Rough Ryder Read online

  She recited her digits, he pressed buttons, and she heard her phone chirp in her new purse inside the house. “Thank you, Steele. I appreciate your going out of your way for me. For Ryder,” she corrected.

  He looked at her. “I’m doing it for both of you, and to guarantee this idiot stepbrother of yours doesn’t try to do it again.”

  Brooke frowned. She hadn’t let herself consider that McCrae might have taken other songs from her. He might be selling them to other singers right this second. The thought of it made her too angry to speak.

  Ryder came out the door and walked toward them, his boots stomping on the wide boards. “Hey, you’re exchanging phone numbers?” He didn’t look too happy.

  “Steele’s going to help us find McCrae.” Watching Ryder’s face, she compared his features with Steele’s. Were they cousins, perhaps?

  Steele turned his phone toward Ryder just as Tracy joined them. “I’ll include you in the messages, br—” He swallowed. “Buddy.”

  Tracy looked between the men, then at Brooke. “My fiancé didn’t frighten you, did he?”

  Brooke forced a smile. “No, not at all.”

  “Good.” Tracy wrapped her arm around Steele’s waist. “He’s just a big softie. He still uses the phone I broke when we first met.”

  Steele glanced at his fiancée. The look in his eyes told the world how much he loved her. “I’m getting sentimental as I age.”

  Ryder breathed deeply a few times.

  Brooke kept an eye on him. Was he still feeling the effects of that cigar smoke?

  “Picture time!” Reno walked out onto the porch with Joy in her arms. “Everyone put your ties back on. Let’s do this quick while the angel is awake.”

  Chase jumped up and took his daughter from Reno. “Hello, little button.”

  Brooke couldn’t get over the similarities between father and daughter. Auburn hair, dark blue eyes, and a sweet, crooked smile. Brooke walked into the house and grabbed her purse, then came back out and sat on the porch while the family and friends clustered in choreographed groups in the yard as their photos were taken. Behind them, rolling fields gave way to low mountains, blue skies, and puffy clouds. The perfect backdrop.

  She shook her head each time someone invited her to join the pictures. She was not here as a guest. When Ryder had first invited her to the christening, she’d let herself dream that he didn’t want to be away from her for a moment. Ha. He just wanted to keep her from going public with her search for McCrae. But she’d gone along with him anyway. Every moment she could spend with him was like a precious gift.

  “How about one of Ryder and Brooke?” Reno gestured her over.

  She wouldn’t mind that, a picture with—

  “No.” Ryder snapped the word, then looked at Brooke. “We’ll take a selfie later.”

  The group shuffled, a little uncomfortable for a couple of seconds until they rearranged for a few more pictures.

  Brooke swallowed back the disappointment. It was just a picture. Not a marriage proposal, for heaven’s sake. He must have pictures with lots of women…didn’t he?

  She pulled out her phone and searched online for images of him. She found a few of him with women who were clearly just fans, but no pictures of him with women who could have been his dates. None.

  What was that all about?

  Two hours later, in the backseat of the big, black SUV with a driver and Schmiddy in the front, but no glass partition for privacy, Brooke watched Ryder typing on his phone. He’d been on the darn thing since they left Reno’s farm an hour ago. True, he had a show the next night, but didn’t he have people who took care of the details for him?

  He’d told her, when they first slid into the SUV, that a ticket to DC would be waiting for her at the airport. He would have flown her home, but he needed to head west, and contractually, he had to be in San Francisco twenty-four hours prior to showtime. After that, he’d ignored her and stared at his phone.

  Her phone chimed. So did his. She pulled her cell from her purse. A text message from Reno. Sending you details about the movie premiere next Saturday. I look forward to seeing you, Brooke.

  Ryder looked at her. “Reno?”

  She nodded.

  “Me, too.”

  “Ryder, I’m not planning to go to the movie premiere. It was kind of her to invite me, but—”

  “Reno will kill me if you don’t show up. Literally. She’ll kill me with some kind of farm implement.” He held his phone toward her and she read the text. Those were the exact words Reno had used.

  Brooke laughed.

