by Cathryn Fox
“And it’s initiation night.” Justin rubbed his hands together. “I like my girls nice and wet.”
“Right, nothing like wet, local poo-say,” Nikko added.
Ryeland looked at Nikko, who’d also been accepted into law school this fall. With his apathy toward others, maybe he should be the one joining Montgomery and Associates.
“Poo-say? What are you? Fourteen?” Ryeland asked.
Nikko laughed. “What the fuck happened to you this last year anyway? You used to be fun.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I grew up.”
Justin snorted. “You can become a stiff-ass lawyer like your old man when you graduate law school. Right now you need to loosen the fuck up, pal.”
“Says the guy who takes nothing seriously,” Ryeland countered. He started at Justin. The guy was smart. Scary smart. But he was also an asshole who smoked way too much weed and didn’t bother trying because his daddy had a nice cushy job for him in his software development firm.
“I hate to agree with anything that Justin says, considering he’s a dick and all, but this time he’s right,” Cameron said.
“Asshole,” Justin shot back.
“Pussy,” Cameron countered.
Justin grinned. “Well you know what they say. You are what you eat.”
Ignoring him, Ryeland pulled on his shirt and Cameron folded his arms as they stood eye to eye. “You really do look like you need to get laid.”
Ryeland exhaled and could feel the tension in his shoulders. Jesus, he’d worked so hard this last year, burying himself in his work, he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been with a girl. “You’re probably right.”
“Now there’s the Ryeland I know.” Cameron slapped him on the back. “I hear Suzette will be at the Cave tonight.
Suzette. Sweet Suzette Preston, the girl his parents wanted him to marry. Smart, educated, pretty—the perfect socialite with the right pedigree to fit into the Montgomery family. While she was a nice girl, Ryeland wasn’t interested in someone whose biggest worry was whether her bag matched her shoes. He’d about nodded off last summer at a family dinner when she talked about accessories for over an hour.
“I can’t. My parents just arrived and you know they like to have a family dinner on our first night back.”
At the mention of Ryeland’s parents, Nikko grabbed a coaster and put it under his bottle. “How about afterward?”
Before he could answer, the front door swung open and his siblings came rushing in. Ashley raced toward him, her little dog Corky tight on her heels.
“Ryeland,” she said, giving him a big hug. He lifted her off her feet and spun her around as Corky went up on his hind legs and barked, wanting some of the attention. Ryeland groaned as he set her back down to look her over.
He ruffled her hair. “You must have grown a foot since Christmas.”
“Well I am almost thirteen.” In a fashion that mimicked their mother, she planted her hands on her hips and bobbed her head, her long blonde ponytail swishing over her shoulders.
Ryeland turned his attention to his brother Evan, who was two years older than Ashley, as he came sauntering in like he owned the place. Ryeland opened his arms, but Evan just stood there, looking like some punk ass thug.
“What? Are you too big to hug your brother now?”
“Bro,” Evan said, twisting his ball cap around until the bill was facing backward. “I’m fourteen. I don’t hug.”
“Like hell you don’t.” Ryeland grabbed the cap and tossed it to Justin.
“What the—”
Evan made a move to get it but Ryeland gathered him in a bear hug and ran his knuckles over his brother’s blonde head. “I think you’ve grown two feet since I saw you last.”
“And I’m still growing, which means by this time next year, it’ll be payback time and I’ll be giving you all the noogies,” Evan shot back, fighting to get free.
“Ryeland.” At the sound of his father’s voice Ryeland let his brother go and straightened. Arthur Montgomery dropped the suitcases inside the front door and squared his shoulders. “I take it you had a safe trip here?”
Nikko removed his feet from the coffee table and stood as Ryeland shook hands with Arthur. “I did. And you?”
His father nodded, then looked over his friends. “Boys,” he said. “It’s nice to see you all. Nikko, your father tells me you were accepted into law school as well.”
