with you. Only you have ever been able to make me feel things more intensely than anyone else.”

  “It’s the same for me.”

  His kiss was so sweet it made tears sting in her eyes. Leaving her briefly, she heard him go to the bathroom, and Bailey tidied herself and followed.

  “We have to go back now, or they’ll come looking for us, Joe.”

  “I know, but tomorrow we talk, Bailey.”

  She nodded. “Yes, I want to talk now. There is so much to say. I-I spoke to Beau tonight.”

  “And you haven’t for a while?”

  She nodded. “Maggie helped me Skype him.”

  “Go, Maggs.”

  She laughed, and leaned into him. He held her close, and Bailey was pretty sure she’d never been happier than she was right at that moment.

  He unlocked the door and they stepped outside.

  “Bailey?”

  She looked at the man standing there. Tall, smooth, and dressed in a suit that cost more than an average family’s weekly wage. Her heart sank.

  “Clark?”

  “Bailey, who is this?” She felt Joe’s eyes on her.

  “I’m her fiancé.”

  …

  Sweat dripped off the end of Joe’s nose as he bent to tie his lace. The ball hit him in the head.

  “Fuck! Time out already!” he roared, looking at Luke, who was smirking, which told Joe he was the thrower.

  “You’re testy today. Don’t you think he’s testy?” Jack said from the sideline where he was watching with Buzz, who was leaning on his legs, no doubt cutting off the circulation with his bulk. His side was better, but it still ached, and he still needed to take things easy.

  Joe ignored his brothers and Fin, who was also dripping sweat and had a smirk on his face.

  Three days ago he’d had the best sex of his life with Bailey. Not sex, Joe, we made hot, incredibly sweet love. He’d never felt closer to anyone than he had in that moment. He’d thought this was it, the one, the moment when his life changed. But in fact she’d be hiding a fiancé. Which just went to show what a fool he was to believe all her BS about Angie, and how hurt she was he’d kissed her and still supposedly been in a relationship.

  Fucking woman! He absolutely refused to acknowledge the pain in his chest as anything but a stitch. He did not care about that lying, cheating woman.

  “He’s been dark for three days, and hiding from everyone. Even Pip, who he usually talks to, hasn’t seen him.”

  “I’m not dark, and I have not been hiding, I’ve been working,” Joe gritted out between his teeth. To make matters worse, he didn’t know where his father was, and no one had been arrested for shooting Jack. He was edgy, there was no other word for it. Shit was pissing him off, and that wasn’t a good thing, because he couldn’t sleep. Then there’d been the dream he’d had about Bailey last night, which had aroused him to the point of pain. “You fuckers know what that is, right?”

  His words were greeted by a series of whoops.

  “Work? I’ve heard the word a time or two,” Luke needled him.

  They’d been shooting hoops for an hour, and he was about done. In fact, he was about done on a few things. Like why the hell Bailey hadn’t left town yet.

  His family had tried to talk to him, but he’d been too busy, and yes... he was avoiding them. But he knew Bailey was still working for Jack, because his brother never shut up about her!

  “Real testy,” Luke drawled.

  “I’ll show testy, you little shit.” Joe bounced the ball toward his brother, who dodged, and stole it from him.

  “Slow and testy,” Jack said as they watched Luke jog to the hoop and throw the ball up. Of course it went through.

  “I’ve been working hard,” Joe snarled.

  They were at the outdoor courts down by the sea, where they came as often as they could. Looking at the empty space that he wanted for a rec center, he wondered if he’d succeed in getting the locals on side at the upcoming town meeting. With that thought came the memory of his conversation with Bailey. “We would have used it back then, and it would have been warm and dry, and had adults there who maybe could have helped you and your brothers, Joe.”

  “It’s a woman. He gets this way when he’s involved. All moody and consumed.”

  “The hell I do.” Joe glared at Luke.

  “It’s not Angie, because I know that’s done,” Fin mused, scratching the chin Joe wanted to plant his fist in.

  “It’s Bailey, because Pip said she’s all sad and quiet too, and has been since the parade and street party,” Jack said. “We’re just not sure why.”

  “I’m sure her fiancé will cheer her up!” Joe hadn’t meant to roar, but he had anyway.

  “They’re not engaged,” Jack said calmly.

  “Right. That’s why he introduced himself as her fiancé, is it? Because he’s not?”

  Joe started pacing, dribbling the ball backward and forward as he worked out more of the rage and hurt he thought he’d just eradicated from his body. Yes, it was hurt. She’d sucked him in, and he’d fallen for it. Bailey had misled him. Bailey, of all people. The one person he’d believed in unconditionally.

  “I can explain, Joe.” What a laugh. She’d followed him when he’d stalked away that night, firing more lies at him until he’d turned on her and said he didn’t want to hear them. He’d thought her different, but she wasn’t. Joe refused to acknowledge the pain his words had obviously caused her. She’d deserved it.

