Chapter 22
“Hey, Shawn, how are you p>
I lean back in my chair and push my fingers through my hair, happy to hear from my friend. I loved being in Seattle for a few days, but the week that we’ve been home has been so productive, and I’m completely obsessed with my new workspace. Ry has to drag me out of here at dinnertime some days because I’m so absorbed in work I lose track of time.
“I’m great, thank you for asking,” Shawn replies with that swoony-as-all-get-out British accent that makes all the listeners lose their goddamn minds. “I haven’t talked to you in a long while, darling. What’s new in your corner of the world p>
“A lot, actually. Oh, let me show you my new booth. I’m putting you on speaker so I can send some photos over p>
I quickly tap the screen and then wait for Shawn to react.
“Fucking hell,” he says with surprise. “That’s brilliant. Did you move, or remodel your adorable house p>
“I sort of moved. For the summer, anyway.” I wince at the thought of moving back to Missoula at the end of the summer.
“Why does it sound like there’s a story there p>
“Oh, there’s a story.” I chuckle and swivel back and forth in my desk chair. “A long one p>
“Better shared over a beer p>
“For sure p>
“Will you be at that conference in Chicago next month p>
“That’s the plan, yes. I should be there p>
“Excellent, I can’t wait to hear this story of yours. Hey, have you started prepping for the project we’re working on together p>
“Coincidentally, I finished doing just that a bit ago so I could start recording tomorrow. Wanna talk about it p>
“Yeah, let’s compare notes. I’m on page one sixteen p>
I bring the document up on my iPad and find the page he’s talking about. “Got it. First sex scene. Do you want to run lines, or… p>
“I want to see if we’re on the same page with how this reads. Do you think she’s scared of him in that first paragraph p>
I skim the page. “Oh, I see what you’re saying. I read it as her being apprehensive, but not afraid. Like this: I don’t want you to touch me there p>
“Why not, little one?” Shawn jumps in, reading the lines. His voice has lowered seductively, making me grin.
Holy shit, the listeners are going to love this.
“B-b-because I p>
“You what? Does it make you feel naughty when I kiss you right here, darling p>
“I don’t know what it makes me feel p>
Shawn chuckles over the speakerphone.
“I think you know. And do you want to see what you’re doing to me? Bloody hell, you’re so fucking sexy, I can’t wait to p>
“He might want to stop there p>
Shawn stops reading, and I whip around to find Ryker standing in the doorway of my office, his arms crossed over his chest, his jaw clenched.
I laugh, but he doesn’t look amused at all.
“Hold on, Shawn p>
But Shawn doesn’t hold on. In fact, he initiates a FaceTime call, and I answer.
“Hello, darling,” Shawn says to me with that smug grin that all the ladies fawn over on social media.
“Shawn, this is Ryker.” I tip the phone so Ry can see him. “Ry, this is Shawn North, a colleague of mine, and we were just going over some notes for a project we’re working on together p>
“Good to meet you,” Shawn says with a nod, and Ry takes the phone from me. “Wait, you’re Ryker James. Congratulations on the retirement p>
“Are you telling me that Willow’s never talked about me?” Ry demands, scowling at me, and I roll my eyes.
“She’s mentioned that you’re good friends,” Shawn confirms.
“More than that now,” Ry says, and I reach for the phone.
“Oh my God. Stop it.” I yank the device out of his hand and shake my head. “If you’ve listened to all the books I’ve done, you know that Shawn and I have worked together a million times. So you can just calm the hell down, Captain p>
Shawn’s grinning, clearly entertained.
“Don’t stop him on my account, darling p>
“Call her darling one more time,” Ry growls.
“Darling p>
Ry taps the screen, hanging up on my friend, and I gape at him.
“Ryker James p>
“No.” He grips my chin and tilts my face up, and his eyes are fierce as he stares me down.