As Nikko and Arthur talked, Ryeland’s mother, Eliza, came rushing in, her purse over her head in some feeble attempt to keep her hair dry.
“Ryeland,” she said, squealing in delight as she gave him a big hug. She stood back and looked him over. “You’re looking too thin. I’m going to have to fatten you up over the summer. And your hair is too long. I’ll make an appointment to get it cut tomorrow.”
“Mom, I’m fine, and I don’t need a hair cut.”
Ignoring him she wagged her finger and said, “You’ve been working too hard and need a nice meal.” She pulled her phone from her bag. “I’ll make a reservations at the golf course country club.”
He pushed his hands into his pockets and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. “I thought we’d have dinner on the patio at the main lodge tonight.”
Blue eyes blinked up at him. “Oh?”
“Yeah, it’s supposed to clear up and it will be nice to eat outside.” He gave a casual shrug, like he hadn’t made the reservation so he could see Melody again, or to introduce her to his parents so they could see that she wasn’t some troubled townie like everyone thought. She might come across as tough, but deep down she was sweet and funny. As he thought about her witty comebacks, he tried not to grin.
“Why do you want to go there?” Eliza’s eyes narrowed curiously as her glance moved over his face. “Everyone who’s anyone will be at the country club.”
“All the more reason for us not to go. It’s quiet on the patio and will give us all a chance to catch up.” He nodded toward his sibling. “I haven’t seen those two monkeys in months.”
“I’m not a monkey,” Ashley yelled back as she raced up the stairs to her bedroom. “You’re the monkey.”
His father put his hand on Ryeland’s shoulder. “That sounds like a fine plan, Ryeland. I’d like to go somewhere private to talk. We have your future to discuss. I want to tell you all about the office I’m redecorating for you.”
The peach-sized lump in Ryeland’s throat blossomed into a full-sized cantaloupe.
Shit.
Chapter Three
Tucked behind the cash register, Mel whacked her notepad on her hand and tossed Jaelyn a pleading look. “Come on, I’ll do anything if you take their table for me.”
Tim, the bartender-in-training, walked by and Jaelyn lowered her voice. “You know I would if I could, but then Judith will know something is up. Do you want people talking about how you wouldn’t serve the Montgomerys? They’re pretty important people around here, Mel.”
Mel peeked over Jaelyn’s shoulder, glimpsing Ryeland and his family seated outside under the canopy as the rain slowed and the late-day sun broke through the clouds.
“Why did they have to come here?” she groaned.
“Yeah, good question.” Jaelyn crinkled her nose. “Why do you think they came here? Don’t they usually hang out at the golf course country club?”
“Apparently he’s not finished annoying me,” Mel said under her breath, barely able to pull her focus from Ryeland and the sexy grin he kept aiming her way. With his hair dried, all combed back in place, and a clean new shirt that accentuated those broad shoulders he looked good. Too good.
“Annoying you? I’m not exactly sure that’s what he’s doing, Mel.” Jaelyn gave a mock shiver and held her hands out like she was testing the air. “I can feel the tension between you both from here. There’s enough sparks in the air to trigger another lightning storm.”
“That’s crazy.” Mel worked to rub the goose bumps away before Jaelyn noticed them.
“I’m not so sure about that.” Jaelyn arched a brow. “What exactly happened during that drive, anyway?” She tapped her painted nail on her chin. “I mean, you did have his shirt on.”
“Nothing happened.” Mel frowned, the details of her conversation with Ryeland racing through her mind. “Not really. I mean…well…he said we should get to know each other better.”
Jaelyn’s green eyes widened. “Oh, and you decided to leave out that bit of vital information.” She gave Mel an annoyed look. “That’s not nothing. That’s something. Something big.”
“It’s nothing, because I have no intentions of getting to know him.”
Jaelyn’s face softened. “Are you really going to let one guy ruin the rest of your life?”
One guy?
