Rescued by Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders): Jake Ryder

by Melissa Foster

  Lizzie moved from Siena to Trish, turned her wrist over, and scrawled something on it.

  “What are you doing?” Trish held her wrist down by the fire and gasped with delight. “Lizzie! I love that!”

  “Bridal tattoos!” Lizzie grabbed Gabriella’s arm next. They all gathered around to check out her artwork. “Well, not really tattoos, but gold sparkly ink. Ours say ‘Bride Tribe,’ and Trish’s says ‘Bride’!”

  Everyone cheered as Lizzie worked her way around the group.

  “Cash obviously didn’t know you,” Sally said to Siena. The girls all murmured in agreement.

  “Obviously not,” Siena agreed. “But he was relentless in his pursuit of me, and he was such a gentleman. It was as refreshing as it was frustrating. Because I’m a model, I was constantly bombarded with guys who saw me as nothing but a pretty face and hot body. You can imagine how well that went over with me. I wasn’t exactly a pretty little flower there for the taking. And Cash got the harsh end of my bad experiences. I wasn’t used to letting anyone take care of me the way he wanted to.”

  At least I’m not alone in my need for independence.

  “Poor Cash. Sounds like he and Boone both had their hands full. I was so pissed at Boone when we finally met face-to-face, I think I was sporting fangs and claws.” Trish turned toward the wind so her hair flew out behind her instead of whipping across her face. “But boy did I misjudge him. He is everything I could ever hope for and more. Passionate, thoughtful, and as loyal as the men I grew up with, which is a big deal, because you all know how the Ryder men are.”

  A day ago Addy thought she could tell the difference between a smooth-talking guy and an honest one, but now she wasn’t so sure. She had Jake in a mental box marked OFF-LIMITS PLAYER, and now he wasn’t just trying to climb out of it, but he wanted to crash down the sides and obliterate the damn box in one fell swoop.

  “What changed that made you get past your claws and fangs?” Addy asked Trish.

  Gabriella turned an inquisitive look to Addy.

  “Stop it, Gab. Just because you caught us in the shower together doesn’t mean I’m looking for more. He’s just a friend with benefits, tiding me over for my long, lonely weeks in the mountains.” Addy tried to drown the acidic taste of that fib with wine.

  “Caught you in the shower together?” Lizzie and Trish said in unison.

  She’d spoken so fast, her reveal hadn’t registered. She mumbled a curse for feeding the grapevine and guzzled more wine.

  “Uh-huh. I sure did.” Gabriella laughed. “If there are two people alive who can stockpile sex to tide them over, it would be you and Jake.”

  “I’d say. Shower sex is hot,” Siena said.

  “We didn’t have shower sex,” Addy snapped a little too harshly.

  “Well, why not?” Siena asked.

  Trish held her hands up. “Wait. This is my brother. Please don’t answer that.”

  “If Jake’s set his sights on you”—Lizzie leaned closer to Addy, wobbling a little—“there’s no way he’ll ever let go. Nope. Ryder guys aren’t made that way. Blue asked me out for a year. A year!” She waved the pen at Addy and Addy took it from her hand so she didn’t end up with gold ink on her face. “I fell so hard I’m surprised I didn’t break.”

  Lizzie laughed so much she snorted, sending them all into fits of laughter. Except Addy, who couldn’t imagine any man pursuing a woman for a year without giving up. But Jake propositioned me for months. Months. Not days. Not weeks. Months. Their feelings didn’t come out of nowhere. They’d been simmering for a long time. She thought about Blue and Lizzie. Could she ever love and be loved like that? Would it be smothering? She looked at her friends, who were busy chatting about their adoring men. None of them appeared to feel smothered. They seemed truly happy. Not for the first time, she wondered what held Sally back from getting involved with Gage. Did she have trouble feeling something for him because she’d lost her husband? Or maybe because she’d loved him so deeply? Addy’s thoughts turned inward. She didn’t have an excuse as to why she’d never connected emotionally with a man before Jake, and she found that frustrating. She’d wanted to feel more, hoped for it, but it had never happened. She’d always remained totally in control. But Jake obliterated that hold over her emotions. How did he manage to make her feel so flustered?

