Deadly Ties by Jaycee Clark Page B

was some sort of tangible relationship between them if he wasn’t thinking that. Maybe it just sort of happened last night and that was it.
    Did she want that to be it?
    There was the question. Did she want just friendship between them or something more?
    Yesterday she would have said friendship with Gavin Kinncaid would have been enough, and probably could have convinced her self of it. Now, after that mind-numbing kiss, she had to be honest. She enjoyed Gavin’s company and the talks they had, and that kiss had awakened something in her that she was honest enough to want to explore.
    So, it was no wonder that even with her understanding of Gavin’s job that she was disappointed at not being able to spend the afternoon with him. That would have been really nice, probably more than nice.
    It was after five when the cab pulled up to the curb at their house. Rain poured down, pounding the roof of the car in an unforgiving rhythm. Of course, she’d never thought about grabbing an umbrella earlier.
    Taylor shoved the fare into the driver’s hand and told him to keep the change as she slid out of the door behind Ryan. Both of them raced to the porch, he with his books tucked securely against his chest and she with her purse held by her side.
    Thunder boomed.
    Taylor didn’t want to mess with digging in her purse. She grabbed the extra key out from behind the geraniums.
    Something was wrong. The key wouldn’t turn in the door. Taylor tried the knob. It turned easily in her hand. Hadn’t she locked it? The door swung inward. Overcast skies shadowed the entryway. Her breath caught in her lungs.
    Her arm shot out as Ryan tried to pass her.
    “No. Stay here.”
    Pictures hung crookedly from the wall and a potted fern was lying on its side, the dirt scattered across the floor. She vaguely remembered one didn’t enter a house after a breaking and entering for fear of the perpetrator still being there.
    From her right, a shadow moved towards her.
    “Taylor!” Ryan yelled.
    “Homewrecking bitch.” The person hissed, swinging out.

    56
    Taylor ducked shoving Ryan to the side. Wood splintered against the doorframe. She kicked out with her foot. The masked man stumbled, dropping a tire iron. He leapt over her, off the porch and raced around the next house.
    Taylor stayed crouched on the porch, panting.
    “Taylor? Taylor?”
    She turned and saw Ryan’s pale face. “I’m okay. Are you?”
    He swallowed and nodded.
    Taylor turned and sat down on the porch, digging in her purse for her phone. Finally. She called nine-one-one.
    Who would break into their home? Who the hell was that? Fear slithered across her damp skin as she remembered Nina’s letter. Taylor reached out and grabbed Ryan’s hand, giving it a squeeze.
    Her hold on Ryan tightened as she gave off her address and emergency to the dispatcher.
    “Who was that?” Ryan asked her, shaking off her hand after she punched end.
    Her eyes adjusted to the fading light and shadows and obviously so had Ryan’s. His eyes shone fiercely as he looked up at her. She noticed he had a death grip on his books.
    “I don’t know. A burglar. Though I didn’t see him carry anything.” Taylor stood and helped Ryan to his feet. Both of them backed away from the door and sat on the short brick wall that enclosed the porch area. Water gushed off the eaves and splashed loudly onto the wet ground below.Minutes stretched as they waited for the police in silence. She turned to tell Ryan that maybe he could wait at the Websters, but even then, she noticed the house down the street was dark. “My violin!” Ryan jumped up, his book slapping to the porch. Before Taylor could grab him, he raced into the house.
    “Ryan! Come back here!”
    His feet pounded up the stairs, mixing with the wails of sirens from outside.
    Taylor quickly followed her son. “Ryan, we’re not supposed to be in here. You don’t go into a house someone’s broken into. Ryan!”
    A sound, between a growl and a cry came