“I’ll give you a hand.” Ryder let Eska out and she ran and leaped circles around the two of them as they walked toward the others.
Dare had already fed them, but huskies were social creatures and loved being around people. Dare tended to spend more time with them than with humans. By the time Ryder and Dare had given each dog attention, they both settled under a copse of birch trees, no longer in the mood to pummel each other.
“Are you in love with her?” Ryder asked, dreading the answer, but he had to know.
Dare picked a stalk of wild grass and started chewing on the end. “I want to love her. She’s a great gal, and we’ve always had fun together. She gets me.” He paused and then asked. “Are you in love with her?”
“I think I’ve always loved her,” he attempted.
Dare looked at Ryder. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“What would I say? ‘Dare, I think I love your girlfriend, could you not date her anymore?’”
“That would have been a start. I thought you couldn’t stand her. You always took off whenever she was around.” His puzzled expression cleared. “Ahh, now I see it. And then when you kissed her when we first switched places, you knew she was the one.”
Ryder nodded. “She’s always been the one that got away. No woman has ever measured up to her. And then when we switched again, I gotta say, she floored me. These feelings for her are stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before.”
“You could have talked to me. That would have been better than getting that damn picture. Don’t you think?”
“I’d planned to, but then all that stuff happened at the Graham site, and you were in bed when I got home, and then were out running the dogs this morning before I left. There wasn’t time to get into it. When I saw the picture on my phone, and you and her cozy in the booth at the Pump House, I saw green.”
“I get it. So now what do we do?”
“It might be out of our hands since Gabriella doesn’t want either of us now.”
“True enough,” Dare said. They sat in silence for a time, watching the antics of the dogs. “What I’d like to know is who sent those pictures and how were they taken?”
“I bet Leia Atwood’s behind it. She’s been following me, turning up in weird places, calling me every day. I also think she’s behind the vandalism at the site.”
“You thought she set the fire, too, but the authorities couldn’t find anything that pointed to her.”
“She’s cagey, I’ll give her that. But I’ve installed cameras at the job site. If she returns, we’ll catch her.”
“Meantime, if she’s the one who took those pictures, she’s staking out Gabi.”
“Shit.” Ryder leaped to his feet. “We need to get over there.”
Dare followed. “Damn straight.”
Chapter 11
“What the hell is going on with your boys?” Luke asked, taking a seat in the booth. He’d just returned to meet Jack at the Pump House after he’d deposited Gabi at home.
“Hell if I know.” Jack shook his head, bewildered with his sons fighting over the same girl. If they both loved her, someone would lose. Actually, knowing his twins, neither would be happy. The one twin to win Gabi would feel guilty because the other would be heartbroken. They each were too cosmically attuned to each other’s feelings, always had been. It was spooky, really, their connection.
“What are we going to do?” Luke asked.
“Hell if I know,” Jack said again. “How was Gabi when you took her home?”
“She refused to talk about it. I think she was holding back tears, and seeing her that way about did me in.”
They studied the diminishing head foam on their beers for a time, neither in the mood to drink them.
The pub was filling up now that Brey was ready to take the stage. Jack’s girls and their beaus sat close to the stage, all except Zoe and Trip who were on their honeymoon. It did his heart good to see them supporting Brey. Jack knew he didn’t like to perform even though he was damn good at it. Every time he heard Brey sing, his heart hurt a little. Brey had gotten his talent from his mother. Nicola had filled the house with music, singing and playing the guitar, the same guitar Brey played now.
Avery jumped onto the small stage and introduced Brey. The crowd erupted with applause as Brey sat on the tall stool behind the microphone, settling his guitar on his lap. He strummed a few strings and then started singing the ballad that had won him a Grammy last year. Pride didn’t begin to describe what Jack felt, though he was a bit concerned why Brey wouldn’t open up and explain why he’d returned from Nashville, other than saying he missed Alaska. That Jack could understand, Alaska was in their blood, but he knew there was another reason behind the quick move home, and he hoped Brey would open up about it soon.
He watched as Avery scooped his daughter into his arms and spun her out onto the dance floor. Ash was next with Sorene and then Gideon with Kennadee. They were all so in love, and Jack smiled. He’d done well there, matching the three couples, and of course Zoe, his youngest, with Trip Hunter. But what the hell did he do about his twins?
“We might have to let this one play out,” he told Luke.
“No, we let this play out and nothing will happen. You heard Gabi, she doesn’t want to be in the middle, but she clearly loves one of them.”
“But which one? What if we throw her together with the wrong one?”
“Hey, isn’t Ryder showing up Monday to start renovations on Gabi’s place?”
Jack nodded.
“Maybe we need to give him a hand. I’m invested in Gabi’s dream. We could lend a hand and scope things out? Get Dare there to help too?”
“If we had both of them there, no work would get done. You saw them tonight. They were at each other’s throats. The last thing we need is to have them doing that again with power tools nearby.”
“True. Besides, it would probably be best to see Gabi with each of them separately. We have a good idea of how she acts with Dare. We need to see her and Ryder together, and then we can decide which will make the best match.”
