Ryker (The Powers That Be Book 4) Read online

  “Okay, I’m ready,” I called from my room.

  “Let’s go!”

  I had to catch up with her outside as she jumped into her Saab.

  “Good grief. What’s going on? Where’s the freaking fire?” I asked buckling my seatbelt.

  “You’ll see!” she semi-squealed. I knew it had to be something big because Sharee rarely squealed about anything.

  When we ended up at the airport, I asked with a frown, “What’re we doing here?”

  “C’mon!” she said, getting out of the car.

  “You better not have gotten me a mail-order husband.”

  I followed her into the airport to concourse C wondering what the heck was going on until we made it around the corner and I heard someone screaming.

  “What the…” I barely got out before being tackle hugged.

  The next thing I knew, Sharee, Gladys and I were jumping up and down in a group hug.

  “What are you doing here?” I finally asked, astonished that she’d flown in.

  “I left some stuff at Mom and Dad’s over Christmas and they couldn’t send it all to me, so I’m back to get it! I wasn’t sure when I could make it until Ree told me about the party tomorrow night, and I thought it’d be perfect for me to come so we could help find you a new boyfriend!”

  Oh, my God. Talk about spoiling the fun.

  I gave both of them a disgusted look. “I don’t need a boyfriend.”

  “We’ll talk about that later. Let’s get out of here!” Gladys suggested picking up the carry-on she’d dropped to hug Sharee and me, then looping her arm through mine she pulled me through the airport with her.

  In the car on the way to the apartment, Gladys showed us pictures on her phone of her latest designs, and we all three screamed when she told us that Michael Kors had come by to give a lecture. I was so glad she was happy and loving what she was doing.

  “Before we go to your apartment, my lovely friends, take a detour! I’m taking you to Spinasse!” She turned and looked back at me. “I owe you, remember?”

  Oh, I remembered all right. And I was definitely going to let her buy me dinner, if not only for the fact that her parents were both doctors and had money coming out the wazoo and she could afford it, but she’d promised anyway.

  “Sounds great!” Sharee said as she took the exit that would get us to the restaurant.

  “And when we’re there, we’ll figure out what kinda guy we need to find for you,” Gladys tacked on.

  I huffed. “Why am I the charity case all of a sudden? Ree’s single too. And so are you for that matter!”

  Gladys chuckled. “Oh, I’ve got my eye on someone and Ree just got out of a relationship. You’re the only one who needs someone!”

  “Seriously? I don’t need anyone, Glad. Can’t we just have fun hanging out while you’re here?” I saw her glance at Sharee who shrugged. “I mean it! If I’m supposed to be with someone, I’ll be with them. Leave it alone. Please!”

  Here’s the deal. The reason I was so irritated (other than the fact that they wouldn’t leave things alone) was they’d done this to me a couple times before, ganged up on me in a way. At the end of our sophomore year in high school, my first year there, they’d decided I needed to run for Miss Greenling. Since I was new, I had no idea what the pageant title meant but I’d done pageants in Texas when I was little so I was okay with the idea. Until I figured out what Greenling meant when I’d won and was made to pose for pictures holding a stinky, slimy greenling fish acting as if I was kissing it. It’d taken me a couple days to get over being mad at them, neither having understood my embarrassment since they’d known what the pageant was about and that was the normal thing the winner did not taking into account that I’d been clueless.

  Then there was the Chris Swartz incident our junior year when they’d made it very clear to him that I had a crush on him at which he’d just snorted and the very next day had very demonstratively come out of the closet by holding Tommy Kinzer’s hand in the hallway.

  “We’re just trying to help,” Sharee mumbled.

  “I know, but I don’t need your help,” I mumbled right back.

  We were quiet for a few minutes before pulling into Spinasse and Gladys broke the silence. “Okay. We’ll let it drop. But only if you promise to have a look around tomorrow night. Deal?” She and Sharee turned to look at me.

  Good lord. I needed to get new friends.

  “Whatever,” I answered and got out of the car.

