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I wonder if fish get thirsty…
“So that’s how I found out I have a shellfish allergy,” Jarod Milner, the world’s most boring date, explained.
Ryleigh Donovan wished someone would come and save her from the worst date of her life, but apparently no one in her family could sense her extreme unease.
No matter how many times she tried to catch their attention.
Having dinner at her family pub was never her first choice when she went out with a guy, but tonight’s date was really more of an ambush.
Her mother had called and said they were having a problem with their computer and because Ryleigh was sort of a tech geek—or as she preferred to be called, a tech goddess—she agreed to come to the pub to check it out. As soon as she arrived, her mother immediately ushered her over to a booth and introduced her to Jarod the periodontist.
“I wasn’t too upset about it because I never liked fish,” he went on and Ryleigh swore she was going to go back into the office, upload a virus onto her parents’ computer, and then leave on a two-week road trip without her phone.
That would teach them.
Actually, it wouldn’t. It didn’t seem like anything would. She’d begged, pleaded, and carried on about how she did not want to be set up with anyone—and especially didn’t want any surprise dates—and yet, here she was.
“It’s also why I never go out on a boat. I get seasick.”
I wonder if fish get seasick…
Seriously, she’d had her share of bad dates, but this one was going at the top of the list. The previous reigning champion was the time she went out with Leo, the accountant. He’d talked numbers all night and lectured her about her financial status and how far behind she was on her retirement fund. She was twenty-four at the time and told him she wasn’t worried about retirement just
yet. Then he got annoyed by her so-called snarkiness and walked out—sticking her with the bill.
Oh, how she’d practically kill to have Jarod walk out right now because of her snarkiness…
Although, it was hard to be snarky when she couldn’t get a word in because he had done nothing but talk about himself all damn night.
Yeah, she was definitely putting a nasty virus on the office computer as soon as she was done here.
With a sigh, Ryleigh glanced around the pub hoping to catch someone’s eye who would read her desperate need for help.
Uncle Ronan was busy chatting with Joe Denton, undoubtedly talking about the upcoming Super Bowl. Her brother Jamie was making drinks behind the bar while talking to some blonde who’d been coming in here more and more lately. He didn’t look too happy, so there was zero chance of him even paying any attention to her. None of her other siblings had shown up to get something to eat, and her mother was suspiciously absent.
You better be guarding all your electronics, Mom. I’m gunning for them…
The door to the pub opened and in walked Ryker.
No last name—or maybe no first name—just…Ryker.
He hadn’t spotted her and this was possibly the one and only time she wished he would. Normally, it was like the man had a tracking device on her because he always seemed to find her in a crowd. It just figured that when she would finally accept his flirting and offer of a drink and he didn’t even look at her.
I cannot catch a break!
“So, what about you, Ryleigh? When was the last time you went to the dentist?”
Ugh…kill me now.
“About six months ago,” she lied. “No cavities.” With a big smile, she showed off her teeth. “I’m an excellent brusher.”
He frowned and made some sort of disapproving sound. “Your gums look a little red and inflamed.” Moving in closer, he reached out to touch her face and she instantly pulled back.
“Yeah, um…we’re not going to do that,” she told him firmly. “Not here in the middle of the pub, and not anywhere.” Glancing around again, she waved Jodi, their server, over. “It was nice meeting you, Jarod, but…I need to go. Have a nice night.” Sliding out of the booth, she grabbed her purse and smiled stiffly at Jodi. “Have you seen…?”
“She’s in the kitchen,” Jodi whispered. “Hiding.” With a wink, she put the bill down on the table and blocked Jarod from going after her. “I’ll just take that when you’re ready.”
Ryleigh didn’t waste any time storming into the kitchen. “Mom! What in the world?”
Her mother, doing her best to look innocent, stood by the sink pretending to be washing dishes.
“The water’s not on and there isn’t even anything in the sink!” she snapped, slamming her purse down on the stainless steel workstation, causing the contents to fly out everywhere. Muttering a curse, she frantically scooped it all up before facing her mother. “How could you do that to me?”
“Do what?” Kate Donovan asked sweetly. “Fix you up with a very nice, respectable man?”
“He just tried to put his hand in my mouth!”
Kate looked at her oddly. “Why would he do that?” Then she paused. “Oh…because he’s a dentist. It’s what they do.”
