by Wendy Vella
“Me next.”
He took the roll of paper from Willow and opened the silk bow. Unrolling it, he looked at what she’d drawn. It was all of them. His friends. Tex was leaning on Jake, and Newman on Cubby. Noah had Brad in a headlock, and Buster was at the end pulling a muscleman pose. It was natural, and so freaking brilliant he felt tears prickle in his eyes. It could have been any day after their ball games.
“I don’t know what to say, Willow. It’s really something,” he managed to get out.
“You just said it all.” She smiled.
The rest of his gifts ranged from insulting to useful—from the women. When the music started up, they were soon moving to the floor. He danced with a few of the local girls, and told himself he was not watching Hope.
“My round,” he said, ignoring the protests, and made for the bar. Why couldn’t he stay away from the woman?
“Hey there, birthday boy.”
“Faith. How’s Hope doing?”
“Don’t tell her I said this, but she’s awesome. Always was. Noah and I reckon she’s a pro. Has a nice way of handling people without getting too close, and gives as good as she gets.”
“Yeah, she’s certainly a people person.”
Faith laughed. “She was raised by Militant, not sure how you’d think she’d be any different?”
“Ryan always was.”
“Must be more like his father is my guess.”
“You know anything about him, their father?”
“Dad and Mom knew him. Said he was a good sort, but him and Militant weren’t compatible. He left, and never returned.”
“They see him?”
Faith shrugged. “Hope is pretty closed about her father, so I never pried. Why the interest?”
“Curiosity, I guess.”
“I think it may be more than that, birthday boy, but we’ll leave it there.”
While Faith made up his order, he watched Hope. She was smiling at the guy she was serving. Her buttons, he noticed, had long since given up. At least she wore a tank top underneath. Still, it was low enough that he could see the curve of her breasts when she leaned over. The guy was enjoying the show. Newman wasn’t.
He wondered about earlier in the Hoot. What had frightened her and made her run? What had her looking cornered?
“Here you go.”
“Sweet, thanks.” He handed Faith his card. “Hope got a break anytime soon? Thought she could come and catch up with the others.”
“She’s not the catch-up kind of person, you know that, Newman. Prickly as hell, and awkward in most situations that involve people.”
“Unless she’s in a bar, as it turns out,” Newman added.
“There is that. Ten minutes, and she’s on a break.”
“Thanks.”
He took the drinks back to the table, but only Brad and Macy were there, and they were pretty oblivious to anyone else, staring deep into each other’s eyes in that way that made him uncomfortable. Leaving, Newman circled the bar slowly, stopping a few times to talk to people, and eventually came out the other side in time to see Hope exit and head outside. He followed, walking behind her up the street in the cool evening air. The streets were quieter now, but she was still safe to be walking about on her own, and Newman knew her safety wasn’t the reason he followed.
“Hey.”
She kept walking past the shops, ignoring him.
“Hope.”
He watched her shoulders rise and fall, and then she turned and faced him.
“Problem?”
“Come and have a drink with us.”
“I can’t drink, I’m working.”
Her face was closed, which was pretty much her usual expression when she was in company.
“Then come sit and talk with us.”
“I’m tired, Newman. I haven’t been on my feet like this in years. I’m going down to the water for thirty minutes to sit on the bank. See ya.”
She walked away from him, like she always did, and he reacted like he always did to her. Only her , he thought. She was the only one who could make him lose reason. He followed her down the bank to the water.
“Go away.”
“Why are you so rude?”
“I like rude.”
“You’re not twelve anymore, Hope. You can’t carry it off.”
“And you can? You were rude to me earlier in the bar.”
He had been, and was ashamed of his jealous behavior.
“I’m sorry, I had no right to speak to you that way. For the record, you look beautiful, but if I’m being honest, you looked beautiful without makeup.”
He stopped close to where she stood, and she was forced to look up at him.
“You don’t have to lie to me, Newman. I’m not someone who needs to hear that kind of crap.”
The moonlight did amazing things to her face.
“I’m not lying.”
Newman cupped the back of her neck, then used his thumb to tilt her chin so that her lips were at the exact angle he wanted.
“Go away.” She sounded breathless.
“You should be nice to me, it’s my birthday.”
“I don’t do nice.”
“Try.” He lowered his head.
“Don’t.”
“Do.”
Newman brushed his lips over hers once, twice.
“Newman,” she sighed. Only then did he take her deeper. She was so goddamned sweet, his body was alive in seconds. The small sounds she made urged him on. Her hand fisted in his hair, and soon she was plastered to him like a second skin. A fact he was more than happy with.
He pulled her shirt free, then slid his palm beneath and felt the heat of her skin as he trailed his fingers up her spine. The other hand he used to cup her ass, pulling her closer, pressing her to him.
