Everglades Wildfire Read online

  Confusion swept across Rick’s face, but she marched forward, ignoring it, still talking, her smile softening as she lifted her arm to embrace him. “We were hoping, of course, once you heard the news...”

  He frowned the vulnerability of a moment before turning into bewilderment.

  She paused, dropping her arms but still holding his wrists. “You haven’t heard? About Henry?”

  Rick broke the touch, took a step toward the house then looked back at the woman. “Henry? What about him?”

  She caught up with him and touched Rick’s elbow. “He’s home. Got home last week.”

  Disbelief flashed in Rick’s eyes, but just as quickly it vanished, and his cool calm returned. He splayed his legs and shrugged. “No, I hadn’t heard.”

  The woman turned her bright eyes to Amber. “Are you going to introduce us?”

  With his arms still crossed, he nodded from the woman to Amber. “Maria, this is Amber.”

  “Who is Amber?” she asked and then waved her hands in the air, the smile returning. “Never mind that now. Come inside.” She turned and hurried inside, calling over her shoulder, “Richard, stop brooding and bring your lady out of the hot sun.”

  Amber raised her eyebrows, silently asking who the woman was. With her dark hair and eyes, she looked nothing like Rick, so it seemed pretty unlikely that she was his mother. She knew him, liked him, cared for him even, but she didn’t seem like his mother.

  “Want to go inside?” he asked, stalking over to grab her arm, then tugging her across the yard. “I guess you do.” The wide porch, running the length of the house, looked nothing like the one at Rick’s cottage. This porch had planters overflowing with ferns and rows of white chairs. The windows that lined the front of the house were accented by boxes filled with overflowing red flowers. He didn’t give her time to really look though, pulling her across the white-washed planks and through the threshold. She stumbled over the gleaming wood floor of the entranceway, taking in the elegant curving stairway and large scenic oil paintings lining the walls.

  When they reached a shaded back room, he let go of her hand, dropped himself into a long floral couch. Following his unspoken command, she sat in one of the matching lounge chairs and tried to take in everything surrounding her. The floor was gleaming tile, the walls a pale stained wood, the view of the yard beyond the French doors was a mix of rugged shrubs, open lawn, trees, and potted plants that filled the corners of the covered patio.

  This beautiful place was his childhood hone?

  Maria bustled in with a tray, holding two tall glasses of tea, a pitcher, and dish of lemons, and set it on an ottoman. She lingered by the edge of the sofa for a few seconds, then sat and put her palms on her knees. “You look surprised, Amber. Has Richard told you anything about his home?”

  Rick cast her a dark look, and Maria acknowledged it with a sigh. “It is your home.” She said, “You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t accepted that.” She turned back to Amber. “After you rest a minute, he’ll show you around, I am sure.” She stood, then beckoned Rick. “You come help me in the kitchen. We have some crab cakes. It’ll be like old times.”

  Amber expected Rick to scowl and refuse, but he got up quickly. “You wait here,” he said. “I’ll be back.”

  Amber admired the tropical paradise surrounding her. Outside, the branches of the palm trees shifted in the breeze, spots of red and pink flowers ran across a back fence. This untamed world was so completely different from hers. Her expectation that she could fly down, see Rick, discover that all her fantasies were just that—fantasies, get him to sign the papers and fly back the next day had been ridiculous.

  Instead of doing that, she’d turned her life over to him in a matter of minutes, same as she’d done late last spring. She’d known what she was doing back then. She’d wanted that summer to be a wild, carefree experience. She and her cousin Haley had flown down to Miami, looking for work. They’d planned on having an exciting time, after which they’d head back home to finish their graduate degrees and settle down.

  But Haley soon realized that life in southern Florida wasn’t the paradise she’d envisioned. The traffic, the heat, the crime, were more than a country girl like her could handle. So, she’d left. Amber, determined to have a one-in-a-lifetime adventure, had answered the ad for temporary help at an alligator ranch. What could be more unique than that? And more perfect for someone studying agriculture?

