by Vella, Wendy
“We’re heading to Phil’s for coffee and a cinnamon and hazelnut donut. Coming?” Aunt Jess asked him.
“I’m just going to the bank. I’ll head there after. Don’t eat them all before I get there.”
“Did you hear Jeb and Jenny Morrison’s pups are about ready for homes?” Mr. Goldhirsh asked.
“I hadn’t heard,” Fin said, wondering where this was going. Knowing the man usually had an agenda, he waited.
“You should take one.”
“Should I?”
“Yes. He can work with you and keep you company. Nothing like a dog to teach you a few lessons.”
“And I need a few lessons?”
“Everyone needs lessons, boy.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he said as they reached the bank. “A dog,” he muttered entering the building. But the idea had lodged inside his head now, and he found he couldn’t shake it. “A dog,” he said again. Do I want a dog?
“Morning.”
“Morning.” Fin nodded to a teller—who wore a red Santa hat—he didn’t know by name but by sight, then walked into line behind a handful of people.
Banks were banks wherever you were; it was just a matter of dimensions, to his mind. This one was decorated with tinsel and some shiny big red balls. Christmas carols had people humming along. He wasn’t one of those. After a month of them, he was pretty much done with Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
Looking at the woman ahead of him, he took in the red curls under the cream wool beanie. She was wrapped up in a coat, jeans, and boots. A cream-and-green-striped scarf was wound several times around her neck. He felt the tingle of awareness he always got when she was nearby.
“Hey, Maggs.”
She turned. “Oh, hi, Fin.”
His eyes settled briefly on her lips, and he remembered the kiss. The brief taste and feel of her had not been anywhere near enough.
“Settling in?”
“Sure. It’s good to be back.” The smile she gave him was close to the old Maggs and reached her eyes. She did look better than when he’d seen her four days ago. Less tense. Maybe Joe had been right. She just needed some rest and time to settle back into Ryker.
“How’s the gallery?”
Maggs owned Artsy Fartsy. He still wasn’t sure about the name, but the gallery was popular, and he’d purchased a few pieces from there himself over the years.
“Good. Jean has done a great job while I was gone. I’m enjoying being back there though. I have a few plans I want to put into place.”
He wasn’t sure what it was about this woman that got to him. She was beautiful. Lovely body, pretty face, but there was more to it. She pulled at something deep inside him.
“I’m sorry about what you found up there, Fin. Can’t have been nice.”
“Not so much, but I’m okay, and thanks. Mr. Goldhirsh wants me to take one of Jeb and Jenny Morrison’s pups. He thinks it will help me recover and that I also need the companionship.”
She frowned. “I saw him yesterday, and he told me the same thing.”
“Apparently it will teach me stuff.”
“I got that talk too.” She pursed her lips, and all he’d have to do is lean in to kiss them. Shit. “Not sure what I have to learn, but apparently I’m a work in progress and a dog will help mold me.”
“Is that a possibility? You being molded, I mean?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What are you getting at?”
“I’ve never known you to take advice from anyone, and from where I’m standing you’re the least pliable person I know.” Fin had forgotten just how much he loved annoying Maggs, seeing her lovely eyes flare and color ride her cheekbones.
“And you are? You’re made of granite! About as pliable as the building we’re standing in.”
Fin made a tsking sound. “Harsh, Maggs. I need to be tough in my job.”
“And I don’t?” Her hands were on her hips now.
“A bit different, don’t you think? I have to stop idiots trying to kill themselves in nature, and you have to stop people replicating the great masters.”
Her cheeks puffed out.
“Got your tree up yet?”
“You always do that to me. Annoy me, then move on to something like you haven’t just done that.”
“It’s a skill.” He smiled.
“Everyone drop to the floor and put your hands where we can see them! Do it now, and no one gets hurt!”
Fin turned and found two masked gunmen in the doorway of the bank. Well, fuck! How the hell was it possible there was a bank robbery happening in Ryker Falls? To his knowledge, that had never happened.
