by Katie Lane
She swallowed down the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. “Goodbye, Ryker. Thank you for helping me with my business plan and with Ms. Marble’s bakery.”
“No problem.” He gave her one long last look from those beautiful brown eyes before he turned and walked down the porch steps.
Summer didn’t watch him go. She had learned a long a time ago that watching didn’t make men stay. It just made you look sad and needy. And even if that was the way she felt, she wasn’t about to show it.
She walked into the house and closed the door behind her.
Chapter Nineteen
Ryker stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows and stared out at the surrounding skyscrapers. At one time, the sight had made him feel important. His office was on the highest floor of one of the tallest buildings in Dallas. It had made him feel like he was on top of the world. But at the moment, he didn’t feel on top of the world. He felt like he had hit rock bottom. And he couldn’t put his finger on why.
Dirk had done a great job of taking care of the business while he was gone. Everything was running smoothly and business was good. For the last week, Ryker had had very little to do to catch up. He’d had a nice run to work that morning. His assistant had had his breakfast of egg whites, toast, and coffee waiting after he’d finished showering and changing into his designer suit. And the shareholder meeting had gone well.
And yet something still didn’t feel right. He stood there staring at the thin strips of sky showing through the jungle of glass and steel buildings. It was blue, but not nearly as blue as the sky in Bliss.
Bliss.
He missed the little town. He missed people waving at him and wishing him a good day. He missed Dirk’s ranch. And surprisingly, he even missed Lucinda’s “Wy-ka!” After he’d babysat, the triplets weren’t nearly as scary as he’d once thought. In fact, they’d grown on him. He liked babies, and he felt like he would’ve been a good father. But he didn’t have to worry about that now. He no longer had to worry about being a parent, or selling his company, or moving to Houston. He could stay right here in Dallas and get on with his life.
Pulling his gaze away from the view, he returned to his desk. But after answering only a few emails, the unhappy feeling intensified and he leaned back in his chair and pressed on his temples. Maybe he was coming down with something. Maybe he was getting a summer cold.
Summer cold.
He’d tried not to think about Summer or how cold she’d been once she found out she wasn’t pregnant. After all they’d been through, she had treated him like a stranger who had wandered into her house uninvited. Like they hadn’t shared kisses and confidences. It made him wonder if they’d ever been friends. Or if she had just used him for his business knowledge. The same way Tara had used him to cheat in math class. There seemed to be only one woman he could trust.
He picked up the phone and called his mother.
“Hello, precious boy of mine. So do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
The question surprised him. “What are you talking about? I just called to say hi.”
“That’s unusual. I’m usually the one who has to call you. And yet, in the last few days, you’ve called me five times.”
Damn. He hadn’t realized he’d been so needy. “I guess I’m just missing you.”
“As Cord always loved to say, ‘Don’t blow smoke up my butt.’ And speaking of Cord, he called me too. He seems to be worried about you as much as I am.”
“Doubtful.”
She sighed. “I was hoping you two would mend your fences when you were together in Bliss.”
“Getting me gas, buying me a few drinks, and giving me a pair of ugly boots is not going to mend over twenty years of neglect. I’m surprised you’d even think that I’d forgive him. And what happened to you hating him?”
“I never hated your father, Ryker. I loved him with all my heart. I just hated the fact that I wasn’t enough for him. But after he came and talked to me, he made me realize it had nothing to do with me. Or you. It had to do with his inner demons. Demons I think he’s making every effort to get a handle on.”
“What demons?”
“He didn’t go into detail, but I assume they have to do with the loss of his father at an early age and a mother who wasn’t very loving.”
“So you’ve forgiven him?”
“It seems silly to continue to hate someone for not making me happy in the past when I’m so happy now. Besides, I truly believe that he’s trying, Ryker. He seemed terribly concerned about you on the phone. And after all the phone calls I’ve received from you in the last few days, I’m as concerned. Now what’s going on? Is this about Dirk leaving?” She paused. “Are you gay?”
