Closing The Gap (Dangerous Pasts, #1) (29 page)

****

L
ake itched everywhere, her pale skin covered in dirt and sweat.  The barn help had contracted the flu at the same time so Chad had asked her to help get horses ready to work, clean stalls and feed and water.  Not used to such hard, physical labor, she welcomed this trip straight into her hot shower. She’d have preferred a long soak in the hot tub but Ryan had arrived in town from Florida today to visit her and Summer.  Lake was excited to have him in Scottsdale.  She hadn’t seen him since the hospital although they talked and texted.  Seeing him in the flesh would provide confirmation he hadn’t suffered any lingering effects from the shooting.  Judging by the conversations they’d shared, his wicked sense of humor had returned in full force so she felt optimistic he’d returned to his old self.

Summer had mentioned dinner as a group with Ryan and Chuck.  Lake avoided Chuck and he noticed but Chuck reminded her too much of Josh.  It was too painful to spend time with him when he bore into her soul with those identical blue eyes.  She couldn’t tolerate any more physical reminders without opening the floodgates to tears again.  The poignant memories that were her constant companions were painful enough.

Still, Ryan remained close to Chuck and they wanted to spend quality time together during this trip, so she’d conceded.  Thankful that Lance had arrived to help her with hair and make-up tonight, she found she could barely lift her arms above her head.  Hoisting hay was hard work.  As she stepped across the threshold into her living room, she noticed that Lance sat on her sofa, eating Maria’s homemade guacamole.

“Look at what the cat drug in.  I’m not sure I can do anything with that canvas.  Don’t come any closer.  I’m sure you stink!”

“Chad needed help in the barn today.  I’m going to jump in the shower.  I’ll meet you in the bathroom in ten minutes.”

Lake walked towards the bathroom as Lance finished his snack.  She turned the water on and adjusted the temperature.  Anxious to slide in to the stream of hot water, Lake quickly stripped out of her work clothes.  It would ease the tension that laced her muscles.  As she rubbed her moisturizing body wash into her skin, she used that opportunity to massage the places that ached with her fingertips.  After shampooing her hair with her cherry shampoo, she leaned back into the cascade from the shower head and let the water run all over her hair and back.  She still used that shampoo every day, like a crack addict.  She couldn’t stop herself.  The smell reminded her of Las Vegas.

“Almost done in there?”  She could hear drawers opening and closing as Lance rummaged around for supplies.

Lake turned off the water and pushed some air past her lips.  She couldn’t hide in the shower forever.  She opened the door and let the blissful steam escape, then grabbed her robe from the hook next to the shower door.  “Yes, I’m done.”

****

“G
reat, we don’t have much time.”  Lance sucked in a ragged breath, then let out a horrified gasp.  The brief glimpse he’d had of her naked body before she shrugged into her robe, gave him pause.  She looked way too thin.  Her hip bones protruded through her skin.  “Lake, have you been eating?”

“I confess.  I haven’t had much appetite.  Maria has been giving it her best effort, though.”

“You are way too skinny.  It’s gross.  I’m going to watch you eat your lunch every day.  Men aren’t attracted to stick figures.”

“Well, I’m not attracted to men.”

“Really?  I wasn’t aware your door swung that way.”  Lance struggled to hide his irritation.  She could behave like a stubborn mule when she’d made up her mind about something.  Even when she knew in her heart she was dead wrong.  “I’m pretty sure there’s at least one you’re attracted to.”

“We’re not mentioning his name.  Ever.”

“You might not be but that won’t stop me.”  Lance asked her to sit on the stool in front of him and put her hair up in an absorbent towel while he worked on her make-up.  “How many months as it been since you’ve talked to him, Lake.”

“Five.”

“That’s five too many.  He’s not going to reach out to you, you know.  You have to make the first move.  You shit all over his heart and publicly rejected him after everything he did for you. He does have some pride. I hate to say this out loud but it might be too late.”

Lance could tell he’d hit a nerve.  Lake tensed and rifled her next words at his head.  “Maybe I don’t want him.  Besides, I’m sure he’s moved on to another woman.  A man like that doesn’t stay single.  All he has to do is drag out his electronic rolodex and call his latest slut to come over.”  She didn’t admit to the daily internet searches.

