Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,18

doing that?”

Jack shrugged. “You’ve always been aware of her.”

“What! No way.” Fin felt like his collar suddenly had buttons and they were done up too tight.

“Fin, Fin, Fin.” Jack made a clucking sound. “Your secret is safe with me, but to be honest, I’m sure others have noticed. I mean, there was that one time when we ran a poll—”

“What!”

“Just messing with you, man.” Jack Trainer was and always would be a favorite with the ladies. Tall, lean, and with a rangy build, he’d once earned two thousand dollars in the bachelor auction. No one had broken that record since.

“But seriously, why not just admit you like her?”

“We all like her.” Fin tried to regulate his breathing again. He then looked at Jack. The man could keep a secret, and although he was hitched to Rory, she could hold her tongue, because undoubtedly he’d tell her what they talked about. He wanted to talk to someone about Maggie; should he start with Jack?

“Does something seem off with Maggs to you, Jack?”

“Off how?”

“Off, off.”

“And that makes even less sense.”

“She’s not the same Maggs who left here two years ago.”

Jack dug his hands into his pockets and looked up the street to where Maggs’s car had just disappeared.

“I noticed, but I’m putting it down to a readjustment period.”

Fin felt relieved that at least he wasn’t the only one who thought something wasn’t right with Maggs.

“Her family will be glad to see her. Maybe that will give her back her spark,” Jack said.

“Family?”

“You know, the people you were born into. They live about an hour from here.”

“Maggs has family close? How did I not know this?”

“You thought the stork brought her. Aww, son, we really need to talk.”

“Dickhead.”

“Maggs’s family have a cattle ranch about an hour from here. They’re big dogs in the business and own a huge piece of dirt. Lots of money too, but for all that good people. She has a mom and dad, two brothers, both older. They pretty much all work in the business. Maggs is the youngest, and according to her, the black sheep because she left to start the gallery.”

He’d known that woman for more years than he could remember and not known she had family nearby.

“They sent her here to school, bringing her to and from each day because they wanted her to have friends her own age. They all adore her.”

Fin watched Miss Marla point her schoolteacher finger at Lex. The man laughed. It was a brave man to do something like that to a Robbins sister when she was riled.

“Hello, Fin, Jack.”

They turned together to see who had spoken, and found Noel Linbar behind them. Slick, neatly dressed, with that salesman smile on his face. Fin didn’t know the man; they were really just the nod and raise a hand type of acquaintances.

“Hi, Noel.” Jack shook his hand, and Fin followed suit.

“Fin, I wondered if there had been any more discoveries on the mountain.” Noel looked uncomfortable.

“Nothing so far, but we’ll be sure to let the right people know if we do.”

Noel’s brother, Simon, had gone missing a few years ago and never been found.

“It’s been hard on my mother, you see.”

“Completely understand how it would be, Noel, and I promise Chief Blake will be in touch if there is any news concerning you.”

Noel nodded, then left.

Jack let out a long, slow breath. “I can’t imagine what that would be like. I mean, if Joe or Luke went missing, I’m not sure I’d ever stop looking. To know they were out there somewhere dead or alive would be a kind of hell, Fin.”

“It would.” Fin watched Noel until he disappeared. “I’m going up again in the morning. Hopefully I’ll find something then.”

“I’ll go up later,” Jack said. “Anyway, bud, I need to go. Nice as this has been, Pip is making me breakfast at Phil’s, and it will be cold.” Jack slapped him hard on the shoulder. “Don’t turn into an icicle during your midlife crisis out there on the open road.”

“I’m not middle aged!” Fin howled, outraged.

Jack just winked and ran across the street. Fin hoped he hit a patch of ice and landed on his ass. His luck was out.

Chapter Eight

He got on his bike and rolled slowly out of town; the ride would clear his head. He was still feeling unsettled and pissed off and told himself this was the left over remnants from seeing his father again. He had brought the Harley because he’d always wanted one, but his