“Down!”
He dropped to his knees and turned to reassure Maggs.
“I said down!”
She was still standing. Grabbing her hand, Fin gave it a yank.
“Get down here, Maggs!” She stumbled to her knees. “Are you crazy? They have guns,” Fin hissed as he tugged her onto her belly like she was a child and unable to move herself. “Unless you’re Wonder Woman, I’m fairly sure you can’t stop bullets.”
Her movements were stilted, and her fingers gripped his hard.
“Now stay down and don’t move,” he whispered.
Her head had been turned away from him, but then she moved, and suddenly the breath lodged in his throat. Her brown eyes were wide, fear etched in every corner, and her face was white. She was shaking, tremors rocking her body.
“Hey, it’s okay. Stay down, it’ll be over soon.”
“Don’t let them shoot me, Fin.” Her words were raspy.
“They’re not going to hurt you,” He moved closer to her, so their bodies were touching. “Quiet now, and this will be over soon.”
She was shaking hard. Shock, he knew, and she’d be crazy not to be, but this was one hell of a reaction.
“I don’t want to be shot again, Fin.” She’d inched closer until her face was pressed into his shoulder. “Promise you won’t let them shoot me.”
Again?
He rolled slightly, pulling her under him, and then lay half over her like a blanket.
“Sssh now. I have you, and no one is hurting you.”
Lifting his head, he saw one man was still at the door, the other up with the teller.
“It’ll be over soon, Mags.”
She whimpered.
“This is going to be on the gossip airways for years to come. I don’t think this town has ever had a bank robbery,” he whispered. She didn’t say anything, just kept her face pressed into his shoulder.
“It’s okay.” He reached over her head and gripped her hands in his. They were trembling. “No one’s going to hurt you.”
As far as bank heists went, it was fairly uneventful. Not that he had much experience in that area, but still. Everyone behaved, the bad guys got their money, left, and suddenly the building seemed alive with noise and people.
“Everyone quiet down now!” Chief Blake had arrived. Fit, with steely determination, the man ruled the town of Ryker Falls with patience. When that didn’t work, he was a hardass. “No one leaves. I want all your names and any details you can remember.”
“Okay, it’s done now, Maggs. Up you get.” Regaining his feet, he lifted her to stand before him.
She mumbled something.
“It’s over, Maggs.” He pushed the hair from her face so he could look at her. She was still in the grip of something. “It’s safe now, sweetheart. You don’t need to be scared anymore.”
She clenched her eyes shut, dragged in a deep breath, then released it slowly.
“I-I’m okay. Thanks, Fin.”
She didn’t sound okay. Her voice was high-pitched. Her breathing was still rapid.
“When were you shot?” He gripped her shoulders, holding her before him.
“What?” She was looking around them, her eyes darting left and right.
“Maggs.” He took her hands in his. “Look at me.”
She did, and he still saw the fear.
“I’ve told you you’re safe now. I’ve told you no one is going to shoot you, and I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen. You can relax now.”
“Right… you’re right. Safe,” she whispered. “No shooting.”
He didn’t know why the hair on the back of his neck suddenly rose, but it did. Going on instinct, he stepped closer and pulled her into his arms.
“You’re all good now, sweetheart. Nothing to be scared of.”
She didn’t fight him; in fact, her hands went around his waist, and she held him tight.
“You take a few deep breaths for me now, Maggs, and calm down.”
Fin didn’t know how long he stayed like that with her, feeling her lovely body slowly relax and the shudders that rocked her ease. But he had to say, holding her brought back all those conflicting feelings he had for this woman.
“I’m all right now, Fin. Thanks.” She stepped out of his arms, and he was reluctant to let her go.
Her eyes seemed calmer, and she even managed a smile for him.
“I’m sorry about that.” She bent to retrieve her bag and hat.
