PLAYED: A Small Town Billionaire Romance (Reckless Falls Book 5) Read online

  Malcolm let out a small, whimpering cry at that, and my heart squeezed tightly in my chest. "There it is," I said with relief when I saw the big, sprawling 60s style building up ahead. "We're at the hospital."

  "Oh, my poor nerves," Charlie's mom mumbled, and reached for her cigarette pack again.

  I didn't even bother trying to find a place to park. I pulled right up into the loop where the ambulances sat waiting, wedging my bakery delivery van in between them like it belonged there.

  Then I hurried inside to the front desk. "My friend's son fell at the playground," I told the nurse behind the desk. "He's bruised up and pretty groggy."

  I looked behind me and saw Charlie's mom enter first, then stop to press her hand to her heart. Charlie sidestepped her, carrying Malcolm in, his head resting on her shoulder. "Charlie, don't let him fall asleep," I called out.

  Immediately, she started touching his face, and tugging on his ears. "Wake up, little man," she told him, the tension pouring out of her voice. "Come on little guy, wake up for Mama please."

  "You can go right back," the nurse said, rising up. "If it's a concussion, we need to treat now. Are you the mother?" she asked Charlie. Charlie nodded, biting her lip.

  "And I'm her mother," Charlie's mom declared, putting her hand on Charlie's shoulder. Even from several feet away I could still see how badly it was shaking.

  "You can both follow me then," the nurse said. Both women nodded and started to head to the double doors.

  But once she reached it, Charlie paused and looked back at me. I quickly turned around, grabbing at slip of paper from a notepad at the reception desk and jotting down my number. "Call me," I said, reaching out and handing her the piece of paper. "Let me know how he is. I'll take you home. Whatever you need, okay?"

  Charlie stood frozen for a moment, her lower lip wobbling slightly. Then all at once she threw her arm around my back and hugged me tight.

  I squeezed her, and then brushed my hand on Malcolm's back, feeling strangely grateful for some reason.

  Then I let her go so that she could go back and be with her son.

  The drive back to the bakery was strange one. Worry for that sweet little boy ate away at my stomach, but at the same time there was a weird pride twisting in my stomach.

  You need someone to look out for you, Zach's voice piped up in my head. I suddenly realized just how long it had been since the last time I heard it.

  Not since I'd met Finn and Jackson.

  "No I don't," I reminded it. "And what's more, I can help people."

  The thought made me smile.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Finn

  We stood on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant, neither one of us knowing what to do next.

  Instead of the fight we were expecting, Mike had greeted us warmly and invited us to watch him pack the delivery truck. We'd taken notes on what was coming, even opened a few of the cases to take photos of the bottle count with our phones.

  All of the wines we'd ordered were packed and ready to be driven over right now. Mike had let us climb into the truck ourselves and double-check that he wasn't screwing us, then closed it up and locked it tight before following behind us back to the restaurant.

  But we'd driven fast to get here first.

  "So here it is," Jackson mused, staring at the handwritten list we'd made up at the vineyard. "I'm folding it up and putting it in my pocket right now, okay?"

  I nodded and clenched my fists, looking into the restaurant.

  Mike wasn't screwing us.

  Which meant someone else was.

  "Do we confront him?" Jackson asked.

  I stopped pacing for a second to consider.

  But I had no plan.

  Not yet.

  Kyle's silhouette passed across the window then paused. I clenched my fist and started to move, "I'm gonna fucking break his..."

  "Hey!" Jackson grabbed me by the arm and spun me around. "We're not absolutely sure yet."

  "I'm pretty fucking sure," I reminded him.

  He grimaced. "I know. Me too. But we can't risk fucking everything over for just a hunch."

  "So what are we supposed to do, just go ask him?" I hissed. I was pissed off, livid actually. At Kyle, at the situation.

  But more than that, I was angry at myself.

  "I don't know yet."

  I paced in a tight circle. Kyle's shadow darkened the window again, and now I was sure he was watching. Probably wondering why we hadn't come in yet after our unexpected errand.