“I don’t think that last comment was fair, Lake.  Besides, the lifeless skin and hair, dark circles and emaciated body speak differently about what you truly want.  Quit being so pigheaded.  This is getting past the point of ridiculous.  If you won’t listen to Summer, please, listen to me.  If you don’t do something soon, I’m going to be forced to call in reinforcements.”

“No, please, not Chuck.”

“Oh no, I have far greater resources than Chuck.  If you don’t do something about this immediately, I’m going to be forced to call your mother!”

“S
he looks like ass, something I never thought I would say.”  Ryan and Summer stood conspiring outside Chuck’s black Mercedes as they watched Lake walk towards them in her skinny jeans, knee high beige suede boots and pink chiffon blouse. “Bony, like she needs a sandwich.  I barely even recognize her.  Josh might not still want her looking like that.  I vote we conduct a memorial service to mourn the loss of her sexy curves.”

“I know.  It’s pathetic.”

Chuck could have driven Lake or Summer’s car but Ryan wanted to put Lake inside the vehicle that she and Josh had borrowed for their first date to weaken her.  It was a brilliant move, to take her back to that place and force her to face her feelings.  She could simply buckle up for the trip down memory lane.  Of course, Chuck agreed with his plan so it had been easy to enlist his help.  It was time to put her at ease until he laid the hammer down.  Ryan met her in the middle of the driveway with his arms outstretched, then he wrapped her tiny body in his and squeezed.

“I’ve missed you.”  As he planted a kiss on her temple, his voice caressed her, soft and soothing. 

“Me too.  You look fantastic!  I’m so grateful to see you looking so much like yourself.”

“Absolutely.  It would take more than a bullet to keep me down for long.”  As he chuckled, he took her hand in his and led her towards the car where Chuck and Summer waited.

****

S
ummer grabbed Lake for a quick hug and whispered in her ear.  “You should have gone for the boot cut, Lake.  You’re making yourself look even skinnier.”

Distress settled in the lines of her face.  “Should I run in and change?  I guess I hadn’t considered my outfit.  I just wanted to be comfortable.”

“No, it’s fine.  We told you to be casual and comfortable.”  Lake thought it peculiar that Summer wanted to express concern about her wardrobe.  She hadn’t given her jeans much consideration but the shirt draped against her skin and the baby pink color choice made her feel closer to
him
ever since he’d mentioned it was his favorite.

After a quick hug for Chuck, she slid into the driver’s side back seat with Ryan to her right.  She felt ashamed that she’d avoided Chuck.  She missed his company and their conversations.  He was going to do the driving that evening at Ryan’s request.

As Chuck guided the vehicle out onto the street, Lake noticed the heavy tension that made the air thick and dark.  Why were they treating her with kid gloves?  They were just grabbing a bite to eat for goodness sakes.  Maybe the atmosphere was strained because they wanted to talk about him but were afraid she might shatter into pieces if they did.  “I worked in the barn today helping Chad with the chores so I didn’t have a chance to check in with Summer.  Where are we headed?  Somewhere good, I hope.  I’m famished.”

Chuck caught Ryan’s eye through the rear view mirror.  It had become obvious they were plotting something that she didn’t know about and wouldn’t like.  Funny, how they’d nominated the most charming one as the designated spokesperson for their covert operations.

Ryan turned towards her and looked her straight in the eye as he spoke with his smooth, sexy drawl.  “The Coyotes are in town so we thought it would be fun to catch the game together.  I scored us great seats close to the ice.  Don’t say you won’t give me a chance to impress you lovely ladies with my superior knowledge.”

Lake slid deeper into her seat as though the butter soft leather had dissolved underneath her and she was careening down a black hole into the abyss.  “
No
!”  Her arm shot out to grab for the door handle.  She found it locked, offering zero chance of escape.

Summer looked annoyed as she glanced back over her shoulder.  “Good God, Lake.  They’re playing the Stars tonight.  What’s the big deal?  Chuck’s not going to compromise your safety by letting you jump out into the street at thirty miles an hour and become road kill.”