Hers was a face a man couldn’t help but take a second look at. Soft pale skin, sweet little nose and chin, dark brows, and lips that were usually slicked in a bold color that had him wanting to nibble them. Maggie Winter was sexy, confident, and had rocked Fin back on his heels from the first moment he’d seen her. Some of the confidence had left now, but the sexy was still there.
“So now you’re feeling better, how about you tell me when you were shot?”
“What?” She looked shocked by his words.
“You said, ‘don’t let them shoot me again, Fin.’”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Not sure why I’d say that.” She laughed. It wasn’t the loud and throaty one she usually gave. This one was forced.
“When, Maggs?”
“Chief Blake is calling us into line. Imagine us being in a bank robbery, and right here in Ryker Falls. This is going get the place buzzing.” Her words were running one over the other as she backed away from him.
Fin followed.
“I mean, Mrs. L is going to be pissed she wasn’t in here. The knitting group will move on from the exploits of Bob and Nancy to the fact our town is going to the dogs.”
Fin kept pace with her as she moved to where Chief Blake stood.
“It’s funny, I lived in a big city like London and came back here for excitement.”
“Maggs—”
“Chief Blake!” She shrieked the words, and Ryker Falls’s finest police officer responded.
“Hey there, Maggs. Good to see you back in town.”
Fin watched him hug her. What the hell was her deal? Sure, it was a scary thing to be in a bank robbery, but he’d stake his new tramping boots on her not being the falling-apart type.
“You go on and answer Deputy Clipper’s questions, Maggie, and then you can leave. It’s not like I don’t know where to find you.”
She hurried away after shooting Fin a nervous look, and he had to let her.
“Fin.”
“Chief Blake.” He shook the man’s hand.
“Hell of a thing, something like this happening here, and on top of that business up the mountain.”
“Hell of a thing,” Fin agreed. “Need any help doing police work?”
“Think we’ve got it covered. You go on now. I’ll call if I need you. But we’ll keep looking up there with search parties. There must be some clue as to who that body part belonged to.”
“Sure, and I’m going up daily.”
“Good, okay then. Makes a man want a vacation, all this crime,” the Ryker chief of police muttered.
Fin found Maggie outside the bank pulling on her hat and gloves.
She wasn’t meeting his eyes, and Fin guessed that was because she’d got herself together now and was seriously regretting what had just taken place.
“You coming for coffee, Maggie?”
“Where?”
“Phil’s.”
“I need to work.”
“I thought seeing as you were at the bank someone was opening for you?”
“I still need to get back.”
“You can’t take a few minutes for a coffee?
“Look, Fin. What happened in there… I was just freaked out about the robbery. Don’t make a big deal about it.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. Well, good.”
“Maggs, you just had the crap scared out of you. Come and drink coffee. I sure as shit need it.”
“I—ah, I’m calling in to Tea Total, so I’ll sit there for a while.”
“Let me come with you.”
“No! No,” she said again, this time in a more subdued tone. “I’m all right, Fin, really. I’ll see you round.”
He stood there and watched her until she’d left his sight. Then followed. No way was he letting her walk about after the way she’d just reacted. He’d just keep his distance and make sure she got to wherever she was going, then leave her there.
“Like hell that was a simple freak out,” he muttered. But he’d find out what was going on with Maggie Winter if he had to kidnap her to do it.
Chapter Six
Holy crap, she’d messed up. Maggs walked away from Fin. She’d turned into a statue when she’d realized men had entered the bank with guns. Then the shock had started, and vivid visions of London had run through her head like a series of movie clips on repeat. Guns firing, people screaming, and the pain. God, the pain; she’d never experienced anything like that before.
She had no intention of going to Tea Total; she wanted her home. Wanted the solitude and security it offered.
Damn. Back a few days, and she’d already made Fin curious by acting out of character. The old Maggie Winter would never have fallen apart like that.
“Not sure as you should be cussing right out here on the street, Maggs. Even someone as hot as you will incur the wrath of the town’s elders.”
