Riding the Pause (6 page)

Ian woke to Apollo snuffling him with his cold wet nose and the last vestiges of a bourbon induced headache. Scanning the empty sleeping platform, he blinked his bleary eyes again, but it didn’t change what he already knew. Rachel was gone.

She must have packed up while he was sleeping and left. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t heard her go, but he had been helping her with the bourbon.

He dragged himself out of his sleeping bag and stumbled to his feet. A layer of snow blanketed the ground but the sky was blue and clear and not nearly as cold as the day before. Shoving his feet into his boots, he followed the tracks Apollo and Rachel must have made to the bathroom that morning and followed their returning tracks when he’d finished. Knowing she and his dog walked back to the shelter where he’d still been asleep made him angrier than he’d been at her leaving. Irrational, he knew, but that’s why they were called emotions.

He saw the protein bar waiting for him in the spot where he usually set his stove and something in his chest tightened. He couldn’t decide if knowing that she’d left it for him made things better or worse. Either way, it wasn’t much in the way of good-byes. Coupled with the fact she hadn’t left a note and he didn’t know her last name, it was pretty final, which bugged him more than it probably should.

It wasn’t like he’d been looking for love on the Appalachian Trail. Hell, he wasn’t looking for love period. But after playing cards and talking last night he thought they had more of a connection than she obviously had. He’d thought they’d at least passed casual acquaintances. It didn’t matter; it was time for him to move on both literally and figuratively.

Packing up his gear without taking the time to heat water for tea, he grabbed his water bottle and her protein bar, hefted his pack onto his back and started off down the trail. When he got to the spot where the trail to the shelter met the AT, he could see her footprints in the snow. And his dog’s beside them, the traitor. Who knows how far he’d have followed her if she hadn’t sent him back.

He was tempted to follow the tracks himself, but if she’d wanted to see him again, she wouldn’t have taken off without saying good-bye. Turning his back on the tracks, he started down the trail looking over his shoulder to make sure Apollo was following him. The dog sat at the juncture of the trails, gazing in the direction Rachel had gone. Ian gave a sharp whistle and Apollo stood and trotted to catch up with him.

They walked a couple of miles to the narrow ridge that marked the place where the smaller game trail peeled off in the direction of his place. They had about five miles to hike away from the AT and through the national forest that bordered Ian’s property. As he walked, he watched the shape the light made as it filtered through the trees and an idea for a series of small end tables started to form in his mind.

He worked through wood choices and grain patterns, running through a mental inventory of the wood he had waiting for him in his studio and making a preliminary list of what might suit. He felt fairly certain that he had some chunks of oak that would be right for what he was picturing, but he’d wait until he could put his hands on the wood before he decided. For him, making the pieces was a collaboration between him and the wood and he wouldn’t force it.

Feeling better about the morning, he followed the curve of a trail so narrow most people would miss it and rounded the bend, expecting to find Apollo waiting for him. The dog wasn’t there and Ian didn’t see any sign of him ahead. He’d been so lost in his thoughts; he couldn’t say for sure how long it had been since he’d seen him. Stopping in the middle of the trail, he whistled and then listened. He heard Apollo’s bark, but it sounded a ways off the trail and when Ian whistled again it didn’t sound like it was getting any closer.

Shucking off his pack, he leaned it against a tree and stretched his shoulders before heading into the woods to find out what his worrisome dog had gotten himself into. It didn’t take long for Ian to find him with his nose glued to the ground, snuffling around a tramped down spot that looked like a place the deer might have bedded down. Sure that’s what it was, Ian called the dog to go. He understood that for a dog it was probably way more interesting than it was for him, but it wasn’t like the dog hadn’t smelled deer before, and Ian was anxious to get home and start on the new pieces while the ideas were still swirling in his head.

“Come on, Apollo. Enough already.”

The dog lifted its head but didn’t come, and Ian could see he was tugging at something with his mouth.

