by Tina Leonard
“It wasn’t that,” Fallon protested. “I knew Steel would figure things out eventually. And I’m not sure, anyway. It’s just what’s on the grapevine.”
The Honky-tonk grapevine. Could be reliable, maybe not. Declan grunted. “The real problem is, Dad wants you to stay out of trouble. I’m no babysitter. At least I don’t want to be your babysitter. I’m not sure you can stay out of any trouble at all. Trouble was always your middle name.” This whole situation stank. “I forgot to ask the old goat what happens if I take this mission on, and you prove yourself to continue to be a sorry excuse for a human being.”
“I’m about ready to straighten up.” He glanced at Declan with his winning smile, though Declan wasn’t about to be won.
“About ready?”
“I have one thing left on my bucket list,” Fallon said. “After that, I’m going to be the instructor Hell always wished they had. And my team is going to be bad-ass.”
“What’s this bucket list item you just have to have?” Declan wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“The wonders beyond Ivy’s red doors.”
Declan glanced sharply at his brother. “Are you insane? Certifiably insane? You can’t do it. If the old man finds out—”
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. You’re too chicken to tie your woman down, because you don’t want to end up like Pop. So you’re going to blow it,” he said cheerfully as he pulled into the drive of Declan’s ranch house. “You can’t just run from being Dad forever. But you play your game however you like.”
“I don’t think you want to experience whatever goes on behind the red doors,” Declan said slowly, not sure why he cared why his brother was about to make what would probably be a colossal mistake. “Rumor has it that people come out forever changed after the experience.”
“So you’ve never been.”
“No, I’ve never been! And I’m not sure how you got a ticket. It’s for high rollers and elite hobnobbers only.” He looked at Fallon. “Just what did you do to rate special treatment at Ivy’s?”
Fallon parked the truck. “Just did my job.”
Declan narrowed his gaze at his brother. “You just sold Ivy out to Pop and me.”
“Pop sold her out first,” Fallon said, not feeling guilty at all.
“You’re still playing both sides against the middle, just as you always have, I suppose.” He sighed. “Anything I can do to convince you not to do this?”
“Anything I can do to convince you that Hell doesn’t need two teams competing against each other?”
Declan stared at his brother. “That’s why you’re getting a night behind the red doors? You’re supposed to get Harper to give up her team?”
“You’re the funding,” Fallon said.
“You sneaky snake.” He glared at his brother. “Is there nothing you won’t stoop to?”
“It’s not stooping.” They got out, and Fallon followed Declan to the fence line. “Hell doesn’t have room for two teams.”
“So you give yours up. Harper’s staying here.”
“You mean, Harper is staying here,” Fallon emphasized. “Here with you. And you’re not going to give her up. Ivy counted on that. All she wants is for the team to go away, so all the focus is on hers.”
“Ivy had me shot so either I or Harper would get spooked. Spook Harper enough to leave town.”
“Dad seemed to think so.”
“It’s not going to happen. Take that back to Ivy, before you go behind the red doors is my advice. If she finds out you can’t deliver, you’ll wish all you’d get is an arrow in the back.” He looked at Fallon with disgust. “I’m not sure why you’d even want to do that, anyway.”
“I’m not like you. I don’t need a woman, or want a family. I just don’t own that family gene, the way you do. And always did. Thanks for going out to see Pop.” He ambled off to his truck.
“Where are you going now?” Declan called after him.
“I’m going to see Mom first, make sure she got all moved in.”
Declan perked up. “You know where she is?”
“I know where she’ll be.” Fallon opened his door. “I’ll tell her you said hello.” He got into his truck, poked his head out the window. “My advice is don’t screw this thing up with Harper.”
“I’m having trouble taking advice seriously from a man who admits his chief pleasure is making poor life decisions.”
Laughing, Fallon touched his hat, switched on the truck, and rolled down the drive. Declan stared after his brother, a little stunned.
