by Layla Hagen
“I did, but I have my tricks to get what I want. And I’m sure Avery will be on my team. Besides, your shoulders are still up to your ears. It’s my duty to make you relax.”
“Your duty? That doesn’t sound like fun.”
Ryker winked, leaning into me.
“My duty and my pleasure. How does that sound, Ms. Prescott?”
“Like something I can look forward to.”
“Right answer.”
Chapter Seventeen
Heather
I texted Natasha to ask if they’d already left Manhattan, but she replied that they’d gone back to the store after dinner.
Avery pouted when Ryker and I arrived, clearly wanting to stay longer. She was sitting on the same chair where she’d been when I’d left, only instead of a coloring book, she had fabrics in front of her.
“Mommy, look what I made.” She held up a red cloth covered in glitter.
Skye, Tess, and Natasha were leaning against the counter. There weren’t any gift bags left. Wow, they’d sorted all those? After my dinner with Ryker, I saw the sisters in a different light. They did look tired.
“Avery got bored of the coloring book,” Skye explained.
“So you sacrificed fabric instead?”
Skye waved her hand. “They were just leftover scraps from damaged items.”
“Where’s Amelia?”
“Left about ten minutes ago,” Tess said, looking between Ryker and me, lips pressed firmly together. I could tell she had a million questions, and Avery was the only reason she wasn’t firing away. Ah, what I wouldn’t give to hear them quiz Ryker later.
“Avery, we have to go,” I said.
“But I’m not done with the glitter.”
“It’s late, sweetheart.”
“You can take the glitter bottle and the rest of the fabric with you. I’ll put them in a box,” Tess offered. Avery looked at her as if she’d hung the moon.
I helped Avery into her jacket while Tess packed the box. When she handed it to Avery, she clutched it in her arms as if it was her most prized possession.
“You know what, I think I’ll stay out for a while longer,” Natasha said, beaming. “Unless you need me to come with you?”
“We’re good. Thanks a lot, Natasha.”
“I’ll order an Uber,” Ryker said. I wasn’t even going to ask again that he not come with us. And honestly, I wanted to spend more time with him.
“Can we go with the train?” Avery asked, looking between the two of us. Ryker deferred to me.
“Why not? The car isn’t much faster.”
The train was as full as expected on a Friday evening, but we still managed to secure three seats.
“Mom, did you like the movie?” Avery asked.
I didn’t want to disappoint my daughter... but I also didn’t want to lie to her.
Ryker must have noticed my dilemma, because he answered for me. “We made progress. But I’ll have to show her a few more before we win her over to our side.”
“Ooooh. Can I spend time with Amelia or Tess and Skye when you take Mom to the movies?”
“If you want to.” Ryker sounded a little too pleased. He looked at me over Avery’s head, winking. “So, what other movies do you think I should take your mom to?”
Avery tapped one finger against her chin, the way I did it when I was deep in thought, before launching into a debate with Ryker. I just watched them, unable to get a word in—I honestly had no clue what they were talking about. Ryker was out of his depth too when it came to movies outside of the superhero genre, but he covered it well.
He wasn’t one bit condescending or looking for a way out of the conversation.
“You think Mommy is listening to us?” Avery asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Don’t think so,” Ryker replied playfully before lowering his mouth to Avery’s ear, holding a hand in front of his mouth as he whispered something.
“Yes,” Avery declared, giggling.
“Hey, I want to know what’s going on,” I protested.
Ryker shook his head. “Nah, we still have to keep our secrets.”
“Ryker, I have a science fair on Thursday,” Avery said. “Do you want to come?”
I froze. Damn, I didn’t see this coming. Avery was shy, usually didn’t like anyone else watching her except me. Ryker looked as stunned as I felt, but before I could come up with a smart way to answer, he said, “Sure. I’ll talk about the details with your mom, but I’ll be there.”
There was no stopping that dangerous train of thought I’d embarked on at the restaurant, even though I was a little worried that Ryker had felt obligated to say yes. Was this too much? What was I thinking; of course it was. I had to offer him a way out before the night was over.
That worry intensified when we entered the apartment. The reality of single motherhood might put him off. I was a little jittery as I spoke next.
“Ummm... I have to help Avery go to bed.”
“Go ahead.”
I felt Ryker watch us as we walked to Avery’s room. She talked about her evening through the entire routine. While I combed her hair with the Tangle Teezer, Avery looked at me in the mirror, clutching the teddy bear she slept with in her arms.
“Mommy, is Ryker going to come here again?”
I wanted to scream Yes, yes, yes at the top of my lungs. Instead, I hid my smile behind Avery’s head.
“Do you want him to?”
“He’s nice.” Avery nodded excitedly. I couldn’t help myself. I hugged my daughter, glancing at her in the mirror.
“I think so too. Come on, let’s go to bed.”
I was so full of this happy energy. Just knowing that Ryker was in the next room made me giddy. This man had entered into my life one month ago, and he was already such a huge part of it that I didn’t know what to make of it.