“What do you have?” Ian closed the distance between them and bent to wedge his fingers between Apollo’s teeth and his newest love.

The dog reluctantly backed away and Ian got his fingers around the end of a piece of plastic tubing. He shifted the rock pinning it down and stood holding a section of tube about a foot long. So maybe not deer, he thought looking out over the tramped down section. The area was isolated enough that moonshiners probably weren’t out of the question.

“Come on, dog,” he said, tucking the tube in his back pocket to get rid of later. It wasn’t worth calling in the National Guard, but given how close the sight was to the AT and his property, it probably warranted a trip into town to visit his friend, the cop.

Rachel walked the few blocks from her mom and dad’s to the police station where her brother, Adam, worked. Apparently her very pregnant sister-in-law, Autumn had had enough of Jude hovering over her, and she’d demanded the rest of the Southerland siblings get him out of her hair for a couple of hours. Taylor disappeared before the call came in, Bailey was busy with the restaurant and Blake was out of the country on business so it was up to Adam, Travis, and her to provide the distraction.

She opened the door to the station and wrinkled her nose at the scent of too many bodies and too old coffee, overlaid with some kind of industrial air freshener.

“Hey Hank,” she said, smiling at the officer behind the desk. “Is it okay if I go back?” She motioned with her head to the cubicle that housed her brother’s desk.

“Sure. He said to send you back when you got here. Dr. Southerland’s wife called again, and when I put her through, she didn’t sound happy.”

“Thanks,” she said, smiling.

Her brother Jude was almost as big a control freak as she was. Add in a pregnant wife and the fact he was a doctor, and it was a miracle Autumn hadn’t asked for their help earlier. Or maybe she had and Rachel hadn’t known about it. She’d been so busy with work; she’d had a hard time making it home from Charlottesville for family dinners sometimes. For all she knew, the Southerland siblings dragging their older brother off might be a weekly occurrence.

She made her way through the labyrinth of desks and knocked on the flimsy wall of Adam’s cubicle.

“Let’s go get him before there’s a homicide,” she said, poking her head around the corner and staring straight into the hazel eyes of her very own lumberjack.

For a moment, Ian looked as stunned as she felt and then his face lit up with a huge grin.

“Rachel,” he said, getting to his feet and coming toward her.

“Hello, Ian,” she said, pulling herself up to her full height and sticking out her hand for him to shake, blocking the hug she could see was coming.

If it bothered him, he didn’t show it. He captured her offered hand in both of his, holding on for a moment. There was something so masculine, so capable in the feel of his rough callused hands warm and strong on hers.

“You guys know each other?” Adam looked back and forth between them.

“We met on…” Ian started, but Rachel gave her head a little shake.

She hadn’t told her brothers about her solo on the AT. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with the extra Southerland testosterone. And God help her – and him – if they ever found out she let Ian get her drunk.

She’d tried not to think about it herself. She still wasn’t sure what happened that night. She couldn’t bring herself to stick around long enough to find out. The last thing she remembered was feeling strong masculine arms around her and then she’d woken up the next day in nothing but her panties and long sleeve T-shirt. She’d been alone in her own sleeping bag and she didn’t really think anything more happened but she couldn’t be sure. She was mortified that she couldn’t remember.

“At a gallery opening. We met at a gallery in Charlottesville.” Adam looked between them, his brow creased, but she smoothed out her face and prayed Ian didn’t give anything away.

“I had no idea Rachel was your sister,” said Ian.

“Or that you and Ian were friends,” said Rachel.

“Right.” Adam gave them another quick glance, and she could tell he was thinking more than he was saying, but instead he stood. “Come on. Let’s go get Jude before Autumn does something I’ll have to arrest her for. Momma would never forgive me.”

She turned to say good-bye to Ian, but he held out his hand, motioning for her to lead the way. When he fell into step behind her, she realized he must be coming to dinner too. So much for never having to see the man she made a fool of herself in front of ever again. She was going to have to sit across the table from him and pretend nothing happened.

