A Dash of Desire (Spiced Life #2)

by Charity Parkerson

  “I’m definitely coming back next Sunday,” Hunter agreed. Tristan groaned. She felt his pain. They were truly a sideshow event now. Luckily, one of the elders had jumped into the pulpit the moment Tristan had vacated it. Riley could only hope the man held at least one person’s attention.

  “You can sit here,” Emma offered, catching Graham’s attention. Emma May sounded like a woman with a plan as she eagerly made room for him beside her by shooing everyone else down the bench. Since Emma was seated directly behind Riley, he accepted. He took up his position at her back, even going as far as to lean forward in his seat, ensuring Riley couldn’t ignore him. When she glanced over her shoulder, he sneered. “Did you really think a couple of weeks away would make a difference? Who do you think you’re fooling anyhow, Riley?” Graham’s tone was so condescending that Riley was doing her best not to grind her teeth to bits. “A minister’s wife? Seriously? Come on, baby. Show these people the real you. They’re protecting you for now, but how do you think they’ll feel about you once they hear all about you and the puritan out at the pond? Let’s shake things up.”

  Of course, Emma May chose that moment to join the conversation. “What happened out at the pond?”

  Without breaking eye contact with Riley, Graham reached inside his jacket and pulled out his phone. “Should I show her?” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “It could be fun making her realize how a real woman behaves. Let’s do it.” Riley tasted blood as Graham scrolled through his phone for a moment before handing it over to Emma May. He smirked. Riley’s spine stiffened.

  “Scandalous,” Emma May called out in a singsong way that set Riley’s teeth on edge.

  Faith released a loud sigh. “Scandalous?” She switched her attention to Hunter who was sitting to her left. “Did that bitch just holler ‘scandalous’ like a twelve-year-old girl?”

  “Yes ma’am,” Hunter said, sounding as if he was enjoying himself a bit too much. “I believe she did.” Riley’s horror doubled at the man’s agreement. Faith shot him a grateful smile before turning her ire on Emma May.

  “Girl. I know you did not go there. For fuck’s sake. I am scandalous. A woman having sex with her husband doesn’t even rate on the scale of indecency. Thank the lord, or there’s a lot of doomed folk in this building. You, on the other hand, better get to praying for some Jesus, because I don’t see any ring on your hand. I did, however, hear all about how you were on your knees last night behind Hidden Gems, and not an ounce of confession was involved. Even though I’m quite sure a donation was given to the cause.”

  At Emma May’s horrified gasp. Riley bit her lip. Hard. She didn’t even want to know how Faith had known which picture Emma May had seen. Staring at the ceiling, she counted the number of light fixtures to keep from bursting into mortified peals of laughter. She wasn’t nearly as embarrassed by the images in Emma’s hand as she was by the man sitting at Emma’s side. Why had she let this go on? Tristan was right. They were married. There was no way in hell she’d allow any harm to come to their union.

  If Faith could put herself on the line, so could Riley. Gathering her strength, she met Graham’s stare. For the first time in a long time, she did so without flinching.

  “I have pictures too. Of course, they’re not quite as delectable as yours.” Feigning a nonchalance she was far from feeling, Riley snagged the phone and began flipping through the images. She made a show of inspecting each one. “Damn,” Riley muttered, turning an awesome shot sideways for a better angle. She flashed Tristan a wicked smile. “For a preacher, you’re in amazing shape.” A flash of white teeth and dimple gave her all the reassurance she needed that he was behind her one hundred percent.

  “The townsfolk keep me hopping.”

  At Tristan’s explanation, a low chuckle echoed through the pews. There wasn’t a single person who could deny they kept him busy.

  “Anything you can produce can only make your husband look worse than he already does,” Graham cut in, causing the room to fall silent. He nearly choked over calling Tristan her husband. The idea brought a genuine smile to her lips.

  “I don’t know how it could. After all, he didn’t even know me any of the times both my eyes were black. Oh, and then there’s the x-rays of my broken wrist…” She paused for a minute to think it over, before adding, “…and ribs. How many accidents can you explain? I know I ran out of excuses a long time ago.”

