by Jennah Scott
Over the last week, they’d spoken more than he thought possible. Angel called him at night before she fell asleep and he called her whenever he got a chance. She spent most of her time during the day at the studio and promised she was taking breaks. Whatever had changed in Angel, the new, settled Angel was even better than the one always threatening to run off. For two people who had little experience in the dating arena, they were pulling it off magnificently.
Ryker glanced up at the clock and grabbed his notebook and pen and headed for his desk. He had a conference call set up with Trey McRance, the owner of Muddy Banks Art Studio.
As scheduled, Ryker’s phone rang. The two had spoken briefly the day before to set a time and date to talk. Other than that, the majority of the information he’d gotten about the studio and its owner had come through his secretary—which was the equivalent of pulling teeth from a crocodile. After a brief introduction and the usual “How’s it going?” conversations that all business owners had when calling each other, Ryker got right down to business.
“I want to surprise my girlfriend by entering some of her work into a show. We saw your gallery while walking around the city the other night and I wanted to take her in. I don’t know, I think she got depressed or something that her work wasn’t recognized in somewhere so prestigious but she froze. When I managed to break her focus, she wanted to leave,” Ryker continued on hastily. He didn’t want to share the details with a stranger, but from one business owner to the other he knew that the details could make or break his case and he wanted to nail this place down. “I know you have a reputation to uphold, but if I sent you some pictures of her work, maybe you’d consider putting them in the gallery?”
Ryker’s heart didn’t beat in the silence that followed. Hesitation laced Trey’s voice when he spoke again, “You say you have pictures of her work?”
“I do. I can send them to you now if you’d like.” Ryker pulled up his browser and opened his email, then attached a few photos to it. Trey gave him the address to send to. He let the cursor hover over the button before summoning the courage to go behind Angel’s back in an effort to help her.
What was it about that word? Send. Not a big word, no positive or negative attributes to it, but his stomach rolled with nerves and hopeful anxiety, a wave so strong he almost got sick as his finger pressed down on the mouse to complete the deed.
“Anything exciting happening over at your shop?” Trey made small talk while they waited for the transmission to finish. Ryker appreciated the effort. He needed to do something to keep his nerves at bay.
“I’m working on a 46 Chevy restoration. The guy wants to go matte black on the finish, but I think I can dress up the interior a little to make it stand out. I know he wants it classic, but a little polish won’t hurt, you know?”
Trey chuckled, “Do I ever. You sound more like an artist than I would have expected.”
“Well, I appreciate the confidence, but you haven’t seen the truck.” Ryke laughed, cut off by Trey speaking again.
“I’m sure the truck will be fine, but these pictures just came through. Ryker, this girlfriend of yours is incredibly talented. I would love to show them.”
If his heart was still in his chest, Ryker had no idea. His body went numb, held with suspense even though he’d heard the words he wished to hear. “You’re not just saying that? Can we really set them up at Muddy Banks?”
Through the other end of the receiver, Ryker heard the shuffle of paper. “Yeah, I mean it. And it looks like the current display ends in about a week. I know it would be short notice, but we’ll have a burst of travelers in the city for the approaching fall, last-minute summer vacations and all. Do you think you can get the pieces here by Friday?”
“I will. I promise. Wow. Thank you so much for taking the chance, I know you’re a busy man.”
“Always make time for your passion, but you know that. I refuse to skip over on a talented artist ever again. Let a good one slip away once, never again.”
Ryker stood from his desk after hanging up, brimming with excitement. After a couple of deep, calming breaths Ryker relaxed enough to keep his secrets and excitement from Angel. He’d have to maintain that feeling in case she called.
What he wanted to do was call Ray and explain the plan, make sure she was all in and let her know her part. But he hadn’t forgotten the look on Angel’s face when she’d walked in on them earlier. She’d tried to shake it off, but Ryker knew that, just as if he’d walked into her studio and seen another man with her—even a close friend—a possessive part of him would not be happy about it.
