Love Me Tender: Ryker Falls, #3

By Lani Blake

Finding her way home

Leaving her beloved hometown Ryker Falls was the second hardest thing Rory Haldane had ever done. Forgetting the cloud of shame her family left under, was the first.

When circumstances bring Rory back, wounded but not broken, some townsfolk don't appreciate her arrival. As threats against her begin to escalate, she finds support from an unlikely ally. Jack Trainer may epitomize the dark handsome bad-boy, but surprisingly he takes her side, and she finds herself falling for a man who has no intention of losing his heart to anyone. This is one battle Rory refuses to fight, so for her own protection, she'll once again say goodbye to Ryker Falls.

 

He'll fight for her to stay

Jack Trainer likes women, he just never had any intention of loving one. Life taught him to guard his heart, and when Rory Haldane walks back into town he's ready to ignore her. The problem with that is, he also hates injustice, and the way some of the people in his town are treating her has his hackles rising. He's not exactly the stuff heroes are made of, but Rory has his protective instincts on high alert. And his libido. He wants more, way more, from her than a passionate fling, but will Rory drop her guard enough to trust him?

 

BOOKS IN THE SERIES
Somebody To Love
From This Moment
Love Me Tender
Only Just Begun
Hold Me Close

You're The One

We Belong Together

We Found Love

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vella Ink
• Release date: Feb 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780995106857

Book preview

Chapter 1

Rory heard the hum of an engine, then saw a flash of light through the window as a vehicle pulled up outside the house. Fear had her burrowing deeper under the blankets. Dark and cold, with no power to change things, she’d earlier decided to let her flashlight run until the batteries died.

A fist pounded on her front door, making her jump. Terror skittered up her spine as the second knock was accompanied by a roared, Open the door now!

Rory lay quietly. Maybe if she didn’t answer, whoever it was would go away.

I’m coming in. Don’t run, I’ll catch you!

Had she locked the front door?

Rory scrambled out and grabbed the nearest thing she could arm herself with. She heard the thud of feet as he drew closer to the bedroom. Bracing her legs, she waited for the inevitable. A bright light impaled her.

What are you going to do with that, give me a new look?

Rory looked at the hand she had raised above her head and saw she held a hairbrush.

I have good aim.

Who the hell are you?

Covering her eyes, she blinked several times against the light he shone directly at her.

Who the hell are you? she replied.

I asked first, he growled.

Lower the light.

Thankfully he did. She couldn’t see much of him, as he stood in the dark, but he was big, and his voice told her he was angry. Swallowing, she tried to remember the self-defense course her brothers had made her take two years ago.

I own this place, so you’re trespassing. Rory tried to sound tough, but instead her voice was high-pitched and panicky.

You? I don’t think so, lady. This place is owned by the late Connie Haldane, and possibly now her family, and they’ve been gone for years—thankfully.

The last word was muttered.

I’m Aurora Haldane.

Silence. It was thick and loaded with tension.

Prove it!

What? H-how?

You’re not too bright, is my guess, the voice drawled.

I am too!

Got any ID on you?

Damn, why hadn’t she thought of that? Dropping to her knees, she rifled around in her bag and found her driver’s license.

Here. She thrust it at him. Fingers briefly touched hers and then he pulled back. She had a glimpse of black hair and a square jaw. Now tell me who you are?

None of you could be bothered attending your grandmother’s funeral, so what the hell are you doing back here now, Princess Aurora May Haldane?

He still didn’t offer his name.

I-I.... This is my house. Rory winced at the title. Once she’d thought she deserved it, but not now.

This was your grandmother’s house.

The words were flat and cold.

Yes, well now it’s mine. She left it to us.

Silence again.

I can’t believe she actually left this place to you three, he said, disdain clear in his words.

Rory hadn’t believed it either.

One of the Haughty Haldanes? His laugh held no humor. It’s not like any of you gave a shit about her.