  He set down the phone. “I’d like you to be there. Will you come?”

  She stared into his eyes. He seemed genuine in his request. “Why?”

  Sliding closer, Ryder slung his arm across the back of the seat. “I like spending time with you, I guess.”

  He guessed? This guy had a strange way of trying to charm a girl, but her chest expanded, just hearing the words that had come before the qualifier.

  “Listen.” He took a breath. “This thing with your stepbrother, you’ll wait and see what Steele comes up with before you do anything like go to the media, right?”

  Her heart sank. Of course. He was sweet-talking her to keep her from going public with her story. “If I said no, would you kidnap me again?” Which she would absolutely love.

  A groan came from Schmiddy.

  “Kidnap?” Ryder tried to look confused, but it didn’t work. “You mean bringing you to South Dakota? That wasn’t planned. If we’d stopped in Chicago and found McCrae, I would have sent you back to DC on a commercial flight.”

  “Exactly. If we’d found McCrae, you wouldn’t have had to kidnap me to keep me quiet.”

  “Almost at the airport, sir.” The driver slowed and exited the freeway.

  Ryder rubbed his forehead. “I know it must seem that way, but…”

  She waited.

  He just looked away.

  They pulled up to the curb.

  “Give us a few minutes, will you, guys?” Ryder took her hand as Schmiddy and the driver stepped out, shut their doors, and stood with their backs to the vehicle. “I would like you to come to the movie premiere. I…I don’t know. I want to help you figure out what’s going on with the song, but I want to finish what we started at the hotel, too.” His eyes darkened as his pupils dilated.

  Her breath caught as heat coursed through her, centering low in her belly. “I want that, too.” She’d worked hard to keep herself from feeling anything for him, not knowing if he still felt the same as he had that night. But now, she didn’t want to let him go. Reaching for him, she slid her fingers to the back of his neck and leaned in for a kiss.

  He took over, pulling her onto his lap, kissing her breathless. His tongue played with hers, his lips nibbled at the corners of hers, and his teeth bit at her lips. “Cutie.” He whispered the word against her lips. “I’ve been wanting to do that since I saw you in that crazy disguise.”

  Wiggling her hips, she felt his hard shaft against her butt. “I’m feeling the same way, Ryder.” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You sure you don’t want to kidnap me again? Take me with you to San Francisco?” She pointed to the plastic shopping bag with her disguise in it. “I can wear the wig and padding, if you’d like.” Forcing a little laugh, she realized she was near to begging him to take her with him.

  He chuckled as his hand caressed her thigh. “I sure want to, but I’m gonna control myself.” He squeezed her leg. “This time.”

  “Mmmm.” The sound she made was half desire, half disappointment.

  Ryder slid her off his lap and knocked on the curbside window.

  Schmiddy opened the door.

  Ryder kissed her hand. “See you next weekend.” He picked up the bag with her clothes in it and handed it to her, along with her messenger bag. “Give your number to Schmiddy. He’ll coordinate your trip to the movie premiere next weekend.” Ryder spoke loud enough for the bodyguard to hear.


  “Yes, sir.” The big man didn’t sound happy about it, but then, he didn’t ever sound happy.

  She took the bag from Ryder and slid out of the vehicle, a little unsteady on her feet after that kiss. She waved at Ryder, then nodded at his bodyguard.

  Schmiddy shut the truck door and walked with her to the sliding glass doors, letting her go in first.

  Once inside the first set of doors, she exchanged phone numbers with Schmiddy, and he nodded, refrained from growling, and left her standing there while he got into the SUV. They sped off to wherever Ryder’s plane sat waiting.

  A burst of loneliness settled over her. She looked at her phone. She had Reno’s number, Steele’s number, and Schmiddy’s number, but not Ryder’s. She looked out the sliding doors as the SUV disappeared around a corner.

  The man sure knew how to build walls around himself.

  Chapter Eight

  Ryder watched Brooke stare out at him from the airport entrance. The driver pulled the black SUV away from the curb, heading to Ryder’s jet parked on the other side of the airport.