  “Jake didn’t set his sights on me.” The words came unbidden, and all the girls looked at her with confusion in their eyes that mirrored the confusion inside her. “I want to clear that up. We just have a healthy sexual appetite. Jake and I click in that department. Let’s not make it into something it’s not.” Addy refilled her drink and downed a mouthful, wondering who she was trying to convince—them or herself.

  “Speaking of healthy sexual appetites.” Sally’s cheeks flushed. “I might have spent some time on your Tumblr page.”

  “And then with her battery-powered friend,” Lizzie chimed in.

  Addy was glad for the change of subject and took another gulp of wine.

  “No, I most certainly did not!” Sally took a drink, then said, just above a whisper, “I took a long, hot bath.”

  “Same, same,” Lizzie said.

  “Tumblr page?” Maggie asked. “What am I missing out on?”

  Siena jumped in and told Maggie about Addy’s Cocks I Want to Rock social media habit, while Lizzie appeased Sally.

  “There’s no shame in it, Sal,” Lizzie said. “Heck, I peeked at Addy’s Tumblr page and attacked Blue afterward. Of course, I can never do that again, because the man is about as jealous as a green-eyed lizard.”

  “So is Cash, although he’d never admit it.” Siena went on to share a story about a lingerie magazine shoot she’d done and how Cash had hidden all the magazines from the guys at his firehouse. That sparked a long line of jealousy tales and seductive remedies.

  Jealousy had no place where hookups were concerned, so Addy didn’t have much experience to add her two cents. Instead, she joined their discussion, offering her forte. “Distracting your man from jealousy with seduction. I like it! Especially since seducing a man is easy as one, two, three.”

  The girls leaned in a little closer.

  “Do share,” Siena begged. “Since having the twins, I feel like I’m losing my ability to go from mom to seductress.”

  “Cash can’t keep his hands off of you,” Trish refuted.

  “Still,” Siena said. “I need a refresher, and Gab said Addy’s got all the moves.”

  “She did?”

  Gabriella turned her hands palms to the sky.

  Addy laughed. “Well, she’s right. There are so many ways to turn your man into a sex machine, and you can do most of them in public. The payoff will definitely come later.”

  “Pun intended, I assume,” Maggie added.

  “Always.” This was where Addy shined. She might not know much about deep-seated emotions, but she was a master at seduction. “Okay, so, you know how you take great care in picking out just the right lingerie before you go out? Like at Gab’s wedding. I bet you guys all wore sexy, lacy thongs or matching bras and panties.”

  They all nodded.

  “But what good did it do you?”

  “Hey, speak for yourself,” Gabriella said. “I definitely got plenty of my man last night.”

  “You were the bride. It’s expected. But that doesn’t even matter. It’s not about the sex. It’s about the buildup. The anticipation, breaking the rules.”

  “Not that I have a boyfriend, but I’m not much of a rule breaker,” Sally admitted.

  “Me either,” Lizzie said.

  “Not real rules. Socially appropriate flirting rules. But no one will know you’re breaking them except you and your man. At Trish’s wedding, instead of dressing sexy and then hoping your man will notice, let him know, but don’t show him. Dress in a different room, and then throughout the day sidle up to him like this.” She rose to her feet and pulled Gabriella up with her. Gabriella swayed and Addy steadied her. “No more wi
ne for you, Gabs. Watch, girls.”

  Addy stepped behind Gabriella and brushed the front of her shoulder against the back of Gabriella’s arm while stroking her hand up Gabriella’s chest. She put her hand around Gabriella’s neck and whispered, “I’m wearing new lace panties.” Her hand slid down Gabriella’s chest, and she sauntered away slowly, swaying her hips and tossing one seductive glance over her shoulder.

  “She’s good,” Lizzie whispered.

  “Told you,” Gabriella said proudly.