After kissing Avery goodnight, I let myself out of her room, taking a quick trip to the bathroom, checking my appearance. Should I shower? No, that would take too long. Reapply makeup? That seemed silly. I just got rid of my tights. It was too hot for them inside the house.
Ryker is in the living room, waiting for me.
I had no idea how the rest of the evening would go. I’d signed up for a movie tonight and had ended up on the most swoon-worthy dinner date. What else did Ryker have in store for me?
Well... I had to join him to find out. Ryker was sitting on the couch when I returned to the living room, moving his finger in a come here motion. I practically flew to him. He patted the spot next to him.
“Finally going to reveal your tricks?” I teased.
“Neck massage.”
I sat on the couch with my back to him. He lowered the zipper of my dress.
“That’s necessary for a neck massage?” I asked.
“Definitely. Most points of tension are actually on the upper back.”
Wow, his hands were pure magic. I wasn’t sure why this all got to me. Maybe because Ryker was doing all this without any expectation. He pressed his fingers on the pressure points on my shoulder blades, then the muscles along my spine. Every time he touched my bare skin, I shuddered. I couldn’t help myself. It was an involuntary reaction. Oh God, if he kept doing that, I was going to ask him to stay the night, and I really couldn’t go there. It would take this to a whole new level, and I wasn’t even sure what this was.
But when Ryker dropped his hands, placing his mouth on my bare back, he wiped all thoughts from my mind except how much I wanted him here with me.
He touched his lips to my skin first, and then the tip of his tongue. My entire body already felt on fire. How was this possible? And how was I supposed to stop this when I wanted nothing more than to turn around and wrap myself around him?
He pushed the dress off one shoulder, moving his mouth over the exposed skin before slowly turning me around, pulling me into his lap. Ryker crushed his mouth to mine, and I responded to the kiss with no restraint. I’d never felt anything like this, and I
didn’t have to pause and think why: it was just Ryker. I couldn’t be with him and not be completely consumed by him. I moved my mouth down his jaw and neck, sucking a little on his Adam’s apple. He fisted my hair, keeping me close.
“Babe, wait,” he murmured. I straightened up, noticing Ryker had clenched the blanket on the couch with his free hand. His knuckles brushed my thigh. He’d been seconds away from sliding his hand under my dress.
“If you continue that way, I’m going to try to seduce you, and we can’t have that, because I wouldn’t leave until the morning.”
I’d completely lost track of... everything, and he was the one who remembered where we were? Sensed that I wasn’t ready for him to spend the night here?
I might just have to do everything in my power to make him fall in love with me. I mean, what other option did I have to make sure I didn’t lose him?
I chose my next words carefully. Hopefully he couldn’t guess where my mind had just been.
“You’re going to try and seduce me?” I teased. “What do you call what you’ve been doing until now?”
“Looking after you. If I wanted to seduce you, I’d do this.”
He let go of the blanket, lazily stroked his thumb on my outer thigh until his hand disappeared under my dress. The second goose bumps formed on my thighs, our gazes locked. He slid his hands to my inner thighs, stopping just at the hem of my panties. He kissed one corner of my mouth before biting my lower lip. When he stroked over my panties, I shuddered, clenching my thighs. I wanted him so much, and the way he pressed the drenched fabric over my sensitive skin was pure torture.
“Baby, fuck. You’re wet.” His voice was almost a growl. My entire body was on fire... even more so when Ryker traced the strap of my bra with his other hand, as if he was seconds away from taking off my clothes. To my surprise, he dropped both hands.
“This wasn’t part of the plan,” he said.
“Enlighten me. What are you planning?”
“At least a couple more dates before we move on to the overnighter.”
“Mmm, you think I’m so easy to win over, do you?”
“All evidence points that I’m on the right path. Plus, I’m willing to learn.”
Oh, man. He was making it harder and harder for me to climb out of his lap and see him to the door, and that feral glint in his eyes made one thing clear: he was walking a fine line, and was very close to falling over the edge.
I had to be the one to keep my head cool. The only problem was that I already felt very... seduced.
Reluctantly, I climbed out of his lap. He immediately rose to his feet, walking away from the couch, as if staying too close made it too tempting to fall back into each other’s arms. Well, the risk was very real.
As I walked him to the door, I suddenly remembered that Avery had asked him to come to her science fair.
“Ryker, I’m sorry Avery ambushed you with her fair. Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell her she can’t invite people just like that.”
“Heather, I want to come.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“But it’ll just be a group of kids standing next to posters. A bit boring.”
“You’ll be there?”
“Of course.”
“Not boring, then.”
I was smiling from ear to ear when we reached the door.
“What do you think, far enough from the couch?” he asked.
“Far enough for what?”
“Kissing you without the risk of wanting to yank off your clothes.”
Ahh, by the edge in his voice, I had a hunch he still wanted that very much. Before I could answer, he gripped my hips and kissed me, deep and wet, and just didn’t let go... not until I felt a hard surface behind me.
He chuckled. “Fuck, woman, I’ll just pin you against the wall.”
“You already are,” I pointed out.
“I think not touching is a better strategy.” He took a step back, holding his hands in the air. I was that tempting, huh? Good to know. Because I couldn’t just shove him out the door like this, I gave him a quick peck on the lips before bidding him goodbye.