  "Dude, we have to do something, or he's gonna get spooked."

  I glanced back up again. The sound of heavy wheels and a squeaky axle made me sigh with relief even before I saw Bee's van bouncing its way down the street.

  Bee rolled up next to us and peered out, and some of my agitation gave way upon seeing her sweet face.

  "What are you boys doing out here?" she called.

  "Waiting for you!" Jackson called back with a grin.

  "Nice line," I muttered.

  "Better than you," Jackson hissed back.

  So I shoulder checked him out of the way and went to her first.

  She came to me with a smile, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me down for a long, deep kiss. I sighed against her mouth, pressing myself against her, pulling her small body as close to me as I possibly could. My hands traced the line of her curves, from the swell of her ripe, round ass, up the swaying curve of her back to cup her face. "I've missed you," I told her as I pulled away.

  Jackson reached out and touched her face, and I stepped back, allowing the two of them to have their reunion, and if I was at all surprised by how okay I was with all of this, I was more surprised by how much I liked seeing my best friend so in love.

  In love? Was that what this was?

  I shook my head, trying to clear it. "I missed you too," Jackson told her, echoing my sentiment.

  She chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "It's only been a day, guys. Geez."

  I shook my head. "Yeah, but it's been a pretty shitty day."

  She looked up at me, curious. "What's going on?"

  I looked over at Jackson, who shrugged. ""We are not a hundred percent sure yet, baby girl. But if it's true..."

  "We're fucked," I finished.

  At that, we heard the sound of wheels crunching on the pavement, and turned to see another truck rolling down our street. Jasper Hill Winery was painted on the side in swooping purple script. From the driver's seat, Mike lifted two fingers off the steering wheel in greeting.

  "Here we go," I muttered, waving back to him. "Should we go in?"

  "Nah man, let him get it checked in," Jackson reminded me. "That's the whole fucking point."

  "You've got the list?" I asked again.

  "Yes," Jackson sighed. "I told you. I have it right here." He patted his pants pocket.

  Bee was watching us with curious eyes, but she didn't ask any more questions, which made me want to kiss her even more than I already did.

  I took a deep breath and clenched my fists. "I'm too fucking jumpy to hang around here," I told her. "Let's do something else. Before I punch a hole in the wall or something."

  "What do you have in mind?" she asked, with a cheeky grin.

  I turned, and waggled my eyebrows at her suggestively. "I know what will help get my mind off my troubles," I said, squeezing her by the waist.

  She laughed and batted me in the chest. "How about we go for a walk instead?" she said.

  "Sounds boring," I complained.

  But she'd already twined her fingers in mine. "Come on," she urged. "You know I've lived here for four months now, and I've barely noticed there's a fucking lake right here?"

  I laughed. This girl was the best. I freaking loved her.

  Loved.

  Jackson was laughing too. "You know something? I said basically the same thing to Finn this morning. It's like we all woke up from a trance and noticed the giant body of water down here today."

&
nbsp; "It's pretty nice," Bee agreed, taking his hand. The three of us started walking all linked together this way, out on the wide, empty sidewalk where anyone could see.

  And I didn't mind at all.

  "So what have you been up to?" I asked her, squeezing her hand and lifting it to my lips.

  She lifted her head proudly. "Helping a friend," she declared, with a big, beautiful smile.

  "That's awesome," I told her.

  "In fact," she went on, musing. "I've been meaning to ask you guys about her. You think you could do me a favor?"

  "Anything," I said, at the same time that Jackson said, "Whatever you want." I glared at him for interrupting.

  "You guys are the best," she sighed, resting her head on my shoulder as we made our way down to the pebbly shoreline.

  "I know," Jackson declared. I reached behind Bee's head to smack him in the shoulder. She laughed and ducked as he launched himself towards my waist, sending me staggering several steps backwards. "Hey!" she called. "Don't kill each other until I tell you what I need!"

