Ryder (Resisting Love #2.5)(2)

“You could stay with your parents? Or Layla?” I suggest in a hopeful voice. I love my cousin to death but living with her may drive me a little insane. I know she wouldn’t want to stay with her parents, she and her mother don’t exactly see eye to eye. Tee is a free spirit but her mother would rather she stayed in Perth, close to family. I really wouldn’t mind her friend spending a little time in my apartment, though.

“I’m avoiding mum and her lectures, and I don’t want to interrupt Layla with that man of hers. I haven’t even met him, so it would be awkward! That means that you’re the lucky one who gets me.”

Saying that, she walks off and starts exploring the apartment. I look at Lexi, who has a slight smile on her face, clearly amused by Tenielle’s sass.

“Is it okay if we stay? I assumed Tenielle had already asked. Which is apparently not the case,” she says dryly.

Fuck, her voice is sexy. Husky and just a little rough. I clear my throat, realizing that I have been standing here staring at her for a few moments too long.

“No worries, of course you guys can stay. You’ll have to share the guest room, though.”

“That’s fine. We’re going to start looking for places straight away,” she says simply.

“It’s no problem, really,” I tell her. My eyes stray behind her, where I notice a guitar case on the floor next to her suitcase.

“You play?” I ask, intrigued. She nods slightly, ducking her head. “I’m impressed. You’ll have to let me hear you sometime,” I say excitedly. Women that play instruments are sexy.

“I’ve heard about your band. Tee says you’re ‘the shit’,” she tells me, her heart shaped cupid bow lips turning up.

I smile smugly. “You should come by and listen to us.” I would love showing her what I do best. Well, what I do second best.

“I think I just might do that,” she says as she absently toys with a lock of her hair. I’m so turned on by that husky voice, it does things to me.

“Do you sing, too?” I ask, curious. She blushes, but I have no idea why. “I guess I’m alright, but I don’t like to sing in public.”

I nod, remembering my own first time on stage. I was nervous as hell but that only lasted for the first song. “Stage fright?”

She shrugs. “Something like that. I’d rather be in the background, playing an instrument. I get nervous as hell singing in public. I did it once, and never again.” She shudders like she’s remembering the moment.

“I’d love to hear you sing, if you’re not too shy. I’m only one man,” I say with a grin. She rolls her eyes and scrunches her nose, which I find completely adorable.

“I’ll think about it,” she says thoughtfully.

“I’m very patient, Lexi,” I say, my eyes not leaving hers.

We both just stare at each other in silence for a few moments. I notice her amber gaze stray to my nipple ring and her breath hitches. Oh yeah, she definitely likes that. I unconsciously take a step closer to her and I watch as she does the same.

“This is going to sound weird, but…” she starts to say, but a knock on my door interrupts her. I throw a scowl in the direction of my door, annoyed by the interruption.

“Hold that thought,” I say quickly. She nods. I walk the few steps to the door and pull it open, hoping to get rid of whoever it is. I take a step back when a scantily clad blonde jumps into my arms and fuses her lips to mine. I detach her from me as soon as I can, but by then the damage is done. Shit. I totally forgot about the girl coming over. I glance behind me to find Lexi gone. Fuck.

“What are we waiting for, Ryder?” Shania or whatever her name is purrs in my ear. Instead of getting me excited, the sound makes me cringe.

“Change of plans, my cousin is over, so you need to leave,” I tell her in a whisper, gently pushing her towards the door, and closing it shut after she’s past the threshold.

*****





Chapter 2


Lexi

I sit on the guest room bed and watch my friend unpack all of her things like she’ll be staying here for a couple of months rather than just a week.

“We need to start looking for a place ASAP, Tee,” I tell her. After seeing Ryder with that mysterious blond, clearly we’re in the way by being here. I should’ve known he wouldn’t be single. He’s too gorgeous to be anything but taken. But seriously, I haven’t been this attracted to a man in a long time. Not that it matters, since he’s clearly unavailable. I inhale deeply and relax on the bed.

“Yeah, Lexi, we’ll start looking tomorrow. Today I just want to relax, I’m tired as hell.” I nod in agreement, exhaustion finally catching up to me. We'd flown to Perth after spending a week in Melbourne. Before that we were backpacking in Europe. Now we're back for good or until Tee’s wanderlust gets a hold of her again.

I met Tee in Greece and we bonded instantly. She was the new girl at the bar I was working in and I had to show her the ropes. I couldn’t believe she was from Perth, too, because most of the Australians I had met over there were from Sydney or Melbourne. The rest is history. I can’t really explain it, but we just get each other. She told me she wasn’t going to Perth without me, so here I am.

I’ve heard a lot about Ryder from Tee. From what she said, he's loyal, protective, loving, and incredibly talented. He's a family man, but also a player; he gets around. Apparently, he's a talented musician, well known locally as a bad ass guitarist and front man for his band ‘Morning Alliance’. Naturally, that makes him a favourite with the ladies. Whatever moment I thought we had was obviously a figment of my imagination. A girl can dream though, right?