Gilded Craving: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 3) Read online

  "Lead the way."

  To her surprise he took her hand, a frisson of electricity running up her arm and straight to her heart. She was so distracted by her inconvenient reaction that she didn't hear or see the speeding car heading straight for them as they were in the crosswalk. It was only when Ryan dragged her to the safety of the sidewalk that she realized what had happened.

  "Holy hell, he needs to slow down," she gasped, picking up her purse where it had fallen to the pavement. Ryan was scowling at the road and the car had disappeared. "Thanks for thinking fast."

  "That idiot could have killed us both," he ground out, muttering a not so nice word under his breath. "Where could he be going in such a damn hurry?"

  "Maybe he had an emergency."

  "You always try to think the best of people," Ryan laughed. "I think he was probably just a jerk driving like an asshole."

  "Or he might just be a jackass," Mariah agreed. "We'll never know. He's gone anyway, and hopefully he won't run down any more innocent pedestrians."

  Ryan gave one last disgusted look in the direction that the car had turned but of course it was long out of sight. To be honest, she hadn't really seen it to begin with.

  He reached for her hand again and she braced herself for the contact. As of the last ten years hadn't happened, his mere touch was enough to send tingles to her toes.

  This is not good.

  Ryan Beck was a dangerous man.

  Ryan had ordered bacon, eggs, and toast for himself, and Mariah had ordered a lemon-poppy seed muffin after explaining that she'd already had breakfast with Liza earlier.

  "Have you lost your appetite?" he teased. "I've seen you put away two breakfasts many times in the past."

  Laughing, she shook her head. "Eating like that isn't a good idea. It's bad enough that all the takeout restaurants within ten miles of my apartment are on a first name basis with me."

  "Did you ever learn to cook?"

  Mariah's parents had sort of been hippies who had started a health food store chain that had somehow become wildly successful despite them not believing much in capitalism. For her, rebellion had consisted of eating junk food and drinking soda. Her parents had put it down to Mariah expressing herself and they'd assumed she'd grow out of it. Apparently, she hadn't.

  "No, but I keep telling myself that someday I will. Mom keeps threatening to try and teach me."

  That wasn't a good idea either. Mariah's mother was an amazing woman and Ryan adored her but she couldn't cook. Her idea of cooking was wheat germ wraps with hummus and sunflower seeds.

  A thought popped into Ryan's head and the words were out before he could stop himself.

  "Didn't your husband ever want a home-cooked meal?"

  Shit. I need to learn to keep my big mouth shut.

  Ryan had never met Mariah's ex-husband, but that didn't stop him from wondering about the guy. He didn't even know what he looked like. Liza had offered several times to show him pictures on her phone of the "happy couple" but he'd refused every damn time.

  Instead of looking pissed off about his question, Mariah instead appeared confused.

  "He was a Michelin star chef, Ryan, so...no. He never expected me to cook at all."

  A fucking chef? Leave it Mariah, a food lover, to marry a chef.

  "I didn't realize. I guess Liza never told me."

  She may have tried but he had ignored her.

  Mariah's expression was still quizzical.

  "We're divorced now so it doesn't really matter. So how about this apology you promised me? I'm waiting anxiously, although I've been checking the sky carefully."

  He followed her gaze out of the restaurant front window to the blue sky overhead. "Why are you checking the weather?"

  "I'm not checking the weather. I'm checking for pigs flying."

  "Are you referring to my apology?"

  She was being more than a bit dramatic about it. He was going to apologize. She deserved one.

  "The one I haven't received yet? Yes."

  Smart ass.

  "I was just waiting until I'd had my coffee but since you're so anxious I can do it now. I'm sorry. I apologize about the way I acted last night. I was a jerk."

  She studied him for a long moment and then nodded. "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. This whole thing with Brad has me off-kilter. And thank you for apologizing."

  "You keep saying that I never have before."

  "And you think that's wrong."

