Chased by Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders): Trish Ryder (20 page)

Trish put her head on his shoulder and held his hand. He loved that she knew when to push and when to give him silent support.

“He used to say it was easy to look like a diamond on a sunny day, but it’s how you act on the darkest days that matters.”

“There’s so much truth to that statement, isn’t there?” Trish asked.

“Yeah. I wish so badly that he could meet you.” He pressed his lips to her temple and closed his eyes, sending a silent sentiment up to his father.
I miss you, Dad, and I hope I do you proud.

He opened his eyes and breathed deeply. “If that’s the measure of a person’s true inner spirit, then my parents deserve the highest accolades. Their lives weren’t easy. Their parents basically disowned them when my mom got pregnant, but they didn’t give up on each other. They found ways to make it on their own. I hope I can be half the man my father was.”

Trish’s expression turned serious. “You’re so much more than that.”

The door to Main Street Music opened, and they both turned. A guy with longish brown hair, wearing cargo shorts but no shirt, with a guitar strapped to his back, was locking the door. He turned and his brows drew together.

“Oh, hey. How’s it going?” The guy pulled his guitar strap off and sank down to the steps next to Boone with a warm smile. He had a dark tan, which surely didn’t come from working in a music store. “I’m Carey. Helping my buddy out with his store this week.”

Before Boone could say anything, Carey did a double take and said, “Boone Stryker. Rad, man. I heard you were in town.” He leaned forward looking around Boone at Trish. “And you’re the actress. Man, this
is
my lucky night.”

“Trish Ryder. Nice to meet you,” Trish said sweetly. “I hope you don’t mind that we’re sitting here.”

“No, babe, it’s cool.” Carey began playing his guitar. “I’m not used to things shutting down so early. It’s nice to have people to hang with.”

Boone listened to him play for a minute, his fingers itching to strum as well. “You’re good. Do you play in a band?”

“Nah. But my buddies have a band back home and I play with them when they practice.” He held the guitar out to Boone. “Wanna jam?” He hiked a thumb over his shoulder and rose to his feet. “I’ll grab another guitar.”

“Do it,” Trish urged. “It’ll be fun.”

“Sure.” Boone took the guitar from Carey. “Thanks.”

“Cool.” Carey went into the shop, retrieved another guitar, and sat beside Boone again.

“Where’s home?” Trish asked.

“Cape Cod,” he said. “This shop belongs to my buddy Drake Savage. He and a few of our other buddies bought a resort on the bay in Wellfleet. Drake’s up there fixing up the resort and opening another shop, which is why I’m here helping out until the manager comes back from vacay.”

“My brother Blue lives on the Cape,” Trish said. “Blue Ryder. Maybe you know him?”

“Dude!” Carey laughed. “Everyone knows Blue. You must know Leanna Bray? Um, Remington now. Married Kurt Remington, the novelist. Man, I love his thrillers. Leanna’s a good friend of mine. We both have space at the Wellfleet Flea Market every summer.”

“Here, baby, switch places with me.” Boone moved to Trish’s other side so she could chat with Carey about their mutual friends.

Boone quietly played the guitar as the two of them caught up. Not for the first time, he recognized Trish’s adoration for her brothers in the light in her eyes and the joyful tone of her voice as they talked about them. Carey played his guitar on and off as they talked, and when their conversation came to a natural lull, Boone and Carey played together. They hung out for a long while, and before heading back to the farmhouse, they exchanged phone numbers and promised to try to connect at the Cape sometime soon.

Later that night, Boone and Trish lay in bed with Sparky curled between them.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you as relaxed as you were tonight with Carey,” Trish said with a sleepy smile.

Boone kissed Sparky’s belly and moved him beside the pillows, then pulled Trish closer. “I’m sure it had a lot to do with how easygoing he was, but truthfully, it also had to do with the fact that I don’t feel like we’re hiding anymore. And I have to admit it felt good to say something to Jared and to stop acting like we don’t hear the gossip. I’m not a kid, Trish. I’m a thirty-year-old man who has no place in his life for that kind of nonsense. But I am worried about how the fallout will affect you. So I need you to know, I’m here for you. You can lean on me. I want it all. The laughter, the tears, the frustration. Whatever you feel, I want to know so I can enjoy it with you, or help fix it. And as far as my past goes, I’ll handle it in whatever way we both think makes sense.”

She pressed her lips to his and sighed. “I’ve been holding you back, haven’t I?”

“Holding me back? You’ve set me free.”

“No, I mean from being the badass boyfriend you want to be.” Her eyes lit up with the tease.