“Okay.” I rub my hands up and down his chest. “Shawn and I are only colleagues. You know that p>
He closes his eyes and tips his forehead against mine. “I came to see if you were finishing up for the day, and when I got to the door p>
He swallows hard, and I cup his face.
“You heard a bunch of sexy talk p>
“Live sexy talk. Not in a book p>
Ah, I get it.
“I can admit, if I’d heard that puck bunny talking to you like that at the bar that night, I would have ripped her fucking hair out.” I show him the iPad. “But this is in a book. See? We’re starting this project tomorrow, and he wanted to know if I thought this character was afraid in this scene, or if she’s apprehensive, and we just started running lines to get a feel for it. Shawn is famous for not liking to text. He calls or sends voice notes almost exclusively. It’s just how he works p>
“And you’re going to Chicago with him p>
My eyebrows climb in surprise.
“First of all, I’m not going anywhere with Shawn. Second, you knew we were running lines. How long were you standing in my doorway p>
He backs away from me completely and looks… hurt.
“Whoa. Nope, no shutting down on me, Ry p>
“I get it. You were working. Sorry to interrupt p>
“No,” I say again and reach for his hand, relieved when he doesn’t pull away. “Talk to me p>
“Anything I say right now will make me sound like a controlling asshole, so I’d probably better not talk to you p>
“You don’t sound like an asshole. Controlling? Maybe a smidge. This is my job. I was not flirting with Shawn. He’s a flirt all on his own, but he’s harmless. My boyfriend happens to be the hottest man in the universe and does this thing with his tongue p>
He shuts me up by using said tongue, pulling me against him and kissing the hell out of me, as if he’s claiming his territory all over again.
“You’ve never been a jealous man, Ry p>
“I’ve never had so much to lose,” he replies, and it makes my heart stutter.
“I’m right here. Completely obsessed with you. You don’t get to listen to me work anymore if it upsets you like this p>
“What’s in Chicago p>
I smile. “A book signing, where I’ve been invited to come and meet readers and sign their books too. Wanna go with me p>
“Absolutely. You’re not fucking going without me p>
I frown. “You don’t trust me? Is that what this is all about p>
“You’re the sexiest woman in the universe,” he replies, echoing my words. “I trust you. I don’t trust anyone else p>
“Don’t scare Shawn p>
“I’m not making that promise p>
I snort and check the time. “It’s not the end of the day yet p>
“No, I was going to see if you want to ride into Missoula and check on your place. Aiden wants to go to an electronics store and buy a gaming system so he and Mac can play together in the evenings p>
“His money’s been burning a hole in his pocket p>
“I’m going to teach that kid to be responsible with his paychecks,” Ry promises.
“He’s fifteen,” I remind him.
“It’s never too early to start.” He kisses my forehead. “Are we good, Trouble p>
“I think I should be asking you that question p>
He nods and gestures for me to walk ahead of him out of the office. “Let’s go. Before I carry you to the bedroom and fuck you so hard, there’s no way you’ll forget exactly who you belong to p>
I pause and squeeze my thighs together. “We could make time for that p>
Ry smirks. “Aiden’s waiting downstairs p>
“Damn p>
“I can’t believe my fridge died.” I’m scowling as we lock up my little house and then walk out to Ryker’s SUV. “At least it only had condiments in it. But still. Gross p>
“I’ll call a crew in to get it out of here p>
I don’t know how I didn’t end up with a ruined floor from any melted ice from the freezer.
“Wait, did you toss the ice and turn off the ice maker last time we were here?” I ask Ry.
“Of course I did p>
“You think of everything p>
He smirks and has just pulled out of my driveway, headed toward Aiden’s favorite electronics store, when his phone rings, showing Andy on the screen.
He accepts the call with an annoyed huff.
