“House repair.” Chris shook his head and took another swig of his beer. He and Kade were on the patio behind Chris and Emily’s house. The barbecue was heating, sending a waft of smoke into a perfectly clear afternoon sky. It was warm for April, which in Chris’s world meant it was time to fire up the grill. Chris was a charcoal devotee, so there was time for beer after the coals were lit. The patio was on the west side of the house and Kade enjoyed basking in the sun, out of the wind. Summer didn’t seem so far away.
Chris and Emily’s three daughters were playing in the yard, laughing and teasing each other. The two younger ones were trying to turn cartwheels as well as their ten-year-old sister and not succeeding. Emily was making something in the kitchen to go with the steaks and burgers. Chris had gotten out two chairs from the set of garden furniture. Kade’s partner was about ten years older than him, of similar height and build, with blond hair that had a bit of silver at the temples. He was pragmatic and fair, and Kade admired him.
“Pretty much,” Kade agreed.
“You could end up with a job up there in Honey Hill.”
“I could probably make myself a job up there.” Kade felt Chris’s sidelong glance. “If I wanted.”
“Do you?”
“I don’t know.” Kade might have ducked the question from anyone else, but with Chris, he was completely honest. Their partnership worked because they were always straight with each other.
“Because, you know, you could come back to town and fix my house anytime you wanted.” Chris’s tone was teasing. “If you ever have a burning desire to paint baseboards or hang light fixtures.”
“Change light bulbs,” Emily said, bringing them each another beer.
“You got one that needs changing?” Kade asked. Chris wasn’t good at home maintenance, but Kade never minded stepping up.
“The overhead light at the top of the stairs.” Emily gave her husband a stern look. “Someone is going to trip.”
Chris grinned. “Someone might get help tripping if he doesn’t get to it soon.”
“Not funny, Chris,” Emily said when Kade barely smiled. “Couples hurting each other isn’t much of a joke.”
“No, it’s not. Sorry, babe.” Chris stood and wrapped his arms around his wife, giving her a kiss that would make anyone unfamiliar with their open displays of affection uncomfortable. Kade was used to it.
In fact, it made him think of Reyna.
It made him more than think about her.
Was there any chance of her speaking to him again?
Of them getting together again?
If he wanted it to happen—and he did—he couldn’t let her take charge of everything. How would Reyna react to a man who challenged her? Kade wasn’t sure but he wanted to find out. There had to be a way to bend her rules without earning her animosity.
“Mmm, I think I might just forgive you,” Emily teased. “When will you be ready to grill?”
“Twenty minutes.”
They conferred about preparing dinner, a phase Kade had always called synchronizing their watches. They were excellent hosts and made it look easy to serve five or forty. It was no joke that they worked well together, as good a team as he and Chris were.
Probably better.
“I’ll take care of that light for you, if you want,” Kade offered.
“Thanks. Ladders aren’t my strong suit,” Chris replied. “Wait until after dinner though.” He opened a cold beer and handed it to Kade as Emily returned to the kitchen. “The problem with you making a job for yourself up there in the highlands is that you have a job right here.”
Kade had known that Chris wouldn’t avoid the subject forever. “I’m not ready, Chris.”
“I miss having you at my back,” his partner said. “We have a trust, Kade, after these years together. It’s not easy to replace.”
“I know.”
“When do you think you’ll be ready?”
“I don’t know.” Kade frowned, then said the dreaded truth aloud. “I might not ever be.”
“You’re kidding me,” Chris said and Kade noticed how he kept his tone light. His eyes, though, revealed his concern. “You’re going to leave me with Latte Boy forever? What have I ever done to you?”
Kade grinned despite himself. Then he put down the beer and leaned toward Chris, holding his gaze. “You’re the best partner I ever had. I trust you completely.”
“And I trust you. You know I’m not supposed to say it, but that was one fucking amazing shot. And that bastard had it coming. You did her a favor even if she didn’t believe it at the time.” Chris abandoned that line of reasoning when Kade frowned and teased him again. “You leaving the force to become a sniper and you’re just letting me down easy?”
They laughed together.
“Maybe you just like having that scrubby crap on your face, the bit you call a beard.”
They chuckled again, but the humor didn’t last long.
“I don’t want to ever let you down, Chris,” Kade admitted quietly. He turned to look at his partner. “I went to the range today.”
“That’s good.”
“Not really. It’s not better. I still questioned every shot. I hesitated every single time. And there was no pressure. There was nothing going on, no decisions to be made, no incomplete data. There was the target and I had my gun and yet, I wasn’t sure. That scares the shit out of me. If I can’t shoot when there’s no question, how about when there’s room for doubt?” He shook his head. “I will not come and tell Emily that it’s my fault.”
Their gazes clung for a moment and Kade knew his partner understood.
Then Chris ran a hand through his hair and sat back, frowning out at the yard. “Okay. That’s fair.” His gaze swiveled back to Kade. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Remember how I wasn’t going to talk to that shrink again?”
“Of course.”
“Wednesday.” Kade grimaced. “I booked a double session.”
