Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,4

badly injured or killed.

“Maybe, but don’t you think it’s odd she’s back and none of us knew she was coming?”

“Bailey doesn’t know, and that’s weird. But maybe she wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Yeah, that could be it, and she said as much.” But Fin didn’t think so. Something felt off, and it wasn’t good.

“Mind you, Bailey said she lost contact with her six months ago suddenly. She’s called her a few times, and Maggs never picked up. She left a shouty all-capitals message when she texted her, and Maggs replied saying she was okay, just busy.”

“But Bailey didn’t buy that?”

“She felt something was off, but didn’t know what,” Joe said, pulling out his cell phone.

“It’s rude to talk on your phone while conversing with someone.”

“You’re not someone.” Joe waved his words away. “Hey, sweetheart, Fin said he saw Maggs, she’s back.” Joe then held the phone away as his wife shrieked. “Yes, my thoughts exactly,” he said. “All good, love you.” Joe pocketed his phone.

“You always say that to each other. Doesn’t it get old?” Fin said.

“Not if you mean it, and I love you too. So if you need the reassurance, I’ll tack it on to our conversations going forward.”

“Ha ha.”

“This thing with Maggs really bothered you, Fin. What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing. It’s just a feeling.”

“Plus, there’s that thing you two have.” Joe undid the bag he had hanging on the back of the pushchair and opened it.

“What thing? There is no thing.”

“Totally is a thing,” Joe handed a cookie shaped like a teddy bear to Benjamin. Fin held out his hand and got one too.

“Whatever, and you’re wrong. Me and the crazy redhead just like to spar with each other,” Fin added, trying not to think about how good she’d felt pressed against him earlier.

“I’m heading to Tea Total. Want to come?”

“I was going home to sleep, but sure, it’s not like you’ve got any other friends.” Fin fell in beside Joe.

“True that, and you’ve been away for a few days. I missed you.”

“You’re not going to cry, are you? I hate that shit, and it’s unmanly.”

“Crying is not unmanly. It shows you’re in touch with your feelings,” Joe said.

“Bailey told you that; no way did you come to that conclusion on your own.”

“How’s the family?” Joe asked casually, knowing damn well it was a subject Fin loathed.

“Alive.” Fin looked around him for someone, anyone, he could speak with to distract Joe.

“Gotcha, still a no-go. But when you’re ready to talk, I’m here.”

“Nothing to talk about. My dad’s an asshole, as I’ve told you; my sister and her kids aren’t. End of story.”

“Sure as shit doesn’t sound like nothing to me. Haven’t you got a half sister too? Younger, from what I remember you told me one drunken night.”

“Mallory. She’s ten.”

“Yeah? Is your stepmom young then?”

“She’s thirty-five, as you know because I told you that also in my drunken stupor. And my dad’s fifty, in case we’re rehashing that too.”

“They sure do make you touchy.”

“Whereas your dear daddy is all roses and happiness, and you just love bringing him into conversation.”

“I’m reconciled.” Joe smiled. A wide one that flashed his teeth.

“Dickhead,” Fin muttered. In fact, Joe’s father was a drunken loser who’d nearly caused serious harm to Bailey and the Trainer family.

“I’ll keep talking about your family, Fin. You need to be more open about them. Plus, that little girl carries your blood, bud. One day she just may need her big, butt-ugly brother.”

“No, she won’t, and we barely know each other.” His family was a big pool of angst in his gut, so he tried not to think about them.

This town was all he needed. Ryker had embraced Fin when he’d needed embracing. He’d come here because nowhere else was working after his mother’s death. That, and the fact the man beside him lived here.

Fin had tried to go home, but it had been a disaster. Too much water and pain under the bridge there, so he’d followed Joe, the friend he’d met when his father had sent him away to straighten him out on a ranch.

Joe Trainer had been like Fin. Wild, destructive, and needing a purpose. They’d found it there. Then when it was over, he’d been lost again. Coming to Ryker Falls had changed that. Here he’d found his passion and his people.

Chapter Three

“Hey there, Mrs. Longkovsky. Nice eyelashes,” Fin said to the woman who wore more makeup than all the others in this town combined. Age undetermined, Mrs. L, as they