Ryker (The Ride #4)

by Megan O'Brien

  “I don’t own one,” I answered, breathlessly.

  He nuzzled my neck. “Can’t say I’m really sorry about that. You look hotter than hell, babe.”

  I grinned, leaning into his freezing body. “I can’t believe you went in that water,” I laughed, shivering just from touching him.

  “It felt good.” He shrugged, looking toward the sun, which was starting to dip in the sky. “We should head back. I want to get under the hood of that Acadia before dinner.”

  I sighed mournfully, flopping down on my back. I knew he was right. If I wasn’t going to buy my aunt’s SUV, we’d have to come up with a plan B pretty fast.

  He bent his wet, freezing head, and rubbed it over my chest. I squealed, and shoved him away. He chuckled as I stuck my tongue out at him.

  This was what I’d craved, for us to rediscover levity. To be able to play.

  We walked hand in hand back to my aunt’s place. “I could live near the ocean.” I sighed, blissfully, breathing in the salty air, and relishing the cool breeze against my face.

  I felt his eyes on mine and turned to look up into his inquisitive gaze. “You don’t like Hawthorne?”

  I squeezed his hand reassuringly. “I love Hawthorne. I love the mountains, the desert. The people.” I smiled up at him. “Do I miss the ocean? Sometimes.” I shrugged. “I’m glad I got to experience living near it during my college years. Doesn’t mean I pine for it. Despite the years near the water, all I ever wanted was you,” I admitted without shame. “I just want to make sure our babies know the ocean,” I added before I could stop myself. I hadn’t known the words were on my tongue before they were gone.

  His arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me close. “They will, babe. We’ll bring them down to visit their granddad.”

  My eyes welled with unexpected tears, as the crushing reality that my dad would be so far away struck home.

  “What is it?” he asked, stopping midstride to look down at me.

  I shrugged, swiping at my eyes. “I just thought he’d be closer,” I croaked. “I won’t have any family close by when we have kids of our own. My mom would have been so happy…” I trailed off on a rasp.

  He pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on the top of my head. “I know, Tink. She would have.”

  I took a deep breath and pulled back, determined to focus on what I did have—which was a hell of a lot. “But you’ll be so amazing, Ry. The very best. I couldn’t ask for better.” I smiled through tears up at him.

  His eyes burned with emotion as they looked down at me. “Christ, I hope so.” He chuckled, the sound low and throaty as he swiped at my eyes.

  “You will be,” I assured him. “Now, let’s go check out this car. If it’s a piece of shit we better figure it out tonight.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed, taking my hand as we strode through the warm night air.

  As it turned out, the SUV was in top shape. “I don’t think she hardly drove this thing,” Ry marveled, wiping his greasy hands on a rag and dropping the hood. “It’s in fucking great shape.”

  I grinned. Personally, I hadn’t cared much about the car, but I was glad my excuse for our trip had played out. “It’ll be good for the dogs,” I murmured. Ettie and Mack had them for the few days we’d be gone, and I hoped they were behaving themselves.

  “Room for more than dogs,” he added with a raised brow.

  I groaned. “Ry, I get it, your clock is ticking. Mine is just finding its battery, so take it easy, all right?” I groused.

  He chuckled slinging an arm around me as we made for the house. “All right, Tink.”

  It wasn’t until after dinner that the topic of the car came up. My dad had gone up to bed; no doubt all the activity of the day had drained his energy.

  “$10,000 isn’t a fair price for that truck.” Ry was shaking his head at my aunt. “Way too low.”

  I shot him a surprised look. It sounded too much like he was planning on paying for it.

  “Ry, I can negotiate for my own car,” I cut in, irritated.

  He shook his head. “I’m buyin’.”

  I crossed my arms and sat back in my chair. “That’s news to me.”

  He grumbled something about arguing with two stubborn females. “Pipe, we’re building a life together. We live together. This might technically come out of my bank account, but what’s mine is yours. Plus, the way I see it, when we’re together I’ll be driving, when you have my kids they’ll be in that ride. You really gonna argue with me on this?” he demanded.

