April stood at the lake’s edge, enjoying dipping her feet into the cool water under a warm sun. It still boggled her that she was lucky enough to be here in front of the extraordinary, pristine beauty of the highest alpine lake on the North American continent. She took a deep breath and just took it in.
The day had been long but amazing. Right now they were between the day and evening events. The barbecue and auction would start soon. Her heart felt full in the very best of ways, and her cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
So when she caught sight of Tae walking across the grass with purpose, and then right into Riggs’s arms, it took her by surprise. So did the longing and desire practically crackling in the air around the two of them, so personal and intimate she had to turn away, running blindly into someone.
“Hey,” Ace said, then cocked his head. “You okay?”
She managed a smile. “Always.”
He craned his neck to see what she’d been looking at and then met her gaze. “You might want to work on your lying skills.”
She gave a little laugh. “Definitely not my forte.”
He shrugged. “Not being able to lie is much preferred to the opposite.”
“You think?”
“I know,” he said. “Not being able to lie is . . . attractive.”
She paused. “Are you flirting with me to take my mind off Tae and Riggs?”
“No. I mean, yes, I’m flirting with you. But not because of Tae or Riggs.”
She took a deeper look at him. His light brown hair was long. Wavy. Messily finger-combed at best. He wore an unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt over a T-shirt advertising some dive bar in the Turks and Caicos, and the loudest, most obnoxiously bright-colored cargo shorts she’d ever seen. He was leanly muscled, emphasis on lean. He had a long scar down the right side of his hairline almost to his jaw, and his right arm was a prosthetic. All of that created an aura that said he was badass to the core and not to be messed with. But confusingly, layered over that was a charisma that drew her in like a moth to a flame.
He smiled, and she felt a reaction low in her belly. It made no sense. Rough and tumble and tough to the bone wasn’t her type. Not to mention she wasn’t on the man train right now. And yet there was something about Ace she couldn’t ignore. Maybe it was his nonchalant air of whatever happens, happens. He was in no rush, for anything, and it was damn appealing.
“You really don’t have to worry about Tae,” he said. “At least not with Riggs. He won’t hurt her. Ever.”
She drew a deep breath and let it out. “I’m pretty good at obsessing about Tae’s life rather than worry about my own life. She hates it, of course, but I was a terrible example for her.”
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
“But I made so many. So, so many. I pick out lemons. That’s my big talent. For all I know you’re a lemon—I can never tell until you pick your jeans up off my bedroom floor and walk out of my life. So I really want to tell Tae what to do and what not to do, but . . .”
“But you’re trying not to obsess.”
She gave him a wry smile, no longer surprised that he just seemed to get her. “Yes.”
“And it sucks.”
Yes.” She looked him over. “You seem to know a whole bunch about having a kid.”
“I do.” He looked out at the lake. “I was married once for about fifteen minutes, a zillion years ago. I’ve got a nine-year-old son I don’t get to see often enough because his mom moved to England for her new husband. And when I do see him, I spend way too much time overcompensating for that. My ex tells me to just be there for him, to not try and have teachable moments, that he’ll make his own mistakes.” He shook his head. “The hardest part is knowing she’s right.”
April’s laugh was wry. “I bet you’re a good dad.”
His eyes met hers. “I try.”
Her throat got a little tight, because she’d often wondered what kind of a dad might Tae’s have ended up being if he’d turned his life around in the military . . . She’d been too scared to find out, and now all she could think was . . . what if she’d been wrong about him? “That’s all anyone can ask,” she said softly as her phone buzzed. “Excuse me a second.” She pulled it out just to make sure Jake or Tae didn’t need her and was startled to see a text from Professor Stone.
April, great news. The Tahoe Tourism Alliance—the company that creates the local tourism magazines—is seeking someone to produce photos of local favorite spots for their fall edition. They’ve picked you. They pay per photo. If they like what you give them, there’s also a shot at an in-house position. Attached is how to connect with your liaison. Best of luck and congratulations, the competition was fierce. Be proud. Professor Stone.
April gasped out loud.
“What?” Ace moved closer, his eyes narrowing as he looked around them, as if searching out any possible danger.
“Oh my God.” She put her hands on Ace’s arms and beamed up at him. “They like me! They really like me!”
He studied her face, and his own softened. “Well, who wouldn’t?”
“You’d be surprised,” she murmured, aware that she’d shifted closer to him and that she was still holding on to his arms, one warm skin and hard sinew, the other cool, hard prosthetic. When she backed up a step, a look crossed his face. Pain? Embarrassment? Realizing he thought she was backing away from him because she’d touched his prosthetic, she once again closed the distance between them and put her hands back on his arms. “I just startled myself because I haven’t touched a man in a while,” she said softly. “Can I keep my hands on your arms for a second? I’m wobbly with adrenaline.”
