Yours to Hold: Ribbon Ridge Book Two by Darcy Burke Read Free Book Online Page A

others, however, and those taunted him from the screen. Maybe it was time he included the family in this quest.
    Not Dad because he wanted to give Dad satisfaction, not frustration, which was all Kyle felt at this point. He didn’t want to involve Sara. She was too busy with the renovation project, Derek and Chloe’s wedding, and Dylan. Kyle had never seen her so happy—a burst of warmth nudged through his dissatisfaction.
    He also didn’t want to include Tori. She was the likeliest candidate, but she’d seemed distracted the past couple of weeks, and he wondered if she needed to get back to her job in San Francisco. He made a note to talk to her about it. He’d missed his siblings while he’d been in self-induced exile. Being here with them made him realize just how much, and he was eager to make up for lost time.
    Except with Derek.
    He heard his former friend-slash-current almost-brother moving around in his office next door. He was truly the heart and soul of Archer Enterprises. Dad was a good CEO, but he was a brewer at heart. Derek, on the other hand, loved all aspects of the business, and Kyle fully expected him to be the one to take over some day. The irony that his last name wasn’t Archer would’ve made Kyle smile in years past, but now it made him feel unsettled. Like Derek was more an Archer than he was. And that it was Kyle’s fault.
    He shook the unpleasant thought away and stared at the names again. Why wouldn’t Maggie help him? Even the smallest thing could point him in the right direction. Hell, any direction. Maybe he should call her again.
    No, he didn’t want to be a stalker. Especially after scaring her last night. He still felt really bad about that. And about calling her a shitty therapist. He winced. How did he expect her to help him when he came off all creepy and rude? He thought of the flowers Natalie had wanted to send his mom. Maybe he should send some to Maggie as an apology—she clearly liked flowers.
    What the hell was he thinking? Send flowers to his dead brother’s therapist? Pull your head out, Kyle .
    Not for the first time, he thought about meeting her in different circumstances. Asking her out for real. Working to make her smile and laugh—he sensed she needed to do more of that.
    A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. It was a good thing because he couldn’t actually contemplate dating Maggie. Taking out Alex’s therapist would guarantee he didn’t earn anyone’s forgiveness. “Come in,” he answered, closing Alex’s laptop and setting it to the side of his desk.
    Natalie poked her head inside and smiled. “Hey.” Her long, dark hair hung past her shoulders, and she tucked a strand behind her ear. “You have a visitor. Shane Dawkins?”
    What the hell was his bookie doing here? Had anyone seen him? Would Derek or Dad even remember what he looked like? They’d only met him the one time.
    Wanting to get Shane out of the office as soon as possible, Kyle shot to his feet. “Thanks.”
    Natalie opened the door wider and moved out of the way.
    Kyle glanced at Derek’s and Dad’s doors. Both closed. With a jolt of relief, Kyle turned to his one-time friend and bookie. Shane was a gym rat with close-cropped dark hair. His arms and chest were as beefy as ever and filled out his fitted black tee. He grinned as he sized up Kyle. “Damn, brother. Florida agreed with you.”
    “Hey, Shane. Let’s get a cup of coffee downstairs and take a walk.” Archer Enterprises boasted a small café on the ground floor, and there were walking paths around the building. They’d stick to the one that circled the parking lot so that they wouldn’t be in view of Dad’s or Derek’s offices.
    Kyle led Shane down the wide, open staircase and over to the café bar, where he asked for a black iced coffee while Shane ordered a caramel latte. Shane reached for his wallet, but Kyle swiped his card first. “I got this.”
    Shane laughed. “You’ve changed, man.”
    Kyle’s