The Reclusive Widow (The Widow Taker Book 3)

by Kennedy Layne

  Point taken, but that didn’t stop Ridge from recommending something else.

  “Lily and I finally went through the case files.” Ridge understood Dean’s opinion on the impact of a civilian having federal case files within their possession. “Daryl Brighton, Rhonda Benson, and Paul Harrison were all good friends. I read Daryl Brighton’s statement from the night that you caught him exiting Kenna Burke’s house. If Rhonda was murdered due to what Paul might have told her, isn’t it safe to assume that Daryl Brighton knows more than he’s letting on?”

  “Contrary to what you seem to be indicating with these questions, I know how to conduct a proper investigation. I’m not going to give you a play-by-play of the action. You’re a civilian who got caught up in a case. On the other hand, you and Ms. Hudson will be the first to know if we find anything of interest or if we make an arrest.”

  Ridge took that to mean Dean was expending every resource he had at his disposal. Harrison was currently under twenty-four-seven protection, while his wife and Daryl Brighton had someone watching their every move. If Alan Harrison murdered Rhonda in cold blood over the fact that Paul might have said something to her, wouldn’t the same go for Brighton?

  Maybe the only thing holding Alan back from finishing the job was because he was still mending from his wound.

  Lily had her stitches taken out after seven days, while Paul was being released from the hospital tomorrow. His injuries had been a bit more severe, though no major organs had been damaged by the blade of the knife. Without proper treatment though, Alan Harrison would take more time to heal.

  “We should have the aged-progression composite in our hands tomorrow,” Dean said, though it sounded like he’d stifled a yawn. “We’ve checked out every veterinarian practice, dental office, clinic, hospital, and every other place connected to the medical field within a sixty-mile radius. The sheriff has stretched his deputies far and wide to cover persons of interest in the case, and I have state police detectives canvassing every possible place in this town where Alan Harrison could be holed up until he can make his next move. There’s nothing else to be done, Ridge. Get some rest, and I’ll send you a copy of the composite tomorrow morning.”

  “Have you heard from Linc?” Ridge asked, not willing to disconnect the call until every angle was covered. “He mentioned to me at the hospital that he was going to pay a visit to Paul Harrison’s mother in some nursing home.”

  “Linc arrived there this afternoon and laid some groundwork. He stopped by Harrison’s old apartment and asked around about him, including if he’d ever mentioned having a half-brother to any of his former neighbors.” Dean probably figured the more information he gave Ridge that didn’t compromise the case, the more likely it would be that Ridge would leave him alone until morning. “I’ve been spending my time diving into Alan Harrison’s past. After his father passed away, his mother didn’t move away from Winter Heights for close to a year after that. Like Linc’s profile suggested, she relied heavily on her friends, neighbors, and church. She eventually moved him to Ohio, but that’s where his timeline becomes unclear.”

  Ridge sat forward in his seat, the hairs on the back of his neck standing to attention. His heart began to pump faster than before, and adrenaline began to flood his system. This was the type of information that he’d been looking for, and he’d feel more at ease knowing firsthand that the feds were one step closer to catching the son of a bitch who more than likely wanted to finish what he started with Lily.

  “There was no school listed, so Alan was most likely homeschooled. There are no property records associated with the mother, but I was able to track down a couple of her church friends. They all said that she’d had a hard time remaining in the area and read about a community that lived by different means…trading essentials, owning the land together, raising each other’s children, etc.”

  “So, a communal living arrangement,” Ridge said, already realizing that the majority of those people flew under the radar. They didn’t really use technology or current means of living day to day the way the majority of the world relied on in their daily lives. “Have you sent someone there to—”

  “You’re beginning to give me a complex, Killian.” Dean paused, giving Ridge time to pull on the reigns. “I know what you want to do, but you need to let me do my job. The justice system for civilians is there for a reason. I’ll bring this bastard in the right way. You have my word.”

  Ridge rubbed his forehead in frustration, hating that his hands were tied.

  “I contacted the closest field office earlier this evening. They aren’t wasting time, and the Supervisory Special Agent in Charge gave me his word that he’d drive out to the plot of land they’re living on first thing in the morning.”

  The walls were finally closing in on Alan Harrison. As much as Ridge would like to be the one who pulled the trigger, he understood why protocols had to be followed in this case. He flexed his right hand while holding onto the cell phone with his left, reminding himself that Dean hadn’t had an obligation to say anything about his investigation.

  “I appreciate the update, Dean.” Ridge had purposefully used the man’s first name to indicate his gratitude. “I’ll be on the lookout for that composite of Alan Harrison.”

  Ridge had heard the soft rustling sounds of Lily walking through the living room about mid-conversation with Dean. The only other noise that had been filtering through the cabin was the heat blowing through the vents. The light coming from the monitor was the only illumination in the office, but it was enough that he could see her curious expression as she stood in the doorway.

  The sight of Lily with her hair all piled on top of her head, her long-sleeved t-shirt a bit uneven and baring most of her right shoulder, along with her biting her lower lip had him thinking that now was a good time to turn in…by himself. He hadn’t believed that having her here for a week would have his thoughts going down a road she wasn’t nearly ready to explore. It was best to give himself some breathing room so he didn’t cross a line that would end up costing both of them their friendship.

