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

shoulders bunched with tension. “What brings you all the way to Ribbon Ridge?” Shane lived in Northeast Portland, a good hour and forty-five minutes away.
    “Heard you were back in town. I’m headed to the beach for the weekend, and I wanted to stop in and say hi. It’s been a long time—what, four years?”
    “Something like that, yeah.” As if Kyle could forget. That night almost four years ago was crystallized in his brain. He’d been out of time. Owed Shane and his boss thirty grand. Was in danger of being thrashed to within an inch of his life if he couldn’t sell them on his repayment plan. Cold sweat dappled the back of his neck as the barista handed him his coffee.
    Shane picked up his latte, and Kyle led him out the front doors into the bright summer day. “What brings you back home?”
    Kyle looked at him askance, squinting against the sunlight. Sensitivity had never been Shane’s forte. “My brother committed suicide.”
    Shane waved his arm like he was going to smack himself in the head, but didn’t. “Oh shit! Sorry, dude. I forgot about that. I did hear about it, though. Really sorry that happened.”
    “Thanks.” Kyle tried to think of something else to say, but he didn’t want to continue a friendship—or whatever their relationship had been, because really, “friends” didn’t threaten to break your fingers so you couldn’t cook—with him. “Listen, Shane, I’m not gambling anymore, so if you’re here to solicit . . .”
    Shane slapped him on the back. “God no. Dude, really, I just wanted to check up on you. Say hi. Catch up. How was Florida?”
    Good for a while. Kyle had gone cold turkey and hadn’t gambled once in three and a half years. Until Alex had died. Then in a matter of weeks, Kyle had burned through the savings he’d accumulated in Florida and found himself in over his head again, forcing him to sell his car to pay his bookie and dash out of town as fast as he could.
    “It was fine. Beautiful beaches, laid-back lifestyle.”
    Shane’s mouth split into a wide grin. “Gorgeous babes, I’m sure.”
    Kyle let his lips curve into a smile. “Yeah, lots of those.” And not one had kept his attention long enough for him to want to form a relationship, but then Kyle wondered if anyone could. He’d had a girlfriend one year in high school and an on-and-off girlfriend who’d really been more of a fuck buddy in his early twenties, but long-term girlfriends had never been his thing. And marriage? Forget it. Not interested. He’d been shocked when he’d heard Derek was engaged. They’d made a pact in high school to stay single at least through their twenties so they could be young and free and enjoy life. Would they have done that if their friendship hadn’t crashed and burned?
    Kyle forced himself to pay attention to Shane, though he longed to escort him directly to his car. “What’ve you been up to?”
    “Oh, you know, same old, same old.” Still booking, if you’re interested .
    Kyle heard the invitation loud and clear but ignored it. “Still training at the gym?”
    “Yep. I’m thinking of opening my own place in the next year or two. Business has been good.” He looked askance at Kyle. “Real good.”
    Kyle stopped on the path and turned toward Shane. “Look, I don’t want to be a dick here, but you’re sort of from a part of my life I’d rather forget.”
    Shane sipped his latte. “Sure, sure, I get it. And I’m not here to pressure you or whatever. You were young then. But look at you now . . .” He gestured toward the high-end office building with the Archer logo stamped on the outside. “You’re part of the family now. I bet you’re rolling in dough with your trust fund. I won’t let you get in over your head again.”
    Kyle gripped his coffee cup. Dad had taken control of his trust fund and ensured Kyle didn’t inherit it when he turned twenty-five, like every other one of his siblings had. And he’d likely never get it. “I’m