“Sure, but from what I gather, Mom’s been firing barbs at the Trainers for years.”

“She has, but I like to think it’s been character-building for them.” Maggie smiled.

She was sweet and pretty, and Dylan wondered why he felt absolutely nothing when he looked at her.

“So you been gone a while, Dylan?” Luke asked.

“Sixteen years.”

“A lot of changes in that time.”

“I noticed a few when I drove into town.”

“We bought the Trainer land,” Joe told him as he poured a glass of red wine.

“Yup, Bailey’s family owned it once,” Jack said. “Nice she’s come back to it.”

Dylan learned that Fin was the head ranger in Ryker, Luke a fireman, and Jack ran the family business, which included horse trail rides for tourists.

“You don’t say much is my guess,” Fin said.

“I’m more of a listener.”

“Perhaps we’re not the usual company he keeps?” Piper added, her eyes narrowed and glaring.

“Are you kidding me? Who wouldn’t want to spend time with you?”

The males all hooted with laughter at Dylan’s dry words. Piper gave him a look that would have shriveled his balls if he was the type to be intimidated by her... which he wasn’t. What he was, damn his body, was aware of her every move.

“So what do you do, Dylan?” Fin asked.

“I’m a profiler with the FBI.”

“Yeah? I’ve watched you guys in documentaries; it’s amazing what you can figure out.”

Dylan nodded to Luke. “At least you didn’t say one of those crime programs on TV.”

“Don’t get much time for TV,” the youngest Trainer said. “So, Ava, I bet you’ve seen some changes in her?”

“Yes, she’s changed. Are you and she friends?” Dylan thought it wouldn’t hurt to know a bit about his little sister if he was going to be in Ryker Falls for a while.

Luke looked cagey.

“Not really. She, ah, she hangs with a different crowd.”

“What kind of crowd?”

Panic was the only word to describe Luke’s face now.

“Don’t grill him about your sister.” Piper spoke, drawing his eyes back to her.

“I just asked a question, I hardly think that constitutes a grilling.”

Her lips pursed, and as they were painted bright red they drew his eyes. She’d be hell to have a relationship with, was his guess. High maintenance and demanding. But he bet those lips tasted sweet.

“Maybe if you want to know more about your sister you should ask her.”

The words had been spoken in a sickly sweet tone, but there was nothing remotely sweet about the look in her eyes.

“Now if you will excuse me, I have to start early tomorrow.”