by Layla Hagen
“It’s always good to have more money coming in—we could expand quicker,” Tess said.
These women were an inspiration for me. They went after what they wanted at full speed, embracing all the risks.
“Avery, we have something for you,” Amelia said. She pointed to a small table next to the counter. A Winnie-themed coloring book, a doll, and a puzzle were lying on it.
“And we have something for you too,” Skye said conspiratorially while Amelia took Avery to the table. Natasha gave me a surprised look. I’d brought her up to speed on all things Winchester when I asked her if she wanted to come here, but clearly, I wasn’t the only one amazed by how welcoming these women were.
Tess hurried to the door to greet a customer who’d just come in.
“What do you mean?” I asked Skye.
“You’ll see. Come on.”
She led me to a changing room where a gorgeous red wool camisole was hanging.
“Oooh, this is beautiful.”
“Yup. Just arrived. I set aside your size.”
“How do you know my size?”
“It’s my job. Try it on. It’ll go well with your dress and will keep you warm.”
I was ecstatic. I didn’t want to overthink anything tonight. I wanted to feel sexy. I was going on a date. I was wearing a sweater dress and high-heeled boots, and it was as if Skye had read my mind. I had wondered if I wouldn’t shiver a little.
While I changed, Skye talked my ear off about Ryker.
I peeked through the curtains. “Skye, you don’t have to talk him up. I’ve already agreed to the date.”
Skye grinned. “Extra pimping doesn’t hurt. And you look amazing. You can’t even tell you’re wearing a camisole.”
“I agree. I’m buying it.”
“No, you won’t. It’s our gift.”
“No way.”
“Yes way.”
I couldn’t accept it, but judging by Skye’s determined look, I’d offend them if I didn’t take it. And I loved it. I was going to rock this evening.
I strutted out of the changing room with a huge smile. Anticipation coursed through me. I tried to push down the mix of guilt and fear threatening to float up to the surface. It was just a night of fun. I didn’t have to make a big deal out of it.
Avery and Amelia were busy at the table with the puzzle.
Tess was back at the counter, showing Natasha a bra.
“Hey, girl. We’ll stay here for a bit and then go to the pizza place across the street, if that’s okay with you,” Natasha said.
“Sure. Text me when you go home.”
“Will do.”
Turning to Tess, I said, “Thanks for the camisole. How can I make it up to you?”
Skye wiggled her eyebrows. “Oh, we’ll find a way. Now go, or you’ll be late.”
I kissed Avery goodbye, grinning from ear to ear as I stepped out of the store. I rarely came to Soho, and now I wondered why. It was wonderfully romantic. Everyone sitting outside was relaxed, not huddled over their warm drinks. The end of March was usually when the weather resembled spring more than winter.
Adrenaline was pumping in my veins. I was seeing Ryker in twenty minutes. I couldn’t wait. I had a feeling tonight was going to be epic.
Chapter Sixteen
Heather
Friday nights were crazy in Manhattan, but despite being squeezed between other passengers in the subway, giddiness completely overpowered me.
I blinked at the explosion of lights and colors when I came out in Times Square, where I was meeting Ryker. We’d decided on one of the giant billboards as our meeting point. To my astonishment, I noticed Ryker coming out of the subway station as well. He stood out even surrounded by the mass of New Yorkers out to enjoy life. He simply had that magnetic presence that demanded to be appreciated. One look around revealed that I wasn’t the only one affected by him. I counted at least five women appreciating the view.
My heart squeezed. Oh, shit. I couldn’t be jealous... already. But I was. Ryker noticed me the next second.
“Hey!”
“You like to take the subway?” I asked, perplexed.
“Yeah. Cabs take longer in traffic. And why waste money when we have a perfectly good subway?”
I hadn’t expected Ryker to be so down-to-earth. He certainly didn’t have to worry about money.
“Shall we?” he asked.
I nodded, and we started walking in the general direction of the cinema. Ryker immediately put an arm around my shoulders, as if he was afraid he might lose me in the crowd. As if that was even possible. I was so aware of his presence, as if there was a palpable bond between us.
My heart rate sped up when he pulled me closer, touching the tip of his nose to my temple. A knot formed between my shoulder blades.
I can do this.
I’m ready.
I repeated the words a few times, but far from calming down, I was just working myself into a frenzy. My palms grew a little sweaty. I tried to hide them by putting my hands in my pockets. Ryker pressed his fingers into my arm, as if sensing I needed reassurance.
When we entered the cinema, he brought his mouth to my ear.
“You want me to bring you back to my sister’s store?”
“N-no.”
“That’s not very convincing, love.”
He let go of me, but our gazes were interlocked.
“Talk to me, Heather. What’s going on in your mind?”
“I’m not sure I can explain. At least, not in a way that makes sense.”
He brought a hand to my face, caressing my cheek. I loved that he wasn’t pressuring me, that he understood I needed to gather my thoughts at my own pace.
“I’m afraid that this is too soon after my breakup.”
He frowned. “Heather, this is about discovering each other. So far, I love everything I know about you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. You’re a fantastic woman, a great mother.”