He stepped closer in silent acquiescence. “What happened?”
“I might’ve just gotten a dream job.”
“Your photography?”
“Yes!” She blinked. “Wait—How do you know?”
He smiled. “I saw your showing downtown. You’re amazing. My favorite was the shot you did of Eagle Bluffs. I wanted to buy it, but it was already sold.”
“I’ll make you another.”
It was fascinating how those silver eyes of his could warm. “Darlin’, you’re not supposed to give away the goods. You need to be celebrating.”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t even know how.”
“I do. It’s a full moon tonight. After the barbecue and auction, let me take you up to Eagle Bluffs. We can take a mental picture, with us in the shot this time.”
“It took me an hour and a half to hike up there.”
“Then we’ll need to backpack in food for a midnight picnic to keep up our strength.”
She laughed. How long had it been since she’d done something like that? Or maybe the real question was, how long had it been since she’d felt this kind of a spark, one that came from conversation and common ground, not from just a need to scratch an itch? Too long. “But . . .”
“What?”
“Maybe you’re a lemon.”
He nodded. “Maybe. But maybe you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for. Maybe you could go slow and see what happens.”
“Slow,” she repeated. “That would be new . . .”
He smiled but didn’t try to influence her decision one way or the other.
It was maybe the nicest thing a man had ever done for her. Her phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Tae, requesting assistance. She looked up and discovered Tae was no longer standing on the beach in Riggs’s arms.
“You gotta go,” Ace guessed.
“I do. Tae needs my help.”
He nodded.
“Ace.”
He met her gaze, his own carefully blank.
“I’ll meet you after the event,” she said softly.
He looked down at her hand, now holding on to his, then back up at her face.
She smiled. “Don’t stand me up.”
He laughed softly as she walked away. She headed across the grass toward Tae.
“Hey,” her daughter said the minute April got within hearing range. “So I don’t want to hear about—”
“Riggs is your own business.” And April was going to try very hard to actually believe that.
“Oh.” Tae blinked. “Um, thank you?”
April stared at her, and then let out a breath. “Okay, so you didn’t call me over here to talk about kissing Riggs in front of God and everyone.”
“Uh . . . no. I was really hoping to skip that convo. I was going to say I screwed up and I need a few more badges for some guests who are coming just for the auction and was hoping you had extra.”
“Oh. Well, of course. I’ve got everything I need in my car. Come with?”
Tae held back and looked at her.
“Don’t worry. Still not going to bug you about Riggs.”
Tae got into gear and followed April to the lot. “Did you just . . . skip?”
“Yes.” April laughed. She couldn’t slow down. She felt so excited.
“Mom, what’s up? You’re practically running, which you won’t even do to catch the ice cream truck.”
April stopped at her car and turned to Tae, unable to keep the smile in. “I’ve maybe got another job lined up.”
“Mom.” Tae’s face fell. “You no longer have to work multiple jobs. We’re both keeping our heads above water these days. If you’re short on money, I’ve got a small savings going, and—”
“No, this isn’t a full-time job, it’s a photography job!”
Tae gasped, knowing exactly what this would mean. “Tell me everything.”
“My professor got me a gig with the Tahoe Tourism Alliance to take pics of some local hot spots. It could turn into a permanent, in-house position. They pay per picture, but we both know I’d do it for free because . . . they like me! They really like me!”
“But . . . you’re not going to do it for free, right?”
April laughed out loud. “Nope!”
They grabbed each other and screamed and jumped up and down. Then got a hold of themselves when a family hustled away from them.
“This is just the beginning for you, Mom,” Tae said, her eyes shiny with emotion. “I’m so proud of you.”
April cupped her girl’s face. “Thanks for believing in me.”
“Always.”
With that single word spreading warmth and joy in her heart, April got the extra passes and walked back into the park with Tae. She was doing what she loved, she and Tae were in the best place of their lives, and she had just made a new friend who felt like an old friend . . . which was the very best kind.
She was on cloud nine and planned to stay there forever.
MANNING THE BARBECUE, Riggs took a moment to look around and soak up the day. It’d gone amazingly well, and he felt something stir in his chest for what they’d accomplished. Adrenaline HQ was doing something amazing here, giving back to people who could only dream about having days like this. He felt exhilarated, and something else too. Like he was a part of something that fulfilled him in a way he couldn’t remember ever feeling.
His gaze settled on Tae, who’d worked her ass off all day, doing whatever had been needed, and was still working. One of her helpers said something that made her laugh, and she hugged them. Then someone tapped her on the shoulder.
Jordy.