Yet one of his boys would still lose. “I don’t see a happy ending here.”
“Don’t give up now. We’re close. That scene tonight proved it.”
Luke was right, but there was no way he could pick between his sons. Luke’s idea of seeing how each man was with Gabi had to be the way to go.
“Okay, I’ll meet you Monday at Gabi’s and we’ll make a decision what to do with these crazy kids then.”
“Deal.” Luke picked up his beer and clicked Jack’s glass.
Chapter 12
Ryder skidded the truck to a stop on Gabriella’s gravel driveway. He and Dare slammed their doors and rushed up the porch, and he banged on the door loud enough to wake a hibernating grizzly bear.
A few minutes later, Gabriella opened the door, a shotgun in her hand, still wearing the sundress she had on earlier, though she had a silky wrap tied around her shoulders. “What do the two of you want?”
“Why are you holding a shotgun?” Ryder asked, frowning.
She glanced out to the yard, and then opened the door for them to enter. “You might as well come in.”
“Like you’d be able to keep us out.” Dare pushed forward. “We need to talk.”
“I take it you guys are finally thinking straight and wondering who took those photos.” Gabriella walked into the great room, setting the shotgun on the mantle above the fireplace.
“What’s been going on here that you’re greeting visitors with a shotgun?” Ryder asked. She hadn’t answered him the first time, and he was determined to get an answer.
“I don’t know for sure, but when Dare kissed me, I thought there was something in the bushes. The same thing happened when you kissed me yesterday. I chalked it up to an animal, but now I’m thinking there’s a spy out there watching me. It would explain why Todd Ellis know so much about my plans.”
“Did you catch sight of anyone?” Dare as
ked.
“No, remember I thought it was an animal. Too big to be a fox, so I thought I might have a bear roaming around. When my dad brought me home tonight, he let me keep Reaper.”
“Reaper?” Ryder asked.
She gestured to the shotgun. “Dad names all his weapons.”
“Do you know how to use that thing?” Dare asked and quickly looked sheepish. “Of course you do, your dad being an avid hunter and taxidermist.”
“I could probably out shoot you both,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.
“Besides the rustling in the bushes, what else has happened to put you on edge?” Ryder asked, ready to take up arms himself in order to defend her.
“Todd Ellis paid me a visit just after you left yesterday,” she admitted. “The timing is damn suspicious.”
“What the hell did he want?” Ryder demanded.
“He had a proposal to run by me. An offer to buy me out.”
“You’ve got him worried.” Dare paced to the other end of the room. “But him spying and taking pictures trying to get us at each other’s throats seems out of character for him. He’s much more straight forward than that.”
“He did stop my loan from going through,” Gabriella pointed out. “That’s underhanded and sneaky.”
“He’s a snake, there’s no denying that,” Dare said, “but I don’t see him sulking in the bushes.”
“Me either,” Ryder said. “He’s not the type to get his hands dirty, but I wouldn’t put it past him to pay someone to do it.”
“I can’t be that much of a threat to him,” Gabriella pointed out. “I’m small potatoes compared to his operation.”
“But you are competition,” Ryder pointed out. “He threatened Cat when he found out she was going to offer yoga classes at her new shop, after teaching classes at the spa for him.”
“Ryder, you need to tell her about Leia,” Dare said. “I can’t see what Todd Ellis would gain from us fighting over Gabi, but Leia on the other hand…” He let the sentence hang.
Ryder shifted on his feet, not wanting to relay that information, but knowing he needed to.
“Leia? Who’s Leia?” Gabriella’s eyes sharpened as she looked at Ryder.
“My ex. Leia Atwood,” he admitted.
“You dated Leia Atwood?” Gabriella asked. “Wait, she’s like five years older than you. How serious were you two? When did you break up?”
“She, it turns out, was more serious about me than I was her. We broke up a while ago after only going out casually for a few months. She didn’t take it well, and it would be within character for her to spy on you.”
“How would she even know about me?”
“She’s been following this dimwit around,” Dare said, pointing to Ryder. “He thinks she’s the one who caused the vandalism at the job site.”
“Can you prove it?”
“Not yet.” And didn’t that bite?
“Is she dangerous?”
“I believe so.” Ryder took his phone out of his pocket and pulled up the latest text he’d received from Leia only an hour ago:
You’d better call me or else!
“Did you call her?” Gabriella asked.
“I’ve been ghosting her,” he reluctantly admitted.
“You’re kidding me?” Gabriella planted her hands on her hips and gave him a look that clearly stated what she thought of this. “If she’s demented like you think she is, that’s the worst thing you can do. Her actions will continue to escalate until she gets your attention.”
“See. Dimwit,” Dare muttered.
“Hey.”
“Well, it’s true. First, you don’t tell me how you really feel about Gabi, and then you ignore that batshit crazy woman hoping she’ll go away, even though you suspect she set the fire that broke your leg and caused the damage to the job site. Yeah, you’re a dimwit.”
Gabriella stepped between them. “Name calling isn’t going to help the situation, and I’ve had enough of you two taking swings at each other.”
