Texas Hunt (8 page)

Sharing as much as she had so far was exhausting emotionally and physically.

“There's more that I need to tell you, Ryan. Let's sit down.” She motioned toward the sofa.

He helped her to the couch.

“It's about my father. I know he wasn't drinking.”

His gaze intensified.

“There are signs leading up to his binges. First off, he lies about little things. Then he gets irritable in the mornings. It's like there's a battle going on inside him every day. Also, he wouldn't let me see him drunk. Granted, I don't live at home anymore, but I always check on him on my way home. I know the signs.”

Ryan seemed to seriously contemplate her words. “Why didn't you tell anyone about this before?”

“I was scared. I still am.” And yet this was the most free she'd felt, too. “There's my sister to consider and Grayson. Beckett threatened me all those years ago. Said he'd do worse to my sister if I told anyone about our ‘date.'”

Ryan's hands fisted. “You know, there's an easy way for me to fix this.”

“Except the person who came to the hospital was not him,” she said, needing to push Ryan out of his emotional state and back to a logical one.

“That doesn't mean the guy knew anything. He was probably hired by Beckett.”

“That's what I thought, too. But what if he wasn't?”

“Then this would be bigger than Beckett.”

“Exactly. So, if I take down Beckett, how do I know that I'm safe? That my sister won't still be a target?”

“First things first. We need to convince her to stick around the fishing cabin for a while longer. You and I need to head up there, too. I have to make sure we're not followed. I'm sure that's what led them here. They had someone watching the funeral home. I should've seen it coming,” he said, frustration clipping his words.

“Beckett's a rich guy. He can afford to hire a lot of hands. Even if they put him in jail, what's to say that he won't hire someone to hurt my family from there through a friend or his lawyer? Not to mention the fact that the crime occurred more than fifteen years ago,” she said, struggling to breathe while she spoke so freely for the first time. He'd had such a hold on her for so long that she'd barely whispered his name. “Let's sit down.”

“Which is a good point. Why would he surface now?” Ryan followed her to the couch.

“My guess is that he's afraid I'll talk while his father is being hunted,” she said.

“You think he's closing a loop?”

“If I went to the deputy and gave a statement, I doubt it would matter much. But if I went to the media while all this is going on, it could hurt his father,” she said emphatically.

“He's still on the run. Turning himself in would go a long way toward helping him prove that he's innocent. Everything else is just hearsay.” He paused. “You make great points, though. There are those in town who would believe that you're kicking Alcorn while he's down.”

“Charles Alcorn isn't stupid. He has to be hiding somewhere, right? At least until his lawyer can straighten out this mess he's gotten himself into. Beckett might think they can't afford any bad press right now. That's the only thing that makes sense. He must believe I might come forward,” she said.

“Happens all the time when bad news about a person or family surfaces,” Ryan agreed.

“I'm guessing he's trying to protect the integrity of his family name and I'm certain they'll fight this charge. His father is probably out there hiding until this PR nightmare can be cleaned up.” She couldn't hide her disgust.

“Why attack your father?” Ryan asked, rubbing the stubble on his chin.

“To send a direct message to me. I got away from Beckett when he tried to kill me.”

“And he didn't want to get caught with his hand in the cookie jar at the hospital, so he hired someone to do it for him.”

“Then it would just be two accidents in one week. Unlucky family,” she confirmed. “That's what everyone thinks, anyway.”

“We have to go to the sheriff.”

“Except that we have no evidence, remember?” She tapped her finger on the table, still shaky from everything that had happened. “It's my word against his and my background isn't exactly solid.”

“They have to believe you.” Ryan captured her hand in his. “Deputy Barnes is already looking for you. I told him that I'd bring you to the station as soon as I found you.”

“I'll call in my report. I can do that, right?” She ignored the shivers running through her fingers and up her arm from contact.

“I believe so,” he said, and then glanced down at their fingers as he looped them together. “Is this okay?”

“Yeah, it is.” Her fingers tensed, belying her words.

“Being touched bothers you, doesn't it?” he asked.

