by Hayden Wolfe
“Fucking the little rich girl isn’t the only way to get some easy money.” Jeff flashed a cocky smile. “Sometimes, it’s easier to just walk in and take it.”
Wyn stepped behind Jeff and grasped his shoulder. Jeff flinched, and Wyn smiled. “Jeff…buddy, pal of mine. Why don’t we go for a little walk?”
“Why?” Jeff asked.
Wyn lowered his voice. “Because I’m in the mood to fuck up your face, and I don’t want to get blood all over the bar.”
Jeff jerked out of Wyn’s grip and backed up. “Look, maybe you should go get yourself laid, Wyn. You’re damn miserable lately.”
“Sex won’t fix me.” Wyn cracked his knuckles. “Pummeling your face might, though. Let’s try it.”
“Enough.” Ronnie pushed from her chair and planted her hands on the table. She glared at Jeff. “You, Mr. Carson, need to leave before I call the cops and you’re charged with harassment.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Jeff took backward steps toward the door. The other patrons in the bar moved out of his way. “And I’m still here.”
Wyn balled his fists and took a step forward. Kyle grabbed his shoulder. “Let him go.”
Wyn shrugged off Kyle’s hold and turned his back on Jeff. “Pricks like him need their asses handed to him. They don’t see anything wrong with harassing women.” Wyn glanced at her. “Or hurting them.”
“I’m fine, really. He was just running his mouth. I don’t even know why, honestly. To cause trouble, I guess. It doesn’t matter.” She linked her hand with Kyle’s. “Let’s go home, okay?”
Kyle nodded. He gave her hand a squeeze and led her outside. “You know what he said about me isn’t true.”
“I know.” Ronnie turned toward Kyle and lowered her voice. “And even if it was, you wouldn’t get a cent of my family’s money. It’s passed to the eldest Axel. Only. Marriage ties mean nothing.”
“Sure they do, Ronnie.” Kyle drew her against his body and brushed his lips over her ear. “Marriage promises love, fidelity, trust. It means you’ll always have someone in your corner, no matter what. It allows you to walk through life with your best friend.”
“Married people cheat all the time. They lie. They hate. And they harbor regret like it’s their favorite weapon.” At least that’s how her parents approached marriage.
Kyle ran his hand over her back. “I can’t speak for other people, doll. I only know how I’d uphold my marriage vows. How I’d love my wife. How I’d treasure her and respect her.”
“I always said you’d make a great husband.”
“There’s only one girl I ever wanted to call wife.” Kyle held her face between his hands. “And I never wanted your money, Ronnie. Still don’t. No matter what path our relationship takes.”
“I never thought you wanted my money.”
“Your mom did, though. Didn’t she?”
She linked her arms around Kyle. “My mom had issues. I’m just now accepting that. Really accepting that. Now I need to understand how they’ve affected me so I can fix me before it’s too late.”
“You’re not the same woman. You—”
“Am a lot like my mom. She made sure of it.” Ronnie eased out of Kyle’s arms and held out her hand. “Let’s walk. I know you only had a beer and a half but I wouldn’t want you to get pulled over.”
“I’m not over the limit.”
“But people would talk about you getting pulled over and—”
Kyle drew her close and kissed her, stopping her words. He loved her mouth while her body went into instant meltdown. Kyle’s touch left her crazed. She clung to him and devoured him as he did her. Finally, he brushed his mouth over hers. “Stop worrying about me and start thinking about you for a change. What do you want right now?”
Ronnie stared into Kyle’s face for a long moment while her mind quieted. He grounded her. “You. I want you, Kyle. I want to walk through the park. Play on the playground across town. Then I want to sit on the ledge overlooking the valley and look at the stars.”
“I think we can make that happen, but I do have one request.”
“What’s that?”
Kyle held out a hand. “I want to watch the sun rise with you.”
Those mornings when she’d get up before sunrise to help Kyle on the farm were magical. They’d hold each other in silence as colors and light streaked the horizon. She bit her lip. “I’d like that.”
