Gray
My heart threatened to pound its way out of my chest. I couldn’t believe I was this close to talking with Ryker. To hearing his voice again. At the very least, I’d hear his voice tell me to leave a message.
But it wasn’t personalized. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear his voice until the disappointment hit. And then the beep came to leave a message.
“Ry, it’s me. Hope gave me your number. I need you to come home, Ry. Need to know you’re okay. Miss the shit out of you. Our whole life it was always you and me together. Feels like part of me has been missing for ten years. If you can’t come home—could you at least pick up the damn phone? We all miss you.”
I disconnected the call and let out a shaky breath.
Fuck. Why didn’t I apologize? I had so much more I needed to say.
I called him back. Of course it was the computer voice telling me to leave a message.
“It’s me again. I just wanted to say… I should’ve run with you. You never asked me for anything. I shouldn’t have hesitated. Not one second. You can’t count how many times I’ve imagined having that chance over again. I swear, Ry, if I only had one do-over in my whole life—I’d use it for that moment. It kills me knowing I let you down. Please, Ry. Come home. I’m not even asking you to forgive me. But everyone needs you back.
“We’re doing okay. Started a construction business together. All of us. Six Brothers Construction. You got that, Ry? Six Brothers. You’ve been on the payroll since day one. You’re the fucking head of morale and performance. So come home and earn your salary, you freeloader. Fuck, I don’t know what I’m saying. Just… Just come home, Ryker. I need you back.”
I hung up, knowing that hadn’t been any more coherent than the first call. Fuck me, I’d been closed off so long, I pretty much sucked at this emotional crap.
Which didn’t bode well for my next challenge: Tessa.
* * * *
I sat at the long oak bar at Big Eddie’s waiting for Tessa to show up. It was a few minutes after one, and I was already coming up with a plan if she stood me up. I realized she asked for this meeting, but I had a few things to get off my chest too.
“Hey, Gray. Got something for you. Hang on.” Eddie notched his chin up at me in greeting. When he finished pulling two beers for a couple down at the far end, he fished a small paper from his pocket and passed it to me. “Here you go. I was instructed to give this to you.”
I opened the paper. Typed, in all caps, it read, THE RUSSIAN FOX IS ON THE HUNT. What the fuck? “Who gave it to you?”
“The person was unfamiliar to me,” he said.
“And you’re sure they said give it to me? They specified Gray Thorne?” I checked the date on my phone wondering if it was April Fool’s and I’d lost track of the day. Nope.
“Actually, no. They said, and I quote, ‘Give this to the best-looking to-die-for mother-effing gorgeous male regular customer in your bar.’”
“Why thank you, Eddie, I’m flattered. I had no idea you thought of me that way.” I winked at him.
“Eh. I’d only rate you a seven. I figured the note should go to Bruno, the guy who always sits in booth seven. The waitresses overruled and said that could only be you.”
Eddie moved down the bar and I was left to puzzle it out. Until I felt someone staring at me. At close range. As in right next to me. I turned to see an older woman had taken the stool to my right. She had greying blond hair and a petite figure, and wore a pair of those disposable sunglasses like people wear after cataract surgery.
“Gray Thorne?” she asked, actually giving me a very obvious once-over. The woman looked to be in her seventies, but that was a wild guess. Age hadn’t taken any beauty from the rose, as they say. “I’d like a word with you.”
“Yes, ma’am. Except I’m expecting someone any minute, so…”
“You’re expecting Tessa.” She removed the sunglasses, and Tessa’s eyes stared back at me. “She’s going to be a little late. I wanted to speak with you first, so I told her you pushed the meeting back fifteen minutes.”
“That was a bit rude of me, don’t you think?” I raised one brow.
“I’m Tessa’s grandma. Call me Gigi.”
I nodded. “Gigi, how can I help you?” Although my guess would be by staying away from Tessa.
“By not standing in the way of my granddaughter’s happiness. I know Paul is back and wants a second chance.”
Yep, called it. Didn’t make me happy. “So you’re asking me to step out of the way so she and Paul can make a go of it again?”
“Good God, no.” Her eyes flashed my way, both disgusted and disappointed. “Do you know that man walked out on her? Barely out of a coma. Didn’t know if she’d ever walk again. Still grieving over just hearing that her mother didn’t make it. And he—”
“Excuse me, what? What do you mean her mother didn’t make it? Tessa’s mother died in the crash?” My body tensed, waiting for the response. I hoped like hell I’d misheard her.
“She did. Tessa didn’t tell you? She’s still reeling from it. Carries around guilt over it, poor thing.”
“Fuck. Pardon me.” Tessa was even stronger than I’d thought.
“Go right ahead. I’ve said it myself plenty the last three years. Before that too, but I was a cop, so…”
“Fuck. Goddamn fuck. The fucker walked out on her.”
“Maybe you can understand why I want Tessa to have whatever she wants to make her happy.”
“She deserves to be happy,” I said. After all she’d been through, all she’d lost, and all she fought back from—Tessa should live every day for the rest of her life happy. Even the rainy days.
“Don’t we all, Gray?” Gigi shrugged and looked at me carefully. “Suppose she needs you to be happy?”
And by cheating myself of happiness, I’m also cheating Tessa.
“I see what you did there, Gigi.”
“Oops! Here she comes. Hot damn, that’s my girl. Pretend you never saw me.” She patted my cheek and scooted around to the far side of the bar.
In the mirror above the bar I watched a woman approach. Dark auburn hair. Trench coat covering her from neck to calves. Pretty sure I just found the Russian fox.