The visit from Ray hadn’t been a big deal. She’d stopped by to tell him she drove out to Muddy Banks but didn’t get anything helpful from the secretary. The unhelpful secretary wouldn’t even tell Ray when they would start a call for the next show. She had been disgruntled and a little let down that the city dweller wasn’t friendly at all. In Ray’s mind, the city people got to meet lots of new people every day. It didn’t make sense why they wouldn’t want to make a good impression.
Luckily, being a business owner in the area, Ryker had met a lot of people who knew a lot of people and when Ryker’s contact with the owner pulled through and he got the conference call booked, Ray was so excited she almost danced.
Then Angel had walked in and the hurt and mistrust in her eyes spoke of a woman who didn’t hand out her heart to just anyone. In a flash she recovered, returning to the usual smiling vixen he knew and loved. He had to remember to be careful with her. He still didn’t know all of her hurt, but she’d been burned badly before.
There wasn’t anything he could have done, though, not without ruining the surprise, so instead he tried to let her feel how much he cared about her. When she left with her purple paint in hand, her smile was genuine. Even if the paint contributed more to her happiness than his attention, Ryke knew she left in a better mood than when she walked in. Still, Ryker wanted to talk to her, make sure she wasn’t stuck in one of her memories like he’d seen her do. Her phone rang twice before she picked it up.
"’Sup?” Angel answered.
“Wanted to check on you. Make sure you liked the paint.”
“Yep. It’s perfect. I’m painting right now.”
“You want to call me tomorrow?”
“Yes. I mean, crap, I’m sorry Ryke, I’m just making progress and if I stop …”
“It’s okay, I promise. Call me when you need a little inspirational refreshment and I’ll rush over to revive you.” Ryke laughed, although some one-on-one time with Angel sounded good, especially if it meant he had the chance to get his hands on her again.
When he got home, Ryker printed out copies of the artwork he’d sent Trey and laid them inside a manila envelope with a list of people to contact and the brief outline of his plan. Usually he’d label the folder and keep it on his coffee table so he could review it or have easy access to it, but since his system worked with all of his car projects and not necessarily secret art abduction and party planning, he thought twice on the label. All he needed was Angel to see her name and want to look through it. She hadn’t been back to his house much, but Ryker’s luck had been too good for too long, so no chances on this one.
Now that he knew Angel wouldn’t overhear his conversation, he scrolled through his contacts until he found Ray’s number. “Ray, are you busy?”
“At the bar, but I’ve always got time for you.”
“What are you doing at the bar?”
Ray was by no means a bar fly. She hated the smell of the place and had always been a codependent kind of girl. Without Angel there, Ryke had no idea who she could have been with, except … “Is James with you?”
“Uh-uh, but I sure wish he was. Oh the list of things I could do—”
“Ray, honey, how much have you had?”
“What? Oh, umm … I’ve only had three iced teas.”
“And how long have you been there?”
“What the hell, Ryke? You’re not
my daddy, you’ve got a woman, why does it matter that I’m out and drinking?”
The animosity in her tone took Ryker by surprise. He’d never heard her sound so angry or defensive. Maybe because he’d never known her to have anything to be defensive about. She’d always been the sweet little church mouse that popped in with a smile and a heart of gold. No wonder James heard her saying things that were out of the ordinary for her. Hell. Ryker didn’t do weepy women, that was why he’d never settled down, but he couldn’t leave Ray upset, could he?
“Ray, you want me to come get you? We can grab some food, talk a little?”
“Oh, big man wants both women in the house, huh?” Her laugh held no humor at all.
“I’d like to talk to you about the plan, Muddy Banks is going to show Angel’s stuff, but I need your help. And I’m worried about you. You don’t sound like yourself, Ray.”
“Ryke. Tonight is about me. Just me, okay? I’ll talk to you tomorrow about your girlfriend and her art and the plan revolving around her. But not tonight.”
