Ryker (The Ride #4)

by Megan O'Brien

  ***

  After I was nearly reduced to pitching a serious fit the next day, I convinced Ry to let me out of the house to go check on Connie. I was feeling much better and I was desperate to see for myself that she was doing okay.

  Sophie had convinced Jill to stay with her and Axel for the time being. With a broken arm, she had trouble doing everything she needed to do for Mason. I was relieved she’d accepted the help. Something I’d learned about Jill, she could be a stubborn one.

  “You doing okay?” I asked, as I sat on the edge of Connie’s bed that afternoon.

  She groaned. “I feel fine. The baby is fine. Mr. Alpha Male Control Freak out there is being completely insane.”

  I bit back a smile, relieved she was back to her old, dramatic self. “How’s he doing with the whole about-to-be-a-daddy thing?” I wanted to know.

  “Other than being psychotically overprotective?” She snorted. “He’s good. He seems excited. I still feel awful that’s how he had to find out.” She winced.

  I didn’t blame her. It was pretty shitty.

  “You faring any better with Ry? You’re here—granted, he’s twenty feet away in my kitchen, but I’ll take that as a good sign.” She grinned.

  I smiled. “He’s pretty riled up, not talking much. I know this is hard on him—way harder on him than me. I wish we could do something fun. Something that normal twenty-somethings would do.” I sighed, wistful.

  “You can.” She nodded in understanding. “You should.”

  I traced my fingers over the pattern on the bedspread. “You’re right. I’ll figure it out. I’m glad you’re okay,” I added, rising. I didn’t want to linger too long. I knew Wes would come in any second to check on his lady.

  “Thanks, chica. Ditto. Hey, on your way out can you tell Wes I want a cold cut turkey sandwich with blue cheese?” she asked, with a twinkle in her eye.

  I felt my brow crease. “Is that some sort of secret pregnancy joke I don’t get?” I demanded.

  “You got it.” She laughed.

  “Right,” I muttered with a playful eye roll.

  “Ready, babe?” I asked Ry, when I swept into the living room and grabbed my purse.

  He nodded, putting down the mug of coffee he’d been drinking from.

  “Oh hey, Wes, Connie’s hungry,” I added, distracted. “Something about cold cuts and blue cheese?” I questioned with a shrug, as Ry threw an arm around my shoulders.

  I watched Wes’s eyes narrow, as he shook his head in exasperation. “Dammit, Con!” he hollered toward their bedroom, and her laughter filled the air.

  “I assume you’re not supposed to eat those things when you’re pregnant,” I stage whispered to Ry, who smiled for the first time in days.

  “Think you’re right.” He chuckled as Wes stalked over to reprimand his wife.

  “Can we stop by and see my dad?” I asked, after we’d gotten in the truck.

  He looked over at me, his expression soft. “Yeah, baby, we can do that.”

  “I’ll wait out here for you,” he told me when we’d pulled up to the curb.

  I looked at him in surprise. “You don’t want to come in?”

  Since that second visit, he’d been with me a few times to visit with my dad. He’d even come on his own once or twice.

  He offered a small smile. “Nah, Tink, you spend some time with him. It’s important.”

  I nodded, leaning over to deliver a quick kiss before heading inside.

  “What happened to your head?” my dad asked, curious, eyeing the small bandage on my forehead.

  I offered a casual shrug. “Ry and I are working on some home repairs, I banged my head. No biggie.” In no way did I feel guilty for lying to him. The last thing he needed was to worry about me. Plus, it was no stretch to imagine I’d hurt myself with a home improvement project. I’d come close more than once, before Ry had revoked my privileges.

  His brow lifted in surprise. “Ry is letting you loose with a hammer?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Well, he was.”

  My dad threw his head back and laughed. I grinned, relishing the sound.

  “The Subaru finally bit the dust,” I shared, taking a sip of coffee and looking around the cafeteria.

  He didn’t need to know exactly how my car had met its bitter end. It was going to happen eventually—one way or another.