Then he shook it off. Right now, all he wanted was to get home to Harper. He hoped she was still planning to stay with him. He had some things he wanted to say to that sexy blond. The whole unpleasant scenario with his father had only served to make him realize how much better he felt around her, how much stronger she made him feel.
His father was right about one thing: He wanted his life to go much differently than Collin’s had. No black widows, no cheap women. Nothing but beauty and joy and peace in his life.
He’d found that with Harper.
He intended to keep it—no matter what.
Chapter Eighteen
“I’ve been waiting for you! I’m so glad you’re here!” Harper came to him as soon as he walked onto the back patio. Declan thought he’d like to hear those words on her lips every night of his life.
“What’s up?” he asked. She looked darling in a red and white sundress, and all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her until she said yes, yes to the anything else he wanted to do with her.
Maybe that wasn’t very honorable. He tried to look honorable and failed when he realized the dress’s skirt was slightly see-through when the sun shone through the fabric. She had great legs.
“Steel wants to see you down at the jail. Come on. I’ll drive you.”
They walked inside. Instantly, Declan could tell something was missing. He stopped, looked around. “Wait a minute. What’s happened in here?”
Gypsy was attached to his heels, anxious for her greeting, which he doled out affectionately. Toad was still following his new mother around, trying to learn the ropes. But something was wrong. “Your stuff’s not here.”
“No.” She looked at him. “My team has moved into the Honeysuckle Bungalow, and I need to be with them. I was willing to stay here with you while you were recovering, but clearly, you’re on the mend now. You’ve been running around all day.” She smiled. “I don’t think you require a nurse any longer.”
He raised a brow, cursed Fallon internally. “I was running around because of my stupid brother, not because I felt like it.”
She came close, unbuttoned his shirt. Eased it off his bandaged shoulder ever so carefully, inspecting the wrap closely. A slight floral perfume, and the warmth of her slightly-warmed skin came to him—lust hitting so fast he wasn’t sure he was going to be able to move. Sit down, stand up—it didn’t matter; he had to hold her. Kiss her, touch her, ask her with all his heart not to leave his house.
In that instant, he had a slight inkling of what his father must have felt today when Gertrude had marched out, finally gathering up her courage and self-respect after years of verbal abuse, lies, and cheating. The erection he’d instantly gotten at Harper’s touch died. He stepped back, buttoned up his shirt.
“I’m fine. It’s a flesh wound.”
“Flesh wound? Stitches aren’t for flesh wounds. Nor are surgeries. Don’t be a hot dog.” She stepped close, close enough that he could take her in his arms if he’d just allow himself to do it—seemed disappointed when he didn’t. “I was there when it happened, cowboy. I pulled you out of the water. Don’t tell me it was nothing. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Are we heading out?”
“Yes.” She grabbed her backpack and keys. “The sooner, the better, according to Steel.”
He followed her, feeling like a train wreck. “Sounds ominous.”
They got in her truck, and Declan looked out the window, anywhere but at the beautiful blond beside him. He felt drained, destroyed. “So why are we summoned?”
“I’m not summoned, you are.” She glanced at him as she drove into town. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” He wasn’t, of course. He wanted so badly to tell her that he’d fallen for her, didn’t know how to tell her when he knew very well she wasn’t interested in a father figure in Michael’s life.
He’d seduced her, wanting something from her she couldn’t give.
Knowing she wasn’t looking for an Outlaw in hers and Michael’s lives. Still, he’d buried himself in her warmth, her beautiful body, wanting more than she could give.
She wasn’t ever going to stay with him.
He looked at the pretty red dress, her blond hair up in a bouncy ponytail, felt himself die a little inside. “So anyway, what’s it about?”
“Steel is bringing Ivy in for questioning. He wants you there.”
“What?” Declan straightened. “Questioning?”
“Apparently, she’s a lead suspect in what happened to you.”
