LOVE ME TENDER: Ryker Falls Series

by Vella, Wendy

“What happened?” She ran a finger over the ridge of skin.

  “I told you someone shot me. A woman who loved Joe tried to kill Bailey, but I got in the way... kind of. It’s a long story. How about we discuss it later?” His words were gruff.

  “Okay, and I’m sorry you were hurt.”

  “Thanks.”

  The thought of the world being robbed of such a vital man rocked Rory. It also caused a sharp pain beneath her ribs. She’d analyze it later; right now she wanted to make him melt as he had her.

  After placing soft kisses along the scar, Rory moved lower, taking her time learning every inch of his body.

  “Rory, I want you now.”

  She pushed aside the hands that reached for her and took the hard length of him into her hand, beginning to torture him as he had her. Licking, kissing, and then taking him into her mouth with a long, slow slide of wet heat that had him digging his heels into the bed.

  It felt good to bring this man to his knees, good to wrest control from him.

  “Condom?” Rory said when she knew he could take no more. He leaned over the side of the bed, then seconds later a foil packet landed on his tummy.

  Rory tore it open and rolled the condom on.

  “Come here.” He reached for her again, and she knew he wanted to take control, but she wasn’t having that.

  Climbing up his body, she straddled him. Rising on her knees, Rory took his hard length inside her. The feeling of him filling her was exquisite.

  “Christ!” The word exploded from his lips.

  Rory rose up on her knees again and lowered back down slowly. The glide was torture, and she felt the pressure building. His big hands gripped her hips as he rose up to meet her, increasing the pleasure. Soon they were both panting, and Rory let the wonderful wave of heat engulf her again, this one more intense, almost too much to bear.

  He followed, thrusting hard inside her.

  “Hell,” he muttered, catching her as she fell forward.

  Rory couldn’t form a word, so she simply lay on his chest, gasping for air.

  They lay like that until their breathing eased. He had a hand in her hair, the other on her back. Right then and there, Rory could honestly say she didn’t want to be anywhere else.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes, you?” she replied.

  He snorted, which she guessed meant yes.

  Easing off him, Rory reached for her shirt.

  “Right, so now we have that out the way, what’s in the case?”

  “That?” Rory still felt like her bones had melted.

  “Hot, sweet lovemaking. Is that a better description?”

  Ignoring his cat-got-the-cream smile, she pulled her shirt over her head.

  “Seems a crime to cover up that body,” he said, looking his fill.

  “And yet it’s cold.”

  He climbed out of bed and used the bathroom, and Rory admired his fine ass. She pushed aside the doubts that had started reforming inside her head over what they’d just done. She’d deal with them later.

  “You do realize how hot you are, don’t you, Princess?” He wandered back out of the bathroom, and Rory refused to sigh. He was a bloody Adonis.

  “Whatever.” She placed the case on their laps after he’d pulled on his shorts and sat beside her. A large hand gripped her wrist as she opened it.

  “I wouldn’t lie to you about this. You’re hot.”

  “Ha.” Rory tried to pull away. “I know what I am, and I don’t need you to tell me otherwise.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Leave it alone, Jack.”

  “Leave what alone?”

  Ignoring him, she pulled her arm free and took out a book.

  “My father was meticulous in his accounts. He also diarized every appointment and event. This is his planner for the year before we left. The pages I’ve folded down show the name of a hotel. The Lakeside. It was the same every three weeks. Same place and time.”

  Rory held her breath as Jack studied her, then he looked down at the book and she released her breath. Rory knew what she looked like and was fairly sure that wasn’t his usual type, and she didn’t want him saying things to her because he thought he should after what they’d done.

  “It could have been a business meeting?”

  “With a heart beside it?” She pulled out the second book. “This is a log of all his expenses. See the corresponding dates and amounts. That’s not a business lunch, it’s paying for a room. I’m sure of it.”

  Jack looked at the pages and took in the payments. “It certainly looks suspicious, but do you need to know this now, Princess? It’s done, your parents are gone. Maybe you should leave it alone.”

  “It’s not that simple, Jack.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Taking the book, she flipped to another page and handed it back to him. “Read the entries on that page, then the same dates over the next months. Tell me that what you find doesn’t make you wonder.”

  He did, silently going through the book. His face gave nothing away until he’d finished.

  “Well, hell.”

  “I could have another sibling out there somewhere, Jack.”

  “I’m searching through my mind for another scenario, but it’s not easy to find one.”

  “It’s certainly incriminating, and I want to find another angle too, but it’s not easy when the words child support are right there.”

  “Unless he was paying it to help someone out?”

  Rory scoffed. “Come on, Jack, you knew the man my father was. He wasn’t really a help-someone-out kind of guy back then.”

  “I guess not.”

  “What do I do now?”

  “You need to speak with your brothers before you make any move, Princess. They should be in on this.”

  “I know, but I’ve been putting it off.”

  “That’s certainly understandable. Did your dad keep the rest of his diaries? Would they be in the attic of the barn? That would help to work out how old the child is.”

