The Hurricane (5 page)

“I really am sorry I didn’t call,” I said as I turned towards her.

“Ok,” she said quietly, but it wasn’t.

“No, it’s not ok. I just need to explain.”

“Shoot,” she said, and I could tell from her facial expression, she was bracing herself for the worst.

“I had your number in my jeans, and my asshole brother pushed me into the pool at our hotel. It was gone. I was so pissed when I got out, I went a little crazy on him. I knew you were already gone and I wouldn’t be able to find you.”

“Well, that part isn’t your fault, but you could have looked me up if you really wanted to,” she said defensively. But she was right.

“Cain convinced me you would be a distraction,” I said scratching my beard, and feeling like a dick saying this to her.

“A distraction?” I could see the hurt in her eyes. I scooted closer to her. I didn’t want her to hurt anymore.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I ran my finger over her nose, and rested my hand on the side of her neck.

“A distraction from what?” she said, biting her bottom lip.

Shit, just say it.

“My fights.”

“I’m not following,” she said curiously. I felt her swallow against my hand.

“Do you remember Dalton, the guy we had to meet up with at the bar?” She just nodded.

“He runs a lot of fights, and Cain was getting me into it. It was good money. Cain handled the business end and I fought.”

“Like boxing or MMA?” she said shaking her head in confusion, but hanging on my every word.

“Not exactly,” I said, and exhaled, dropping my hand and wringing my own hands together.

“What then?”

“Underground fighting.”

“Like illegal?” she asked, and gave me a worried look.

“Yeah, but I’m out of the game now. I made some money, and I got out. I work on the ships at the docks now, welding. I gave up that life. And I’m sorry I didn’t find you. I’ve always regretted it. I swear.” I ran my hand through her long hair and kissed the tip of her nose. Those fucking freckles.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away,” I whispered against her lips. “But I just want a chance to get to know you more; those three days weren’t enough. I need more, Nat.” She nodded and put her hand over mine.

“Can I kiss you?” I whispered.

“Please,” she said as I brushed my lips against hers. She opened her mouth for me and I slid my tongue inside. I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her closer to me, craving her, wanting more. But I couldn’t. Not yet; I didn’t want to scare her off. I forced myself to pull away and then gave her a gentle peck.

“The beard is definitely different,” Nat said, through heavy breaths.

“Good different or bad different?” I asked.

“Definitely good different,” she said with a smile as she ran her fingers across my face.

A Fresh Start

“So tell me more about the fights you used to do,” I said as I took a small sip of wine. I didn’t drink very often anymore, and I didn’t want loose lips to get the best of me.

“Uh . . . ,” he said, and then took a long swig of his beer. “It was just a job.”

“Did you like it?” I asked, trying to understand.

“I liked the challenge, and it was a good stress reliever.”

“Beating people relieved stress?” I asked with a tiny giggle.

“Surprisingly, yeah,” he said, but he stared at the table. “I’m not proud of those days.”

“So did you win a lot?” I asked.

“I never lost,” he said quietly.

“Never?”

He just shook his head.

“It must have been hard to quit when you were on top.”

“It’s not like MMA or cage fighting. There’s no regulations, and it can get dirty. I wanted out of that world.”

“But your brother, Cain? Is he still involved in it?” I asked. I probably shouldn’t, it really wasn’t my business.

“I don’t really get involved in Cain’s businesses. But I’m sure he is,” he said with a little laugh.

“Oh,” I said quietly, unsure of what he meant by that.

“Don’t get me wrong, my brother’s a decent guy, he’s just . . . different,” he said as he scratched his beard.

“So, then you went to work on the docks? Do you like it?” I asked, knowing it was time to change the subject.

“Yeah, a couple of years ago. I do like it, it’s good for me. I’m home every night, it’s stable, and I don’t have to travel anymore. It works,” he said, and he shook his head and gave me a smile. That smile. I missed that smile. I couldn’t see his dimple anymore, but I was just fine with the beard. It was beyond sexy.

“So, how long have you been in Corpus?” he asked. My stomach did a little flip. I knew what was coming. Damn.

“Two years,” I said, and took a bigger drink of my wine. I was a light weight and I knew I should take it easy. But I needed to calm my nerves.

“Do you have family here?” he asked.

“No, it’s just me and Brookie,” I said with a little smile.