  An hour—along with a few more glasses of wine and enough seduction techniques to make Addy want to use that side of herself on Jake—later they were practicing their newfound skills on each other, when they noticed Eva, the woman who ran the salon in town, walking along the shore. They waved, and Eva lifted the hem of her long, flowing skirt and headed up the beach toward them. Her dark hair was secured on the top of her head in a messy nest, with wispy tendrils whipping around her face. Several long necklaces hung around her neck, pooling in her cleavage.

  Gabriella handed her a wineglass. “Join us?”

  Eva wrinkled her brow. “Can I have the whole bottle?”

  “That bad of a night, huh?” Trish asked.

  “That bad of a decision. I’m not sure I’m cut out for Elpitha,” Eva admitted tentatively. “I really wanted to come back and make a go of it since my mother left me the salon, but all the signs were there telling me not to, and I think I made a huge mistake.”

  “Where did you move from?” Addy asked.

  “Chicago, and my life there was amazing.” Eva sank down to the sand, and they all followed suit around the bonfire. “The island is a bit limited for me. I forgot how serene and small it really is.”

  “But everyone loves you and your knowledge of Pinterest,” Gabriella said.

  “Somehow I don’t think she’s talking about showing the ladies in town hot guys on Pinterest,” Addy added. “I admit, I couldn’t live here. I love visiting, but I’m not cut out for a quiet life. I get too restless.”

  “She means bored with the men.” Gabriella giggled and leaned in to Addy, clearly more than tipsy. “But Jake’s trying his best to fill those sexy, shmexy needs.”

  “You’ve hooked that man mighty hard,” Eva said.

  “Is nothing sacred on Elpitha?” Addy glared at Gabriella, who shrugged.

  “It wasn’t gossip that revealed your secret,” Eva explained. “Hasn’t Gabriella told you? I’m a seer. I knew when I met you two at the wedding you were destined to fall for each other.”

  “You are?” Trish asked with wide eyes. “Can you see our futures?”

  Gabriella nodded. “She can.”

  “Sorry, Eva,” Addy said. “But I think your seeing abilities are out of whack, because I’m not falling for anyone.”

  Eva patted Addy’s thigh. “Okay, honey. You keep believing that, but those questions ricocheting in your mind should tip you off. Don’t fight so hard against them. You’re no stranger to exploration.”

  The glimmer of understanding in her eyes was so vivid, Addy felt exposed, like Eva could see her past and the way she owned her sexuality.

  “This is just a different type of exploration.” Eva winked, finished her wine, and pushed to her feet. “I think you’ve helped me make my decision.”

  “How could I possibly have helped?” Addy asked.

  “Being a seer is a part of me that I can’t turn off, and seeing too much isn’t always a gift. I already know more about my relatives than I’d like. But that shocked look on your face? That’s when I know I’ve hit the nail on the head. I think I need to start thinking about going back to Chicago, where lots of strangers need guidance and I don’t have to worry about being the bearer of news they’re not ready to accept. Once they leave my center for spirituality I never see them again. But here, every time I reveal something like I just have, the recipient will have that look on his or her face. And then they’ll start to avoid me. Until they see that I was right. But those uncomfortable weeks in between? No thanks.”

  “Sorry to rain on your parade, Eva,” Addy said. “But I’m not going to look at you in any way, because I’m not into all that mystical stuff.”

  “That’s okay,” Eva said. “You don’t have to be. The universe knows what it knows.” She set her wineglass down on the table and shifted her gaze to Maggie. Her brows knitted, and she reached for her hand. “You lost your father,” she said carefully.

  “Yes,” Maggie said. “Many years ago.”

  Eva nodded. Then her expression softened and she said, “But you still speak to him.”

  Maggie blushed. “Not literally, but I think of him often, and I hope he hears me.”

  “He hears you, honey.” Eva embraced her. “And that other thing?” She winked, causing Maggie to blush again. “There’s a special someone waiting to meet you.”

  “Please draw me a map to his front door,” Maggie said with a laugh.

  “You won’t need it.” Eva moved to embrace Trish. “Congratulations on your impending marriage. It will be a happy one with lots of babies to keep you busy.”

  “Really?” Trish squealed.

  Eva glanced at Sally. “I’m getting lots of baby vibes from this group.” She waved. “Have an uplifting night, girls.”

