Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set (185 page)

“Sorry about that.” He grabbed the barbeque sauce from the cupboard. “The time just got away from me, I guess,” he said sheepishly. He set the platter down on the table and took a seat, too.

Over dinner, Ryan shared with Kate what it was like growing up in Boise, and she described her years being raised in Seattle, then going off to college in California. The conversation was pleasant and upbeat, but thoughts of Whitney niggled in the back of her mind. Likely Ryan’s too, for she could tell he was stepping around the subject of her sister, guessing he didn’t want to risk upsetting her. And Kate, too, avoided talking about Whitney, reluctant to dampen the mood.

She still felt a little guilty about enjoying Ryan’s company when her sister might be struggling for her life somewhere, but as he had reminded her earlier, there was nothing they could do tonight but wait for word from the police.

“That was really good, Ryan.” She placed her fork across her plate.

“Mmmm, yes it was. I’m stuffed,” he replied as he patted his stomach. “I guess I didn’t burn the meat too badly.”

“No room for dessert?”

“Maybe later. There’s probably ice cream in the freezer. Mom always keeps a couple of flavors for my dad.”

Kate stood and began to pick up their dishes.

“Here, let me get that,” Ryan offered. He took the plates and glasses to the sink while Kate picked up the salad bowl and half-empty baking dish and came to stand beside him at the sink.

“Those potatoes were so delicious. I’ll have to get the recipe from your mom.”

“I’m sure she’ll be happy to share it.”

“I’ll get the stuff into the dishwasher, Ryan. Why don’t you go and sit down? I will just be a minute.”

“Okay, if you don’t need me.” He moved to the great room and was about to take a seat when he saw the logs and kindling. “Hey, it looks like Dad got the fireplace ready to light. Would you like a fire tonight?”

“That would be wonderful,” Kate answered from the kitchen, thinking about how warm and cozy it would make that room. A roaring fire was one thing she missed about living in her condo in Southern California.

“Do you mind if we watch a little of the Boise State game on TV? Most likely it’s more than half over by now, but I’d like to see if my alma mater is ahead.”

“Sure,” she replied, smiling down at the dishes she was sticking in the dishwasher. Kate could hardly believe how comfortable and at home she felt in this house—and with Ryan.

She watched him click on the widescreen TV with the remote control and find the ESPN channel. There before her eyes was the bright blue turf of Boise State. She could see it vividly from where she stood.

She finished cleaning up before joining him on the sofa and enjoying the blazing fireplace. “You weren’t kidding when you said the turf was blue,” she said from the kitchen, getting no response from Ryan.

“Ryan.” She spoke a little louder, moving toward the great room.

“Yeah?” he responded, intently focused on the game.

“You weren’t kidding when you said the turf was blue.” She laughed as she walked over to sit down next to him. “It’s kind of Smurf blue, isn’t it?”

“You didn’t believe me, did you?” he teased.

“Well, what’s the score?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Boise State 21, Virginia Tech 14. They’re just one touchdown apart.”

“Go Boise!” she declared, pumping a fist in the air, wanting to sound like she was supporting Ryan’s team. In truth, she knew very little about football. The sum total of her football knowledge was that she knew when a touchdown was made and that there was usually a kick for the extra point after, but simply rooting for the home team seemed fun and a nice diversion.

“Woo hoo! Go Broncos!” Ryan called out in response to a great play his team just made. “I’ll bet Mom and Dad are having a great time at the game. They love their Broncos.”

Then Virginia Tech scored again, and the game was tied. It was early in the fourth quarter. Boise State got the ball, pulled off what Ryan explained was a Statue of Liberty play, known as a
trickeration
, and the receiver made an unexpected beeline to their end zone and scored.
Touchdown!

Kate and Ryan were on their feet cheering. Their lead didn’t last long as Virginia Tech scored again, tying the game once more.

With only thirty-five seconds left on the clock, Boise needed to score again to win. Otherwise, they would be going into overtime. Kate was getting into the game with the help of Ryan’s play-by-play announcing. She had a death grip on his forearm as the ball was hiked to BSU’s quarterback. He threw the ball to one of the receivers, apparently with the precision of a surgeon. The ball was caught near Boise’s ten-yard line and the receiver ran it in for a touchdown with only three seconds left on the clock.

