Claimed by Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders, Book 2): Duke Ryder
Page 26
“I wish. Anyway, when I come back, we’re having a girls’ night for sure,” Kiki said. “I need to touch up your roots, so we’ll do margaritas and hair dye. A great combination.” Ever since they were little, Kiki had insisted on helping Janie with all things girly, which included not only hair and makeup, but also clothing and manicures and anything else Kiki put into the girls must do category. Kiki was the only person who had ever not been afraid to jump into those personal aspects of Janie’s life, and Janie loved her even more for it because Kiki accepted and pushed and made sure that Janie missed out on nothing.
“Last time we did drinks and dye you blonded me out, which is why I have roots.”
“You’re a hot blonde,” Kiki said.
“You also said I was a hot brunette. I gotta run. Have fun.” She ended the call.
Boyd chuckled and said, “You’d be hot no matter what color your hair was. Careful stepping off the curb.”
Janie was used to his flirty comments and knew better than to take them seriously. He doled them out in the office like she dotted her i’s and crossed her t’s, adding a touch of humor to their otherwise stoic workplace.
“Curb, careful,” he said as she stepped back onto the sidewalk.
She liked that he knew enough to warn her to the change in her footing. Not everyone did, which was why she continued to use her cane, especially if guided by someone she didn’t know very well. She knew they were nearing the subway and shifted her bag to her other shoulder, dropping her phone in the process.
“I’ve got it.” Boyd stopped to pick it up. “So, you’re really going to try to write that novel?”
“Darn right I am.” She resituated her cane and bag, and they continued walking.
“You sure you want to take the subway?” Boyd asked again. “I’ll even pay for a cab if you’re worried about the money.”
“It’s not the money. It’s the freakishly fast driving and then slamming on the brakes thing that New York cabbies do. I’m fine, really. Have fun on your date. I’ll see you the next time you’re at TEC.”
Janie made her way down the steps to the subway, mentally playing with ideas for her romance story. At twenty-seven, she had only a few sexual experiences to draw from, although they’d never fully lived up to the sexual exploits of the heroes and heroines in the novels she’d read. She also knew absolutely nothing about sci-fi, or for that matter, kinky sex, other than what she’d read about. She might not have experience, but she was a master at research.
The subway platform was eerily quiet. She tried to focus on the bet instead of the fact that every tap of her cane echoed in what she assumed was an empty station. She’d boarded trains alone plenty of times, but as much as other people feared strangers, in the subway, she relied on auditory cues from them. Tingles of anxiety prickled through her chest as the heels of her shoes echoed chillingly.
She tapped her way to the bumpy strip along the edge of the platform, which was designed to let people who were visually impaired know they were nearing the edge. Her bag slid down her arm. She twisted sideways, trying to catch it. Her toe caught on a bump, sending her sprawling forward. In the space of a breath, her cane dropped through the air, and suddenly she was falling. Fear gripped her seconds before she landed on her right side with a painful thud. She sucked in air as pain spiraled through her. Something sharp dug into her cheek. Rocks? The pungent smell of grease and gasoline permeated the cold, dank air, and she realized she’d fallen off the platform.
Her heart thundered in her chest, battling with the blood rushing through her ears as she frantically searched for her cane, listening for a train. Tears streamed from her eyes as fear consumed her. Get up. Get away from the tracks. Move. Move. Move. Finding her cane, she clutched it to her aching chest and pushed up to her knees. A blood-curdling pain shot through her ankle. Fighting light-headedness, she clenched her teeth together and forced herself upright, bending her right knee to keep from putting pressure on her ankle. She gripped the cold, hard edge of the platform and tried to pull herself up.
“Help!” Her voice echoed in the empty station, magnifying her fear.
Her ankle rolled on the rocks, sending her tumbling down to the ground again. Get up. Get up. Pushing past the pain, she rose again, determined to get to safety. Her fingers moved over the platform’s bumpy ridges that had tripped her up. Her fingertips grazed the smoother concrete just beyond. She used her left, uninjured foot for leverage as she pulled, pushed, and climbed her way onto the platform. Vibrations rumbled beneath her, and the sound of the train squealed in the distance. On the platform, she rolled onto her back, gasping for air and clutching her cane to her chest. The concrete vibrated as the train approached. Sobs wrenched from her lungs, and miraculously, she felt herself smile, because goddamn it, she wasn’t going to get run over by the stupid train.