“Maybe a little, but I get it. There’s a proper way to act in your workplace. And then there are assholes, like Jared, and ‘proper’ needs to be kicked under the carpet for a little while.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “But I didn’t go all caveman on his ass. I think I was pretty restrained.”

“And hot. Don’t forget hot.” She scooted even closer, bringing their bodies together. Her breath whispered over his lips. “I don’t think we need to address comments about your past. I think we should let our relationship stand for itself.” She reached over him and clutched his butt.

Boone swept her beneath him and nipped at her lower lip. “And what do you think they’ll see?”

“Something beautiful and sexy that can handle anything that comes its way.”

“I sure hope so, baby, because I can’t imagine not having you by my side.” He brushed his lips over hers. “Or in my bed.” He laced their hands together and held them beside her head. “I’m falling so hard for you, Trish. Can you feel it? Can you feel how much I care for you? Can you feel the way my heart goes crazy when we’re together? Can you feel how much of me you already own?”

“Yes,” left her lips like a secret, and he sealed that secret with a kiss.

TRISH AWOKE AT five o’clock the next morning to the delicious scents of cinnamon and coffee and to an empty bed. She pulled on a T-shirt and padded downstairs. Boone sat in the kitchen with the phone pressed to his ear and the kitten cuddled against his bare chest. In the center of the table was a plate of cinnamon rolls, fresh steam curling in the air above them. Trish’s mouth watered at the sight. She was counting down the days until she could eat real food again.

Boone smiled and mouthed,
Mags
, then patted his thigh for her to join him.

She loved how he always wanted her close. She walked around the table and saw he was wearing only his boxer briefs and waggled her brows. She reached for the kitten and he pulled her down to his lap with a sly grin.

“I talked to Benny and Harvey an hour ago,” he said into the phone. “The rehab center wants me to wait to talk to Jude in person, so I’ll go see him when we’re done filming.” He smiled and said to Trish, “Mags said hi and that she sent you a text at three in the morning, too.” Boone pointed to her phone on the kitchen counter, where he’d set it last night when they got home.

“Hi, Mags,” she said loudly enough for his sister to hear. She got up and turned on her phone. It went off like a vibrator on speed as messages poured in. While Boone said goodbye to Mags, Trish scrolled through them, wondering if everyone in the world had stayed up all night reading online gossip.

She reached for a cinnamon bun and Boone set his phone on the table and laughed.

“That bad?” He pulled her onto his lap again and kissed her.

“It’s five in the morning, you
baked
, and I have about twenty messages from my family. At
five in the morning
!” She bit into the cinnamon roll and closed her eyes. “Mm. It’s like an orgasm for my taste buds.”

He chuckled and kissed her. “Mm. You’re like an orgasm for my taste buds.”

She set the delicious pastry on the plate and wiped her hands on a napkin. “You were too nervous to sleep?”

“Just restless. I wanted to have a talk with Benny and Harvey, so they know what to expect and how things are going to change publicity-wise. I got a few emails from my PR rep and told him not to make any statements, as we discussed. And Mags said she was up all night working on new recipes and saw a clip of us on an entertainment channel. She said we looked adorable and happy.”

“We are adorable and happy.” She kissed him again. Her phone vibrated and she sighed. “Ugh. If I’m going to make it to the set on time, I’d better get started answering messages.”

She moved to her own chair and Boone pushed her plate in front of her.

“Thanks, but I can’t finish it. I only have a few more days of filming. I can’t start putting on the pounds yet.”

His eyes went serious. “I worry about you. Last night you hardly ate at all. Can I at least make you egg whites?”

“Yes, thank you. I love how you worry about me, but this not eating is short-lived. As soon as I’m done filming, I’m digging in to a juicy cheeseburger. I told you I love to eat.” She leaned in and kissed him again, and she wanted to kiss him again and again and again, but her phone vibrated with another text, reminding her of how much she had to do. “You might not like me as much ten pounds heavier.”

“Baby, I’d like you no matter how big or slim you are. It’s who you are that I’m attracted to. Your looks might have lured me in, but it’s who you are—your generosity, strength, intelligence, that hooked me hard.” He brushed his lips over hers and whispered, “Oh, and the great sex helps.”

Laughing, she smacked his arm.

“In all seriousness, I hope you know, even if you could never have sex again and you gained a hundred pounds, I’d still be totally into you.” He got up to make her eggs.

“Not me. I’d kick you to the curb,” she teased. “So you’d better keep doing whatever it takes to maintain that hot body of yours.”

“Lots of sex, beautiful. Lots of sex.”

She laughed.

