Chapter 1
I’m tapping my foot against the blue and white tile floor, my black strappy heel clicking as I do it. Shifting from side to side, I rap my fingers along the black fabric of my pencil skirt and mindlessly wipe my sweaty palms every so often. I feel hot, every fiber of my being buzzing with excitement and eagerness. I’ve waited for this day for so long, I’m delirious with happiness.
I want to pace. I need to pace. I should pace.
Glancing around, I notice several well-dressed men in their black suits with white dress shirts holding signs with names.
I should’ve made a sign and decorated it with silly flair just for shits and giggles.
Beside the chauffeurs are other people I’m assuming are family members. One older gray-haired lady with large-rimmed glasses is visibly restless while she waits.
I check my watch—two thirty-four. Any minute now!
Finally, a push of people start funneling up the escalators exiting the baggage claim area. My pulse drills into my temples as my excitement springs through the roof. I gasp when I see her once auburn hair now dirty blonde and in tight kinky curls bounce as she hops off the top step.
She scans the group of people.
“Candice,” I call out, jumping slightly on the balls of my feet.
Her round eyes land on me and her grin takes over her face. She left with only two bags, and now five suitcases—two on wheels with one sitting atop each and a duffle bag over her shoulder—are rushing toward me. We slam against each other, squealing and not being discreet about it. Regardless of how professional, how grown we are, we’re still the little ten-year-old girls in fifth grade who have never spent this much time apart since meeting.
“It’s about time,” I say in an exhale, leaning back.
She laughs, wiping a tear from under her eye. “You’re telling me. I feel like I’ve been gone for years.”
“Feels like it.” I grab one of her suitcases. “How was the flight?”
“Not fast enough. I had a snorer in the seat behind me,” she groans. “I swear the moment we took off he was snoring to the roar of the engines.”
We make our way out of the airport and to my car, tossing her luggage into the trunk before finally hitting the interstate home.
“Do you feel like going to the gym and meeting Ryker or would you rather just go home?” I ask, gauging her expression.
Her head snaps in my direction. “Are you kidding me? Of course I want to go meet the man who has managed to sweep your petite toes off the ground.”
“Are you sure? I know you just got back in. It’s just a suggestion. We don’t have to,” I say.
“Whitney…shut up.” She laughs. “I’m tired and ready to go home but only because I have a hot date with my bed. It’ll be waiting on me when I get there.”
I nod. “When are your parents coming back?”
She rests her head back. “Hell if I know. I overheard them talking about the possibility of moving there. Noooo, thank you. The weather is wish-washy as hell. You could be standing in a foot of snow and then ten feet the other direction be laying out in the sun.”
“At least you get a choice in the matter,” I snicker.
“I prefer a seasonal choice. Not an hourly one.”
“Sooo, no moving with them if they do?” I tease.
She doesn’t lift her head as she turns it to me. “Not a chance. I have a business and a life here. Plus, there are good-looking men here. If I moved there my va-jay-jay would dry up, lock up, and shrivel from neglect.”
I burst into a giggle.
“I’m serious. There wasn’t anything to look at in that town. I’d have to travel for a good lay.”
I park my car in the back of the gym beside Ryker’s Tundra and we hop out. Immediately upon walking through the door, I’m greeted by Ryker’s gorgeous, half-naked body glistening from sweat as he grapples on the mat with Austin, his new favorite sparring partner.
No matter how many times I see this, it’s a damn aphrodisiac. His arms flex causing his large muscles to protrude as he grips and maneuvers. His tattooed chest tightens and juts as he uses its strength. His legs tense and contract while he quickly moves and pushes with his feet.
He’s devastatingly attractive.
He springs to his feet, up and away from Austin, when his brilliant blue eyes shift to me. A smile erupts across his lips. Flutters—proud and happy—explode inside of me as he stops his training.
Candice keeps her eyes on him. “Holy hell, Whitney. Pictures don’t give him the proper justice he deserves. Good-looking is an understatement. I want to hand him my panties.”
I choke a laugh, ripping my gaze from the sexy man walking my way to my drooling best friend. “Keep your clothes on. That is all mine.”
“Lucky bitch,” she mutters just as he approaches.
He hooks my waist and tugs me against his sweaty, sticky chest, placing a quick kiss to my lips before settling his view on Candice.
“Did you have a good flight?” He keeps me tucked into his side.
“I did.” She shifts on her feet. “So, you’re the infamous Ryker I’ve heard so much about?” She smiles teasingly.