  Graham’s eyes flashed dangerously. It was a look she knew too well. He wasn’t cowed by her open accusations. In fact, he was more intrigued than ever. She should’ve known better. There was nothing he enjoyed more than a challenge.

  “It doesn’t matter who you’re fucking. You know that. It’s never mattered to me. You can marry a hundred people, and it won’t mean a damn thing, because I own your mind. Do you think a piece of paper is going to stop me? It never has in the past. You’ll always belong to me.” Graham leaned even closer, holding her gaze as if they were alone instead of in a room filled with more than a hundred witnesses. His voice turned deadly. She couldn’t look away. “For the rest of your life, I’ll be right there. Watching. Waiting.”

  Hunter spoke up, interrupting him. “And all these folks just witnessed you threatening this gal.”

  Graham didn’t bother glancing Hunter’s way. His taunting stare never left Riley. A smirk pulled at his lips. “You know it doesn’t matter, don’t you Riley?” He was right. It didn’t. Money like his bought the world, but she’d be damned if she’d give him the satisfaction of saying it aloud. “There isn’t a person alive who can save you or keep me away.”

  “I say we test that theory.”

  Graham whipped around in his seat at the softly spoken words, facing the challenger seated behind him. Riley couldn’t believe Bella didn’t duck for cover beneath Graham’s murderous temper. Instead, she was the perfect picture of glamor. A blonde goddess among the masses.

  “What are you doing here?”

  A sardonic smile passed over Bella’s lips. Even though Riley had never understood the reasons why, she’d always known Graham hated his wife. The feeling was mutual. Riley did understand that.

  “Careful, Graham. People are watching. You’ve become lax. There’re at least three people with their cell phones out, recording every word you say. Wouldn’t you just hate for me to use that footage to find a way around that air-tight pre-nup you had me sign?” Dismissing him, Bella focused on Tristan instead.

  “Hello Brother Daniels.”

  He dipped his chin. “Welcome to the Church of Holy Light. We’re always pleased to have visitors.”

  A wisp of a smile touched Bella’s lips as if she found his words slightly humorous. Riley got it. Graham had a way of stealing a person’s religion.

  “Congratulations on your recent nuptials. I hope your marriage is a happy one. Unlike mine,” she added, cutting her eyes at Graham, before meeting Riley’s gaze. Her eyes softened, making her seem years younger. “Oh, babe,” she said, sounding sad. “I’m sorry I wasn’t braver.”

  Tears pricked the backs of Riley’s eyes. “Please don’t.” She hated the thought of Graham’s wife apologizing to her.

  “But I have to,” Bella said, as if it was the darkest of confessions. “Please let me speak my piece.”

  Riley ground her teeth to keep her protest inside. After everything she’d done, Bella deserved to have her say. The muscle in Graham’s jaw flexed. It had Riley switching her gaze between him and Bella. If he decided to spring, she’d see it. As Bella had pointed out, there were indeed at least three people recording the entire episode. She could only hope it would keep him in check.

  Bella visibly swallowed and glanced at her lap before meeting Riley’s stare once more. “I can still remember the first time a reporter shoved your picture beneath my nose.”

  “Oh God.” She was going to be sick. Tristan pried Graham’s phone from her hand and linked fingers with her. His tight grip was the only thing keeping her sane.

  “Lies rolled off
my tongue,” Bella said bitterly. “Without a single thought, I just sprouted off some bullshit about how you were my cousin or something similarly insane. All the while, I couldn’t stop studying your expression. It ate at the back of my mind. Sometimes, I would find myself staring at that photo for hours, trying to figure it out. After a while, Graham didn’t even try to hide you any longer. Not that he could have even if he cared to. But he began talking about you openly, taunting me with your existence.”

  Riley’s eyes fell closed. Only God truly understood how much she wanted Bella to stop. “He said even if you flinched, you didn’t break. I know he meant to hurt me, but his love for you shone in every word, and all I could think was, thank God.” Riley’s eyes snapped open. Bella’s were swimming with tears. “Thank God you’re strong enough to protect me and my children.” Her voice broke on the final word. She tried again. “Then Sammie came home with a C in English, and Graham was home.” Her voice completely gave out, breaking Riley.

