Chapter 6
Jordan
“Ijust don’t know what the right move is.” Gwen dropped her head into her hands. “I thought the kids would be thrilled when their dad finally started coming around again.”
“They’re not?” I asked. My eyes strayed out the window and I had to fight back a sigh of appreciation for the show of muscles happening outside.
Gwen was sitting at my table with a cup of coffee while I watched her brother work on her car through my kitchen window.
He had his shirt off, showing off tattoos across his chest, down his side, and all down his arms. It was almost impossible not to drool.
Looking wasn’t breaking my promise to myself to keep my distance.
“Grace seems okay, but Sean shuts down and is completely sullen whenever he’s around. I’ve tried to talk to him about it, but he just says everything’s fine.” She let out a sad sigh. “That’s all boys ever say, ‘I’m fine.’”
Focusing on her, I turned my back to the window and went to sit with her.
I picked up her hand and waited until she met my eyes.
“He’s at that age,” I told her. “He’s kind of been the man of the house for a few years now and their father hasn’t bothered to see them. I can understand his standoffishness.”
“Should I tell Trent that this is all too much? That the timing isn’t right?” she asked, worry there in her pretty blue eyes. They were a tad darker than her brother’s.
“That’s up to you, Honey. It’s not an easy decision either way.
Do you think Trent is doing anything wrong?
” I was worried for the kids, too. We’d known each other long enough now that I was completely head over heels for Sean and Grace.
At eight years old, Sean took far too much on his shoulders.
Something told me he was a lot like the man out in the driveway.
We’d only known each other for a few days, but there were mannerisms I’d seen in Ricochet that I’d observed in Sean as well.
“That’s why I wanted him to come to dinner tonight. Now I’m kind of regretting it. Gage has never gotten along with Trent. Years of him ignoring us and all the crap he pulled during the divorce hasn’t endeared him to my brother.” A slow smile spread over Gwen’s face. “Will you do me a favor?”
She looked so excited it made me suspicious. “Maybe…”
“Come to dinner tonight.”
“What?” I gave a sharp laugh. “If you’re not expecting it to go well, why would you want more people there?”
“You can help keep my brother distracted,” she told me with a sly smile. “And maybe with a stranger there, Trent will behave, too.”
“I-”
“Please, Jordan?” She gave me puppy dog eyes. She knew I couldn’t resist when she made that face.
“I’ve already decided to stay away from your brother, though,” I told her.
“Really?” She wasn’t offended in the least. In fact, she wore a wide grin.
“Why’s that?” It was all for show. She and I had talked in length about my decision to quit men, at least for the time being.
She was in the same boat. Or had been before Trent had started coming around. Now I wasn’t sure what her plan was.
My lips thinned out into a grim line. “He walked me to my door the other day.”
Her grin only got bigger as her eyebrows went up.
Giving her a look that told her to behave, I continued, “He got into my face and told me to keep my door locked.”
The smile disappeared. “He what?”
“No.” I shook my head and took a deep breath.
“It wasn’t intimidating… It was so hot,” I squeaked and dropped my head down into one hand.
My elbow rested on the table and I stared down at the wood pattern.
I couldn’t face her when I admitted this.
“I know he’s your brother, but I nearly jumped him right there.
Wanted to pull him into the house and just…
” I swallowed the rest. His sister didn’t need to know the depravity that had crossed my mind.
Not when it concerned her brother. “Maybe this has all been a mistake and I just need to sleep with someone. Someone other than your brother. Scratch the itch.”
That last sentence should have brought a laugh, since jumping into bed with strange men was the furthest thing from something I’d do.
Instead, the silence went on for long enough that I peeked up.
My heart sank. Gwen wasn’t laughing, or smiling.
She wasn’t saying anything. In fact, she looked a little sad.
“See?” I told her. “That’s why I’m going to stay away from him.” I lifted my head and motioned at her. “I would never do anything to ruin our friendship.”
“I would.”
“What?” I asked her, shock making me still.
“Gage has had…some hard times.” She seemed to be picking her words carefully.
It made me curious to ask more, but I knew better.