Trish answered some of her messages as she ate. Fiona sent her a high-five emoticon, with a side note from Jake that said he was glad he didn’t have to kill Boone, because he liked his music. Shea was on board with not responding to comments and said she was a little jealous, given how hot
and
talented Boone was. She even thought Boone’s tougher image might give the public pause about how goody-two-shoes Trish really was. They both saw advantages to that, given that Trish was hardly a goody-two-shoes, even though she was careful about who she dated.

She showered and dressed before answering her family’s messages. As she descended the stairs, she spotted Boone in the living room playing his guitar. What a sight he was, cradling the guitar so naturally it looked like an extension of himself.
Like when you hold me. I feel like that, too
. Every few beats he’d jot something down in his notebook.

She took a picture with her cell phone, so she would always have it on hand. She knew they were only playing house here on the set, and her heart ached at the prospect of returning to their real lives. She realized she didn’t even know where Boone lived or what his practice schedule with his band was like. How much did he travel? What was his
real
life like?

Boone looked up from his notebook and caught her staring. “Hey, beautiful. We only have a few minutes before the crew arrives.” He patted the seat beside him.

“A few minutes? I need to call my family.” She hurried down the stairs and sat beside him. “Group Skype, here we come.”

“Okay,” he said curiously.

“Twenty-two messages from them now, Boone.
Five
brothers
and
my parents. You have no idea what they’re like. Sometimes I think Duke forgets I’m an adult. He means well, but he worries.”

Boone slid a hand to the nape of her neck and drew her closer. Her body went warm as she melted against him. The feeling had become so familiar, she’d come to expect it. Understanding and compassion hovered in his eyes.

“And you love it, baby, as you should. It would be worse if they didn’t care.”

I love you
was on the tip of her tongue, but he hadn’t said it yet, and with her realization that they had so much more to learn about each other, she fought hard to hold the words back.

He kissed her tenderly, making her wish they could just lock the doors and hole up for the afternoon. She wanted to sit right there on the couch listening to him play the guitar while his soulful voice sank into her bones. She imagined curling up beside him reading. It felt like forever since she’d had a chance to dive into a Kristan Higgins or Diane Chamberlain novel. Her phone vibrated, pulling her from her reverie—and from their toe-curling kisses.

She showed Boone Duke’s name on the screen, then sent a group text to her brothers and parents.
I’m in a hurry. Group Skype? Don’t text back unless you can’t Skype. I’m logging on now.
She grabbed her laptop from upstairs and settled in beside Boone again.

“You’re doing it here? Don’t you want privacy?” He pushed to his feet, and she pulled him back down.

“I’m doing it here because I don’t want privacy. Do you mind staying? Please?”

“Sure, but as a guy with a sister, I can tell you that your brothers probably won’t say what they want to in front of me.”

“Trust me, they won’t hold back. Besides, I’m proud to be your girlfriend. I have nothing to hide.” She signed onto Skype and snuggled in beside Boone, trying to hide her nervousness. She wasn’t afraid of what her brothers would think of Boone, but the last time she’d introduced a boyfriend to them all at once was back in high school, and it hadn’t been her choice. She’d made the mistake of telling Jake the name of the guy she was dating, and that weekend all five of her brothers had shown up at their parents’ house and demanded to meet him. The relationship didn’t last through the weekend. But now she was an adult—an extremely busy adult—and she had no choice but to answer them all at once. The crew would be there any minute, and leaving her brothers hanging after they’d sent so many messages would only lead to a string of texts and lengthy explanations later.

Her parents’ faces appeared on the screen. They were sitting at the kitchen table. Her father had one arm draped over the back of her mother’s chair.

“Hi, baby girl,” her mother said with a warm smile. She had the same sandy-blond hair color as Cash and Gage. Duke’s was similar, though slightly darker.

“Hi, Mom. Dad.” Both of her parents wore glasses; her mother’s were amber, and her father’s wire-framed. The hipster trend made them look younger, too.

“Hi, pumpkin,” her father said. He was big and broad-chested, with dark hair peppered with gray. His silver soul patch gave him a youthful look. If he were in the same room, he’d have given Trish a big, warm hug.

“‘Pumpkin,’” Boone whispered.

Before anyone could say a word, each of her brothers’ handsome faces appeared on the screen in quick succession.

“Hey, sis,” Duke said with a serious face, making her heart race even faster.

“Trishy, how’s it goin’?” Jake’s face was going in and out of focus. “Can you see me? I’m on a mountain.”

“Yes,” Trish answered. “You’re shaking, but I can see you. Are you on a rescue?”

“No. Just out for a hike,” Jake said.

“For the record,” Blue said, pointing at the monitor, “Boone, I would have preferred to meet you in person.” All her brothers were built like their father, but Blue also shared his dark hair.