  He’d wanted to walk Brooke into the building, make sure she got her ticket, got on her plane, but he knew that was a fantasy. He couldn’t risk someone spotting him, even in this small city airport, and snapping a photo of him with Brooke.

  He’d already taken a chance by going into the discount store with her, but he couldn’t let her go in there alone. He didn’t broadcast his personal life that way. He never would. Something his mother had taught him with her camera-shyness.

  Of course, now he knew why she had been that way. She’d been protecting her secret. His father’s true identity.

  Ryder closed his eyes. Why had she waited until after her death to reveal his paternity? What had she hoped to provide for Ryder that couldn’t have been accomplished when she was alive? Fuck, he was twenty-seven. Angus couldn’t have insisted on visitation rights. But then, Ryder would have been away from his mother more than he already was with his career.

  Maybe she’d just wanted to keep him for herself as long as she was alive? Evidently, but why? She’d had friends and dated occasionally. He dropped his head. He’d never know.

  Was that the kind of solitary life he was setting himself up for? His rule of only letting women into his life for short stretches…was he dooming himself to never finding someone to settle down with?

  No, he’d find the right person someday. A picture of Brooke flashed into his mind, but he pushed it away. There was too much going on in his life, and distractions of Brooke, his mother’s motives, his long-term future, they couldn’t take up any head space right now. He just had to move on from here, hope things didn’t go horribly wrong with his new family. Hell, he’d nearly walked away from the McLairns because of Steele’s resentment and Ryder’s own insecurities. He wanted to hang on to them, wanted to be one of the family. But it was all so new to him…

  ****

  The following Saturday in Hollywood, California, Ryder exited his limo alone to walk the red carpet at Reno’s movie premiere. Solo. That was how he liked to attend these things. His image as a single guy, wild and free, not only kept him from being linked with any one woman, but had the added benefit of keeping his face in magazines and on TV shows, surrounded by conjecture as to when some lucky lady would hook him and reel him in. It sure as shit sold albums for him.

  After strolling the red carpet in his black suit, spit-shined boots, and red tie, and letting a hundred photographers snap his picture and shout questions at him, he ducked into the big, guests-only tent. Groups of partiers gathered around tall tables, and Ryder grabbed a beer and made his way through, stopping to greet friends, acquaintances, and even introducing himself to groups of people he didn’t know if he caught them staring at him.

  This was all part of the game, his agent had assured him. And it was critical.

  All he really wanted to do was hang out with Chase, Steele, and their ladies. But he kept mingling, making a game of counting how many of the women he’d been with. Only four, which was pretty good, considering his record. He spotted Schmiddy first, walking behind… “Wow.” Brooke in a slinky red floor-length dress, tiny spaghetti straps holding it up on her shoulders. It didn’t cling, just hung perfectly, following her curves while it moved and flowed. Her mass of strawberry-blonde hair had been pulled up into a fancy swirl, and tiny curls bounced at her temples, her shoulders, and the nape of her neck.

  “Wow is a good word for it.” A man stood next to him, staring just as intensely at Brooke. “Who is she?”

  Ryder looked at the guy. One of the producers of Reno’s movie, dressed in some kind of fancy white jacket with a bowtie. “She’s a songwriter, I think.”

  “Oh, yeah?” The man pulled a tin from his pocket and slipped a mint into his mouth. “She could be an actress with those looks.”

  Ryder knew enough about Brooke to figure she wouldn’t fall for the man’s smooth talkin’. He’d let him give it a try. Her first red carpet event, she might just get a kick out of it. “She sure could.” Ryder turned on his heel and headed toward a group of women he hadn’t said hello to yet.

  He kept an eye on Brooke, waiting for the producer to leave her, but the guy stayed close to her. Too close.

  Tracy touched Ryder’s arm, jolting him from the vision of his fist connecting with the guy’s nose, then hauling Brooke from the tent. Over his shoulder.

  “I know that guy. Let’s go save her.” Tracy linked her arm in his and got him moving in Brooke’s direction.

  “Yeah, I don’t see her as the needin’ rescue kind of woman.” Ryder went along anyway.

