Kylee opened her eyes to the sun streaming in the window. Fisher lay at her side, his arm and leg draped across her and holding her in place. She smiled, too happy to move. She’d spent the night but there hadn’t been much sleeping.
“You awake?” His voice was muffled against her shoulder.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Are you?”
He chuckled. “I’m not sure. I’m pretty comfortable.”
She hugged the arm he had wrapped around her.
“But I smell pancakes,” he said. “And bacon.”
She froze. “You do?”
He nodded against her shoulder. “Probably Archer.”
“Archer?” she repeated.
He looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head.
He grinned. “You embarrassed?”
She grinned back. “No...maybe... I don’t know.” Her stomach growled. “But I am hungry.”
“You were the one that kept saying you weren’t hungry,” he argued.
“I wasn’t last night. But I’m starving now.”
He stretched, shifting his weight off her. “Let’s go eat.”
She rolled onto her stomach to watch him. She’d been amazed at how quickly her inhibitions had gone out the window. She was just as fascinated by his body as he was with hers. Every ridge and crease of his abdomen, the taper of his hips, the broad expanse of his chest...she liked looking at him—and the effect looking at him had upon her.
She headed for the shower, trying not to giggle or squeal when he climbed in beside her. He washed her hair, scrubbed her back and had a little too much fun with the washcloth. He tossed her one of his shirts and a pair of drawstring shorts. They were both too big, but they were clean.
He showed her around. The stairs led into a large room lined with books and family photos as well as a large stone fireplace and desk. Fisher referred to it as his office. On the other side of the room were two more bedrooms and another guest bath.
The best part of the space was the open wall. It gave the office the look and feel of a loft, and allowed them to peer down into the living room below.
She followed Fisher down the stairs and slammed into his back.
“Morning, everyone.”
Everyone? Should she run back upstairs? There was no way she’d get there undiscovered.
“Morning,” Archer said. “I made breakfast.”
“You picked a hell of a day to sleep in,” another voice joined in. “I’d like to get this over with. I don’t like leaving Annabeth alone all that long.”
Annabeth. Kylee remembered her. Sweet, pretty, very pregnant. Chances were this was Ryder.
“She’s probably grateful for the break,” another voice said. Probably Hunter.
She sucked in a deep breath. Looked like she was going to be having breakfast with the whole Boone family.
“Would have been nice if someone let me know what was happening,” Fisher said.
“I did,” Archer argued. “I sent you a text.”
Fisher sighed.
“Eat,” Archer continued. “The water pipe isn’t going to fix itself.”
“Coffee’s in the kitchen,” someone said.
Fisher turned, giving his head the slightest shake before he asked her, “You want some coffee?”
She nodded.
“Kitchen’s this way,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her after him.
“You’re out of creamer,” Renata said as Fisher came into the kitchen. And then she saw Kylee. “Well, good morning.” She was all smiles. “I’m guessing you didn’t get Archer’s text?”
Kylee accepted the mug Fisher offered her. She knew Fisher’s brothers were staring at her, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Except be absolutely delighted that finding a woman with Fisher was an uncommon occurrence.
There was a skillet of eggs, a tower of tortillas, another skillet with potatoes, and a mountain of bacon and sausage on a plate. Her stomach grumbled again. When was the last time she’d eaten?
“Can I do anything?” Kylee asked.
“No,” Archer answered. “There might be enough for you, if you’re hungry.”
Fisher smacked him on the back of the head. “She’s my guest, Archer, so try to be nice.” He handed her a plate. “Help yourself, Kylee.”
She took it, warming at the affection on his face. “Thank you.”
He winked at her.
“You two are a little too chipper this morning,” Ryder said. “I need more coffee.”
Kylee made her plate, went around to the other side of the bar and sat on the last bar stool. She watched the brothers serve themselves, shoving and pushing and acting like kids.
“I don’t think they ever grow up.” Renata sat beside her. “Nice to see you.”
Kylee smiled.
“Shawn had a good time last night,” Hunter said, eating his breakfast taco while he leaned against the counter. “He taught Eli how to play poker.”
Kylee’s smile dimmed. “He did? He shouldn’t—”
“We played for gummy bears and he won.” Hunter smiled. “The gummy bears were Jo’s idea so don’t blame me if his stomach hurts. I’m pretty sure he and Eli ate them all.”