“I’d heard that, but I thought it was just grapevine chatter. The usual gossip and whisper campaign we do around here.” His gut churned a little as he thought about his brother. What if their father, Collin, was right? What if his suspicions of Fallon were on-target, and he wasn’t entirely to be trusted?
What if Fallon had left the creek that night and followed Harper and him to where they were together? He’d had time. Declan shook his head. His brother wouldn’t hurt him. He was maybe a little shady, and more than a little interested in the wild side of life, but he wasn’t a vengeful person. Wasn’t a dangerous person.
“You seem surprised. Ivy’s the obvious candidate, right?”
“I guess. Yeah.” He pondered that, suddenly remembering Collin’s words that he’d realize eventually why Ivy would want Declan harmed. Not killed, but harmed.
To scare Harper. To make her worry for her son, to compel her to choose to leave Hell. For Michael’s own good, Harper could go somewhere that was safer, more family-friendly. With teams for boys to play soccer in, and baseball, and compete in math tournaments with, or whatever it was bright boys like Michael enjoyed. Declan’s heart tightened, curled up, felt like a fist in his chest.
He’d protect her, whatever he had to do. She wouldn’t like it; would say she could take care of herself. Of course she could. He could take care of himself, too, and he’d still gotten an arrow stuck in him. “So why are we needed, if Steel’s questioning her?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he feels you might have something to add.” She pulled into the jail parking lot. “I’ll wait for you at Hattie’s. I want to talk to her about Jael’s progress. Jael’s an amazing rider. She may be my star.”
Harper hopped out of the truck. Declan stared after her, already missing her. “Hey,” he said, getting out of the truck in a hurry.
“Yes?” She turned to look at him, her green eyes wide.
“I—” He combed through his mind for a good way to tell her something, anything. “Thanks for the ride.”
She smiled. “It’s no big deal.”
Harper went across the street toward Hattie’s. Declan turned and headed into the second unpleasant meeting of the day.
Steel and Ivy sat at a desk, a city slick lawyer-type with a briefcase sitting next to Ivy. Declan nodded to the legal beagle, shook Steel’s hand, said, “Hello, Ivy,” just as he would normally, and sat down.
Honking blared outside in the street. Steel swiveled around to stare out the window. “What the hell is that?”
“What’s what?” Declan got up to peer over Steel’s shoulder.
“What is it?” Ivy asked.
“You know that fellow talking to Harper?” Steel asked.
“No.” Declan frowned. Harper seemed to know him, though. She went around to the driver’s side. The driver rolled down the window, and a shot went into Declan’s gut that hurt worse than the arrow in his back had.
“That would be Michael’s dad,” Steel murmured.
Ivy leaped to her feet, elbowed between them to peer out. “That’s some vehicle he’s driving.”
It was, indeed. A black Hummer, with tricked-out wheels and the works. Declan watched Harper point to a parking space, and the man drove into it, getting out. No hat, no jeans, even. Dark trousers, like Ivy’s city slick friend, long blond hair to his shoulders, big muscular build like a linebacker.
“Wow,” Ivy said. “Have I got girls that would appreciate that tall drink of water.”
“Let’s get back to the purpose of this meeting,” Steel said, letting everyone know that the gawking was done for the moment. Declan knew it was killing Steel not to keep spying—but by the sympathetic look Steel shot him, Declan knew he’d separated Declan from heartbreak by not allowing him to see more than he should. “Where’s Michael, anyway?” he asked Declan.
“With Cameron,” Declan said, downcast. “I can’t pick him up after soccer with my arm, damn it. So Cameron and Dr. Jack are splitting the runs.”
“I had nothing to do with you getting shot,” Ivy said. “I’m prepared to fight that scurrilous accusation with everything I’ve got. My lawyer here, Carlton Brice, is prepared to make certain you don’t ruin my reputation in this town, Steel, as much as our darling Judy might be setting me up for just that.”
“That’s right,” the attorney said, and Declan gave up all pretense of caring.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have to go.” He tipped his hat to Ivy, and hurried from the meeting to find Harper and the tall drink of water Ivy had seemed so impressed by.
