by E. L. Todd
RAY OF
NEW
(Ray Series #6)
E. L. TODD
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Fallen Publishing
Ray of New
Copyright © 2017 by E. L. Todd All Rights Reserved
Chapter One
Ryker
The rooftop apartment in Manhattan was exactly as I remembered it. The skyline showed the towering buildings, the burning lights that could be seen from miles away. My old gym was right around the corner, and my favorite Chinese restaurant was just a block away. My furniture had been untouched for a year, smelling stale with inactivity.
But it was still home.
Leaving Seattle was the best choice for me, and I didn’t have any regrets. My brother would do a great job taking over COLLECT, and my mom wouldn’t be lonely with him around. Manhattan was my home before my dad got cancer. It’s where I should be.
My phone rang in my pocket, so I pulled it out and spotted Liam’s name on the screen. I already knew what he would say before I even spoke to him. I took the call. “Hey, man. What’s up?”
“Is your ass back in town yet?”
I walked to the window with a grin on my face. I stared at the car lights as they sat in traffic on the busy street. “Yep. Got in a few hours ago.”
“Perfect. Let’s hit up Roger’s. I haven’t seen your ugly face in a year.”
“It’s just as ugly as it was before,” I said with a chuckle.
“Nah. It’s probably worse.” He laughed before he hung up.
I was just about to return my phone to my pocket when it rang again. Rae’s name popped up on the screen.
My heart stopped when I saw it, remembering the sound of her voice. We always used to send inappropriate texts back and forth, her ass and tits usually the subject. I knew exactly why she was calling, and I didn’t want to deal with it. I’d left without a backward glance. I didn’t even tell her I was leaving. I just handed over the company and took off.
I hit ignore and sent her to my voicemail.
It was a dick move. But I didn’t want to discuss the elephant in the room. It was obvious why I left, clear as a blue sky. She was happy with Zeke, and I was happy for her—somewhat.
***
“Wow. You really do look like shit.” Liam stood and extended his arms wide apart.
I stopped in front of him, keeping five feet between us. “We never did the hug thing, so do we need to start now?”
“Oh, come on. You know I missed you.”
“I didn’t miss you.”
He rolled his eyes. “Shut the hell up. Yes, you did.” He gave me a bear hug.
I chuckled and returned the embrace, patting him on the back. “Okay…I may have a little.”
We sat in the booth, and Liam pushed the beer he ordered toward me. “Dark—the way you like it.”
I lifted my mug and tapped it against his. “You know me too well.” I took a drink and let the beer slide down my throat and right into my gut. Alcohol was the only companion I’d had lately. I was drinking too much of it recently, and as a result, I had to work out twice as hard to keep my physique in check.
“I’m gonna say something, and it’s gonna sound kinda douchey.”
I set my frosty glass on the coaster and leaned back against the seat in the booth. I was used to the weird things Liam said, but I didn’t realize how much I missed them until now. “I can handle it.” I beckoned him with my hand. “Let’s hear it.”
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out in Seattle…but I’m really glad they didn’t. This city isn’t the same without you.”
“Yeah?” The corner of my mouth rose in a smile.
“Yeah,” Liam said. “I haven’t found a good wingman since you left. The guys are great, but they aren’t smooth as you are.”
“I’m sure you did just fine, Liam.”
“Obviously.” He took a drink before he returned it to the table. “Just not as fun. Remember that time we both got blow jobs on the Ferris wheel in Coney Island?”
I’d forgotten about that until now. “Oh, yeah…that was a great night.”
“It really was,” he said with a dreamy look on his face. “That chick had the biggest mouth. She talked a lot, but when it came to sucking—” His phone rang in his pocket, so he dug it out.
“You don’t need to finish that sentence,” I said with a laugh.
He glanced at the screen and rolled his eyes.
“You got a stalker, man?”
“Kinda. But not in a good way.” He answered the call and pressed his phone to his ear. “Dude, what’s up?”
A woman’s voice came over the speaker. “Don’t dude me. I’ve been living in the city for three days, and I still haven’t seen you.”
He rolled his eyes again even though she couldn’t see him. “Take a chill pill, alright? I’m busy.”
“And you think I’m not busy?” she countered. “And if you roll your eyes one more time, I’m gonna slap you.”
I immediately glanced around and searched for a sassy woman with a phone to her ear.
Liam raised an eyebrow and tensed, looking out the window like she was lurking nearby. “Where are you…?”
“I’m not watching you, idiot. I just know you that well.”
Liam sighed in relief and leaned against the cushion of the booth. “You creeped me out there.”
“Come on. I want to see you. Can we get a beer or something?”
“Can’t you get some friends or something?”
I had no idea who he was talking to. I couldn’t tell if it was an old girlfriend or what.
“Shut up, Liam,” she said over the phone. “I want to see you. I miss you.”
He rolled his eyes.
“I saw that!”
“Geez, you’re a freak. Fine, I’m at Roger’s on Fifth. I’m with a friend.”
