by Kathy Ivan
“What? How could they?”
“Mom and her parents had a big blowup when she told them she was pregnant. They told her to get rid of the baby, or she’d have to leave. That’s why they eloped, because Mom wasn’t going to get rid of us, though she didn’t know we were an us at the time—just a baby. Quinn already talked to a recruiter, and had everything lined up to enlist days after graduation. Their fantasy perfect life, was gone because some addict needed a fix.”
Finally giving in to the impulse, he stood and walked over to lean against the gazebo’s rail. His hands tightened around the top railing until his knuckles turned white. He started when he felt warm arms slide around his waist from behind him, wrapping him in a hug. A feeling of ease spread through him, diluting the anger and pain, and he breathed a sigh, wondering how such a simple touch could bring an aura of peace.
“I don’t have the words to tell you how sorry I am, Ridge. It’s awful to lose somebody you love, especially to violence. But I do know what it’s like to feel the grief of mourning a lost parent.”
“I know you do, Maggie. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to tell you. Because I knew you’d understand. People sympathize when they hear about my situation, but you’ve lived through losing both your parents. It’s always there. The grief fades with time, but you always remember how they touched your life. Wonder how different things might have turned out if they’d lived.”
“I’m glad you still had your mom, at least for a while. Can I ask what happened to her?”
“When we were ten, Shiloh and I found out she had terminal cancer. Despite her family never making amends, Mom moved back to Shiloh Springs when we were eight. The people she cared about lived here and she wanted to come home. We’d been here for about six months when she started getting sick. Turned out she had stage IV pancreatic cancer, inoperable.”
Maggie stayed silent, though he read the mixture of horror and sympathy that swept across her face before she could hide it. He wouldn’t burden her with the ugly details of how much his mom had suffered, the weeks turning into months of endless tests, while the disease ravaged her body. His only happy memories revolved around the Boudreau ranch. It became his escape from reality. Douglas would take him riding on the weekends, and he’d race across the pasture, letting the wind blow away all the pain and anguish. He’d been a child having to deal with a reality no adolescent should ever endure. He and Shiloh had been lucky, because they’d had the Boudreaus, who’d rallied around and kept them protected from all the ugliness and made them feel wanted and loved.
“Our biological grandparents turned their back on her from the minute she’d run away with Quinn, and never relented in their harsh stance, even when we moved back. They wanted nothing to do with Mom or with us. Which was fine with me. I didn’t need or want people like that in my life, though I wish they’d been there for Mom. As far as I’m concerned, they can rot. I don’t acknowledge them when I pass ’em in the street. When they come to the Big House, which is rare unless it’s a town function, Shiloh and I stay far away.”
“They still live in Shiloh Springs?”
Ridge gave a strangled laugh. “Yeah. They consider themselves pillars of the community, though I doubt much of Shiloh Springs would agree. Always trying to one-up Douglas and Ms. Patti. It irks them that the town loves the Boudreaus and merely tolerates them.”
“Who are they? Because I won’t have dealings with people who treated their own daughter, or her children, in such a heinous fashion.”
“Calloway. Richard and Julie Calloway. Richard inherited money from his father. Man hasn’t worked a day in his life, and he married Julie because she was the perfect trophy wife. Like I said, I want nothing to do with them.”
“I don’t blame you.” Ridge smiled when he heard Maggie call his biological grandparents a string of names under her breath, a couple of them he’d never heard before, but from the way she said them, he’d bet she wasn’t singing their praises.
“Before she died, Mom wanted to make sure we were taken care of. That we had a home with people who’d love us and take care of us. Momma—Ms. Patti—remained her best friend, always there for her, no questions asked. She and Daddy already had four foster sons living with them. Rafe, Antonio, Brody and Heath were already in the Big House, and they were a handful. But when Mom got sick, they didn’t hesitate to step up and say we could live with them.”
“I liked your parents when I met them, but now I think I love them. Not many people would open their hearts and their homes so easily.”