  “Maggie told Piper, Bailey was upset but wouldn’t talk about that night, or the new guy who’d arrived. But she thought him being here and Joe suddenly hibernating were connected.”

  “What new guy?” Fin asked.

  “The new guy. Classy Clark of the Dior suits and handmade Italian loafers,” Jack added.

  “I’ve been on three ten-hour shifts, so maybe I haven’t seen him yet.”

  “Maybe. Anyway,” Jack continued, much to Joe’s distress, “Pip went round to Maggie’s last night and sat on her.”

  “Pip sat on Bailey?” Fin asked Jack, who nodded. “My eyes just crossed at that vision.”

  “Gros
s, that’s my cousin, Fin.”

  “Not my cousin, though.” The park ranger had his eyes closed as if savoring the vision.

  “The point here is that he, Classy Clark, was Bailey’s fiancé, according to Pip. But she broke it off, and he won’t accept her answer.”

  Joe stopped walking, clutching the ball to his chest. He’d never once doubted the man was her fiancé, because... shit, because he’d got in so deep so quick with her, he’d panicked.

  “Did Pip believe her?” Joe said.

  Jack look confused. “Of course. Bailey would never lie to someone she cares about.”

  “How could you know that, when you’ve only known her briefly?”

  Jack shrugged, then winced as his side pulled. The gesture brought back just how close Joe had come to losing him. They better catch the culprit soon, or he was starting his own investigation.

  “Bailey’s just one of them,” Jack said.

  “One of what?”

  “Someone you trust instinctively. She’s sweet, and innocent as a baby lamb, and wouldn’t hurt a fly. Hell, the other day I watched her spend twenty minutes fishing a moth out of a puddle it had fallen into. She then put it on a piece of wood to dry out. Didn’t have the heart to tell her it wouldn’t survive. She’s one of the good ones, Joe. You have to know that surely, especially considering this history between you?”

  Joe walked away slowly, dribbling the ball. Did he know that? Was he so caught up in emotion that he’d forgotten that Bailey was one of the good ones? Had he misjudged her without even giving her a chance to explain, because he was scared?

  “She told me he wasn’t her fiancé and I didn’t believe her.” He said the words to the wall he now faced. The men behind him heard.

  “Why?” Luke’s voice reached him, so Joe made himself turn to face him.

  “Because... ah hell, because she’s special, and always has been to me. The thought of her lying to me made me go little crazy and irrational.”

  “What a dickhead.” Jack threw the ball at Joe, and winced. Buzz barked and charged at him.

  “For an intelligent man, you keep behaving like an idiot. Jesus, Joe. Anyone can see that woman’s a good one,” Luke added, looking disgusted.

  He looked at his brothers, who were shaking their heads. Dropping to his haunches, he gave Buzz a good scratch.

  “You’re lucky he’s too dumb to understand, or he’d be giving you hell too,” Jack said. “That dog loves Bailey.”

  “If I may interject, I know you said there’s shit between you and Bailey—how about you come clean and tell us about it now?” Fin said.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Okay, there’s a story there, like I said, and now’s as good a time as any to tell it. Then we can work out a plan for you to grovel.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  For two days Bailey felt as if someone had taken a club and battered her heart. It was bruised and empty. She’d known pain when she left Ryker all those years ago, but this was different, more intense. By day three, she was done hurting, and woke angry—a much better emotion. How dare Joe Trainer treat her like he had. He hadn’t given her a chance to explain about Clark. He’d simply wanted to believe her in the wrong.

  They’d made love, and she’d never experienced such emotion, and to have that dashed in cold water immediately after had been shattering.

  She’d given Clark a piece of her mind too, which had shocked him, and told him to take himself out of Ryker Falls and not return. She also told him to tell her grandfather she was not coming back anytime soon.

  According to Maggie, Clark hadn’t left. He’d rented a room at the lodge. She hadn’t seen him, and had no plans to. He’d tried to talk to her though, calling at the house, but she’d told Maggs to send him away. She’d seen him in town yesterday, but hid in the tea shop until he passed. Miss Marla had then insisted on the blindfold test, which she’d failed, but still, it had kept her busy.

  Working with Jack kept her sane, and she’d made sure to arrive and leave when Joe wasn’t around. If she heard a car, she ducked in the tack room, or a stall. Her newfound strength was tentative at best, she had no wish to test it with exposure to Joe. Of course, this was his town, and she would see him again soon, but not now—not yet.

  Today was Saturday. Maggs had gone to open the gallery, and Bailey had decided to stay in bed. She had a cup of coffee, toast, and one of Maggs’s books. It was bliss. Her body ached from the work at the stables, but it was a good ache, because she had pushed herself hard. A worthy ache, she thought. She’d put up a temporary wall around the crack in her heart, and so far it was holding—as long as she kept her anger close, and didn’t see Joe.