“Beg to differ. Makes me feel better.” Dare touched his black eye. “I still owe you for this,” he said to Ryder.
“And I’m sure you’ll find a way of getting back at me,” he muttered, knowing it would come when he least expected it.
“Damn straight.”
“Stop it. Are you two always like this?”
“Like what?” they asked together.
“Childish.” Gabriella threw her arms up in the air with frustration. “And we’re getting off the subject. We need a plan.”
“I have one,” Ryder said. “I’m spending the night.”
“The hell you are. I don’t need a man protecting me. Besides, I have Reaper here in case I need to defend myself.”
“I’ll either spend the night inside with you or out in my truck, but I’m not leaving you alone.” He adjusted his stance, ready for another battle, one he refused to lose. She was too important to him, and there was no way he was leaving her at risk.
Gabriella turned to Dare. “And what do you have to say about this?”
“I think he’s right. Someone needs to be here watching your back.”
She narrowed her eyes. “And you’re okay with him sleeping here?”
It was Dare’s turn to shift on his feet. “Yeah, we kind of came to an understanding.”
“About me? What did you do? Draw straws?”
“No, we didn’t draw straws,” Dare said, acting affronted. “I can’t believe you would think that of us.”
She raised a sardonic brow.
“Okay, so maybe I can see where you would get that idea,” Dare mumbled. “But no, we talked it out. I think it’s best if Ryder fills in the rest.” He slapped Ryder on the back. “Good luck, bro. You’re going to need it.”
Ryder handed him the keys to his truck, and Dare headed for the door.
“Wait a minute,” Gabriella called after Dare. “If you take his truck, where’s he going to sleep?”
“With you,” Ryder answered.
Chapter 13
“You’ve got some nerve,” Gabi sputtered, backing up when Ryder advanced toward her.
“You want me, and I sure as hell want you. Now that Dare has agreed to bow out gracefully, I won’t meekly stand in the background and continue denying my feelings for you.”
If that hadn’t stopped her in her tracks, she would have run out of the room. He had literally backed her into a corner with no easy escape. “And how do you feel about me?”
“I’m in love with you. I always have been. I know you care about me, or you wouldn’t respond to me the way you do.”
“It’s too soon. I’m still confused with everything that happened tonight, hell, this week, with you and Dare.” She huffed out a breath. “So, I’m not sleeping with you.”
“You’re right. There won’t be any sleeping for either of us. I’ve had years of wanting you to make up for.”
Who was this man? He’d never been like this with her. Always more the beta, never the alpha, except for those few times he’d lost control when he had her in his arms, kissing her. Was this the true Ryder? Part of her thrilled at his words, the other part told her she should run.
But there was nowhere to run.
“Ryder—”
He worked free the knot on her wrap and tossed it aside. “That’s right, it’s me. Just you and me. Don’t deny me. Don’t deny yourself and what we could have together. I know this is fast, but for me, I’ve been waiting a lifetime for you to see me, desire me. Love me.”
She melted at his words. “This is crazy.” But was it? She’d been waiting for him too. She’d told him to let her know when he found his backbone. Obviously, he had. But was she ready to take that next step? It seemed so fast and a little crazy to rush things.
He cupped her cheek. “Be with me, Gabriella. Let me love you.”
“Ryder.”
“Yes, say my name. Say it over and over. I want to hear you scream it as you come for me.” H
e kissed her then, and all her objections vanished like the summer sun hitting a misty lake.
It was him. It had always only been him.
She wanted this, needed this. Always had. “Take me, Ryder.”
“Damn right.”
He swung her into his arms and carried her up the stairs, just like Rhett Butler and Scarlet O’Hara. Then he was laying her on the bed—er, make that her blowup mattress—and stripping her of her dress and sandals. He groaned at finding her braless, which she’d given up wearing living in Kauai all these years, and just her lacy, white underwear.
“Good God, you bring a man to his knees.” His eyes heated, burning her as they took her in.
He touched her, tenderly at first, his hands shaking, then his mouth captured hers, and something seemed to snap in him. He yanked her against him, thrilling her with his growl. His teeth bit and nibbled at her lips, her chin, her neck, traveling lower until he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. A startled gasp escaped her, part in pain and then the most incredible pleasure overtook her and she was suddenly as desperate as he was.
She tore at his clothes, needing to feel him against her, skin to skin, nothing between them.
He let go of her, leaped to his feet, and stripped. The midnight sun shone through the window turning him into a golden god. His body chiseled as though from marble, a result of the hard manual labor he did every day. She gulped when he shed his pants and she saw how very much he wanted her.
Molten heat pooled in her lower body, and she rose to her knees, needing to touch him. The minute she did, he dropped to his knees, the air mattress bucking under them.
“We need a better, bigger bed for this,” he said, his voice hoarse. Wrapping his arms around her, he swiveled them off the bed and onto the carpeted floor, kicking the mattress aside. It flew to the other side of the room, bouncing against the wall. “We’re going to need some space for what I intend.” Then he captured her mouth again and rolled her onto the floor, grabbing her thighs and spreading them apart so he could settle between them.
Wild Ride Page 7