  “I didn’t think of that. He had a desk, but it was always locked, and I don’t even know what happened to that.”

  “Maybe that’s where you should start—after calling your brothers, of course.”

  “Yes, you’re right. Thank you. I feel better for talking about it. Plus, I have Tafty. She will probably know things I don’t.”

  “That’s a lie. No one could feel better finding out what you did. But one thing I do know is that you need to follow this through or you’ll be forever wondering.”

  “I know, but it’s a scary thing.”

  “Extremely.” Jack lowered the briefcase to the floor, then pulled her into his arms. “Now, tell me more about this adoration you feel for me.”

  “I don’t!” Rory didn’t protest as he pulled her down onto his chest. How could she when it felt so good to be there?

  “Seeing as I’ve been so accommodating to you, and looked after you when you were stoned, you should at least tell the truth. Yesterday you worshipped me.”

  “Oh God, you’re going to make me pay for that, aren’t you?”

  “A little. But here’s the thing, Princess. You buy me at the bachelor auction, and I’ll never speak about it again.”

  “What? No way could I afford you.”

  “I’ll give you the money.”

  “Why don’t you wait to simply see who wins you? You love women.”

  “Not all of them, and contrary to popular opinion, I am not a stallion. This entire thing makes me uncomfortable. At least if you win, I know who’ll be in that hot tub with me.”

  “I’m not sure I want the town to see me bidding for you. They dislike me already. If I win the town’s hottest catch, that will only turn more of them against me.”

  “I’m not a tuna,” he said, sounding testy. “This whole business is making me feel dirty.”

  “That’s a bit of an overreaction, don’t you think? Besides, Mandy says you’ll make mor
e than anyone else. You need to suck it up, buttercup, because it’s for a good cause.”

  “Heartless wench.” He grabbed her and threw her down on the bed on her back, then proceeded to dig his fingers into her ribs. “You ticklish, Princess?”

  “No!”

  “I think you’re lying to me.”

  “S-stop!”

  “Not until you say yes.”

  “I’m not b-buying you!”

  “Then I’m keeping you here until you do.”

  Rory fought to get away, but it was no good: he was bigger and stronger.

  “All right!”

  “All right, Jack, I will buy you at the auction,” he dictated, digging his fingers into her side again. “Say the words, Princess.”

  “I-I will buy you at auction!”

  “Excellent, I’m glad that’s settled. Now I need some sleep, as I have to be up in a few hours.”

  He dragged her with him to turn out the bedside lamp, then tucked her down beside him in the bed.

  “You can’t stay here,” Rory said around a yawn.

  “Sure I can, it’s my house. Now shut up.”

  Surprisingly she did, and her last memory was of his lovely big body pressed to her side and a large arm around her waist.

  Chapter 33

  Jack pulled his pickup in beside Rory’s car. It was late, past ten, but he’d had work to do and he couldn’t get there any sooner. Grabbing his bag, he climbed out and went up the steps to the front door.

  “Rory, it’s Jack.” He banged on the door.

  He was pleased when he heard the locks open; at least she was sensible with her security now.

  “Jack?”

  She had a crease down one cheek, which told him she’d been sleeping, and if that hadn’t given the game away, then the long unsexy night dress would have clued him in. Strangely, on her it had his body heating.

  “You in bed already?”

  “It’s late.” She yawned.

  All that wonderful hair was a crazy mess, and her eyes were unfocused. He felt it again, a stirring inside him, and the rightness of how good it felt to be here with her.

  “Why are you here, Jack?”

  “You left without coming to say goodbye.”

  “It’s clean here now, and you were working. Plus, I’d spent several hours helping you do things and checking your horses... for free, I might add. I needed to get back here.”

  He touched her cheek. It was soft and warm, just like the rest of her body would be.

  “It was fun having you work for me.”

  “I was not working for you, I was working with you. Please note the difference.”

  “Why did you need to get back here?” Jack asked.

  “I live here.”

  “Good reason.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “You’re not staying alone with some crazy person out there wanting to hurt you, Princess.”

  “Manure is not a weapon.”

  “But a rock is. Now stand aside, this man needs a bed.”

  “Man can just turn around and go back to his own bed.”

  “Don’t be mean, Princess.” He nudged her back and opened the door wider, then closed and locked it behind him.

  “I haven’t made up other beds.”

  “Damn, I’ll just have to share yours.”

  He felt a hand in his hair.

  “You drove out in these temperatures with wet hair? What were you thinking?”

  “Luke had my hair dryer?”

  She snuffled, but didn’t say anything else till they reached her room, which was toasty warm. Phil was at the bottom of the bed and glared at him.

  “I come in peace,” Jack said, stroking the animal until he settled down.

  “I really don’t need a bodyguard.”

  “Tough.”

  Jack watched Rory yawn again as she climbed back into the big bed. She pulled the covers up to her chin, and her eyes followed his every move as he stripped off his clothes. Seconds later he’d joined her.

  “I don’t have the energy for—”

  “Me either, and even if I did, that ugly thing you’re wearing would be a complete turn-off.” He rolled on his side and pulled her into his arms. Her back pressed to his front. “There’s always the morning.”

