Long Live the Rebel

by E L Irwin

  “Mmm, yeah.” She smiled, bobbing her head at me as if it should have been obvious.

  We were standing on the open deck of the ferry that was carrying us from Edmonds to Kingston across the Puget Sound. The wind was brisk, cool, and refreshing. I loved the ferry rides.

  “No.” I shook my head, turning my back to the amazing view. “It’s not me. Or, at least, it’s not only me. I think it’s Kevin. I think he’s making you happy, Harley.”

  Harley took a deep breath. “He does.” She shook her head, looking off into the distance. She continued softly, barely loud enough to hear above the wind. “He really does, AJ. I’ve never, never felt anything like this. I’ve never had anyone treat me the way he treats me. Like I’m special. Like I’m worthwhile. He cherishes me. It’s amazing. I’m in love with him, AJ.”

  “Then I’m very happy for you. For both of you.” And I was. I wouldn’t say that Harley and I had been joined at the hip or anything, but we were close. Always had been. My moving to Washington had worried me on her account. But as I looked her over, saw the light and warmth in her eyes — something I’d never see in them before — I was happy, content, and I prayed that this would never end for the two of them.

  The sun was just beginning to set when we drove through Sequim and headed to Jake’s.

  Harley ooohed and ahhhed many times as she looked around. “This place is so amazing, AJ. Not like Coronado with the warmth and the soft colors. Sequim is rugged, the colors are deeper, stronger. I can see why you like it.”

  Smiling at that, I said, “Wait until you see the house. Jake and Ryler did an amazing job.”

  The day after tomorrow I’d planned to have Jo and the Paiges over for dinner again so they could meet Harley. Ryler and Chief would come as well this time. But tonight was mine with my best friend. I didn’t want to share her just yet. Not even with Ryler. I just needed some serious Harley-and-me time. In my new house. I needed her to be okay with my decision to stay. And, while she’d said she understood, I got the feeling she was still somewhat unsure about all of it, that maybe there was something she wasn’t telling me. So, tonight, it would just be us.

  As the house came into view, Harley sat up straighter in her seat. “You’ve got to be kidding me! AJ, this is a freaking castle!”

  She was exaggerating just a little. It wasn’t that big or luxurious, but it was lovely.

  Laughing at her reaction, I parked the car and said, “That was kind of my reaction when I first saw it as well.”

  We carried her bags inside, and I took her up to the guest chamber down the hall a little from my door. Once her luggage was deposited, I gave her the grand tour. Later that night as we sat before the fire, warmed by the flame and each other’s company, I said, “Thank you, Harley.”

  “For what?” she asked, rotating her head in my direction.

  We were both wrapped in blankets, legs tucked under us as we sunk into the fluffy sofa.

  “For being here. For loving me and being understanding.”

  Harley slid her hand from under the blanket and reached for mine. Clasping it, she said, “I do love you, AJ. You’re my best friend, and I’ll always love you. I’ll admit that I wasn’t happy to hear you were staying here, but I get it. I totally get it now. In some ways, I think that this has been good for both of us.”

  “How so?”

  “I think we both needed to grow. You were definitely my crutch. My wingman, my partner in crime, but also my crutch. And I think you held yourself back to some extent because I wasn’t ready to spread my wings, you know?”

  “Harley… I don’t. I never felt like that. You have to believe that.”

  “I know, AJ. I know. It’s just something I came to realize lately. It’s not your fault, or my fault. It just is — or was. I guess what I’m trying to say is… I’m happy for you, and I’m happy for me, too.”

  The next morning, when Harley and I woke up, we had our coffee on the back patio and made plans to go into town so I could show her around more.

  Two hours later, I parked along the curb in downtown Sequim. We planned to spend the day walking through the little city, doing some more shopping, showing her the sights, introducing her to a few people before they came over for dinner the following evening.