She laughed, knowing her little brother was a card shark. “Thank you,” Kylee said.
“He’s a good kid.” Hunter nodded. “He said you raised him so you get the credit for that. Jo can bring him home around eleven if you want.”
“Thanks.” She felt Fisher at her back and glanced up at him.
“Get enough?” he asked.
She nodded. “Sounds like you’ve got some work to do. I should go anyway. It’s laundry day.” She regretted it as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want to go home. She wanted to stay here, with Fisher...
“Might want to change first,” Fisher said in her ear. “Take my truck. When you come back we could take Shawn for a ride, explore the ranch a little?”
She nodded. “I’d like that.”
Ten minutes later the kitchen was clean and the Boones were filing out his front door, waving their goodbyes. Fisher waited until they were alone before he wrapped his arms around her. She stepped closer, slid her arms around his waist and her hands beneath his shirt. “I’m sorry I have to run out on you this morning.”
“Me, too,” she admitted.
He kissed her, then again, his lips lingering until she opened for him. He groaned, crushing her against him. He pressed his keys into her hand as he broke away from her. “I’ll make you and Shawn dinner tonight,” he promised.
She smiled. “Okay.”
He paused just inside the door. “I’m glad I’m coming home to you.” And then he was gone.
Kylee stared at the door, smiling. His words warmed her from the inside. And even though he’d just left, she couldn’t wait for them to be together again.
She poked around, exploring the house while she enjoyed a second cup of coffee. There was another room downstairs. It looked like an office, but there was a pullout bed in the couch that was in use. Probably where Archer was sleeping.
She headed back upstairs and made the bed, smoothing the blankets and fluffing the pillows. His was soft, holding his scent. She buried her nose, breathing him in deeply. When the pillow was back in its place, she folded up her clothes and headed out to Fisher’s truck. It was a big truck, so she drove carefully down the winding gravel road toward the main entrance of the ranch.
She’d never felt this way—hopeful, happy, looking forward to the future. In the last few months her life had been turned upside down. And it was good. The town, the apartment, the jobs at the bar and the vet school, and the people. And, of course, Fisher.
She loved him.
It was a risk, she knew that. But it was a risk she was willing to take. When they were together, she believed everything was going to be okay. Maybe she was fooling herself, but she was going to see this through to the end.
She stopped at the grocery store, picking up a few odds and ends before heading home.
She parked Fisher’s truck behind Shots and went into the apartment. She changed, hugging Fisher’s shirt close and breathing in his scent again. He’d want it back...but she wasn’t going to give it to him until he asked. Instead, she tucked it into a drawer in the dresser.
It was Saturday—laundry day. After Shawn got home, they could go to the Laundromat. She stripped the sheets off the bed, using one of the pillowcases as the laundry bag. Once she’d tossed her clothes inside, she pulled open the closet. As small as it was, she was surprised at the mess inside. She knelt, pulling all the clothes out and tossing them onto the couch. She didn’t know what was clean and what was dirty. But as she threw a pair of jeans onto the couch, something slid from the pocket and hit the floor.
She picked it up, turning over the oblong metal case. She lifted the lid. It was some sort of video game. She didn’t remember seeing it before. She tucked it aside and pulled the sheets off Shawn’s cot. A gold bracelet, two watches and a wallet fell onto the floor.
She knelt, picking up the jewelry. She shouldn’t panic, not yet. She pulled everything out of the closet, searched every pair of pants and every pocket, anyplace he might have stashed something. She found a wad of cash in one sock. On the shelf in the closet were his comic books and a sketch pad...and something else.
She carried the cell phone from the closet and sat on the couch. She didn’t know which was worse, her disappointment or her anger. She was angry at him, yes, but she was also angry with herself. She should have been paying closer attention to him, watching out for this. He’d been programmed for this. Jesse had taught him that a big score made him a real man.
And no matter how many times she’d tried to undo the damage Jesse had done, she couldn’t. Jesse was the cool one, the one everyone liked, the one everyone wanted to be. At least, in their old world. Shawn might like Fisher and the Boones and Stonewall Crossing, but they hadn’t been in Stonewall Crossing long enough for those habits to just go away. If she was being honest with herself, she needed to accept that they might not go away without help.