Well there was no point in arguing. Ryker hung up and looked down at his phone. If he went to the bar and took her home by force, he’d be a brute. If he called Angel and distracted her from her work then Angel would be more worried about Ray than necessary.
Ryker understood the need to get out and forget every now and then. Maybe he was being too judgmental of Ray. She wanted time to herself, who was he to stop her?
Chapter 25
Angel wiped the last of the purple paint off her hands and watched it swirl around the drain before disappearing. As much as she’d love to finish the project off that night she needed a break. And food. Dirty clothes collected in a heap next to the door from the past couple of days, so she swept those into a bag and grabbed her keys, Angel turned everything off in the studio, staring at her latest piece just as it disappeared into the dark with a flick of the switch.
Night had already fallen, the stars bright in the sky. Funny how time passed when she was in her art tunnel, not paying much attention to the time or world around her. A cool breeze wrapped around her and she took it all in. The moon reflected off the hood of her car as she approached it, walking slowly, leisurely, allowing herself the time to enjoy the peace of the night.
Once in her car, Angel opened up her phone and called Ray, surprised when it went to voicemail. A quick glance at the clock told her it was ten o’clock. More than likely Ray was already asleep. Angel drove herself through a burger joint and ordered the greasiest thing on the menu. Cheese, bacon, avocado and mayonnaise dripped in melting bubbles down the side of the meat. Heaven.
Still in a daze of lustful memories, Angel pulled into her spot and found Ray’s truck missing from its spot. The little vixen was out on a weeknight. It surprised Angel, but she smiled for her friend. Ray deserved to find someone worthy of her. Angel knew how much she had wanted companionship. Now that Angel had found it, she knew what Ray meant all these years. Like a blanket wrapped around her, it was comforting and secure to have someone to call, to eat with, to think about. All the times she’d thought she was living free with her open mind and willingly single status. When in truth, she’d felt alone more often than not.
The house was dark and undisturbed. From the looks of it Ray didn’t expect Angel home before she returned. There were leftover pizza slices wrapped in cellophane in the fridge. Despite the juicy burger from earlier, Angel couldn’t resist. An unwrapped slice balanced between her teeth as Angel made her way upstairs to change for bed.
She hoped Ray would be back soon. Angel wanted to catch up with her friend and enjoy looking around their apartment not as a place she crashed in until the next move, but where she lived and planned to stay for a while. She fell asleep sitting up in bed waiting for Ray.
* * *
A folded note was propped up on the kitchen table the next morning.
Going out tonight, hopefully I’ll see you later!
Angel called the only other person she felt like talking to.
“Body.”
“Ryke, is Ray with you?”
“No, why would she be? And good morning, by the way.”
“Morning, do you know if she’s going out with that cowboy from the bar?”
“Uh, no, but hold on, let me find out.” Static filled the line as she assumed his hand covered the receiver.
In a muffled tone she heard him ask, “Are you going out with Ray tonight?” A clearer response followed, “Nope, sorry Angel, it’s not James. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, I came home late last night and she was gone. This morning she left a note that she’d be gone tonight too. It’s not like her.” Angel picked at her nails, she’d have to repaint the red now that she’d chipped and painted over half of them.
“Don’t worry too much about her, I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe her dad’s got her running to a different shop. One never knows who might have caught her eye.”
“Yeah, I guess. Well. You two are busy working, I think I’ll take a drive and maybe get back to work myself.”
“This project’s getting to you, huh? Is there a possibility of putting it in a show?”
“Hell. No. It’s not a show piece. No one would get it, they’d just think it was a bunch of scrap metal.”
“So what is it then?”
Angel smiled even though he couldn’t see it. “So much more.” She paused, unwilling to go any further with her words even as her heart hammered them out. “I gotta go, I’ll talk to you later.”
Chapter 26
Ryker glanced up at the sound of the door opening. Ray walked in with dark sunglasses covering her face and a short jean jacket over the top of her dress.
