Chapter Ten
Ryan glanced at the digital clock on the stove. Leah was twenty minutes late and counting. Not exactly unexpected . . . He filled two water bottles at the sink, then turned when his mom entered the kitchen.
“I thought you were going for a bike ride.”
When she lifted the teakettle from the stove, he took it from her to fill before returning it to the burner. “I am, but Leah’s running late.”
Her blue eyes brightened. “I’m so pleased you and Leah are back together again. Of all the women you’ve dated over the years, she was always my favorite.”
“We’re not exactly together, Mom. We’re just hanging out while I’m in town. What kind of tea do you want?”
“Peach.” She used her good arm to reach for a flowered mug on the cupboard shelf, while he headed toward the pantry. “Seems like you’re a couple to me. As an adult, your comings and goings are your own business, of course, but I’m not completely clueless.”
The back of his neck heated as he returned with the requested box of tea. His mother might not have mentioned the night he hadn’t come home, but she’d obviously noticed. “We’re seeing each other, but don’t start making a big deal out of a rekindled friendship.”
“In my day—”
“No offense, but this isn’t your day, and since to my knowledge you’ve rarely dated since Dad died thirty years ago . . .”
“You make a valid point. Fine, I won’t meddle in your private life if you don’t butt into mine.” When the kettle shrieked, long and shrill, she lifted it from the burner. “So, is Leah the reason you brought two bikes back after your quick trip home last week?”
So much for not meddling... “She only has that pink cruiser, which isn’t designed for trail riding.” The hum of an engine caught his attention, and he leaned over the sink to glance out the window toward the driveway. “Here she is now. Only thirty-five minutes late. Not bad.”
His mother snorted. “You might not want to lead with that comment if you value this friendship.”
“Do I look stupid?”
She gave him a quick once-over from his cycling jersey to his bike shorts to his riding cleats. “Currently, you look like those crazy guys on the sports channel who launch their bikes off cliffs. In my opinion, none of them has a whole lot of sense.”
“I assure you, Leah and I will stick to the trail today and not do anything irresponsible.”
“Good to know.” She shooed him toward the door when the bell chimed from the front of the house. “Go let Leah in so I can say hello to her.”
“Sure.” He left the kitchen and hurried toward the entry. After swinging the door wide open, his smile slowly faded. “You changed your mind about mountain biking with me?”
Leah glanced down past a lavender top to a denim skirt that stopped just above her knees. Not that he was complaining about the view of killer legs, but—
She held up her bulging tote bag. “I need to change. I didn’t want to wear bike shorts to the police station.”
Relief slid through him. “How’d it go?”
“Okay, I guess.” Her soft brown eyes darkened with worry. “They assured me they’ll do their best to track down this Woodward person. I just hope they find him before he spends all Gram’s savings.”
“Maybe he’ll slip up now that the authorities are looking for him.” Ryan took her arm to tug her inside and shut the door. “Although you’d think other victims would have reported him already. Based on what your grandma said, he sounds too smooth to be new to this game.”
“I know, right?” Leah frowned. “Still, Chris called shortly after I left the station to let me know Thomas Woodward isn’t in their database.”
Ryan stopped. “Chris?”
“Officer Long. You probably remember him from high school. His younger sister Kim was at our reunion. He’s the one I talked to this morning.”
“Oh. I imagine Woodward is an alias, so maybe they’ll turn up a connection to similar crimes in a different town and uncover this creep’s real identity.”
“I’ll cross my fingers, but right now, I don’t want to think about it anymore since there’s nothing I can do to fix the problem. Can I change someplace?”
“You know where the bathroom is. When you’re ready, come find me in the kitchen. Mom wants to say hello before we leave.”
“I’d love to see your mom.” She glanced down toward his feet. “Who’s that?”
When Charlie rubbed against his ankles and eyed Leah warily, Ryan smiled. “Charlie.”
“Beautiful animal. I’ll be out in a minute.”
He waited until she disappeared down the hallway then rejoined his mother. True to her word, Leah returned a few minutes later.