  “Please don’t,” Riley begged again. The pain crushing her went beyond description. Graham was staring at her, ignoring Bella. Riley knew the truth. He was absorbing every word the other woman spoke, making a list of her transgressions. Riley could barely breathe underneath the weight of his gaze.

  Bella shook her head. “These people have to know,” she said, beginning to sound desperate. “He’s going to crush you, and we both know it. He’ll tell them everything. I can’t live with that, Riley.”

  “I can,” Riley said, praying Bella would stop. Every word, even the sound of Bella’s voice, stabbed Riley through the heart. With Tristan at her side, and the eyes of all the people she’d come to care for upon her, Riley was exposed in a way she couldn’t bear.

  Denying Riley the peace she begged for, Bella shook her head again. “It was such a stupid little thing, that C, but I’ve never been more scared in my life than I was that day. I’m sorry for what I did. I just couldn’t let him see that report card.” She wept harder. “I’m so sorry.”

  Bella’s heartbreak sounded unnaturally loud as everyone hung on her every word. But it was obvious—as the silence stretched on—she was incapable of finishing. Riley could no longer look at her. Instead, she faced the front of the church and stared at the cross hanging on the wall. Her heart hardened against the world, the way it always did when Graham was near.

  “Well. What happened?” Emma May said, breaking the silence.

  “Yes, Riley. Do tell us what happened then,” Graham said, sounding too calm and setting off alarms in her head. Something about hearing the impatient question from Emma combined with Graham’s calm cruelty caused Riley to snap. With slow, calculated movements, Riley came to her feet. As she turned to meet Graham’s stare, she caught a flash of shock on Tristan’s face making her wonder what he saw on hers. Bracing her hands on the back of the pew, she went nose to nose with Graham. She held his gaze, beyond caring for her safety or if the world knew it all.

  “She called me, the way she always does when you’re out of control.” Graham’s features hardened further, but Riley wanted him to hurt. “Just as always, I told her that I would take care of it, and I did.” God help her, she couldn’t stop. Something inside her had given way, allowing her spite free rein. “In a matter of two hours, I had you in my bed and you stayed there for the next six weeks.” She knew Graham would understand exactly which six weeks she referred. He’d told her he loved her and promised her the world. For a moment, in some twisted way, she’d loved him too. That is, until she’d walked by the mirror one day and caught sight of her reflection. A stranger stared back at her. It had scared her to the point that she’d carried the basket of laundry in her hands to the car, and she hadn’t looked back since.

  Everyone used Graham. It had been her most alluring asset and his biggest weakness. She’d been different, or so she’d allowed him to think. The moment of satisfaction she gained by making him see that she was just like everyone else—using him for her own means, or in this case for Bella’s, was short lived. For once, she didn’t see it coming. Graham shot to his feet.

  “You fucking bitch.”

  He flew at her. She let it happen. In the wake of her fury, she was merely deflated. Nothing mattered any longer. There was no way Tristan would look at her the same after this. It was one thing to know she’d been living with a married man. It was another to know she’d lured that man to her, seducing him to stay with her. She didn’t care. Bella’s children were safe. For two whole years, she’d spared them a fate no one had saved her from as a child. Perhaps they’d never know it. She hoped they would not. But she knew.

  Riley braced for a blow that never came. The sound of flesh meeting flesh as fists landed made her cringe, but no pain followed. She blinked in confusion. Her feet left the floor as Hunter swept her into his arms. The expression on his face left him almost unrecognizable. He was hard…deadly. His large frame shielded her from the confrontation.

  Even through Riley’s panic attack, she understood one thing—Tristan had kept her safe. The night air brushed her skin as Hunter rushed her outside.

  “Are you okay? Did he touch you?” Hunter’s hands ran down her body as he physically checked her for injuries.

  “I’m fine,” she lied. She’d never be fine again. While Graham’s hands hadn’t touched her, his words had hit home. Her own action sank deep. He’d destroy her. Blue lights flashed in the distance, drawing Hunter’s focus.

  “I need to help Tristan. Are you going to be okay out here by yourself?”

  “Yeah.” She cleared her throat, hoping to sound stronger than she felt. “Yes,” she repeated. “Please go help Tristan. He needs you more right now than I do.”