  The job provided more opportunities than she’s imagined. The science involved in raising the reptiles was as fascinating as the management of the wild beasts. She’d seen things she’d only read about and studied, then started a research project. The very one she needed to complete after her spring break was over. The surprising thing about the summer job—she’d fallen under the spell of the dominating man who owned the place and soon found herself in his bed. Sure that she’d be able to leave him at the end of the summer, Amber willingly gave in to the passion. Unfortunately, he’d taken her heart in return.

  This time things had to be different. She’d leave the Everglades, prepared to give her heart to another man. To make that happen, she had to hold herself together.

  Beyond the French doors to her right azaleas clustered around the porch, lush plantings circled the trees, tall egrets perched on fence posts.

  Impossibly beautiful. Like Rick.

  How little she knew about him.

  Could Maria be Rick’s mom?

  Funny, she’d never even tried to imagine him with a mother. He’d always seemed the kind of man who came from nowhere, tied to nothing. Maybe that was why it was so easy for her to believe him when he told her his family was gone. Always dressed in faded jeans, barefoot most of the time, he’d certainly never showed any signs of having money or connections. He never talked about family, never talked about anyone, really. She should have thought to question that.

  This huge house had been right around the corner, and he’d never mentioned it. Why had he lied? Why had he kept this secret from her?

  No, that wasn’t entirely fair. She hadn’t asked him. If he’d cared enough to keep information from her, he must have had some feelings for her. After all, why else would he bother? Reality crept back into her thoughts. She wasn’t there to relive her days with Rick or get answers. She was there to forget them.

  Deep laughter came from somewhere inside the house. As Amber pushed herself upright, a man ambled through the hall archway. He was tall and had Rick’s high cheekbones, but his blue eyes glittered with humor. Even though his long, gray hair was pulled back into a single braid, she could tell it was curly.

  “I found her,” he called over his shoulder and then turned to Amber with smile, his face bright as his gaze circled her face.

  “You must be Rick’s dad,” she said, hearing the amazement in her own voice.

  He swung himself into the room and sat where Rick had. He tossed one long leg over the other. Laughing, he replied, “You sound surprised, didn’t you think he had a father?”

  Coming face-to-face with another man as handsome and powerful as Rick was disorientating. But this man was tempered with age. Gentle. Easy.

  “So, you’re Amber,” he said, still grinning and leaning toward her.

  Now he looked like a kid on Christmas morning, only she couldn’t figure out what the present was. Finally, she answered him. “Yes, Sir.”

  “Not ‘sir’—’Ricky’,” he insisted, setting his palms on his knees.

  His infectious mood caught her and some of the tension drained from her spine. “It’s not enough that you two look alike, you have to have the same name?”

  He threw his head back, impossibly smiling even wider. “Maria,” he bellowed over his shoulder, “I love this girl!”

  Maria stepped out from the hall. “Leave her alone, Ricky,” she admonished, “Richard told you not to talk to her until he got back.” She patted Amber’s shoulder. “You have to excuse him, he’s a little excited.” She turned to Rick’s father. “Behave yourself, he’ll be right here, then you can ask her all the questions you want.”

  With a swish of her long, colorful skirt Maria left the two of them alone again. The silence wasn’t awkward, but she exchanged some quick smiling glances with Ricky.

  “I’m back.” Rick stepped into the room, set a plate of crab cakes on a table, then came to stand beside Amber and set his hand on her shoulder. “You ready to go?”

  “Richard,” his father said, “please sit down.”

  The muscle in Rick’s cheek twitched.

  “Ask him to sit down.” Rick’s father’s request to Amber was gentle, almost pleading.

  Obviously, Ricky didn’t know that Amber had no power to make Rick do anything.

  Still, before she said anything, Rick dropped himself into the chair beside her. He swung one leg over the other, leaned back, looking exactly like his father—yet so different. “We’ll stay for a few minutes, but that’s it.”

