Chapter Eight

Maggie walked down the staircase that evening, her fingers trailing along the old wood banister, glossy with varnish yet rough at the same time. There was probably a story behind each knick and scratch, and the history geek in her was endlessly fascinated by this.

Candi waited on the first floor, wearing a long coat with a faux-rabbit-fur collar. Her cheeks were flushed neon pink.

“It’s colder than a witch’s tit in a brass bra out there.”

Maggie snickered, surprised to find how glad she was to see her new friend.

“I heard you had some trouble last night,” Candi said, putting an easy arm around Maggie. “And it looks like it kicked your ass, too.”

Maggie moved her hair carefully over the cut.

“It’s not that bad, sweetie,” Candi said. “I’ve had boyfriends give me worse.”

They walked into the dining room, where Ara met them wearing a red-checked apron that said Kiss The Cook!

“Well, there they are!” She gave Candi a quick hug, before fussing over Maggie. “I was worried about you. Feeling any better?”

Maggie was ashamed for having been so rude to Ara before, who practically oozed hospitality like a warm peach cobbler.

“Much, thanks for asking. And thank you for taking such good care of me last night.”

“I’m just glad you weren’t hurt any worse. Please,” she said, motioning toward the table, “sit.”

“Where are the guys?” Candi asked.

“I haven’t heard from Zane yet. I’m assuming he’ll be here. That boy hasn’t missed a meal in his life. Koda’s on his way. He’s running late with some sort of sheriff’s business.”

She disappeared into the kitchen and as if on cue, Koda walked in. It was the first time Maggie had seen him in civilian clothes. He looked over and she remembered to smile, thank God. Worn, sexy Levis hung loose on his hips. His blue-plaid shirt was open at the throat, showcasing smooth, dark skin and a corded, muscular neck. His hands were buried in his pockets and his broad shoulders were hunched a little, masking his considerable height. Maggie stared up at him.

Candi elbowed her in the ribs.

“Uh…hi. Hi,” she said.

Koda leaned over to kiss Candi’s cheek, eyeing Maggie over the bouffant strawberry-blond hair. “Hi, hi to you, too.”

Maggie’s face burned. She’d always been painfully aware of her slender body, her plain looks. But never in her life had she been more self-conscious than around boys in high school. She had to remind herself that she wasn’t that girl anymore. She was a grown woman who’d filled out since those awkward teenage years. (Not a lot, but she’d take what she could get.) She was smart and sassy. Full of moxie, that was what her brothers said. Aimee had always said she was full of shit.

Remembering her friend, and how she probably would have taken great delight in Maggie’s nervousness around Koda Wolfe, Maggie pushed her shoulders back.

None of this was lost on Candi, however, who looked amused.

From inside the kitchen, Ara banged around, pots and pans jostling together in a cacophony of dinnertime sounds. She sang a low tune, the words of which Maggie couldn’t hear. The warm, savory smell of meat cooking filled her senses and her stomach growled in response.

“How’re you feeling, Maggie?” Koda asked, his eyes settling on the cut at her hairline.

“Just fine, thank you.”

“I was hoping you’d come to your senses today.”

“If that means giving up on looking for Aimee, sorry. No way.”

“Well, obviously I use the word ‘senses’ loosely.”

She gave him a dirty look.

“Guys,” Candi said. “Chill out.”

Maggie sat stiff in her chair. “Tell him. He’s the one trying to bully me into leaving.”

“And she’s the one who’s going to get herself killed,” Koda snapped back.

“Like you care,” Maggie said.

“I do care. You getting killed means more paperwork for me.”

“Koda,” Candi cried.

“You’re unbelievable,” Maggie said.

“You’re crazy.”

“Stop it, you two.”

Feeling bad for Candi but unable to help it, Maggie fired back. “Tell me you wouldn’t do exactly the same thing if it was someone you loved.”

He stared at her, his expression icy.

“Well, well, well.” They all looked up to see Zane standing there. “Glad I got here when I did. Is this a lover’s quarrel?”

“Shut up, Zane,” Koda grumbled.

Maggie’s cheeks caught fire.

Beside her, Candi seemed all too aware of the other male who had so quietly entered the room. Not that Maggie could blame her. Zane Wolfe was full of grace and sexuality.