“Okay.” Her voice perked up. “I can’t wait to see you!” She hung up.
He slid his phone away from him on the table. “Talk about a nightmare…”
“Who was that?” If it was a crazy girlfriend, he should be a little more freaked out.
“My sister,” he explained. “She just moved to the city last week, and she’s wanted to hang out.”
“Oh.” I knew he had a sister, but I never met her, and he’d never mentioned her. “That’s cool. Where did she move from?”
“Cambridge. She just graduated, and she got a gig at Nicol Software.”
“I heard that’s a great company.”
“I heard that too. She’s the new head of marketing.” He shook his head. “Can you believe that?”
“And she just graduated college?” You can’t just secure a high position right out of school without any real-life experience. At least, I’d never heard of that. Companies wanted someone who’d dealt with real-life problems.
“Yep.”
“Is she a genius or something?”
“Something like that,” Liam answered. “She graduated from MIT.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah.” He finished his beer then waved down the bartender for another.
I pictured her with thick glasses, strange clothing, and an unusual demeanor. In my experience, really smart people were always awkward. They didn’t pick up on social cues and saw the world in very different colors. “How are you guys related?”
“Ouch,” he said. “I’m smar
t too.”
“Not MIT smart.”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure where she gets it from…” His eyes darted out the window and followed someone as they walked inside. “She’s here. Man, she gets around fast.”
I didn’t turn around because that would be rude. “She probably built a jet pack or something.”
Liam chuckled as he slid out of the booth. “No kidding.” He rose to his feet and waved so she could see him. “Over here, dumbass.”
“Liam!” His sister walked to the table, her heels clanking against the hardwood floor. When she emerged past my chair, I saw the skintight blue dress she wore. It was snug on her petite waist and slender thighs, and it hugged the obvious curves of her chest. She had deep brown hair that had a tint of red to it.
She was not at all what I pictured.
“I missed you so much.” She hugged him to her chest with her arms around his neck, showing more enthusiasm for a sibling than anyone else in the history of time. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”
He patted her on the back. “That’s not true. We saw each other—”
“Last Christmas. That was almost two years ago.”
“Okay…maybe it has been a while.” He pulled away and placed his hands in his pockets. “So, you like the city?”
“I love it,” she said. “I have a few friends who live here, so they’ve been showing me around.”
“Cool,” he answered.
“Obviously, I would have preferred it if my brother showed me around, but you’ve been too busy.” She poked him in the chest playfully.
“Guilty,” he said with a shrug. “I’ll get you something from the bar. Cabernet?”
“Yes, please.” She flicked her hair behind her shoulder, the soft curls forming a curtain of silk down her back.
I still hadn’t looked at her face, but I knew she wasn’t wearing glasses.
“By the way, this is my friend, Ryker.” Liam nodded to me in the booth. “Ryker, this is my sister, Austen. I’ll be right back.” He walked to the bar and left us alone together.
She turned to me and made an obvious reaction, just as surprised by my appearance as I was by hers. She caught her footing instantly and extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I shook her hand. “You too.”
She sat in the booth across from me and scooted over so there was room for Liam.
Now that I had a good view of her face, I noticed how different she looked in comparison to Liam. She had fair skin with a light sprinkling of freckles. She had a small nose and bright blue eyes that reminded me of a coral sea. Her hair was thick and shiny. A gold necklace hung around her neck, making me notice the hollow in her throat. I suddenly pictured myself kissing the area, tasting it with my curious tongue. My body immediately hummed to life just from looking at her, finding her sexy at first glance. Everything about her was perfect, from the natural beauty of her face to the way her short legs looked long because they were so fit and toned.
I usually had something to say, but now words failed me. I just stared at her, feeling my skin grow warm with searing heat. I saw beautiful women on a daily basis, but none of them made me lose my train of thought. She completely wiped my brain like it was a blank canvas. I could have made small talk and asked her where her apartment was or what she liked most about the city, but I couldn’t even do that. I felt my cock harden in my jeans and press against the inside of my zipper. I couldn’t even adjust myself because that would be too obvious with her sitting right across from me. I swallowed the lump in my throat so I could speak, but words still didn’t emerge.
Austen was talkative with her brother a moment ago, but now she was just as quiet. She watched me with tension in her shoulders, her blue eyes glued to my face. For being two strangers, we made more eye contact than most people would feel comfortable with.
Luckily, Liam returned. “I almost ordered the whole bottle because I know you drink a lot. But then I remembered I’m broke. So here ya go.”
She took the glass with a smile. “Thanks, Liam. I knew you missed me.”
“I never said I missed you,” Liam argued.
“But yet, you went up there and got me a glass of wine.” She sipped her drink, pressing her soft lips together.
“Because I’m a nice guy,” Liam said.
“But we both know you aren’t a nice guy to everyone,” Austen said. “So just admit you like me.”