It wasn’t her story to tell. “The other morning when you two met was the first time I’d seen him look so…
light. Almost like the ghosts of his past weren’t riding him for the few moments he was touching you.
Now you’re telling me he walked you to your door?
” Her blue eyes met mine and there was a sheen of tears there.
“Please don’t shut him out just because of me.
If you’re both interested, I think you should go for it. ”
I shook my head. “It’s not only because of you, Gwen. I’m…terrified.”
Her brows drew low over her eyes in confusion. “He’s in a motorcycle club, but they’re good men. They-”
“It’s not that,” I interrupted. “I actually don’t even know what that means.”
“There are some people who don’t get that lifestyle,” she admitted.
“I’d have to have you tell me what it included. I’ve never met a real biker before. All I know is rumors and gossip.” I shook my head again. “No, I mean, I’m scared that he’ll break my heart. I don’t know if I can take it again.”
Her face relaxed and there was sympathy on her features. She reached out and rubbed my upper arm. “Isn’t love worth the risk?”
I swallowed hard and looked away from her. “I don’t know.”
“Gage isn’t Dan.” She waited for that to sink in before continuing, “How about this? Spend the evening with us. If you decide at the end of dinner that you really do want to keep your distance, I’ll help make that happen.”
I gave her a warm smile. “Something tells me your brother doesn’t exactly do what he’s told.”
She laughed. “You’re right about that. Especially now that he’s out of the military. But as his twin, I have the ability to persuade him. Sometimes.”
“One dinner?”
“Only the one. Then I can get your thoughts on Trent, too. An unbiased opinion.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll come to dinner. What can I bring?”
* * *
My heart jumped into my throat as Ricochet opened the door.
I’d barely finished knocking before he yanked it open.
He stood there in a t-shirt, cut—that’s what Gwen had called his leather vest—jeans, and work boots.
His dark blond hair was slightly longer on top and looked like he’d been running his fingers through it so it stuck up in spikes, and his pale blue eyes were fixed on me.
“Hi.” Why did I always lose my ability to speak around him? It was like my mind went into hiding. I was an intelligent woman, but you wouldn’t know it around him. “Gwen invited me over for dinner.”
“Come on in.” He stepped aside, only enough that I had to squeeze past him. His grin said, ‘Yes, it's on purpose, and I will enjoy it.’
The scent of leather and spice hit me and my lower belly tightened.
This had never happened to me before, this absolute raw, primal attraction to a man.
Usually, I needed to get to know them and understand them before I started desiring them.
Not that I had a ton of real experience with guys.
But that’s what had happened with Dan. Not Ricochet.
Lust pounded its way through my system as he gripped my upper arm.
His fingers were a brand on my skin, heating me from the inside out.
“Dining room’s this way.” He used his hold to steer me.
I couldn’t even say I minded. He was kind of pushy and gruff, but I really liked it. For some reason, I felt totally safe with him. His grip wasn’t hurting me, but the touch of his skin was setting me on fire.
Gwen’s eyebrows shot up as she watched her brother lead me to the table. Before I could do anything, he used his other hand to yank a chair backward. He released me and watched as I sank onto the offered seat.
“Thank you.”
Another knock came at the door and Gwen started to rise.
“I’ll get it,” Ricochet all but growled.
Gwen gave me a tense smile, but her eyes followed her brother out of the room. It was clear he wasn’t thrilled with the last guest.
“Hey guys,” I said to the kids, adding a cheerfulness to my tone.
Sean gave me a small smile, then went back to sulking in his chair. Grace chattered up a storm and Gwen gave her a grateful look that I doubted the four-year-old saw.
The men walked back into the room and the air all but vibrated around them.
Tense and awkward didn’t begin to explain the atmosphere.
It made me wonder if Ricochet had said anything to Trent.
I didn’t know him well enough to know for sure, but if I had to guess—based off the angry expression on Trent’s face—I’d say he had. And odds were it wasn’t flattering.
“Hey,” Gwen said, hopping up from her seat. She walked over and gave Trent a hug. She chattered brightly as her brother stalked away from them and took his seat. Next to me.
