Bossing the Billionaire: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ryder's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) (9 page)

CHAPTER TEN

Blake sucked in her breath. “What did you say?” The words came out
in a whispered rush. It wasn’t even that she wanted him to repeat the words.
The shock was that Ryder had a story that sounded like it was even worse than
hers. “She was...pregnant?”

Ryder gave her hand a squeeze and then he got up and walked over to
the sideboard, his back to her. “We’d been together four years. We were engaged
and planning to get married next year. Then she got pregnant.” Ryder stopped
and for a long while there was silence. He was so still it looked like he
wasn’t breathing. Then he shook his head. “I can’t believe I was over the moon
when she told me.” Another silence then his shoulders sagged. “Until two days
later she worked up the courage to tell me the baby wasn’t mine.”

“Oh, my God.” The whispered words slipped out before Blake could
stop them. She didn’t have to guess at Ryder’s devastation. She could see it in
the way he lowered his head and in the way he gripped the edge of the
sideboard. Ryder was hurting and it tore at her heart to witness his suffering.

Not even pausing to give it thought, she got up and went to him and
laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. She didn’t say anything. Sometimes words
were not enough. With her touch she was telling him that she was there.

The strange thing was, once she’d heard of Ryder’s pain her own
feelings of hurt and loss slid into the background and all she could feel was a
new protectiveness toward him. It really wasn’t her affair but she just wanted
to make things better.

“Let’s go for a walk,” she said softly. “I think we’d both do good
with some fresh air.”

Ryder nodded then turned and took her hand. His face looked
surprisingly calm but Blake was not fooled. Beneath that placid surface a storm
of emotions raged. The pain reflected in his eyes said it all.

They walked in silence, out of the house and into Peggy’s backyard
garden. After the intense conversations in the dining room it was the right
place to be. Peggy had filled the yard with shrubs, herbs and abundant flowers
of a variety of hues and fragrances. The soft breezes of the Texas night
stirred the leaves of the trees that stood sentry at both ends of the back
porch and lined the outer edges of the garden.

Blake and Ryder walked slowly along the garden path, still holding
hands, drawing in the soothing sensations and giving themselves over to the
spirit of the garden. They made it to the concrete bench at the bottom, to the
arbor, and there they sat down under the outstretched branches of an old oak
tree.

It was only when they were sitting that Ryder finally released her
hand. “Sorry,” he said with a crooked smile. “I didn’t mean to crowd you like
that.”

“You didn’t.” She smiled back and then she tilted her head to look
up at the deep, dark velvet of the sky above. Her smile widened. “We’ve got a
crescent moon tonight,” she said. “They call it the waxing crescent, which
means we should have a full moon in about three or four weeks. And look at the
stars.” She sighed. “There’s nothing so beautiful as a starry night in Texas
Hill Country.”

His body relaxed against the arm of the bench, Ryder tilted his head
to follow her gaze. “I see Ursa Major,” he said, “and Leo Minor.”

“Where?” She turned to glance at Ryder and then peered back up at
the sky. “How can you figure them out?”

“I was into astronomy when I was a kid. I even joined the astronomy
club in high school.” He reached up to point at a blur of stars on the other
side of the sky. “And over there’s Cygnus.”

“Cyg…what? Where?” Blake was frowning now. She couldn’t see a thing.
No forms, no patterns, nothing. How did Ryder make them out? She got to her
feet so she could get a better look. “Where is it?”

Ryder got up, too, and came to stand right behind her then he took
her hand, raised it to the sky and used her finger to point. “It’s right over
there, a constellation of four brilliant stars, standing together. Do you see
it?”

He was standing close, his body almost touching her back, and the
warmth of his nearness was too distracting for words. She was having a hard
time breathing. “I…don’t know,” she said, her voice breathless. “I’m…trying to
see it.” She swallowed, her nerves jangling, her heart pounding so loud she
began to fret that Ryder could actually hear it. “Is it those stars over
there?”

Ryder’s arm circled her waist and he tilted her back against him,
making her gaze fall farther north. His arm was still stretched out along hers
and he shifted her hand and her pointing finger ever so slightly. “It’s right
there,” he said. “Do you see it now?”