Ridge smiled and pulled Maggie against his side, relaxing when she laid her head against his shoulder. “They are two of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. When there’s a need, big or small, they’re the first ones there to lend a hand, open doors, or pull out their wallets. I told you all of my brothers were foster kids, right?” He felt her nod against his shoulder. “Rafe was the first. Maybe he’ll tell you his story someday. We’ve all got stories to tell, most of them harsh and ugly, yet two honest-to-God miracle workers changed our lives by showing us what true love felt like.”
He almost smiled again when he heard her sniffling against his shoulder. Telling her his story wasn’t intended to make her cry, but at the same time, he knew he’d done the right thing in letting her in, revealing the events that made him the man he’d become from the frightened boy.
“You changed your name.” Her words weren’t a question, but a statement of fact.
“Shiloh and I both became Boudreaus when Douglas and Ms. Patti formally adopted us with our biological mother’s blessing. Though it’s a family tradition to change your name legally when you turn eighteen. You’ve probably noticed that all of my foster brothers are Boudreaus. Except Lucas. He kept his name, but that’s a story for another day. Even if we hadn’t had our name changed with the adoption, we’d have changed it as soon as we turned eighteen. For all intents and purposes, we are Boudreaus.”
“That’s astonishing and yet not surprising, after what you’ve told me about your parents. Somebody ought to write a book about them, to show the world there are still good people doing what’s right.”
Somehow, the more he got to know Maggie, the more she surprised him. She wasn’t like most of the women he knew. The ones he dated and then walked away from, never investing his heart or his emotions. Superficial relationships with no feelings involved, the way he liked it. With Maggie, even though he’d only know her for such a short time, he knew it was different—because she was different. Unique and special in a way that slammed into him like a freight train at full speed, snatching his breath and left him reeling.
Was it possible that she was more than a job? A means to an end in solving a case? He couldn’t allow himself to get involved with a mark. It could compromise not only finding the cartel’s leaders, but it could cost him his job.
But standing here, with her so close, having bared his soul of one of the most painful times in his life, he felt closer to her than any other person in the world. This was dangerous, uncharted territory for him, but he knew it was already too late to change course.
He was in love with Mary Margaret White.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Maggie walked out of her gym, sweat beading on her face, and headed to the kitchen. She’d worked out hard this morning, her mind spinning, thinking about Ridge. It had been two days since she’d opened herself to him, told him about Michael and how he’d died. She’d also thought long and hard about Ridge telling her about his life before going to live with the Boudreaus and becoming part of their family. Imagined how hard it had to have been as a small boy, losing his only parent to cancer, leaving Ridge and his twin all alone. Except they hadn’t truly been alone, because they’d had Douglas and Ms. Patti.
But the thing that kept her mind racing, her feet pounding along on the treadmill, was what happened after she’d heard his story. Her impulsiveness. Or was it stupidity? Shaking her head, she reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottl
e of water, running it across her forehead. She needed to cool off in more ways than one, because every time she thought about Ridge, she relived that moment in the gazebo. The moment she kissed him.
The memory of her lips against his still sent her mind reeling. His lips had been soft beneath hers, and she’d felt his jolt of surprise at her brazen act before he’d kissed her back. And what a kiss it was, heady and mind-blowing and intoxicating all rolled into one soul-numbing kiss. His mouth parted beneath hers and she’d swept her tongue along his bottom lip, feeling a tingle race down her spine, that tiny frisson of excitement coursing through her blood. She’d wanted to do this forever, from the moment she’d seen him standing with his hands outstretched beside her house.
She remembered his arms wrapping around her, his hand spreading through her hair, gently tugging at the strands as he positioned her to deepen the kiss, and she’d wound her arms around his neck, using Ridge as her anchor to the world, because she felt like she was floating, buoyed by the blissful sensation evoked by her mouth meeting his.
Their kiss was the most beautiful, perfect thing ever—and it had ruined everything.