Kate and Ryan jumped to their feet again, whooping and hollering with excitement as Boise State won. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He started to put his arms around her, but then she let go, not sure if she should have done that.

He looked surprised, as if he was wondering what to do next.

Kate decided she liked kissing him—it felt right. So, she eased her arms back around his neck and kissed him again, letting him envelop her in his arms this time. He returned the kiss, first softly, then deeply.

Their embrace was interrupted by the jangling sound of Kate’s phone ringing in her pocket. Her first thought was that it might be news about Whitney. Ryan let go of her and she hurried to answer it.

“Hello, this is Kate.”

“Hi, this is Detective Porter.”

“Is there any news?”

“Well, the computer tech was going through your sister’s computer a second time and I think we may have found something.”

“What?”

“I’m not sure that it means anything, but my gut is telling me it might. It’s a photo Whitney had saved on her computer as ‘Suki & guy.’ It looks like she snapped a picture of a worn old photo with her phone, so it’s not real sharp. The tech didn’t think it meant anything earlier, when he was scrolling through the files. However, tonight I was standing over his shoulder when the file came up in her list of saved photos, and I recalled that yellow sticky note we found in your sister’s room. Remember? The one that said ‘Suki & guy’ with a question mark on it?”

“Yes, I remember that. What do you suppose it means?”

“I don’t really know. I thought maybe you could take a look at the picture and tell us. Is there a computer where you’re staying? I thought I could email the photo to you.”

“Let me check.” She turned to Ryan. “Detective Porter has a photo he wants to email to me. Is there a computer here I can use?”

“Sorry, Dad took it to the shop for repairs when I was here last weekend.”

“No, Detective Porter, there isn’t a computer here,” she said.

“Hmm,” Porter responded. “I wonder if there’s any other way to get it to you.”

“What about my iPhone?” Ryan suggested. “He could email it to me.” He quickly wrote on a scrap of paper.

Kate picked up the paper. “Okay. You can send it to my friend Ryan’s email address, and he’ll get it on his phone. Send it to
Ryan at RyanWilsonHomes
—all one word—
dot com
.”

“I can do that,” the detective responded. Kate could hear the clicking of the keyboard strokes in the background. “I’m sending it now. You should have it in just a minute.”

“Okay, here it comes,” Ryan said. He opened the email attachment and handed Kate his phone so she could see.

The image came up on the screen, but the photo was too small and fuzzy to identify the people in it. If it had been a close-up photo, it would have been easier. Unfortunately, it was a full body shot that had been taken from a distance. Plus, it didn’t help that it was a photo of a well-worn picture either.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell from this little picture. The faces are too tiny,” she told Detective Porter.

Ryan reached over. “I can spread it out and make it larger. See if this is better,” Ryan said as he used his fingers to spread the photo diagonally, zooming in.

“No, that made it grainy,” Kate said. “I wish I could see it on a full-size computer screen.”

“Is there anybody else you know in town who has a computer?” Porter asked.

Kate repeated the question to Ryan.

“It’s pretty late here, Kate. This town rolls up the sidewalks at ten,” Ryan said. “Besides, if it’s that tattered, I’m not sure if that would help.”

She explained it to the detective.

“When will you be back in Seattle?” Porter asked.

“We have a flight out early tomorrow morning,” she replied.

“That’ll have to do.”

“I’ll come to the police station directly from the airport, about nine o’clock. I can take a look at it then.”

“Okay. Try to get some rest and we’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight,” the detective said.

Kate clicked off her phone and sat down on the sofa. Then Ryan sat beside her.

“Do you know what this means, Ryan? This is the first lead in the case. If I can identify the people in the photo, it might help get my sister back.” She was talking fast, her spirit was energized and her mind was racing. She hadn’t even had a moment to process the kiss, and now this possible break in the case.

“Yeah, I agree. It could be an important piece in figuring out who took your sister and why,” Ryan said.

“Yes, exactly. If the police can figure that out, then there’s more of a chance of finding her alive and getting her back, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I do.”