  Harley and I embarked on her tour of Sequim, our list of the locations she wanted to visit in hand. The first place we stopped was Jo’s. Jo made sure we had our coffee and some warm-from-the-oven apple fritters. Hugs and pleasantries were exchanged, and then we were off to see the Paiges. Harley loved the store. We spent a couple hours just browsing through it. From there, we went to Forage Gifts, another business that sold items from and about Sequim. Next, we headed to Charlie’s for lunch, and so Harley could meet Chief. Harley loved it there as well. She said the place reminded her of something from Top Gun.

  Our last stop in town was the grocery store so I could stock up for the week. I sent a text to Ryler and reminded him about the time for dinner tomorrow night. Both he and Chief were coming. Chief had even gotten someone to come in for him for a couple hours, so he could take that time off. I appreciated the effort.

  Harley and I unloaded our purchases and decided to explore and do a little hiking around the house.

  We were gone for no longer than two hours, but when we returned to the house, a box was sitting on the front porch. I mentally scratched my head trying to remember what I’d ordered and wondered how I’d missed the UPS truck. I was impressed that they’d been able to find the place. Usually, I got a slip notifying me I had a package to pick up at the nearest facility. I grabbed the box on the way inside. It wasn’t big, about fifteen by twelve by six inches. And it was fairly light as well. It reminded me of something that roses or flowers would come in.

  Checking the return label, I saw that the sender was Readers Anonymous. I hadn’t even heard of them before, much less ordered anything from them, but that didn’t always mean anything. I received free gifts from many different reading and writing houses all the time. I debated what to do with it for a moment before deciding I’d put it off until Harley was gone, then open it and respond to the sender. A reading house wouldn’t have sent something so casually if it was of a pressing nature, so I didn’t feel guilty about my decision. And besides, I’d just consider myself on vacation while she was here. I set it on the shelf in the hall closet and headed upstairs to shower after assuring Harley that I had plenty of water pressure, and no, she didn’t have to wait for me to be finished to shower as well.

  Once we were all cleaned up and relaxed from our time in town, I began working on dinner. I kept it light, broiling some chicken breasts and making a salad. Then Harley and I popped the latest Thor movie in and settled before the TV to eat and relax. After the movie, we called it a night. Harley said she wanted to call Kevin before bed; I told her to tell him hello.

  The next morning, we had our coffee on the back patio again. It was chilly, so I’d lit the outdoor fireplace. Neither of us were morning people, so we sipped in silence and just let ourselves awaken slowly.

  On our second cup, Harley turned to me. “So, tell me about Ryler. What’s his story? And why aren’t you sure of him?”

  “Why do you assume I’m not sure of him?”

  “If you were, then you’d have told me all about him by now.”

  Considering her statement, I shrugged a little and said, “I dunno. It’s complicated, I guess.”

  “Complicated how? He’s not married or anything, is he?”

  “No! Definitely not. What kind of girl do you think I am?”

  Harley shook her head, a grin teasing her lips, letting me know she was just kidding around.

  So, I continued. “Truth be told, he wasn’t all that impressed with me when I first came here. Ryler was pretty protective of Jake and felt I’d been unfair and unkind to him.”

  “But you hadn’t even known about Jake.”

  “I know that, and you know that, but Ryler hadn’t known that.”

&nb
sp; “But he knows now, right?”

  “Yes, he knows now.”

  “So, what’s the hold-up?”

  Chuckling, I said, “No hold-up. Not really. Ryler has a lot that he’s working through. From his past. And, to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to dive into a relationship. Especially when I wasn’t sure if I was even staying here or not.”

  “And now?”

  “Now… now I’d say that we’re taking it easy. Just one day at a time. I really don’t even want to think about a relationship when this thing with Amber is still open. I need that resolved first.”

  “Fair enough. Will I meet him tonight?”

  “You will.” I smiled, imagining that meeting, imagining Harley’s first impression of Ryler.

  Ryler was strongly considering just backing out of this evening’s events. He hated crowds and get-togethers of any kind. By no means would he consider himself a people person. Even when the people were those he knew and was comfortable with. A closed-in feeling tended to wrap around him, making him tight and restless.

  He knew that AJ wanted him to meet her best friend, Harley. And really, she would be the only one there that he didn’t know. And furthermore, it was just a small group. Only a handful of people would be there.