Jesus, she was leaning back against him, her body pressed against
his, the muscles of his torso imprinted on her back. How the heck could she
concentrate on constellations and stars and the heavens when all she could see,
all she could feel, was Ryder Kent? “Yes,” she whispered desperately, “I see
it. I see it now.” Which, of course, she didn’t. She just wanted him to bring
his arm down so he could wrap both of them around her. She wanted him to turn
her around and kiss her and make her see stars…not the ones in the sky but the
ones that shot off like fireworks when you touched lips with that special
someone who could make your body turn electric.

And then, like he’d read her mind, or maybe he was feeling it, too –
the sparks of electricity that were making her gasp – he did turn her around,
to gaze down into her eyes. “May I kiss you?” he asked, his voice soft and low.

She drew in her breath, her eyes half-closed. “Yes,” she whispered
back. “Please, yes.”

And when he lowered his head she was ready. He touched his lips to
hers and the electric sparks ignited into a fire that made her reach her hands
up to cling to him.

As if her reaction was the permission he’d been waiting for, Ryder
tightened his arms around her and his tentative touch now turned insistent. He
molded his lips to hers, tempting her, teasing her until her lips parted with a
soft sigh and she gave him entry. It was what she’d wanted all this time. It
was what she craved. More than that, it was what she needed.

Blake gave herself over to Ryder’s kiss, melting in his arms,
feeling like this was where she was meant to be. As he kissed her she held
nothing back. It didn’t matter if her response revealed her deepest secret. She
didn’t care if he could feel her longing to hold him close, her ecstasy that
she was now in his arms. She just wanted his kiss to last forever.

But all good things had to come to an end and soon, much too soon,
Ryder was releasing her lips and lifting his head to gaze down at her flushed
face. Thankfully, he did not release her from his arms. “Thank you,” he said,
his voice quiet and his face serious, “very much.”

Now how do you respond to that? No man had ever thanked her for a
kiss. Not knowing what to say she just gazed back at him and when he smiled she
dropped her eyes and rested her cheek against his cotton-covered chest. It felt
so good that a tiny shiver ran through her body.

“Cold?” Ryder ran his warm hands up and down her arms, making her
shiver again. He had no idea that her shivers had nothing to do with the
evening air.

“Come on, let’s get you warmed up inside.” He put a hand on her
shoulder to turn her toward the pathway and as they walked toward the house he
rested his arm gently around her waist.

Blake leaned into him, reveling in his warmth and his strength.
Maybe it was because they’d both shared their stories of trauma and betrayal.
She didn’t know what it was and she would not question why. All she knew was
that it felt so natural to be with Ryder, to have him there by her side.

As they stepped onto the porch he released her and held the door
open. “You go in and relax,” he said. “I’ll do the cleaning up.”

Blake could only smile. He was such a gentleman, almost too good to
be true. He’d made her get past all the baggage she’d thrown out on the table
and now she was at peace.

But then his next words threw freezing-cold water on her mellow
mood.

“We’ve got to head back to Beaumont’s soon,” he said. “I have to hit
the road early in the morning.”

And although she’d known he would be leaving, it was a reminder she
could have done without.

After what they’d shared tonight, how could she bear to let Ryder
go, knowing she might never see him again?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Cut them off,” Ryder said, his voice cold. “If they want tough
we’ll give them tough. I’m not in the mood to play games.”

“You’re sure you want to do that? That’s a couple of million we stand
to lose if we cancel the deal.” Phil Bennett, Ryder’s second-in-command, gave
him a look tinged with doubt. “Maybe we should give them more time.”

Ryder flashed him a glare of impatience. “We had an agreement. We
signed on the dotted line. I’m a man of my word and if I committed to taking
the supplies from those dairy farmers I’ll honor my commitment. But I’m not
going to sell their stock to a retail chain that suddenly decides they’re going
to jack up prices because they can. We agreed on an intro price so consumers
could try the new brand. If they’re going to back out of our agreement then
forget them. I’ll sell my dairy products elsewhere.”