My nana loved me, Rory said stiffly.

I can’t fathom why she would. You caused her nothing but shame. The day you were all run out of town she should have thrown a party.

The words were mean and designed to hurt, but she also knew she deserved every one.

I’m leaving you my home, grandchildren, so you go on and make the most of it. Love, Nana Haldane.

They’d corresponded, she and Connie Haldane. Nana had never been a big one for words or showing her love, but it had been there no matter what the stranger said to the contrary. To her shame, Rory hadn’t even known she’d passed away until the paperwork arrived from her lawyer.

You need to leave, she said. Now.

You got power?

Rory shook her head.

Water?

She shook her head again.

Figures. Only a Haldane would be totally unequipped, thinking everything should be done for them.

Don’t be rude, Rory said before she could stop herself.

Rude? You’re shitting me, right? You Haldanes took that award long ago.

Battling more shame, she vowed to stay silent this time.

You need to leave town before anyone else knows you’re here.

I’m not leaving, and I demand to know why you’re here, and who the hell you are?

Your funeral, and I’m one of the locals who keep an eye on this place seeing as Connie’s family couldn’t be bothered doing it. My name is my business. He turned, and she saw a broad back encased in a ski jacket, jeans, and boots.

She heard him stomping around, and then he went out the door. Minutes later the light above her came on. She then heard his car start up, and he was gone... whoever the hell he was.

Rory ran to the door and locked it, like she should have earlier. Retracing her steps, she switched on lights and looked around her.

Arriving in the dark, she hadn’t been able to see much, and it was freezing, so she’d hauled in her things, opened her sleeping bag, and climbed into her grandmother’s bed.

Who was the dark stranger? Had they gone to school together? Or was he one of the new inhabitants of Ryker Falls?

Was he right, should she leave tomorrow? Had coming here been a bad move? But surely if no one knew who she was it would be okay to stay a while. She may never see the stranger again.

Walking through the rooms had emotion building inside her. A combination of sadness and memories gripped her as she thought about the time she’d spent here.

All three Haldane children had been spoiled and obnoxious; their parents had seen to that. Only their nana had tried to pull them into line, and strangely, when they were here at her house for a rare visit, they’d behaved.

Looking at Connie Haldane’s favorite chair, she could almost see the small figure sitting in it, needles clacking as she knitted.

Rory had loved her nana, even though the stranger was right, and she’d rarely shown it.

Someone had made a half-hearted attempt at covering some of the furniture in dustcloths, but the two cabinets with her nana’s knickknacks had a layer of dust.

Signs of the woman who’d lived here were everywhere.

I should have tried harder to get back to you. I missed you, Rory whispered, touching the mark on the wall her eldest brother, Leo, had put there when he was measuring Rory to see how much she’d grown. Her mother had been furious, but Nana had laughed, saying they were only children and a few marks never hurt anyone.

She loved me, Rory thought defiantly. The stranger was wrong about that.

Making her way back to the bedroom, she dived into the sleeping bag, shivering from the cold. Tomorrow she’d find wood for the fire, but tonight she’d just wanted the oblivion of sleep. Closing her eyes, she lay in the dark, missing the city noises that usually lulled her to sleep but comforted because her nana’s things were all around her once again.

Chapter 2

Rory knew it would be close to 7:00 a.m. when her eyes opened. That was the time she usually rose and had done so for years. She’d closed the curtains, but a strip of light filtered through the edge, allowing her to study the bedroom.

The wallpaper had been the same for as long as she could remember: large blue peonies and pretty matching bows. She’d loved them when she was a young girl, especially because her mother hadn’t let her choose any of the furnishings in her own room. She would have picked something just like this.

Getting out of bed, she wrapped a blanket around her body before moving to the dressing table, where she lifted the lid on a jewelry box, and turned the key at the back. Music played. Closing her eyes, she let herself go back there briefly. Back to days when life was simple and she was a spoiled little Princess, just like the stranger had said.