  “Surprised it lasted as long as it did,” he replied. “I’d offer you mine but it’s on its last legs as well. Actually, your aunt Caroline is looking to sell her SUV. It’s a brand-new Acadia. I bet she’d give you a great deal.”

  I watched him sip his coffee as an idea began to take root. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” I hedged. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to do something fun with Ryker. What if we flew down with you, got you settled, and then we could drive back?”

  His brow lifted in surprise. “I’d like that, sweetie, and Aunt Caroline would love to see you, but are you sure you’d want to do that?”

  “I’d have to talk to Ry,” I replied. I honestly didn’t know how he’d take the idea. He was a bit unpredictable as of late. “It’d be nice to see you settled,” I murmured. “And getting out of town is just an added bonus.”

  The conversation I’d overheard between Ry and his brother remained in the forefront of my mind. Things had been heavy between Ry and me since I’d been back in town, made more so by the Riders’ threat. I wanted us to have some fun together.

  He offered a warm smile. “I’d like that too.”

  “I’ll talk to Ry about it tonight and let you know.” I didn’t have long to work on him; my dad was leaving in less than a week.

  “Sounds good, honey.” He nodded.

  *****

  “No.” Ry’s curt reply came after I’d carefully broached the subject later that night. I’d waited until after we’d eaten, until after he’d had two beers, hoping to catch him in a mellow mood.

  I should have known there was no such thing with him lately. I would have waited until after sex, but he wasn’t having that until my bruising had healed. He was treating me like I’d break, and it was driving me crazy.

  “Ry, please. Just think about it,” I implored.

  “I can’t leave right now, Pipe, you know how things are. The fact that you’re even asking pisses me off,” he fired back.

  I sat up straighter, my eyes narrowed. “It pisses you off that I’d want to visit with my family? That I’d want to see my dad settled?” My voice rose higher as I stood up, scraping my chair back with a loud screech. “That I’d want to get out of town with my boyfriend and try—try to have some fun?” I demanded, angrily.

  “Calm down,” he ordered, his eyes tracking my movements, as I shoved my dishes in the dishwasher.

  I took a deep breath despite his order making me want to fly off the handle. “Babe, you know I’ve always supported the club. I respect the loyalty and dedication you put into it. I know how much you love it. But shit went sideways and I feel like you’re keeping me at arm’s length.”

  His eyes narrowed, but I soldiered on.

  “We both know you could get away for a few days. The guys would understand,” I continued. “This matters to me, Ry. I know your club matters to you more than almost anything, but I want to come first with you. No, I need to. You have to decide if you can give me that.” I sighed, pulling the dishwasher closed and turning to face his anger head on.

  He stood up, moving into my space, and forcing me to take several steps back as his eyes blazed with anger down at me. “That a threat?” he growled. “’Cause it sure as hell sounds like it to me. You think this is how to get what you want?” he demanded, pointing a finger in my face. “Throw a hissy fit and then threaten me?”

  I looked up at him in shock. I’d never expected him to respond this way and he’d never unleashed his temper on me like this.

  I met his blistering gaze. “Step back,” I ordered. “You need to go cool off.”

  He grumbled before doing as I a
sked.

  I swallowed down the tears that were choking me. “I just wanted to get out of town with you for a few days. I thought it’d be fun.” I made a scoffing sound, wiping the mutinous tear that escaped. “Now—now all I want to know is why it’s so goddamned wrong that I’d want to come first with you, Ry?” I rasped. “You want to build a family? You want to make this house ours? But me wanting to come first is a threat? How’s that?” I demanded, angrily, his image blurring behind my tears.

  He just stared at me with his jaw clenched. I couldn’t get a read on him, but I didn’t need to just then. No, I needed to get this out.

  “I didn’t threaten you before—wouldn’t have dreamed of it. But how about this, Ry? Since you think I’m so capable of it? You get in my face like this again, I am gone,” I bit out, slipping from the corner he’d backed me into. “You should leave. You’re sure as hell not sleeping with me tonight, and whatever’s eating at you, I don’t think it has much to do with what’s under this roof,” I added, leaving the room, the dogs at my heels as I headed up the stairs, forcing myself to keep my tread slow even, though I wanted to run like hell.