Kyle curled his fingers around hers. “Me too, doll. Me too.”
At least here, in Kyle’s arms, she didn’t feel so messed up. He made her world right. She didn’t want to lose this. But how would she keep it? This wasn’t the life she’d built.
Chapter 10
Summer in Sander’s Valley was church picnic season. The locals dished out their favorite ethnic foods and everyone stuffed themselves on gyros, pierogies, Italian sausage, and baked goods that were to die for. Ronnie had sampled a little of everything tonight. She was in heaven. Too bad she didn’t have the metabolism she had back in high school to eat without the guilt.
“I’m going to have to spend hours at the gym burning off all these calories.” While surviving on salad and tofu.
Kyle brushed powdered sugar off her chest. “Nah. We can find better ways to burn calories.”
She narrowed her eyes. “If you’re talking about sex, we’d need to fool around a lot. I wouldn’t be able to walk.”
Chuckling, he tossed the wrapper from the funnel cake they’d shared into the trash. “I was thinking more along the lines of manual labor.”
“You’re putting me to work?” Eyes wide, she gasped. Kyle’s smirk in response to her faked expression made her smile too. “Seriously. Did I overstay my welcome?”
Kyle drew her close. “You’re lucky we’re in public. My handprint would be on your ass if we were at home.”
“Yeah, right. If you smacked my behind, I’d then demand you get on your knees to kiss it.”
Pure wickedness showed in his eyes. “And while I was down there, I’d—"
She covered his mouth and glanced around them. The people near them didn’t look at them as if they were perverted or anything.
Kyle turned her hand over and kissed her knuckles. “The band’s loud. Nobody’s listening to us.”
“You don’t know that. And if they do hear us, people will think we’re naughty or something.”
“People will assume we’re in love.”
“Lust, Kyle. Not love.” He opened his mouth. She pressed a finger to his lips. “You don’t fall in love this quickly. We’re just having a good time.” Though she wasn’t positive her statement applied to them. Her emotions were too jumbled to tell.
“We were already madly in love once. This is take two.”
He made this thing between them sound so natural. Reality told a different story, however. “We live different lives, hours apart from each other. Love doesn’t fulfill our obligations or pay the bills.”
The moment the words were out of her mouth she regretted them. Money had always been a sore spot for Kyle.
He cracked his jaw. Then stepped back. “Does the art gallery have a busy season?”
The question was out of the blue. She frowned. “Two, actually. September through the holidays and April to Memorial Day. Why?”
“Not summer?”
She shook her head. “Too hot for shopping, and people are vacationing. Our gallery isn’t close enough to the beach. Sure we sell some stuff online all year, but I don’t promise quick shipping during the off season unless they pay to rush it.”
“Hmm…” Kyle rubbed at his chin. “Spring and summer are the busiest for me. Sometimes the fall but people are saving their pennies for school shopping and the holidays then.”
She studied him. Where was this conversation going? “That’s unfortunate, I guess.”
“No. It’s perfect.”
“Why?” She didn’t bother hiding the suspicion in her voice.
“Because I’m thinking of
branching out.”
The excited vibe from Kyle spurred an equal emotion within her. She liked seeing him this way—driven and eager. “Are you going to tell me how?”
“Depends.” He narrowed his eyes, but the playful glint in them widened her smile. “Are you up for some manual labor?”
“Sure.” As long as she was with Kyle, they’d have fun. He always made sure of it.
“I have a couple of unfinished pieces of furniture in the garage. They need sanded and stained.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Still want to help.”
With her lip caught between her teeth, she fought a smile. He was trusting her to touch his work. Maybe it was silly to be so thrilled about that, but she felt like they were kids again, sharing in the intimate things that had made their time spent together memorable.
“Yes, but I need some energy before we get to work.”
Brow raised, Kyle studied her. “All the sugar and carbs we consumed weren’t enough?”
“Nope.” She laughed and backed away. “Wait here.”
Ronnie hurried across the parking lot to the door leading under the church. Kyle’s mom was selling ice cream inside.