  How could I argue with that? I fought back a grin and shook my head, watching my aunt’s face light up at our exchange.

  “Good. Now, about the price,” he continued, addressing my auntie.

  She threw her hands up in that trademark way of hers, as though the sky was her canvas. “Oh darling, I don’t really need the money. It gives me such joy to think of you two driving it. That’s the highest I’ll go,” she bartered, in the most backwards negotiation I’d ever witnessed.

  Ry gave me a look, but I simply shrugged. She was a free spirit, what was I supposed to do?

  “I don’t feel right about it,” Ry grumbled, shaking his head.

  She pondered that for a moment, as though searching for what to say. She leaned forward and grasped his big hand in hers. “Ryker, you’re a part of this family. And you’ve taken such great care of my sweet girl here and my big brother. From where I sit, giving you a deal on a car is just a drop in the bucket,” she said with a force that countered her typical, laid-back demeanor.

  They regarded each other for a heavy moment before Ry nodded, relenting.

  “Good,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “I don’t know what I was thinking buying that monster, anyway. I’m going to go buy myself one of those cute little bugs instead, much more my style.” She winked.

  “Thanks, Aunt Caro.” I smiled, grateful, over the rim of my wine glass.

  “You’re welcome, lovely girl.” She reached over and squeezed my hand before sighing. “Time for this old bird to hit the hay. What time do you two plan to get on the road tomorrow?” she asked, rising.

  “Probably after breakfast,” I answered. “We’re headed to L.A. to visit with my old roommates, then we’ll stop in San Francisco before heading home.”

  “Sounds like fun.” She winked. “Sleep well.”

  “You too.”

  Ry and I moved to the lounger that faced the water. I curled into his warm body, sipping my wine, and staring toward the ocean through the darkness.

  There was something so soothing in listening to the surf as it crashed on the shore.

  “Is our set-up going to be this nice when we crash with Sam?” Ry asked, biting back a smile.

  I snorted. “Not hardly. We’ll be lucky if we can find the bed under all the junk piled in my old room. It’ll be fun to see them though, and to take you out to some of my old haunts.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “How’re you feeling about tomorrow?”

  I sighed, my gaze staring, unseeing, into the night. The fact that we’d be saying goodbye to my dad for a while was like a living thing that I wasn’t quite sure how to navigate. “Better than I could be,” I replied finally. “I’m so glad we came. It makes me feel closer to him to be part of this next step. I’ll just miss him.” I swallowed thickly.

  “I know, Tink, me too,” he replied, kissing my temple. “But look where he gets to spend his days.” He gestured to the surf and sand. “There isn’t a better place for him to rediscover himself. To get whole again.”

  “I know,” I agreed, ready to change the subject. “Everything okay at home?” He’d checked in with Cole earlier in the evening.

  He shrugged. “For now. Jill’s being stubborn as usual and not accepting much help, even with a goddamned cast. Wes has Connie on lockdown and she’s probably climbing the walls. Other than that, doesn’t seem like our dogs have eaten through Mack’s furniture, so that’s a plus.”

  My heart soared
at him referring to Tank and Roxie as ours.

  “That’s good.” I grinned.

  “Let’s hit the sheets, babe, tomorrow’s going to be a big day.”

  I nodded, accepting his outstretched hand, and following him inside for what I hoped was a restful night.

  The next morning after breakfast, my dad and I took a walk along the water. It was a beautiful morning with a slight breeze blowing around us.

  We walked in companionable silence with the gulls calling overhead. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” he commented, his tone serene as he looked out toward the water.

  “It is,” I agreed. “You gonna be okay here?”

  “Yeah, bunny, I really think I will,” he replied. “I’m grateful to have a fresh start—one that includes you coming to visit,” he added with a smile.

  “I will,” I assured him.

  “You and Ry take such good care of each other. You always have. It gives me more peace of mind than I can say.” He sighed, seeming more content than I’d seen him in a long time.

  “We do,” I agreed. “We’re happy.”

  “That’s all I ever wanted.” He put an arm around me, squeezing briefly before letting go.

