Invisibility Cloak

by Jill Elaine Prim

  “Uh, Mom―” Amanda groaned. Footsteps pounding back up the basement stairs caused her to glance in that direction. “That was a zillion years ago.”

  “I got her covered, Mrs. Anders,” Ryder said after he jumped up the stairs from the basement, her dad followed close behind. He came over to them and slid his arm around Amanda’s waist.

  ‘“Manda . . .” Her mother’s eyes, the same color as hers, pierced into her. But this time she didn’t have to try and convince her parents that this was the best alternative. She had a six foot two inch ex-Army Ranger as back-up standing right next to her.

  “I promise you, Mrs. Anders,” Ryder said as he stepped up and took her mother’s hands. “I will take care of your daughter.” He turned to look at her father. “I’ll just be thankful knowing Amanda’s kids are safe with you and I know Amanda does too.”

  “Beverly.” Her dad walked over to her mother and slipped his arm around her shoulder. “I had a nice talk with Ryder downstairs. Don’t worry, sweetheart.”

  After flipping his wrist over to check the time, Ryder walked over to Amanda and ran both his hands down her arms. He bent down and said into her ear softly, “I won’t be long, I’m going to tail your kids from school.”

  Nodding, she said just as quietly, “Okay, thanks.” She bit her lower lip. “See you soon.” Her eyes followed Ryder as he strode through the kitchen and opened the garage door.

  Beverly Anders waited until the car engine sounded and the garage door closed and then she rounded on her daughter.

  She knew it was coming, and blew out a breath. It really was just a matter of time.

  “Manda,” she said as she walked over to her. “Just who is this Ryder Stevenson?”

  “I met him at Sophia Edgington’s party last Saturday.”

  “Amanda Eugenia!” Bringing both hands up to her chest, her mother gasped out-loud. “My God, you just met this man?”

  “I know it seems crazy, believe me,” Amanda murmured. “But really, mother, he’s been great. Helping me out, when stuff goes wrong, always being in the right place at the right . . .” She stopped and looked at her parents who now stood right in front of her.

  Her mother’s lips were pursed and she shook her head, while her father looked down as he swirled the contents of his coffee mug in his right hand.

  Slapping herself on the mouth to make herself stop talking, her brain mashed what she just said together. Ryder was always around when things went wrong, lately, except when she got in the car accident. But he saw her go back and forth to therapy. Without warning a wave of dizziness overtook her.

  The break-in.

  Trouble at the Institute of Physics; Wayne’s last place of employment.

  He left when she did from Sophia’s. No, she shook her head on that thought, since it was really her leaving after Ryder.

  She breathed out a sigh of relief. Okay. There was such a thing as coincidences. But the intense and immediate attraction she felt for him? And what about all of the PDA they seemed to have going on? Now that really was a first for her. She’d never had a guy do that with her before, but okay, she reasoned she’d only been with Wayne up to this point, so she really couldn’t compare. Rolling her eyes, she moaned.

  She was so lame.

  “What?” Her mom asked worriedly, “What is it? Why are you groaning?”

  Crap. Did I do that out-loud?

  “Really, Beverly, I had a nice talk with the young man downstairs. He’s a retired Army Ranger. You have to be a special breed to do that.” Her dad walked into the kitchen, set down his cup and opened the refrigerator. “Pandy, did you say you had some food for us? I’m starving.”

  “Really, Don!” Her mother huffed out, “This is no time to talk about food. She needs to come back with us.”

  Her father grumbled under his breath, “We still need to eat.”

  Amanda pulled out Tupperware containers and got out two plates and dished out food. “Really, Mom,” she said over her shoulder, only to find her mother had followed her into the kitchen as well. “I’m a grown woman and I can take care of myself. I need to stay here. I have things to do.” She mentally kicked herself for telling them anything. No way did she want to go back home, to Ft. Collins with her parents. These two weeks they took the kids every year when school ended, was her down time.