Her nana had liked clutter, and this room was no different. Necklaces spilled out of another little wooden box, and yet another held bracelets. Rory had worn most of them when she visited and played dress-up.

The cold soon drove her to get some clothes out of her case and head for the bathroom. The hot water was blissful, and she silently thanked the stranger who’d scared ten years off her life for both the water and electricity.

When she was dressed, Rory pulled on a thick woolen hat, coat, and gloves, then left the house to get supplies. The day was cold and gray, and she’d need firewood when she got back or it would be another cold night. Her eyes found the flower beds Connie Haldane had lovingly tended, but were now empty.

Tend them right from the outset, granddaughter, and they’ll return with a pretty picture come blooming time.

The land branched left, right, and to the rear of the house, and she and her brothers had walked over most of it.

Rory wondered where Henry was, her grandmother’s donkey. The lawyer hadn’t mentioned the ornery animal in the will.

Climbing into her sedan, she headed down the rutted driveway that also needed serious attention and onto the main street. Later, she’d do a thorough investigation of the property and house; for now, coffee and food were needed.

The sleepy town of Ryker Falls she’d left was now a bustling tourist destination. Before returning she’d read everything she could about it online. For so long she’d hated it here and vowed never to return, but here she was, a Haldane back in town.

It was situated at the foot of two huge mountains, and Rory knew those mountains were one of the main reasons for the booming tourist trade. Hikers, skiers, and outdoor adventure people came here to traverse them. Phil and Roxy, the mountains were called, after the founding family’s twins. Turning into the main street, she got her first real look at the town of Ryker. As Christmas was only four weeks away, the place was lit up with thousands of fairy lights, and the shop fronts twinkled with more lights and goodies to tempt anyone passing.

People were wrapped up warm like her and bustled up and down the street. A few of the shops were the same, but most were new and now catered to the tourists. She couldn’t avoid the mayor’s office where her father had worked. Dragging her eyes from the stone building as pain knifed through her, she found the bank and the pain intensified.

Moving on, she saw a tea shop called Tea Total, and a cafe called Phil’s Place. That looked like somewhere Rory could have breakfast, and more importantly, get a coffee.

She found trees, bench seats, and lovely ornate street lamps. The place looked good. What would her life have been like if she’d stayed here?

You’ll never know, she muttered, pulling her car into a parking space. Food first, then she’d tackle the groceries and find somewhere to buy a heater. Her grandmother had never seen the need for one when she had a perfectly good wood-burner. Rory disagreed.

A large, black, shaggy dog bounded up to meet her and woofed a few times, which Rory thought meant pat me. She did, scratching behind his ears. He then woofed again and ran away. Finding her first smile since arriving back in Ryker, she walked into the cafe. Warmth welcomed her as she opened the door and headed to the counter. It was buzzing with customers, and the scents made her stomach rumble.

Overhead hung Santa hats and yards of greenery decorated with big red shiny balls. Christmas music played softly in the background.

Taking off her coat and hat, she looked around. The white décor was clean and fresh, and there were plenty of leafy green plants Rory thought would take some serious watering. The last plant she’d bought had been dead within a month.

Morning.

Morning. Rory nodded to the woman who approached. Taller than her, which wasn’t hard as Rory was five foot one, she was beautiful, with her dark features and hair and a wide smile, even dressed casually in black jeans and a white sweater. Rory just bet she was one of those people who could throw on a sack and look great.

You eating or just a coffee?

Eating, Rory said.

You want a coffee while you decide what you want to eat?

Please.

So I’m thinking by your one-word answer, you’re not a morning person. And I hear you there. I think there should be some kind of law passed that it’s illegal to talk to someone if they haven’t had their morning coffee.

I’d second that, Rory said, wrapping her fingers around the steaming mug the woman handed her.

She read through the menu, ordered, and then sat contemplating the coffee.

Is that natural?

The woman was pointing at Rory’s head.