She shot up off the couch and onto her feet. “I have to do something,” she said, shaking her hands. “I’m just so excited. I can’t sit still.”

He noticed the dog whimpering at the French doors to be let outside. Ryan stood too, and he took one of her wiggly hands in his.

“Why don’t we take the dog for a little walk?” he suggested.

“Okay, let me grab my jacket.” She sprinted up the stairs to her guest room while Ryan and Riley waited.

“All set,” Kate announced as she returned.

Riley darted outside as soon as Ryan opened the door. He flipped the back lights on and followed Kate out.

They strolled out to the fence along the pasture once again to see the horses in the moonlight. A black horse trotted over to the fence and Ryan put his hand out to pet her neck.

Kate reached out and stroked her long nose. “She’s a beauty.”

“I think she’s my mom’s favorite.”

“Maybe your mother will let me ride her some time.”

“Maybe,” Ryan replied, winking at Kate.

“It’s so peaceful out here. Nothing like L.A.”

“I’m sure L.A. has some good points, no?”

“Yes, a few, but nothing like this,” she said, gazing up at the sky. “I can actually see the stars out here.”

Riley ran up between them and barked a couple of times.

“He’s telling us he wants to go inside now,” Ryan interpreted.

“What a smart dog,” Kate remarked. “Okay, boy, let’s go!”

Ryan took her hand in his again as they walked back to the house, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Once inside, Ryan checked on the fire, crouching down to poke at the embers and add a couple more logs to it.

Kate stood by him, content watching him work. “I really have enjoyed this evening, Ryan, probably more than any other I’ve had in a very long time.”

He stood up and turned to face her.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he replied, running his hand lightly down her arm and taking her hand in his. “Now, don’t you think we ought to talk about what happened before the walk, before your phone rang?”

“What happened before my phone rang? Oh, yes, what
was
that?” she asked playfully, looking up into his adoring eyes.

“I believe it would be called a kiss.” His lips curled into an impish smile as he looked down at her.

“I wasn’t planning to do it,” she explained. “I’ve never been one to kiss a guy first. It just…happened. It was one of those spontaneous things.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“Me, too,” Kate agreed.

“I really wanted to kiss you out by the horses when we were out there the first time, but I thought I’d better not.”

“Why not?”

“With everything that’s going on with your sister, I just thought… well, I didn’t want to take advantage of you, Kate. But I’m so attracted to you that I can hardly stand it.”

“I was starting to wonder. I thought maybe it was just me.” She pushed herself up on her tiptoes and happily planted another kiss on his warm lips. He started to slip his arms around her, but he stopped short, hearing an untimely squeak from the front door opening. Their heads turned in unison toward the noise.

* * *

“Hello! We’re home!” his mother called out as she and his dad came through the front door.

Ryan and Kate abruptly stepped apart and laughed at yet another interruption.

He could tell his mom had an inkling there was more to the
we’re just friends
spin he was trying to sell her before they left. He appreciated her giving them sufficient warning that someone was walking in on them.

“What are you two giggling about?” Jeanie asked, setting her purse down on the counter as Jack helped her take her coat off.

“Oh, nothing,” Ryan answered, like a guilty schoolboy caught red-handed, trying to hide his mischief.

“Yeah, I’m sure it was nothing,” Jeanie smirked.

Ryan could tell his mother thought there might be something going on while she and his dad were out of the house. And, he knew she’d be pleased that her son might have finally found a great girl.
Vanessa the Shark,
as his mom liked to call her, had always rubbed her the wrong way.

She whispered something to Ryan’s father as she gently jabbed her elbow in his side. Ryan figured it had something to do with him and Kate.

His father changed the subject fast, confirming Ryan’s suspicions. “Hey, did you guys catch the game on TV?” he asked as he moved to the great room and sunk down into his oversized leather chair. He put his feet up on the matching ottoman and leaned back.

“Yeah, we saw the last quarter. It was great,” Ryan answered.

“I even enjoyed it, though I’ve never been much for football,” Kate said as she directed her attention to Ryan’s father. “I have to say, it was an exciting game, at least the part we saw. We were cheering and jumping up and down.”