Oh, how she wished it were only one guy who’d ruined her trust in men. But it wasn’t. It was more—many more—her father included. But there were some things she just couldn’t tell anyone, not even her closest friend.
“Jaelyn—” Mel began.
“I mean, I know after you slept with Trevor he spread rumors about you, but maybe Ryeland is smart enough to know they aren’t true.”
Some are true…
Mel exhaled slowly. “Why are you on his side?”
“All I’m saying is this: maybe he’s a nice guy and maybe you’re judging him wrong.” She went quiet, thoughtful for a moment—a rarity for her—then added, “You know how much you hate to be judged, especially by people who don’t know you.”
She nodded. “I’m not judging. I’m stating facts.”
“Which are?”
“He uses girls.”
“You don’t really know that, do you? Not for sure.”
“I’ve seen him with a different girl almost every summer. That’s a fact.”
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe they’re using him? That they want something from him?”
Mel lowered her eyes as Jaelyn’s words sank in. “Well, no, but—”
“But nothing. Maybe he is a nice guy and is truly interested in getting to know you.”
She shook her head, refusing to believe that. “I’m sure the only thing he’s interested in—”
“Mel, you’re beautiful and smart, with a good head on your shoulders.” She grabbed Mel’s hand and gave a squeeze. “You’re the whole package. Someday when you’re signing your bestselling novel I’ll get to say, ‘I knew her when she worked at Stone Cliff.’ Maybe he sees what I see.”
“So what about you? You going to see Cole tonight after catching him with Jessica?”
Jaelyn gave an exaggerated exhale, her shoulders slouching. “You can’t help who you like.” Then she blinked and said, “Hey, this isn’t about me, it’s about you and Ryeland.”
“I don’t want a boyfriend, Jaelyn. No matter how hot he is.”
Jaelyn smirked. “So you agree he’s hot.”
Mel threw her hands up in the air. “Of course he’s hot. But I have a plan and I’m not about to get sidetracked, not now when I’m so close.”
“I know you do, but it can’t hurt to have a bit of fun once in a while, can it? Jesus, you spend so much time in that room of yours I’m afraid you’re going to start collecting cobwebs.” Jaelyn pretended to pick cobwebs from Mel’s hair then glanced at Ryeland. “All I know is there is a hot guy over there who wants to give you another ride, except this time I’m pretty certain he wants to use a different stick shift. If it were me, girlfriend, I’d be all over that.”
But Mel wasn’t like Jaelyn, and never wanted to open herself up to another guy again. Her thoughts raced to Trevor, a local boy a few years older than her who’d never paid her any attention until last summer when he returned from university. God, he seemed so nice and sincere, sweet-talking his way into her bed. In a moment of weakness, she put her past hurts behind her, forgot about her distrust in men, and gave herself to him, only for him to brag about his conquest behind her back. She cringed, recalling the nasty things he’d said—a hard lesson learned that taught her to keep the protective shield around her heart.
Jaelyn nudged her. “Well?”
“I don’t…”
“Just talk to him. Give him a chance and get to know him better like he wants. I mean, he’s clearly going out of his way to be around you, and he did help you after that stunt his friends pulled. If you don’t like who he is, then you walk away. Simple as that. Come to the Cave tonight. It’s initiation night and I bet he’ll be there.”
Before she could answer and tell her friend that she’d rather not go the Cave, and had no intentions of riding anything of Ryeland’s—ever again—Judith came from the kitchen.
“Is there a problem here?” she asked, and both Mel and Jaelyn straightened.
“No,” they answered in unison.
Judith’s piercing brown eyes drilled into them. “Then why are you both standing here when there are tables waiting?”
Stepping away quickly, Mel smoothed her hand over her apron and made her way through the dining room out to the patio. She could feel Ryeland’s eyes on her as she walked toward his table. She tried to act casual, like him giving her a lift earlier, not to mention his shirt, and then finding him here in her section didn’t affect her. But the truth was, it did, and that bothered her more than anything. She was so close to having enough money to leave, and he was a distraction she didn’t want or need.