She set down her tote bag then crossed the kitchen dressed in bike shorts and a T-shirt. A helmet dangled from the fingers of one hand, and a single long braid hung down her back.
At the table, his mom rose to her feet. “It’s good to see you, dear. Did I thank you properly for your assistance when I broke this darned arm?”
“The snickerdoodles and lovely note you dropped off were more than enough thanks for making a simple phone call to Ryan.” Reaching his mom, Leah gave her a quick hug. “When will the doctor take off your cast?”
“If all goes well, early in November.”
She stepped back. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, although I’m enjoying having Ryan in town again.”
“No reason he can’t visit often even if he doesn’t have to be here to fetch and carry for me, right Ryan?” His mom shot him a pointed look.
“None that I can think of.” He stepped away from the counter. “But right now we’d better get moving. There’s a strong chance of rain later this afternoon, so we probably want to be back before then.”
“My pinochle group is meeting here this evening, so feel free to take Leah out for a nice dinner after your ride.” She added a wide smile that would have made a crocodile proud. “You two have fun, now.”
“We will.” He took Leah’s arm and steered her toward the back door into the garage.
She glanced over her shoulder. “See you later, Mrs. A.”
“I hope so, dear.”
Ryan shut the door behind them. “Could my mom be any more obvious?”
Leah glanced up. “What are you talking about?”
“She’s probably in there planning our wedding as we speak. She’s always loved you, and the fact that I didn’t come home Friday night was the clincher in her mind.” He pressed the button to raise the garage door. “I told her we’re just friends, but she didn’t believe me.”
“Is that a fact?”
He gave her a sharp look, not sure how to interpret her comment. “Uh, you can ride my old bike. The frame may be a little big for you, but I lowered the seat.” Grabbing the handlebars, he wheeled it out to the driveway.
She took it from him. “This is your old bike? It looks pretty fancy to me.”
“Yeah, well, I went off the deep end and splurged on a new one. The shocks are such high quality, I can barely feel the bumps, and it hardly weighs anything.”
After he returned with the second bike, she whistled. “Geez, Ryan. Does it pedal for you?”
“Just about.”
She straddled the first bike, then stepped off again to lower the seat an inch. “I bet that high-tech machine cost more than my car.”
He glanced at her old silver Audi. “Probably. I tend to get a little carried away when it comes to quality sports equipment.”
“Don’t apologize. You earned the right to have nice stuff.” She settled her helmet on her head and fastened the strap in place. “Where are we going?”
He donned his own helmet. “I thought we’d head south. There’s a great single track that winds up into the hills about eight miles from here.”
“I know the one you’re talking about. I used to ride out there with Brock.” She pushed off and smiled over at him. “You may have to wait for me on the downhill sections. I’m out of practice.”
The mention of her ex sent a quick dart of pain through his chest. Thinking of Leah with another man, especially her former husband, bothered him far more than it should. He shook off the twinge of resentment and forced a smile. “Not a problem. I’m happy to wait for you.”
When they reached the highway, they rode single file at a quick clip Leah had no problem maintaining. Ryan slowed to make the turn onto the dirt single track and waved a hand. “Why don’t you lead so you can set the pace?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not in the least.” A steady view of the curve of Leah’s firm behind as she leaned forward wasn’t exactly a hardship.
She was in excellent shape . . . in every sense of the word. They rode uphill at a speed that would have challenged a few of his buddies. When the trail finally leveled off and widened, he pulled even with her and took a drink from his water bottle.
“You ride like a pro. Want to rest for a minute?”
She nodded and braked to a stop, then removed her water bottle from its holder. After drinking steadily for several seconds, she squirted water on her face and wiped it off with her sleeve. “Oh, wow, that was tough.”
“You didn’t need to go so fast.”
She shot him a quick grin. “I didn’t want you to think I’m a wimp.”
“No danger of that. You’re an animal.”
Her smile broadened. “A compliment sure to impress any woman.”
