Chapter Three
Ryder
I drive my truck down the street and park two blocks away from her house. I take the electronic signature pad off the dashboard and press the back button to view the woman’s name. Tyler had called her Mad, but I never asked her what her name was because I was too busy having a mental pep talk with my dick to remember his manners.
It’s hard to see a couple of the letters, but I’m able to figure out what the rest of ineligible ones are. Madison. What a beautiful name for an even more beautiful woman.
Her invitation hadn’t gone unnoticed either. She looked absolutely horrified after she blurted out in not so many words that she’d like me to stop over again. Well, I definitely won’t be stopping by her house unannounced or otherwise. That woman had enough of her own problems and doesn’t need me to add to her troubles. The only problem is, I really want to get to know her.
I could feel the chemistry bubbling between us when I looked into her pale blue eyes and I know without a doubt she felt it too. If there was ever such a thing as love at first sight, I’m sure that was it.
I shake that stupid notion out of my head. I’m not the fairy-tale type and find it completely ridiculous that the thought of true love would ever cross my mind. I’ve never been serious about a woman in my life. I’ve never even brought a girl home to meet my family before. No one has ever been important enough in my life. But, for some reason something clicked inside my heart when I took one glance at Madison. It was like she was the one I’d been waiting for.
I’ve been with lots of women before and none of them came close to causing an ache in my chest where I knew I had to have her at any cost the way Madison struck me. If it didn’t work out between me and a woman I’d move on to the next one, no big deal. Only it is a big deal with Madison. I can’t explain this feeling she’s left me with. Okay, maybe I can’t explain this feeling, but my aching balls sure can. No, get a grip Ryder, she’s just like every other woman you’ve met. Her sweet scent and beautiful blue eyes come a dime a dozen. There is nothing special about her at all. Then why do I feel the need to turn this damn truck around and go right back to her house and demand to know every detail of her chaotic life?
Should I take her up on her unintended offer or should I go on my merry way and leave her alone altogether? What I need is some advice on what to do. There’s only one person with enough wisdom who can help me. I reach in my pocket and pull out my cell phone, swiping my thumb over the screen and wait for my mother to pick up.
“Hello?”
“Hey Mom.”
“Hi sweetheart. I haven’t heard from you in a while, I was beginning to worry. Work okay?”
“Yeah, everything is good. I’m fine.”
“No you’re not, I can hear it in your voice.”
“Mom, how did you know Dad was the one?”
“I didn’t. I hated him.”
I chuckle. “Ma, I’m serious.”
“So am I. I hated your father at first. I thought he was obnoxious, arrogant, and overbearing. He constantly hounded me to go out with him.”
“Then why did you date him in the first place?”
“What can I say, he wore me down.”
“Ma, I’m trying to have a serious discussion with you.”
She laughs. “I’m sorry baby. What’s on your mind? Why all the questions about your father? Have you finally found a girl to bring home to me?”
“I don’t know. I mean no… of course not.”
“Then what it is?”
“I don’t know. I was just curious.”
“Hmm. That doesn’t sound like a curious question. It sounds like you want a definite answer to whether the woman you’re seeing is the one. All I can tell you is that if you have to ask, she probably isn’t the one for you. When you find that special someone you’ll know in your heart you’re meant to be together forever.”
Deep down I know she’s right. “Thanks.”
“I don’t know what you’re thanking me for, but you’re welcome. Now I’d like to know more about this woman who has you asking all these curious questions.”
“I’ll get back to you on that.”
“I’m looking forward to it, oh and Ryder...?
“Yeah?”
“Any woman would be lucky to have you their life.”
“Thanks ma.”
“I know I used to give your father a hard time and joked around often, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew without a doubt he was the one for me.”
I smile because she always knows the right thing to say to make me feel better, even if I don’t always express what I’m really feeling. “I’ll call you in a few days.”
“Bye baby.”
For the next ten hours I try desperately not to think about Madison, but I cannot get her out of my mind. I could always try and drown her out. Yeah, that’s exactly what I need, a really strong drink, maybe two or three. Luckily it’s Friday night and I don’t have to go to work tomorrow. I can drink myself into a stupor and take a cab home, then sleep in the whole day tomorrow. I’ve been doing a shit load of overtime lately and can use a damn break anyway.
The only reason I’ve been working later hours is because I’m saving to put a down payment on a house. Since I’m not an attorney like my brother Wyatt, or an accountant for a multimillion dollar company like Trenton I have to save every penny I can get my hands on. Of course my brothers would loan me the money for the house, but my dream is to buy my own house without anyone else’s help. I wouldn’t take money from them anyway because they have families of their own. I’m single with no children and have no responsibilities other than my job and sending money to my mother whenever she needs the extra help.