Unfortunately. Rory didn’t want to converse, but she couldn’t ignore someone who was trying hard to be nice. Did they know each other? She hoped not; she wasn’t ready for that yet.

Nothing unfortunate about it. You have a beautiful head of curls I would pay serious money for, if only I could be assured it would turn out just like that.

It’s not my favorite feature, Rory admitted. The woman was being nice. Politeness never hurt a soul, her grandmother used to say.

Funny how we’re never happy with what we’ve got.

I wake looking like a poodle, even after I’ve sprayed half a bottle of detangler into it.

The woman touched a curl. It’s really beautiful, and so soft.

It’s yours.

Done! Now let me get your order to the kitchen as the Roadies are straggling in and will demand my attention.

Roadies?

Ryker Roadies. Mostly fit elderly people, with a few young ones thrown in to keep everyone happy. Don’t make eye contact or they’ll have you in sneakers and a matching shirt before you can inhale.

Right, got it.

Rory watched the group of people wrapped to the eyeballs in winter jogging gear all bustle through the doors. She marveled anyone would want to do that with temperatures as low as they were at the moment.

Here’s my girl.

She watched a man weave through the recent arrivals and head for the counter. Tall, with brown hair, he wore a wide smile and it was aimed at the woman who had served her. Behind him came another man carrying a pink-cheeked little girl wearing a purple snowsuit.

My husband and daughter. I have to drop everything when they appear. The woman rushed around the counter.

Love, Rory realized. It radiated from the woman and man as they hugged and kissed. She’d never wanted that, and likely never would. In fact, since she’d left Ryker and her life had imploded, she’d decided it was just easier to rely on one person: herself. That way no one could let her down.

Piper Howard, the woman said. This is my husband, Dylan, and daughter, Grace. And this idiot is my cousin Jack.

Hi, I’m Rory. Rory didn’t want to give her surname, so she smiled, then returned to her coffee. Thankfully she didn’t recognize either of the people before her, although... oh hell. Dylan Howard. Piper and Jack Trainer. She put the names together in her head and groaned silently.

How about offering up your full name, Princess Aurora May Haldane?

Shit.

Haldane? Piper Howard placed her hands on the counter, staring at her cousin. Aurora Haldane, she then said slowly.

All friendliness had gone. How had she missed those eyes? The Trainer green. All four of the cousins had them. Piper had changed a lot since school, but then she hadn’t been a friend of Rory’s, so they weren’t close. Searching her memory, she tried to remember if she’d been mean to Piper like she had to so many of the kids in school.

The very one. The words were delivered in a flat, cold tone from the man she now knew had come into the house last night, scared her silly, then put her power and water back on. Jack Trainer.

Well hell, look at you slumming it with us. Want me to serve your latte in a crystal goblet, Aurora May? Piper growled.

In all fairness, she deserved that and probably a hell of a lot more.

Ah, could I have the coffee to go, please? Rory asked.

Let me see now, the last time we met was at school. You were a year or two younger but told Maggie Winters that girls with hair like hers should have been drowned at birth.

God, had she?

And that I was offensive to look at in my thrift shop clothes, Piper said, her eyes now angry slits.

Piper.

The woman ignored her husband as he placed a hand on her arm.

I was thirteen, Rory said in a calm voice she wasn’t feeling. I’m sorry.

Sure, and I’ll accept that, no matter it’s years too late. Hell, I’m even gracious enough to not leap over the counter and go for your throat for what you and your brothers did to the kids in this town.

Rory thought about forgetting the food and coffee and just making a run for it.

Everyone changes, right? I mean hell, a Haldane may even have turned into a passable human by now.

Piper, her husband said, louder this time. Again she ignored him.

But while a shit ton of years have passed since you and yours were in this town, Princess Aurora May, your daddy hurt a lot of people. That money he stole took years to raise. A hundred grand, if memory serves, and all meant for the school library and new classrooms.