Phil tightened his lips. “It’s only like three cents, Ryder. Surely
you can overlook that. The consumer won’t even feel it.” Then he shook his
head. “I mean, come on. It’s not peanuts we’re talking about if we lose a
couple mill.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m no fool. I’ve got alternative markets already
lined up.”

Phil heaved a dramatic sigh. “Don’t scare me like that again.”

Ryder grinned. “You should know me by now, Phil. When have you known
me to be rash? Now ruthless, I can do that when the situation calls for it, but
rash? Never.”

Phil chuckled and began to get up to leave but then he paused. “By
the way, there’s something I should tell you.” He cleared his throat, looking
slightly embarrassed. “Something of a personal nature.”

Ryder frowned. “Yes? What is it?”

Phil sat forward in his chair as if he wanted to get close enough so
he wouldn’t have to speak loudly. “It's Miss Ebbinghaus. She came by while you
were away.”

Ryder’s frown deepened. “Karin? Did she say why?”

Phil shook his head. “No, but she said it was very important that
you call her upon your return. She didn’t say anything else.” Phil cleared his
throat again. “I don’t get it. Why didn’t she just call you? Is something
wrong?”

The man was fishing now, prying into matters that were none of his
business. He knew that Ryder and Karin were involved and his curiosity was
getting the better of him. It didn’t matter that Ryder had known him almost
twenty years, from the days when Phil used to work for his father. When it came
to his personal life, that was where the conversation would end.

He jerked his head toward the door. “Thank you, Phil,” he said, his
voice cold and his look just as frigid. “That will be all.”

Without demure the man got up and left the room. As he closed the
door behind him Ryder expelled his breath and sat back in his chair.

So Karin had come looking for him. By now she should have heard through
the grapevine that he was back in town. She would be back, he was sure of it. If
there was one thing he knew about Karin Ebbinghaus it was that she didn’t stop
until she got what she wanted.

But what the heck she could want from him when she was expecting
another man’s child, he had no idea.

It was a question for which he had no desire to get an answer. 

***

“Don’t you ever do that again, staying away so long. You leave town
and you send me a postcard? Your own mother? What ever happened to a good old
phone call?” Magdalena Kent gave Ryder a disapproving look and then she spoiled
it when she opened her arms wide and gave her son a broad smile. “Come give
your mama a hug, you wicked boy, you.”

Ryder was only too happy to oblige. He walked into his mother’s arms
and when she gave him a fierce squeeze he groaned in exaggerated agony, hoping
he would make her feel just a little bit guilty. He didn’t. She squeezed even
harder and then she stepped back to peer up into his face. “You look well,” she
said, looking satisfied, and then she cocked her head to one side. “Are you?”

“I’m fine, Mom.” He gave her a quick nod then stepped back before
she could corral him and drag him off to some place where she could grill him
properly. Mother Kent was famous for digging the deepest secrets out of her
four sons and Ryder wasn’t up to the challenge. Not today. It was Sunday and
all he wanted to do was relax and enjoy the quiet peace of Westside. It was one
of the tiniest towns in Iowa and his parents had decided to leave the busy
bustle of the city and retire there. They loved it, being in a town where
everyone knew everyone else and it wasn’t hard in a population of just over
five hundred.

Ryder glanced over his mother’s head and down the hallway. “Where’s
Dad?”

“He’s in the den, playing with our brand new grandbaby." Mother
Kent was beaming as she said the words.

“Ridge and Lani are here already? I thought I beat them to it.”
Ryder set off down the hallway. There was a new baby in the family, his nephew,
and he was eager to meet him.

“No, they got here early,” Maggie said to his disappearing back. “A
whole hour ago.”

“Cool,” he said over his shoulder, “I’m going to check out the
baby.”

“Make sure you wash your hands first.”

Ryder stopped in his tracks then turned to head back to the powder
room. On his way he gave an exaggerated sigh. “Mothers. They can be so-”

“What did you say, young man?” Maggie was heading toward him but he
veered off just in time to escape into the bathroom.

“Nothing, Mom.”

He heard her chuckle outside the door. “I thought so.”