Hope was burning with lust. She ached for Newman’s wandering hand to move upward, and cup her breasts. Wanted it as much as her next breath, which, incidentally, she was struggling to draw. Pressed to his hard body, she could feel every muscle, and his desire was evident against her stomach. A wicked heat flushed her, and need drove her to her toes to get more of him.
“You smell good,” he whispered in her ear, before moving lower to kiss that spot beneath.
“Beer smells good?”
“Damn straight.”
His lips reached her chest, and then he was undoing the last buttons of her shirt. His hands pushed her tank top high, and she felt the cool air on her stomach.
“I like your bra.”
She had no idea which one she wore.
“Especially the small ducks marching across the curve of each cup.”
She forgot to think as he pulled a cup down and licked her nipple. Lightning rocketed through her. Heat spiked in her belly.
“Newman.” Hope wasn’t sure if it was a moan or a plea, but whatever it was, he responded by taking her breast into his mouth and sucking. His other hand slid under her skirt and up her thigh.
“Yes.” Hope sighed as he stroked her through the satin of her panties.
Her hands were under his shirt and moved upward, nails scraping his skin, making him shudder.
It was the sound of voices that had him stopping. He lifted his head and pulled her into his arms, holding her there until the voices had gone.
“Hope?”
He lifted her head from his chest.
“It’s okay. I know you’ve been drinking—”
“You think I kissed you, among other things, because I’ve had a couple of drinks?”
Hope took a step back when he released her, and fixed her clothes, very aware that he was watching her.
“So what was the reason in the elevator?”
“You were angry.”
“So I have to have a reason to kiss you? I can’t just think you’re seriously hot?”
Hope ignored the little jolt his words gave her, and nodded. “We both know that’s not true. Now, I have work to do. Let’s just forget this happened.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
She looked up at him. Noted the clenched jaw, narrowed eyes. His hair was no longer slicked back but standing off his head, and she realized her hands had done that, just as they’d made the creases on his shirt.
“Of course you do. For heaven’s sake, Newman, this is me. You don’t even like me.”
“What’s this then, if I don’t like you?” He took her hand and pressed it to his groin. There was no mistaking his erection.
“That was crude.” She snatched her hand back. “Stop it. You don’t behave that way. You’re always the gentleman.”
“Not always,” he muttered, advancing on her again. The look in his eyes told her he meant business, so Hope did the only thing she could think of, and ran.
Reaching the Howler, she wrenched open the door and sprinted inside, and straight into someone.
“See, I told you she had the hots for me.”
And that was all the night needed to really piss her off. Although if she was being honest, what she and Newman had just shared hadn’t pissed her off, it had transported her to a place she’d never been before.
“Excuse me, I need to get back to work. Let me go, Brodie.”
“Aww, come on, Hope. Just having a little fun. You’ve filled out nicely since you left. How about you and me dance a little?”
“Let her go, Brodie.”
The steel in Newman’s voice gave the Finlay brother second thoughts, enough so that Brodie eased his grip on Hope long enough for her to kick him hard in the shin. It’s a damn shame I’m not wearing my boots, she thought, watching him grab his leg.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“ You want another tea, Hope?”
“Sure, thanks, Willow.”
Hope had been back in town two weeks today. Surprisingly she’d settled into a comfortable routine and was happy being back here, even considering that Wildlife were still only four miles away, and this business between her and Newman was still festering.
She’d kept out of his way where she could. If he was coming down the road, she ducked into a store. If he came into the Howler and she was working, she let Faith or Noah serve him. In fact, she hadn’t spoken directly to him since the night of his birthday. The night that had her hot just thinking about it. She’d woken so many times aroused because of him, it was really starting to annoy her.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
She was in the Hoot this morning because HRH had come to discuss town business with her mother. They’d made it plain that she wasn’t to eavesdrop, so Hope had left with her laptop. She was making herself go through her photos. The ones she had left from her time with Wildlife. Those, Jay had not bothered to steal.
She’d had a surprise phone call that morning from one of the staff at Wildlife, Daisy, who she’d often worked with. She’d told Hope that she missed her, and that she hadn’t believed Jay’s lies. Hope was surprised by this, as she hadn’t thought anyone cared about her dismissal. Daisy had then told her she hadn’t said anything at the time for fear of losing her job. Casey Rae Linear, their boss, was not known for her rational behavior, so Hope had assured Daisy she understood. It had been a revelation, and a pleasant one. Especially now she knew that someone from Wildlife was actually on her side.
The team hadn’t come to town again. This she knew because Mac told her he’d delivered them an order just yesterday. Which was just fine with her.
She’d worked in the Howler, so she had some money. Taken long walks, swum in the lake, and spent time reacquainting herself with Howling. She’d taught Mikey a few tricks, and worked on the boat with Faith and him, because she had nothing else to do.
“I come in peace.”
Hope looked up as Buster pulled out the chair across from her and sat.
“What?”
“You had this shit-kicking look on your face.”
She carefully blanked her expression, and shrugged. Like her, Buster was the silent type. So they sat and drank their drinks, in silence.