  ~*~*~*~

  It was Saturday night and we were getting ready for the SAE party, which I couldn’t not go to since Gladys was here. I just hoped she and Sharee cooled it on the trying to hook me up with someone gig.

  “Here! Wear this!” Gladys said, coming into my bathroom holding up a gorgeous cream-colored, long-sleeved lacy blouse. “I made it last week. Isn’t it adorable?”

  “It’s beautiful. You sure?” I asked, pushing off the counter where I’d been leaning to put on my mascara in the mirror.

  “Yes! I made it with you in mind so it’s yours! That color will go perfectly with your olive skin!” She looked at me for a second then at the shirt for another, finger on her bottom lip before saying, “It needs something.” She hung the shirt on the shower curtain rod and stared at it for a moment more before the light bulb went on over her head and she scurried out of the bathroom. When she came back in she held a gorgeous black silk scarf with pink flowers on it. “This is what it needs,” she stated as she draped it around the neckline of the blouse. “Keep this too.”

  “Wow,” I remarked in awe as I looked at it. It was perfect. “How do you know this stuff?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. I think it’s kinda like a cook who knows which spice to put in.” She shrugged. “And let’s hope this Ryker guy’s there and sees you in this, so when you find a new boyfriend, he’ll be really jealous.”

  Here we went again.

  I took a deep breath, trying to control my temper, so tired of hearing that. “He won’t be there. He’s at a tournament out of town.” Gladys raised an eyebrow at me in the mirror while she smoothed on some lip gloss. “Coach G told me yesterday in PE why he was gone. That’s the only reason I know.” I shrugged nonchalantly letting her know I couldn’t have cared less but I’m sure I didn’t fool her.

  “Darn. I wanted him to be there so you could show him what he’s missing out on when we find you someone else.”

  Okay, I’d had it.

  “I’ve had it!” I shrieked. “Stop trying to set me up! Jesus!” Sharee walked into the bathroom just then and did a turnabout. “Oh no. You get your ass back in here!” I called. When she reluctantly came back, I continued. “Both of you stop it. I know you love me and that’s why you’re doing this ganging up thing again but stop.” Their looks of innocence first at me then at each other made me want to smack them. “Greenling? Chris Swartz? Remember?” At least they both nodded knowing what I was getting at which made me calm down. “Look. I’m fine. I don’t need anyone. If I find someone, well, whoopee for me. But if not, I’m good. So for the last time, get it through your thick skulls that I’m fine, okay?”

  They both nodded again.

  Gladys and I continued our makeup routine in silence until Sharee broke it. “How ‘bout those Mariners?”

  We all burst into laughter and the conversation was behind us. Thank God.

  And even though they dropped it, I still secretly hoped I’d find someone. I mean, not at this party just somewhere. Because although I tried acting like I didn’t care about Ryker I knew I still did, which sucked. But I also knew I needed to move on.

  And that’s what I planned on doing.

  8—Reversal

  I had to admit the party was kind of fun. It was nice to be out with my girls again. And right now I was talking to a really cute guy named Cole who was a wrestler. What was it with me and wrestlers? Yeesh. Anyway, he’d found us a cozy corner where we could talk, and let me say he was pretty easy on the eyes. He was h
andsome, tall and freaking built. His blond hair was longish, meeting his square jaw and his sky blue eyes were rimmed by dark lashes. What wasn’t to like? Sadly, though, I couldn’t help thinking that I preferred dark hair and golden eyes that glimmered with mischief. Damn it.

  “So, why aren’t you at the tournament?” I asked before taking a sip of my drink.

  “I had to redshirt this year because of a preseason shoulder injury. Coach has had me stay home when we travel because it wouldn’t do any good for me to go.” He shrugged.

  “You’d probably get bored, huh?”

  He gave me a million-dollar smile. “Bored as fuck. I’d probably end up just getting into trouble trying to talk to pretty girls like you.” He winked and I swear I swooned like an idiot. I couldn’t help it. He was hot.

  Just not as hot as someone else I knew but I reminded myself that I was moving on, so I put that thought out of my head.

