Ryker (The Ride #4) (3 page)

Ettie waved to me from a table filled with women when I walked into Jupiter. “Hey.” She smiled warmly when I reached the table and looked at the seriously beautiful faces that stared back at me.

“Hi.” I smiled back, feeling almost shy.

“So glad you came out.” Jill rose to give me a quick hug. “Finally,” she teased.

“Hi, girl.” Connie grinned, rising to hug me as well. “You look fucking rockin’!”

“Hi, I’m Scarlet,” the gorgeous redhead I’d seen around town greeted with a wave and a smile.

“I’m Sophie,” the brunette spoke up. “I see why Ry blushes over you.” She winked.

Huh? I had no idea what she meant by that. All Ryker had done was scowl at me.

“These two are knocked up so we’ll have to have some drinks for them.” Connie smiled, quirking her thumb to Scarlet and Sophie.

“Congrats.” I smiled.

“You’ll meet Kat another time. She just had a baby so she’s at home,” Ettie put in.

Well, it looked like the Knights had become seriously domesticated since I’d been gone.

We ordered a few beers and settled into easy conversation. I realized after an hour or so that I was actually having fun.

“I’m so sorry about your mom,” Connie offered, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.

“Me too.” I sighed.

“Piper’s mother was so amazing.” Ettie smiled fondly. “She was like June Cleaver, I swear. I didn’t know mothers like that existed in real life. She always had fresh-baked cookies when we studied there after school. But she was cool too. She always supported Piper and she was a really good listener,” she continued, before pausing to look at me. “Sorry, is it okay to talk about her?” she asked in a rush.

I smiled warmly. “You know what? It’s great, actually.” I nodded. “My dad just… can’t. And she should be remembered. She was awesome.” I nodded, realizing how surprisingly comforting it was to talk about her with this group of women.

“Cancer?” Sophie asked quietly.

I nodded. “The first time she was diagnosed, I was in high school. She beat it back over the course of a year or so. We thought she was in remission. When it came back the second time, I was living in L.A. She was gone so quickly...” I swallowed hard, unable to continue.

“I lost my mother too,” Scarlet offered. “My dad was completely destroyed for a while.”

“What did you do?” I asked, hungry for advice. I was at a loss most of the time.

“I was a lot younger than you when she died,” Scarlet replied. “And our circumstances were different. For my dad, his MC pulled him out of it. I certainly couldn’t.”

I grimaced. “Well I’m having a hell of a time saving him even now,” I admitted.

“It’s not your responsibility.” She shook her head. “He has to find his own way—as do you. All I can say is that it’s important to remember her and to talk about her. Sweeping it under the rug just makes it fester,” she supplied, taking a sip of her sparkling water.

“True,” I agreed. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.” She nodded. “Now for lighter topics,” she announced with a wink.

It was after another round that Connie groaned. “Well ladies, we got two hours out of them.”

I swiveled my head to look toward the entrance, watching as several gorgeous men came striding toward us. They all wore their leather cuts, the Knights MC insignia bold and bright against the leather.

When my gaze fell to Ryker, I found his green eyes boring into mine. My face flamed and my heart began to pound. What was he doing here? He had to know I’d be here.

“Hi, baby,” Wes greeted, leaning down to kiss his wife, Connie. “Just came to check on things.”

She rolled her eyes with a smile. “Nobody’s bothering us,” she replied. “But you can pee a circle around the table if it makes you feel better.”

I stifled a laugh, loving her sass.

“Cole and Ax want you ladies home,” he informed Scarlet and Sophie, whose husbands were clearly done having their wives out of sight.

“It’s the pregnancy police,” Sophie complained.

“I’m just the messenger.” He shrugged. “Hi, Piper, good to see you.” He nodded in my direction.

“You too,” I replied, avoiding looking at Ryker with everything I was worth.

Ryker had always been a gorgeous boy, but he was a man now—a devastatingly handsome one. As always, his green eyes seemed to shine, lined with thick dark lashes. His jaw was outlined with dark whiskers and his hair was beautifully mussed, as though he’d just rolled out of bed.

The ladies around me rose, gathering their coats, signaling the night coming to a close. I gathered my jacket, threw it on and accepted the hugs I was given.

“Want to come over for dinner this week?” Scarlet asked. “We’re having a few people over,” she added.

