Chapter Nine
Ryker
Ryker was mesmerized by Wes’s TV
interview.
Much as he loathed this type of thing, he
had to admit that Wes was very good at the public relations stuff.
He had charisma to spare.
When the topic of the book collaboration
came up, he could see the momentary flicker of unease on Wes’s
face. How the hell did she get that information? Wes’s jaw
clenched before he resumed that practiced smile and turned the
tables on the interviewer. And then there was that comment about
Mac.
If that had been me, I would’ve told her to
fuck off and walked right off the set.
Was it possible there was something between
Wes and Mac? Wes hadn’t fully acknowledged the rumor, but he hadn’t
squelched it either. That was probably how you had to play the
media game to keep them guessing and hold their attention. But just
the thought of Wes and Mac being intimate together made Ryker’s
stomach revolt.
Pushing that thought, and the interview,
aside, Ryker went back to work. Several hours later, and after all
his revisions were complete, Ryker was standing in the kitchen,
prepping a chicken and veggie stir fry, when his phone beeped.
Mac: You got a few minutes to
chat?
Ryker: Yup.
His phone rang almost immediately.
“Hey, what’s up?” Ryker answered on
speakerphone while chopping zucchini and carrots, occasionally
throwing Spock a piece of food to avoid his sad but persistent
stare-down.
“I’ve reached out to Wes’s assistant to set
up a conference call for tomorrow at seven PM. I thought we’d
formalize a few things.”
“Aren’t you jumping the gun, Mac? Or maybe
you just want to talk to Wes again, since apparently you two are an
item now?” Ryker commented, only half joking.
Mac snorted. “Yeah, no. Wait, you watched
the interview today? Taking a new interest in daytime TV, Ry?”
“Research. I need to learn all I can about
Wes so I can make an informed decision. You know me. Logical and
practical. And Mac, Wes and I need to get to know each other and do
some work together before we can say yes. This is a big deal for
me. For both of us.”
“Well, that’s good. I’m so glad your
previous ‘no way’ is now ‘an informed decision.’ I’m going to chill
the champagne just in case. I’ll text you the details for tomorrow.
Call your agent! Ciao.”
Mac’s call reminded him of something else he
had to do. Ryker picked up his phone again.
“Hey, how are you? Good. Listen, I have a
favor to ask. Can you be here tomorrow morning at nine thirty? I’d
like to introduce you to someone.” He paused. “No, not in that way.
Have you ever known me to do that? This is business. I’ll call you
later with more details. Okay, thanks.”
Ryker’s gut tightened at the thought of
seeing Wes again. Was it apprehension or pleasure? Admittedly, a
little bit of both.
****
Wes
Rush hour on a Monday morning in New York
City was frenetic and entertaining. Wall-to-wall traffic and masses
of people pushing to get ahead—and that was just the line at the
bagel shop.
This was Wes’s first time at Sadie’s in
SoHo, and what a revelation. The sweet aroma of freshly baked
bread, toasted sesame seeds, and other spices wafted through the
vintage bakery. Wes waited twenty minutes for his
delicious-smelling order: six sesame seed and six poppy seed
bagels, along with a container of cream cheese and homemade
lox.
What should have been a five-minute ride
from the bagel shop to Ryker’s took almost half an hour due to
gridlock. Next time I’ll walk. If there is a next time.
Luckily, he still arrived ten minutes early. Being late was one of
Wes’s few pet peeves.
Stepping out of the car, Wes glanced up at
his destination, a stylish old building on Park Avenue with ornate
stonework and large windows that looked out over one of the world’s
most iconic places: Central Park. Wes had pictured Ryker in some
industrial loft in Brooklyn, but he couldn’t deny the appeal of
this location.
Wes gave his name to the concierge, added
his details to the security system, and was then escorted to the
elevator. Exiting on the twenty-eighth floor, he walked down a
narrow hallway lit with bronze wall sconces until he reached
Ryker’s door.
Wes knocked twice, and a barrage of barking
and footsteps could be heard behind the door. A flutter in his
stomach took flight. A combination of nerves, hunger, and some
other form of anticipation filled him, and he took a deep breath.
He smoothed down his olive-green Henley. He’d opted for a casual
look today with black jeans and boots.
When the door opened, Wes was greeted by a
smiling woman in her fifties. She was petite and very beautiful.
With long, dark hair, wide brown eyes, and a smile that was now
familiar to him, he eagerly put out his hand.