He looks above our heads, scanning the gym, and then bends slightly to whisper. “No. He’s up front. If he catches me wi—umph.”
I slap his chest.
He chuckles, his eyes twinkling at me, and then shifts his view back to Candice. “It’s good to finally meet you. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the airport.”
She wobbles her head dismissively. “I understand.”
Her gaze travels the length of his body, unashamed. I knew she couldn’t refrain too much longer and honestly, I’m surprised she lasted this long. If this look came from a different woman, I’d feel threatened. But not from Candice. It’s harmless, appreciative, and pleased. It makes my chest fill with pride.
“Does your brother look as good as you?” she asks, settling her sights back to his eyes.
I stifle a giggle. “Oh my god. You make me want to hide under a rock. Way to be inconspicuous there.”
She laughs. “What?”
Ryker puffs a chuckle through his nose. “No one looks as good as me.” He winks and then kisses my forehead. “I need to get back. Flynn can’t hold his patience for too long. I’ll be home soon.” He kisses me before shifting his attention away. “Welcome back,” he tells Candice.
As we watch him stride back to the ring, I shove my arm in the crook of hers and turn my stupefied friend the opposite direction, back out the door. “Quit ogling my boyfriend.”
“He looks at you like you’re the North Star guiding him to safety.” She sighs. “You’ve struck gold, Whitney,” she says over the roof of my car.
We slide in and I back out of the spot, taking her home. About two minutes in, her silence breaks.
“How is he in bed?” she asks dead serious.
I suck in a breath. “Do what?”
“I know you’re not the kiss and tell type, but give me something here,” she laughs.
“And give you ammo to daydream about him while you do god knows what? Not a chance,” I say giggling.
She grins widely. “I love how in love you are with him.” She twists in her seat and rests the side of her head on the headrest. “Seriously, I’m happy as hell to see you smiling this way.”
“It’s because you’re finally home,” I jest.
“Because I’m way more important than the man of your dreams,” she deadpans.
We haul her luggage up the dreaded three flights of stairs and enter into a stale smelling, unlived apartment. She groans, abandoning her set of suitcases and opens the front windows before moving to the sliding glass door in the kitchen. I take her bags to her bedroom.
As I pad back down the hall, I witness her belly flop onto the couch, face first and moan overdramatically with pleasure.
“Home, sweet home.” Her voice is muffled by the cushions.
“Have you thought any more about my proposition?” I ask, taking a seat in her recliner.
Over a week ago, I offered for her to move into my house but she quickly dismissed it and changed the subject.
She rolls her head to look at me.
“I’ve talked to Ryker plenty about it. I don’t want to sell my house to just anyone. But it’s just sitting there, offering a pretty view without an owner. Please put some serious thought into it.”
She pushes up, her expression a bit peeved. Before she can protest I hold my hand up interrupting her. “I know you hate handouts, but this isn’t one. I discussed everything. You’ll do us both a favor—you out of this apartment and into a house. And I’ll have peace of mind knowing my house, my first home, is well taken care of.”
“Are you done tossing a pitch at me?” She sounds irked.
I nod.
“I have thought about it and I have a few things that need to be reconsidered if you want me to do it. I won’t accept you just giving me your house. Not for one second. We decide on a final offer and I make monthly payments until I reach our agreement. I will not accept a freebee. It’s absolutely nonnegotiable.”
I’m chewing my lip. “Are you going to be mad if it’s a super low price?”
“Don’t be mad if I feel it’s unfair and decline.” Her full lips set into a straight line for a moment. “We’ll sit down with Mr. Rickter and draw up a contract.”
I tilt my head. “You know we don’t need lawyers. We can write something up ourselves. I trust you.”
“This isn’t about trust. This is business. Separate it.”
I smile. “I missed you.”
When she stands, so do I. “My date is calling me. I bet it’s ready to feel my naked body on it.”
I give a small laugh. “Are you not hungry? I can order a pizza if you’d like.”
She waves her hand dismissively. “All I want to do is take a hot shower and then climb under my sheets. I filled up on those fancy little bags of nuts on the plane. They’ll hold me over until tomorrow.” She hugs me. “Thank you for handling all my events and clients while I was gone. I hope it wasn’t too much on you.”
“Everything went well. I was happy to help.”
“I think I’m going to take the rest of the week off and come back strong on Monday,” she informs me.
“Nothing big is happening. Lily is handling a corporate luncheon on Saturday, but that’s all.”
She smiles warmly and pulls me into another hug. “I’ve missed you.”