  He frowned, his mind all the way back to when they were dating. "I'm sure that I have. I can't remember a particular instance, but I can't imagine that we went out for years and I never apologized for something in that time."

  The waitress slipped his plate in front of him and then set down Mariah's muffin.

  "I don't want to start another argument with you, Ryan. The past is the past. Digging it up and examining it won't change anything. But I am sorry for saying that you didn't change. Clearly, you have changed."

  "For the better?"

  Now, why did I ask that? Do I really want to know?

  Laughing, she cut into her muffin. "Does your ego need a boost? Yes, for the better. So far, anyway. You could be a total dick, though, and I just haven't seen it yet."

  "I'm not a dick. And I do want to be friends."

  He'd thought about it all last night because he had insomnia and didn't sleep much. Mariah. The past. Their argument. And the future too. She was right that them being friends would be easier on Liza, and he wanted to make his sister's life easier if he could. She was the one person in his family that he was still close to.

  Her gaze softened and she smiled, a real one. Perhaps the first real smile he'd seen from her since she'd opened her front door last night. He wasn't sure that he liked the way it made his heart lurch and his stomach twist in his gut. He shouldn't be reacting this way at all.

  "I'd like that, too."

  Clearing this throat, he dug into his breakfast, wanting to ignore the rush of emotion he'd felt. It was out of place. Inconvenient. Unwanted.

  "Are you going to the memorial service later?" she asked. "We could split an Uber."

  "That's a good idea," he heard himself saying. "We have to be there by three."

  "I'll be ready. I won't make you wait."

  He opened his mouth to remind her of all the times she had made him wait but then decided it was a bad idea. They were spending way too much time in the history of their relationship.

  She believed that he'd changed. He could do the same.

  He told himself that he wouldn't think about the past anymore but he knew it was a big lie. This case was dragging him back there whether he liked it or not.

  10

  They were going to give it a second try at being friends. Mariah wasn't sure what changed Ryan's tune this morning but she was happy about it. She hadn't liked that they could barely be around one another. It was hard on Liza and that wasn't fair to her either.

  When they'd broken up, it hadn't been some big dramatic thing with lots of crying and yelling. Ryan had brought up the subject first but she hadn't been surprised. They'd been working their way towards it for awhile. If anything, it had sort of been a relief. She didn't have to keep trying so hard anymore. Their relationship had turned into a great deal of work and they'd been too young to know how to do it.

  Now that she was older and wiser it didn't look all that daunting, to be honest, but back then their issues had seemed insurmountable.

  And actually kind of petty too, when compared to what was happening right now. She was sitting in the pew of a lovely old church listening to the clergyman talk about how wonderful of a person Brad was and how much everyone missed him.

  Ryan was sitting next to her, his wide shoulders pressed closely to hers with Liza and her husband Mike on her other side. A few rows in front of them were Jack and Patricia, Ryan and Liza's parents along with Skip and Lily Harrington. Skip's face was stoic, almost carved from granite while Lily cried int
o a handkerchief as Patricia comforted her. Jack stared straight ahead, his hands folded on his lap and the small program they'd been given when arriving tucked into the breast pocket of his dark suit.

  Brad's brother Sebastian was sitting to the left of his father with a pretty woman that appeared to be his girlfriend or maybe wife. Mariah hadn't heard that Seb had married but it was entirely possible. He had his arm around the woman's shoulders and she was sniffling into a shredded tissue while he patted her arm.

  The room was full of people that Mariah recognized and a few that she didn't. It was like jumping into the deep end of her past seeing them again. These last several years she hadn't really kept up with most of them, preferring to live a quiet life with her art and a few friends and family.

  When the minister finished, Daniel Bosworth went to the podium to talk about Brad. Dan was an old friend and he and Brad had always been close. They'd gone to the same boarding school and then college. They'd been like brothers.

  Dan told the assembled guests a few crazy stories from their time at boarding school that had everyone smiling. He ended his speech in tears, his hand over his heart.