  “Sorry,” Ridge said softly, not wanting his voice to echo off the walls and startle her. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I was just checking in with Agent Malone to see if there were any new updates.”

  “What was that about a communal property?” Lily asked quietly as she moved away from the doorframe. She advanced until she was standing next to him to get a closer look at the monitor that currently contained numerous images of the property. “Do they think that’s where Alan Harrison went for help?”

  “No, but it is where he grew up.” Ridge stood as he explained in detail what she wanted to know about the call. “Malone is sending another agent out of the Ohio office to check it out. Maybe someone there can shed light on Harrison’s past or even have an idea of where he would go to for help. If he needed help. You stabbed him, but it’s been a week. He wouldn’t have healed as fast as you, but he might be able to get around without anyone the wiser.”

  Ridge expected her to turn around and head back through the office door. Instead, she turned toward him. The sweet aroma that he’d come to associate with her had him shifting his stance to become a bit more comfortable. He reminded himself that she just had her stitches out and was still healing, in many ways.

  “Kiss me.”

  Ridge had been about to grab the empty mug that he’d set on the credenza, but her choice of words brought him to a complete stop. Hell, he was lucky that he hadn’t ended up on his knees. The night that she was attacked, he had chalked up wanting to go to the hospital with her for the sake of keeping his word. Looking back, he realized that his need to be with her encompassed the recognition that she might very well be someone he could connect with.

  Lily’s courage, intellect, and determination had matched his own, and he’d identified it immediately. Only she wasn’t ready, and the timing of it all couldn’t have been worse. He did the only thing he could, leaving him wishing it could be any other
way.

  “I’d like nothing more, hazelnut,” Ridge countered, curling the fingers of his right hand into his palm to give him some strength to walk away. “And when this case is all over, I’d love to see where this attraction takes us. It’s best for—”

  “For who?” Lily asked defiantly, raising her chin so that she could get a better look at him. He wished that she hadn’t shifted her body in such a manner, because her shirt fell a bit lower on her shoulder. She was pure temptation at the moment, and it was as if she’d known all along what his initial reaction would be to her offer. “We’ve been dancing around this attraction for days, Ridge. We’re both adults. We don’t need to turn away from it.”

  Lily took a step closer, leaving less than a few inches between them. He could literally feel the warmth radiating off her body against his, but it was when she gently rested her right hand against his chest that he shook his head to retain some semblance of common sense.

  “You’re not ready.”

  “In whose judgement?”

  “You see me as—”

  “I see you as the man who protected me, yes.” Lily didn’t stop with one hand. She now had both palms flat on his chest as she finished her argument. “I don’t deny that, but there’s more between us. You know it, and I know it. It took me a long time to believe in myself again, Ridge. Today at the hospital was that last step that had me seeing my situation in a different light. Add on to how I felt when I didn’t know if you were okay after you shoved me into the police car and…well, I’m done wasting time and second-guessing myself. I’m done allowing what others think of me to rule my actions.”

  Ridge had been having a hard enough time keeping himself in check, and now she had to go and take away the one thing that had been holding him back. Her emotional wellbeing was all that mattered, and now here she was standing in front of him saying that she’d come to terms with the last stumbling block that had been holding her back from taking control of her life.

  “Kiss me, Ridge,” Lily whispered, sensually sliding one hand up and around his neck to draw him down as she lifted up on her tiptoes. Only a thin layer of air separated her lips from his. “I don’t want to wait until you’ve come to terms with the fact.”

  Her plea was the last breaking point, and he wrapped his left arm around her while anchoring her neck with his right hand. The slight gasp of excitement that escaped her lips was his undoing. He’d laid in bed night after night going over and over in his mind what she would taste like, what she would feel like against his body, and how she would cry out for his touch.

  He was done waiting, and he was no longer going to fight against the inevitable tide.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lily’s entire body exploded with arousal when Ridge finally pressed his lips to hers with the same hunger that had consumed her in the last few days. Everything had been leading up to this point, and she couldn’t get enough of him. Her thirst was drawing on his well of passion.

  The brush of his tongue over hers sent shockwaves through her system. She kissed him back just as passionately as she tugged on the bottom of his sweater. He took over for her, releasing her long enough to pull the material over his head before resuming their kiss. She let her hands roam freely, enjoying the frame of his scarred, muscular body.

  “No,” she murmured against his lips. He’d tried to steer her toward the door, but she didn’t need a bed. She just wanted him. “Here.”

  Ridge didn’t hesitate. He swiped his hand across his desk, sending numerous items scattering across the hard surface. Some even landed on the floor, but neither of them cared at the moment. He pulled her shirt off, but abruptly stopped the momentum.

  Lily used the break to try and even out her breathing, but her effort was a waste of time as he gently brushed the back of his finger from her neck down to her breast before circling the sensitive area that currently ached for his touch. His gaze had followed his hand, which only caused her body to react even more to the allure of his desire.