Please let nothing have happened.

“Andrew and the others are meeting us at the Station. I told Autumn I’d swing by and pick up Jude, but I don’t have room for all of us in my cruiser. Unless the two of you want to ride in the back.”

“No thanks,” said Rachel. She’d smelled the back of Adam’s cop car. She’d rather walk to the Station than ride in the cruiser.

“I can drive,” said Ian.

“Great. I’ll see you there.” Adam was out the door before Rachel had a chance to protest.

“You don’t have to give me a ride. I can walk,” said Rachel.

“Don’t be silly. It’s too far. Besides it will give you a chance to explain to me why I lied to my friend. Why didn’t you want him to know we met on the AT? And what’s with the disappearing act in the morning?” He kept his hand on the small of her back as they walked through the station and out into the cool early spring air.

Trying to ignore how good it felt to have his strong hand guiding her, she picked the easy question. “My sister is the only one who knew I was up on the trail. My brothers would have a fit if they knew I went up there alone.”

She saw something that looked a lot like apprehension flash across his face as he opened the passenger door to his pickup truck and helped her into the cab, but it was gone by the time he slid into his spot behind the steering wheel.

“You have a lot of brothers,” he said, and she laughed.

“That’s an understatement. How do you know Adam?” If she kept him distracted until they reached the Station, maybe she could avoid the whole running off in the morning question and dealing with whatever it was that had happened.

“When I moved to the area a couple of years ago, I had some trouble with poachers on my land. Adam was on duty and before he turned the problem over to Game and Inland Fisheries, we got to talking. We’ve been friends since. I don’t come into town all that often, but when I do I make a point to look him up.”

He slid the truck into a parking spot in front of the old train station that had been made into a restaurant and turned off the key. Before she could grab the door handle, he reached for her hand to stop her.

“Not yet, princess. First why don’t you tell me why you ran off that morning without saying good-bye? I thought we at least owed each other that much.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, frustration and embarrassment making her face heat. “We have to go. They’re going to notice if we sit in the truck for too long.” She motioned with her head to where Adam’s cruiser had just pulled into the lot. The doors opened and her brothers got out.

“Then you better talk fast.”

She blew out a breath ruffling the few wisps of hair that had managed to escape from her pony tail. “What happened that night?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer, not sure she wanted to know.

“What do you mean? We ate and talked and drank. You were there.” He looked at her like she’d lost her mind, but it didn’t matter.

Nothing happened. She let out the breath she’d been holding, and for the first time since that morning in the snow, something she hadn’t realized had been wound tight, unraveled and she felt her chest loosen.

“You really don’t remember,” he said, searching her face, and she had to fight the urge to look away, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

“I woke up in my panties and T-shirt and…”

“And you thought I was the kind of man who’d take advantage of a drunk woman. Nice, very nice.”

She hadn’t meant to insult him, but how was she supposed to know. It wasn’t like they’d had some kind of relationship. They were, for all intents, strangers. How was she supposed to know where his moral compass pointed?

“That still doesn’t explain why you left.”

She stared at him, trying to decide if he was being deliberately dense. He looked irritated. There were creases at the corners of his hazel eyes, and his full lips were pressed into a tight line partially obscured by his beard. But there was nothing in his expression that made her think he was playing with her. It anything he looked more serious than she’d ever seen him.

“I was embarrassed,” she finally said, desperate to get out of the uncomfortable confines of his truck.

He arched an eyebrow at her, pinning her in place with his gaze.

“What?” she asked. He was making her flustered, and she didn’t do flustered. “I didn’t know what had happened between us, and I was embarrassed. I figured it was better to just leave quietly. I didn’t think I’d ever have to see you again.”

He reared back, making a sound low in his throat, and she knew he hadn’t taken what she’d said the way she meant it. Well, not exactly the way she meant it. She had been embarrassed. Not because there was anything wrong with him. In his soft blue Henley stretched tight across his strong broad shoulders, with his faded jeans riding low on his hips, he looked so undeniably male. She wanted to curl into his arms and breathe in his scent, tangling her fingers in the dark hair that curled around his neck. He’d smell like wood smoke. Even in the middle of town, she knew he’d bring part of the wildness of the forest with him.