  I learned that Cole was from Oregon and had been an All-American wrestler for Hallervan his last two years here. He liked that I’d played basketball and had been an All-American too, saying that our kids would be “hella athletes” which at any other time I’d have been thrilled to hear a guy saying that. Just not right now. When he told me he was a business major and wanted to own his own oil supply company someday, I knew Dad would love him.

  “Hey, I’ve gotta go see a man about a horse,” he said with another gorgeous smile. “I’ll be back with fresh drinks.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine surprising the hell out of me. “Beautiful,” he murmured before winking again and going to do his business.

  “Oh, wow! He’s ca-yute!” Gladys shrieked as she bounced up to me. She was already three sheets to the wind, having had at least two glasses of wine, the lightweight.

  “He is cute,” I agreed, sniffing first then sipping whatever concoction was in the red cup she’d handed me. It wasn’t bad, so I slipped that cup inside my empty one deciding to keep it.

  “Oh, but that guy? He’s really cute!” she said, pointing at a guy in jeans and a maroon Hallervan t-shirt who was standing in a group across the room to my right. “I’m gonna go find out what his name is! Then I’ll bring him back and introduce him to you!”

  “I’m doing just fine on my own,” I said but she was already gone. Good God. I shook my head as I watched her push her way through the crowd.

  While I focused on her talking to the guy she’d pointed out, I canted my head to the side thinking he looked familiar, I just didn’t know from where. And when she grabbed his upper arm and started dragging him toward me, I contemplated running. We’d taken a cab here so I figured it’d take me at least six seconds to make it to the front door—I had on five-inch heels and there was a crowd. If she gave chase, I knew I’d have to get at least fifty yards from the frat house before she’d give up since Gladys didn’t do running—another thirty seconds or so. Then I’d call for a cab—who knew how long it’d take to get here but if this kept me from being tracked down by her to face certain embarrassment, who cared. And then I’d be in the clear.

  So let’s see, face Gladys trying to force this poor guy on me, being humiliated to no end as she explained to him that my would-be soulmate had only wanted me for a couple booty calls, or undoubtedly spraining an ankle (or both) running away, possibly falling and scraping a knee (or both) in the process and maybe tearing my favorite pair of jeans.

  I saw her yanking on his arm harder and getting closer.

  Decision made.

  I set my cups down and just as I spun to go, she exclaimed, “Frankie! Look who it is!”

  Shit. So close.

  I turned back with a grimace to see her hanging all over a smaller, leaner version of Ryker.

  What the hell?

  “Uh…” I began not knowing what to say.

  “This is Loch! Isn’t he adorable?” she squealed, taking his chin in her fingers and squeezing while she shook his head.

  Why, lord? What had I ever done to deserve this?

  “Hey,” the guy said with a grin and holding out his hand. “I’m Loch Powers.”

  Oh fuck.

  Fuck!

  “H-Hey, Loch,” I returned, reaching out to shake his hand trying not to freak out. “Frankie Mangenelli.” I next looked at Gladys and instructed, “You can take your hand off his face now.”

  At hearing my name, he jerked his head back and narrowed his eyes at me as if in recognition. “Frankie?”

  “Oh! Sorry!” Gladys interrupted with a giggle letting his chin go then patting his sculpted chest and giving his pec a squeeze. Good grief. She giggled again but something caught her attention just then and she looked hard at who or whatever she’d seen. “Oh, my gosh! I think that’s Ashley Weathers over there! Be right back!” she said in her sing-songy Gladys way and took off, flitting through the crowd.

  I looked back at Loch. “Sorry about that. She’s a bit drunk, not that there’s any difference between when she’s sober. And, yes, Frankie.”

  The famous Powers smirk graced his beautiful face. “I know who you are.”

  I frowned. “You do?”

  “I do,” he said with a chuckle.

  We stood staring at each other for a moment before I finally prompted through my own narrowed eyes, “Care to fill me in?”

  “You’ve gone out with my older brother Ryker.”

  My eyes got huge then. Had Ryker talked about me? Surely not. No way Mr. Hookup would divulge his interest in one woman and damage his player reputation, even to his own brother. “Oh, um, yeah, I did.”