She stared at the phone, touching the screen to see if it was locked. Maybe she could return it to the owner.
But the call list on the phone popped up and she almost dropped the phone.
Shawn had called Jesse? Not once, but several times?
She froze, all too familiar with the cold that seeped into her bones. She was still sitting there when Shawn walked through the door.
“What’s wrong?” Shawn asked.
She looked at him, holding up the phone.
He frowned. “That’s mine.”
“It is?” she asked. “You bought this? You’re paying for service?”
“I found it,” he said.
“Where?”
“In the men’s restroom,” he answered.
“Which men’s restroom?”
“Why does it matter? If they wanted the phone, they shouldn’t have left it lying around.” She’d heard those words before—from Jesse.
“And the jewelry? The money?” she asked. “The video game?”
“Eli gave the video game to me,” he said. “You can call and ask him.”
“I will,” she assured him. “What about the jewelry and the money? Shawn, you know this stuff isn’t yours. You know it’s wrong, it’s illegal to take things that don’t belong to you.”
He shrugged. “You never got worked up about it before.”
“I didn’t, you’re right.” She shook her head. “And you know why. We didn’t have a choice then. And I let you do things I should never, ever have let you do. I was scared, I guess. He hurt me, Shawn, he tried to hurt you, too. Don’t you remember that?” She paused, swallowing the panic that threatened to choke her. “Why would you call him? Do you miss it?”
He stared at her, his face set.
“You’ve got to talk to me, Shawn,” she pleaded. “I thought you were happy here. What about the horses and camp? Fisher and Eli and Cutter?”
“I am.” Shawn shrugged. “But it feels wrong. I feel lazy not helping you get money—like you are doing all the work. You work so hard but you don’t make much, you know? I wanted to help.” There was anger on his face. “Jesse always gave me things to do, to help out.”
“Jesse gave you things to do to make him money.” She stood. “You’re twelve. You have every right to enjoy being a kid. I want you to. That’s what you’re supposed to do. Not this.” She held up the phone. “This has to stop.” She swallowed, the fear creeping in on her. “Did you tell him where we are?”
Shawn’s expression fell then. He nodded.
She sat on the couch, covering her face with her hands. No. No. This couldn’t be happening. If he was coming to Stonewall Crossing, they had no choice. She couldn’t go back. And she couldn’t bear to have Jesse here—to have everything good and special about Stonewall Crossing tainted. “Get your things together,” she murmured.
“Kylee, no,” he argued. “I don’t want to go.”
“I don’t, either, Shawn. But I don’t want Jesse to hurt anyone here—to get even with me.” Too many awful images filled her mind. She’d let herself care about people here. And put them in danger.
“He just wants us back,” Shawn said. “I told him we weren’t coming back.”
She glanced at Shawn then. “What did he say?”
Shawn shook his head.
“Shawn?”
“He said he’d find us when he wanted to.”
She stood. “We’re taking all these things back, Shawn. All of them. Including Eli’s game.”
He nodded. “Are you mad?”
She stared at her little brother. “I’m sad, Shawn. I understand why you did this but...but I can’t get you out of trouble with the law or protect you when you break the law. Do you understand? The way we lived was bad, Shawn. You know that, don’t you?” She waited for his nod. “If it hadn’t been for Jesse...” She shook her head. “I wish I’d gotten you out of there earlier. I wish you didn’t know and do and see all of...that. I’m sorry, Shawn, for putting you through that. But you have to know, after being here, that what we did was wrong?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“Hurry up. I want to wash everything before we leave.” She filled both pillowcases with clothes.
“But I don’t want to go,” Shawn repeated.
“I don’t, either,” Kylee said, blinking back the tears that stung her eyes. “I don’t, either.” She sniffed, pressing a kiss to her brother’s forehead and wishing with all her heart she could erase every wonderful second with Fisher from her mind.
* * *
“WHAT’S UP?” FISHER took the phone Hunter offered him.
“Hey, Fisher, have you talked to Kylee recently?” Josie asked.
“Not since this morning,” he answered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“She and Shawn just left. Shawn took a few of Eli’s games without Eli knowing it, and Kylee was making him return them.”