She’d been embarrassed because she didn’t lose control, and she sure as hell didn’t do drunken one night stands with strangers she’d just met. He didn’t give her a chance to explain. He simply reached across her to open her door.

“I’m sorry you
have
to see me again, princess. I’ll try to stay out of your way.”

Crap, she had said that, hadn’t she? “I didn’t mean…” she started but he was out of the truck and moving across the parking lot toward Jude and Adam before she got the rest of the words out. “Well, just hell,” she said, climbing down from the cab and hurrying to catch up to her brothers.

Ian wasn’t sure what to make of Rachel. Given that she had a small army of brothers who he knew would pound him into oblivion if they found out he’d gotten her drunk, it was probably smarter and safer to walk away. She’d made herself clear. She’d thought he was the kind of guy who took advantage of drunk women, and she hadn’t wanted to see him again.

Or at least that’s what she’d said. She’d gotten herself so twisted up trying to explain, he’d almost felt sorry for her, or he would have if she hadn’t been so insulting. She was wound so tight; it drove him nuts.

Except for as crazy as it seemed, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Part of him admired the way she handled herself. He was pretty sure, given half a chance, Rachel Southerland could rule the world. Which only made the idea of her surrendering and giving in to something she wanted that much more compelling. What would it be like to see her lose control? Or even better, to be holding her in his arms when she did? With the way she’d gone after him in the truck, he doubted he’d ever get the chance to find out. That didn’t stop him from wanting to know.

“Hey man,” he said, closing the distance between him and Rachel’s brothers. Reaching for Jude’s hand, he clapped him on the back. He’d met Adam’s older brother a couple of times before and liked him. Looking at him now, he could see the family resemblance to Rachel. They had the same sandy blond hair and the same assessing look in their hazel eyes. Though at the moment Jude’s seemed colored with a fair bit of worry. “It’s good to see you again. I hear congratulations are in order. When’s the baby due?”

“Two weeks,” said Jude, looking strung so tight Ian had to wonder if he’d make it that long.

“Come on,” said Ian, motioning Jude toward the restaurant. “Let me buy you a drink. You look like you could use one.” Deliberately not glancing back over his shoulder, he followed the other man through the front door, leaving Adam to wait for his sister.

A pretty young woman with blonde hair and a pretty open smile waved to them. She was flanked on either side by two much less friendly looking men who may have been more Southerland brothers. Jude headed toward the large round table in the bar area where the trio waited.

“So Autumn’s had enough of you,” said the young woman, a mischievous gleam in her eye.

“Not in the mood tonight, brat,” said Jude, but his words didn’t carry any venom.

“Summer’s with her and Abby’s playing nurse. Don’t worry; they’ll take care of her,” said the man with the barber shop short hair and serious expression. Something in his bearing said military and Ian thought he might be Adam’s brother Travis, home from Afghanistan.

“I’m Andrew Coles,” said the other man, turning his attention to Ian.

“Ian Maxwell,” he said taking the man’s offered hand.

“Sorry,” said Adam, coming up behind them. Ian didn’t need to turn around to know that Rachel was with him. He could feel her, as if something in his body vibrated when she got close. “I forgot you haven’t met everyone. This is my friend Ian. That’s Andrew, town counselor and dirt bag lawyer.” Andrew raised his glass, and Ian grinned and nodded in greeting. “Travis, our family’s own American hero.” He said the words as if he was teasing his brother, but there was something serious in his tone that made it clear he believed them too. “And the brat in between them is my baby sister Taylor.”

Adam’s younger sister gave her brother an eye roll to rival any teenager’s before offering Ian her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ian,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze before turning her attention to her siblings behind him. “Will you all sit down so we can order? I’m starving.”