Chris grinned and fist-pumped with Kade. “Wanting to beat it is half the battle. I was worried when you just seemed to be giving it up.”
“I was freaked out.”
“Of course! But I know you can do it. You can get past this. You’re a great cop and the city needs you.” Chris wagged a finger at him. “And whenever you’re ready, you better believe I’m dumping Latte Boy and riding with you.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” They clicked their bottles together in an impromptu toast and drank. The girls collapsed on the ground, laughing. One found a bit of snow in the shade against the fence and shoved it down her sister’s jacket and they were off again.
“What changed?” Chris asked quietly.
“What?”
“Something changed. You were determined to wait it out. You were walking away.” He cleared his throat. “I might even suggest that you were hiding in Honey Hill.” Chris’s gaze was level. “But suddenly you want to fight for it. What happened?”
“She happened,” Kade admitted, knowing it was true.
Chris smiled. “I should have known it would take a talent I don’t possess.”
They laughed together again.
“When’s the wedding?”
Kade snorted. “There’s not even going to be a second date,” he said, then stared across the yard, thinking.
“Once was enough?”
“Not nearly, but given that she threw me out, that’s probably going to be it.”
Chris straightened. “She threw you out? You forgot how to do that, too?”
Kade smiled. “No. It was awesome.”
“That doesn’t explain her throwing you out.” Chris tapped him on the arm. “Maybe your awesome is different from hers.”
Kade shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. I think it worked for her.”
“Then what?”
He considered his beer bottle. “I had to go because she was tired.” Chris was waiting so he continued. “She has these rules, you see. S
he sleeps alone. She never does it twice with anyone. She does everything herself so it’s done right. And those are only the ones I know so far.”
Chris gave a low whistle. “Domestic.”
“What?”
“She doesn’t trust you enough to fall asleep in your presence. What does that mean? That she’s fallen asleep before with a man in her place and everything has gone to shit by the time she woke up. And she doesn’t want to get involved with anyone again. That’s the only-once thing.” Chris nodded. “Your girl has a history. I’ll bet my last buck on it.”
Kade considered this, reviewing everything Reyna said. “She really likes to be in control. Really likes it.”
“Lack of trust. That’s from fear. Maybe she’s been raped.”
Kade exhaled and leaned back, no longer having any taste for beer. He didn’t want to think about Reyna being abused in any way. The idea made him feel sick. “That would be a terrible thing,” he said softly.
“You like her.” There was no question in Chris’s voice.
“Oh yeah. Way more than I should. She’s gorgeous, sexy, direct, confident—and yet, it seems like some of it is a mask. A performance.”
“A defense,” Chris said and finished his beer. “But meeting her is what changed your mind?”
“She doesn’t acknowledge obstacles or weakness, Chris. She built a business, making cupcakes, of all things. Some of it might be bravado and she might have secrets to hide, but she’s really strong. She’s just kept on going through something, something probably pretty bad, and made something good of her life. That’s inspiring.”
Chris smiled. “She made you feel like a slacker.”
“For not trying nearly so hard,” Kade agreed. “Exactly.”
“What’s her name?”
“Reyna. Reyna Tate.”
Chris got up to check the barbecue. “Well, I’m thinking that a woman like that isn’t one you should let slip away. If she made that much of an impact in one night, you ought to think twice. She could change your life.” He opened the lid and examined the coals, then called to Emily that he was ready. Then he gave Kade a look. “Maybe you should check whether she wanted you to leave just last night or for good.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Kade agreed. “Good thing I’m going back to Honey Hill in the morning.”
“If you hadn’t had two beers and Emily wasn’t knocking it out of the park with the sides tonight, I’d tell you to go now.” Chris dropped his voice to a whisper. “She’s trying to convince you to come back to town so you can come for dinner more often.”
“Don’t you share all my secrets,” Emily complained and they laughed together before she called the girls to set the table.
Kade watched as he had watched a hundred times before and felt a familiar yearning. Chris had everything good, everything Kade had ever wanted himself. The yearning was stronger this time, though, maybe because he could finally envision the woman who could fill the same place as Emily in his own life.
Was there any possibility of a future like this with Reyna?
It wouldn’t be like this. It would be a lot more stylish, but Kade knew it would be interesting. There’d be no chance of boredom with Reyna around.
If nothing else, he had to let her know how he felt. The choice would be hers, especially if Chris was right about her past, but Kade wasn’t in a hurry to let Reyna Tate slip away.
Chapter Four
Reyna heard the motorcycle on Sunday morning.
It was raining lightly, just a heavy mist, and at the early hour, there was a quiet about the world that Reyna loved. She’d gotten up at five, as soon as she’d heard the rain, and had opened the doors and windows of the house so she could hear it. She’d prepared the order she had to deliver that morning, then had just sat, enjoying the sound of the rain and the taste of her coffee. She could have been alone in the world, not downtown in the bustling metropolis of Honey Hill.
When Reyna heard the bike, she wondered when Kade had left Portland. It was early for him to be finishing a long ride. Maybe he’d stopped somewhere on the way for the night. There was no doubt that it was the BMW, though. She recognized its quiet thrum, the precise sound of the engine. She went to the front door to watch for him, unable to resist the impulse.