When Ryder got to the den it was to find Bill Kent sitting in the
La-Z-Boy chair, gingerly holding his grandson on his lap. When he walked in his
father looked up.

“He’s so tiny,” Bill said with such a look of stress on his face
that Ryder almost burst out laughing. His dad was clearly way out of his depth.

He went up to him and bent over to peer down at the tiny bundle in
his father’s arms. He gave a soft whistle. “He really is tiny. How do you take
care of something so little?”

“You let Mother Nature guide you, I guess. You just do it.” Bill was
speaking in hushed tones, almost whispering, as his grandson slept in his arms.

“So where are Ridge and Lani?” Ryder glanced out the window but the
backyard looked empty.

“They’re in the guest room, fixing up a temporary crib for Leon. I’m
holding the fort till they come back.”

Ryder gave his dad a smile of encouragement. “With the way little
Leon's sleeping it looks like you’re doing a pretty good job.”

His father nodded slowly, as if to accept the compliment. “I try.”

When the brand new parents came back to the den Ryder gave Lani a
hug and then he had to endure a bone-crushing embrace from his brother. “Okay,
so you’re bigger than me and you’ve been working out. You don’t need to rub it
in.” He flexed his shoulders, trying to get feeling back in his arms. “You’ve
got a tiny baby to take care of now. You need to start practicing something
called gentleness.”

“Not where you’re concerned, little bro. I’ve got to shake you up a
bit. You’re always too serious.”

“Ridge, leave your brother alone.” Lani reached over and slapped her
husband on the arm. “Just because you’re an inveterate joker doesn’t mean he
has to be.”

“Yeah, Ridge, leave me alone. Listen to your wife. She wields a big
stick.” Ryder was laughing as he ducked and shifted away from the cuff aimed at
the back of his head.

Lani shook her head. “You’re such big kids. May I remind you that
you’re both in your thirties? Time to grow up, guys.” The baby gave a soft mewl
and she glanced over at him. “Okay,” she whispered, putting a finger to her
lips, “get out of here before you wake the baby.”

Ridge jerked his head toward the door and both men left mommy,
granddad and baby to bond. They headed for the rec room where Ridge immediately
walked over to the pool table and picked up a stick. “Ten bucks says you can’t
beat me.”

Ryder gave a snort. “Make it twenty and you’re on.”

It didn’t take Ryder long to whip his brother soundly. He stuck his
hand out. “Pay up.” Then he scowled. “And don’t give me that age-old story
about not having any money on you. That game’s old and tired and ready for the
grave.”

“This time I really don’t.” Ryder patted his trouser pockets for
emphasis. “Lani’s got my wallet.”

“Yeah, and you expect me to believe that.”

“Well, it’s the truth. You can ask her. I’ll pay you when we get
back to the den. Promise.”

“Mmhmm.” Ryder still didn’t believe a word of it but he wasn’t going
to press. “Forget about it,” he said with a wry grin. “Since you’re a brand new
daddy I’ll let this one slide.” Then he flopped down onto the nearby sofa and
put one foot up on the soft cushion.

Ridge stayed by the pool table and propped his behind on the edge.
“So what about you?” he asked. “When are you going to get back on the
bandwagon? You fall off the horse, you get right back on. Know what I mean?”

Ryder gave a noncommittal grunt. That was as much as Ridge was going
to get out of him. Tact had never been his brother’s strong point. Although his
brother didn’t know the reason, he was aware that his engagement to Karin was
off. It would take a guy like Ridge to bring that up. “I could do with a
drink,” Ryder said to him, ready to change the subject. “Bring me a beer, will
you?”

To his surprise, Ridge stood up and without protest he headed off to
the kitchen, leaving Ryder alone with his thoughts, at least for the moment.
And right then he was wishing he could pick up the phone and call Blake. It had
only been a week and a half since he’d left Pequoia but he was missing her like
hell. But his longing was crowded out by another thought that was far from
pleasant. It had nothing to do with Blake and everything to do with that one
person he was trying hard to forget.

Knowing Karin as he did, he could tell something was up. The fact
that she’d gone looking for him meant that things weren’t over, not as far as
she was concerned.

And that could only spell trouble.