  “Please tell me that you have protection,” Lily whispered as the back of his finger went even lower to the waistband of her sweats. She wasn’t sure that she’d be in her right mind if he began to pull off her last bit of clothing. “I—”

  “Yes,” Ridge murmured, leaning in and kissing the side of her neck. He scattered her thoughts once again. “But we aren’t going to need it right this minute.”

  To prove his point, he pushed her back down on his desk and began to lower her sweatpants. It wasn’t long afterward that he had her completely bare and at his mercy. She didn’t mind one bit. As a matter of fact, reality faded when his lips began to pleasure her in a way that she hadn’t experienced in a very, very long time.

  “Good morning, hazelnut.”

  Lily didn’t open her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the happy smile that spread over her face. They’d spent the night making love in nearly every common room of the small cabin, only to then make it to the bedroom for another round of sex that had her wondering why they’d waited so long to indulge in their attraction. She knew that she hadn’t been in the best physical health a week ago, but she still would have given it a try had she known.

  Lily couldn’t ever remember being this completely satisfied physically.

  “I think you’re using the wrong greeting,” she murmured, rolling from her left side to her back. She peered through her lashes to find that he was already dressed, including the holster with his firearm secured at his waist. “Good afternoon were the words that I was hoping to hear, sans clothes.”

  Ridge laughed as he held out a steaming cup of hot coffee, waiting until she’d managed to sit up against one of his pillows before relinquishing her favorite morning beverage. They’d finally ended up in his bed sometime close to morning. She hadn’t heard him get out of bed earlier, let alone felt him leave her side.

  “Believe me, there is no other place that I’d rather be than back in that bed with you,” Ridge said before leaning down and pressing his lips softly against hers. He then pulled back far enough that she could see the dark flecks in his brown eyes. “Unfortunately, we need to leave for the dealership in around a half an hour. The truck that I ordered with the Raptor package arrived first thing this morning. They said that I can leave my parent’s car in their parking lot until they come back from Europe. I’m getting the dealership to detail it for them, anyway. I don’t want you in the car by yourself, even with me right behind you. At least, not until Alan Harrison is in custody.”

  “Who is on duty outside?” Lily asked, tugging the blanket a little higher when he pulled away and let the cold air come between them. She leaned her head back against the headboard. “If you’re leaving your parents car in the dealership’s parking lot, I can stay here. I’ll cook us up some omelets that would be ready by the time you got back.”

  “Deputy Chen,” Ridge replied, but it still didn’t seem to make a difference that someone they trusted was parked right outside. “As enticing as a good breakfast sounds followed by what I’m assuming would have nothing to do with the dishes, I’d rather have you by my side.”

  Lily took a sip of her coffee, hoping that the caffeine would be enough to have her wanting to crawl out of his warm bed. The king-sized piece of furniture matched the rest of the bedroom set. The weathered oak went perfectly with the outer beams of the cabin, bringing out the rugged texture of the exposed wood. She still wasn’t sure why she needed to leave such a lovely warm bed.

  “You were okay with me being here for hours yesterday with Deputy Chen posted outside,” Lily pointed out, snuggling into the covers a little deeper. She wasn’t ignoring the danger that still existed, but she also didn’t want to live unnaturally due to someone else’s actions. She’d done that for most of her life, and she’d rather not fall back into the same pattern of behavior. “With the security system that Townes installed for you, I couldn’t be safer.”

  “Yesterday couldn’t be avoided, and I kept in contact with Deputy Chen abou
t every fifteen minutes,” Ridge divulged, reaching down and tugging on the comforter. The material went below her breasts, and she’d had to raise her cup to prevent any coffee from spilling over the sides. He gave her a wink. “Get dressed, hazelnut. We’re going into town together.”

  Lily could have put her foot down and insisted that she stay behind. She fully believed that she was safer in his home than anywhere else. With that said, she really wasn’t ready to be away from him. Being alone might allow a moment for her to start second guessing herself and allow the doubts to creep in. She wasn’t ready to give up this morning’s euphoria.

  “Fine, but you have to take me by the café so that I can get another caramel macchiato,” Lily called out as Ridge began to leave the bedroom. She pulled the blankets back up so that she could take advantage of the warmth for a few more minutes. She hadn’t felt this carefree in way too long, and she wasn’t ready to face what awaited them outside the front door. “Live in the moment, Lily.”

  She’d repeated the words that Janice had recited almost every other Sunday. Lily hadn’t really acted on that sentiment until now, but she had to admit that it felt damn good to actually follow through for once and allow herself to be in the moment. After consuming enough caffeine to motivate her out of bed, she finally managed to take a shower and dress for the day.

  By the time she made it to the kitchen, she had three minutes to spare before they were ready to leave for the dealership. Unfortunately, Ridge was nowhere in sight. She set her empty coffee mug in the sink, mindful of the plastic sheet hanging over the left half of the cabinets. It didn’t take her long to cross through the living room and into the office.

  Ridge wasn’t at his desk, either.

  An ominous quality began to settle in the air that had all but been chased away since last night. Something wasn’t quite right. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something told her that she needed to find Ridge. Taking a few steps closer to the monitor, she could see that he was outside speaking with Deputy Chen. The two were standing next to the police cruiser as if everything was fine.