Loe raamatut: «Riding Into Love»

This book is dedicated to my Hero, Les Flagler.

Thank you for sharing me with my passion.

Acknowledgments

As always, I must start by giving honor to my Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ for the gifts and blessings he has given to me. Now, for everyone else who has been an integral part of this amazing journey: my editorial team, Glenda Howard and Shannon Criss, thanks so much for investing in me. To my agent Sara Camili, I hope this “marriage” lasts forever! To my author-girlfriend, Zuri Day, and my fellow Harlequin Kimani Romance writing sisters and brothers, thank you for your acceptance. I love being a part of this amazing network. To Brenda Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, Donna Hill and Jacqueline Thomas, thank you for always being the wonderful women that you authentically are. I adore each of you. To my street team, thank you for helping me spread the word. To LaSheera Lee, thank you for your professionalism. You rock! To Les, my boo, my friend, my hubby and my biggest cheerleader, thank you for being fantastic. To my kids, Les, Milan and Laila, you are my inspiration. I hope I impress you. To my siblings, my gals, readers and book clubs nationwide, thanks a gazillion! Where would I be without your support? I dunno! Bryant Carrington, thank you so much for helping make this story authentic with all the super cool information about the world of motorcycles and racing. I sure hope I didn’t leave anyone out. However, if I failed to mention your name, please know that I thank you and love you, and that you rock!

Ciao!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

Alana stormed into Payne, Tate and Associates, the law office she now shared with her best friend, Cadence, marched into her personal office and slammed the door behind her. Tossing her purse and laptop bag on the chair, she paced, her hands parked on her hips as she tried to control her heaving chest. She mumbled inaudibly before a light tap followed by Cadence’s cautious entrance brought her out of her personal rage fest.

Cadence quietly walked in and closed the door behind her. “What’s gotten you so uptight this morning? You blew through here like a tornado.”

“I can’t believe he did this!” Alana waved her cell phone in her hand before snatching her bags from the chair and placing them on the large cherrywood desk. She flopped into the chair.

“Who did what?” Cadence sat in one of the two chairs facing Alana’s desk.

“James!” Alana sucked her teeth. “Can you believe that jerk broke up with me by text! By text!” she yelled. Her voice cracked. “Such a freaking coward! He said he can’t do this anymore. He needs space. I smothered him too much.”

“That’s horrible.” Cadence reached for Alana’s hand.

Alana sighed. “Things have changed between us recently. I don’t know what happened.”

“Alana! You didn’t tell me that.” Cadence’s hand went to her heart.

“I know. That’s why we didn’t show up last Sunday for the dinner you and Blake had to celebrate Hunter and Chey’s engagement. He was supposed to show up at three. By six, he still hadn’t returned my calls or responded to any of my texts. I was so pissed that I wanted to throw my phone but decided he wasn’t worth the deductible I would have had to pay to get it replaced if it broke. I didn’t hear from him until ten that night. I was furious.” Alana’s hands were balled into fists.

“Ten o’clock! Are you serious?” Cadence stood. Now she paced. “That—”

“Exactly!” Alana pounded her hand against the desk and stood too. “I said to him, ‘Listen, Jackie,’ which you know is my code word for jackass, and I lit into him so bad he was quiet for, like, a full minute before he spoke again. All his idiotic behind had to say was sorry. No viable explanation. Nothing! After being together for almost a year, I deserve more than just a weak apology.”

Cadence’s mouth opened, but she said nothing. She closed it again, shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. Alana raged on about all of the follow-up arguments they’d had for the remainder of the week.

“Did you respond to the text?”

“I left him a nice-nasty message. If he can’t be man enough to end our relationship face-to-face or at least pick up the phone, then he was never man enough for me anyway. He just needs to lose my number and my address and forget my name.” Alana sat back down. She placed her elbows on her desk and rested her head in her hands. “I’m done. I don’t even want to date anymore. I think I’ll just put a band on my finger and tell any man who tries to hit on me that I’m married. I don’t even want to be bothered.”

“Oh no!” Cadence rounded Alana’s desk and sat on it. She gripped Alana by the shoulders and looked into Alana’s dejected eyes. “No matter what happened, you were always the one to remain hopeful. You always said your knight was out there waiting for you somewhere and you didn’t mind rolling with a few frogs to find them because you knew he’d be worth it.”

“I said that?” Alana chuckled.

“Yep. Always twisting up clichés to make your point, but I get it. I listened to you when you told me to keep living and practically pushed me on Blake.” Cadence snickered. “And now, look, we’re getting married.”

“Well, I was wrong. I’m sick of these damn frogs. Screw that knight. If he is so worth it, then why do I have to swim through all this filthy pond water to find him?” Alana clucked her teeth. “He needs to come find me, shoot! I’m done, Cay,” Alana said, calling her friend by the nickname she’d given her years ago.

