The Maverick's Christmas Homecoming Read online

  “Our military men and women sacrifice so much every day,” D.J. continued. “But even more this time of year. They give up holidays with their loved ones so that we can be safe and secure and enjoy ours. In some small way what we do says thanks for that.”

  Shane could see for himself that the other man felt deeply about family and roots. Would he understand why Shane needed to find out about his birth parents? Would D.J. have done the same thing if he’d been given up for adoption?

  D.J. took a swallow of beer. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been a year already.”

  “Since the last Presents for Patriots?”

  “That. The holidays. Rose and Austin were married last year on Christmas Day.” D.J. looked thoughtful. “It was a year ago that she was kidnapped.”

  “What?” Shane couldn’t believe he’d heard right. Things like that didn’t happen in Thunder Canyon.

  “That’s right. You weren’t here then.”

  “She was kidnapped? By who?”

  “Jasper Fowler.”

  The man who was linked to Arthur Swinton. It seemed as if everything bad that happened in this town could be traced back to his father. “What happened?”

  “Rose works in public relations for the mayor and was helping clean out paperwork from the previous administration. She found evidence of Swinton’s embezzling money from the city council and a link to Fowler as an accomplice.”

  Shane’s stomach knotted. “I heard about that.”

  “Common knowledge,” D.J. agreed. “But everyone thought Swinton had died in jail. Turned out he faked a heart attack and with inside help he escaped. He and Fowler conspired to ruin my business and launder the stolen money through The Tattered Saddle.”

  “Which is now Real Vintage Cowboy.” Shane was concentrating on not reacting as if any of this concerned him personally.

  “Right. Rose decided to pay Fowler a visit and ask him about what she found. It never occurred to her that the man could be dangerous. But she was wrong. He was desperate and crazy and took her at gunpoint.”

  “But she got away.” That was stating the obvious but he couldn’t manage much more than that.

  “Smart girl.” There was a dark satisfaction in D.J.’s eyes. “She managed to call Austin and leave the cell line open while she talked to the old man about where he was taking her. They were intercepted by her brother Jackson and Austin. I think a couple more of her brothers showed up, too, and then the cops. Fowler gave up Swinton and he was re-arrested. He won’t be getting out of jail anytime soon.”

  “That’s quite a story.”

  D.J. shook his head. “It really ticks me off that the rumor linking my mother to Swinton refuses to go away.”

  “I can understand that.” If Shane could make his own connection to the man go away he’d do it in a nanosecond.

  “Swinton is corrupt. A convicted criminal.”

  Anger and resentment twisted together in D.J.’s expression along with distaste and revulsion. Shane hoped it wasn’t a preview of what he could expect. If he had it to do over again, he’d refuse to take the information his mother gave him. It came under the heading of be careful what you wish for. Or let sleeping dogs lie. When you went out of your way to connect the dots, you might not like the picture that emerged.

  “I can’t believe people would think my mother could be involved with someone like that,” D.J. continued. “No way Grace Traub would associate with him. Actually it would have been before she married my dad. She’d have been Grace Smith then. She’d never have gone out with Swinton.”

  Shane went cold inside as the dots connected. If she’d only gone out with him, Shane thought, he and D.J. wouldn’t be sitting here talking. Under the table his hands curled into fists. All the puzzle pieces fell into place and explained his resemblance to the other man. Only a DNA test would prove it to a ninety-nine percent certainty, but Grace S. was his mother’s name. Smith was such a common last name that the P.I. wouldn’t be able to pin down his mother’s identity for certain. Evidence from his own search was piling up, though.

  Shane was convinced that Dax and D. J. Traub were his half brothers.

  Chapter Nine

  Gianna stood in the shadows off to the side in The Gallatin Room. The customers at her tables were enjoying various courses of their meals. At the moment there was nothing for her to do and it was nice to take a breather. Interrupting every five seconds to ask if they needed anything was as bad as ignoring them.

  Especially when there was romance in this room. Candles still flickered on pristine white tablecloths and there was a quiet hum of conversation and laughter. She didn’t feel much like laughing as she watched Shane performing the public relations part of his job.

  The information about who his father was had overshadowed her disappointment that he wouldn’t be here for Christmas. What he’d talked to her about a little while ago was shocking enough, and then he’d disappeared. He was back now looking even more troubled.

  He frequently schmoozed with the customers, moving from table to table, meeting and greeting, using his natural charm and enjoying the connection. He was doing that now, but something was off. There was tension on his face in spite of the smile, and something like shock in his eyes. Each encounter was brief and smacked of duty, not the usual friendly and relaxed way he interacted. The lines of his body looked tight, as if he might snap.

  Bonnie moved beside her and let out a long breath. “It’s been so busy. I haven’t had a chance to talk.”

