Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,75

trails early and take another look for clues where they’d found Simon Linbar’s body, he would have to leave her, if only briefly.

If luck was on his side, he could slip out of bed, hike for a few hours, and be back before she woke. It was Sunday. The gallery was opened by Joan. They could spend the day here, only leaving for sustenance.

Damn, they were playing basketball today. Maybe he could get someone to sub in for him. Running the hand he had on her waist down her body, he stroked the smooth flesh. She didn’t move. Clearly his girl was a solid sleeper.

It was still dark, so he couldn’t see much of her, but he could feel her. Maggie Winter had the body of a pinup model. He wouldn’t be telling her that, however; she’d probably turn him into a eunuch.

Lifting her hair, he studied the face beneath now his eyes had adjusted. She slept deep, not even moving as he touched her check.

He wanted this woman bad. Before he continued his exploration and forgot his promise to the Ryker Falls chief of police, Fin eased out from beneath her, much to his regret.

She murmured, flipped onto her back, then began snoring softly. Muffling a laugh, he pulled the covers to her chin. Grabbing clothes, he then left the room.

It was colder than a blizzard, so he stoked the fire and put on coffee. Not for him, but on the off chance Maggs woke, she might like some. Dressed, he wrote her a note explaining where he’d gone, then laced his feet into his boots. Tugging his thermal cap lower, Fin let himself out the back door with a smile still on his face.

She did that to him. Maggie Winter with her humor, smarts, and sexy as hell body. He’d opened up to her about his mom, and she’d not judged him; instead she’d taken him on a sensual journey that left him reeling. He could still feel her lips on him. Her hands stroking, tormenting.

“Lucky it’s cold,” he muttered as his body twitched.

Whistling softly as he walked over the icy ground, he knew he was the only person around. Snow hadn’t fallen again last night, but there was ice on the ground and the temperatures would freeze any idiot not dressed for them.

“Lucky I’m not an idiot then.”

“Hello, Fin.”

“Christ!” Fin’s heart leapt inside his chest. “You scared the crap out of me.”

“Not my intention. I just want to talk to you, and this seemed the only way.”

His father wore a thick jacket and cords. On his feet were hiking boots.

“What do you want?”

“To talk to you. You’ve not given me a chance to do that, so I thought out here you’d have little option.”

He hated that just looking at this man made him hurt. Hated that little charge of emotion inside that he’d not quite been able to crush.

“You have nothing to say I want to hear.”

“Well now, that’s fine, but I’ll still be saying it.”

“How did you know I’d be out here?”

“Maggie told me you hiked in the mornings.”

Betrayal was the only word he could put to what he felt in that moment. She’d betrayed him by sharing information about him with the man she knew he loathed. It left a bitter taste in his mouth and anger swirling in his gut.

“I asked her how to get you to talk to me, and she said that had to be your decision.”

“And then told you I hiked in the mornings.” His words sounded cold.

“No, it wasn’t like that, Fin. I asked her—”

“Whatever. Just say what needs to be said, then go. I have to cover some ground, and it will be too quick for you.” He’d never thought of himself as mean by nature, but he could be, Fin realized.

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, you won’t keep up.”

He watched his father close his eyes briefly.

“I was not having an affair when your mother took that picture.”

“So you say.”

“So I know. Yes, it looked bad, but I never, not once in our married life, betrayed my marriage vows.”

He looked into the face that would one day be his. He’d age just like this man, but he’d be a better person.

“We done?”

“No, we are not!” The words exploded from his father, surprising Fin. His father never raised his voice at his children. “I never pushed this with you because I knew you needed to hate me. Needed someone to blame for what you found that day, but I’m done with