  The older man, unaffected by his son’s sour mood, looked right at Amber. “So! When are you getting married?”

  Beside her, Rick stirred.

  Finally, she managed to squeak out an answer. “We haven’t picked a date yet.”

  Rick’s father cast a knowing look at his son. “I’m not surprised.”

  Rick started to get to his feet but froze.

  “Henry!” The older man rose and crossed to the French doors. He grabbed the newcomer by the shoulders, pulled him into the circle. Maria reappeared with a bottle of champagne.

  Rick’s shoulders squared as he sat back down. His gaze turned steely and closed.

  “You’re just in time,” Ricky said, reaching for the bottle, sliding the foil off then popping the cork. “We’re getting ready to toast your big brother’s bride.”

  Amber’s stomach dropped.

  Maria set glasses down on the table and then scooted aside while the older man poured the wine. Before Amber knew it, Ricky had handed her a glass, and she was drinking a toast to the long and happy future she was going to have with Rick.

  Amber searched the faces before her. Ricky and Maria beamed with pure joy, yet the one called Henry was staring hard at her. His cold, emotionless gaze sent chills down her spine.

  When he caught her staring, he turned to Rick and sneered. “Give the girl a kiss, big brother.”

  * * *

  For the first time in three years, Rick glared into the eyes of his younger brother. Every ounce of resentment and shame he’d been nurturing was still there. His right fist clenched at his side.

  “Go on,” Henry’s gaze darted toward Amber. “Or do you want me to do it for you?”

  Anger welled inside Rick, swamping everything that even remotely resembled a virtuous personality trait. He took Amber’s arm, lifted her to her feet, laid his mouth over hers, kissing away the sweet champagne. After a second’s hesitation, her mouth opened for him, and he deepened the kiss, running his tongue over hers, thrusting it further into her mouth and letting himself fall into the sweet sanctuary she offered.

  She whimpered in surprise but didn’t move away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him, clung tighter. The need she brought to life in him was instant and he hardened.

  His brother’s mocking voice echoed in his head and heart. Rick pulled away to search Amber’s eyes, the mix of confusion and desire in them edged him back to reality. She responded to him, yet she wasn’t his.

  But Henry didn’t know that.

  Still holding her close, Rick turned back to face the three of them, but saw only one.

  Henry took in Amber’s kiss swollen lips and flushed skin. “I hope you don’t act that way in public, Richard.”

  Anger burned through Rick’s veins. There were so many things he wanted to say, but this wasn’t the place. “Don’t you have somewhere to go?”

  Henry chuckled. “No, as a matter of fact I don’t.” He tossed himself across the couch, grabbed the bottle and drank from it.

  Rage pounded through Rick, even though he’d gotten what he wanted. Amber had seen his family, now knew exactly where he’d come from. Filled with hate for Henry and a good dose of it for himself, he turned to Amber. “Henry just got out of prison.”

  Henry ignored the comment to take another drink from the bottle. “You’re going to get married, big brother,” he said after he’d swallowed.

  Marry Amber.

  Rick sucked in a sharp breath. In that instant he knew desperation. How he wanted it to be true. But it wasn’t, and his brother would enjoy laughing in his face when Amber corrected the mistake.

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying the celebration,” she said quietly.

  Henry’s attention jerked away from the bottle. “Got a minute, bro? I want to talk with you in private.”

  Rick glanced at Amber, trying to read her expression, but saw nothing. Not pity, disgust or even annoyance.

  “Afraid she’s going to run off?” Henry said, rolling to his feet.

  Unable to keep his fury under control any longer, he growled at his brother. “Shut up, Henry.”

  “I’ll be fine, Rick.” Amber sat, as though waiting for him was the most natural thing in the world. “Go ahead.”

  Henry ducked outside, marching across the patio, brushing past the small potted palms.

  Rick followed his brother’s cloud of insolence, stepping quickly until they were at the far end of the garden, half-hidden by a cluster of zamia.