  "I miss you every day, buddy, and I think of you every day. Rest in peace. You were just too good for this world."

  When the service was over, they all filed outside where people were still milling about, hugging and talking.

  "Brace yourself," Ryan warned, his hand on her elbow. "Jack and Patricia are heading right for us."

  Mariah had always liked Ryan's parents and they'd gotten along well. She understood his frustration with them as they had some very definite ideas about what their son should have done with this career, but she'd never understood the ruthless way he'd basically cut them from his life after college. From what Liza had told her, he barely visited once a year and even then, he avoided his mother and father like the plague. Liza had said that their mother was heartbroken and his father was obviously disappointed, although he hadn't expressed anything out loud.

  Jack Beck was an older version of Ryan except with silver hair and a few more lines in his face. Still handsome and vital in his sixties, Jack looked every inch the debonair businessman in his dark pinstriped suit.

  Patricia was tall and graceful, her blonde hair cut into a sleek bob that just touched her shoulders. Today she was in a stylish dark blue Chanel suit paired with a simple strand of pearls. She might be sixty in a few days but she could have easily passed for forty-five.

  After hugging Ryan, Patricia beamed at Mariah, giving her a kiss on each cheek. "We don't get to see enough of you, dear. You must come by for dinner sometime. I'll call you and set something up."

  "I'd love that. I think the last time I saw you was at Liza's birthday party."

  The older woman nodded in agreement. "I think that's when it was. Far too long, if you ask me."

  "Son," Jack said gruffly, shaking his son's hand before turning to Mariah. "It’s wonderful to see you again, Mariah. Patricia is right, you need to come for dinner. In fact, why don't you come with Ryan tomorrow night?"

  She could feel Ryan stiffen beside her and she held her breath. This could go so badly or it could be fine.

  "Dad, I'm not sure–"

  "It would hurt your mother's feelings if you declined," Jack said firmly, his gaze intent on Ryan. "Besides, you have to eat even if you're working."

  "We would love to have both of you," Patricia said softly. She was looking at her son with such love and adoration. How did Ryan not see it? "I can have the cook make roast chicken. It's your favorite."

  Clearing his throat, Ryan shifted on his feet. "Of course, I'll be there, Mom."

  His mother's gaze traveled back to Mariah. "And Mariah, too? We haven't seen her in so long."

  "If she's free. I can't speak for her."

  It was pure instinct for Mariah to agree. She'd run interference for Ryan with his parents many times before. It came as naturally as breathing. She'd already said yes before she remembered that it wasn't really her problem anymore.

  Oh well. The roast chicken is divine.

  Jack checked his watch. "We need to be going. I have a conference call with California in an hour."

  Patricia hugged Ryan again and the older couple headed for the exit, only stopping to bid goodbye to a few friends.

  "Heaven forbid Dad might miss a conference call."

  Mariah didn't like the sarcasm in Ryan's tone. It wasn't her job to call him on it anymore but what the hell? Somebody ought to and Liza wasn't here to do it.

  "What's your problem? He has a conference call. So what?"

  "He always put work before his family."

  "His family seems fine today. Why is it so terrible that he might take a call? You worked today, too."

  A muscle jumped in his cheek. She'd pissed him off. Good.

  "That wasn't a big deal."

  "Maybe this call isn't either."

  "Whose side are you on?"

  "Is it a war? Call me Switzerland."

  "You know how he is."

  "I do, but I don't think you do."

  He muttered something under his breath that she couldn't quite make out but had the feeling it wasn't all that complimentary of her. She had a few things she could say right back to him.

  With his hand on her lower back, he pressed her forward toward the exit but immediately their path was blocked by one of their old friends, Carl Winwood.

  "We're all going to have a drink," Carl said, giving Mariah a hug. "You have to come, too."

  Carl had been Ryan's best friend for years. Red-haired and freckled, Carl always had a big smile on his face except for today. Did they still keep in touch? She had no idea, but she'd always liked him. He'd brought out the best in Ryan and vice versa.