“Listen, Ryke, I’m sorry for how I acted last night on the phone.” Her dainty hands went up in the air, a surrender when all she’d done was speak her mind.
“I’m not upset, Ray, and I didn’t mean to get in your face. I was just worried about you.”
Her nails tapped lightly on the counter, “Well, I’m fine. Just tired and a little cranky.”
“And a bit hung over?” Ryker added with a smile.
Instinctively, Ray’s fingers went to her temples, “Yeah, that too.”
“Mind if I share the plan with you now?”
“No, no, go ahead.” Ray sat down on the stool opposite him with a huff.
“I have to have her pieces to the gallery in St. Louis by Friday evening, one of us will need to keep her busy and the other will need to pretty much empty her studio and drop it all off.”
Ray’s arm rested on the counter top, bent at the elbow. She laid her forehead on it, her face hanging off the desk. “All right, I’ll use the best friend card. We haven’t hung out much, blah blah blah.”
“Umm … actually, I kind of thought I would distract her.”
Right after whipping her head up at his suggestion Ray massaged her temples. Ryke knew the signs of a hangover. The little smirk he offered earned him a glare from Ray. “Dang it. Remind me never to drink again. Fine. Distract her. Go off and have sex and I’ll do all the leg work.”
Ryker took a step back, the bite in her words a clue to her recent attitude change. “It was just a thought, Ray, you two go out and have a good time. I can load the stuff up and all that, it’s just a couple of pictures.”
With two fingers, she pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. “No, I’m sorry, Ryke. I don’t know what the hell’s gotten into me lately. It’s no problem, I’ve got this.” Her lips pursed together and she smiled.
Ryker watched as she turned, sad and seemingly dejected, right as the door opened. Even from where Ryker sat, he saw the brown leather of a cowboy hat. The rise in Ray’s shoulders a giveaway to the person coming through the door. It was no surprise James showed up right on time for his appointment.
“Good afternoon, Miss.” James smirked the same way Ryker had moments ago.
“Afternoon, James.”
Ryker buried his nose in his date book,
his ears straining to pick up on their conversation. He couldn’t help but remember how ashamed Ray had been after dancing with James and the confusion James had expressed upon hearing Ray was a bit promiscuous. If he only knew the real Ray—the sweet country girl with a heart of gold.
“Miss?”
“You know my name, use it.”
“Of course, Ray. I wondered if you might want to grab a bite some time, maybe something light, over at that Blue Owl Café?”
Say yes, say yes! Funny what love had done to Ryker. Once upon a time, the hushed bantering would have made him want to hurl, or at least make fun of James. Now though, he knew the happiness in having a companion. Someone to talk to and take care of.
Speaking of taking care of, Angel had to be getting hungry. While Ryker worked the day away, he doubted Angel took a minute to take care of herself. He needed to take a break and call her, but he’d wait. She was busy and he didn’t want to interrupt this moment between Ray and James.
Ryker lifted his eyes from the desk and watched Ray transform into the bouncy girl he’d always known. She twisted her blonde hair through one hand over her shoulder, pulling it back and letting it swing as she nodded her hair. “I’d love to.”
“How about Friday? Can you get away for lunch?”
Ryker cringed. Of course his plan would interfere in the one thing Ray had going for her that day.
“Oh, well, I can’t on Friday. Maybe … well, would it be forward to—”
“Tomorrow then?”
Ryker saw the sparkle in James’s eyes, his hands on his belt loops like he’d lose control and touch the girl if he had any less restraint.
"Great, say, twelve-thirty?”
“It’s a date.” James opened the door and guided her through with a light touch to the small of her back. Even as Ryker tried to hunker back down to his work, James laughed. “Don’t try and act like you weren’t listening to every second of what just happened.”
“I’m glad you’re giving her a chance.” Ryker stood with his hands on the desk. “But if you hurt her—”