My brothers and I take turns every month paying her bills so she is able keep our family home. Our father worked hard to save money for their retirement, but after he got sick, most of their savings went straight to his medical bills. We weren’t expecting him to pass when he did, but life sucks like that sometimes. So, the burden fell to my brothers and I to help her live comfortably without worry. Well, I couldn’t call my mother a burden really. She means the world to me and has dedicated every second of her time to taking care of her family for the last forty years; giving back to her is the least I can do.
I pull into the parking lot of The Slaughtered Sandbox, the seediest bar in town. I think the owner must have been drunk out of his damn mind when he named the place, but I refuse to go to anywhere else. This is the place where the big boys come to play. This isn’t your normal local dive bar. No. It’s much worse than your ordinary, run of the mill neighborhood hangout spot. Getting in trouble is easy enough and the women are even easier, especially the waitresses, who are more than willing to serve you more than drinks.
I make my way to the pool table, not acknowledging anyone else on the way. I pull a cue off the rack on the wall and rub a piece of chalk on the tip. There’s no one else back here and that’s exactly the way I want it. I want to be left alone to clear my thoughts. They only thing I’ve been thinking about all day is Madison. I’d been so distracted by her I had to double back to three houses this afternoon.
I bend over the table, taking my first shot. The balls click against each other and bounce off the sides of the table. Not one ball falls into a pocket, but that would just be my luck wouldn’t it? I lift my head from the table and glance across the room at the woman making her way over to me. I roll my eyes and blow out an aggravated breath. Nora. Just the woman who I did not want to see tonight.
We’ve gone out a few times, but I lost interest fast when I really got to know her. She’s a narcissistic, pain in the ass and hasn’t left me alone ever since I told her I didn’t want to see her anymore. She hounds me every time I come in here and was constantly calling me. I finally had to change my cell number to get some peace and quiet.
Now, here she is walking toward me. Her low-cut Slaughtered Sandbox t-shirt is two sizes too small and her short tight black skirt is on the verge of being considered underwear. She sits on the edge of the pool table and hovers over me, putting her over-sized breasts in my line of vision. “Hi Ryder.”
I ignore her flirty behavior and don’t bother to glance in her direction. “Nora.” I pull the stick back and take another shot. I straighten and walk over to the corner of the table. “What do you want?”
She strolls over to me. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Where’ve you been?” She asks as she runs a long red fingernail over the front of her shirt and leans into me. She plays with the collar of my shirt and pouts her lips. “How come you haven’t returned my phone calls?”
I shrug her off. I do not want this woman’s hands on me anymore, especially since I found out that her hands have been on practically every guy that comes in here. “I’ve been busy.”
“Well, I get off in a few hours.” She flips shoulder-length brown hair. “Wanna take me home and have a little fun?”
“No, I don’t. Now, if you don’t mind I’d like to get back to my game.”
The expression of disappointment on her face is depressing and I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. I couldn’t care less how she feels because I know it’s all a game to her. She’ll just go find someone else in the bar to fawn over. Girls like her always do.
I shake my head and watch her make her way over to the men entering the bar. She flashes them a smile and I have to laugh at how desperate she really is. She’s a real piece of work and I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with her anymore.
“Since when do you turn down Nora?”
I peer over my shoulder to see my best friend Quito standing behind me. “Since I decided I didn’t want herpes blisters on my dick.”
He takes a sip of beer from the bottle in his hand, giving me a disgusted look. “Dude. That’s gross. I hope you’re joking and you used a rubber.”
“I am and I did.”
“Good, ‘cause sex is always cleaner with a packaged wiener.” He winks.
I laugh, taking the unopened bottle of beer and shot glass from him. I throw back the amber liquid and pop the bottle open on the side of the pool table before swallowing a long swig.
“Hard day?”
“You can say that.”
“Bro, how hard could you possibly have it? You’re the one with the best route; nice houses, fairly quiet people. I’m the one with the route from Hell; trashed neighborhoods, customers constantly screaming at me that their packages are late, dogs chasing me man. You have it easy.”
“Have you forgotten I’ve done that route? I’ve put in my dues, so stop bitching already. You only have a few more months until you get switched to a better location.”
“True. So, what happened on the job today because you’re usually in a better mood than this.”
“If it’s all the same to you, I rather not talk about it.”
“Hey, no skin off my back. When you’re ready to talk about this woman who has you all twisted up, I’ll be here.”
“Who said it’s a woman?”
He arches a brow at me. “I think you’re forgetting who you’re talking to. It’s always about a woman.”
“Well, it isn’t this time okay.” I throw him a cue. “Can we just play and not talk about women for once?”
He places his half empty bottle on the edge of the table. “Fine by me.”