“You can’t be done. What if your prince is next?”

Alana craned her neck and looked at Cadence incredulously. “What the hell did you do with my best friend? Surely you aren’t Cadence with all this ‘keep hope alive’ talk.”

“I’m serious, Alana. Don’t shut down. I did the same thing and it wasn’t fun. I buried myself in work to keep from being lonely, but the more time I spent alone, the more I thought about all that things that went wrong with Kenny and me. I’d gotten over him but didn’t get over the feeling of failing in my relationship. That’s why I avoided dating. When I listened to you and started dating Blake, it was as if I started living again—laughing again. Trust me. That’s not what you want. As outgoing as you are, you’d go completely crazy.”

Alana put her head down. Both were quiet for several moments. “I don’t know. This hurts so much. I thought he was the one, Cadence. I can’t go through this again anytime soon. I’d love to have what you’ve found in Blake, but I’m starting to believe that’s not for everyone.”

Cadence hugged Alana, pulled back and searched her eyes. “You want the truth?”

Alana looked forlorn. “Sure. Why not?” She sighed.

“You fall for men very hard and fast. You have so much to offer the right man, but you have to learn to ease into relationships. Otherwise you scare men off. Save it for the right one. He’ll deserve it and he’ll appreciate you.”

Alana breathed deeply and blew out an exasperated breath. Cadence was right. She hated to think of the number of men who’d left for the same exact reason. “So I need to be a little more discerning with my heart, huh?” Feeling raw, she chuckled timidly.

Cadence tilted her head sideways and nodded.

“I’ll think about it. I still believe I need to take a break.”

“Fine! Take a short one,” Cadence offered. “And then get back out there and keep on living just like you told me to do.”

“If I do get back out there, I’m going to keep my feelings at bay. If this next frog doesn’t deserve my love, I’m keeping it on lockdown. Also—” Alana held her finger up as if she’d just received an epiphany “—I won’t give him any of the good fruit! Not unless he proves himself worthy. This way, great sex won’t cloud my judgment. James was great in bed...” Alana closed her eyes and moaned.

“Uh...” Cadence interrupted Alana’s apparent moment. “I’m still standing here!”

Alana blushed and laughed hard. Cadence joined her and they could hardly stop themselves.

“See what I mean? Good sex will warp the mind, girl.” She chuckled some more. “And lastly, I need to steer clear of known players. I think I’m intrigued by the idea of snagging a player. James was a player at first, and I’m willing to bet that other women had something to do with the fact that he went missing without an explanation.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Yep, that’s it! I’ll take some time for me and get back into the game. No falling too hard too fast, no sex and no players. That should save me some heartbreak. No man will ever be able to say that I’ve smothered him again.”

“Good! Now, how do you feel?”

“I still feel horrible.” Alana frowned. “I’ll get over him—eventually. We actually had fun together.” Alana looked at the clock on her desk that was a gift from a client. “We’ve got work to do. These clients can’t represent themselves.”

“You’re right.” Cadence lifted herself from Alana’s desk and headed for the door. Just as she was about to walk through, she turned back toward Alana. “Oh, are you going to be free this Saturday?”

“I guess.” Alana shrugged.

“Great! Then you can come by. Blake told me this morning that Drew will be in town this weekend and he and Hunter are thinking about having a get-together for Drew’s birthday. Shall I count you in?”

Alana forced a smile as Cadence departed but didn’t answer. The last thing she needed after this unofficial breakup with James was to be in the same room as the most flirtatious Barrington ever. Drew was an international player. Alana had witnessed his techniques up close for years. She had even entertained his advances and dated him for a short stint, which didn’t end well. They made better friends. Admittedly, she enjoyed his flirting, but it was time for a change. Alana was done kissing frogs—especially gorgeous ones who were allergic to commitment and so skilled in bed that they could render her deaf and dumb.

Alana was also tired of heartbreak. Right there in her office, she made a personal vow to be more protective of her own heart. She wasn’t breaking her rules for any man—especially not Drew Barrington.

Chapter 2

“Hey, Ma!” Drew yelled as he strolled through the first floor of his parents’ spacious home on Long Island’s Gold Coast. “Ma, I’m home! Pop, where are you?”

“Drew, is that you?” Joyce came down the stairs as fast as her middle-aged legs could carry her. “Happy birthday, baby boy!”

“Thanks, Ma!” Drew wrapped his arms around his mother, lifted her off her feet and swung her around. He planted a big kiss on her forehead. “Where’s Pop?”

“I’m right here, boy!” Floyd carefully made his way down the winding staircase, taking one cautious step at a time.

“What happened to you, Pop?”

“Pulled another muscle at the gym trying to keep up with the young boys,” Joyce said.

When Floyd reached the landing, he gave Drew a bright smile and shook his hand and then pulled him in for a hug. “Happy birthday, son! Are you staying for a while this time?”