  I knew the feeling.

  “You think you and Aunt Caro will survive under the same roof?” I teased, as we headed back toward the house.

  “I’d give it about a fifty-fifty shot,” he quipped. “I’m glad you and Ry came down. That was a good idea.”

  I nodded as we made our way back to the deck. “It’s nice to see you settled. And as always, Aunt Caro is pure entertainment.” I grinned.

  “She’s a pistol,” he agreed, just as the woman herself opened the slider. “You two ready? These lovebirds need to hit the road,” she called.

  “Yes,” we both replied in the same exasperated tone, causing us both to crack up.

  Before I knew it, it was time to go. I hugged Caro and my dad, exchanging “I love yous” but not wanting to belabor our goodbyes, and piled into our new SUV. I sat watching as Ry and my dad exchanged words and a hug.

  Ry hit the ignition and the SUV roared to life. “Ready?” he asked me with a warm smile.

  “Ready.” I nodded, waving as we backed out of the driveway.

  “Have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” my aunt called, waggling her eyebrows.

  “That leaves the door wide open then,” I answered back with a grin, watching until she and my Dad disappeared from sight.

  “Okay?” he asked as we picked up speed.

  “Yeah, I am,” I replied, surprised at how true the words were. “And I think he will be too.”

  Chapter 18

  “What’s up, bitch!” Sam greeted with a squeal, ushering us into my former house in Silverlake.

  “Sam, seriously, you have to stop greeting me like that,” I replied, my eyes sweeping over the living room and kitchen.

  “It’s cleaner than I expected,” I admitted, and she socked me in the arm. “Well, Sid and I were always the cleanest,” I defended.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m better these days. Cade still lives like a pig.”

  “Pigs are sexy,” Caden replied, his timing on point as usual. “Good to see you guys.” He grinned at Ry and me.

  We went to put our things down in my old room, which had become storage for musical equipment, bikes, and some weight lifting odds and ends. Luckily, the bed was still usable, though it was a squeeze to navigate the cluttered room.

  “Is there no garage?” Ry asked with a raised brow.

  “It’s where they practice.” I shrugged. “When I lived here they used to pay for a storage space.”

  “Ah.” He nodded, setting our duffel down and following me back out to the kitchen where Sid had joined Caden and Sam.

  “What’s the plan?” Sid asked, after giving me a quick hug and delivering a chin lift to Ryker.

  “Gonna show these two how to do L.A. right!” Caden exclaimed theatrically.

  Sam rolled her eyes good-naturedly at his antics. “I was thinking we’d hit Yume for dinner, since it’s Pipe’s favorite, and then head over to Motto’s for drinks.” She turned to face Ry. “It’s our regular spot, nothing fancy. If that doesn’t sound good, we can up the ante a bit.”

  Ry shook his head. “Nah, sounds good.”

  I nodded my agreement as Caden pouted. I grinned at him. He was full of it. I knew he preferred our regular dive over a flashy L.A. club any day.

  “You’re no fun,” he muttered, before turning to Ry. “Sid and I are headed to the shop for a few hours, want to come?”

  Caden owned a tattoo shop just a mile from the house, and over the years had built up a highly sought after business. Sid, on the other hand, worked in private security following his years in the Marine Corps. I continually marveled at how different they were. It was sometimes hard to believe that they were related.

  Ry shrugged. “Sure. You good?” he asked, his eyes heating as they turned to me.

  Damn, I loved that look.

  I grinned, pulling him closer by his t-shirt and delivering a quick kiss to his gorgeous mouth. “I’m good.”

  “Let’s hit it.” Sid nodded, his intelligent blue eyes flitting to Sam before he turned away.

  I couldn’t help but notice how Sam’s eyes followed him as he grabbed his leather jacket.

  I raised a brow at her. “You two still torturing yourselves?” I surmised after the guys had left.

  She crossed her arms. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she huffed.

  I laughed, slinging an arm around her. “Sure you don’t. Well, the guys are gone, what do you say we hit up some vintage stores? The shopping in Hawthorne is seriously lacking,” I complained, wrinkling my nose.