Fisher sighed. “I’m sure they were both pretty embarrassed.”
“They were. I told them it wasn’t a big deal but I could tell it was eating Shawn up. It kills me what they’ve been through.” She paused. “It’s just, she said they were leaving town and—”
“What?”
“She said something had come up and they had to go. I thought I should tell you since I know, we all know, you care about her,” she said.
“Thanks.” He thrust the phone at Hunter, his heart pounding a mile a minute. “I need your keys.”
Hunter handed them over without question. He could feel the weight of his family’s eyes on him but couldn’t stop to explain. He had to get to her before she left. Because if she left he knew she’d make it impossible for him to find her.
“We’re almost done,” Archer called out.
“You’ll have to finish without me,” he called out, then climbed into Hunter’s truck and flew down the road.
What had happened? On the drive from the ranch to town, he sifted through their conversation. She’d said they were on their own—they had no place to go. So why were they leaving now? Was Kylee ashamed because of what Shawn had done? It wasn’t right, but it was Shawn’s normal. It would probably take some time for Shawn to forget something he’d been trained to do. It was something they’d have to work on.
They. As a team. A family. Because that’s what you did when you loved someone. And, dammit, he knew she loved him. Like he loved her. He parked in front of Shots, pushed through the doors, and headed down the hall to the small apartment.
He knocked.
“Hey, Fisher.” Shawn opened the door, wearing a hangdog expression.
“Hey, Shawn.” Fisher stepped inside, being as calm as possible. The sight of the place, stripped down and cold, turned his stomach to lead. Two large backpacks and one beaten-up suitcase sat packed and on the counter. It was hard to breathe. “Where’s Kylee?” He needed to see her, needed to understand what was happening. He’d fix it so they’d never have to leave.
“She’s talking to Cutter,” he answered.
“You going somewhere?” he asked, panic thickening his tongue.
Shawn nodded.
“Where?” he asked.
The boy shrugged.
“What’s going on, Shawn? Things okay?” he didn’t mean to interrogate Shawn, but he needed answers—now.
“I messed up,” he admitted.
Fisher looked down at Shawn, the hurt and anger in the boy’s words begging for Fisher’s undivided attention. He drew in a deep breath and laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “What happened, Shawn? Whatever it is, we can figure this out.”
Shawn slowly nodded. “I took some things. Jesse told me the best way to make easy money was to find things and sell them to pawnshops. But no one will buy the stuff. I’m too young to sell anything so I’ve been hiding it all.”
Fisher listened carefully, watching the boy’s frustration as he spoke.
“I tried to get Jesse to sell it for me, but he wouldn’t—said it was my problem.” Shawn frowned.
Fisher’s blood ran cold. Shawn had talked to Jesse. No wonder Kylee was panicking. “You talked to Jesse? When?”
“Last week.” Shawn’s eyes filled with tears. “Kylee found the stuff and made me take it all back but she’s still upset.”
He could understand why Kylee would be upset. It was a small town and people talked. But that wasn’t a solid reason for them to go. But Jesse was—or so Kylee would think. He was the only thing that still scared Kylee. And when she was scared, she ran.
“I’ve always helped out. I know it was wrong and I feel bad about it but... Kylee’s working two jobs and I’m...just drawing and riding horses. It’s not fair to her.” Shawn’s voice broke. “I don’t want to go, Fisher.”
“Shawn,” Kylee said firmly.
He turned, taking in her drawn expression. She looked pale—remote.
“You’re the kid. I’m the adult.” She brushed past Fisher.
“We don’t have to go,” Shawn argued.
“We do.” Kylee sounded exhausted.
“Why?” Fisher’s impatience got the better of him. He hadn’t meant to be so loud or gruff, but dammit, there was no way he was going to let them go if he could stop it. “Where are you going and why?”
“Here.” She handed him his truck keys, still avoiding his gaze.
He gently took hold of her wrist. “Kylee, look at me. Look at me and tell me what you’re thinking. Please.”
She shook her head.
Shawn spoke up. “Jesse knows where we are.”
“I figured as much.” Fisher nodded. “So?”
That made Kylee look at him. “So?”
