Her throat scraped raw. The memory of her strong willed father’s heart attack, the sudden panic that she might lose him no matter how hard she begged for his life, struck her at her core. “I understand,” she said quietly. “Where is he?”
“Saddle Creek’s hospital.” He relaxed his hold, and stepped back. “Less than two hours from Billings. I promise I’ll follow every order you give me after this detour.”
“We’ll take the company’s private jet. I’ll have my personal assistant book a rental for us.”
She stood, grabbed her smart phone and texted the instructions immediately while circling around the desk. “We’ll leave Friday. That’ll give time for photo ops beforehand.”
“Thank you.”
Addison held his gaze, read the honest relief in his eyes. God. He’d floored her with the love he clearly held for John. Once again putting himself last when he had so much at stake.
Guarding her heart from the man who had broken it was one thing, but that remaining detached and emotionally distance from Ryder proved extremely difficult when his sudden vulnerability exposed a man with the capacity to care… and to care deeply.
Chapter 4
“You sure you don’t want to be alone?” Addison asked Ryder as they stepped into John’s private hospital room at Mercy General. She’d never been a fan of hospitals. Though she remembered little about her mother before she’d passed away from complications due to multiple sclerosis, the sights, smells, and sounds of illness always brought a sick feeling to her stomach.
He took her hand. “No. Please stay.”
Outside, the sounds of staff being paged over the hospital’s intercom while inside the room the ongoing pump of soft drips of intravenous fluids going into John’s arm along with his heart monitor’s steady beeping permeated the silence.
The boys of Saddle Creek Ranch stood by their mentor all these years later. That spoke a lot about the man currently lying under a white sheet on a bed with both side rails raised. He’d been hooked up to a lot of equipment with wires leading to other machines measuring his brain waves, a finger clip to check his temperature, and an automatic blood pressure cuff.
A middle aged nurse stood next to John’s bed marking in his stats. She glanced at Addison and Ryder with compassion, then returned the chart to the foot of the hospital bed. “John’s a tough one.” She ushered them with a hand wave. “Talk to him and tell him you’re here. If you need anything, press the call button.” The metallic slide of the room’s privacy curtain followed her quick exit.
Ryder rubbed his jaw, the small row of stitches already removed, and moved his hand to the back of his neck. “What do I say to him?” he asked, staring through the window’s aluminum blinds.
A small chair had been placed next to the bed, and Addison noted a pair of well-worn cowboy boots tucked under it. How similar to the pair of practical flat shoes placed in her mother’s bedroom before death crept in and ended her suffering. Addison’s chest ached and she pressed her free palm over it. “Tell him you love him,” she said, knowing that begging a dying person to live wouldn’t guarantee a damn thing. Nor would whispered deals and prayers in the middle of the night. “Tell him about what’s happening in your life now.”
“Right,” Ryder’s voice cracked. “I’m a tabloid pariah, in trouble with my coach, and most likely to lose my entire career. I’m sure he’ll want to hear that.”
The heart monitor kicked up a notch, and Addison shot a look at the readout. “I believe you’ve got his attention,” Addison said, then took his hand. “Now let’s tell him how we’re going to make sure you’re a media darling with another Olympic gold medal to hang in your trophy room in August.”
“While we’re at it, I’ll make sure the only reason any of it will happen is ‘cause I’ve got the smartest public relations person saving my ass,” Ryder said.
The heart monitor readout skipped a few beats, and Ryder grinned. “I think he likes you.”
Tears pricked hot behind her eyes. The once lost boy inside the man seemed to glow through Ryder. Here stood an Olympic champion with a heart of gold so big he’d risk his reputation to protect his friend’s family. He’d even temporarily thrown a PR campaign to the curb to visit the man who had been responsible for giving Ryder a reason to choose honor over vice. “Then you had better introduce us properly.”
Ryder’s grip tightened on hers, and they moved in tandem to stand next to John. One hand still in hers, he covered John’s with the other. “I haven’t forgotten the rules of a being a real man,” he said. “I will make you proud. And this woman standing next to me? She’ll make sure I live up to every single thing you taught me.”