  Brooke’s gaze landed on his, and her smile burst like a thousand camera flashes. The introductions were made, and Tracy turned her full attention on the producer, directing him off toward the bar.

  “You look beautiful, Brooke.” Ryder had to concentrate to not let his gaze linger on her cleavage.

  She smiled so sweetly, it nearly broke his heart. “Thank you for everything. The dress, the hotel, the spa treatments. Everything.”

  He nodded, figuring Schmiddy had arranged the whole package for her. “And you and my bodyguard didn’t come to blows?”

  She waved her hand. “He’s a big teddy bear.”

  “Huh.” Ryder had seen the man knock out three grown men in record time, one punch each, right in a row. “Did you want a drink?”

  Brooke fidgeted with her small purse. “No, thank you. I’m too afraid I’d spill it on the silk and have to walk around like I was in a wet T-shirt contest.”

  Ryder laughed. “We wouldn’t want that.” He glanced around at the groups of people he hadn’t mingled with yet, and his agent’s instructions echoed through his head again.

  “If you need to go…” Brooke made a circling motion with her hand. “You know, work the crowd, or whatever, go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

  Hell, where were his priorities? His career didn’t always have to come first. Didn’t have to cost him his humanity. “Miss Brooke, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here with you.” He bowed slightly, a wicked smile on his face. Especially since there were no cameras allowed in the area.

  She blushed. “You can sure be a sweet talker, cowboy.”

  They wandered over to where Reno and Chase stood, looking damn nervous. This was the debut of her screenwriting skills, and Chase’s first big-screen appearance. Reno hugged both of them. “I’m so glad you came, Brooke.” Reno looked her up and down. “You look fabulous.”

  Brooke shook her head. “You look fabulous.” Reno stood tall and curvy on her spike-heeled sandals, her ankle-length blue dress floating around her.

  “Chase, you look damn good, too.” Ryder winked at his friend.

  Chase smoothed the sides of his western-cut tux. “I feel like a waiter in this thing.”

  Brooke laughed, but Reno squeezed her husband’s arm. “You look very handsome. Now stop tugging at the tux. You’ll be out of it in less than three hours.”

&n
bsp; Chase’s brows rose and his smile curved. “Oh yeah?” He pulled Reno flat against his front. “You got somethin’ in mind for later, sexy wife?”

  She giggled and kissed him. “I do, hunky husband. Later”

  Brooke’s gaze slid to Ryder’s and she mouthed the word “later.” She licked her lips and winked at Ryder.

  His gut tightened, and that primal urge to toss her on his shoulder and head back to his hotel nearly flatlined him. Ryder winked back at her. Could he ignore his attorney’s suggestion to keep it business only with Brooke? It had only been a suggestion, after all. Hadn’t it?

  The thought of taking her back to her hotel room, peeling her silky red dress off her, loosening her hair until it hung down her back… He had to shift his suit coat to cover the bulge forming in his pants.

  Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks turned pink, and she leaned toward him. He didn’t want to resist.

  “I said, you two ready to go in?” Steele’s words reached Ryder’s brain.

  “What?” He turned toward his half-brother.

  Steele frowned, and next to him, Tracy grinned big and sly. “Are you two even interested in the movie?”

  Brooke looked down and cleared her throat.

  “Ready?” Ryder held out his arm for her, and she slid her hand through, holding on to him tightly.

  They entered the theater behind Steele and Tracy, but Ryder broke away and found two quiet seats off to the side.

  “You don’t want to sit with your friends?” Brooke blinked up at him as he sat next to her, slinging his arm around her.

  “I’m okay right here. With you.” He brushed the pad of his thumb across her lips. “And when they turn off these lights, I intend to take some advantage of the opportunity.”

  ****

  Brooke could feel every blood cell in her body as it magnetized toward Ryder. He was more than handsome, frightfully sexy, and too good to pass up. Tonight would be their night together, no matter how hard he fought it.

  The movie turned out to be fascinating, and they both watched, absorbed, Reno’s tale of a town that gained millions of dollars from the oil industry, floundered morally, and lost its soul. Chase played his role as a bouncer so well, she knew he’d be nominated for at least one award.