“He’s not a dentist. He’s a periodontist, and yes, there is a difference because he described it for over forty-five minutes! And I don’t care what he does for a living! You don’t put your fingers in someone’s mouth in the middle of a restaurant!”
“We’re really just a pub; we’re not very formal…”
“Mom!” she cried and stomped her foot. “That’s it! Enough! You need to stop with this! I don’t want you fixing me up with anyone! Ever!” Her voice grew louder with each word and yet her mother’s expression was completely serene. “I’m serious. If you ever do this to me again, I’ll…I’ll…I’ll mess up your computers!”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Ryleigh,” Kate said wearily. “Besides, we know a dozen people who could fix the computer.”
This was getting her nowhere.
Again.
If she was going to put a stop to this, she was going to have to do something drastic.
She just had no idea what that was just yet.
Picking up her purse, she glared at her mother. “This isn’t over. From now on, I’m not coming here when you call with some sort of emergency. You’re like the boy who cried wolf. I don’t trust you, and I’m never going to believe you again.”
A loud sigh was her mother’s only reaction.
“Why can’t you just leave me alone on this?”
“Because you have terrible taste in men and I’d like to see you settle down. You’re not getting any younger and I want grandchildren.”
“Need I remind you that Arianna and Will are planning their wedding and I’m sure Liam and Tessa won’t be too far behind? I don’t see why I’m the only one you’re fixated on.”
Kate stepped in close and gave her a soft pat on the cheek. “Such a pretty girl. Why can’t you find a man to go out with more than once?”
There were so many answers to that question, but the only one to come out was, “Because you keep fixing me up with jerks and weirdos! If you’d just leave me alone and let me date who I want, I guarantee you I’d go out on more than one date!”
It was amazing lightning didn’t come down from the sky and zap her right there on the spot. She’d gone out with several men of her own choosing and none of them had resulted in second dates either.
Was she a little picky? Maybe. But she wanted a man who was intelligent, funny, good-looking…someone who understood her geeky side and didn’t mock her for it.
And definitely someone who didn’t stick their fingers in her mouth over dinner.
“Ryleigh,” her mother began patiently. “You see this as me picking on you, but I’m your mother and I see how you push people away. You’re too young to be this set in your ways. No one is perfect and maybe if you stopped trying so hard to show the world how much you know, you could let someone in.”
On the surface, it sounded like the perfect thing a mother should say to her daughter.
But Kate Donovan was no ordinary mother.
“Maybe you could put the same effort into doing your hair and buying some decent clothes as you do into proving how smart you are and…”
And there it was.
Inwardly, Ryleigh sighed.
Liar.
No, inwardly, she raged.
Seriously, she really loved her mother; hell, she loved her whole family. But all Ryleigh truly wanted was for them to love her where she was at instead of focusing on where they thought she was lacking.
And maybe not so much they, but she.
“I’m leaving,” she said firmly. “And I think it would be best if we didn’t talk for a few days.” Purse in hand, she walked across the kitchen and slammed her palm against the swinging door on her way out. Luckily no one was on the other side of it because that would have ruined her glorious exit.
With a small huff, she didn’t make eye contact with anyone on her way across the crowded room. The only thing she did notice was that Jarod was gone.
Good riddance.
“Ry!” Jamie called out.
So close…
Her brother came jogging over and, for once, he wasn’t quite his jovial self. “You okay?”
“Yeah, why?” she murmured.
“You were looking pretty fierce when you came through the doorway and I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”
That was kind of sweet.
“Just…just Mom stuff,” she told him. “Did you see how she ambushed me tonight?”
He nodded. “I did, but…I sort of had my own thing going on.”
“Then I guess I should be asking if you’re okay.”
With a shrug, he replied, “I guess. This is the first time I’ve ever had a breakup that just won’t end.”
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Yeah, it’s tough to be you,” she mumbled and fortunately, he grinned.
“So, what was wrong with the guy tonight?”
“The list is endless, but the highlight was when he tried to put his fingers in my mouth to inspect my gums.”
“No!” And then the rat bastard laughed.
Hard.
“And you want to know what the worst part is?”
“You mean that wasn’t it?” Jamie asked with another laugh.
“That Mom still doesn’t think she did anything wrong! Why isn’t she bugging you about this breakup? Why isn’t she harping on Patrick to settle down? I mean…why is all her energy on me?”
He instantly took a step back. “I’m not touching this with a ten-foot pole. Look, I’m sorry she’s bugging you, but as long as she’s doing that, my life is easier, so…”
Leaning in, Ryleigh shoved him.