He almost fell backwards in his chair. He caught himself at the last minute. “No!”
“Are you sure? I realized you didn’t have a lot of friends growing up, but you got awfully attached to Dirk. And there’s nothing wrong with being gay. My best friend’s brother was gay, and I loved him to pieces.”
“I’m not gay, Mom. Dirk and I are just friends.”
“Then is it a girl? Did you meet a girl in Bliss like your father did?”
“Dad met a girl in Bliss?”
“He didn’t say so, but when we were talking I heard a woman ask him if he wanted another glass of sweet tea and he said, ‘No thank you, Summer.’ It figures that he’d date a Summer. It was always his favorite season.”
Ryker mouth dropped open. Summer? He couldn’t help the jealousy that speared through him. She had practically kicked him out, and now she was welcoming Cord with open arms and sweet tea?
“Listen, Mom, I need to go.”
“Ryker Cord Evans, you are not going to cut me off until you tell me what’s going on?”
“Fine. It’s a girl. And I promise I’ll call you later and tell you all about her.”
After he hung up, he scrolled through his unanswered calls until he found his father’s number. Cord picked up after the first ring, and Ryker didn’t even wait for him to say “hello.”
“What are you still doing in Bliss, you sonofabitch?”
There was a long pause before Cord spoke. When he did, it sounded like he was speaking through his teeth. “I get that you can’t forgive me, Ryker, but I’m still your father. I won’t be disrespected.”
“Really? Well, respect is a two-way street, and you’ve never shown any respect to me. Now answer the question. What are you still doing in Bliss?”
“I like the town. It has good folks and a western history to be proud of. I’m thinking about purchasing some land here and building a little ranch where I can come to relax.”
“Well, relax somewhere else. I don’t want you in Bliss.”
“And why is that? You’re no longer here. Why would it matter that I am?”
Ryker didn’t want to tell his father the real reason, but damned if he could come up with another. “I don’t want you around Summer Hadley. I don’t want you fixing her leaky faucets or sipping her tea. Do you understand me?”
Cord laughed, which really pissed Ryker off. “So that’s it. You’re jealous of me and Summer.”
“I’m not jealous of an old rodeo bum.” But even as he spoke the words, he knew they were a lie. He was jealous. Damned jealous. He’d always been jealous of his father’s popularity. It was hard not to be when you were a geek with no friends. The second he’d made his first million, Ryker had wanted to call his dad so badly and say “Nanny-nanny-boo-boo. You might have a championship belt buckle, but I have money. Lots and lots of money.” Or course, as it turned out, Cord had money too. He’d done some research on Cord Evans boots. The brand was new, but growing fast in popularity. Dammit.
“Then if you’re not jealous of an old rodeo bum,” Cord said, “what difference does it make if I fix Summer’s leaky faucet or sip tea with her on the porch swing?”
“The porch swing? You were cuddling with her on the porch swing?”
“I wouldn’t call it
cuddling.”
Ryker slammed his fist so hard on the desk, his stapler bounced. “You bastard. You couldn’t wait for me to leave before you moved in.”
Cord’s voice was low and gritty. “Don’t push it, son. I’m not going to warn you about calling me names again.”
Push it? Ryker was going to push it. He had an entire vocabulary of cuss words for his dad. Words he’d only spewed out in the privacy of his own bedroom when he was an angry teen. It was nice to finally get to say them to Cord. It took him a good five minutes to get them all out. When he was finished, he felt completely drained.
“Are you through?” Cord asked.
He wished he had something else, but he had nothing. “Yes,” he said sullenly.
“Then maybe you can sit and listen to me. I have no intention of moving in on Summer. Not only is she too young for me, but also I don’t date women my son happens to be in love with.”
For a second, he thought his father was talking about some other son. And when he realized he wasn’t, he was shocked. “I’m not in love with Summer. I like her. But I don’t love her.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Of course. I mean, I love certain things about her.”