  The knock on her front door was loud. Four sharp raps. Throwing back the covers, she pulled on her robe and went to answer it. Peeking out, she saw the bright eyes of Mr. Goldhirsh.

  “We can give you six minutes, Bailey. Hustle now, the rest are waiting for us at the end of the road.”

  Bailey opened the door a bit wider and looked to where he was pointing. She saw a group of people all moving from foot to foot, but not going anywhere.

  “Ah... I’m not quite sure I follow.”

  “Walking club,” he said. “Remember we discussed it when you arrived. I think it’s time for you to start exercising now, you’ve been here a few weeks. Now get moving, young lady, we have to be on our way before the sun gets too high. Some of the oldies are a bit fragile.”

  “B-but I get exercise.”

  “Not enough, now move it. This will clear your head.”

  “How do you know my head needs clearing?”

  “Piper told me.”

  She’d get hers when they next met, Bailey thought, as she watched Mr. Goldhirsh leave, striding down the path pumping his arms.

  “But I wanted to stay in bed,” Bailey muttered, running to her room. Digging through the drawers, she found her stretchy exercise pants and sports top, which were new because she’d rarely worn them. Pulling on underwear so fast she ended up hopping across the room and nearly face-planting into the bed, Bailey was dressed in two minutes. A glance in the mirror showed hair all over the place, so she found a band and pulled it back. Running to the bathroom, she cleaned her teeth and washed her face.

  “Running shoes!” She ran back to the bedroom and found her sneakers. Seconds later she was out the door.

  “Of course, I could have just been brave and said no,” she muttered, hurrying down the path and along the road to where the group stood. She was the youngest by at least ten years.

  “Morning!” everyone greeted her with a sunny smile. Most wore caps and shirts with the words Ryker Roadies on them.

  “Right, let’s be off then!” Mr. Goldhirst announced. He lifted a whistle to his lips and blew two sharp bursts. Everyone fell into two lines, and started walking.

  What the hell have I got myself into?

  She counted twenty people. She was paired with Miss Sarah and Mrs. Lowens, who as it turned out knew everyone, and everything about everyone.

  “Bernie’s had his second hip replaced and came back stronger, and Maddie has just had her tenth grandchild. Delivered the wee boy herself, as the husband’s useless.”

  Bailey must have issued the appropriate response, as Mrs. Lowens continued.

  “Are you still practicing each day, Bailey?”

  “No, Miss Sarah, I’m taking a break.”

  “Seems a shame. Perhaps Joe would let you use the piano?”

  She wasn’t going there, so she made a noise that neither agreed nor disagreed.

  “It’s important to keep those fingers limber, dear.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “That’s enough now, Sarah, our Bailey is looking quite peaky.” Miss Marla appeared before her, walking backward of all things, looking fresh and neat. Bailey wanted to bare her teeth. “Deep breaths now, dear.”

  “The youth of today have no stamina,” Mrs. Lowens stated from up ahead.

  Bailey
was wilting, and they’d only been walking fifteen minutes, but she was damned if she was stopping now.

  A younger woman dropped to Bailey’s other side when she slipped back, the Robbins sisters powering on ahead. She thought briefly about slowing, then simply turning and running back to the house, but wasn’t entirely sure they wouldn’t come after her.

  “How you doing?”

  “F-fine,” Bailey panted.

  “Takes a few times to get used to it, but you’ll feel better for it. I’ve been doing this for a year now, and wouldn’t miss it for anything. My husband says it’s improved our sex life.”

  Luckily, Bailey didn’t have any water in her mouth, or she’d have spat it out. She choked though, which was surprising because there wasn’t a drop of saliva left in there.

  “Name’s Jane.”

  “Bailey,” she wheezed.

  “I heard you play twice now, you’re good.”

  “Thanks.”

  “My husband heard you in New York. His aunt dragged him to the concert, but he said he was glad he went.”

  “Oh... ah, I’m glad your husband enjoyed the concert, but equally glad that you’ve enjoyed hearing me play at A.S.” It was the truth, actually. It had always been about the music for Bailey, and giving people an experience they remembered.

  “I hope to hear more of you.”

  Not happening , Bailey thought as Joe stepped back inside her head. She was not playing there again.

  Jane talked for a while more, then others dropped in when she sped up, and on it went until they’d been walking an hour. Bailey’s shirt clung to her, and her face was slick with sweat when finally they reached the main street of Ryker. She was the runt of the herd, no doubting that. The lame gazelle who the others came back to check on. It was pathetic, and she was disgusted with herself.

  That was changing now too. She’d get fit if it killed her... which was a possibility if she did it with these people.

  “Right now, dear. We will all have a nice breakfast at Phil’s place.”

  Bailey looked at the Robbins sisters, who were now standing before her. They looked fresh, and not red-faced. Clothes still immaculate on their trim figures. Sneakers white with no scuff marks.