  So, what was his problem then? Ryler couldn’t very well claim this was a huge crowd. The number of people didn’t even quite make up a crowd. No, this was something else. Something different.

  It was the friend. The best friend. Harley. Harley would be the first of AJ’s acquaintances from her old life, her old home, that he’d meet. Ryler felt a bit like he might be on trial. What if he didn’t measure up? What if Harley found him lacking? Was AJ easily swayed by Harley’s opinion? Did Harley hold that much clout?

  As Ryler ran through his thoughts, he worked his body, dragging branches and logs that begged clearing. Firewood needed to be stocked up for the coming winter. Considering the mild bite to the air today, the season was changing fast. Change — there was another word Ryler didn’t like. There’d been a lot of changes that he’d had to adjust to over these last few years. AJ had brought many more with her.

  But, Ryler considered, he liked AJ. Liked that change. Liked pretty much all of her. AJ was like a curveball. She’d entered his life and turned it upside down. He liked her curves — deadly curves. That was what she had, what she was like. So, what was he worried about then? AJ said she liked him. Said they weren’t through. Said she wanted more from him. Ryler thought about that as he dragged the dead tree and decided that he was being an idiot. He’d faced worse and lived to tell about it. And AJ wasn’t Lorna.

  Ryler glanced at his watch. He tossed the tree to the pile he’d been making and whistled for Shiv. He needed to shower before he headed to AJ’s.

  At first, I’d intended to make my chicken enchiladas, the ones I knew Harley liked so much, but then I thought that maybe she’d want to have that when it was just her and me. And besides, Ryler had already had that dish. So, instead, I made seafood alfredo with garlic bread and a Caesar salad. My stomach grumbled a little as I cooked, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Glancing at the clock, I saw that my guests should begin arriving at any time.

  No sooner had that realization hit, I heard a knock at the door. Harley was out on the back patio enjoying the evening air. She’s been falling in love with Sequim, just as I’d hoped she would. Answering the door, I found Ryler standing there. He seemed almost solemn tonight. And hesitant, as if he wasn’t sure if he should be here. His eyes were clouded like an overcast day.

  Ryler searched my gaze, looking for something. What, I didn’t know, but something. My heart picked up as I watched the questions I saw in his eyes, that hesitancy start to fade, and a heat begin to build in its place.

  Attempting to offer him a welcoming smile that I was sure came out all sorts of wrong, I opened the door wider to let him in. “Hi.” My voice sounded breathy to my own ears. And again I wondered if he would always do that to me, or if years down the road maybe, this reaction would begin to wear off.

  Ryler dipped his head as he stepped past me into the foyer, and then his scent, that woodsy, spicy scent of his, tickled my nose. And I couldn’t help the slow, drawn-in breath that I took nor the way my eyes fluttered as I let that intoxicating aroma invade me.

  Taking a moment to collect myself, I turned away from him to make sure the front door was closed properly because, you know, that required all my concentration. His scent was still there, warming, teasing me. When I turned back around, intending to follow him into the kitchen so he wouldn’t think I was an idiot or something, I found Ryler standing there. Right there. My nose nearly bumped into him.

  Before I could recover from that shock, he stepped closer. His hands — those amazing, strong hands — wrapped around my neck, his thumbs stroking the skin at the base of my throat. Ryler tilted my head back, and then he kissed me.

  It wasn’t the onslaught of passion that made this kiss ignite something in me. No, it was more the control he was exhibiting. Of something deeper, something more to come that had my breath catching and my pulse racing. He was slow, but thorough, his mouth on mine. His lips, taking his time, savoring, relishing. The whiskers on his jaw were a soft abrasion. His fingers, stroking my skin, held me steady.

  My back was against the door, and Ryler leaned into me, his body hard, holding me there. My arms were around him, pulling him closer. This wasn’t a fevered meeting. It was a slow build of need. A gentle stoking of the fire. Tender, but all encompassing… all engrossing… all consuming.