“Like?”
“Like her tenacity. When she wants something, she goes after it with both barrels loaded. And her loyalty to her family. She would do anything for Granny Bon and her siblings. I don’t think they appreciate her enough. They think she’s trying to control them, but she just wants them to be happy. She’s tough on the outside, but a real marshmallow on the inside.”
“And she showed you that side? She must trust you to show you something she hasn’t even shown her family.”
Ryker stared out the windows. He felt like she had trusted him . . . until the day they found out she wasn’t pregnant. Then he hadn’t felt like a trusted friend at all.
“She called it a situation.”
“What?”
“Our relationship. She acted like the only reason we hung out together was because of the baby. And when there was no baby, she acted like it was no big deal and couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.” He paused. “But almost having a baby with her was a big deal. At least, it was a big deal to me.”
“Maybe it was a big deal to her too. Maybe she was scared by how big a deal it had been to her and said things she didn’t mean. I certainly have said some things I didn’t mean when I was scared. And for a woman who wanted you gone, she certainly talks about you a lot.”
Ryker straightened. “She talks about me? What does she say?”
“Mainly she asks me questions about what you were like as a kid and if I’ve heard from you and what you’re doing. She seemed thoroughly disappointed when I told her I hadn’t talked to you.”
He couldn’t help the happiness that bubbled up inside him. But it didn’t last long. “It doesn’t make a difference if she asked about me or not. Nothing can ever come of it.”
“And why is that?” Cord asked.
“Because she’s Dirk’s sister. And if it ended badly, I wouldn’t just lose a girlfriend. I’d lose my best friend. Dirk befriended me when no one else would. He pulled me in on his idea for a business that made me billions. I owe him. And what kind of friend would I be if I repay him by screwing over his sister?”
“You intend to screw over Summer?”
“No. I would never intentionally hurt her.”
“Then do you want to tell me what the real problem is, son? ‘Cause it sounds like you’re just using your friendship with Dirk as an excuse.”
Ryker started to argue with his dad, but then realized he didn’t have an argument. If he had no intention of hurting Summer, there was no reason to fear losing his friendship with Dirk. And if that wasn’t his fear, what was? It only took a second for the truth to hit him.
“I’ve never been in a serious relationship before,” he said. “I don’t know the first thing about making one work. What if I mess it up? What if I’m a horrible boyfriend who sucks at making his woman happy? I won’t just be disappointing Summer, I’ll be disappointing Dirk and her entire family. I already feel awkward about being around her family after what happened. If we were together for six months and then broke up, it would be even more awkward. Which is why it’s probably better if I leave things the way they are. I stay here in Dallas, and she goes back to Houston.”
He wanted Cord to argue. He wanted him to point out all the reasons why Ryker would be a great boyfriend and had nothing to worry about. That’s what a good father would do. Which was probably why Cord didn’t.
“Then I guess that’s that,” he said. “It sounds to me like there are just too many obstacles in the way of being with Summer. And I certainly know all about obstacles. I always found one reason after another for why I couldn’t follow after your mama.”
Ryker’s neck muscles tightened as his father continued. “Yes, sirree, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. You’re just like your daddy. You’re smart enough to know when to call it quits and give up.” He released his breath. “Whelp, I guess I’m going to head on over to the diner and have myself some lunch. Those Sanders sisters do make a good lunch. Talk with you soon, son.”
The phone went dead.
Long after the call ended, Ryker sat there with the phone to his ear.
Was Cord right? Was Ryker just like him? Was he a quitter who made up reasons why he couldn’t go after what he should go after? It certainly seemed that way. He liked Summer. He liked her a lot. And yet he was giving up on her without even making an effort. So what if they lived in different cities? People had long distance relationships all the time. And Houston wasn’t that far from Dallas that they couldn’t meet up. And so what if he didn’t know a lot about women or relationships. He could learn. He wasn’t stupid. As for Dirk, Ryker would talk to his friend as soon as he could and let him know about his feelings for Summer. Or maybe he should wait until he found out if Summer liked him as much as he liked her.