Hard.
“You suck.” And with that, she stormed away.
For once it would be nice if someone took her side. She was a good person who always stepped up to help her friends and her siblings, and this was the thanks she got. No one was willing to do the same for her.
It wasn’t fair and it wasn’t right and she was just so damn done with it all.
Shoving her way through the crowd, she practically sagged with relief when she got to the door.
And slammed her hand against that one too for one last glorious exit.
Not that anyone would notice.
***
Ryker noticed.
Hell, from the moment he first laid eyes on Ryleigh Donovan, he’d noticed everything about her—from her long auburn hair and green eyes to her defiant attitude and sensual curves.
She was trouble with a capital T and apparently, that just added to her appeal.
For months, he’d been doing his best to get her to go out with him and she’d shot him down every time. Most guys would take the hint and move on, but Ryker had a feeling that her bravado was all an act.
Actually, he was pretty damn sure of it.
It had almost killed him when he walked through the door tonight and saw her sitting in the booth with that doofus who looked like every uptight loser he’d ever despised.
And yet…Ryleigh was out with him.
Because Ryker spent so much time at Donovan’s Pub, he knew her mother was constantly trying to fix her daughter up with nice, upstanding guys.
Which totally left him out of the picture.
On the surface, Ryker was basically every mother’s nightmare: tattoos, long hair, beard, and extremely rough around the edges. If that guy was Kate Donovan’s idea of the perfect guy, then there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of her ever considering him.
And that was a damn shame because he knew he’d treat Ryleigh better than any man alive. Hell, he’d treat her like a princess if given the chance.
He thought about the way she’d stormed out of the pub and wondered why he was still sitting here nursing a drink when he could potentially go after her and make sure she was alright.
Tossing a twenty down on the bar, he nodded to Ronan before making his way out the door. There was a chance that she was long gone, but he was hopeful.
Just like he was hopeful every time he tried to start a conversation with her.
He loved her snark and dry wit and he admired the way she didn’t seem to tolerate anyone’s bullshit.
Even his.
Out on the sidewalk, he glanced in both directions, raking a hand through his out-of-control hair. He was about to mutter a curse when someone beat him to it.
“Dammit! Dammit, dammit, dammit!”
A slow smile crept across his face as he made his way toward the parking lot. There, he found Ryleigh standing next to her sensible little Toyota, stomping her foot in frustration. Doing his best to appear casual, he slowly made his way over to her.
“Hey, beautiful,” he drawled. “Is everything okay?”
Her green eyes shot daggers at him. “No, everything is most definitely not okay,” she snapped. “I dropped my keys back in the kitchen and I am not going back in there!”
That…wasn’t what he was expecting.
“Why not?”
With a groan, she fished around in her purse again before replying. “Because I had a fight with my mother and made a big stink about how I didn’t even want to see or talk to her for a few days. If I go back in there, it completely nullifies my glorious exit. Dammit!”
“Glorious exit?” Leaning against her car, he studied her. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone describe leaving that way.”
“Trust me, in that moment, it was awesome. If I have to go back in to grab my keys, it will look like I did it on purpose and…” She groaned again before digging in her purse one more time.
Gently, Ryker took the bag from her hands. “It’s not that big, Ryleigh. They’re not in there. Do you have a spare set somewhere?”
Her shoulders sagged as she nodded. “At home, but…ugh…I hate that I did this! Now I’ll have to call for an Uber to go home and back and…”
“You don’t need to call for an Uber.”
“Uh, yeah, I do, because I certainly don’t want to walk there and back. It’s already dark out and it’s a mile each way…”
“I’ll drive you.”
Her eyes went a little wide as her mouth moved with no words coming out.
He liked that he caught her off guard.
“It’s not a big deal. And, like you said, it’s only a mile away. What’s it gonna take? Ten minutes tops?”
“Ryker…”
“Do you want to go back inside and have everyone think you’re caving?” Honestly, he had no idea if that even applied to the situation, but he gave it a shot.
“Absolutely not!” she told him. “But…um…I don’t mind calling for a car.” Holding up her phone, she made a bit of a show of pulling up the app. “You don’t need to drive me anywhere, but…uh…thanks.”
With a careless shrug, he straightened. “No problem. I knew you’d be too embarrassed to accept my help, so…have a good night.” Turning, he started to walk away.
“Embarrassed? Why on earth would I be embarrassed?”