“I like it when you touch me,” she said a little too quickly. “I mean, sure, it still catches me off guard if I'm not expecting it, but I actually do like it.”

“Then, can I touch you here?” With his free hand, he pointed to her cheek.

She nodded.

He ran the backs of his fingers down the side of her face so tenderly they were like whispers against her skin.

“Can I move a little closer?” he asked.

She nodded.

He slid toward her until the outside of their thighs touched. Heat burned through her, but she tried to suppress it. He was trying to comfort her without scaring her and she appreciated the gesture. It would do neither of them any good for her to overanalyze the situation, or wish for more than light contact.

And yet her heart did wish for more.

It didn't help when she glanced up at him and saw something besides friendship darkening his eyes.

* * *

T
HE
LAST
THING
Ryan wanted to do was scare Lisa. As he moved closer, he felt an almost overwhelming need to touch her. He shouldn't want to be her comfort. And yet she'd trusted him with a secret that she'd kept inside for more than fifteen years.

So much made sense about her past and present behavior to him now. Scars were still fresh with no way to heal them. He couldn't imagine how she could ever trust a man again. That look he'd seen in her eyes, the one that said she never would, made him realize she needed a friend more than ever now.

Yes, a very big part of him wanted to march out the door and arrive in Beckett's yard, unannounced, and then show him just how it felt to be afraid.

With her settled on his chest, his arm around her, he could feel her trembling. If that didn't make a man want justice, nothing would.

Act on it and Ryan would be the one tossed in jail while Beckett enjoyed his freedom. Lisa's family would be left unprotected. She was too frightened to confide in anyone else and if what she said about her father was true, then the Alcorns were far more dangerous than anyone realized. The town was still reeling from the fact that Charles Alcorn might have been involved in the abductions in the first place.

Ryan had personal reason to dislike the family. It was high time others saw the Alcorns in the same light he did.

What's done in darkness always comes to light.

Those bastards needed to pay.

Lisa tilted her head up and he could see an emotion behind her eyes that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Ryan kissed her forehead and refocused.

“We'll figure this out. In the meantime, I want you by my side at all times,” he said. Without evidence, her case would be a hard sell. Not to mention that he'd hate to open her up for public scrutiny. It didn't matter that she was a kindergarten teacher now. Her painful youth would be dug up, chewed on and spit out. She was strong, but no one deserved to be treated like that.

“I don't want to interfere in your life.” She sat up, looking a mixture of exhausted and relieved. “You have a job.”

“It's fine. Taking time off when I want is one of the benefits of owning a business.”

She'd been there through the weekend, so he'd think that he'd get used to her being around. Yet every time she entered a room his body reacted. Her being at his place was right on too many levels and he told himself that it had been far too long since he'd gone on a real date with a woman who held his interest.

Or maybe it was just companionship he missed. If he was being honest, his house had had an empty quality to it before Lisa showed up. He hadn't paid much attention to it before but he was already dreading the day she would leave.

Being with Lisa 24/7 made Ryan realize how lonely he'd been up until now. When this whole ordeal was behind them, it might be time to swing by the animal shelter and pick up man's best friend, he conceded.

Until then, he needed all his attention on this case. He cursed himself for not realizing sooner the depth of what was going on with Lisa. She'd been scared to death at the hospital. She'd checked the door every few seconds. He'd brought her to his home and she immediately made him promise to lock the doors and close and lock all the windows.

“Try to get some rest. We'll leave in the morning.”

Lisa leaned her head against his shoulder and he tried not to think about the citrus shampoo that smelled so good on her. Instead, he focused on the facts so far. While Lisa was healing the rest of the town was on alert to locate Charles Alcorn. The man who was wanted for questioning, believed to be the Mason Ridge Abductor, had disappeared. But where?

Given Alcorn's considerable resources, he could be anywhere. Ryan couldn't rule out the fact that Alcorn might be out of the country by now, too. If Ryan found Charles, would he be able to find Beckett? The idea was worth playing around with.

Whoever had broken into Ryan's house was neither of the two, which meant there was a third party. With Alcorn money, they could hire someone to do their dirty work. And it would be safer at this point, since they couldn't afford to be linked to Lisa.