“Hola, Mr. Stewart, come in. I’m Tina
Desoumas, Ryker’s mother. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m a big
fan of your books.” She gripped Wes’s hand firmly, her hand lightly
calloused, warm, and very strong. She couldn’t have been more than
five-foot-five and was curvaceous in stylish black yoga pants and a
long, white button-down shirt. Her feet were bare, displaying dark
blue nail polish. Beside her stood a small dog with big pointy
ears, his sleek black-and-brown pelt shimmying as he wagged his
tiny tail.
“This is Spock, and he’s also very excited
to meet you, as you can tell.” She laughed as the miniature
pinscher stood on his back legs to reach up and lick Wes’s
hand.
“Chances are he’s more excited about the
food smells than seeing me,” Wes replied as he held up the large
brown bag. “And thank you, Tina, the pleasure is all mine. I hope
I’m not too early. I’ve brought breakfast,” he said as he followed
her down the hallway into Ryker’s modern apartment, reaching the
kitchen.
Tina’s eyes widened. “Ryker made you bring
food?” She turned toward the kitchen and yelled, “Ryker! Qué
hiciste? Es un invitado en tu casa!”
Wes wasn’t fluent in Spanish, but he knew a
pissed-off mother when he heard one. Ryker appeared at the end of
the kitchen counter, arranging cups and other items for coffee. A
lovely flush of color bloomed over his cheekbones, his dark hair
sliding over his shoulders in silky waves that Wes was suddenly
very eager to bury his hands in. Wes’s gaze slid down Ryker’s form,
taking in the square, black-rimmed glasses that perfectly framed
his indigo eyes, his lean body in a black t-shirt and tight faded
jeans, and all the way down to his bare feet.
When Wes’s eyes roamed up again to meet
Ryker’s, the impact was undeniable. Wes acknowledged that he’d
never been so physically aroused by anyone in his life. He had an
overwhelming urge to grab Ryker’s stunning face in both hands and
kiss him, right the fuck now, not caring that his mother was two
feet away. Wes didn’t believe in love at first sight—but lust was
pretty close.
“Mama, it was a joke. I didn’t think he
would take it seriously,” Ryker countered, looking bashful. “But
thank you, Wes.”
“No problem. You did text me their address,
so I assumed you were serious,” Wes replied with a grin. “And I
didn’t mind at all. I love discovering new shops and restaurants in
New York City, and this place will earn a repeat visit,” he said,
taking a seat on one of the black leather bar stools at the far end
of the counter.
“My son, I will admit, he is smart. So
clever. But sometimes smart ass is more like it.” Tina grabbed a
navy-blue dish towel hanging from the oven door and swatted Ryker
on said ass. Lucky towel, Wes thought.
Tina smiled and turned back to him. “Wes,
we’re having café con leche, a sweet latte, but Ryker has
one of those machines that can make fifty types of coffee and tea,
so you can have whatever pleases you.” She waved at the gleaming
coffee machine.
“I’ll have café con leche as well,
please and thanks,” Wes answered.
He watched Ryker as he bit his full lower
lip in concentration, adjusting the machine with strong, practiced
hands. Ryker’s long, fluid body moved quietly in the kitchen space.
Wes would be happy to stare at this sexy man all day, but Tina
interrupted his lustful daydream.
“So well mannered. It is very rare these
days. You were brought up right,” she said to Wes as she placed the
bagels and cream cheese on a platter. “Please help yourself,
Wes.”
“Thank you. My grandmother did her best,”
Wes said as he took a sesame bagel and spread it generously with
cream cheese. Ryker finished making the coffees and placed them on
the counter, then took a seat on the stool beside Wes, his now
familiar spicy scent wafting over. Wes sipped on his drink and
murmured his appreciation. “Mmm, creamy and sweet. Best coffee I’ve
ever had.”
He looked at Ryker as the words left his
mouth, and all he could think of was how Ryker would taste. Wes was
glad he was sitting behind the counter so no one could see the
prominent bulge in his jeans. He shifted in his seat to ease his
discomfort and caught Ryker’s smirk. So, the hot word nerd thought
his predicament was funny, eh?
Wes raised his left eyebrow, then slowly
licked cream cheese off his fingers one at a time, watching as
Ryker’s eyes locked on his mouth, his face flushing, his body
slowly shifting on his seat, mirroring Wes. Payback’s a
bitch, Wes thought as he smirked back at him and winked.
Tina’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Ryker,
then Wes. She took a seat opposite them, and then a long sip of her
café. “So, Wes, I understand that, just like my Ryker, you
date men. Is your interest in him sexual, or is this purely
business?”
Wes choked on his bagel, and Ryker spit out
a mouthful of coffee, spewing droplets all over the glossy
countertop. Tina laughed and shook her head at both of them.