Ryker hid his smile as he turned to face her again. “You know…after being on a date with someone else earlier and then essentially sprinting from the table, I just figured you’d want to avoid anyone who witnessed that.”
Throwing her head back and exposing that neck that he’d love to lean in and press his mouth to, he fought the urge to stay where he was. Her little growl of frustration was kind of adorable, and when she straightened, she looked mildly pissed.
“He tried to put his fingers in my mouth! Trust me, it was in his best interest for me to get away from the table as fast as humanly possible.”
“Why would he put his fingers in your mouth? Was it like a third date or something?”
“Ew! No! And is there really a date rule for when it’s appropriate to put your fingers
in someone’s mouth in the middle of a restaurant?”
If they were talking about the two of them, yes. But when it was her and some other random guy, absolutely not.
“I wouldn’t say rule…”
“Never mind,” she quickly interrupted before turning her back and looking at her phone.
Ryker wasn’t stupid; he knew she was going to be too stubborn to accept a free ride from him based on…whatever preconceived notion she had about him.
But he refused to accept that.
“Ryleigh, this is crazy. I’m right here and my car is literally five feet away. You can be home in fifteen minutes. Just let me do this for you.”
It was insane how nervous he was and he found himself holding his breath. He’d asked her out at least a dozen times and she’d always turned him down. But this wasn’t a date.
This was a chance for her to get to know him.
The way she looked at him told him she was considering it.
“I just…I don’t want you to read anything into this,” she began carefully. “I know you’ve asked me out before…”
“Pfft, please. I’m not dense. This isn’t a date. This is just me helping you out. I know that.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “I don’t even know your name.”
“What are you talking about? You know my name.”
“No, I know part of your name. There’s got to be more to it than just Ryker.”
Shaking his head, he said, “Nope.”
“Seriously?” she deadpanned. “So that’s it. Just Ryker. No last name?”
“Maybe that is my last name,” he countered.
“And your first name?”
He grinned. “Just one name.”
“So…you’re Ryker Ryker?” she asked with one brow perfectly raised.
When she said it like that, it sounded ridiculous, but he was enjoying the banter. “No, just the one name. You know, like Adele, Cher, or Madonna.”
Her lips twitched. “Are you saying you’re like…an aging pop diva?”
I walked right into that one, didn’t I? "
Or like Bono, Sting, or Prince,” he corrected.
“Do you sing?” she asked.
“Um…what?”
Nodding, she once again asked, “Do you sing? I mean…the single name and the comparison to all these musicians, I’m assuming there’s a connection.”
Unable to help himself, Ryker laughed. “Ryleigh, I’m just offering to take you to pick up your keys so you can take your car and go home and save face with your family. Do you want my help or not?”
She eyed him warily. “Fine. I do. But I’m texting my sister and my best friend Ivy. If anything happens to me, they’re going to make sure bad things happen to you.”
“Consider me warned,” he told her before walking over to his truck.
“Um…maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
With a weary sigh, Ryker turned to face her. “Why now?”
“There’s no way I can get into that truck! It’s like…I’d need a ladder to climb in!”
Fine, the truck was a little on the high side. The Ford had been modified quite a bit, but…it was temporary. He was only driving it until he found something else.
“No ladder, Princess. There’s a step and I can help you up.” Walking up behind her, Ryker opened the door and held a hand out to her. The look she gave him told him she was not happy about it, but when she finally put her hand in his, he felt like they’d finally taken that first step into friendlier territory.
Only took six months, but…who’s counting?
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to put his hands on her ass to help her that last little bit. She smiled nervously at him once she was seated, and Ryker jogged around to the driver’s side and climbed in.
“Okay, where to?”
Ryleigh didn’t come out and give him the address; she simply started giving him directions. “Make a left out of the parking lot and go down to Elm and make a right.”
He did as she instructed.
“So…this fight with your mom. It was bad, huh?”
“To me it was.”
“You don’t think it was to her?”
Shaking her head, she said, “Go down to Peachtree and make a left.”
He nodded.
“My mother likes to…instigate,” Ryleigh went on. “And when she pushes me to where I’m a ranting lunatic, she just smiles and looks at me like I’m crazy. It doesn’t matter how many times I ask her nicely not to interfere in my life or set me up with strange guys, or ambush me like she did tonight, she doesn’t listen. It’s exhausting and…ugh. I’m just done.”
“Is she like this with all your siblings? ...