His long black hair hung forward. His bomber jacket, which he wore over a faded Led Zeppelin T-shirt, creaked like saddle leather when he moved. He was clean-shaven tonight, with only the shadowy promise of a beard along his jawline. And when he smiled at the two women in the room, his teeth flashed bone white against his skin.

From across the table, Maggie could feel the hostility in Koda’s very presence. But there was something else there, too. Something that made her stomach flutter.

Zane pulled up a chair and sat down as if he had nothing better to do.

“Where’ve you been?” Candi’s voice was suddenly bedroom silk, cascading into the room like a long dark ribbon.

“Here and there.”

Maggie shifted at the electricity in the room. Something was obviously still going on between the ex-stripper and the Native American hottie who sat across from her. She glanced across the room to find Koda staring at her. His gaze drew her in, and time seemed to slow. It wasn’t animosity in his eyes, now, but something that made her want to stare back. To give in to this new and powerful intimacy between them.

It was mind-boggling, her sudden shift of emotion toward all of the people there. They were so complex, so dynamic, and so different than what she thought she’d encounter when she arrived in Wolfe Creek, that for a second, she was overwhelmed by it.

She looked up to find Zane staring, too. His black eyes were bright, glittering. His mouth was turned up on one side, his head cocked as if he knew her exact thoughts. He was such a curious mixture of intensity and nonchalance, that she had trouble sitting still under his obvious scrutiny.

Candi must have noticed, because she cleared her throat with a little too much enthusiasm. “I don’t know about you all, but I’m starving.”

Zane’s gaze slid to her and dropped to her cleavage. “Me, too.”

Maggie blushed, embarrassed. Candi didn’t seem to mind, though. She leaned forward and Zane grinned in appreciation. Koda muttered something under his breath.

Balancing a platter in both hands, Ara burst through the door. “I hope everyone’s ready for some roast beast!” Koda got up to help, and she patted his cheek gratefully. “Zane,” she said, “glad you could make it, honey.”

He rose to give her a hug. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

“I thought we’d see more of you when you moved in, not less.” She clucked affectionately and reached up to move his hair from his face. Then gasped. “Zane.”

The table grew silent. Now that his hair was brushed back, Maggie could see a bruise covered the entire side of his face, a deep, angry color that bloomed even under his olive complexion.

“What happened?” Ara asked softly.

“Nothing. Just a little disagreement. You should see the other guy.”

Koda rubbed his temple. “Should we even ask if you’re hurt anywhere else?”

“Nowhere a little TLC won’t fix,” he said, winking at Candi.

She wasn’t smiling back. “Zane?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” This, from Ara, who no longer looked cheerful. In fact, she looked like all the life had been drained right out of her.

“Aunt A, I’m fine. It was nothing.”

“You promised. You promised you’d stay out of trouble.”

“I didn’t go looking for it. It found me.”

Ara’s face reddened. “You’re violating your parole. Or haven’t you thought of that? You’re putting your brother in a terrible position. Or haven’t you thought of that, either?”

Zane sighed.

“We’re worried about you,” Candi said. “One of these days you’re gonna pick a fight with someone faster.”

“Or someone with a bigger knife,” Koda said.

“Will everyone please, just get off my back?”

“And what about the other guy?” Koda asked. “How’s he?”

Zane gave his brother a hard look. “He’s fine, bro. And by fine, I mean he’s not dead.”

“Well, that’s a relief. Because the next time you go back, it may not be for any piddly fucking six-year sentence.”

Maggie had the feeling that she was witnessing much more family dynamic than met the eye, and her throat tightened. Even with the scent of warm roast beef hanging in the air, she was no longer hungry.

“Look at me,” Ara said.

The chilly look Zane had just given his brother was gone. In its place was one of complete indifference.

“I want you to stay away from that bar.” Ara’s voice was no longer sweet and passive. It rang with a tone that made Maggie want to shrink away. “We all know it turns you into something you’re not.”

Zane gazed down at her defiantly.

“I love you too much to lose you again. Those are my conditions. Either live by them, or you’ll have to find somewhere else to stay.”

Tension hung in the room, heavy and thick. Finally, Zane leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Ara’s cheek.

“I just remembered,” he said, rubbing his chest. “I have somewhere to be. I’ll see y’all soon.”

He turned and disappeared out the door, a soft zephyr that had breezed through, touched them briefly, and vanished before they’d even known what happened.