Darn the man, he’d been avoiding her ever since The Kiss. A brief smile tugged at her lips as she realized she was referring to it in her mind with capital letters. Like it was something momentous. Probably because it was, at least to her. Guess it didn’t mean anything to Ridge. So why couldn’t she stop replaying it over and over again?
“Hey, Maggie, mind if I cut out an hour early?”
Felicia practically skipped into the kitchen and put the caddy of cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink. The happy smile lighting up her face made it clear she had better things to do than clean. Not that she blamed her. Earlier, Felicia told her about the new guy she’d been seeing. Turned out they’d been dating for about six weeks. Funny how she’d never mentioned him before. It wasn’t like her friend to keep something like that a secret. It certainly wasn’t her norm. Usually five minutes after Felicia met a guy, she’d be on the phone, telling Maggie every little detail. Maybe this guy was special, more serious than Felicia’s usual hit-and-run relationships.
“No problem. Got a hot date?”
Felicia chuckled as she pulled off the smock she wore over her clothes when she was cleaning. Said she didn’t like getting all dusty, and this way she didn’t have to go home and change after she finished work.
“Yep. I’m telling you, Mags, this guy is different. He treats me like I’m special. Doesn’t mind picking up the tab when we go out, never even asks me to go Dutch. How cool is that? And he doesn’t take me to all the cheapo places like the losers I used to date. He treats me like a lady. I think he’s the one, Mags, I really do.
Maggie couldn’t help feeling happy for her friend. It was about time Felicia found somebody who treated her well. She’d been through a lot in her young life, and she worked hard to get ahead. It wouldn’t be long before she graduated, and Maggie couldn’t wait to see what life had in store for Felicia.
“Have a good time. I’m so happy you’ve found somebody special. You deserve it.”
Felicia leaned against the counter, resting her chin on her hands, her blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun, and stared at Maggie. “You deserve to be happy too. How are things between you and Ridge? You doing the mattress mambo yet?” She waggled her brows to emphasize her quip.
Maggie rolled her eyes and made shooing motions toward her friend. “No. I don’t know where you got the crazy impression that Ridge and I are anything but work colleagues.”
“Maybe because of the way you look at him. Or the way he sneaks glances at you when he thinks nobody’s watching. Honestly, could you be more blind? Tell me the truth—has he kissed you yet?”
Maggie felt heat wash into her cheeks, knew her blush gave her away when Felicia burst into laughter. “It’s not funny. And to answer your question, I kissed him.”
“No way! Seriously, you made the first move?” Felicia raced around the counter and hugged Maggie. “I am so proud of you. I never thought I’d see the day when you finally came back to life, girlfriend. Go for it! Ridge is a total hottie, and you’d be crazy not to see what could happen between you. I bet there’ll be fireworks, because if the sparks between you are anything to go by, you’re gonna set the house on fire!”
“Go, get out of here! Hugo’s probably waiting for you, and I need a shower.”
“See ya!” Felicia stopped long enough to grab her purse out of the closet before heading out the front door, leaving Maggie alone. Wondering if what Felicia implied was true. Did Ridge watch her when he thought nobody was looking?
Shaking her head, she gulped down the rest of her water and headed for her room. She definitely needed that shower, and she wanted to call Henry. He’d promised keep her updated on when he’d be returning, and so far, she hadn’t heard a word from him, which worried her. It wasn’t like him to disappear. Hopefully there wasn’t anything wrong.
She stripped off her clothes and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature to hot. After her workout, she needed to keep her muscles loose, and the hot water should help. Plunging beneath the deluge, she made quick work of cleaning up, because she wanted to make that call. Wrapping a towel around her, she walked into her bedroom, and grabbed her cell phone. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she pressed the speed dial for Henry and listened to it ring several times before switching over to voicemail. She left another message, telling him she was worried, and for him to contact her as soon as possible.
