“Show me what?” she whispered.
Her heart raced.
“That I’m the man for you,” he mumbled.
God, how she wanted to believe that. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Irene moaned and swayed toward him, but just as quickly, he was gone.
“I’m not him,” he whispered. “I’m not any of them, and I’m going to be the man you need.”
She stared open mouthed at the declaration, not really sure what to say.
“Goodnight, Irene,” he said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She watched as he quickly walked back to his bike. When she stepped into the house, he started up the engine, and it wasn’t until the front door was closed that he drove away. Stunned, she leaned against the door in the quiet house. All her planning was spiraling out of control, and for some reason, she couldn’t work up the energy to care.
As she breathed in deeply, the masculine scent of his soap and leather hit her nose. She ran her hands against the soft leather coat, entirely too large for her, and sighed.
Wanting someone and needing someone were two different things. In the end, she didn’t know if any of it would really matter. She pulled off the coat and trudged to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, especially if they were going camping.
Irene groaned. No more whiskey. Making camping promises just wasn’t like her, not when there was work to be done.
“So stupid,” she groaned. Now the fate of their camping trip was in the hands of two college girls. Not her brightest moment. Well, at least there would s’mores.
Chapter Four
Ryder scowled as he stomped up the stairs at the office. Not only was he not much on being at work early in the morning, but he hadn’t had a very restful night. Actually, it had been the worst sleep he’d had in ages. Half the night he’d been hard as a rock and gave up early this morning by just taking a cold shower. He might have taken matters into his own hands, but anymore, when it came to Irene, he found himself even more frustrated after and aching for the real thing.
“You’re in early,” Reed said from his desk.
Ryder glared at him, still pissed about the day before.
“Just reporting in before I head over to the bakery,” he said.
Reed looked up from the computer and grinned. “That right?”
“Dick,” Ryder said and flopped onto the couch.
Reed shrugged. “I want to see my older brother happy. So sue me.”
“You might not say that when you hear what I told her,” he said.
Reed raised a brow. Ryder knew this was going to be tough, but he wasn’t really sure how tough. It wasn’t like his brother had spent much time in the field himself recently since his daughter Violet had been born.
“It’s the job,” Reed said. He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “It’s always the damned job. Not like we haven’t been doing this for years.”
“Not like it hasn’t been dangerous either,” Ryder said and raised his own scarred brow.
They all knew the risk, but the question still remained if it was worth it.
“You leaving?” Reed asked.
Ryder shook his head. “Not yet. She’s not even sure if she wants me.”
“She does.” Reed leaned back in his chair and put his arms behind his head. “A woman like her just doesn’t know what to do with a man like you.”
Ryder chuckled and stretched out. “You act like I’m the Devil.”
Reed stared at him through half-laden eyes. “To her, you kind of are. Huge guy on his big bike. Might as well sprout some horns.”
He grinned at his brother’s assessment of him. “She liked the bike.”
Reed grinned back and sat up. “Well now, that’s something. If you can get her on your bike, maybe there’s hope for you.”
He hoped so. If last night was any indication, he just might have a chance, but it was going to take some time.
“Let’s get on with it,” Ryder said, sitting upright. “Irene’s taking her cousin and Victoria camping, and I want to make it over there before they leave.”
Reed frowned. “I didn’t think she was the camping sort.”
Ryder shook his head. “I don’t think any of them are. I’m going to try and tag along, but if anything I’ll send them to my cabin.”
It wasn’t the best plan, but it would be better than the three of them trying to pitch a tent for hours on end.
“Likely be a good thing considering,” Reed said. All merriment left his face.
Ryder frowned. “Another hit?”
Reed stood and walked to the map on the wall where they were tracking all the recent unusual behavior.
“A string of break-ins just around the corner from her shop and about ten cars were damaged, but nothing was taken four blocks over.” Reed pointed to new pins on the map.
They stared at all the pins. It just didn’t make sense. There wasn’t anything about this that made sense.
“Any luck with Charlie?” Reed asked.
He shook his head. “It’s not the Russians. Other than that, not much. There seems to be some biker movement in town,” he said. “I haven’t heard of any gang declaring themselves though, and I can’t imagine that the Los Malos are going to just let another gang move in without a word.”
On the whole, the Los Malos were a mainly Hispanic biker gang that liked to keep to themselves. They didn’t tend to cause trouble, but that was mainly because their leader had moved out of that shit a few years ago. Last Ryder had heard, they were selling bike parts and doing well enough.
“Might stop by and see what Carlos has to say,” Reed said and walked to the door. “Couldn’t hurt. We never had a beef, and maybe he’ll know what the hell is going on.”
Ryder stood and nodded. It wasn’t like his brother to be this nervous, but with everything that had happened and a new baby, he couldn’t really blame him.
He walked to the door and clapped his brother on the shoulder.
“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” he said.