“Why would I dodge your calls if I liked you?” Liam rested his elbows on the table as he stared at her. “Answer that one.”
She set her glass down as she savored the taste of the wine on her tongue.
I pictured myself tasting that wine all over her body.
She eventually answered. “You were too excited.”
Liam shook his head. “No. It’s because you’re annoying.”
“Yeah, okay,” she said sarcastically. “Who’s the one who would call me every Sunday while I was in school?”
Liam immediately wore a guilty face, his cheeks turning red. “I was just checking on you—”
“Whatever you say.” She tried to suppress a smile, but it crept into her features. Her blue eyes were bright and playful, and there was an innate energy about her that made her magnetic. “I’m going bowling tomorrow night. You wanna come?”
“Who else is going?” Liam asked.
“Some friends of mine.” She turned to me, her expression immediately changing once her eyes settled on my features. It wasn’t clear if she was attracted to me or just intimidated. “You’re welcome to come too.”
“Wait,” Liam said. “Are any of these friends hot?”
“I think so,” she deadpanned. “But all my friends are cute.”
“But are these nerdy friends?” Liam asked with a disgusted look.
“What’s wrong with being a nerd?” she asked. “I’m a nerd, and I’m proud of it. I’m interested in the way things work. I want to know more information about subjects I don’t understand. A quizzical mind is never a bad thing.”
I smiled at her response, liking the way she defended herself and her friends.
“You know that saying?” Liam asked. “Curiosity killed the cat?”
“Well, I’m not a cat,” Austen said. “So I’m in the clear.”
“Ryker is kinda new to the city,” Liam explained. “He lived in Seattle for a while for work until he came back.”
“Oh, cool,” Austen said. “Then you should come. We call our team the Bowling Stones.”
I chuckled because I immediately got it. “Clever.”
“Huh?” Liam asked. “The Bowling what?”
“Like the Rolling Stones,” Austen explained. “But the Bowling Stones…”
Liam still wore the same confused expression.
“Never mind.” Austen drank from her glass. “We have a bet going. Whoever loses has to go to a strip club and stick a hundred one-dollar bills into some G-strings while the winners watch.”
“That doesn’t sound like much of a punishment to me.” I’d been to quite a few strip clubs in my day.
“Me either,” Austen said. “But a hundred bucks is a lot of cash. So that sucks.”
“I’m in,” Liam said. “Your friends are single, right?”
“Yeah, but you know the rule.” Austen held up a finger. “We don’t date each other’s friends. Remember?”
Liam made a sour face. “Who said anything about dating? If they’re down for some good sex, then what’s the big deal?”
Austen made a disgusted face and covered it up with her wine. “Don’t chase away my friends, alright? Otherwise, I’ll have to kick your ass.”
“Ha,” Liam said sarcastically. “Like you could.”
She gave him a mean face, her eyes threatening and her jaw clenched.
She looked even sexier when she was pissed.
The look successfully intimidated Liam. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave myself.”
Chapter Two
I hung arou
nd my apartment and played video games and watched TV. I had no intention of getting a job when I had enough in my real estate investments to get me by. My father gave my brother and me a great deal of money when we were younger. My brother pissed his away, and I put my cash to good use.
So I didn’t feel bad about it.
Rae left me a message the other night, but I still hadn’t listened to it. I did my best not to think about her because anytime I did, I felt like shit. I had the perfect woman wrapped around my finger until I blew it by being the biggest asshole in the world. She told me she loved me, and I left her.
I got exactly what I deserved.
I wasn’t jealous of Zeke. I wasn’t angry at Rae. The only person I despised was myself.
It was all my fault.
My phone rang on the coffee table, but I didn’t look at it right away. I expected to see Rae’s name on the screen, the one person I didn’t want to talk to but also desperately wanted to talk to.
I dragged my hands down my face then looked at the screen. It was a number I didn’t recognize, and the area code wasn’t from New York but it wasn’t Washington either. So I answered. “Hey, it’s Ryker.”
“Hey, Ryker.” A beautiful voice came over the phone, hypnotic and sexy. “It’s Austen.”
My heart immediately picked up its pace, and I felt my cock twitch in my sweatpants. I hadn’t thought about her since I saw her in the bar the other night, but now that she was on my mind, I was hard. “What’s up?” I kept my cool and leaned back against the couch.
“I got your number from Liam. Hope that’s okay.”
“Of course. I love it when beautiful women stalk me.”
She chuckled. “Hope that doesn’t happen too often.”
“Not as much as I would like it to.” I smiled and hit the mute button on the TV remote. “What can I do for you, Austen?” Was she calling about our bowling plans?
“I wanted to see if you were free tonight. I’d like to take you out.”
My heart froze in my chest as my stomach tightened. Her confidence was insanely sexy. Not too many women would have the balls to call up a guy and ask him out like this. I preferred strong women who didn’t care what anyone thought of them. I hadn’t met too many like that. Austen seemed to fit in that category. “I’m flattered.”