Tae turned and hugged him, making him laugh a little, like maybe his sense of humor was rusty.
His little sister came out from behind him, smiling up at Tae shyly, and she hugged her too, whispering something in Sarah’s ear that made her giggle.
Then Tae grabbed two hot dogs from the platter Riggs had just brought to the picnic tables, offering them to the kids. Both were snatched with a quick smile and inhaled in a blink.
Riggs heard Tae laugh again, and it warmed him in a way nothing else ever had. At some point between high school and now, she’d learned what he hadn’t—to open up, to share herself, her true self. It was humbling as hell. He looked around, really looked, taking in the lake shimmering so stunningly blue it almost hurt, dotted with whitecaps and lit up from the sun slowly making its way down for the evening. He took a deep breath of air filled with pine and the unique scent of Lake Tahoe and realized something else surprising.
Being back here for a summer, for the first time since going into the military, he’d been prepared to hate it.
But he didn’t.
In fact, without the weight of his shitty growing-up years, and his dad fucking things up, it kinda felt like home. His bright spot. Which was a sensation he hadn’t had . . . ever. But it was true. All the best parts of home were here, the worst parts having moved on.
He wondered what would happen if he didn’t leave. Because maybe he had something of value to add here. To Jake’s life. To Tae’s.
To his own.
Maybe his value didn’t have to come from work as he’d always believed.
Jake came up beside him and handed him a beer.
Riggs took it, then held it out. Jake knocked his bottle to it in a silent toast. They drank, and Riggs’s gaze drifted back to Tae.
“You haven’t slept in your own bed for the past week,” Jake said quietly, no rancor.
Technically Riggs hadn’t been sleeping much in Tae’s bed either. They’d done a lot of things, but sleep hadn’t been one of them.
“Seems like it’s the real deal with her.”
Riggs looked over in surprise. “Does that mean we’re done fighting?”
“I’d like to be.” Jake studied the water. “Carolyn wanted me to tell you that she hopes you know you could stay if you wanted.”
“I’m already staying with you.”
“I meant if you decided not to ditch us for D.C.”
Riggs looked at him. “I’m not ditching you. It’s for a job, a good one.”
Jake turned his head and met his gaze. “Are you going to tell me you haven’t considered it?”
“Considered what, giving up my dream career?” he asked, as if he hadn’t just been thinking that very thing.
“Yes,” Jake said. “Stick around instead and take on the real dream career, side by side with me as a family. A real one.”
The look of yearning in his brother’s gaze made his chest tight. “And what would that really look like? Because you don’t need my help running this thing, you’re doing just fine on your own.”
“Just because I don’t need help doesn’t mean I don’t want it,” Jake said. “Besides, you’re the one who needs help.”
Riggs rolled his eyes, partly to cover the unexpected emotion clogging his throat from hearing Jake say he wanted him to stay.
Never in a million years had he ever thought Jake would ask.
Or that Riggs would want to do just that—stay. “I made a verbal commitment to the D.C. job. I was pulled for it out of more than five thousand worthy candidates. I can’t just walk away from it.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
Riggs let out a long breath. “Both, I suppose. But it doesn’t mean I don’t think about it.”
Jake nodded. “I suppose that’s all I can ask. But only an idiot would turn this life down for the intense, life-consuming job you’ll be taking instead.”
Riggs opened his mouth, but Carolyn beat him to the punch. Coming up behind them, she wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “I’m sure you were about to say something super supportive about your brother’s choices. Yeah?”
No fool, Jake nodded. “Absolutely.”
Riggs snickered, and she leveled him with the same look. “And you were going to say something sweet and kind back to your brother, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Carolyn smiled and kissed Riggs too. “Look at us. Getting along.”
“Babe, you get along with everyone,” Jake said.
“Duh. I was talking about the two of you. Let me sweeten the pot. Continue to be good and get along and I’ll make more of that sourdough bread you inhale the minute it comes out of the oven.”
“A bribe?” Jake asked, sounding amused. “Of bread?”
“Well, for you, the prize would be more rewarding.”
Jake laughed the laugh of a man in love. It looked good on him.
Tae was waving at them. “Need help getting the auction started,” she called out.
It was all hands on deck as they switched gears from barbecue to auction. Riggs had been to several car auctions in his day. All extremely serious.
But this was no ordinary auction. Organized and run by Tae, it went fast, ran smoothly, and was full of laughter and good times.
She’d hired her neighbor Hagrid as the auctioneer, and the badass biker had come dressed in his leathers and holding a gavel, which he slammed down every time someone won an item. He talked superfast, like a professional auctioneer would, in that singsong chant that had people jumping up and down as they bid, the mood loud and jovial.
