by Vella, Wendy
Hold Me Cose
Ryker Falls Series
Wendy Vella
Contents
Hold Me Close
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Bonus epilogue Hold Me Close
A Promise Of Home
Other Books By Wendy
About the Author
Hold Me Close
By Wendy Vella
The life he has always known is about to change
Findlay Hudson, landed in Ryker Falls, Colorado, leaving a dysfunctional family and his bad attitude behind. He has friends he now thinks of as family, and considers himself happy. All that changes when Maggie Winter, a sexy, alluring red-head, returns to Ryker Falls. She’s had her big London adventure, but Maggie’s clearly hurting and vulnerable now.
They’d always struck sparks off each other, but never moved on them. Second time around though, Fin doesn’t seem able to keep his distance, and suddenly the comfortable life he’d always thought he wanted is turned on its head. Maggie’s arrival brings overwhelming desire and hidden threats. Now Fin’s embroiled in a potential homicide, his estranged father arrives in town, and Maggie… well, Maggie, slides into his heart and this time he can’t shake her.
Coming home was meant to heal her
Maggie Winters left home excited for her big adventure, then everything changed one chilling day when she faced an horrific attack. Determined to put the trauma behind her, she arrives in Ryker Falls, ready for the best acting job of her life. Of course, she’d counted on Fin Hudson, a long tall drink of handsomeness who had always made her feel a little off balance, still keeping his distance. Turns out she was wrong. Way wrong.
Maggie’s defences are weakened and now Fin wants to know what she’s hiding and he’ll do whatever it takes to find out. Fin Hudson could seduce secrets from a stone, but Maggie is no pushover.
With a murder to solve, scars to hide and a business to run, she doesn’t have time for love.
But kisses that touch her soul, a confession and the cheering squad of a close-knit community give her the strength to accept that she and Fin deserve a chance.
Somebody To Love
From This Moment
Love Me Tender
Only Just Begun
Hold Me Close
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This one is for Allan, Blake, Darrall,
Harry, and Mike.
Gentlemen with endless patience, humor,
and intelligence.
I’m honored to call you all friend.
“Friendship is like a moving bicycle. It cannot go with the flow unless you peddle it.”
-Mrunali Patel
Chapter One
Maggie Winter knew that coming home to people who knew her better than she knew herself would be the best acting job of her life.
Weak winter sun began to sink behind the twin mountains standing sentry over the town as she entered the main street of Ryker Falls
“You can do this. You’re strong and resilient.” Maggs snorted. Maybe she had been, but not now.
Her big adventure had turned into a nightmare. But at least here none of the ugliness she’d left behind could touch her. She’d make sure of it. From this moment on, she was going to work at being the old Maggie. Happy, colorful, and full of life. That was her mantra now.
Driving slowly, Maggie checked for signs of change in the two years she’d been gone. December was a magical place in this town. It was a time for everyone to celebrate and participate in crazy events the committee or council came up with.
Looking at the banner crossing the street above her, she read the words. Town Events was written in red, then underneath was a list: Santa run, Christmas bake-off competition, and musical chairs for adults.
“Okay, so nothing’s changed much there,” Maggs muttered. “Although I don’t remember participating in musical chairs for adults.”
She loved this town for its quirks and eccentricities.
Her eyes went to Tea Total, one of the storefronts. That was bigger now. Mandy and the Robbins sisters had expanded, with Ted’s help. She had to smile about that. Big bad Ted Hosking hooked up with sweet timid Mandy Robbins. In the window was a huge gold teacup with holly spilling over the edges. Framed with snow and little flashing lights, it looked wonderful.
“Life changes, Maggie. Look at yours.” Lifting a hand off the steering wheel, she saw it was shaking.
The huge Christmas tree that Bas from the garage put up every year, with the help of a few locals, twinkled in the dwindling afternoon light. Standing proud on top was a white star the town council had insisted on. Winter, to her mind, made this place even more special. You believed in fairy tales and magic when you stepped foot into Ryker Falls in December. Scents, sights, it was all part of the package, and of course there were the Christmas sweaters most people wore.
Checking all the names of the stores, there didn’t seem to be anything new, which relieved her. Maggie didn’t want to see change at the moment; she wanted this place to stay as it had always been, just as she wanted to go back to the person she’d been living here.
She needed a few supplies to get her through till tomorrow, or whenever she decided to officially show her face, so she searched for a parking space. Maggie hoped she could slip in and out of the grocery store without encountering anyone she knew. Chances were high, as most of them worked, and those that didn’t would probably be tucked up inside and not out in the cold like tourists. But then again, she knew a lot of people in this town.