“Were you still in Amarillo before the move?”

“Yeah, I needed a change.”

“Did you need to get away from your ex?” he asked, with a worried expression.

Here we go. Out with it, Natalie, just say it. It was never easy, but the pain has subsided a little. But being here with Ryker made the guilt creep up once again.

“He wasn’t my ex,” I said, and let out a long deep breath.

“No?” Ryker said as he sat up straighter and rolled his neck, popping it.

“He was my husband.” I stalled, hoping he would tell me I didn’t need to explain.

But he didn’t. He stared at me, like a statue, waiting. His eyes were piercing into me and I noticed his jaw flinch.

“He died,” I said quietly. There, I said it.

“I’m sorry,” he said. But he wasn’t looking at me; he was staring at his beer.

“It was four years ago. He was a police officer and was killed during a drug bust. He was on the force with my dad; that’s how we met.” I couldn’t believe all of that just came spilling out of my mouth. It usually took months before I told anyone that.

“I’m sorry,” Ryker repeated, but he was staring into my eyes, now.

“I’m ok,” I said. It was a half-truth. Most days I was ok, now. I still had my moments, but I was better than before. Moving to Corpus was the best thing I could have done.

“It seems like you’ve done a really good job with Brooklyn. She’s a great kid.”

“Ah, she’s amazing,” I gushed. “She keeps me on my toes, that’s for sure,” I said with a laugh, the sadness and guilt tucked away for a while.

“She’s funny.”

“She really is. She really liked you. She hasn’t really stopped talking about you since we left the beach,” I said.

“Really?” He smiled, and I bit my lip to keep from drooling. Damn, he was so sexy. The way his eyes lit up just melted me.

“You were good with her. You never got married or had kids?” Well damn, Nat, just dive right in there without warning.

“Nope,” he said without hesitation, and then took another drink of his beer. I couldn’t help but watch his throat move as he swallowed. Is it possible that swallowing a beer could be sexy? Yes it is, because Ryker Hamilton has mastered it.

2 hours later.

Our date was over too soon. But I had to get Brooklyn, and it was a work night. Brooklyn had to be up early for daycare.

“So, do you switch between the motorcycle and your truck?” I asked as I glanced at his truck in the driveway. We were standing by my front door. Because he walked me to the door, like a gentleman. He might have looked like a bad ass, and chances are he was one, but he was also a gentleman; a genuinely nice guy.

Hopefully this wasn’t too good to be true.

“I ride my bike when the weather’s nice. But I didn’t figure you would want to go to dinner on the back,” he said with a laugh as he stepped closer to me.

“I might, you never know,” I said playfully as I took a step closer, too.

“How about next time?” he asked as he grazed his hand along my neck, and placed the palm of his hand on the back of my neck.

“Is there going to be a next time?” I whispered. He was so close and all I could think about was how bad I wanted him to kiss me again.

“Fuck, I hope so,” he said, and then slammed his lips onto mine. I opened my mouth for him and let out a little moan when his tongue found mine. I had to stand on my tip toes, and he was reaching down as he wrapped his arms around my back, lifting me closer against him. Holy Shit. I wrapped my arms around his neck and I know my nipples must be stabbing into his rock hard chest. I hadn’t felt the touch of a man in four years. Until Ryker.

After a few minutes, he set me down easily as he broke our kiss, but kept his arms around me. I was disappointed, but knew I shouldn’t move too fast. I couldn’t handle another heartbreak. And he would be the one to do it, again.

“Can I have your number now?” he asked as he ran his fingertips down my arm, causing goose bumps.

“I’m not sure,” I said with a sly smile. “You don’t have a real good track record with keeping up with my number.”

“I deserve that.” He chuckled as he pulled his phone out of his front pocket.

“I promise that will never happen again,” he said as he handed me his phone to enter my number.

“And you never break a promise, right?” I said wearing a tiny smile, remembering his words that night on the beach.

“Never,” he whispered against my lips before he kissed me gently.

Wrapped

Fuck me. As soon as I walked into my apartment, a lonely feeling swept over me. That didn’t really ever happen. I’d always been fine alone. For the most part, it comforted me—the solitude, the silence. But not tonight. Well, this fucking sucked. I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, and put my wallet and keys on the bar. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and scrolled down to her name.

Me: I had a good time tonight.

She responded almost instantly.

Nat: Me too.