  “We can do that,” she agreed.

  After a few hours on Melrose, I’d scored some awesome new things, including a killer leather jacket and some t-shirts for Ry.

  “You’ve always been my shopping good luck charm.” I smiled at her over our late lunch.

  “You too, lady. I miss you,” she sighed.

  As close as Sam and I were, I was surprised she was admitting that. “You okay?”

  “Fine,” she muttered.

  “It seems like you guys are playing less and less, you ok with that?” I asked.

  She nodded. “It was always meant to be for fun anyway. It still is. We just have our day jobs to contend with as well.” She shrugged.

  I watched her knowing that wasn’t what was bothering her. “I can tell something’s up. You want to talk about it?” I pressed.

  She scoffed. “Pipe, your shit is way more fucked than mine; we should be talking about you.”

  “Well, when you put it that way,” I mused, with a teasing grin.

  It worked; she laughed.

  “Seriously, Sam, you haven’t seemed like yourself. I’m here—even when I’m… well, not. You know what I mean.” I smiled at her.

  “I know you are,” she assured me. “Should we go see what kind of trouble those guys got into?”

  I let her change the subject. It was Sam’s way. She’d talk when she was ready and not one second before. “Hopefully none,” I muttered as we settled the bill.

  We’d started getting ready to go to dinner by the time heavy boots sounded on the outside steps. Their deep voices carried through the house, as Sam and I stood side by side putting our makeup on.

  “Tink?” I heard Ry’s deep voice call.

  “Hi, babe.” I smiled, when I popped out into the hallway to greet him. “Have fun?” I asked, as he wrapped his arms around me.

  “Yeah, those bozos are all right.” He chuckled.

  “Heard that!” Caden called from his room.

  “This new?” he asked, eyeing my leather jacket.

  I nodded. “Got you a few things too. There’s nothing like vintage shopping on Melrose.” I sighed in satisfaction.

  He gave me a funny look, but shrugged as though to say if you say so. “You gonna be re
ady to go soon?”

  I grumbled something about him not appreciating a good bargain, but nodded.

  Sam and I hustled, since the guys were whining loudly about being hungry. “All right, all right, we’re ready,” Sam announced when we walked out to the living room.

  I watched Sid’s eyes heat as his gaze swept over Sam. She looked hot in skintight black jeans and an off-the-shoulder t-shirt.

  “Ready?” I asked, my eyes on Ry.

  He offered a slow grin as he took me in.

  I wore my high-waisted jeans with a tank top tucked into them and my leather jacket. I’d left my wild hair down, letting it fall in untamed chaos around my shoulders and down my back.

  Caden rolled his eyes and propelled us along. “Come on, lovebirds. I know you have this whole smoky stare, lovey vortex thing that you get sucked into, but I’m hungry.”

  “What exactly is a smoky stare?” I laughed, following them out the door.

  “I’ll tell you at dinner,” he mumbled.

  After a delicious meal, we found ourselves commandeering a booth at Motto’s. Ry fit in so well with my friends and I was in bliss at my old dive, having a cocktail with my best girl and the love of my life on either side of me. Caden and Sid weren’t so bad either.

  I slipped out to buy the next round as Sam walked off to go to the bathroom. I grinned, watching the guys continue their animated conversation about music before turning to the bartender to put in my drink order.

  “Piper?” a vaguely familiar voice inquired. “I thought that was you.”

  I turned and fought to keep my face devoid of expression at finding Mark, a guy I’d dated casually off and on during my time in L.A.

  “Shit, you look amazing, did you move back?” he continued hopefully.

  I shook my head as the bartender began placing the beers and cocktails I’d ordered in front of me. “Just in town for the night with my boyfriend,” I added the last part deliberately, wanting him to know where things stood.

  Mark was a good-looking guy and we’d had fun together. I just never wanted anything more than a casual relationship with him.

  Ry appeared at my elbow, his countenance relaxed, though I knew better.

  “This is Ryker,” I introduced, feeling awkward.