  A total Godsend. The house got a good spring cleaning; especially her kid’s rooms. And most importantly that she did whatever she wanted.

  Running around the house in her underwear. Sleeping until noon. Eating crappy foods; watching even crappier television and movies, not to mention reading shamelessly naughty novels. She treasured those two weeks, where she could have no responsibilities at all.

  When she heard the hum of the garage door going up, she knew the kids were home. A second later, the door burst open into the kitchen.

  “Grandma and Poppy!” Sammie rushed in with her arms wide, while Nickel sauntered in behind his little sister twirling the car keys on one finger.

  He nodded to her. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hello, honey.” She glanced up in the process of making her dad a sandwich. “Do you want one too?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She waved her knife at him. “I know you drove safely and responsibly, am I right, Nick?”

  He nodded again. “Absolutely.”

  “My little darlings!” Her mom and dad gave Sammie a big hug and her father straightened and rocked on heels looking over at Nickel, who stood apart still twirling the keys with a wry grin.

  “Get over here grandson, and get your ‘ole Poppy a hug.”

  Nickel jerked his chin at them. “Hey, Grandma and Poppy.” He walked over and put both his arms around her parents. She hadn’t noticed how much Nick had grown in the past two months since they’d last been here. Now he towered over her parents. Either he had a growth spurt or her parents had shrunk.

  “My, my, Nickel.” Her mom held onto her son’s arms and smiled. “You’ve grown so tall, darling!”

  “Well, Grandma.” Nick grinned. “I am almost sixteen and I’m driving now, you know.”

  A second later, the doorbell rang. Amanda set the sandwiches on two plates and sliced them in half. She rounded the corner and went to the door. Peering through the peephole, she saw Ryder outside stuffing his hands into his front pockets looking at the door.

  Slowly pulling the door open she asked, “Hello? Can I help you?”

  “Good girl.” Ryder grinned. “I saw your green eyes use the peephole viewer.”

  She threw her index finger up to her cheek. “Do I know you, sir?” And then she batted her eyelashes dramatically.

  “You forgot me already? I leave for what?” He looked down at his watch and then back up at her. “Forty minutes?” He jerked out his right arm and grabbed her.

  A giddy spiral of excitement swirled through her when his hand clamped around her back and he tugged her to him.

  Ryder narrowed his eyes and looked at her face before he centered his attention on her lips. He bent his head down, almost touching her lips, but yanked his head up to look behind her.

  “Everyone is in the kitchen,” she said softly.

  “Good.” He lowered his head again and she wrapped her arms around his neck and their lips finally met. Her breasts smashed against his chest as they both fought to get even closer to each other.

  Ryder pulled away first and Amanda wasn’t sure what he was doing so she went after him. Her eyes were still closed, so she didn’t understand his intent until he put both hands on her arms and cleared his throat.

  Her cheeks flamed with heat when she opened her lids and looked into his chocolate eyes crinkled with amusement. That rat! He did it again.

  Making her get all hot and needy.

  “Who’s at
the door, Mom?” Nickel came round the corner. “Hey, Ryder.” Nick came up and reached his hand out.

  “Hey, buddy.” Ryder met Nick’s hand mid-way in a hearty handshake. A huge lump formed in her throat. Her son was shaking Ryder’s hand. Nickel actually initiated a mature gesture. Her eyes filled up with tears.

  “Where ya been, numb-nuts?” Nickel asked as he tilted his head.

  “Well, ass-wipe, if it was any of your business, I’d tell you.” Ryder leaned over and cuffed her son.

  Her tears instantly dried up. “Nickel Constantine. Your mouth should be washed out with soap, young man!”

  “Ah, sorry, Mom.” Nick laughed and pounded fists with Ryder and walked back in the kitchen.

  “Just guy stuff, Amanda.” Ryder’s eyes twinkled. “Now, back to what we were discussing before your son interrupted us.”

  “Oh you mean after you kissed me?”