  “Tell me about it.” She smiled at her friend, then glanced at Shane. “How’s everything with you?”

  “Jim and I broke up.”

  “Bon—” Gianna gave her a quick hug. “I’m sorry. What happened?”

  “He wasn’t that into me.” She tried to look spunky, but the disappointment leaked through. “I’m swearing off men. It’s time to go back to college. No distractions.”

  “College is good. But don’t back yourself into a corner with grand declarations about no relationships.” If anyone could sympathize it was Gianna. “You really thought he was the one.”

  “Isn’t it a rule or a law of physics or something that you can’t be in love by yourself?”

  “It’s definitely more fun with two.”

  Her friend’s gaze wandered to their boss, who was on his way back to the kitchen. “What’s with Shane tonight?”

  Gianna had to decide how to answer that question. She’d seen romances here at work burn bright and hot then fizzle and get awkward. The ones involved always thought they were discreet and keeping things under the radar. But when people worked as closely together as they did in food service, secrets were hard to keep. Although she’d managed. She hadn’t said anything about sleeping with the boss, and wondered if her friend had noticed a change in anything.

  “You think he’s different tonight?”

  “Not at the start of my shift,” Bonnie said carefully.

  “Then when?”

  “The last hour or so. I’ve put in requests from customers, nothing out of the ordinary because he insists on one hundred percent satisfaction. But he’s had to redo several meals, like his mind is on something else. One guy asked for no mango, not even a garnish on the plate. Shane put on the mango. Fortunately I noticed and fixed it.”

  “That’s so unlike him,” Gianna said.

  “Tell me about it. His mind is somewhere else and the rest of him is on autopilot. I had to tell him about the mist
ake. He’s always encouraged us to do that. It’s one of the things I like best, that he’s not a prima donna. But this time he practically bit my head off. He was gone for a while and came back different.”

  Gianna had noticed that, too. “Do you know where he went?”

  “No. He’s not in the habit of confiding in me.”

  Gianna couldn’t say the same, except about where he’d gone, but when he walked back in the kitchen, he looked like a shell-shocked soldier on the battlefield.

  “Don’t be too hard on him.” She looked at her petite, brown-eyed friend. “He’s going through some stuff.”

  “So am I. Isn’t everyone?” Bonnie dragged her fingers through her pixie haircut. “But it’s not okay to bring it to work.”

  “We need to cut him some slack. He’s dealing with more than a broken relationship.”

  Her friend’s eyes widened into an “aha” expression. “Is there something you’d like to tell me?”

  “Such as?”

  “For starters how do you know so much about him? Like what could he be dealing with other than cooking a filet to the customer’s exact specifications?”

  “Oh, you know—”

  How could she? Who could possibly guess that he was Arthur Swinton’s son?

  And Gianna was torn. Part of her really wanted to talk to someone about her conflicted feelings and Bonnie was her best friend. But this information had the potential to ruin Shane’s life.

  “No, I don’t know.” Bonnie stared at her, waiting. “What’s going on with you and Shane?”

  “That’s a good question.” Maybe she could share just a little. “Remember when you called in sick?”

  “Right, the Swiss travel delegation was here.”

  “I told you he invited me to his place and cooked dinner to thank me for efficiently filling in.”

  “More like working your butt off.” Interest sparkled in her friend’s eyes. “Yeah, I remember you thought it got awkward at the end.”

  “It did until...”

  Did she say that out loud?

  Bonnie’s raised eyebrow told her she had. “Until he saved his moves for the pantry?”

  Gianna’s cheeks burned and she was grateful for the romantic lighting that hid her reaction. “You saw?”

  “You didn’t just ask me that. Of course I saw. Not much goes on in a restaurant kitchen that doesn’t get seen by someone.” There was nothing but teasing and the concern of a friend in her tone. “So give. I want details.”

  Gianna sighed. “It was maybe the best kiss of my entire life.”

  “In the pantry? He couldn’t have picked somewhere—I don’t know—with ambience?”

  “That’s what I said. He promised to make it up to me because the first kiss didn’t happen on the balcony of his condo.”

  “He passed up moonlight and a view of the mountains for a closet at work?” Bonnie sounded shocked and appalled. “That’s just wrong in so many ways.”

  “He made up for it.”

  “Did he now?”

  “It’s not what you think,” Gianna protested.

  “I think you slept with him.”

  “Okay. It is what you think, but— But we’re just having fun. No expectations.”

  “No one expects to fall in love. It just happens.” Sadness slid back into her friend’s eyes.

  “It’s not going to happen to me. Been there, done that. Not again.” But caring about him was different, wasn’t it? She hoped so because she couldn’t help caring.

  “Look, I know you, G. You don’t have to pretend with me. You’re not the type to take advantage of a situation. You pull your own weight and work harder than anyone because it’s who you are.” Her smile was sincere. “But if he hurts you, I’ll make him sorry even if it costs me my job.”