“Buzz!” The dog was leaning on a post, like he’d been waiting there all day just for Maggie to return. A car pulled out before her, so she nipped into the space.
Running around the hood, there he was, tail wagging, waiting for her. A big black fur ball she’d known since he was a little black fur ball.
“Oh Buzz, I missed you so much.” Dropping down right there in the street, she ignored the cold seeping into the knees of her jeans and hugged him. He rested his head on her shoulder and let her cry into his fur.
“Hey, you okay there?”
Every muscle in her body clenched at the deep words. She knew that voice. Knew the disturbing male it belonged to but wasn’t ready to face him yet.
“It has to be noted the fur ball is good for a hug, but I’m pretty good too. I mean, some even say better, because you don’t get a mouthful of fur.”
She couldn’t stay here, her face pressed into Buzz’s fur, forever. She’d have to get up. Giving the dog a last squeeze, Maggie regained her feet.
“Hello, Fin.”
“Maggie?”
Fin Hudson, a long ta
ll drink of handsomeness who had always made her feel a little off balance. The one man she couldn’t dismiss no matter how hard she’d tried. He still had a smile playing on his lips, telling her he was thinking about something that would make her knees go weak.
It wouldn’t turn her weak, though. Maggie had other things to think about now, and men were definitely not one of them. In fact, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready to have a relationship again. Any man she got close too would need really broad shoulders and compassion. Plus patience; he’d need buckets of that.
It will take time, Maggs, but you will heal.
The doctor she’d seen in London had said that. She wasn’t sure she agreed, but she was hopeful. Time was something she now had.
“What the hell? I didn’t know you were back for Christmas. Nobody said a word.” He looked pissed off about that, his baby blue eyes narrowing.
Thick brown hair stood off his head as if he’d been out in the wind. He had dark brows and lashes and a face made up of angles and planes all put together to make a woman sigh. He was handsome in big neon flashing lights. But there was a bit of something extra to Fin. She always thought he stepped just to the right of wild. That he had a streak he subdued, but it was there. His best buddy, Joe Trainer, was the same. Maggs had seen it once or twice when he let his control slip.
Dressed in jeans and a thick gray sweater, over which he wore a black down jacket unzipped, he looked as he always did, vital and strong. Maggie dug her toes into her boots to keep from moving back a step. She’d forgotten just how big he was.
“You need a haircut,” Maggs said, as she had nothing else.
“That’s all you have to say to me after two years?” Before she could stop him, he’d stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her. “Welcome home, baby girl, we missed you.”
She tried not to stiffen up. The old Maggs would have stolen a kiss or put her hands on his ass. Instead she inhaled his scent, smelling the outdoors on him. As the local park ranger, he was always trekking over the mountains or doing something outside. Sniffing him again, she thought it felt good to be in the arms of someone she cared about. One of her people.
“What’s wrong?” He eased back, his hands gripping her arms.
“Nothing. Just thinking how soon I can grab your ass without it being rude. I mean, it’s been a while. I just thought I’d give you some time.” She stepped out of his reach. Buzz moved to her side, and she dug her fingers into the fur on top of his head briefly.
Fin’s eyes narrowed. “You never need permission to grab my ass, you know that. You didn’t hug me back, and why is your hand clenched in a fist?”
He was following her as she walked backward, which she hadn’t even realized she was doing.
“Stop moving.”
“For heaven’s sake, Fin. I just drove into town, I’m tired, and I need to head home and get ready for the invasion from my girls.”
“Did you just arrive now?” He was frowning, his eyes running over her face. “You’ve lost weight.”
“Yes and yes. I was fat. Now, bye, I need to go.”
“You weren’t fat; you were perfect.”
She would not cry. No one had said anything like that to her since she left Ryker Falls. The men and women in her life here were always throwing about compliments right alongside insults.
“Aww, that’s very sweet of you to say so, Fin.” She stopped moving and made herself smile. She hoped it was like the cheeky ones she often used before she’d left. Unclenching her fist, she leaned in and patted a cold cheek, feeling the rasp of his chin. “You always know the right things to say.”
“What’s wrong, Maggs?” He stood there, a big hunk of confident man who had more women in lust with him than was healthy for his ego.
She hated him for that confidence. Maggie had once been exactly the same.
“Nothing’s wrong. What could possibly be wrong?” She backed toward her car. “I’m tired like I said, Fin. And arriving unexpectedly is a surprise for everyone, so I need to wash and get ready for the celebrations.” She turned, about to scurry to her driver door. Scurry, for pity’s sake! The old Maggs would never do that.