Knowing this, Ryan figured that his place would be clean of fingerprints.

Therein lied another problem... Ryan knew the Alcorns on sight. But they could hire anyone to attack Lisa.

That meant every stranger from now on was a suspect.

Chapter Eight

Lisa's eyes widened as they approached the grand home in Arkansas early the next morning. The fishing cabin looked more like a five-star resort than a family getaway.

Ryan pulled up to the house and parked on the pad.

Lori came running from around the front of the house, Grayson bouncing on her hip.

“This place is amazing,” Lori said to Ryan. “Thank you for helping us get away.”

“You're welcome. I'm glad you can get some use out of it,” he said in his characteristically reserved tone.

Last night, it would've been too easy to get swept away with emotion. Luckily, they'd both had better sense than to act on the chemistry firing between them.

Instead, she'd fallen asleep in his arms.

A visit with her sister and nephew was just what Lisa needed to regain her bearings. So much had gone on in the past few days that she couldn't begin to process it. Then there were all those intense emotions to deal with when it came to Ryan.

Was she falling for him? Even if she was, what on earth would she do with those emotions? She never let anyone past her walls and even though she felt a certain amount of reciprocation from him, there were lines that friends shouldn't cross. She thought about the kiss in the hospital and how much her blood heated when he'd held her in his arms.

Since then, he'd mostly kissed her on the forehead or top of the head, which screamed
big brother
more than anything else. And yet his lips touching anywhere on her sent a fiery reaction coursing through her, electrifying her.

“Are you okay?” Lori's mouth was twisted with concern as she came closer.

“Yes, of course.” Lisa reached over and hugged her sister, fighting against the pain that movement still caused. Grayson leaned toward her with his arms extended, but she wasn't strong enough to hold him yet. She kissed his forehead instead.

“I'll run out and pick up lunch. There's a great barbecue place up the road. They cook all the meat outdoors. Give you two a chance to catch up,” Ryan said.

Lisa thanked him and followed her sister into the house as he pulled away.

“Mind if we lock the doors?” she asked.

“Since when have you been so paranoid?” Lori asked. “And there's no one around here for miles.”

“It's just—”

Lori held up her hand and made a face. “I'm sorry. That was really crappy. Of course you're still on edge.”

Grayson threw his hands out toward Lisa, frowning when she didn't take him from her sister. He looked as though he was working up to crying.

“Here, let's sit on the floor,” Lisa said, easing down onto the rug in front of the sofa.

The place was as spectacular inside as it was out. A floor-to-ceiling tumbled stone fireplace was the focal point of the space. The plan was open concept, so she could see clearly into all the main rooms. The decor was rustic chic and the kitchen was fitted with all the modern appliances for a gourmet cook, including a five burner stove.

A gorgeous crystal chandelier hung over the center of the living room, with a metal installation circling it.

“I made pancakes this morning,” Lori said proudly.

“You?”

“That kitchen inspires me to cook.”

“Maybe we should see about installing one in your apartment,” Lisa teased.

Lori's smile faded. “How are you
really
?”

Lisa hugged Grayson and handed him one of the big blocks from the basket next to them. He immediately stuffed the corner of the block in his mouth, just as he did everything else. Two of his bottom front teeth had already peeked through and the others were most likely coming soon.

“Better. I guess. I keep thinking about Dad and...”

“I know. I cry myself to sleep every night after putting Grayson down. I can't help it. It's so hard to believe that he's gone.” She wiped a loose tear away, then grabbed a tissue off the coffee table. “Did you know that he was drinking again?”

“No.” How much should Lisa tell her little sister?
Enough to keep both her and Grayson safe
, a little voice said. “In fact, I don't think he was.”

“I'm so glad you said that because I don't, either.” Lori blew her nose. “Sorry, I get emotional just thinking about it. I'm trying to be strong for Grayson. I don't want to confuse him. It's just all so sudden.”

“You're a great mom, Lori. I hope you know that. If Mom were here, she'd say the same thing.”

“Now you're really going to get me all blubbery,” Lori said.