  “Yeah.” Ryder caged her in against the foyer wall with his arms. “Now, do you remember who I am, Miss Harris?”

  “Yeah, you’re that security dude, right?” She smiled. “Ah . . . let me see. . . Ryder Stevenson?” She tapped her forefinger to her temple.

  “That’s me, honey.” He leaned in for a quick kiss. “Just don’t forget again.” He stepped away and tugged her to the kitchen.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Nah, I grabbed a quick bite with a friend of mine.” He stopped before he walked into the family room. “Your parents probably think I’m a jerk, don’t they?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Oh, don’t worry about them. I explained everything to them.”

  “Good. So who’s Rob, then?”

  “You heard that all the way on the stairs?” She laughed. “Oh my God! I cannot believe my mother still brings him up.”

  “Well?” Ryder prompted as he stood there and waited.

  She shifted her feet. “Oh, no one. Just a third grade boyfriend, I think.”

  He grunted and grabbed her hand, pulling her into the kitchen. “Let’s see how your kids last day of school went.”

  A thick strand of pleasure curled inside her when Ryder asked about her children. “Okay.”

  Every man she ever dated after her divorce never asked about Sammie or Nickel. Amanda always laid it out there she had two children from the get-go whenever she dated a man and they never wanted to meet them. Never wanted to talk about them, let alone talk to them. She turned sharply to look at Ryder and bit her bottom lip. He really was a dream come true. Should she be worried? She shook her head and focused on her two kids standing in the kitchen.

  “Hey,” Ryder said.

  Amanda glanced over at him, expecting his eyes on her, but he was speaking to her daughter.

  “How’d ya do today, Sammie?”

  “I felt good.” Sammie strutted over to him. “Finals are tough.” Sticking her nose up in the air, she snorted. “Almost as challenging as beating an Army Ranger at pool.” And then Sammie grinned at him.

  Ryder didn’t miss a beat. “Man, you must have had a tough day.” He placed his fists on his hips. “Because it is tough to beat up a Ranger, squirt.”

  Amanda brought her hand up to her chest. Squirt. Ryder called her daughter, squirt.

  Sammie’s face lit up. “Squirt?”

  “Yeah,” Ryder faced her. “You got a problem with that, Sammie?” His chiseled face broke up to a huge grin. “Cause I sure as shi―” He broke off unbelievably fast and turned to look at her parents. “Beg your pardon, folks.”

  They nodded. Huh? They looked stunned. Or almost in shock.

  “Because I sure can’t remember your given name.” He cocked his head. “But I do remember Atomic number sixty-two, and atomic mass of one-fifty-point-thirty-five.” Ryder grinned. “I looked it up.” And then his face straightened to his hard-ass Ranger look.

  Sammie dove right into his big form and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her daughter’s cherub face tilted up at him with shining eyes and gave Ryder a big warm fuzzy grin.

  Amanda’s breath stopped and her heart lurched in her chest. A lump stuck mid-way in her throat as she watched Ryder tip his head down and smile down at her.

  Wayne, the father of her two precious children, never interacted with his own children like this man did. She brought her hand up and waved it frantically in front of her stomach.

  She couldn’t explain what she was feeling―let alone what her own body was doing to her. Her insides were all gooey. But she vowed never to fall in love again.

  Never. Her body was telling her otherwise. Traitor.

  After dinner the kids begged her parents to play a round of BS with them and they more than happily agreed, since card games; especially BS was one of their favorite. Amanda was almost positive that it was her mom and dad that even taught Nickel and Sammie how to play the raucous card game BS at a very young age in the first place. Pulling open her kitchen drawer that held a few rubber-banded card decks, she grabbed two worn decks. They all adjourned to the family room to gather around the sofa table. Sammie and Nick sat on the carpeted floor and her parents took possession of the couch. Ryder stood behind her as they watched the other four.