He was watching them with predatory eyes and I finally understood why Gwen had wanted me to come tonight. He looked like he wanted to strangle his former brother-in-law.
I touched his forearm and had to fight back a gasp when his head snapped to me. My eyes widened and I pulled my hand away. I didn’t make it far before his hand was holding mine, pulling it back. My fingers were once again resting on his arm.
“Sorry.” His voice was deep, but he kept it soft so only I could hear. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Jordan.”
I jerked my hand away from Ricochet and met Gwen’s gaze.
She had that crazy smile on her face again.
My friend loved love. And she loved her brother.
And me. I had a feeling she was already planning our wedding and it was everything I could do not to run away from Ricochet and the emotions he was churning up inside of me.
“This is Trent,” Gwen said, continuing on with the introductions.
Rising from my seat, I bent over the table to shake his hand. His palms were soft and smooth, not like Ricochet’s had been when he’d grabbed my hands. The man next to me worked with those hands, so they were rough and strong.
“Nice to meet you.” Trent gave me a smile that I could only describe as smarmy.
I tried to remember what Gwen had told me he did for a living.
When it didn’t come to mind, I replied. “It’s nice to meet you as well.
” No brain melting attraction there. Thank God.
The last thing I needed was to be attracted to my friend’s ex.
But that just meant that it really was Ricochet causing all this, not that I needed some male attention.
The latter would have been easier to deal with.
I could go on a few dates and get it out of my system.
It didn’t seem like the guy next to me was going to be easy to ignore or avoid. My gaze dropped to his hand as I sat back down. It was wrapped around his steak knife and his knuckles were white as he clenched it.
My gaze darted over and found Gwen’s as I tried to pull enough air into my lungs to force them to work.
This was such a bad idea. Every crazy, over the top thing Ricochet did only turned me on more.
I should be running and hiding from a guy who acted this way.
Instead, my pussy was pulsing with desire and I wanted to invite him over to my place.
Getting it out of my system meant getting him inside of me.
I wasn’t sure that was an option. Not with this man.
Not if I didn’t want to lose myself in him.
I tried to pull myself together. I wasn’t about to leave Gwen in her time of need. And I still wasn’t sure letting myself go along with my attraction to Ricochet was the best thing for me.
Trent was talking, filling Gwen and the kids in on his day as though he didn’t notice the tension in the room. It didn’t take long to pick out the kind of man he was. He barely took a breath in between sentences about his accomplishments. He loved being the center of attention.
I frowned and looked over at my friend. She was quietly dishing her children’s plates with food and helping her daughter cut her steak while he dished his own plate and just kept spewing words.
Why had Gwen been with him in the first place?
She was kind and caring and he seemed so…
Blah. It was safe to say I didn’t like him.
It didn’t matter that I’d just met him. But I’d try to find his redeeming qualities if I could.
There must be something Gwen used to like about him.
Something slapped down on my plate, making me jump. I must have taken too long because Ricochet was putting food on my plate for me. My eyes widened at the size of the steak and the amount of potatoes he was spooning onto the platter. “That’s too much.”
He looked over at me, put the spoon back in the bowl of mashed potatoes, and picked up a huge hunk of asparagus with salad tongs. He plopped them down on my plate as I just goggled at the amount of food.
Once he was done with mine, he quietly began dishing his own plate. He was quick and efficient and ended up with just as much as was on my own dish. No wonder Gwen had made so much food.
“Thank you, Ricochet,” I finally managed.
He watched me for a moment before giving me a flash of a grin.
It lit up his face and made him that much more handsome, but I noticed it didn’t seem to fully reach his eyes.
He was an enigma and I was slowly getting sucked in.
I wanted to know what made him look so…sad all the time.
He put on a mask to cover it, that was for sure.
Usually he just looked grim, but I saw beneath it.
I wanted to dig and figure out what made him tick. Sighing, I picked up my fork. I was lying to myself. There was no way I was going to be able to keep my distance from him. I wasn’t sure if I should even try, or if I should just give in to my fate, the consequences be damned.