A slight movement lifted the right corner of John’s thin lips, and his gray brow quirked. Her heart caught in her throat. The stroke had stolen John’s speech, but Addison sensed his approval and, by the sheen she’d caught glimmering in Ryder’s electric blue eyes, Ryder had seen that same tacit approval.
The man standing beside her for the sake of his mentor chipped away at Addison’s closely guarded emotions. He was far more dangerous to her heart than the charming champion mountain biker she’d been ruthlessly trying to keep at bay.
* * *
Addison clickety-clicked on her heels while walking beside Ryder. To the west the Beartooth Mountains rose, their jagged rock faces and granite spires a stark contrast in the expansive sky the color of a robin’s egg. Man, he’d climbed and ridden the course John had carved out for him more times than he could count.
Beside him, Addison shivered. “It’s colder than I expected for June.”
The sun’s rays didn’t counteract the hint of winter cold whistling in the wind, which matched the plank of ice whacking his chest every time Ryder thought about John’s prognosis. “This isn’t Los Angeles.” He whipped off his vintage bomber jacket and put it over her shoulders before she could protest. “Here. You pack anything other than your power suits and ridiculously high heels?”
“I don’t have snow bunny gear in my closet. Too busy busting my tail for Carrington Agency to travel other than for work. Most of my clients don’t live in small towns stuck in the middle of the mountain.” She tripped over a crack in the sidewalk lining Main Street’s corridor. “So no, I didn’t.”
He held Addison steady, but still she wobbled while they made their way through the row of storefronts and planters filled with colorful flowers. Glancing down, he realized one of her heels had snapped off. “You can’t keep walking in those shoes,” he said.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“No. You’re cold, hobbled, and not prepared for this kind of weather.” Stifling a grin, he steered her toward the same shop he’d frequented whenever John had taken the boys into town to restock supplies. “You’ll find what you need here.”
“Everything But the Mountain?” she asked, wrinkling her nose. “I don’t think so. No. We’ll check into the Saddle Creek Inn. I’ll change there.”
“Come on. Loosen up,” Ryder said. “You’re in Montana, not your office. You’d be surprised what Lou carries here.” If Louise still ran the joint—he hoped so.
“Ryder Wayne Bennett,” Louise called while she bustled to the storefront. “I hoped you’d get out here to see John.” She enveloped him in her wiry arms.
He inhaled the familiar scent of her homemade brownies and squeezed her right back, holding onto the closest thing he had to a mother figure. “You finish making my favorite?”
“Sure thing.” Louise released him, but still held his shoulders to gaze up at him, her braided gray hair sprouting rebellious curls against her lined cheeks. “Bringing them to Herbs Diner later today. You see John?”
“First place I went.” He tilted his head toward Addison. “My PR rep could use some new clothes while she’s staying here. And some decent shoes to handle the terrain.”
Louise tucked one hand into her jean pocket and gave Ryder an ear cuff with the other. “John taught you how to properly introduce me t
o your friends. Surely, you haven’t forgotten the basic rules of a real man since you high tailed it out of here and became a famous bike champion.”
“Rules? What rules?” Addison asked, her gaze ping ponging between Ryder and Louise.
“Rules of a Real Man.” Ryder rubbed his ear, thought about all the other lessons he’d learned from his mentor. And the one epic failure. “I haven’t forgotten. Louise. This is Addison Carrington. She’s handling my PR makeover and in charge of making sure I don’t mess up before the next Olympic trials.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” Louise held out her hand and gripped Addison’s, her eyes measuring Addison from the top of her perfectly styled blonde hair to the bottom of her ill-fated shoes. “You’re in luck. I don’t sell many size four jeans here, but I’ve got a pair that will fit you. We got a new shipment of sneakers yesterday. Those should do just fine.”
A size freaking four? What did she live on? Yeah—her fridge had revealed her crap diet plan with its rabbit food and low calorie protein shakes. “She’ll need bike gear, too.”