“So what’s the deal?”
“With what?” Hope looked over the top of her laptop at Buster.
“Why are you here when the last I heard from your mom, you were like this big Wildlife photographer, heading every project and getting awards? I mean, everyone knows they’re here doing what they do, but that you’re not with them. So what gives?”
Hope looked back down at the pictures she was sorting on her laptop, but saw nothing. She felt the pain in her chest that had been there since the day the head of Wildlife had called Hope into her office and told her that they had no room in their organization for someone like her.
“Come on, Hope, spill. I know you’re hiding something.”
Buster had his usual calm expression in place. Nothing seemed to rattle the man, as it hadn’t rattled the boy. Buster had always rolled with the punches.
“I don’t really want to talk about it, Buster. That’s not my way. I like to keep stuff close.”
She gave him an explanation because she owed him that much. He was a friend of sorts now, and she still believed she’d ruined his career prospects in some small way. Guilt , Hope thought. She was filled with it.
“Sure, I get that. I mean, the others are all about spilling their insides at will, except maybe Brad. But Tex will tell you what his innermost thoughts are before he’s eaten breakfast.”
Hope laughed. She’d already learned that about the handsome Texan.
“The thing is, Hope, I was like you once. Didn’t unload, unless Jake or Newman had me up against a wall, but it kind of seethes inside you until it’s like this hard mass. That’s good for no one. Willow taught me that.”
“You gone soft, Buster?”
He snorted. “Maybe a little. But that’s between you and me, I’ll deny it to my last breath if you say anything.”
She liked this man. In school he’d been like her, an observer. The difference between them had been that he was popular.
“So?” He raised a brow as he looked at her. “What’s the deal with Wildlife. Why aren’t you still there photographing the rare whooping crane, or some other endangered species?”
“Fancy you knowing about the whooping crane.”
He knew she was stalling, so he said nothing. The power of silence.
“I messed up, Buster.”
“How?”
“I let this guy into my life. He seemed nice, and was interested in me. I believed myself in love, and when he revealed his true colors it was too late.”
“What happened?”
“Stuff, and I was a naive fool.”
“What kind of stuff?”
Her sigh was loud but it didn’t deter him. He simply folded his muscled arms and looked at her.
“Do I hafta?”
He nodded.
Why not, Hope thought. Maybe Newman was right. Talking about this might help her get things in perspective.
“I was one of the top photographers for Wildlife, and Jay was new on the team, so he was struggling to get a foothold. He seemed to really want to learn from me, and pretty much everyone liked him. He set about making friends with everyone, always running errands and stuff. He was like this all-round Mr. nice guy. What he actually was, was a bastard. It was all just a cover to ruin my reputation.”
She managed a small smile as Buster swore.
“Believe me, that’s the best part.”
He didn’t speak, and Hope picked up her tea and sipped. Did she really want to tell him the entire sordid mess? Looking at the calm, steady eyes, she thought that if she was going to tell anyone, this guy would be the one. He’d keep her secret safe.
“I was lead on this shoot. We were collaborating with the conservation guys on this project involving the whooping crane. I had taken months and months of photos and he’d helped off and on. Then Jay and I, we started seeing each other. It began slow, with him just being nice and stuff, and then it kind of grew, well on my part at least.” Hope rem
embered how surprised she’d been that Jay was interested in her. “One night he came to my place with champagne to celebrate the project’s completion, as the presentation of all the work I’d done was the next day. It was going to be this really big deal, you know. The governor was coming, and head of the project for conserving the whooping crane.”
“I’m sensing it didn’t go well.”
She shook her head as she let herself remember that day. She wouldn’t tell Buster every detail, some she couldn’t even bring herself to mention.
“I’m not a big drinker. After what happened with you, I just don’t much now.”
Buster rolled his eyes.
“Anyway, I had a few glasses of champagne, on the second one I started to feel really strange, and that’s the last I remember.”
“No way that asshole drugged you?”
Hope nodded.
“He did, and took pictures of me drunk, and a video of me slurring my words. He then cleaned out my laptop, my stash of money, and took the proposal to my boss. Once there he explained I had a drinking problem, and that he’d taken all the pictures.”
“She didn’t believe him, surely. Not just like that?”
“He’d done the groundwork, Buster. Everyone liked him, but me… not so much. I didn’t know what he’d said or done previously, but whatever it was, and the evidence he produced, on his laptop, where he’d transferred all my work, was enough to convince her.”
“Did you try and defend yourself?”
“Sure. I tried, but Jay had got into my laptop that night and copied everything and removed everything else. It was incriminating, and I knew I was fighting a losing battle to try and fight it then and there.”
“Backups. Surely you had those?”
“Sure, but he cleaned my external hard drive and took the camera card, and I don’t think my boss was checking file dates. Jay was clever and thorough. He was a whizz on computers and got into my Dropbox, and cleaned that out too.”