  “He must really like you…”

  This made me frown again. “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, Ryker’s, uh, kinda… popular… with, um, women.” Loch actually had the decency to look uncomfortable upon letting that clearly conspicuous cat out of the bag.

  His proclamation made me feel so much better about having stuck around. I nodded knowingly several times before announcing, “Well, it was nice meeting you, Loch.” I gave him a forced smile and turned to leave, putting Operation Blow This Joint into action when he grabbed my hand keeping me from leaving. I looked back at him, eyebrow raised.

  “That didn’t come out right, Frankie,” he explained. “What I’m trying to tell you is that Ryker isn’t a big sharer.”

  As I waited for him to explain his cryptic remark, Sharee came walking up. Oh yay.

  “Who’s this, Frankie?” she questioned with a grin, nodding at Loch.

  “This is—”

  “Loch Powers,” he interrupted, holding out his hand to her which she took while giving me a smirk.

  “Loch Powers. Any relation to Ryker?” she inquired.

  “He’s my older brother.”

  She now gave me a smart look and I shook my head. “Oh, cool! You know Frankie here has gone out with your brother?” she revealed.

  “I do.”

  He grinned at me and I was back to getting the hell out of there when Cole walked up, handing me a fresh drink. And this night just kept getting better. Loch was going to think I was the whore that I obviously was who now was hitting on yet another wrestler.

  “What’s up, Cole?” Loch asked.

  “Hey, Loch. Just living the dream,” Cole replied with a grin. “You hear how they did?”

  Loch started in on some wrestling speak that I didn’t understand and I gave Sharee a warning look which only made her chuckle. Oh, how I loved my friends. She sidled over next to me and bumped my shoulder with hers.

  “What?” I snapped under my breath.

  “Looks like you’re doing okay for yourself tonight. Cole’s cute.”

  I looked at him as I leaned over to whisper to her. “He is cute. Nice too. I’m ready to leave.”

  She laughed and threw an arm around my shoulders. “Nah. It’s just getting good.”

  I shook my head and tuned in to what the guys were saying to hear Loch say, “An hour ago,” whatever that meant.

  “Cool,” Cole commented then looke
d at me. “You wanna go somewhere quiet so we can talk?”

  Sharee nudged me with her elbow which annoyed the hell out of me. “Sure. We can go back to our little corner if you’d like,” I answered.

  Disappointment passed over Cole’s face but whatever. No way was I going to leave with him because first of all, although extremely cute, I knew I wasn’t into him, and secondly, I didn’t want Loch to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I was some kind of hooker. Nope. I was happy to let that little ditty of data remain a mystery. Ergh.

  “Nice meeting you, Loch,” I said over my shoulder as Cole took my hand so we could retreat to our earlier space.

  Once there, Cole still held my hand and announced, “I like you, Frankie,” as he gazed into my eyes.

  Well, wasn’t I just the likeable one lately?

  With a cringe I answered, “Thanks,” not knowing how else to respond.

  You’d think I’d have had everything in my head absolutely figured out by now, but as I bit my lip it came to me that I was still hooked on Ryker and it was going to take time to get over him. Ding ding ding! Revelation!

  Cole snorted at my response and I guess I must’ve been giving mixed signals because he leaned in to give me a kiss which I dodged by putting my hand to his chest. His very hard, muscular chest. Damn.

  “I’m sorry. I need to let you know that—” and that’s when I felt eyes on me. I shivered as my eyes drifted down from his face past his left shoulder to scan the room but I saw nothing. Weird.

  At my look of consternation, Cole asked, “You okay?” He glanced over his shoulder to see what I’d been looking at turning back to me in question.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Someone just walked across my grave, I guess.” I chuckled at his confused expression. “My upstairs neighbor says that. Guess she’s rubbing off on me.” I looked down at my drink and shook my head in embarrassment when I heard a deep voice from behind Cole which made my body go rigid.

  I looked up as Ryker asked, “Having a good time, Francesca?” His amber eyes shone in amusement as he lifted a brow.

  Oh hell.

  “Hey, Ryke. How’d you do?” Cole said.