  He didn’t follow—not that I’d expected him to. It wasn’t long before I heard the rumble of his bike kick up as he sped off down the street.

  I was mad as hell at him but worry was suddenly the most prevalent emotion. I needed to make sure he’d be safe.

  I texted Axel.

  Ry and I just had it out. He’s in a weird headspace. Just left the house.

  His response came not a minute later. I’ll get him.

  I sighed with relief. I knew Axel would look after his brother and now I could allow myself to process my anger without worrying about the man I loved.

  I wandered into the wreckage that was my parents’ old bedroom—soon to be ours. I surveyed the empty room, eyeing the partially demolished wall between the closet and the bathroom, the fresh paint to the right contrasted by the wreckage to the left.

  I picked up the sledgehammer, its weight comforting in my hands. The dogs sat at my side, eyeing me warily.

  “What?” I demanded aloud. “You don’t think I can take the rest of that wall down?”

  Tank cocked his head.

  Dammit, even the dog doubted me when I had any sort of tool in my hands.

  I swung my arms, impaling the sledgehammer into the wall with as much force as I could muster.

  I made a dent, a small one, but it was something. I felt an immediate surge of gratification.

  I swung at that wall for hours, until every inch of plaster was in a heap at the base of my feet. My arms were shaking with exhaustion and my back burned, but I didn’t notice as I proudly studied the empty space I’d created.

  I’d always tried to build things up—tearing something down was an entirely different sense of gratification.

  “What’re you doin’?” Ry’s voice demanded from behind me.

  I whirled, the sledgehammer still gripped in my palms.

  “Whoa, Pipe, watch where you point that thing.” He held up his hands in mock surrender, his expression lighter than when I’d last seen him.

  “Why should I?” I taunted with a huff, drained.

  “Well, we got into it earlier, baby, but I don’t imagine you want to beat me with a sledgehammer.” He chuckled, his arms crossed as he leaned casually against the doorframe.

  I glared at him.

  His chin lifted toward the wall I’d demolished. “How long did it take you?”

  I shrugged. “Depends on what time it is.”

  A laugh escaped him before he stifled it after seeing my expression. “It’s a little after eleven.”

  “Okay, so a few hours,” I allowed, daring him to tease me. “Why are you so happy, all of a sudden?” I accused.

  He shoved off from the wall, coming toward me. He took the sledgehammer from my hands, dropping it with a loud thump to the ground. “I’m not happy, Tink.” He shook his head. “I was a dick earlier. I’m dealing with a lot of shit and not handling all of it well. But you look so goddamned cute in here, like my own little sledgehammer-wielding warrior.”

  “Cute?” I demanded, my hands on my hips.

  “And super tough too,” he placated with a muffled chuckle.

  “So you were a dick?” I prodded with a raised brow, wanting to get back to the subject at hand. My hours of manual labor had taken a lot of the fight out of me and I just wanted to go to bed, preferably with some sort of back rub. Ry had killer hands.

  He tipped my chin up, forcing me to look up into his gorgeous green eyes. “We can go to San Diego, Pipe. I want to send Mike off right.”

  My heart soared at his words.

  “Let me finish,” he cut in, when I started to say something. “You always come first, you know that shit,” he continued, still staring down at me. “Don’t challenge me on it, it just pisses me off. All right?”

  “Well, don’t shoot me down when I’m trying to talk something out,” I countered.

  “Deal,” he agreed, his hands cupping my cheeks.

  I cocked my head to the side, my hands rising to grip his wrists. “You were so pissed earlier. Why the sudden change of heart?”

  He shrugged. “Time on the bike and with my brothers. I needed to cool down. It was just a few days ago that I was looking down at your bloody face inside a mangled car, baby.” He swallowed hard, looking off to the side.

  I gave his wrists a squeeze, knowing the attack had been far harder on him than on me.

  His eyes returned to mine, his expression fierce. “Anything that takes me away from revenge, from making damn sure that shit never happens again, is hard for me to swallow.” He paused. “But I will for you and for your dad.”