“There you go, being charming again.”
He smiled. “I can’t help it.”
“I think you can, you just don’t want to because you know it’s irresistible.”
“Glad to know it’s working. I like you, Heather. But if you want to go back to the store, just say the word.” He moved his thumb over my lower lip.
“What happened to seizing the chance?”
Ryker tilted closer until I felt his breath on my skin. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t try again.”
I laughed. My pulse was jackhammering in my ears. His cologne and mere presence were so intense that I couldn’t even think past how right this felt—his touch, his nearness. And those words. How did he always know what I needed to hear?
“Let’s buy the tickets,” I said softly. “And popcorn.”
Ryker stepped back, smiling. “Popcorn for the lady, got it. Anything else?”
“Diet Coke.”
“Got it. You go pick up the tickets from the prepaid counter. I’ll line up for the food and drinks.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I nodded, full of excitement as I walked to the prepaid counter. Even though the line there was much shorter than Ryker’s, it moved infinitely slower.
I was just about to take out my phone to check if Natasha had messaged me when a guy approached me.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said lazily. “You alone? I’ll keep you company.”
“No need. I’m here with someone.”
“Well, if he left you alone, that’s his problem.”
“He went to buy popcorn,” I said coldly.
The guy didn’t budge.
“What do you say we get out of here?”
“What do you say about getting lost?” I replied, in no mood to fend off anyone’s advances. Another downside of going out on Friday evening. Some people started happy hour really early. The whiff of cheap whiskey told me that was the case with this guy. Out of the corner of my eye, I spied Ryker walking toward us with determined strides. Oh, this was goin
g to be good.
I barely held back a smile when Ryker stopped right next to me.
“Get lost. She’s mine.”
Oh, my. That tone of voice was just delicious. It warmed my heart that he thought of me as his... but I didn’t know what Ryker expected and if I was ready to fulfill those expectations.
The guy quirked up a brow. “Maybe I’ll wait for her to tell me that.”
“I already did. Ryker, let’s move somewhere else.”
“Get out of our way, or I’ll remove you from this building myself.” Ryker’s tone was dangerously calm. The guy must have noticed that too, because he backed off. Either that, or he finally realized that Ryker was much, much more muscular than him. On top of that, Ryker gave off that dominant vibe that made you think he could win any fight he wanted—even if it was just a battle of wills.
“Let’s get the tickets together,” he said.
“What about the popcorn and drinks?”
“Bought them already but told the cashier to keep them there when I saw that douchebag.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t want to leave my side? That was so... I didn’t even know how to describe it, but I felt so important. Protected.
After picking up the tickets, we went to the food counter. I tried to hide my disappointment at the serving size he’d chosen: small. I was hungry, and this was going to be my dinner. His portion was small as well. I wondered if I could get away with stealing some of his.
As we headed to the theater, I took off my jacket.
“Fuck,” Ryker muttered.
I glanced up and nearly swallowed my tongue. Ryker’s gaze was not just intense, but feral. He was looking me up and down slowly. I felt great wearing the new camisole underneath my wool dress, it just made me feel that little bit sexier. My choice of footwear was also intentional: sexy stiletto half boots instead of my usual flat, knee-length boots, and tights.
We were in a narrow corridor next to a small table in front of another empty theater. Ours was further down at the end of the hallway. Ryker set his popcorn bag and soda cup on the table, then did the same with mine.
I was about to ask what was going on, when his intent became clear. Interlacing one hand with mine, he pulled me into the room. It was completely dark inside. Ryker’s mouth came down on mine the next second. His kisses were usually exquisite, but now he was taking everything to a whole new level. He explored me with an urgency that made me burn. And when he lowered himself on one of the chairs, pulling me in his lap, I curled my knees at his side instantly. His hand slipped under my dress. The contact electrified me. I pushed my hips into him, moaning softly. He pressed his fingers on my flesh, as if it was all he could do not to rip apart my tights. I felt his other hand in my hair, cupping the back of my head. He kissed me until I was so weak for him and so turned on that I could barely think.
“Heather, fuck,” he murmured against my lips.
“I think our movie is going to start.”
He made a sound I couldn’t quite decipher before helping me climb down from his lap. As we left the room, I felt him look at me. In the dimly lit corridor, I glanced up. Oh, heavens... if I thought his gaze had been feral before, it was nothing compared to this. He looked as if he was having second thoughts about the movie and would much rather just throw me over his shoulder and take me out of the building.
I felt him watch me as I picked up my popcorn and drink. He followed suit, then guided me to our actual theater. I chuckled as we sat down. I hadn’t gone on a movie date since college.
“You know, I’ve never made out at the theater?” I whispered to Ryker.
His mouth curled into a satisfied smile. I simmered. Simmered! And the man wasn’t even trying to seduce me right now. Oh, heavens. How was I supposed to just sit with him for the next two hours?
By focusing on the movie, that was how.