  Raising his brows in question, Ryan waited for her to accept or decline. She would say yes, of course. She wanted to see her old friends and catch up, although it was a terrible reason for a reunion.

  They all decided to meet up at a restaurant and bar within walking distance. Ryan and Mariah walked with Carl and he'd assured them that most of the group was already there. Without spouses. It was just going to be the old friend group today.

  "It's awful that we're seeing each other under these sad circumstances but I'm so damn glad to see both of you," Carl said as he pulled open the door of the bar. "We can't let it go this long again."

  "We won't," Ryan promised, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "I've been too caught up in my job but I want to change that. Make time for my friends more."

  Mariah didn't say much as they were led deeper into the restaurant to a back area that was dimly lit and quiet, separate from the rest of the establishment with a set of French doors. Two tables had been pushed together and most of the chairs were already filled with familiar faces.

  Dan was there, as was Theo Perkins, both dressed in dark suits but there the similarity ended. Dan looked like a blond surfer guy while Theo had the dark hair and eyes passed down from his Greek grandmother.

  Liza and her husband Mike were there too, of course. Liza was talking to Daphne Eastman and Isla Norton. On her other side was Trent Garfield, tapping something out on his phone and barely giving the group any of his attention.

  Trent had a love-hate thing going with Brad all those years ago. They were friends but deeply competitive with one another. They competed about anything and everything. Cars, grades, women, or something as stupid as who could eat the most cheeseburgers. They'd constantly tried to one up each other and most of the time it had been a friendly sort of thing. But a few days before Brad's disappearance they'd argued - loudly. Trent had stomped off and Mariah had no idea if they'd ever made up. Trent hadn't been at the bar the night Brad had disappeared.

  "Where is–"

  Mariah didn't finish her question. The answer had just walked into the room. The one person she hadn't seen yet.

  Caroline - red-faced and crying. Her eyes were swollen from tears. She and Brad had dated on and off for years, althoug
h she'd married Dan about eight years ago. From what Mariah had heard, Dan and Caroline had two kids and were very happy together.

  "Oh my God, Mariah! I'm so glad to see you!"

  Caroline rushed forward and wrapped Mariah in a hug before stepping back, her gaze darting back and forth between Ryan and her friend.

  "Are you two back together? That's wonderful," she gushed. "Finally, some good news. I always knew you two were meant for each other. You look amazing together. Like it was meant to be. True love."

  Well...dammit.

  Mariah didn't want to rain on Caroline's parade, especially on a day like today, but she didn't want everyone thinking that she and Ryan were back together. They weren't. The friends thing was hard enough.

  "Um, we're just here as friends," Mariah replied, stumbling a little over the words. "It's not like...that."

  "Just friends," Ryan piped up, his hand squeezing her elbow slightly as if he was nervous. "But good friends."

  She'd been promoted to good friend today. That was fast.

  "Oh." Caroline's face fell. "That's okay, I guess."

  Dan had stood when his wife entered the room and came up beside Caroline, sliding his arm around her waist. "Honey, if you need to go home I can call you–"

  "No," the other woman said with a firm shake of her head. "I want to be here with all of my friends. I'm not going home."

  Pivoting on her high heel, Caroline strode to the table and sat down in an empty chair, signaling the waitress. Dan watched and then turned back to Ryan and Mariah, his expression concerned.

  "I'm worried about her. She keeps saying that she's fine but she's been crying on and off since we got the news. I think she's afraid that I'll be angry if she reveals just how upset she is about all of this. Hell, we're all upset. Why shouldn't she be, too? She and Brad were together for a long time. I wouldn't expect anything less."

  "That's a good attitude to have," Ryan said. "Just let her know that you're there for her. It'll be alright eventually."

  Dan nodded, his solemn gaze resting on Mariah. "I heard about your divorce. I'm sorry we didn't get in touch. We've been terrible friends."