My eyes shot involuntarily in Ryker’s direction. Clearly she didn’t miss the look on my face.

“I can keep Ryker in the garage, if it means you’ll come.” She winked. I appreciated her making light of a seriously sad situation.

I laughed. “I’ll think about it,” I agreed.

“I’ll take you home.” Ryker’s deep voice cut in as he eyed me intently.

I saw Scarlet’s brows rise as Ettie and Connie shared a look.

I looked around, honestly believing that he couldn’t be addressing me. “You can’t be serious,” I sputtered, when it was clear that he did in fact have bigger balls than I’d thought.

Big balls and a short memory. Did he not recall us screaming at each other just last night?

“Come on, I brought an extra helmet. You’ve had a few drinks. I’m taking you home,” he answered, undeterred by my response.

I made a concerted effort to stop my mouth from hanging open in surprise at this odd change of direction. “I’ve had two beers, I’m fine,” I protested.

“One too many, let’s go,” he shot back, crossing his arms as though it made no difference to him how long we stood there arguing about it.

“Since when are you concerned with responsible drinking?” I asked.

“Since it’s you,” he replied, before his jaw clenched as though he wished he could take back the words.

Okay, I was seriously confused. I felt my brow wrinkle as I processed his statement.

I heard a few throats clear around us and one muffled giggle. My cheeks flamed as I was reminded of our audience.

“I’ll walk,” I announced, my chin held high as I strode out of the brewery and into the cold.

My heart was pounding with adrenaline as I left my car where it was and walked briskly toward home. It wasn’t far and I was too worked up to drive.

I heard his boots on the pavement behind me. “Go away,” I groaned.

“Gonna see you home,” his calm voice returned. I spun to face him.

“What, so you can yell at me some more? Make me feel more like shit than I already do?” I demanded.

“Not tryin’ to do that.” He shook his head. “Not sure what the hell I’m doin’,” he added wearily.

What the hell was I supposed to do with that?

We walked in silence through the frigid air as I pulled my leather jacket tighter around me, grateful I’d thought to bring a scarf.

“Why didn’t you come to see me when she died?” His voice was quiet but tense, as though something extraordinary hinged on my answer.

I turned to him, my steps halting in the middle of the sidewalk. “I did.”

His brow wrinkled as he stared down at me in confusion. “What?”

I swallowed hard against the painful memory, but it was still glaringly fresh. I’d sought him out, needing him above all others, like he was air for me to breathe. “I didn’t think you’d answer if I called. You hadn’t taken a call from me in so long. So I went to your place.” I winced before continuing. “You were… occupied,” I managed. “I could hear you from the hall.”

He visibly blanched. “Christ.” His hand scrubbed roughly over his face as he looked anywhere but at me, seeming to search for words. I knew exactly what was passing through his head. He was worried it would look like he didn’t care, that he wasn’t grieving if he was screwing his brains out right after my mother died. But I didn’t think that, not even close. I knew better. “I loved her too,” he told me finally.

I stared up at him, my eyes filled to the brim with unshed tears. “I know you did,” I rasped, praying he understood just how true those words were. How much my life was made better because of them.

Something shifted between us. It was subtle but I could almost feel some of the anger lift as understanding began to take a fragile hold.

Before long we were turning down my quiet street. We stood in front of my dark, depressing house, staring up at it in wonder at how different it looked in the wake of despair.

“I don’t want to go in,” I admitted quietly. “I never do.”

“You can give it life again, I know you can.” He nodded gruffly, staring up at the dark shape the house painted against the sky.

I looked over at him in surprise.

“Night, Piper.”

“Night,” I replied, watching dumbfounded as he strode off in the direction we’d come. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets, his head tipped downward.

I felt the vines of hope wrap around my heart, and prayed they didn’t squeeze too tight and make it stop altogether.

*****

“Her coffee’s on me,” a deep voice stated as I stood at the register of my favorite coffee shop the next afternoon. It was right across the street from the boutique, making it an easy spot to grab a quick dose of caffeine when I needed it, which was often.

My head swung around to face the man behind me and I had to crane my head up, he was so tall. He was also handsome in an edgy kind of way. The man exuded a don’t-fuck-with-me kind of vibe. His blond hair was shaved close to his head, making his chiseled jaw, which was lined with a thin layer of whiskers, more pronounced. He wore a Knights cut but I didn’t recognize him.