To her surprise, the engine died before he passed her house.
Had he changed his mind? Gone back to Portland?
Reyna looked out the front door to see Kade walking the bike down Main Street. He’d opened the visor on his helmet and made it look easy to walk a bike, even though Reyna knew it wasn’t.
She opened the front door when he was in front of her shop, just like before, and he stopped to look at her. Unsurprised. The way he was just starting to smile made her heart clench. It had been a long while since anyone had been so obviously glad to see her. “Run out of gas?” she asked lightly.
Kade parked the bike, then took off his helmet and ran a hand through his hair. He spared a glance at the sky. “It’s Sunday morning,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to wake everybody up.” He glanced at her coffee cup, then his gaze rose to meet hers. “I was hoping to see you again,” he murmured.
“You’re just sweet-talking me for a cup of coffee,” she accused and his grin flashed.
“Coffee is the least of it.”
“Even though I tossed you out?”
He sobered then, his gaze locking with hers. “I’d like to talk about that, Reyna.”
There was such conviction in his voice that Reyna’s rationalizations dissolved and disappeared. This man, this good man, wanted to talk to her. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to know more about him, even if it meant surrendering more than a coffee. That butterfly heart tattoo was humming again.
She took a step back. “Then maybe you should come in.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Kade replied and she wasn’t sure whether she’d surprised him or not. “Let me go park the bike in the garage. Two minutes.”
“Okay.”
Reyna remained at the door, watching him go. The way she saw it, she’d take every opportunity she had to watch his butt. He’d be gone forever soon enough.
She reminded herself that was a good thing, but didn’t quite believe it.
The rain was falling harder, making a more persistent patter on the roof of the porch. Kade had disappeared on the far side of his uncle’s house, where Reyna knew the garage was located, then came striding back into view moments later. He’d left his helmet there, too. She was amused that he looked both ways before crossing the deserted street, but then he looked at her and she felt like the world stopped.
How could one man have the ability to excite her with a glance, and one from the other side of the street?
Reyna barely managed to take a breath by the time he reached her porch. He shook off the rain and opened his jacket, wiping his boots on the jute mat there as she opened the door wide. Kade paused right beside her in the doorway, exuding warmth and the scent of his skin, his proximity enough to heat her right to her toes. He smiled slowly, then lifted the mug out of her hand, his gaze clinging to hers as he took a slow sip.
“More than worth the wait,” he murmured, and she knew he wasn’t talking about the coffee. Reyna’s butterfly tattoo started to pulse, as if the little heart Chynna had added to it was beating. Kade’s gaze searched hers, as if seeking some sign of her thoughts, then he bent and brushed his lips across hers.
Reyna shivered with pleasure and closed her eyes, knowing that her own lips parted. She stretched toward him, intuitively, instinctively, and Kade didn’t need another invitation to claim her lips with a kiss.
To hell with the coffee.
Reyna took a step back, into the shop, without breaking their kiss, and Kade followed her. He couldn’t have done anything else. There was no hesitation or doubt in her manner, just a need that obliterated every other thought from his mind. She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him across the shop,
making a small sound of desire that sent him to the moon. He shut the screen door behind them, his senses flooded with Reyna. He knew he had to put the coffee mug down, but for the moment, he just hung on to it. His other arm was around her waist and he lifted Reyna to her toes, crushing her against his chest as he slanted his mouth across hers. She purred at that, knotting her fingers into his hair. Her breasts rubbed against him as she rose to her toes and he was starting to wonder about how robust the cupcake display counter might be when she tore her lips from his.
“It’s like we never did it at all,” she whispered.
“It’s like we’re not nearly done.” He pulled back a little to meet her gaze. “How about revising that only-once rule?”
She eyed him, her breath coming quickly, her lips a bit swollen and her eyes sparkling. Kade was afraid for a heartbeat that maybe he’d been too demanding too fast, but Reyna smiled. “We already broke it,” she whispered, and Kade kissed her again.
Long moments later, she pushed him away, her eyes shining and her breath coming fast. “Mrs. Foster,” she whispered, her voice husky. She ran her hand across his chest as if she couldn’t resist him. With a sigh of reluctance that bode well for the immediate future, she ducked out of his embrace to shut the wooden door.
She pivoted and leaned back against it, smiling at him.
She was dressed more casually than he’d ever seen her, but her outfit still had that vintage vibe. Her jeans were snug to the ankles, leaving no doubt how fabulous her legs were, and she wore pink ballet flats. He thought her feet were otherwise bare. Her white shirt had pink embroidered flowers down the button band and along the collar. The pink buttons were small flowers, in exactly the same hue as her shoes and her lipstick. She’d knotted the shirt at the waist and rolled up the sleeves. Her hair was twisted up again and her makeup had been perfect until he’d kissed her.
She looked good enough to eat, one more time.
Was she wearing a white bra or a pink one? He desperately wanted to know.
Kade really hoped he hadn’t messed up by showing his enthusiasm. He couldn’t forget Chris’s conviction that she liked to be in control because she’d been abused before.
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