  As Eva walked away, Sally sidled up to Addy. “You’re right. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Babies? You need to have sex for that to happen.”

  But as Addy’s mind drifted back to Jake, she was no longer so sure it was all a hoax.

  Chapter Eight

  “ONE THING I can tell you about my brother is that he’s a sappy bastard.” Boone’s younger brother, Cage, patted him on the shoulder. Cage was a professional fighter, as evident in the way he carried his massive body, like he could plow down anything in his path.

  Boone faked a punch, which Cage dodged. “Sappy my ass.”

  “Seriously, dude?” Lucky said. “You adopted a kitten.”

  Boone had rescued a kitten when he and Trish first met. He reminded Jake of Blue, who used to bring home stray or injured animals they’d find in the woods behind their parents’ house. He glanced at Blue, who would also soon be walking down the matrimonial aisle. It struck him that only he and Gage were still single, and Gage might as well not be. Do I want to be?

  “That’s how Boone won our sister’s heart.” Duke winked at Boone, as if to say he had his back. He always had everyone’s back. Hell, they all did.

  “Hey, you could use that ploy with Addy,” Cash said to Jake.

  They’d gone out for a long, hard, enjoyable run up the coastline earlier and had spent the first part of their run talking about how proud they were of Trish and Boone for the Oscar buzz they’d earned. The conversation had turned to the twins and Siena—as per usual—and Jake had tried to keep up, though his mind had been stuck on a certain petite brunette who had woken up in his arms and slithered around naked in the shower with him just a short while ago. Cash stopped talking about his family only long enough to give Jake one bit of sage advice. What you’re feeling and not talking about? There is no rescue from it. That’s the real thing. And the only thing you’ll think about day and night until you get your girl. Jake had laughed it off, but now, as he sat in the tavern for Boone’s bachelor party thinking about Addy, he had a feeling his brother’s wisdom wasn’t so far off base after all.

  Lucky reached for a beer and Boone pushed it away from him. “Eighteen is eighteen. Not on my watch, little brother.”

  Lucky scoffed. “At least I don’t need a kitten to get laid.”

  That brought a round of laughter to the table, and a few curious looks from nearby customers. Nearly every table on the patio of Liakos Taverna was full and loaded up with bottles of wine, plates of grilled meats and vegetables, baskets of fresh-baked bread, and casserole dishes.

  Niko and Dimitri came out of the kitchen with two large platters stacked high with skewers of meat and set them down on a neighboring table. As the owners of the
tavern, they explained that they never really took time off. Jake couldn’t imagine working in the same place every day, which was why he volunteered with search and rescue in several states. He could be on the West Coast one day, the East Coast the next, and in middle of the States a week later. But for the next two weeks, he wasn’t traveling outside of New York. As soon as he heard about Addy’s ten-day stint in the mountains, he made sure he’d be nearby in case she ran into trouble. Although he was still holding out hope that she’d let him go with her.

  Niko said something in Greek, which caused an eruption of laughter from the family they were serving, and then he returned to their table, taking the seat beside Jake. “Sorry I pissed you off last night.”

  “No worries.” Just keep your hands off my girl.

  “Get used to it, brother. We’re family now. I’m sure I’ll piss you off more than a few times, but not over a woman. I didn’t realize you two were together, and it was just harmless flirting. I’ve known Addy for years. I’ll steer clear.” Niko lifted his beer. “To family.”

  Jake toasted, wishing he’d known Addy for years. He looked around the table. He’d never understood the point of bachelor parties with strippers and lap dancing. If a guy was committed to getting married, why would he want a lap dance from someone other than his fiancée? Hell, before he’d even spent one night with Addy the thought of being with another woman was so far gone he needed a GPS to find it.

  He wondered what she was doing with the girls. One look at Niko brought back the memory of Addy in his newfound “brother’s” arms. That little nugget sat in his gut like a bowling ball. His leg bounced nervously beneath the table, his fingers itching to hold her again. We’re not a thing. Her comment about Pandora’s box told a different story. Did she really want no strings attached? Everything had changed, and he knew she felt it, too.