“Thanks,” Reed said. “And take Cage to meet up with Carlos.” His face hardened a little. “It’s been a few years, and a lot can happen in that time.”
Ryder gave a nod and tucked back the bad feeling in his gut. His brother was right. A lot could happen in a few years.
He shook his head. For now he had other worries, like how the hell he was going to convince Irene to let him come with them on their camping trip.
* * *
Irene stood in shock as she watched her cousin and Victoria race to the back to fill all the orders coming in from the customers in line.
“You’re going to have to get to the back of the line if you want an Ex-Boyfriend, honey,” the lady beside her said.
She turned to the woman and stared for a moment before she could even talk.
“Ex-Boyfriend?”
The woman grinned from ear to ear. “You must not listen to KOXJ.”
Irene shook her head.
“Well, the lady on the radio said she loves to come in here and have her morning coffee and pastry.” The woman fanned out her hand to show off the place. “Well, I guess someone just got dumped or something, but she’s selling these Ex-Boyfriend cookies, and they are a hoot!”
“Hoot?”
Irene couldn’t even start to process what the woman was saying because the next wave of people was coming in. The chatter all around her was about her cookies. She was famous. Her cookies were famous! Oh, lord, her cookies with the words dickless and bastard were famous.
Irene felt her knees start to shake, and she quickly made her way to the front.
Taylor was the first to see her.
“Oh my God!” She bounced out from behind the counter. “They are such a hit!”
“I can’t believe you’re selling them,” Irene said quietly.
Taylor frowned. “You weren’t going to?”
“No!” she nearly shouted. When several people turned to look a
t them, she pulled Taylor into the back. “No,” she said more quietly. “I thought they were for fun.”
“They are,” Taylor said with a shrug.
Irene sighed. “Fun for us. This isn’t how I want to be known.”
Taylor crossed her arms over her chest. “What? As someone who has real emotions? Who gets angry? Who feels just like every other woman at some point in her life? Look at these women.” She waved a hand to the women in line. Irene could see the long line of women that stretched out the door, all laughing and smiling. “Do you see how very different each of these women is and yet we’re all the same way? We all share this.”
Irene sighed.
“Fine,” she said. “But when they’re gone, they’re gone.”
Taylor held up her hands. “You’re the baker.”
Irene nodded and headed back out into the front room.
She frowned when a murmur filled the back.
“Are you the ex?” a woman said.
Irene moved closer to the crowd of women. Ryder stood in the center with a huge bag on his back.
“He doesn’t look like ex material.” Another woman purred and moved a little closer.
Irene snorted. Apparently, that woman wasn’t that torn up about her ex.
“I’m not the ex,” Ryder said and moved away from the woman who was edging closer.
“Boyfriend?” an older woman asked.
He stared at her for a moment and then caught Irene watching with interest. She blushed at his gaze.
“I’d like to be,” he said, staring directly at her.
The other women turned to look at her, waiting for some sort of response.
“Well, come on, honey.” The women who had spoken to her in line earlier urged her on. “A man like that is just what you need.”
Irene felt her face heat about five more shades as several other women in line nodded their approval.
Ryder stepped out of the circle to her and spoke quietly.
“Can we talk?”
She nodded to the kitchen and knew that they would just be fodder for the line gossip, but she’d had about as much as she could take.
“So,” he said when they reached the back area. “Looks like your cookies were a hit.”
Irene threw her head in her hands and groaned.
“Those were never supposed to be up for sale,” she moaned.
“Well, at least they’re selling, right? Money’s money.”
Irene looked up from her hands. He was trying to make her feel better, but there was no way that was going to happen.
“Ryder, I’m selling cookies with the words dickless on them,” she said.
She glared when he tried to cover a snort.
“Oh, it’s not that bad.” He grinned. “The business is good, and maybe it brings in a new crowd.”
Irene crossed her arms. “Somehow, I think the women that are buying Ex-Boyfriend cookies aren’t going to be looking for wedding cakes.”
He frowned.
Her whole plan to start getting into wedding and event cakes was going up in smoke, all for some dickless cookies.
“Come here.” He set down the bag and opened his arms.
Irene kept her arms crossed and turned to the side. She didn’t need his pity.
“Damn it, woman, you are so hard to comfort,” he growled as he crushed her to his large frame.
She breathed in deep and got lost in the smell of fresh soap.
“There,” he mumbled against her head. “Now just let it go.”
Irene leaned against him, tired from the day before. Drained emotionally from both Todd and Ryder, she let him just hold her. It had been years since she had even let anyone hold her like that. She’d nearly forgotten how great it felt.
His hand rubbed up and down her back, and after a bit, she wrapped her own arms around his waist.
“Hey, Irene,” Taylor shouted as she came bounding around the corner.
Irene pulled away.
“Yeah.” Irene glanced to the door.
“We’re about sold out of the cookies, so we’ll be ready to go here soon.” Taylor’s head popped around the corner.