She found Luke Trainer, the youngest of the brothers, smiling at her from the doorway of Phil’s Cafe. He had a bigger build, more like Joe than Jack, the middle brother. But he had the green Trainer eyes and black hair.
“I was just….” Maggie blew out a breath, unsure how to continue. “The thing is, Luke, the bank was just robbed, and me and Fin were inside.” He’d find out soon anyway. News spread like fire through this town once it was in the right ears.
“Get out.” Luke whistled. “You doing okay there, sweetheart? Where’s Fin?”
“Here.”
Maggie spun on her heel to look at the sexy ranger who had just seen her fall apart. Not only that, but he’d placed his body over hers to keep her calm and safe. She swallowed down the tears over what he’d done.
“Did you follow me?”
“Why would I follow you?” He gave her that slight smile he was so good at. “I need sustenance after my harrowing escape and near death experience. I also told you I was going to Phil’s.”
“What near death experience?” Jack appeared behind Luke with Rory, his fiancée. Short, with crazy curls, Rory was a vet and worked with Jack at the Trainer Ranch.
“It was not a near death experience,” Maggs said. “The bank was robbed, we were there, end of story.”
She shot Fin a look. His blue eyes were focused on her. He knew she’d fallen apart, but she also knew he’d never tell anyone about it.
“Well, hell, get in here then!” Rory ducked under Jack and grabbed Maggs’s arm. “Coffee, stat, Pip!”
She was tugged inside, past the white walls, one filled with leafy green potted plants, to the counter. A not-too-gentle hand nudged her onto the seat.
“For a small person, you’re forceful.”
“It’s one of my finer qualities,” Rory said. “Maggs and Fin were in a bank robbery right here in Ryker Falls. Add that on top of what Fin found, and I think he needs whisky, but he’s settling for coffee.�
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Fin moaned as Rory yelled the words loud enough so everyone inside, and a few out, heard.
“Hell, Rory, we’ll be inundated with people wanting the inside scoop on what happened now. It’s bad enough that I won’t spill more details about what I found on the mountain, but this will send them into a frenzy.”
“Don’t give me that; you love the notoriety. Plus, you’ll get more baking.”
“Are you all right? I just heard.” Pip came bustling out of the kitchen wearing a shirt that had three lines. Naughty, Nice, and I tried. The first two words were crossed out. The Trainers owned this place, but she ran it.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m still a bit shaken. Sure could use a full breakfast and coffee. And then maybe one of those donuts with all the sugar on the outside,” Fin said.
“I just heard!” Aunt Jess hurried up to them. “Are you both all right?” Maggs was engulfed in a hug, then Fin. “Poor babies."
“I’m not gonna lie, it was frightening.” Fin put his pathetic face on, and Aunt Jess bought it.
“Well, I’m going home to bake you some of those brownies you like, and I’ll fix you some chicken and dumplings too.”
“Only if you have time, Aunt Jess. I can just throw a pizza in the oven—”
“You certainly will not, and after an ordeal like you just endured a man needs a substantial meal.”
“All right.” His smile was weak.
“That was pathetic,” Maggs whispered when Aunt Jess went to tell Mr. Goldhirsh the news. “I can’t believe she bought it.”
“What?” He looked innocent, but there was that sparkle in his eyes.
“You weren’t frightened.”
The sparkle fled, and suddenly there he was, the man who meant business. The ranger that tracked and rescued people. The man who never backed away from anything.
I was once like that.
“I was scared, Maggs. But I was more worried about you than what was going on around us. Tell me what happened in that bank?”
She looked away. “Nothing happened, I was just shocked, and yes, scared.”
“Aww, there they are.” Joe wandered in with Bailey and their children. “So far I’ve heard there was a bank heist and you were forced at gunpoint to fill the bags with cash.” He pointed at Fin. “And you were used as a human shield as the armed robbers made a getaway.” His finger moved to Maggie.