“Hello p>
“Hey, Ryker,” Andy says. From the corner of my eye, I see Aiden take his earbud out of his ear. “Is this a bad time p>
“I have about five minutes,” Ry replies. “What’s up p>
“I wanted to apologize.” His voice sounds sincere, but it’s that fake kind of sincere, when you know someone is full of shit. “I’m sorry and honestly embarrassed by the way everything went down when you were in Seattle p>
My gaze whips over to Ryker, whose knuckles are white as he grips the steering wheel, and he’s already clenching his jaw.
“We’ve worked together for a damn long time,” Andy continues, “and you know that I always have your best interests at heart. I don’t know how we got so far off course, but I don’t think you meant any harm p>
“What the fuck?” Aiden mutters under his breath, and I don’t even bother to shoot him a dirty look for swearing.
Because what the fuck?
Gaslight much, Andy?
“Are you still there, buddy?” Andy asks.
“I’m here. I’m pulling into the parking lot of where I was going, so I’m hanging up. Thanks for the apology p>
“You bet. You have a good day, and I’ll talk to you soon p>
Ryker cuts off the call before Andy even gets the last word out, and I shake my head.
“There’s something seriously wrong with that guy p>
“Don’t worry about him,” Ry says as Aiden climbs out of the vehicle.
Ryker takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles, then threads our fingers together as we walk behind Aiden, who almost has a spring in his step. The whole way into town, my kiddo talked nonstop about which console he wants to snag, and which games he’s going to buy, and how he has to get an extra controller so he and Micah can play together in the bunkhouse.
He hasn’t been this excited about anything in a long time. I offered to pay for it, but he shook his head, insisting that he can buy it himself, and that made me proud.
My boy is growing up.
Ryker and I wander through the store, following Aiden as he zigzags through aisles full of cameras, computers, and even car stereos until he finds what he’s looking for.
“Do you need anything while we’re here?” Ry asks me.
“No, I upgraded all my work gear last year. I’m good to go. How about you p>
He opens his mouth, but before he can reply, we hear a voice say, “You been hiding from me this summer, pussy? Maybe you’re too busy fucking your hot aunt to leave the house p>
Ry and I whip around just in time to see Aiden advance on the little bastard from the gas station, and I grab Aiden’s arm as Ry gets in the punk’s face.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” Ry demands. He doesn’t touch the boy, but he’s towering over him, glaring menacingly.
“No one.” The boy looks like he’s going to pee his pants.
“Which console do you want, Aiden?” I try to redirect his focus, and he glances down at me, his sweet face red with fury, breathing hard. “Don’t give him this. Don’t let him upset you like this, sweetie p>
“No one gets to talk about you like that p>
I pat his arm, and suddenly the boy has run off and Ryker turns back to us.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Aiden says. My happy boy is gone. In his place is the angry, sullen boy I’ve lived with for the past two years.
“You’re mine,” Ryker says. “You’re both mine. No one talks to you that way. Now, we’re going to shake that shit off and do some shopping p>
Aiden takes a deep breath, clearly reining in his emotions, and then reluctantly nods. “Okay p>
He chooses his console, a couple of games, an extra controller, and all the accessories he needs, and when it comes time to check out, Ryker lets him pay for half.
“I’m going to get the other half,” he tells my nephew. “And we’re going to talk about money management and how to make that money grow p>
“I make twenty bucks an hour,” Aiden reminds Ryker.
“And you’ll make that twenty bucks work for you. Let’s go, smart-ass p>
Aiden doesn’t smirk the way he normally would, and before long, we’re back in the vehicle.
“Want to stop for dinner?” Ry asks us.
“I want to go back to the bunkhouse,” Aiden replies.
Ryker raises his eyebrow at me, and I nod.
“I’ll make dinner at the house,” I tell him.
We’re quiet in the car for about ten miles. Aiden has his earbuds in, so I assume he’s listening to music, but suddenly, he rips them out and shoves them in his pocket.
“Did they run out of battery?” I ask him.