I know, I’m sorry, Rory said again, because she had nothing else. Every accusation the woman levelled at her was true... well, almost. Haldanes were a bad bunch.

I don’t blame you for that, a lot of other things, but not that. But what I can’t figure out is why in God’s name you’d come back here. Because you sure as hell won’t be welcome, especially as not one of you bothered to attend your grandmother’s funeral.

Piper Howard’s words were coated in ice. Rory slid off the stool so quickly she almost fell. A large hand steadied her, but she shook it free.

Are you saying because my father took money from the good folk of this town, and my brothers and I were spoiled brats, we’re not allowed back here?

The woman exhaled slowly.

That’s not my place to say, and it would be wrong of me to do so, but here’s the thing, Miss Haldane. Even if those you mistreated have forgotten about Princess Aurora May and her minions, the crime your father committed is still fresh even many years on, and let me assure you, they won’t be as welcoming as me.

This is you being welcoming?

The green eyes narrowed.

I tried to warn you to leave last night, Jack Trainer said, moving into her line of vision. This isn’t the place for you, considering what went down. My advice is still the same: go now.

I didn’t come here to make friends or be part of this community again.

Why did you come? Piper Trainer asked.

I have my reasons and they’re not your business.

Well if they included selling that house and land, come and see me, Jack said, then turning his back on her he sat at the counter.

Looking at the cousins and the small bundle of delight in Jack’s arms, she felt a heavy weight settle in her chest. Rory hadn’t had the worst life, and likely not the best either. But after leaving Ryker Falls she’d learned the hard way just who she’d become under her parents’ tutelage.

Here’s your coffee, Princess Aurora May.

A takeaway cup was thrust her way, Rory ignored it. Taking some money out of her pocket, she stepped around Piper and slapped them on the counter.

I really don’t care what you think of me, as I don’t know either of you and don’t plan on fixing that anytime soon. Keep the change!

Rory turned and walked away. Dylan Howard gave her a gentle smile. She didn’t return it and simply headed out the door with acid, but no coffee, churning inside her stomach.

Chapter 3

Jack fought back the guilt as he watched Rory Haldane leave the cafe. He’d been mean to her last night, and while he didn’t like the woman or her family, there had been no need to behave as he had.

Who knew you two could be so nasty.

What? Jack looked at his cousin’s husband.

Dylan and Pip had been married a year now, and he and his brothers couldn’t have picked a better man for the job. An FBI Profiler, Dylan now did cases only when he wanted, and the rest of the time he was building, which was his real love—besides his girls, that was.

Here’s the thing. I’ve never been a firm believer in the sins of the father and all that kind of thing. That, Dylan waved a hand toward the door, was beneath both of you, and I have to say I’m pretty disappointed. We are not Hatfields and McCoys.

She was a queen bitch in school, Dylan. Parading about with her nose in the air and being mean, Pip said defensively. Really mean, she added, to strengthen her argument. Then there’s her daddy. Thieving bastard. What he did hit this town hard, especially as he was our mayor. We don’t need all that dredged up again.

And it was what... thirteen or fourteen years ago? Dylan asked.

Jack had seen the hair first. A mass of ash-blonde curls stood out in every direction and hung down her back. She’d then turned, and he’d recognized her face from last night. Then she’d been dressed in sweats, trying not to show him how scared she was that he was inside her house.

Rory Haldane had a lovely mouth, and eyes he now knew were blue. Not the color of the sky, but deeper, more purple than blue. Today she wore a faded gray sweater, equally faded and worn jeans with a rip in the knee he thought was more through wear than design, and scuffed black work boots, much like his own, on her feet. She certainly didn’t look like the Princess Aurora May he remembered. Mind you, he didn’t remember much of that time, as his brother had just left town and he was running wild.