Ridge had headed into town earlier to handle something to do with an emergency with his company, which left Maggie free to deal with the cabins. She needed to do a final check and make sure they were ready to be occupied. There couldn’t be any hiccups, not with something this important. In less than twenty-four hours, they’d be filled with people, and she refused to allow any screw-ups to derail something she’d worked so hard to accomplish. Nothing and nobody would keep her from fulfilling her word.
Not even Ridge Boudreau.
Ridge sat across the table from his brother at the coffee shop. Shiloh had sent him a message that he was in Santa Lucia, had driven in and wanted to see him. They’d always been close growing up, dealing with everything at a young age, until they’d gone their separate ways due to their jobs. Ridge had an apartment in Shiloh Springs, but more often than not he got called to work a job out of town, oftentimes across the country, as part of his DEA cover. Shiloh lived in San Antonio, working as a private investigator, and was rapidly climbing the ladder, earning a reputation for being one of the best in the state. He was proud of his baby brother, though he never let Shiloh forget Ridge was the oldest by a whole thirteen minutes.
“How long you gonna be around, bro?”
“Probably a couple of weeks depending on a case that’s pending. In the meantime, I’m taking a break. This last case burned me out. It turned ugly fast.” Shiloh took a long drink of his coffee, before adding, “I hate liars. Have I mentioned that?”
“All your life. Unfortunately, seems like that’s all people do nowadays.”
“Tell me, dude, why’d you want to meet here? I figured I’d meet up with you, maybe crash at your place.”
“You’re welcome to it for as long as you’d like. You’ve got a key. I’m working a case, and I’d love to get your take on a couple of things.”
“Ask away.” Shiloh leaned back in his chair, studying Ridge’s closed-off expression.
Ridge contemplated where to start. His brother was one of the few people who knew what he really did. He’d kept it on the down low, because if his cover got blown, he’d wind up unable to work undercover any more—or dead. He’d just as soon not have either scenario happen.
“We got a reliable tip a drug cartel is using a passage right here in our own backyard. I’ve been working with Daniel Kingston, trying to figure out exactly where the trucks are disappearing off our surveillance. They’re funneling that crap onto the streets, raking in milli
ons, and killing I can’t even tell you how many people.”
“That stinks. I can’t fathom strangers’ trucks loaded with contraband going through Shiloh Springs, much less the residents allowing it. But why are we here? Santa Lucia, Texas, doesn’t strike me as the latest drug capital of the southwest.”
“Our tipster implicated a local landowner, said she agreed to allow the trucks to cut through an unincorporated portion of her property in exchange for a share in the profits. The land in question rides along both sides of the border, Burnet County and Shiloh Springs. Since I’m intimately familiar with the area, the DEA felt I would be an asset in uncovering the truth, and plugging the hole.”
“She? You’re telling me a woman is allowing millions of dollars’ worth of illegal drugs to cross her land?” Shiloh shook his head. “Doesn’t she sound like a peach?”
“Maggie’s not like that. I knew from the moment I met her that she’d never allow anybody to run drugs on her property. It’s not possible.”
Ridge knew he’d given himself away when Shiloh leaned forward in his chair, a smirk on his lips. “Maggie? I take it you like this woman?”
“She’s different than anybody I’ve ever met, bro. Feisty, intelligent, and doesn’t take crap from anybody. First time I met her, she pointed a gun at my head.”
Ridge knew he’d surprised his brother, who straightened in his chair, attention focused solely on him, where before he’d been distracted, only halfway paying attention. “Now I’d give anything to have seen that. My big brother stopped in his tracks by a pretty gal. I am assuming your Maggie’s pretty?”
“She’s beautiful. And before you think about it, she’s not for you. Maggie isn’t the one-night stand type of woman, and you’re—well, you.”
Shiloh scratched his fingers against the light scruff on his cheek, and Ridge wanted to squirm under his brother’s scrutiny. Nobody knew him better than Shiloh. Maybe it was part of that whole twin telepathy thing, but his bro knew exactly what buttons to push to get Ridge riled up, and when to back off. Now was one of those back-off moments.