“I haven’t even introduced him yet.” Trish leaned to the side, giving Boone more room. “Boone, this is my family.” She pointed to each of her brothers as she introduced them. “Duke.” Duke nodded. “Gage.”

“Hey, sis. Hi, Boone,” Gage said. “Nice to meet you. Ignore Duke’s scowl.”

“I’m not scowling,” Duke said.

Cash laughed. “Dude, you’re scowling. Boone, I’m Cash. I’d prefer to shake your hand, too.”

“Hopefully we’ll be able to do that soon,” Boone said.

“Mom, Dad, this is Boone,” Trish said with a wide smile. “Boone, Andrea and Ned, my awesome parents.”

“Sorry we’re not there to greet you properly,” Andrea said. “But it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Her father waved. “Nice to meet you, son.”

Trish’s chest warmed at the unexpected endearment.

The sounds of car doors alerted them to the arrival of the crew. “I have to hurry. The crew is arriving, but I wanted to introduce you guys to Boone.” She leaned back and motioned to Boone, who smiled and waved. “And to tell you not to worry about what the press says about his background. He’s not the guy they all think he is.”

“What kind of guy
are
you, Boone?” Duke asked.

Boone gazed at Trish with an easy smile, like it was the simplest question he’d ever heard. “The kind of guy who adores your sister.” He turned back to her family and said, “And the type of guy who’s also close to his family.”

“Uh-huh,” Duke said skeptically. “And while you’re with Trish, you’re done with the other women?”

“Duke!” Trish chastised him at the same time his fiancée, Gabriella, peered over Duke’s shoulder.

“Hi, everyone. Boone, I’m Gabriella. Please ignore my overprotective fiancé. He’s hardly one to talk.”

“Seriously,” Jake said, his face bouncing in and out of the frame. “Who cares what he was like before Trish? This is real simple. You hurt Trish, we hurt you.”

“Boys,” Ned said in a firm voice. 

“That’s okay,” Boone assured him. “I’ve got a sister. I get it. I have no intention of hurting Trish.”

Several crew members came in through the front door, bringing a cacophony of commotion with them.

“We have to go. The crew has arrived.” Trish rose to her feet, bringing the laptop with her.

“Wait, Trish,” Blue interjected. “How long are you in West Virginia?”

“Two weeks,” she and Duke said at the same time.

“How’d you know?” Trish asked.

Duke’s sly grin gave his answer. Her eldest brother had connections in every industry. He’d probably already done a full background check on Boone.

“Duke, seriously?” She shook her head.

Her mother laughed. “Oh, honey, he worries about you.”

“Boone? Chuck’s looking for you.” Zoe’s voice entered the room before she did. Her blond hair was pinned up in a messy bun. She touched her headset and spoke into it. “Got him. We’re coming.”

“Guess I’ve got to run. It was nice meeting you all,” Boone said to her family. “After we’re done filming, let’s try to grab dinner or something?”

“Looking forward to it,” her mother said sweetly.

“Thanks for taking the time to meet us, Boone,” her father chimed in. “Good luck on the movie. Trish, we have to sign off, honey. We’ve got breakfast with the Wilkinsons in ten minutes.”

“Okay. Love you guys,” she said to her parents.

“See you later.” Boone gave Trish a quick peck on the cheek and followed Zoe out the front door.

Trish carried the laptop upstairs as she spoke. “Sorry, guys, but I have to get out there, too.”

“Wait, Trish. How serious is this?” Cash asked.

Serious enough that I should thank you for the first-aid kit
. If she told them the truth, they’d ask her ten more questions. “I don’t know. Pretty serious.” She set her laptop on the bed and slipped her feet into a pair of sandals.

“Why this guy?” Duke asked. “You can have any guy. Why do you want the one with the troublesome past?”

“Sorry, Trish, but I’ve got to chime in here,” Cash said. “What makes you think he’ll treat you any differently than any of the other women he’s been with?”

“You guys haven’t even met him in person yet,” Gage said to their brothers.

“He’s right,” Blue added.

She heard the front door open and footsteps on the hardwood floors.

“Trish, makeup is looking for you,” Zoe called from the bottom of the stairs.

She bent to look at her brothers. Jake was still going in and out of focus. Gage and Blue were looking at something off camera, and Cash and Duke were watching Trish like a hawk.

“Trish? Costume needs you before makeup!” a male voice called up the stairs.

“I’m sorry. I’m running late. I don’t have time for these questions right now. Love you, but I have to run.” She signed off before they could protest, feeling guilty for cutting them off but relieved at the same time. As she hurried downstairs and out the front door, she wondered if she’d been conditioned after all these years against feeling the
brother guilt
as strongly as she once had.