“Uh, thanks,” I replied, as the barista handed me my coffee.

“Don’t mention it.” He nodded, his eyes looking down at me in clear appreciation. “Piper, right?” he asked, when he’d sidled up to me as I poured creamer in my coffee.

I looked at him, surprised that he knew who I was. “Yep.”

“Tag,” he responded, reaching a large hand out to shake mine.

“How do you know who I am?” I asked curiously.

“A gorgeous girl moves into town, I have my ways of finding things out,” he replied, his mouth turning up into a panty-dropping smile. The expression completely transformed his face, making him even more handsome.

“You have a nice smile,” I commented without thinking. I smacked a hand over my mouth, my cheeks flaming because I’d just said that out loud.

He chuckled. “Glad you think so, babe.” He stepped closer, his large body towering over mine.

I gulped.

“Have dinner with me.”

My eyes went wide and I nearly dropped the sugar in surprise. I hadn’t been expecting that. It had been a long time since a man had shown such blatant interest and in such a bold way. I couldn’t deny it was flattering.

My thoughts went to Ryker. It seemed like we’d formed some sort of truce, albeit a fragile one. I wasn’t going to jeopardize that. Plus, my heart was still his and I didn’t have the energy lately to pretend otherwise. I’d been doing enough of that for a decade.

“I’m flattered, but I can’t.” I shook my head.

His brow rose in surprise and I could tell he wasn’t used to being turned down. “You got yourself a man since I asked around about you?” he asked, seeming genuinely perplexed.

An uncontrollable laugh escaped. “It couldn’t be that I’m not attracted to you?” I demanded lightly.

“Nope.” He shook his head with a wink.

Well, he was charming in a cocky sort of way, I’d give him that.

“Full of yourself,” I muttered teasingly, enjoying our banter.

“One dinner,” he persisted.

I looked him square in the eye. “I can’t, I’m sorry.”

He regarded me for a beat, seeming to gauge whether or not I was serious. Whatever he saw there must have confirmed it. “Okay, darlin’.” He shrugged. “You change your mind, you let me know.” He winked.

“Will do.” I smiled, watching as he turned and strode out of the coffee house. I crossed the street back to the boutique, still shaking my head at our exchange.

“Tag asked you out!” Ettie shrieked in surprise a few hours later. She’d popped in to the store and was helping me out.

I nodded. “He was persistent. I had to say no more than once.”

“Does Ryker know?”

“Why should he have to know?” I demanded. “Why would he even care? From what everyone keeps saying, he has a harem of women keeping him occupied.”

“Whatever you say,” she replied, trying to hide a smile behind a blouse she was folding.

“What?” I demanded in exasperation.

“Babe, I hate to break it to you, but all anyone has to do is be around you two for more than a minute to know that’s a line of bullshit.” She laughed. “There’s so much sexual tension it’s freaking ridiculous,” she continued. “But hey, I get it. You two have shit to sort out.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I scoffed. “We’re barely on speaking terms.”

“Give it time.” She nodded sagely.

“Whatever,” I muttered, looking at her like she was crazy.

She just smiled with a shrug.

“What?” I demanded, annoyed that I could feel myself blushing.

She laughed. “All I’m saying is that with a few more conversations and some more time together, I wouldn’t bet against you two getting back together in, say, under a week.”

“A week?” I demanded, incredulous, before my eyes narrowed with suspicion. “And why are you so precise on the timing?”

She shrugged, grinning coyly. “There may or may not be a bet going between us girls.”

“Ugh, you guys are impossible!” I exclaimed, throwing a sweater at her.

“You love me anyway,” she replied.

I huffed. “I do,” I admitted. “Now can we please wrap this shit up and stop talking about my nonexistent love life?”

“For now.” She grinned with a wink.

I was caught off guard to find my dad moving around in the kitchen when I got home that night. “Hi, Dad,” I greeted, trying not to seem too surprised that he’d emerged from his room.

“Hi, bunny.” He surprised me by using his old pet name for me. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat at hearing it. “I’m sorry about the other night,” he apologized, not meeting my eyes. I busied myself looking in the fridge, not wanting to make an uncomfortable situation more so. “Was that Ryker I heard?” he asked, changing the subject almost immediately.