“I can’t believe you would do this to me, plot behind my back!  Aren’t you supposed to care about me and want what’s best for me?  I don’t have ignorant tattooed across my forehead.  I ordered the NHL network for this season.  The Coyotes are playing the Blackhawks tonight!”

“Uh, oh.  Busted.”  Summer turned back towards the windshield and remained silent.

****

W
ith her subtle concession, relief coursed through Ryan’s veins and he’d gladly take on her righteous indignation.  The lady might protest too much but if she’d watched Trash on cable and knew his schedule, she still cared.  Perhaps going to the game wasn’t such a hair brained idea after all.  They might just get their happy ending tonight.  He planted the famous Roberts smirk on his face and decided to back her even further into a corner.

“Why ever would you order the NHL network for this season, gorgeous?  A sudden interest in a bunch of sweaty, toothless bastards fighting over a black disc?  Or, could it possibly be something else?”

“Oh, please, just shut up!”  Lake fell forward over her lap, her face covered by her long fingers and her wavy hair.  He hoped the confines of the luxury car covered her like a gilded cage with nowhere to hide.  She needed to stop running.

Chuck sighed and spoke with deliberate intent.  “Lake, sweetheart, it’s time for you two kids to stop arguing.”

“We’re not arguing.  We’re not
anything
!”

Ryan had to interject.  “Oh, you’re
something
alright.  You’re both so stupid you’d stare at an orange juice can just because it says concentrate.”

“I hate you.”  Her angry words and expressions would not stop him.

“In the words of someone
almost
as good looking as me, frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!”

Lake twisted her entire body towards the window, and didn’t say another word the entire ride to Jobing.  Even Chuck gave up trying to include her in the conversation and just looked somber.  Ryan was certain Chuck had no clue what had happened that day in the hospital with the engagement and subsequent rejection and he wouldn’t betray Josh’s confidence by spilling the beans now.  When the car pulled in to a parking place and Chuck shifted into park releasing the locks, Lake jumped out and slammed the door.  Ryan tumbled out after her and clenched her shoulder as he turned her to face him.

“Don’t even think about walking away from me.”  He hadn’t wanted to play this card, but she’d forced him to it.  “After everything I’ve been through for you, you owe me.  You will come with me.  You will smile and laugh.  You will put your sexy ass in the seat and enjoy this hockey game!”  Whispering towards her ear so only she could hear, he continued.  “You will not put, Chuck Adams, one of the greatest men I have ever known, in an uncomfortable position.  Are we clear?”

Summer twirled around, threw a hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side.  “Quit with the demanding tone.  It’s turning me on.”

He appreciated her attempt to lighten the mood but Lake’s behavior bordered on the ridiculous.  If those two stubborn jackasses ever got together, the Catholic Church would declare it a miracle.  They deserved one another, if only to keep two rational people safe from their foolish antics.  Was there any wonder he didn’t want to be involved in a serious relationship?  They always morphed into just too damn much work.  He reached into a duffle bag he had placed on the floor and yanked out his college jersey from Michigan with his last name and number, fifteen. 

“Put this on.  It will look like a dress on you.  Pull it up over your head for all I care.  Then maybe, he won’t even be able see you.  Not that he would want to, the way you’re behaving.”

For a second, he thought Lake might throw the jersey back in his face but she must have decided he looked angry enough not to take the chance.  That and the censure about making a scene in front of Chuck had made her pause.  Good.  Let her be worried about how pissed off he looked.  It took a lot to get him there but this scenario could try the nerves of Mother Theresa.  She wriggled through the head and arm holes and smoothed it over her slight body.  He’d been dead on.  It almost came down to her knees.  Even without binoculars, Trash would be able to keep an eye on her. 

Ryan glanced at his watch and noticed it was 6:45.  Great, they had plenty of time to purchase refreshments since they weren’t really going out to dinner and get Lake to her seat so he could institute the second phase of the plan.  The group made their way into the arena and handed their tickets to the section usher after grabbing chips and beer at the concession stand.  Stopping at the top of the stairs, Ryan let out a sigh of relief that no one had recognized him.  He didn’t trust Lake not to overpower Summer and Chuck and flee the scene to grab a cab while he spent time signing autographs or posing for pictures.