The smirk on her cousin’s face wasn’t lost on her.
“So,” Ryder said to her side. “I guess you all are ready to get out of here.”
Irene grimaced. “I have no idea,” she said. “I woke up late and just threw some clothes in a backpack. On the way here, I stopped by the store to grab some bread and peanut butter.”
He nodded as if he expected as much.
“Look,” he said and stepped a little closer to her. “I have a cabin just up the mountain. It’s not far, and it’s got some of the basics. You’d have to park and hike, but it’s only a few hours and the path is really clear.”
She stared up at him in awe as she processed what he was telling her. He shoved the key and a paper in her hand. When she unfolded it, there were directions on how to get there.
“It’s nothing fancy, but there’s running water and electricity,” he said and leaned in even more. “I don’t like the idea of you up there without a phone.”
The intensity of his stare burned through her. She shuddered under its weight.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” she said.
Ryder shook his head.
“I’d feel a lot better if I was going with you,” he said.
Her nipples tightened at the thought of being with him over night but shook it off.
“It’s just supposed to be a girls’ trip,” she said.
He nodded like he was expecting that response.
“I’ve brought a few other things that might be useful,” he said. “I’ll just leave them, and you can use them if you want.”
Irene followed him into the front area and was surprised to see it was totally clear.
“We’ll be ready in just a minute,” Taylor said from behind the counter.
She continued to follow Ryder to the door and peered into the street. They were still looking good. It was only about ten, so they would have plenty of time to make it to the cabin before dark.
“Call me,” he said when he’d stepped out onto the sidewalk. “I want to know you made it there safely.”
She frowned. He was getting pushy.
“We’ll be fine.” She waved a hand.
She yelped when Ryder pulled her in for a hard kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth. Not even meaning to, her hand wound behind his neck.
The kiss slowed, but she hungered for more. When he pulled away, Irene looked up into his rich brown eyes. The jagged scar crinkled as he smiled at her.
“Call me,” he said again. “I’ll worry if you don’t.”
It was so simple. How was she going to deny a request like that?
“Okay,” she said quietly.
Ryder smiled at her before letting go and moving back. There was just something about her. He couldn’t stop himself. He’d been holding back since he walked in, and she looked so frazzled. It had been a hell of a morning, and he just wanted to make it better.
He climbed onto his bike and watched as she went inside. Through the window, he could see Taylor gesturing toward him, and he could only guess that she had seen them and wondered what Irene would say.
Not that it mattered. He was going to make her his one way or another. He shook his head and turned toward the street.
Just down the road, slightly to the right, sat a man on a motorcycle. Ryder stared at the unknown bike. The man on the bike stared back, clearly watching him. He made a mental note to stop by the shop later just to make sure. With all the recent issues around town, it certainly wouldn’t hurt.
He rode slowly by the man, and the two eyed each other. Somewhat familiar, he couldn’t quite place him, but one thing was certain. Ryder needed to figure this out quickly because a man like this wasn’t one to mess around for long.
Chapter Five
“So,” Taylor said, after they had been walking on the trail for about twenty minutes.
“Explain to me again how that kiss was nothing.”
Irene groaned. It was the second time her cousin had brought it up, and she knew it wasn’t going to be the last time Taylor brought it up either. That kiss had been right out there in the public eye, and it had also been about as hot as a public kiss could get.
Victoria grinned at her when Irene looked her way.
“You might as well just fess up,” she said. “You know she’s not going to let this go.”
She was right. If there was one thing Taylor was good at, it was sticking with the details. It was what made her such a great forensic scientist.
“Fine!” she snapped. “We were kissing.”
Taylor grinned wider and bumped hips with her. “So spill,” she said. “Guy like that, does he live up to the hype or fall flat?”
Irene frowned at the line of questioning. The last thing she wanted to be doing was talking about her and Ryder. She groaned when she thought about that last kiss. It had been off-the-charts hot.
“He lives up to the hype,” she said quietly and blushed when the two younger women grinned from ear to ear. It was a good thing she had decided to tuck Ryder’s jacket away in the backpack she was carrying and not wear it. She could just imagine the comments they would make.
They walked in silence for a bit, enjoying the crisp air and quiet that came with being away from civilization.
“He’s a good man,” Taylor said after some time.
Irene nodded. He really was. The more she found out about him, the more she liked about him. Most importantly, there was something about the way he dealt with her. She felt important to him, and it was a good feeling. After years of being treated like nothing, it felt good to have someone notice her for the right reasons.
“Yeah, but his job…” Irene said.
Irene was surprised when Victoria was the one to speak this time.
“I can understand your reservations, but it was his job that saved my sister and Alyssa,” she said quietly. “When Alyssa got shot, things could have been so much worse, but they weren’t, and it wasn’t because of something she did. It was Liam. They might not be heroes in the traditional sense, but in my book, they will always be heroes. The men who saved my sister.”
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