Her shoulders tensed, but Ronnie swallowed past the tightness in her throat and approached the counter. Her future depended on this conversation.
“Hi, Mrs. Sander.”
A huge, open grin made the laugh lines around Eliza’s eyes deepen. She wiped her hands on a towel draped over her shoulder and rounded the counter. “Call me Eliza or mom. None of that Mrs. Sander stuff. That name makes me sound old.”
Wrapping her arms around Kyle’s mom, Ronnie soaked up the affection and attention Eliza gave out without reservation. “You’re definitely not old. That would mean I’m getting old too, and I’ve barely gotten to do any of the things I want in life.”
Eliza leaned back and studied her. “I thought you said you were happy.”
“Depends on how you define happy, I guess.” And her definition was changing.
“True.” Eliza carefully nodded. “Now, I really want to ask how you define it, but I won’t put you on the spot like that.”
“That’s a relief.” Because a huge part of her wanted to slink away and not broach that subject with Kyle’s mom.
“So tell me what it is you haven’t had time to fit into your life.” Eliza prompted.
“Learning how to cook.” Ronnie dipped her head to hide her embarrassment. No doubt her cheeks had a nice healthy flush to them. “I’m not sure why that was the first thing that came to mind, but yeah, I want to learn how to cook. Maybe one day, I can serve the feasts you did on a daily basis.”
“Feasts?” Eliza’s deep laugh shook her body. “That’s survival, Ronnie. In a houseful of men, I either fed them enough food to keep them sated or they invaded my space and started messing with my things.”
This was the best lead in she’d get. “I was thinking about remodeling my kitchen. It’s outdated. The stove hasn't been used in years.”
“Kyle would be able to give you some ideas. He made the cabinets in his house.”
“He was telling me that. They’re gorgeous.” Ronnie bit her lip. “Do you think he’d come down to Virginia and redo my kitchen?”
Eliza studied her for a long moment then offered a wan smile. “You don’t need to find an excuse, child. Kyle will follow you anywhere. He loves you. Has always loved you.”
The lump in Ronnie’s throat choked her. “But would he be happy in Virginia with me?”
“It depends on how you define happy, I guess.” Eliza repeated Ronnie’s earlier words.
Ronnie turned away. The pain in her chest stole her breath. She’d come back here for a shot of hope and encouragement, not to smother her plan with reality.
Eliza laid a hand on Ronnie’s shoulder. “Don't take my words the wrong way. Kyle would be happier in Virginia with you than alone here in Sander’s Valley.”
“But not completely happy. Right?” Ronnie glanced over her shoulder. “He’d only be truly happy if I gave up my gallery and I moved here.”
Eliza sighed. Her shoulders drooped. “Well, of course. He’d have everything he always wanted.”
Arms crossed over her chest, Ronnie rubbed her arms. Movement caught her eye. Kyle was striding toward them.
Oh no. He didn’t need to know what they’d been talking about. Kyle would do his best to convince her Eliza was wrong and he’d be completely happy in Virginia.
“Excuse me, Eliza.” Ronnie hurried to meet Kyle.
“You were supposed to wait for me.” She pressed her hands against Kyle’s chest.
“You were taking too long.” He looked past her. “I'm glad I decided to come back here. What were you talking about? Mom doesn’t look happy.”
“Nothing really. Cooking. Getting old.” She snatched his hand and led him out of the basement. “But now I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want ice cream anymore.”
The moment they were outside, she sighed with relief. Crisis averted.
“Do you want something else?”
“No.” She stood on her tiptoes and leaned into Kyle. “How about we go home?”
The tightness around Kyle’s eyes eased. “Home. I like the sound of that. Yeah, let’s go home.”
She liked the sound of that too. She just wished she knew where home was supposed to be.
Chapter 11
Ronnie followed Kyle up the steps to her dad’s cabin several days later. Her hands trembled. She linked them behind her back. The sight of the beautiful log home overlooking Sander’s Lake brought back too many memories she’d rather keep locked away. All involved her dad, Frank Selenski, the man who might or might not be her true birth father. Either way, she loved him, and he’d treasured his house in the mountains.