They weren’t in Hattie’s. The only other place they might be was Redfeather’s, so Declan made his way over there as fast as he could without giving the whole town something to gossip about. His chest felt like a drum, tight and empty.
It took a second for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of Redfeather's after the glaring sunshine outside.
“Looking for them?” Stephen asked beside him.
Declan started. Stephen rarely spoke to anyone. He glanced in the direction Stephen indicated. “Yeah. I was. Thanks.”
“Think you’d prefer a more private booth.” Stephen smiled at him kindly.
“Yeah, I guess I would.” He felt awkward, realizing Stephen was trying to gently tell him he couldn’t go steamrolling over there, as he’d been about to do. He took in a deep breath of air, forcing himself to calm down. “Thanks.”
Stephen led him to a booth where it wouldn’t appear that he was spying on Harper and the baby daddy. His Navajo friend disappeared discreetly, leaving Declan alone with his feeling that something just wasn’t right.
“What the hell, dude?” Steel slid into the booth with him. “You can’t ditch a meeting where I’m questioning a suspect.”
“Sorry. I’ve got bigger fish to fry at the moment.”
“Bigger fish than your life?” Steel looked at him like he was nuts.
“Well, yeah. I’m not in any danger at the moment.” And Harper might be. Declan didn’t trust a man who was a short-timer, a man who didn’t care to be a father to a kid as adorable as Michael. Hell, he wasn’t sure he trusted a man who rolled into town driving a car that said look at me, all tricked out and glittery and big city.
“You’re going to have to get okay with this,” Steel told him. Stephen set two beers down for them and a bowl of some funky olive relish and cute crackers that didn’t look half-unappetizing, if Declan had any appetite—which he didn’t. He tried not to let his gaze wander up over the top of the booth, because when he did, he could see Harper’s blond hair and City’s blond hair, and together it made for a picture that was more cute than he could stand.
“Jealousy biting ya?” Steel asked, dipping into the olive relish.
“Nah.” Declan sipped his beer. Tried to look like he was totally at ease. “I’m just hanging out.”
Steel laughed. “You’re hanging out, all right. Eat something. You look lightheaded.”
“What happened to Ivy and Slick?”
“I told them they could meet with us here, or we could postpone. You don’t seem in the mood to talk about who shot the sheriff’s good friend, anyway.”
“Very funny.” Declan let his gaze rove up over the top of the booth for a split second. Did it seem that Harper and Michael’s father were sitting a bit closer than before?
He hunched his shoulders over his beer, stared down at the suds. “I should be happy for Michael that his father wants to see him after all these years. But I’m too much of a bastard for that.”
Steel sighed. “Well, that makes two of us, then.”
They drank beer companionably for a couple of minutes, both of them slouched pretty miserably in the booth, doing nothing but staring at each other and out the window. Even the TV’s didn’t help, and Declan wasn’t even sure what was on.
“Declan,” Harper said, and he shot right up in his seat. “This is Blair Mitchell. Blair, this is Declan O’Rourke, and Sheriff Steel Durant.”
Blair nodded, shook their hands. Declan eyed Harper, his gaze sliding right to her. She looked a bit worried, he thought, like she didn’t want him creating any trouble. Declan grinned—trouble, me?—and vowed to be the soul of gentlemanly behavior.
“Would you care to join us?” Declan asked.
“We can’t,” Harper said quickly. “We’re going to pick up Michael. Then we’re going to drive into Hawk for ice cream.”
“We have ice cream here,” Declan said, “at Hattie’s.”
“Blair wants to see Michael’s school.”
Steel gently kicked him under the table, and Declan leaned back in the booth. “Nice meeting you, Blair,” Declan said.
“Yes,” Steel said. “See you, Harper.”
They left together, and Declan peered out the window, not happy to see Blair help Harper into the Hummer. They drove off, the big car flashy and bright in the sunshine.