  "Sorry," Jackson grunted, stepping back and wiping his hands across the front of his shirt.

  "I think you broke my rib," I complained, delving at a tender place in my side.

  "Is this what I have to deal with from now on?" Bee complained, rolling her eyes heavenward.

  A wide grin spread over my face. I looked at Jackson, who gave a quick nod. "Yup," I told her.

  And then we both tackled her to the ground.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Jackson

  There was no one else around, so I didn't feel the need to watch out. Holding Bee's hand, swinging my arms to make her laugh as she held on to Finn with her other hand...

  Well it all felt perfectly fine.

  Even good.

  For a moment, I forgot what Finn and I were up against and was able to just lose myself in this incredible girl and the weird but amazing way we'd come together.

  The beach was strewn with algae and little bits of foam. I saw ripples rising from the surface and wondered if I'd ever get a chance to go fishing in these waters.

  "So this is the lake," Bee exhaled in a little singsong sigh. She bent down and plucked a smooth gray stone from the pebbly beach and chucked it into the water with a surprisingly competent overhand throw.

  "You've got an arm on you," I remarked as I followed the rock's arc. It fell to the water with a far-off plunking sound, sending ripples outward.

  "Baker muscles," Bee declared with a proud grin, then flexed to show off her biceps.

  "Ooh, remind me not to take you on in arm wrestling," I said with a grin.

  "You'd better not," she laughed. "I could kick your ass."

  "You wanna bet?"

  "How much?"

  "If I win," I growled, pulling her flush against me. "You owe me something sweet."

  Her teeth dragged across her lip and she peered up at me with those warm brown eyes. "But not too sweet, right?" she breathed. "That's how you like it."

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn turn away, giving us our moment and my chest squeezed gratefully tight that I had a friend like him.

  Because as I bent to kiss her, my head swam in dizzying circles to realize that this was real. She was real. And she was mine. I didn't give a shit that I had to share her with Finn. Whatever she'd give me, I would take it and treasure it. Fuck, whatever scraps she'd throw my way I'd fucking love with all my heart.

  I stiffened as it hit me like a blow to the head.

  "You okay?" she asked, pulling back and peering at me again. And I realized I must have made a sound when I realized...

  I loved her.

  The words crowded my mouth so that when I opened it, no sound came out. Bee slid her arm up my shoulder — unaware of the tornado of uncertainty that was swirling in my brain — and turned to look out at the lake again. "It's funny how you can just go the whole time and not even appreciate how pretty it is," she mused. "A whole huge lake, like a hundred yards from the door to my store." She shook her head.

  Finn sidled up again and nudged her with his shoulder. "I hear tell there's a waterfall too," he said with a grin.

  Bee laughed. "Sometimes I hear it when I come out to my car at night and no one else is around. But I haven't seen it yet." She turned to me eagerly. "We should go up there! All three of us!" Her eyes were so delighted, and I still hadn't recovered my powers of speech, so the only way I could respond was by leaning over and kissing her.

  Her sweet lips parted, allowing my tongue to sweep across hers in a slow, delicious dance. I heard the sound of Finn's lips on her neck and the way she sighed into my mouth made me wish this moment would last forever.

  She pulled back and slowly smiled at me, and I felt just like I was falling. I'd never felt this tender, not with any one. Not even with Mercy. I wanted to keep feeling it. To stretch it out forever. "How about we go up there right now?" I urged her, tugging on her hand.

  "Rain check," Finn growled. He sighed heavily and gestured up the street. I looked where he was pointing and saw it.

  The winery truck was leaving, pulling out of our back lot.

  That meant that Kyle had already checked the shipment in. My heart started to hammer. Bee looked between both of us, "What?"

  The perfect moment was broken. I sighed heavily and tried to drag my mind back down from the clouds. "Hopefully nothing, baby girl," I said, trying to convince myself that it was all going to work out. "Hopefully nothing."

  We walked hand-in-hand back up to the restaurant and I wanted so badly to just keep walking. Away from the stress and the suspicion. Away from the pressure and worry.