He stepped closer and grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving. His eyes then ran over her face.
“I heard something bad went down when you were over there. You were involved in a terrorist attack. But I also heard you were just shaken up, unhurt.”
Holy shit.
“That was months ago, Fin. I’m good now.” Maggie’s heart was beating so hard, it actually hurt her chest.
“No. Good is what you are not,” he said, moving closer. So close, soon there were only inches between them.
“I-I just got home! There is no way you can s-say that.” Maggs fought the desperation and panic beginning to claw up inside her. “Now let me go, Fin. I want to go home.”
He cupped her cheek, running a thumb over her skin. She felt it, wanted to close her eyes and lean into him. But if she did that, she would fall apart, and there was no way she was doing that again, especially not in front of this man.
“I know you, Maggie Winter. I’ve watched you for years. Coming home to us should not be terrifying, and yet for some reason it is.”
“No—”
“Yes, but that’s a discussion for another day.” He leaned in and placed his lips on hers. A soft kiss, gentle, and through her panic she felt it to her toes. He eased back when he was done. “Welcome home, sweetheart. You come to me if you need anything.”
She stepped away from him. Maggie then walked to the driver door, making herself open it slowly. She gave Fin a wave, then climbed inside. Firing up the car, she drove slowly down the main street. After all, you didn’t speed through this town, because everyone knew who you were. Looking in the mirror, she saw Fin now on the street watching her.
“I know you, Maggie Winter. I’ve watched you for years. Coming home to us should not be terrifying, and yet for some reason it is.”
How had he known? How had he sensed something was not right with her? She needed to be better at hiding her emotions going forward. She could do that. Present a normal façade.
Everyone would know she was back before the hour was up. Maggs shuddered. It seemed her hope of slipping into Ryker Falls were dashed. Now she had to prepare herself for the invasion of her girlfriends. They’d all come, knowing she’d returned. The thought made her nauseous.
No way she wanted them all in the small space that was her house. She felt it again, the onset of panic. Pressing her foot down on the gas pedal, she shot out of town, turned right, and headed to her house. She’d be safe there once the doors were locked. Safe, and home. This place would heal her. It had to.
Chapter Two
Fin watched Maggie’s car until the taillights disappeared. Rubbing a hand over his lips, he could still feel the press of her sweet mouth to his. That woman had always disturbed him. The first time he’d seen her, he’d been blindsided. He’d been in his friends’ stables when she’d ridden in, laughing. Eyes alive, face flushed from the exercise. He’d looked at her and thought, well hell, that woman is going to spell trouble for me.
Strangely they’d kept their distance from each other, and Fin had never really been sure why.
He liked women and enjoyed their company. Loved the way they laughed—well, most of them. Mrs. L cackled like a witch around a cauldron. Loved the way they teased him.
“What is your deal, Maggie Winter?”
He’d sensed something was off with her from the start. Sure, it could be coming home and the travel. But he would bet his new Harley on this Maggie Winter being vastly different from the one who left them two years ago. He wasn’t sure why he knew that, just that he did.
He’d seen her break up a bar fight in A.S. one night. Two men had been going at it yelling at each other when he’d arrived. She’d waded in, grabbing the arm of one guy and hauling him away before Fin could stop her.
“You look confused, bud. Your date just cance
l or something? Need help adding two plus two again?”
“Loser.” Fin looked at his old friend. Tall like him, with an easy smile, the man was pushing a stroller. “I know it’s five, we’ve discussed this already, and what woman could resist me?”
“I’m still no wiser about that.” Joe pointed to the banner strung across the street.
“Nearest I can figure, it means some kind of weird mating ritual. I mean, what adults actually want to play musical chairs, and won’t the kids in this town be really pissed they’re not included?”
“Dylan thinks his mom’s behind it and it’s something to do with getting her girls hooked to the men she’s handpicked for them.”
Fin shuddered. “Imagine being in the sights of Mary Howard.”
“A shiver just ran down my spine.”
“She’s a regular piece of work, for sure,” Fin said. Joe’s cousin was married to Mary Howard’s son, and it was fair to say the union wasn’t something she voted for. All seemed smooth sailing now, but the woman wasn’t someone you wanted to get on the wrong side of.
“True that.” Joe rocked back on his heels. “So now we’ve covered that off, tell me what’s wrong. That whole ‘Fin Finds A Femur’ front page news in the Ryker Gazette not getting to you, is it, bud? Nigel at the paper didn’t mean any harm.”