  “Thanks, Bon.” Gianna meant that from the bottom of her heart.

  Her friend glanced at her tables. “I have to clear salads. Then hope the real Shane is back in control.”

  “Thanks for listening.”

  “Anytime.”

  “And Bonnie?”

  “Right.” She grinned. “I’ll keep it to myself.”

  Gianna wasn’t sure whether or not she felt better. And right now it didn’t matter. She was here to work. Her shift was nearly over; the hostess wasn’t seating any more customers. It was time to take care of her last few tables for the evening.

  Gianna checked in with the diners and brought whatever was needed. With a little time on her hands, she walked back in the kitchen. Shane was the only one there, standing with his back against the stainless-steel counter, his dark eyebrows drawn together. This was not a man thinking happy thoughts.

  “Shane?”

  He looked up. “Hmm?”

  “What’s wrong?” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth, body language signaling a denial. “Don’t waste your breath. It’s obvious something is bothering you. I’m not the only one who noticed.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Where did you go before?” she asked, trying to draw him out.

  “What part of ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ did you not understand?”

  She blinked up at him. “Okay. It’s just that you look upset. I wanted to help.”

  He drew in a deep breath. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just—I can’t do this now.”

  He stared at her long and hard before he simply turned and walked out the back door of the restaurant. Gianna started to go after him then stopped. She had to finish up her shift, but she hated the delay. Her heart ached for him because he had the look of a man who desperately needed to get something off his chest.

  What more could there be? He’d already confessed who his father was. The disclosure had really rocked her and at the time, she wasn’t sure how she felt. But she did now. Her feelings about him hadn’t changed. He was a good man, the same man she couldn’t wait to see every day at work.

  The one she’d hoped for so long would notice her. Now that he had, she couldn’t walk away. No matter what else had happened between them, she considered him a friend.

  Letting him brood alone wasn’t an option.

  * * *

  After leaving work, Gianna drove the short distance to Shane’s condo. She rode the elevator to his floor and stepped out when the doors opened. For so many reasons it was tempting to step right back in. She was more tired than she ever remembered being in her life. It had been a very long day. She could hardly believe that only twenty-four hours ago they’d walked in the snow and he’d kissed her. The battery in her car rolled over, died and Shane drove her home.

  Then he’d made love to her—thorough, sweet love.

  It had been only this morning they’d had breakfast in her apartment and were intimate, carefree. He’d been relaxed, funny and sweet. Rumpled in the best possible, sexiest way. The thought made her stomach shimmy like it had when the elevator whisked her up to his floor.

  The expression on his face when he’d left work a little while ago was so different from this morning. It was a lot like his expression outside the bakery when Allaire commented on his resemblance to Dax and D.J. It was similar, but worse somehow.

  And she had to know he was all right.

  “Here goes nothing.” She squared her shoulders, marched down the hall and rang his bell.

  It wasn’t answered right away and she was about to push the button again. She was prepared to pitch a tent
in the hall if necessary because she had to see him face-to-face. Fortunately he finally opened the door.

  “Hi.” She lifted her hand in a small wave.

  The only way to describe him was ragged. That seemed contradictory since his designer jeans were impeccable so it was more about attitude. His eyes were shadowed and his white cotton shirt untucked. His mouth was tight and the muscle in his jaw jerked. He had a tumbler in his hand with about two fingers of what looked like Scotch in it.

  “I’m not very good company, Gianna.”

  “I’m not here to be entertained.”

  “Why did you come?”

  “You look like a man in desperate need of a hug.”

  Nothing about him was welcoming, but she stood her ground. For some reason he’d confided things to her. His family might know, too, but they weren’t here and she was. Whether he knew it or not, he needed someone and she was it.

  “Can I come in?”

  He rested his forearm on the doorjamb. “If you were smart, you’d turn around right now. I’m trouble. When it all blows up, you don’t want to be close to me.”

  The devil of it was she did want to be close to him. That wasn’t something she seemed to be able to change, even though there was every indication this wouldn’t end well.

  “I’ll risk it. Tell me what happened, Shane. Where did you go tonight?”

  Blue eyes, dark and assessing, stared into hers for several moments. “You’re not going to leave, are you?”

  “No.”

  Reluctantly, he stepped aside to let her in. “Do you want a drink?”

  “What are you having?”

  “Scotch.”

  Did she know her liquor or what? Tending bar part-time did that to a girl. “I’ll pass.”

  She followed him into the living room. Unlike the last time here, she wasn’t preoccupied with the expensive artwork and spectacular view. Her only concern was Shane. She watched his shoulders shift restlessly as he stood by the big windows and stared out at the lights on the ski slope.