  But Finn and I were a team and he needed me here.

  He opened the door to Indigo, letting Bee through first. "After you," he joked with a small, sweeping bow.

  "Now who's the asshole?" I joked.

  He looked grim. "We're about to find out."

  Then he raised his voice. "Hey Kyle, you around?" he called out. "I just saw the winery truck leave."

  Kyle appeared in the front, his wide, puppy dog eyes somehow even wider.

  Did he look scared or was it my imagination? "Yeah boss," he said with a faint tinge of irritation in his voice. "The list is on your desk."

  "Showtime," I muttered, pulling my own handwritten list from my pocket.

  At the winery, Mike had let us on the truck. We'd seen every single bottle in this shipment and taken pictures of the loaded truck.

  Now it was time to see what had made it here.

  Finn went over to his office and grabbed the inventory slip that Kyle had filled out. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Kyle in the kitchen, pretending to be busy while keeping watch on us.

  I unfolded our list and held it out to Finn. His eyes darted from one paper to other. Then his shoulders sagged.

  Keeping his voice very low, he nodded to me. "Call the police."

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Bee

  Jackson whirled around, and pushed his way out the front door, his phone already in his ear. My heart thudded as I looked to Finn for an explanation.

  He pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Keep it down, baby girl," he murmured, brushing a kiss across my cheek. His lips wandered past my ear lobe. "I need you to just act normal.

  I swallowed and turned my head against his stubbled cheek. "Can I help?" I asked.

  I felt his smile against my skin. "Can you make sure Kyle doesn't leave?" he asked.

  I nodded without understanding. "Yeah, I can do that."

  Finn nodded grimly and went to follow Jackson.

  I took a deep breath. I had no idea what was going on but my guys needed my help.

  So I sidled over to where Kyle was reading receipts and entering them into his computer. "Busy, huh?" I chirped in my best happy-little-hostess voice.

  He turned and smiled nervously. "Yep," he said. I could tell he was trying to avoid conversation, but I planted myself right on his desk, crossing my
legs and leaning forward. "You guys are opening so soon! That's so exciting!" I chirped. I widened my eyes as big as I could get them. "Is this your first restaurant job?" I asked breathlessly.

  He sat back, looking vaguely annoyed. "Not really," he said with a tight smile.

  I cocked my head and smiled back at him, watching him closely.

  There was something off about his face. His eyes were wide and innocent, bright and shining like he was going to start crying at any moment. But his mouth was cold. His smile didn't reach his eyes. There was no other word for it, it looked fake.

  I smiled even wider, and leaned back against the desk, propping myself up with my hand so that my back arched.

  His eyes dropped right to my tits then back up to my face. I shimmied a little, as if trying to get comfortable and his eyes dropped right back to my tits again.

  So that's how it is, I said to myself. A few weeks ago I wouldn't have even noticed. Or if I had, I would have gotten so embarrassed at being stared at that I'd have run out of the room. But now?

  "How old are you?" I ventured with a smile, reaching out to touch his arm.

  His eyes took on hungry look, but they were still wary. He glanced behind me, and I looked where he was looking and saw that Finn was standing on the sidewalk outside of the window, talking to Jackson who was repeating whatever he was saying back into his phone. At that moment, both of my guys glanced inside at us.

  Kyle swallowed, and stood up. "I need to check something around back," he announced, his voice cracking.

  "Oh yeah, can I come?" I asked quickly. "After all, I should go over to my shop soon, you know?" I babbled, keeping myself glued to his side. "I can't believe I haven't had you over to my shop yet! Duh, I am such an idiot." I clapped my hands against my forehead.

  "Maybe someday, yeah, sure," Kyle said nervously, trying to edge his way around me.

  But I stood deliberately in his path, feigning obliviousness. "We are neighbors after all," I reminded him, blocking the door. I drew my fingers down the front of my shirt, giving it a little tug so that neckline dipped lower.

  Kyle stopped trying to sidestep me and stood stock still.