It became clear within the first minutes that Ryker was a terrible person to go to a movie with. He kept trying to explain back stories and trivia, with the result that I spent more time shushing him than paying attention. On the bright side, he was so focused on explaining every detail that I’d managed to eat half his popcorn too. I’d wolfed down mine during the trailers.
“I’m never watching another movie with you,” I announced when we returned to the main hall. “You’re one of those awful people who talk through the whole thing. Worst movie companion.”
“I promise I make a better dinner companion.”
“What do you mean?”
“You didn’t think I wouldn’t take you to dinner, did you?”
“You didn’t say anything about dinner.”
“Didn’t want to risk you saying no. I want to spend more time with you, Heather. And I’m starving. Aren’t you?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You bought a small popcorn bag on purpose, didn’t you?”
He grinned. “Guilty.”
“Ohhh....” I’d just realized a tiny detail. “Skye, Tess, and your mom already know, don’t they?”
“And Natasha. Had to tell her so she could make plans for Avery accordingly.”
“How do you even know Natasha? And how to contact her?”
“I have my ways of finding out what I want.”
“You thought about everything.”
My pulse jackhammered in my throat, my chest, my ears. I couldn’t focus on anything else except Ryker, as if we were separated from our surroundings by a veil. How could he do that? Reduce everything to a low background noise? Make my entire body hum with one look, one touch? Make me want things I’d been determined to avoid only a few weeks back?
“Okay. Where are you taking me?”
“I have a few surprises in store.”
Like his sisters, Ryker didn’t do anything half-heartedly. The restaurant he’d brought us to was on a ship on the Hudson river. Twinkling lights adorned the metal railing outside. The restaurant’s walls were made out of floor-to-ceiling glass. We had an excellent view of the city.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re out to impress me,” I teased.
“I am. Want to sit outside?”
“Sure.”
It was a bit chilly here on the river, but they had gas heaters next to every table. Unfortunately, the heat was reflected from above, so my legs were cold within minutes. As if realizing that, Ryker asked for a blanket, placing it on my legs, tucking it in at the sides.
“So careful,” I murmured.
“Just making sure my girl’s taken care of. Don’t want to give her a reason to say no to the next date.”
My stomach flipped. “Already planning the next date?”
“Planning much more than that, but let’s start small.”
Well, what could I say to that?
There were only two set menus to choose from, each boasting five courses. Everything sounded delicious. We ended up choosing different menus, so we could taste what each had to offer. Despite being hungry, I was too captivated by Ryker to properly pay attention to the food.
“So, let’s see if I got this straight,” I said. “Tess is pretty balls to the wall when she’s after something. And Skye is subtle—”
Ryker held up a finger. “Sort of. I mean, Skye is more laid-back than Tess, except in crisis situations. Then she goes from relaxed to... dragon.”
I laughed, trying to picture Skye upset. “Yeah, I can totally see that. Let’s talk about Cole. What is there to know about him? He made an impression at the gala.”
“Did he now?” He cocked a brow.
I batted my eyelashes. “Oh, yeah. Your family is easy to like. I mean, your sisters just volunteered to spend time with Avery.”
“They like Avery.”
“Plus, they like torturing you.”
“That too.”
“I think they’re very brave, just going for what they want.”
“Yeah, they are. But I also think they’re taking on a lot.”
My heart squeezed at the way he genuinely wo
rried for their well-being. Seeing all the Winchester siblings together made me think how great it would be for Avery to have a sister or a brother. I hadn’t considered that before, but now I could imagine a toddler with dark blond hair and blue eyes.
Wow, I’d basically described Ryker. Holy shit, how had my mind jumped there?
“What are you thinking about?” Ryker asked.
I felt my cheeks heat up. Usually, I loved not filtering my thoughts around Ryker, but it was best not to voice this one. Way to send him running.
“Just... how nice it is to have a large family and all live in the same place.”
“Where are your parents?”
“In Arizona. A small town near Phoenix. Avery goes to see them during school breaks. They spoil her all day long, undoing all my good work. Every time she returns, she’s back to default factory settings.”
Ryker laughed, helping himself to more wine. By the time we’d finished dessert, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to eat again.
“This was delicious, but too much,” I said.
“You still don’t look completely relaxed.”
I smiled, shrugging. “Sorry. I’m not sure I know how to completely let go. Haven’t done that in a while.”
“Leave it to me. I just have to up my game.”
“Oh, and how do you plan to do that?”
“No heads-up. It’s more fun if I show you. The evening isn’t over yet.”
“It’s not?”
My heart rate quickened. I leaned forward in anticipation. What else did this gorgeous man have in store for us? He was just full of surprises, wasn’t he? And I loved every single one of them. “Have you asked for permission for that?” I teased.
He nodded, surprising the heck out of me. “Avery and I have our secrets.”
“I can see that.”
“Spoke to her that night we were at the gala.”
Oh, shit. My eyes became misty. I glanced at my hands, trying to hide it. This man! He was getting under my skin. If he kept this up, he was going to stay there.
“I told you I’d take care of you. So I’ll have to prove it. And I will, starting tonight.”
“I thought you only asked permission for movie and dinner.”