“Why can’t we just move out to the ranch full-time?” Aiden’s voice cracks, making my heart hurt so much. “What’s the point in being in Missoula anyway? I fucking hate it there p>
“Let’s get out of the car and talk about this.” Ryker flips on his blinker and takes the exit for a rest area that happens to be empty right now, and as soon as he parks, we all get out of the vehicle, and Aiden starts to pace. He’s so agitated, so upset, and I wish I could pull him to me and hug him.
But he doesn’t like to be touched.
“Baby, how long has that boy been harassing you p>
“Years,” he says and rubs the back of his hand over his mouth. “I hate him. I wish I could kill him. He’s relentless, and his friends are no better p>
“I want his full name,” Ryker says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’m so over it in that stupid fucking town,” Aiden continues, as if Ryker hasn’t said anything at all. “If I like a girl, that asshole swoops in and makes her hate me. If I so much as smile in class, he finds a way to humiliate me p>
“I’m going to kill him.” My voice is hard as granite. “And I want to know why you’ve never talked to me about this p>
“Because what are you going to do?” His voice is so loud now, but I allow it because I can plainly see that he’s needed to get this out for a long time. “Talk to his mom? She doesn’t fucking care. She’s just like him. I’m sick to death of him talking shit about you. About Ryker and hockey and every goddamn thing. I don’t even use my phone anymore because he wouldn’t stop texting me p>
I tilt my head to the side, stunned. “Aiden. What in the hell? Baby, you don’t have to deal with all this bullshit by yourself, and yes, I can do something about it. We can press charges against him. Plus, you don’t have to defend me. I’m perfectly capable p>
“Yes I do,” he roars back. “Because I love you, and you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and if someone’s going to talk shit about you, they’re going to get a goddamn broken jaw p>
“That’s my boy,” Ryker mutters, but I don’t look at him.
“He’s a jealous, miserable kid,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “I’m not saying you need to feel bad for him, and I’m not going to tell you to take the high road because he’s taken all this way too far, but you do know that he behaves that way because he’s jealous, right p>
“I don’t care why he does it.” Aiden pulls his hands down his face. “I don’t give a shit about him. I don’t want to ever see him again p>
“I fucking hate bullies,” I say, shaking my head.
“I want to live at the ranch,” he continues. “All the time, not just this summer. I don’t want to go to school in Missoula. I can go in Paradise Valley, where Micah goes p>
“As far as I’m concerned,” Ryker breaks in before I can reply, “you can move in permanently today. The ranch is your home. For both of you. I want you with me p>
“You do p>
I’ve gone completely quiet, but for the first time since Aiden saw that little shit in the store, he has hope in his eyes again.
This isn’t something that Ryker and I have discussed. The plan was for us to stay on the ranch for the summer and then return to Missoula. I’m a planner. I don’t do well with things being shaken up without warning.
Without a conversation.
“Of course I do,” Ry continues. “I told you, you guys are mine. I don’t want you to move back to Missoula p>
“Thank God,” Aiden says with a relieved sigh. Then he turns his attention back to me. “That’s okay, right, Aunt Wills? We can move to the ranch p>
“We’ll talk about it p>
“It’s perfect. You already have the best recording booth ever, and you like the house. You practically grew up there,” Aiden says, trying to sell me on the idea.
“I said we’d discuss it,” I repeat. “Now, tell me what you need to make you feel better tonight, buddy p>
He shrugs and kicks a rock.
“Can I have a hug?” I ask him, making him roll his eyes.
“I guess p>
I walk into his arms and press my head to his chest and give him a squeeze.
“I love you, baby boy p>
“I love you too p>
I grin up at him as I pull away. “Shall we head out p>
“Yeah, I have to set up my new system p>
He climbs into the SUV, but before I can walk around the car, Ryker grabs my hand and makes me turn to him.
“Did I say something wrong?” he asks. I hate the scowl on his face.
“No, of course not p>
“Wills p>
“Let’s talk about it over dinner. I’m hungry p>
His lips flatten into a line, but he finally nods. “Let’s go p>