“It's true.”

“So, what's going on between you and Ryan?” Lori changed the subject.

“That question seems out of the blue.”

“Does it?” Lori asked. “I see the way he looks at you. Don't tell me you haven't noticed.”

“Yeah, as a friend. That's how he looks at me. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm a pain in the butt.”

“I doubt that,” Lori said. “Give him a chance. I can't remember the last person you let take care of you.”

“How'd we get on the subject of my personal life?” And when did her little sister get so observant?

“You say that as if you have one.” Lori cracked a smile. “Maybe it's this cabin or looking at pictures of this gorgeous family, but I've been thinking. No one should be alone and that's what we are. Neither one of us is in a relationship. When was your last? Mine?”

“I hate to break it to you, but you already have a man in your life.” Lisa nodded toward Grayson.

“And I love him with all my heart. Believe me, I wouldn't change a thing about having him.”

“I know that.”

“Except the part where he grows up without a father. I thought maybe Dad could fill the void, but he's gone now, too.” Lori wiped away another tear. Raw emotion bubbled under the surface.

Lisa didn't want her sister to break down in front of the baby. She needed to change the subject, but nothing immediately came to mind. “Dad wasn't perfect but there was a lot of good about him. If he was drinking again, and I don't believe he was, then I missed the signs.”

“So did I.”

“You knew them?” Maybe Lori was stronger than Lisa had given her credit for.

“It always started with the little lies. I can't stand liars to this day because of it.” Lori's chin quivered as she held back emotion.

“I always covered for him so you wouldn't know.” Or at least she thought she had. Maybe her baby sister was more perceptive than Lisa realized.

Lori rolled her eyes. “You really think I couldn't see things for myself?”

“I guess not. Why didn't you say anything to me before?”

“You were always working so hard to protect me after Mom died. I didn't want to take that away from you,” Lori said.

Wow. Lisa had completely underestimated her sister.

“It would've been nice if you'd spoken up before. You would've saved me a lot of angst at trying to hide things from you, kid,” Lisa teased.

“And spoil the fun for me? Are you kidding? Playing dumb had its benefits. I mean, who else got served chocolate ice cream in bed when they were sick? Not one of my friends is who.”

Lisa laughed out loud, ignoring how much it hurt.

The back door opened and she let out a scream before she could suppress it.

“Are you okay?” Lori asked, eyeing her sister suspiciously.

“Fine.” Lisa tried to slow her racing heart with a few deep breaths.

“No, you're not.” She glanced down at Grayson, who'd jumped at the loud shriek and was winding up to cry. She immediately picked him up and patted his back to soothe him. “We're not done discussing this. I need to feed him and then he goes down for his nap.”

“I can help,” Lisa offered.

Ryan came over and took the baby from Lori's arms. Both women's jaws fell slack at how easily Grayson took to Ryan.

“This is how it's done, ladies,” Ryan teased.

“Didn't realize we had an expert in our midst,” Lisa shot back. “The least I can do is set out the barbecue. It smells wonderful.”

Lori moved to the cabinets and pulled out three plates.

By the time Lisa set the food out on the table, Ryan had Grayson in his high chair and was feeding him mouthfuls of a green puree.

“Since when did you get so great with babies?” Lisa asked as she piled ribs and brisket on Ryan's plate.

“Since Maribel. I figure if Dylan can take care of a three-year-old on his own, the least I can do is pitch in once in a while.”

Lisa stared at him.

“Okay, I've watched him feed her a few times. Figured it couldn't be that hard if Dylan can do it by himself,” Ryan admitted.

“Well, then I really feel bad, because I'm exhausted,” Lori said. “And I never get him to eat peas. What did you do?”

“Mixed them in applesauce.” Ryan supplied a wry grin as he brought another spoonful to the baby's mouth. “I didn't like the smell of them before, either, big guy.”

Lori laughed almost as hard as Lisa. Her sister was doing an amazing job with Grayson. And there was something about seeing Ryan with her nephew that made Lisa's heart ache.

Her past experiences with men had taught her that feelings could lead her right down the rabbit hole where everyone deceived her.