“Let him come.” Fisher slid his hand up her arm and beneath her hair to her neck. “He’s not going to hurt you. Not here. I won’t let him.”
She stared at him, her blue eyes full of pain. She shrugged away from his touch. “I can’t do that to you, Fisher. I can’t do...this. Any of this...”
Her words hung in the silence. She was upset. So he needed to calm her down. “Shawn said he talked to Jesse a week ago.” He stood, fighting the urge to reach for her. “He’s not going to come after you. He has no power here. It doesn’t make sense. You two weren’t the only ones working for him, were you? Why come all this way for you two?”
Part of him wished he was wrong—that Jesse would show up. It’d feel good to beat the man senseless...but it wouldn’t change the way Shawn or Kylee felt. Or Kylee’s urge to run. And, right now, that’s what mattered.
She shook her head. “Jesse doesn’t do things that make sense. He’s unpredictable. And dangerous. If we’re gone, he won’t stay...”
“Kylee,” he whispered. The sound of her name was rough, full of the pain tearing through him.
“I don’t want your family—or you—hurt because of my mistakes.” She glanced at her brother. “Shawn and I can take care of ourselves.”
“Can’t we stay, Kylee?” Shawn’s voice broke. “I’m sorry. I thought he’d help me.” Shawn added, “But he said I wasn’t his problem anymore.”
“You’re not a problem.” Kylee hugged Shawn. “You’re an amazing young man with a big heart. You’re a good person. He’s... He is not. Please don’t listen to him.”
“Kylee’s right,” Fisher agreed, his mind racing. He looked at Kylee, waiting for her to look at him. When she did, he wasn’t expecting to see tears. He reached up, wiping them away. “Don’t go.” It was a plea and an order. He couldn’t make her stay, no matter how much he wanted to. His only choice was to lay it all out there. “You are my family. You and Shawn. I love you both. I’m not going to let you go without a fight.”
She shook her head again. “This isn’t your fight.”
“Maybe I want it to be,” he said softly, hoping she’d let him in. Where he belonged.
“You don’t understand,” she said.
“You’re right, I don’t. But I want to.” His gaze searched hers, giving rise to a glimmer of hope. He needed more time, to help her and Shawn come up with the best possible options.
She stared at him, her blue eyes boring into his. “I want you to go,” she said, so softly he thought he’d misheard. She turned away to pick up her backpack. “Come on, Shawn, we need to get out of here.” Fisher had never felt such panic.
“But next week...” Shawn stopped, his lips pressed together.
But, even as his heart was breaking, Fisher understood. “Camp.” Next week was what Shawn had been waiting for. “Starts Monday—”
“I don’t have to go to camp,” Shawn said, his voice dull and resigned. He picked up his backpack, sniffing softly. “This is my fault anyway.”
“Shawn...” She sat on the couch, covering her face with her hands. “Dammit.”
Fisher didn’t know what to do. There had to be a way to give them what they wanted—without losing them. But his mind was blank, still processing the last ten minutes and trying to make sense of what had happened. All he could do was be there. “What do you need?” he asked.
Kylee glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with tears. “I’ve got this, Fisher. We’ll be fine. You...you can go.”
That was the one thing he couldn’t do. Leave her? Shawn? Now? “I can’t,” he forced the words out.
There was a knock on the door then, startling them all. Fisher saw the way they jumped, how wide-eyed they were as they stared at the door. And it made his blood boil. How could he convince them he’d protect them? How could he explain that he would never let anyone or anything hurt—control them—again?
“Fisher?” It was Renata. “Kylee? Sorry to break up the snuggle fest.”
Fisher saw the siblings exchange a look, saw the instant easing of Kylee’s posture and expression. Instead of guarded and tense, Kylee looked defeated. And it tore at his heart.
Fisher opened the door to find his sister, smiling broadly, completely unaware that his heart was breaking and his world was falling apart.
“I talked Dad into bowling and thought you three might want to go...” Her voice faded and her smile dimmed. She paused, staring long and hard at him, Kylee and then Shawn. She stepped inside, sliding a reassuring arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Looks like you all could use some cheering up. And don’t tell me it’s nothing or to mind my own business, Fisher, because you know that’s not going to happen. What’s going on and how do we fix it?”