Addison’s mouth dropped, then she snapped it shut. “I—no—no I don’t ride.”
“You will while you’re here.” Ryder craned his neck toward the back of the store. “You still rent bikes?”
“Nothing that’ll compete with your fancy handcrafted pro circuit racer, but if you’re willing to slum it, I can hook you up.”
“They were good enough for me when I first started training,” he said, then kissed her cheek. “We’re bunking at the Saddle Creek Inn for the weekend. I’ll grab them before we head out to the course John built.”
Louise placed her palm over his hand. “He’d be pleased about you using the course, Ryder.”
His throat tightened, and he swallowed hard. “Thanks, Lou. Now let’s hook my girl up before she breaks another one of her expensive shoes.” And get her away from him before he completely lost it in front of Addison.
Chapter 5
After Ryder and Addison left the shop, they checked into Saddle Creek Inn. Once there, they dumped her shopping bag along with their luggage in their adjoining rooms. Then they drove to the outskirts of town to bring him to Herbs Diner where he met with some of the former alumni of Saddle Creek Ranch.
Wearing her new jeans, and feeling about ten feet shorter, Addison hesitated by the diner’s glass door. “These are your friends. You don’t need me tagging along for this reunion,” she said, clutching her purse.
She was out of her element, remembering her last encounter with Ryder and his teammates. That hadn’t gone well at all. However, it had been the catalyst fueling her complete physical makeover.
Ryder glanced at her fisted hand, then into her eyes. “You’re in my life now, and this week you’ve already managed to spin the tabloids and media in my favor with your PR campaign.” He intertwined his fingers through her free ones. “I want these guys to meet you. It’s important to me.”
Zings of electricity pulsed through her skin, and desire unfurled low in her belly. Her death grip on her oversized handbag eased and a sultry sensation floated through her. So not good. Yet Ryder’s words meant more to her than she could admit. She’d always been a bit of an outsider, and her co-workers didn’t cross the tough border she’d created as a mechanism to protect herself.
She should say no to Ryder. But she couldn’t resist learning more about him. Not only that, but his gaze mesmerized her.
“Okay, I’ll come in to say hi, but then I should head back to the inn and buckle down. From the way my phone’s been buzzing, I’m sure I’ve got a zillion emails to dispatch before the end of the business day in LA.”
“Park the iPhone, and give yourself a break.” He pushed open the diner’s door, a bell tinkled, and they stepped inside. “We’re staying long enough to eat dinner and catch up with the guys.”
She glanced at the chalkboard with flowers drawn around it in different colored chalk pens. The owner had paired the regular diner fare with some interesting additions of turkey chili, meatballs, rustic salmon, and tofu surprise. They moved between the diner’s counter and booths. The healthier selections would allow her to stick to her diet, but her long-lost inner junk food addict screamed for burgers and fries.
Maintaining her self-control wouldn’t be easy, but she couldn’t back out now that Ryder had reached the booth where two men—both awesome specimens of the male species—quickly stood to make room for her and Ryder. Within moments she’d been introduced to Walker Hammond and Stefano Mercado, along with his traveling companion, Roxie Sullivan.
“How’re things in the auto world?” Ryder asked, then lifted a french fry from Stefano’s plate and bit into it.
“Hey, get your own food,” Stefano protested.
“Can’t complain,” Walker said. “But I’m looking to make a big change if things go the way I want.” He shot a look over to the counter where a dark haired woman hustled behind it.
“I didn’t know Savannah worked here,” Ryder said.
“She owns the joint,” Stefano said, then shifted closer to Roxie. “Best coffee in town and her cook makes a mean monster cheeseburger when he shows up.”
Addison looked at their half-empty platters. The scent of frying onions, burgers and her former favorite go-to comfort food, french fries, filled the air. It had been ages since she’d let an unhealthy carb or greasy burger pass between her lips. Her stomach grumbled, and she grabbed the laminate menu tucked between the napkin holder and a little white vase holding wildflowers to scan it for additional healthy options.