  His gaze swept over her once more before he shot back inside. The moment she was alone, Riley headed for Tristan’s truck. She had to get the hell out of Tristan’s life before any more damage was done.

  ***

  Cold steel snapped tightly around Tristan’s wrists. His gaze swept the room, searching out Riley.

  “Where is she?” Even though it was so loud inside the church he couldn’t hear his thoughts, Hunter heard him.

  “She’s fine. I got her outside before the cops showed up.”

  Tristan focused on the other man’s face, hoping he understood how much it meant to him that Hunter had taken care of the most important person in his life.

  “Thank you. Seriously.”

  “None needed. Anything you need is yours. You know that.”

  The tug on his arms had him moving toward the door as the officer led him outside. Another cop, who was wearing gloves to protect himself from the blood, was already shoving Graham into the back of his cruiser. A feral smile pulled at Tristan’s lips. He wanted more. That son-of-a-bitch had tried putting his hands on Tristan’s wife. He was dead if they saw one another again. Hunter stopped the officer hauling Graham away. A quiet exchange passed between the two. The cop looked around as if checking to ensure no one watched as he passed his keys to Hunter and walked away. Hunter glanced in Tristan’s direction. Their gazes met and held. Tristan was staring at a stranger. With a nod, Hunter got behind the wheel of the cruiser, pulling away with Graham in the back.

  He absently climbed into the back seat with the help of his arresting officer, completely blown away by what he’d seen. Shock kept him locked in a haze until the car came to a stop in front of his house. The door opened.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Your wife took the truck. Figured I better bring you home.”

  The man helped him from the car. Not that he was ungrateful. “In handcuffs?”

  He flushed. “Oh, yeah.” The man unlocked the restraints, freeing Tristan’s hands. His red hair and pale coloration looked vaguely familiar, but too much had happened in one night for Tristan to recall where they’d met before. “That was for show. I can’t lose face, you know?”

  “Sure,” Tristan said, even though he wasn’t sure at all about anything. “What about Graham?”

/>   That was all Tristan had, but the cop understood. “He’s on his way to the airport, being strongly advised not to return.”

  Tristan didn’t know what to say. “Thank you.”

  He gave Tristan a pat on the back. “Think nothing of it, Brother Daniels. You sat with my dad for three days before he died, praying with him and keeping him from being afraid. I’m not likely to forget something like that anytime soon. Plus, the way I see it, any man who puts their hands on a woman had a good beating coming his way. You’re like that guy in that movie Kickass Preacher.”

  A snort escaped Tristan before he could call it back. He could only hope that name didn’t stick. He bit back a groan. Who was he kidding? In this town, it was totally going to stick. No one around here ever forgot anything.

  ***

  Riley shoved her clothes in the bag, incapable of stopping. Tears ran unchecked. Everyone would look at her differently now. Graham would never forget her betrayal. Tristan, oh God, she couldn’t even think about him. Goddamn her fucking temper, and her stupid, needy heart. When she’d gotten her car back after that dead battery, she should’ve kept driving. Better yet, she should’ve sent Tristan on his way that first night. Now she’d taken a good, respectable man and turned him and his church into carnival side show.

  “Fuck!”

  “I haven’t seen one of these fits in a while. It’s oddly sexy.” Riley spun at Tristan’s calm speech. She clutched her chest, wondering if her heart could literally beat out of her. When she didn’t say anything, he nodded toward the bag. “Are you going somewhere?”

  His eye was already black. She’d done that to him. A fresh wave of tears washed over her. She covered her face. A sob tore through her. When Tristan’s arms surrounded her, Riley let it happen. She hadn’t truly cried in years. A tear or two had slipped through, but she’d always pushed them aside. All the built-up pain and frustration spilled out. The harder she cried, the tighter Tristan held on.

  “You’re the strongest woman I know. I’m so proud of you.” Riley somehow managed to cry harder at his praise. She’d thought she understood how much she would hurt when he looked at her with hatred until he handed her his understanding. Years of a barren existence poured from her eyes, leaving her spent. The tips of his fingers skimmed her back, comforting her. The sound of his heartbeat soothed away her tears. He was so strong and steady—a calm island in the center of her storm. He was too perfect, and she was beyond broken. They were a perfect fit.