  “And for you,” I added. “Ry, I wouldn’t push this if I didn’t think it’d be good for you too. We need to get out of town for a few days, have some fun. It’ll be good for us.” I gave him what I hoped was a persuasive smile.

  He blew out a breath before pulling me close, resting his chin on the top of my head. “Yeah, all right.”

  “Thank you,” I murmured, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close. “Uh, Ry?” I mumbled.

  “Yeah?”

  “I think I broke my arms with my little home improvement project. I can’t seem to unwrap them from your neck,” I whimpered.

  He chuckled.

  In the end I got that back rub after all.

  Chapter 17

  The glistening ocean welcomed us into sunny San Diego two days later. The flight was easy. My dad and Ry had talked while I’d gazed at the scenery from my window seat.

  “Yoo hoo!” my aunt Caroline hollered from baggage claim. She looked every bit the eccentric artist I knew her to be. Her auburn hair was cut short around her ears, her loose-fitting dress adorned with a chunky necklace and flecks of paint.

  “Yoo hoo?” Ryker muttered into my ear incredulously.

  I socked him in the side, giving my aunt a wide smile as we approached. “Look at you, you gorgeous girl.” She beamed, wrapping me in a firm hug. “And you!” She turned to Ryker with a playful wink. “I haven’t seen you since you were a teenager. Look at these muscles!” she exclaimed, squeezing his bicep.

  I muffled a laugh as Ryker shot me a look that called for rescue, his ears pink.

  She wrapped my dad in a hug, as Ryker and I gave them a moment alone and went to pick our bags up. “Still a kook,” Ryker commented dryly.

  “But a loving one,” I countered with a smile. “And you do have gorgeous muscles, babe,” I added with a wink.

  He cocked a brow, offering me a grin. “You want to see my muscles later?”

  I giggled, nodding.

  “Are you laughing about my muscles?” he demanded with a teasing glint in his eye.

  I gave him my most solemn expression. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Oh! There’s one of our bags!” I exclaimed as we stepped forward, beginning to collect our luggage.

  Ry and I had packed light, but m
y Dad had several suitcases since he’d packed anything he cared to take for the foreseeable future.

  When we arrived at my aunt’s house, just off the beach in Coronado, I breathed in the ocean air, feeling my body relax for the first time in weeks.

  “You two are downstairs in the den,” my aunt directed as we stepped into the house. “Mike, you’re upstairs in the guest room,” she added, pointing to the stairs.

  The house wasn’t large but it felt open, with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. I hadn’t been here since I was small, but it was just as I remembered.

  “Why don’t you two head for the beach? Dinner’s at six,” she continued.

  I looked at Ry hopefully, and grinned when he nodded in agreement.

  Not twenty minutes later, I was in Heaven, basking in the sunshine. The weather wasn’t hot, with it being early spring, but I’d take any excuse to lie out on the beach. I sighed, listening to the waves and the gulls crying from up above.

  Ry had decided to brave the surf to take a quick dip. I leaned up on my elbows, admiring my crazy man as his arms cut through the water with strong, sure strokes. The water had to be freezing.

  I looked over when a shadow cut through my rays. “You need some more sunscreen?” a man, clad in board shorts asked with a grin as I squinted up at him.

  I rolled my eyes behind my glasses. Did that line seriously work?

  “Nope, I’m all set,” I replied. And my boyfriend will kill you if you don’t get moving, I thought in dismay as I watched Ryker rapidly approach the shore. I swore he had built-in radar for when I was getting hit on.

  “You interested in a surf lesson? I was just about to paddle out.” He cocked his head toward the surf.

  “No thanks.” I shook my head, my eyes on Ry as he stalked toward us. He looked delicious in his swim trunks.

  “You need somethin’?” Ry demanded as he sat next to me—nearly on top of me—putting his arm around me.

  Mr. Board Shorts took one look at Ry and shook his head. “Uh no, I’m all set. Have a good rest of your day.”

  “Sure,” Ry muttered, as the guy moved along. “You’re wearing a one-piece tomorrow,” he muttered in my ear, before biting the lobe gently, sending a shiver down my spine.