His neck heated, and it wasn’t due to exertion. “I didn’t mean—”
“Kidding, Ryan. I know what you meant. Thanks.” She tipped the water bottle back again, and her throat moved as she drank. A sheen of perspiration glistened on her chest. Finally, she stuck the bottle back in the holder. “I may not hang out in a gym, but I get a lot of exercise.”
He adjusted his shorts. “I can tell. By the way, sweat becomes you. Just saying . . .”
Her gaze dropped before lifting to meet his. “You try to ride like that, and you may hurt yourself.”
“I’ll risk it.” He rolled forward a couple of feet and reached out to place a hand behind her neck. Tugging her forward, he kissed her. “You’re extremely hot, Leah Grayson.”
Her breath brushed his cheek as she backed up a few inches. “You’re damn sexy, too, Ryan Alexander. But, since I’m not down for a round of sex on the trail, maybe we should keep riding.”
“Probably a good idea.” He released her slowly and moved away. “Lead on, Macduff.”
“That’s lay on. Are we going into battle?”
He stared at her blankly. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“It’s a Shakespeare thing. A computer guy wouldn’t get it.”
“Apparently not. You’re an odd one at times. Hot but strange. I appreciate that.”
“Sounds about right. I’m glad my eccentricities don’t bother you.” She pushed off, pedaling hard as the trail narrowed again and climbed steadily.
Ryan got the feeling she’d had someone particular in mind when she’d commented on her unconventionality being a turnoff. Her jerk of an ex-husband would be his guess. If that asshole had made Leah feel bad about herself—
His tire hit a rock at the edge of the trail and jerked left. He went over with a solid thud and landed with his bike on top of him. The breath left his lungs in a whoosh.
He gasped for air. “Shit.”
“Are you okay?” Leah dismounted and dropped her bike to run back to him. “What happened?”
“I wasn’t paying attention. Really, really stupid.” When she lifted his bike, he twisted the shoe still locked onto the pedal to release it, and sat up.
“Did you hurt yourself?” Her wide eyes were filled with concern. “Should you move?”
“Nothing’s injured but my pride . . . and possibly a bruise on my hip.” He rubbed the tender spot as he scrambled to his feet. “I’m not usually such a klutz.”
Apparently convinced nothing was broken, she eyed him up and down and smiled. “You did look pretty funny lying in a heap, and you’re covered in dirt.”
He brushed ineffectually at the sleeve of his jersey. “Great.”
“Turn around and let me.”
He did as she asked then glanced at her over one shoulder. “Why do I feel like one of your students who had an accident on the playground?”
Her smile melted his heart as she slapped dirt off his ass.
“Believe me, I don’t pat down my kids.” Her fingers lingered. “Nothing but solid muscle. This is kind of fun.”
“Happy to brighten your day.”
She went to work on his back, bending down to brush off his legs. The feel of her fingers on his thighs made any bruises worthwhile.
“There, that’s as good as it’s going to get.”
He turned and pulled her into his arms. “If it got any better, you’d wind up just as dirty as I am.” Tipping back her head to avoid bumping helmets, he kissed her . . . and kept kissing her until he was forced to come up for air. “Thanks.”
“Glad to oblige.” She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Is it just me, or does this feel exactly like it used to between us? Friends first and lovers second.”
His hold on her tightened. “Is there anything wrong with that?”
“No. The friendship was missing in my marriage, and you know how that ended. What we have is better.”
“I hope so.” He kissed her again, but the knowledge that their previous relationship had self-destructed niggled at the back of his mind. Best not to worry about the future and simply enjoy the present. He brushed a thumb across her cheek. “Let’s finish this. We’re almost to the top.”
She nodded. “Nothing I like more than to accomplish the goals I set.” Her serious gaze met his before she turned away to pick up her bike.
Am I one of her goals?
Did he want to be? He’d originally hoped to keep their relationship simple but feared they’d passed that point some distance back. For them, maybe uncomplicated had never been an option. A whole lot of heartache might be waiting at the end of the path they were on, but he’d stay the course. Because he couldn’t imagine walking away from Leah. Not yet.
Maybe never.