He guessed she was hot, in that casual, I-don’t-give-a-shit way some women had. No makeup, and he doubted she’d used that brush she wanted to hit him with last night. Still, there was something interesting about her. Not that he’d be interested. She wasn’t his type and she was a Haldane. Haldane was a swear word in Ryker Falls.

Her father did the crime, Dylan said slowly, not her. And you of all people should know what it’s like to be tarred with the same brush as your father, Jack. And don’t get me wrong, I remember the Haldanes from before I left, they were shitty people... all of them. Mind you, so were we, he added. Being Mary Howard’s son was never easy.

Shit. Jack rubbed a hand over his face as guilt settled heavily on his shoulders. The Trainers’ daddy could only be termed an asshole, and that was being polite.

It wasn’t like him to go off like that, but last night he’d been tired, and today wasn’t much better. Plus, there was the little jolt of awareness he’d felt when he saw Aurora May that had thrown him.

I hated her in school, Pip said, sounding grumpy.

Sure, but the key word there is school, Dylan added. She was a child when they were forced out of town.

You make it sound like we ran them out with pitchforks, Piper said.

I can’t imagine they were treated well, knowing some people in this town, Dylan said.

Because her daddy was mayor and had money, she thought she was better than us. So did her brothers. Always had the best of everything, and never hesitated to shove it in our faces. Her brothers were losers too.

Again, just children in school, honey.

Stop doing that!

What? Dylan smiled at his wife.

The guilt thing.

Not trying to, just pointing out no one was perfect in their youth.

Well, hell, Pip sighed.

Jack knew she’d been into drugs and a nightmare for his aunt to raise, just like he and his brothers had been. Shame washed over him, just like it did Pip. They’d been wrong to treat Aurora May as they had.

I can’t believe I did that. Pip slumped over the counter. I just saw red as the memories came back.

She has as much right to be here as any of us, baby, and let’s not forget her grandmother only died six months ago, Dylan added. Maybe she’s back to sort out that land, then she’ll move on?

She’s staying at Connie’s place.

How do you know that? Piper asked Jack.

Jack ran his fingers through Grace’s curls, and the little girl giggled as she always did.

I saw light up there last night and went to see what was going on. Thought someone was squatting.

That must have been terrifying for her, Dylan said.

She threatened me with her hair brush.

Yeah? Shame she didn’t do something with your hair, Piper commented.

What’s wrong with my hair? Jack patted it down.

You don’t brush it. In fact, it’s one of life’s little mysteries what all those women see in you. I’ve never known a man to take less care of his appearance than you.

Imagine if I did. I’d be mobbed walking out my front door.

Oh, ha ha. Piper reached across the counter to punch him in the shoulder.

Another thing we all need to remember is the money was repaid... all of it. Dad and I were just talking about this case the other day. After the federal boys released it, every cent of that hundred grand ended up back here for the school.

Jack felt something heavy settle in his chest. He labeled it as guilt.

Gracie, your mom and uncle just behaved real bad. Jack tickled his niece under the chin, then blew a raspberry into her neck making her squeal.

Really bad, Pip corrected him. I don’t want Gracie picking up your bad English.

Jack rolled his eyes. She’s two.

And a parrot. Speak a good word, she’s deaf; a bad one, she’ll remember it for days.

Can I have coffee now Dylan’s done telling us off? Jack asked.

I suppose, but I still feel bad.

I’m sure it’s not gonna stop you making me coffee. He turned to Dylan. How long did he get, Mayor Haldane?

Four or five years, I think?

How had the Haldanes survived after leaving Ryker without their father, the man who had fed them with a gold spoon since the day they were born?

I wonder what happened to the rest of them? Pip said. Matt and Leo were as unlikeable as their sister.

Not sure. After they left Ryker, all contact was severed according to Dad, Dylan said.

My guilt is increasing every second, Pip said, handing him a coffee. They left everything they knew and lost their father for years. They may not have been my most favorite people, but that had to be hard.

Jack sat and drank his coffee, then ate the breakfast Pip put in front of him, and the entire time