  Henry set one hand on the trunk of a pond apple tree, assuming an air of nonchalance. “So where is it?”

  “It?” Rick replied, even knowing exactly what his brother was referring to.

  “It’s gone, I’m guessing you sold it, so I’m guessing you have the money.”

  He crossed closer to Henry, speaking quietly even though they were well away from the house. “You actually thought it would still be here after three years?”

  “No,” Henry lifted one shoulder lazily. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I want my money.”

  “Do you realize, if the cops found it, they would’ve seized the house? Left Ricky and Maria homeless?”

  Henry shoved his hair out of his eyes. “Guess that means you would’ve been homeless too, huh?”

  How like Henry to assume everyone was motivated by greed.

  He ignored Rick’s warning scowl and spoke again, “Well, thanks for makin’ sure we all didn’t end up homeless.” He dropped his arm yet hesitated to step forward. “I still want my money.”

  Even if Rick had it, he wouldn’t have given it to Henry. Then again, in a way, Henry had benefitted from the money. He just didn’t know it. “Fuck your money.”

  “I’ll get it from you one way or the other. Or make you sorry...”

  Rick gave in to temptation and shoved his brother. Henry stumbled, dropped onto the rocky soil.

  “You’re going to have to try a lot harder to scare me,” he said, looking up from the ground. “Remember where I’ve been.” He righted himself and then dangled his arms across his knees. “You’re getting married at a really convenient time, aren’t you?”

  So, Henry believed the engagement story. Instantly, Rick saw a way to use it to his advantage. “Doesn’t that make you think you ought to go find another place to live?”

  He chuckled, the sound guttural and cruel. “You aren’t the only one around here with plans, you know.”

  To keep from coming at Henry again, Rick forced himself to step back. “Whatever bullshit you have planned, keep it to yourself.”

  “It’s not just me,” the ever-present arrogance in his gaze flared, and he got back onto his feet. “I’ve been in touch with Mother.”

  Rick let the shock roll through his system, waiting until his words would be plain, seemingly unaffected. “You and Anna were pen pals while you were in prison?”

  “That’s right. She heard about poor ole me, started sending me homemade cookies and shit like that. Then she started coming to see me. Me and mom, chatting it up in the visiting room. Good times.” Henry adjusted his shirt and smoothed his hair back. “Did you know she owns half this place?” Seeing the disbelief on Rick’s face, he continued. “That’s right. Seems Daddy gave it to her as a weddin’ gift. Isn’t that romantic?” Always one to sense the best time to escape, Henry brushed past Rick, making a point of hitting his shoulder with his own. “She always did like me better...”

  Chapter Three

  Rick nearly dragged her out of the house and back into the truck. After crossing the yard, he sped down the two-track, letting the truck bounce and lurch as the tires ran over rocks and holes. He hadn’t said anything since coming back from the conversation with his brother. He’d returned and hurried her out of the house. She was secretly thankful she hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye to Ricky and Maria. After the excited way they’d toasted the engagement, she’d hate to be there when Rick told them there was no wedding.

  At least not for her and Rick.

  After years of being shuffled from one foster home to the next before finally being adopted as a teenager, she longed to belong to someone. She loved her parents, the extended family they’d made her a part of, yet somehow their love wasn’t enough. She desperately wanted someone of her own to belong to.

  Absently she touched her lips. She’d done nothing to stop them from believing their engagement was real either, kissing him that way while they all watched. For those few seconds she’d let herself believe it was real, but the downward spiral of emotion now tearing at her heart made her wonder at the cost. Not just for her, but for all of them. Ricky and Maria seemed so genuine and sweet it was too bad they had to get mixed up with the stupid situation between her and Rick. Their love for Rick was obviously sincere, why had he lied about them?

  “Is Maria your mother?” Amber asked over the howl of the wind and the music from the radio.

  “No.”

  There was more to the story, she was absolutely sure. “Do you have any other brothers?”

  Rick didn’t look over when he answered. “Isn’t Henry enough?”