End of Sneak Peek
To continue reading, please buy
TOUCHED BY LOVE (The Remingtons)
Love the Ryders?
The Ryders are just one of 6 families in the Love in Bloom big family romance collection. Characters from each family series make appearances in future books so you never miss an engagement, wedding, or birth. Love in Bloom features: Snow Sisters, The Bradens, The Remingtons, Seaside Summers, The Ryders, Wild Boys After Dark, and Harborside Nights.
- Click to view complete Love in Bloom series
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- Like steamier reads? Try Melissa’s Wild Boys After Dark series.
- Reader Goodies: Publication schedules, reading order, and more
- Keep track of your favorite characters with the essential Love in Bloom Series Guide
BOOK LIST
LOVE IN BLOOM SERIES order
Love in Bloom books may be read as stand alones. For more enjoyment, read them in series order. Characters from each series carry forward to the next.
SNOW SISTERS
Sisters in Love
Sisters in Bloom
Sisters in White
THE BRADENS (Weston, CO)
Lovers at Heart
Destined for Love
Friendship on Fire
Sea of Love
Bursting with Love
Hearts at Play
THE BRADENS (Trusty, CO)
Taken by Love
Fated for Love
Romancing My Love
Flirting with Love
Dreaming of Love
Crashing into Love
THE BRADENS (Peaceful Harbor, MD)
Healed by Love
Surrender My Love
River of Love
Crushing on Love
Whisper of Love
Thrill of Love
BRADEN WORLD NOVELLAS
Daring Her Love
Promise My Love
THE REMINGTONS
Game of Love
Stroke of Love
Flames of Love
Slope of Love
Read, Write, Love
Touched by Love
SEASIDE SUMMERS
Seaside Dreams
Seaside Hearts
Seaside Sunsets
Seaside Secrets
Seaside Nights
Seaside Embrace
Seaside Lovers
Seaside Whispers
THE RYDERS
Seized by Love
Claimed by Love
Chased by Love
Swept Into Love
Rescued by Love
WILD BOYS AFTER DARK
Logan
Heath
Jackson
Cooper
BAD BOYS AFTER DARK
Mick
Dylan
Brett
Carson
HARBORSIDE NIGHTS
Includes characters from Love in Bloom series
Catching Cassidy
Discovering Delilah
(Coming Soon)
Tempting Tristan
Chasing Charley
&n
bsp; Breaking Brandon
Embracing Evan
Reaching Rusty
Loving Livi
More Books by Melissa
Chasing Amanda (mystery/suspense)
Come Back to Me (mystery/suspense)
Have No Shame (historical fiction/romance)
Love, Lies & Mystery (3-book bundle)
Megan’s Way (literary fiction)
Traces of Kara (psychological thriller)
Where Petals Fall (suspense)
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Acknowledgments
There are so many people who helped me with this story. Every fan, every street team member who pushed to make Duke unique, every friend who listened to my endless chatter about the story, and of course, my family, who lives and breathes characters and fictional worlds with me on a daily basis. But this story could not have been as rich without the help of my friend and loyal fan Aphrodite Pipilis and her sister, Rubini. Thank you, Dite, for your endless answers about the Greek culture, terms, food (OMG the food!), and for being gracious enough to read the early rendition of the story. I think Elpitha belongs to you as much as it does to Duke and Gabriella. (Please note that Elpitha Island is a fictional location.)
Lynn Mullan, thank you for the word undercrackers, which is sure to become a household term among my readers. Christine Dyc, I hope you enjoyed Duke’s obsession with Gabriella’s luscious ass(!). Oh, how much joy we have in our fabulous street team! If you haven’t joined us yet, dear readers, please do!
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Thank you to my awesome editorial team: Kristen Weber and Penina Lopez, and my meticulous proofreaders: Jenna Bagnini, Juliette Hill, Marlene Engel, and Lynn Mullan.
Meet Melissa
Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café, and when she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa also hosts Aspiring Authors contests for children and has painted and donated several murals to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC.
Visit Melissa on her website or chat with her on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.
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