She would not cave to the hunger churning in her belly. No way. And certainly not in front of Ryder.
His leg pressed against hers and a delicious shiver trembled through her, making her crave so much more than the contraband monster cheeseburger on the menu. As much as she wanted to make Ryder her main course, she’d put a clamp on that desire, too.
“I’ll have the chef salad with grilled chicken, red wine vinaigrette on the side,” she said when Savannah came over to ask for her order with a sunny smile on her face. One definitely not directed at Walker.
Ryder ordered what she had denied herself and then went back to reminiscing with his friends about their days at Saddle Creek Ranch. Whatever wrongs they had committed to be sent to the ranch for remediation, each of the men had long ago shed their backgrounds to become successful in their own rights. An incredible testimony to their mentor’s no-nonsense influence over their lives.
While she couldn’t erase what had happened as a result of the crash, Addison believed she owed it to the man she’d visited to make sure Ryder’s future didn’t get screwed up. John had instilled honor and integrity in Ryder. Those qualities drove Ryder to do the right thing for Eric at great expense to himself.
She’d follow up with Eric Langston when they returned to Los Angeles. Discreetly. There had to be some way to give everyone what they needed to move on with their lives, including Ryder’s former teammate. Her promise niggled at her, and a smidgen of guilt threatened, but she pushed it aside.
Repairing this particular client’s reputation took precedence no matter what.
Their plates arrived and Walker took off to check on Savannah. Addison resolutely took her first bite of the freshly prepared salad. Chewing slowly, she reached for her glass of water and sipped afterward. Slow and steady. Don’t cave to the craving. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. But oh, the damn burger smelled like heaven.
Her stomach rumbled.
“You sure you don’t want at least one fry?” Ryder said, holding one up and dancing it in front of her face. “Used to be your favorite.”
Addison’s cheeks heated and she quickly jammed her fork into the chicken strip. “Not anymore,” she said primly while delicately cutting the strip into tiny pieces.
“You know you want to,” Ryder teased.
“Yeah,” Stefano said, smiling. “What’s the big deal? You’re so skinny you can eat whatever you want.”
“Come on,” Ryder
said. “Live a little, Addie, and cut yourself some slack. One fry isn’t going to hurt you.”
Addison hated the teasing in their voices. Though she knew Stefano had no idea that her weight was an ongoing battle, Ryder did. Suddenly, her nose itched and tears pricked behind her eyes. Hot, ugly, wet ones were threatening to burst through the mental dam she’d elevated years ago. “Maybe not.” She dropped her fork and pushed his hip with hers to force him out of the booth. Standing, she glared at him. “But shallow, mean words can cause a lot of damage. Fortunately, I repaired the worst of it and I’m better off. So park your fries up your ass. I’m out of here.”
* * *
“Crap, I royally fucked up,” Ryder said, scrubbing his hand over his face and tunneling his fingers through his hair while Addison rushed to the diner’s door.
“What the hell’s wrong with sharing a fry?” Stefano asked.
“Everything if it reminds her about the dumb ass shit she overheard eight years ago.” Ryder couldn’t believe he’d hurt her when he’d only wanted to get Addison to loosen up, relax with him like they used to do during their study sessions. “I didn’t stand up for her then—didn’t chase her down to apologize. I’m not repeating that fucking mistake.”
“You broke one of John’s rules,” Stefano said. “I know what that can do to screw up a relationship.”
“We’re not in a relationship. She’s my PR rep, but I have to make up for being a jerk.” Not just for how he screwed up today, but for the heartbreak he’d heard in her shocked gasp back then. He’d let foolish male pride drive his actions and words. And though he’d never used the term Fattie Addie, he hadn’t stood up for her, either.
He glanced at the platters, then moved to pull his wallet out to pay his portion of the bill. “Will twenty cover our meal?”
Stefano shook his head. “I’ve got this. Go after her.”
Reforming The Heartbreaker: Prequel (Hollywood Heartbreaker #0.5) Page 3