  Her father stuck a pencil behind his ear and expertly shuffled the cards a few times. “Are you prepared to lose, my sweet little grandchildren?” He grinned wickedly at her kids then glanced up at her. “Are you two playing?” he asked before he dealt the cards out to the kids.

  Amanda glanced at Ryder, who flipped over his wrist and shook his head slowly. “Can I get a rain check, dad?”

  “Sure.” The cards slid across the coffee table. “No problem. Do you kids need to do something? We got it covered here.” Her father winked at them both.

  Amanda’s eyes widened. “Dad,” she said quietly and then quickly averted her gaze to her kids, who were not paying any attention to her whatsoever. Nickel and Sammie both eyed the cards they were dealt and re-arranged them in their hands.

  “Oh man,” Nickel moaned. “Any way to get a new hand, Gramps?

  “Grandpa!” Sammie asked excitedly, “What are we going to call this game? Bomb Squad? Bear Snort?”

  “I think we should just say the real thing. Bull shit.” Nickel made a face at his little sister. “We aren’t babies anymore.”

  “Nickel Constantine,” Amanda warned her son in a low voice.

  Nick snorted under his breath, “Or Baby Sammie.”

  Sammie ignored her brother and asked her grandparents, “Or what about Baloney Star?”

  “I like that Baloney Star, Sammie.” Her father chuckled. “I don’t believe we’ve used that name before.”

  Her mother gently prodded, “It’s all right, honey. We won’t leave them. Go on, if you have something to do.”

  “You sure, Mom?”

  “Yes, dear. Just be careful.”

  “Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Anders,” Ryder said. “We shouldn’t be too long.”

  “Jeremy,” Ryder said into the phone as they pulled out of the driveway. “We’re taking off now.” Nodding he said, “Thanks, buddy.”

  Amanda turned to him. “What’s going on?”

  “Jeremy Coolman volunteered to watch your house for me while we go talk to Virginia Sullivan.” He reached over and flicked on the monitor that sat on his dashboard. A few squiggly lines appeared on the screen and he waited a beat for the house to come into view before adding, “He’s a good friend on the HFPD. He’s the one I had a bite with earlier.”

  “I met him yesterday, right?”

  He nodded darting his gaze between the screen and the road. “Yeah.”

  The sinuous lines morphed into a white stucco house with a red-tiled roof. Nestled in between Arizona Ash trees, two large, healthy cacti reached for the sky on either side of the home. A huge desert w
illow spotted with light pink flowers gracefully flanked the walkway up to the front door.

  “Are you worried about something?”

  “Nah, I just want to stay on top of everything, is all.” He reached out to cover her hand with his.

  Amanda glanced over at the screen and her eyes widened. “Hey! That’s my house!”

  “I know, darlin’.’” He kept his eyes on the road.

  “Why is my house on your screen?” Her dark blond brows pulled down. “And why are we leaving an hour and a half early for our meeting with Ginny?”

  “I set up some security, Amanda. I was uneasy leaving your parents at home alone with your kids. This meeting with Virginia Sullivan just seems too damn convenient for me. Didn’t want to leave them open to anything.” When he stopped at a light, he glanced over at her. “And to answer your second question, I need to do some recon. Check out the perimeter. Before we get inside, that is.” Grimacing, he wondered why Ginny wanted to meet Amanda so late, but at least she had him as back-up.

  “You must be worried about something, Ryder.”

  “I do think it is curious that she called you, especially after what went down yesterday. Not to mention I do need to see where the alternate exit routes are, if we need them.” Ryder shook his head recalling the panic he felt yesterday after jogging up the few sets of stairs at the Institute of Physics to find her. When he cracked open the door and saw Amanda slide into the door across the hall, he held his breath because he knew something was up. He actually had one foot out the door to go get her, but three big men barreled into the hallway. After he silently ducked back into the stairwell, he watched them as they shouted and walked by slowly looking round. He knew they were looking for her. He remembered how his chest squeezed together, terrified for her safety. Grinding his molars into his jawbone as he waited until it was clear to go get her.