  When Ryler lifted his head, it took me a moment or two to come back down and open my eyes. When I did, I saw him survey me again, his eyes landed on my face, my mouth. He seemed to like what he saw there. Meeting his eyes, I studied them. The clouds were gone, the hesitancy erased. Something stronger, deeper, and more secure, was there now.

  Ryler stepped back from me then, and I shivered in the sudden cool rush of air that hit me from the loss of his body warmth. That chill was fast replaced with a new heat as I spied Harley standing there, fanning herself. “AJ… I’ve read your books, and they can be steamy, but, dang, those books have nothing on what I just witnessed.” She then tossed me a cheeky grin and waved at Ryler as she continued. “Hi. You must be Ryler. I’m Harley, AJ’s best friend. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Ryler recovered from whatever shock he must have felt in the moment, stepping forward to shake Harley’s hand before reaching back for mine then pulling me close to him. “Nice to meet you as well, Harley. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “Just the good stuff, I hope.” She grinned again. “The oven was beeping, AJ. Guess you were a tad distracted. I pulled it out. No worries.”

  My blush deepened. Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes at her as I headed back to the kitchen. Before I could go more than three steps, another knock sounded at the front door. Pausing, I made to turn back.

  Ryler stopped me with a hand on my arm. Placing a soft kiss at my temple, he said, “I’ve got the door. Go on ahead.”

  “Thanks.” Grateful, I headed back to the kitchen. Ryler had distracted me, and I had a couple more things to finish up before we could eat.

  Dinner couldn’t have gone any better. The food was plentiful and delicious. The conversation was peaceful and diverting. I’d wondered how Harley would take to everyone. Being from Coronado, I wasn’t sure just how she’d react to my small-town crowd, but I’d had nothing to worry about. It was obvious she thoroughly enjoyed them, and they, her. Harley managed to describe some of our crazier shenanigans when we were growing up in Florida, and later in Coronado.

  In between the stories being swapped back and forth, Paige asked if I’d be willing to do a book signing at her store, and of course, I agreed. We decided on a date a few weeks away, and I promised to do whatever I could to make it the best signing they’d ever had.

  Over dessert, a lovely, warm coffee cake with a dollop of ice-cold whipped cream
on top, Chief asked, “Ryler tell you about the shindig I have going on at Charlie’s in a couple weeks?”

  “No, not yet. Why? What’s going on?”

  “Every year, I host a stopping point for several motorcycle clubs in a Veterans’ charity ride. We BBQ, play some music, and the riders swing in and out all day. Thought maybe you’d like to attend.”

  Before I could ponder too far as to why Ryler hadn’t mentioned it yet, he nudged me and said, “We’ve both just been pretty busy and you’ve had a lot on your mind with everything, so I was waiting until it seemed appropriate. But now that the cat’s out of the bag, what do you say? Want to go?”

  “Yeah.” I smiled at him, feeling less concerned now. We were going out together. Like a date. “That sounds fun actually. Wait. Will I have to ride a bike?” That thought made my happy feeling dim just a bit.

  Chief chuckled at that. “No. You can just come and hang out and enjoy yourself. How’s that sound?”

  “That sounds great.” Ryler caught my eye then and said, “You’re more than welcome to wear leathers and ride a bike. I wouldn’t stop you.”

  Blushing, I said, “We’ll see.”

  Then Ryler nodded slightly in the direction of the others. I made the same motion back at him. Looking to those at the table, I said, “Hey, I need to share something with you guys. Chief, Ryler, and Harley already know about this, but I think you guys need to know as well. Just to be safe.”

  “What’s the matter, AJ?” Jo asked, concern clearly stamped on her face. Poppy cast a sharp look at her mom, but Paige shook her head indicating that she didn’t know what was going on either.

  Taking a deep breath, I said, “I’ve got a bit of a problem, so to speak. It seems I’ve got a crazy stalker or possibly a murdering fan, or both. Amber is the name she goes by online, but I suppose she could be anyone. However, a few weeks back, my landlady, Mrs. Carson…” I paused, taking another deep breath. “…she was found murdered in her home. Amber has indicated on my blog page that she is responsible. And she is threatening me now as well.”