She’d asked about him. That had to mean something. Maybe all it meant was that she liked him as a friend. But what if it meant more? How would he know if he didn’t make the effort to find out?
He picked up his phone and pushed the number for his assistant. “Miss Hughes, I’ll be out of town for the weekend.”
“Do you need me to book you a flight and rental car, sir?”
“No. I’ll be driving.” He smiled. “I’m headed to Bliss.”
Chapter Twenty
Summer was cranky. At first, she blamed it on her period. But after her period was over, she was still cranky. She didn’t get any joy out of running with Sherlock. Or watching Watson play with his cat toys. Or helping her brother and Gracie with the babies. Or reading. Or knitting. Or gardening. She didn’t even get any joy out of decorating cakes or planning Ms. Marble’s bakery.
The bakery was coming along nicely. Everyone in town was chipping in to help and working hard to keep it a secret. Joanna Daily and Summer had covered the windows of the storefront in brown paper so Ms. Marble wouldn’t walk by and see all the work being done. The walls had been painted a pretty Texas sky blue with big puffy clouds in the shapes of donuts, cakes, muffins, and cookies. The floor was a white tile with a gray vein that would match the marble counter tops that had been ordered. The commercial ovens and mixers had also been ordered as had glass display cases that would display all the baked goods. Everything would be there in a few weeks. Which would give them plenty of time to get the place ready. The plan was to unveil the bakery on Ms. Marble’s birthday on August fifteenth.
But not even the thought of how surprised Ms. Marble was going to be made Summer feel better. She was in a funk. A depressed funk that Dirk seemed to read as soon as she walked into the barn.
“What has you looking so sad?” he asked as he forked straw into a freshly cleaned stall. “I thought you would be happy that Waylon and Spring are headed back to relieve you of your pet-sitting duties.” He paused to study he
r. “And it looks like you got your stitches out.”
“I still look like the bride of Frankenstein.”
“You don’t look that bad.”
Summer brushed the hair off her forehead. “Look at it. It’s all pink and puckered and disgusting.”
Dirk lowered the pitchfork and took a closer look. “That is pretty disgusting.”
Summer swatted his shoulder. “Jerk. I don’t know why my nieces are so thrilled you’re back home.”
“Probably because they love their daddy.” He hefted another pitchfork of straw. “Although Lucinda yells for Ryker almost as much as she yells for me now. Gracie said she formed quite an attachment to him while he was here.”
Lucinda wasn’t the only one. Summer thought about Ryker way too much. She thought about his soulful eyes and his sincere smile and every conversation they’d ever shared. And she thought about his kisses. His delicious, amazing kisses. And she couldn’t help but wonder if he was sharing those kisses with someone else. Some attractive businesswoman who was as smart and successful as Ryker.
On more than one occasion, Summer had picked up her phone to text him. But she always caught herself before she hit send. If Ryker had been interested in her, it wouldn’t have been so easy for him to walk away.
“I’m sure Lucinda will get over Ryker,” she said. “It was probably just a passing infatuation.” That’s exactly what it was for Summer too. Just a passing infatuation that she needed to get over. “So did Ryker mention that he looked at my business plan and thought it had merit?”
Dirk hesitated. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and kept spreading straw. “I’m sure it does. When did Spring and Waylon say they were getting in?”
“This weekend sometime. Why? Are you getting sick of your big sister being around?”
“Actually, I kind of like having my big sister around. And I’m not the only one. Joanna Daily is impressed by all the work you’ve done on Ms. Marble’s bakery. Gracie has loved how much you’ve helped her with the triplets. And Ms. Marble is not looking forward to losing your baking and decorating skills. She’s convinced you need to become a baker like her.”