Items like buckets of wine, golf passes, ski passes, and Tahoe hotel stays went like hotcakes. When Hagrid paused, looking over his list for the next auction item, and then chuckled in his low bass, Riggs knew.
He was up.
“Folks, you don’t want to miss this one. Adrenaline HQ’s own Riggs Copeland is auctioning himself off for an evening of fun, including but not limited to dinner . . .” Hagrid waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Everyone laughed.
Riggs wondered how the hell he’d gotten talked into this.
“Opening bid is fifty bucks,” Hagrid said, and at least twenty people jumped to their feet and started waving their bidding paddle.
Hagrid grinned and said, “Wouldn’t mind bidding myself if it wasn’t against the rules,” and then began his singsong chant of managing the bids. It was fast and furious, and Riggs looked at the lake instead of watching the process.
Jake, sitting next to him, was laughing his fool ass off as he bid.
“Two hundred!” his stupid brother yelled.
“What the hell are you doing?” Riggs hissed.
“Bidding on you for Carolyn. She wants to go out to that new froufrou restaurant in south shore, and you know I hate froufrou. I figure if I win you, you can take her.”
Riggs had slunk down in his seat, but he choked when he heard a female voice yell, “Five hundred dollars.”
He knew that voice. Stunned, he sat up and whipped his head around to find, yep, Tae standing in the back, waving her auction paddle.
“Sold,” Hagrid yelled. “For five hundred dollars! Honey, make sure you get your money’s worth out of him!”
“Don’t worry, I will!” And then she winked at Riggs. Winked.
The auction continued on, as if his heart hadn’t stopped. But the rest was a blur for him. Afterward, everyone headed out for the night. They’d all come back in the morning for day two, but for now, they all scattered. Many of their guests were in nearby hotels or rented homes, others camped—whatever their pleasure.
Riggs’s pleasure was tied up in the woman who was walking toward him, looking like a woman on a mission. A woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it.
The epiphany hit him in the face. Forever now, his future, and where that future would take place, felt . . . murky. But his future wasn’t a place at all.
It was a person.
Tae.
She smiled up at him, looking . . . well, exhausted. But happy and beautiful, and a whole lot like everything he’d ever wanted. “You’ve got to be done in,” he murmured, pulling her into his side. “Want me to take you home?”
“Take me? Yes. But not home.”
He looked into her smiling eyes. “You have a plan.”
“Oh, I’ve got quite the plan, don’t you worry. Come with?”
He’d follow her anywhere. Right off a cliff to his certain death. Which might be easier to do than admit that his heart 100 percent belonged to her. She was letting him in, and it was the most amazing gift he’d ever received, even as he knew he didn’t deserve it.
“Follow me,” she said.
“Uh-oh.” He smiled. “Am I in trouble?”
Her return smile said yes, he was most definitely in trouble, the very best kind of trouble there was. So he followed her to . . .
His truck?
In the back was a sleeping bag, a blanket, a tarp, an ice chest, a few grocery bags, and a duffel bag. “What’s this?” he asked.
“I’m kidnapping you. But I sort of need your truck to do it.”
Amused, he pulled his keys from his pocket. “You want me to drive to my own kidnapping?”
“I mean I could drive, but you remember that old Chevy I used to drive in high school? I took out our mailbox.”
“That’s not so bad.”
“Three times.”
He laughed. “Okay, so I’m definitely driving.” He got behind the wheel and looked at her. “Where to?”
“North.”
He slid her a glance. “Hidden Falls?”
“Do you need to call and check in with Jake?” she asked instead of answering. “Cuz you’re not going to be home by curfew.”
“Naughty,” he said. “I like it. And no, I don’t need to call Jake. What about your mom?”
“She went off with that marine friend of yours.”
“Ace?” he asked in surprise.
“Yeah.” She looked at him. “Is that a problem? He’s an okay guy, right?”
“He’s a great guy. But he’s not on the people train right now.”
“Well, apparently he bought a one-way ticket to April-ville for the night. And I definitely don’t want to talk about my mom right now.”
He stole another look at her, curious. “What do you want to talk about?”
She unzipped her sweatshirt to reveal an athletic-type tank top with thin crisscrossed straps over her chest and back, leaving a lot of smooth, bare skin.
Only two of his wheels hit the dirt meridian. He was proud of that. “Jesus, Tae.”
“Turn right.”
He turned right. The road wound along for about five miles until it turned into a dirt fire road.
“Right at the second fire road,” she murmured.
He slid her a glance, catching her staring at him by the ambient light from the dashboard. There were no other lights anywhere. He didn’t need any because he knew exactly where they were going.
Back to the spot where they’d gone their first night together, all those years ago now.