“How is everyone tonight?” she asked, plastering on a smile even though everything in the way Ryeland was looking at her made her feel all jittery. Ryeland’s kid brother sat up straighter in his chair and she turned her focus to him. She looked at him and noticed the interest backlighting his blue eyes as they dropped to her chest. Typical guy.
“Stop staring.” Ryeland jabbed his brother playfully with his elbow.
“Cut it out,” his brother responded, color creeping into his cheeks.
“Mom, Dad, this is Mel.” Ryeland looked at her, and she didn’t miss the way her pulse jumped in her throat. “I gave her a lift earlier.”
“That’s right,” she said playing along without missing a beat. “He was a knight in shining armor who came to my rescue when it started raining.” Lord knew she wasn’t about to rip on his friends in front of his family and tell them why he really stopped, which, when she thought about it, was rather nice of him. Maybe she had been too hard on him. Maybe Jaelyn was right and he was a nice guy.
And maybe she should just stop thinking about him.
“It was my pleasure,” Ryeland said. His smile was so charming, so sexy and inviting, a jolt of heat raced through her. What was it about this guy that had her reacting like a silly cheerleader crushing on the quarterback?
She sucked in a quick breath to pull herself together and asked, “Have you all decided what you’d like to order?”
She looked around the table, and as she took in the beautiful, happy family of five, loneliness reared its ugly head and nipped at her soul. God, what she would have done to be a part of something special like this. She quickly pushed down those feelings, refusing to give in to them. Even though her mom went from man to man and was strung out on booze half the time, and her father was a deadbeat in prison, she reminded herself that she had Jaelyn and her stories—which gave her the make-believe family she’d always wanted. She didn’t need anything more than that.
Her gaze settled on Mrs. Montgomery and the warm flush coloring her cheeks as she glared at her oldest son. Mel stiffened slightly. She wasn’t sure what was going on between the two, nor did she want to get involved, so she tried to redirect the woman’s focus by asking, “Do you all need another minute? I can come back—”
“Actually I’m not feeling so well,” Mrs. Montgomery announced, dropping her cloth napkin onto the table.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. Let me get you some more water.” Mel twisted to go.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mr. Montgomery piped in, the firmness in his voice stopping Mel in her tracks. His chair scraped
across the decking as he stood to help his wife up. “Kids, come along.”
“But I’m hungry,” Ryeland’s little sister grumbled.
Mrs. Montgomery cast her daughter a stern glance. “Ashley, you heard your father.”
“I can take care of them,” Ryeland said and something in Mel’s stomach tightened when he ruffled Ashley hair in such a loving way. “I’ll run them back once they’re finished.”
“Ryeland, I’m going to need your help with your mother.”
Ryeland’s confused glance bounced back and forth between his mother and father before landing on Mel. He stood and mouthed the words, “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” Mel worked to keep her composure as the other guests in the restaurant watched the actions of the family. The last thing she wanted was for Judith to think she’d run the Montgomerys out of the restaurant. Jaelyn was right. They were important people and this incident could be the end of her job. “I hope you’re feeling better soon, Mrs. Montgomery. If there is anything I can do please let me know.”
Ryeland grabbed his wallet and pulled out a few bills. Mel closed her hand over his. “That’s not necessary.”
“But—”
“Ryeland,” his father called out as he guided his wife toward the steps leading to the back courtyard.
“What are you doing later?” he asked quickly. “Can I see you?”
Mel looked at his folks, then turned back to him. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
He stared at her for a moment, then his silver eyes lit as understanding slowly dawned. “Wait. What? No, Mel.” He shook his head and she caught the now-familiar scent of his cologne as it fell over her, a reminder that she still had to return his shirt. After the way his folks had acted, she certainly wouldn’t be walking up to his door and delivering it herself. “This has nothing to do with you. I’m sure she’s not well because of the long drive here. It’s probably just exhaustion.”