He’d often told her the true natives of the valley always returned. The only reason he’d left in the first place was to attend the University of Virginia. The art scholarship he’d gotten had been too good to pass up. There, he’d met Ronnie’s mom, Vivien Axel.
They’d had a whirlwind relationship and married within six months. According to them, they’d lived happily, until Vivien’s father died and she was forced to take over the gallery. A few months later, Ronnie was conceived, and Frank moved out. He’d feared the curse and wanted Vivien to sell the gallery. She’d refused, and they’d parted ways.
The curse. Ridiculous. Ronnie shook her head. There was no such thing as a curse. The Axel family had money. Lots and lots of money. It wasn’t that much of a stretch to see how violence would strike their family in greater frequency than most people.
No, it was stubbornness that had ruined her parents’ marriage. Her dad had never given a shit about money. All he’d cared about was Sander’s Valley and his art. Money, food, material things? They’d meant nothing to him.
Ronnie was grateful for his grounding influence in her life. Had she been raised by a different man, she might never have opened her heart to Kyle.
Over the years, there’d been days she wished she hadn’t. The past few made her glad she had. He truly was an amazing man. She was grateful to have known him, gotten the chance to love him, and been on the receiving end of his smile. She only wished she could’ve been worthy of him. She was too much an Axel, however, driven by the legacy and the need to succeed. She didn’t know how to be anyone else.
Kyle glanced over his shoulder. “You’ve got to unlock the door.”
She shifted her gaze from his eyes to the entryway. Her legs turned to lead.
Kyle’s beloved face filled her vision a moment later. He cupped her cheeks. “Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“We don’t have to do this today. We can wait. Come back tomorrow or the next day.”
She wanted to take the escape he offered. She wasn’t ready to face her dad’s cabin. The last time she’d seen him was the same day she’d left Kyle. She’d even been too chicken to come to his funeral. Her mom had saved her. She’d piled tons of work on Ron
nie so she didn’t have time to think about the years she’d lost or how her dad’s last words to her still echoed in her head.
“You’re making the biggest mistake of your life, Ronnie-girl. You walk away from Kyle, and you’ll end up a shell of a woman, just like your mama.”
The worst part was in knowing he’d spoken the truth, and she’d been too much of a coward to deal with it. Like with Kyle, she’d pushed her emotions aside and moved on, coming up with excuse after excuse as to why she couldn’t visit. Even on his deathbed, she’d found a reason not to see him. There’d been an exclusive showing at the gallery, and she hadn’t actually believed the doctors when they’d said his days were numbered. Her dad wasn’t going to die. He was too strong. That had been her reasoning. She’d been wrong. So very wrong. She never got the chance to say good-bye.
Sweet Jesus, she was the worst daughter…hell, the worst human being in the world.
Kyle’s face blurred. She couldn’t fight the tears. They poured out of her eyes as if somebody had turned on a faucet. He pulled her against him. She wrapped her arms around him and greedily took the comfort he offered. More guilt choked her. She’d forgotten the only man she’d ever loved too. None of her other boyfriends had ever touched her heart. They’d gotten her body only.
She cried harder. An apology sat on the tip of her tongue. She didn’t bother voicing it. In the face of what she’d done, it’d be lame anyway. She didn’t deserve Kyle’s arms around her or his love. She deserved to be a shell of a woman, alone and bitter.
Just like Mom.
Kyle urged her to turn around. “Come on, doll. Let’s go home.”
Home? A noose tightened around her chest, cutting off her air. Her home was the empty ten-bedroom mansion with its boathouse, Olympic-sized pool, and tennis courts. Home was an empty bed where she slept when she wasn’t in the gallery. Home certainly wasn’t in the arms of a man who must’ve been an angel in a past life. A wicked one, but still an angel.
“No.” She pushed out of his arms. “I need to do this.”
Kyle studied her a long moment. A pleased look spread over his face. Did he think she was trying to be brave?