I did a little dance in my entrance hall after Ryker left. I couldn’t believe tonight. It had been... I didn’t even know how to describe it. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around everything... including all the budding feelings I already had for him. Ryker had swept into my life like a hurricane. I hadn’t been prepared. I still didn’t feel prepared. And yet I already knew that falling head over heels for this amazing man would be inevitable.
Chapter Eighteen
Ryker
“Mr. Ryker, did you like my poster?” Avery asked next Thursday, after we left the science fair.
“It was interesting,” I replied. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Heather was about to burst out laughing. Interesting was a very generous way to describe the few volcano drawings and pics on the poster. Honestly, some of the projects looked like they were an April Fool’s joke, which was appropriate since it was the first of April.
That prompting was all Avery needed to go into detail about formation of volcanoes and whatnot. Then she switched gears, talking about her upcoming trip to her grandparents’. She was leaving next week for her Easter vacation.
On the way home, we passed an ice-cream parlor.
“Want to go for ice cream?” I asked. Avery practically lit up. Heather narrowed her eyes. She saw right through my tactic. I wiggled my eyebrows, putting an arm around her shoulders, pulling her nearer.
“You’re cheating,” she whispered.
“I know,” I whispered back. But I didn’t know the rules yet, and I planned to play the clueless card for as long as possible.
The ice-cream parlor was full, so we stood in line. It was almost our turn when Heather’s phone rang.
“I’m going outside to take this,” she said.
“Sure.”
“What does your mom usually buy for you?” I asked Avery when we had to order.
“A cone with three scoops,” she answered in one breath.
“Okay. Let’s buy yours.”
Avery was so ecstatic that I couldn’t help grin. Was it really this easy to make kids happy? I’d always thought there was more to it.
Heather joined us just then. Her eyes bulged when she noticed Avery’s cone.
“How much ice cream is that?” she asked.
“Three scoops,” I said. “She said that’s what you usually buy her.”
“Kid-sized scoops.”
I glanced at Avery. “You didn’t tell me that.”
Avery shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”
“Fair enough.”
Heather laughed, pointing to a table. “Wait for us there, Avery. We’ll buy ours and join you.”
Avery practically ran away, as if afraid her ice cream might get confiscated. I took Heather’s hand, pulling her closer to the counter. “What about you?”
“Mango. You?”
“Not really in the mood for ice cream.”
“What do you want instead?”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I ran my fingers lazily up and down her palm, making my intention clear. I wanted her. Heather cleared her throat, but her voice was slightly breathy when she ordered her mango ice cream. Her cheeks were a little flushed. Fuck, I loved seeing her react like this to a simple touch and implication. She was still blushing when we sat next to Avery.
She’d already finished hers, though by her appearance, she’d smeared half on it on her face, her hair, even on her jacket. She was already eyeing Heather’s cup.
“So, Avery, what are your plans with your grandparents?”
“I will play all the time. I have a big room at their house. And they have a huuuuge yard.”
“I think Avery would move there if she could,” Heather joked.
“I love Arizona. It’s warm, and I can always play outside.”
“See? She crushes my heart every time.” On a smile, she added, “We
should get going. It’s late. And you need to get to the Northern Lights, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah. My set starts in an hour.”
“Mommy, the nice man at the counter said he’ll give me cookies before I leave. Can I go get them?”
“Sure.”
Heather kept an eye on Avery as she darted to the counter.
“By the way, I’m coming in for a second round of interviews next week, just before I drop off Avery at the airport. Danielle—my editor—just told me she spoke to Owen.”
“Perfect. Stop by my office when you have a break.”
“Why? I’m not interviewing you.”
I smiled, touching a hand to her cheek. “Interview isn’t what I had in mind.”
“Ryker....”
“Just come by my office,” I repeated. Her eyes flashed. She licked her lower lip. I dragged my thumb over the same spot. Fuck. I just wanted to pull her behind the store and kiss her until she begged for more.
“I’ll consider it.” Her tone was teasing, but by the light tremor in her body, I knew I’d already won the battle. I liked that every time we were together, she gave in to me more easily, that she was more open. “Go, before you’re too late.”
I was shocked to discover I wasn’t looking forward to performing as much as usual. In fact, I would’ve preferred to spend the evening right here. I’d never considered ditching a chance to perform for anyone except my family... until now.
***
The next week was brutal, full of ups and downs on the stock market. I kept my cool, as usual, which was one of the reasons I’d shot to the top as quickly as I did.
Whenever I had a spare moment, I messaged Heather, and even dropped by with dinner one evening on impulse. I barely kept from inviting myself over more often. I didn’t want to push too much, too soon. I had no idea how my life could change so drastically in just six weeks, since I’d first noticed Heather at the Northern Lights, but I liked being with them—both of them.
Friday had always been my favorite day. This one even more so, because Heather was inside the building for another round of interviews. But right now, I had one of the city’s heavy hitters sitting on the other side of my desk. He wanted reassurance. I was confident in my predictions, the advice I gave to clients.