  He wasn’t sure who fell asleep first, but when he opened his eyes Rory was still there, nestled in his arms. Pushing his face into her curls, he inhaled. She smelled good. Fresh and subtle, which sounded odd inside his head, yet made sense.

  It was early, he knew that, and today Joe was doing all the work in the stables, with help from Luke. They’d said he needed a break now and again, and once a month they ensured he got it.

  Closing his eyes, he dozed for a while, letting thoughts come and go inside his head. He liked waking up with Rory in his arms; liked it a lot.

  “Jack?”

  “Hmmm.”

  “You better get going.”

  “I’m not working today, my brothers are doing it.”

  “Really? That’s nice of them.”

  “I think so, especially as it means I can stay here with you.”

  He eased her onto her back and kissed her slowly.

  “I have morning breath.”

  “Same, so we’re all good.”

  He kissed her again, then stripped off her nightdress and made slow, sweet love to her that had her sighing, moaning, and making all those lovely noises he knew he could get her to make. When he was seated deep inside her, Jack thought it was about the best feeling he’d ever experienced, which should have rocked him a lot more than it did.

  “I get the first shower,” Rory said after she’d lain in his arms for a while.

  Was he going soft? Jack wasn’t sure, but he thought that lying here cuddling this woman was something he could get used to.

  “Sure, that seems fair as you’re cooking breakfast.”

  “Why me?”

  Her words were muffled as she pulled on her nightdress.

  “I’m a guest in your house.”

  “Uninvited guest.” She glared at him from the end of the bed now, looking like an irate pixie.

  “What are you laughing at?”

  “Nothing.” He swallowed the smile.

  She grabbed some clothes and left the room. Jack joined her in the shower and made sure she was clean, then dressed and found her in the kitchen.

  “Did you find out anything else from your dad’s papers, Rory?”

  Her fingers clenched around the cup she’d just placed on the bench.

  “I found his desk and opened it with Nana’s crowbar.”

  “Nice.”

  “There was a secret panel, and beneath that a bunch of cards. Years and years of them.”

  “And?”

  “Lovey-dovey cards from Valentines, Christmas, and birthdays, and not from my mom. I read them and a few had letters inside.”

  “What did they say?”

  “One said, we can never be together because there is far too much at stake.”

  “Well, hell.”

  “Another said, they would both always know they had made a child together. She went on to add that she knew he was an honorable man and she loved him, but they could never be together.”

  “I’m not sure how he could be honorable,” Jack said.

  “Me either, but one thing I do know is that my father has another child out there somewhere, and that letter confirmed it. And I have no idea how old, as the cards have no dates on them.”

  “You tell your brothers yet?”

  “No, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Tell them the truth.”

  She was flitting around the kitchen. Her curls were wet and came half way down her back. Dressed in worn jeans and a thick cream sweater, she had fluffy slippers on her feet with bunnies on them.

  “Nice slippers.”

  “Miss Marla dropped them off to me.”

  He intercepted her as she passed him to go to the fri
dge, lifted her onto the benchtop, then braced his hands on either side of her.

  “They deserve to hear this from you now, Princess. They’re your brothers, and if they, like you, have a sibling out there, then they should know. How would you feel if the roles were reversed?”

  “Oh God.” She fell forward and buried her face in his neck. “I have another sibling, Jack, and my father lived his life with us as a lie. At least my mother will never know. Did he even love her?”

  Jack held her close.

  “I don’t know what to do now about any of it. The sibling thing, and the fact that maybe now my father could be innocent. Do I even want to know if he was innocent? I mean, the man was clearly an adulterous bastard.”

  “You loved him, Rory, don’t forget that.” He cupped her face in his hands. The misery in her eyes hurt his chest.

  “How can I? He lied to my mother... to all of us.”

  “I understand that, but first things first. Do you want to take any of this further? The possible child, and the fact that maybe your father’s innocent and that’s why you’re being targeted?”

  He wanted her to say no, because Jack had a feeling that things would get uglier if they started digging around.

  She looked at him for long seconds.

  “Yes to both.”

  “How about we start doing a bit of investigating about what happened to your father, and leave the other issue until you and your siblings have decided what you want to do?”

  “Where would we start?”

  She wasn’t disputing the fact that he was going to be part of it, and that pleased Jack. If whoever was targeting her was involved in what went down, he didn’t want her doing this alone.

  “We could visit the bank today and ask a few questions of Mr. Harvey.”

  “What would we ask?”

  Jack shrugged. “Nothing too intense, just a few things like what exactly happened, who had signing rights to your father’s account, and stuff like that.”

  “Do you think Mr. Harvey will talk to us?”

  “Don’t see why he wouldn’t. The man’s a good one, and always has been.”

  “Yes, and he said to me when I first arrived to come to him if I wanted to ask anything, or needed someone to speak to.”

  “There you go then.”

  He saw the hope flare in her eyes.

  “I need to ask you again if you really want to do something about this or leave it alone, Princess, because if you start asking questions people are going to wonder why.”