“A few weeks. I’m heading back to Europe in February to train for the first race of the season in March.”

“Oh, good. I can see more of my baby. I wish I knew you were coming. I would have had something here for you. I sent you a card. Did you get it?”

Drew nodded as Joyce headed toward the kitchen.

“Let’s have a nice breakfast. I just bought some sage sausages. I know how much you love them,” she said.

“Oh yes!” Floyd clapped his hands together and rubbed them greedily.

“Just one for you, Floyd,” she warned, pointing her finger at him. “You need to watch that blood pressure of yours. It’s been running high lately.” She directed her last sentence to Drew.

“How are you feeling, Dad?”

Floyd waved away their concern. “I’m just fine. I could still lay you out if I needed to.” Floyd put up his fists, bobbed and then weaved.

Drew looked at his mother with his brows raised and laughed. “Don’t worry, old man. I won’t put you to the test.”

“Stop teasing your father, boy. Let him think he’s still got it.” She winked at Floyd. “Well, actually he does,” she said, sauntering toward the counter.

Drew scrunched his nose. “That’s too much information.” They all laughed. “Ma—” Drew walked over to where his mother stood and placed his hand on her shoulder “—you always cook for me when I come. This time, I’d like to treat you and Dad to breakfast. Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

“No!” Floyd and Joyce said at the same time.

“I’ll drive,” Floyd offered.

“Yes. Let’s take your dad’s truck. My heart would be in my throat by the time we got to the restaurant if you drove. I wouldn’t be able to swallow my food.” Joyce went toward the foyer. Floyd was on her heels.

Drew scrunched his face again. “I don’t drive that fast.” Both Joyce and Floyd stopped walking to look at Drew. “What?” Drew asked incredulously.

Joyce peered at him over the rim of her glasses. “We won’t talk about that, sweetheart. Let’s go have a nice breakfast. I’m glad you’re here—in one piece!” The two of them snickered and Drew shook his head, chuckling at his parents.

He’d always had a penchant for speed, which is why he chose the life of a professional motorcycle racer over becoming an attorney.

The sanitation crew had plowed a narrow path down his parents’ winding block, but once they made it to the main streets, the roads were clear. Within ten short minutes, they had reached one of his father’s favorite restaurants for breakfast. Even at the early hour, the place was packed. Once they were served, conversation continued to flow without interruption.

“I’m thinking about buying a place in Manhattan.”

“Save your money and take the guesthouse. No one has used it in years.”

“Thanks, Ma, but I prefer the city and I need my own space.”

“Yeah?” Floyd said, taking in a forkful of pancakes. “What about your house in Brooklyn?”

“The dude I’m renting from wants to sell the place this year and even though I’m hardly there, he asked if I was interested in buying it. I’d rather buy in Manhattan. I plan to look at a few places while I’m here.”

“Will you spend more time in the States?” Joyce asked.

“It’s possible. I’m thinking about making some changes in the next few years.”

Floyd put his fork down. “You’re going to quit racing?”

“No.” Drew reared his head back. “Not yet. You know I just signed a new two-year contract with the Delgado team. I’ve been wondering what life after racing would look like for me. I want to begin preparing for that transition. There are a lot of options.”

Floyd nodded and picked up his fork. “I can understand that, and I’m glad to see that you’re thinking more about your future.”

“I was hoping you were quitting. It’s so dangerous. I worry about you so much. I can’t even watch those races on TV,” Joyce said. “Every time I hear about a crash, I cringe.”

Drew smiled and placed his hand over his mother’s hand. “There’s nothing to worry about, Ma. Don’t forget, I learned from the best.” He looked at his father and smiled.

“I’m always going to worry about you. You and your brothers with your adventurous spirits have given me fits over the years.”

“We get it from Dad!”

Floyd shrugged, unable to deny Drew’s statement. They got their proclivity for adventure from him, a biker himself.

“Have you thought about settling down? All this traipsing across the globe and high-speed races don’t leave much hope for grandkids. You don’t want to be old and lonely, do you? Both Hunter and Blake have managed to find nice girls.”

“I may get old, but I don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about being lonely.” Drew rubbed his chin. His father laughed, but his mother shot a narrow-eyed glare his way. “I’m just kidding, Ma. I’ll settle down one day—just not today.”

Drew paid the tab, but they stayed and talked for a while longer. They left the restaurant and he spent a few more hours with them before heading back to his place to change for a night out with his brothers. They were meeting at Blake’s condominium. As he dressed, he responded to various calls and texts from friends, mostly women wishing him a happy birthday. A few even offered to help him celebrate. One sent him a message with a picture of her lying across the bed with the words Happy Birthday written across her bare breasts. That gave Drew a laugh as he reminisced about the week he’d spent with her in Valencia, Spain, during the fall. The daughter of a Spanish dignitary, Lucia loved adventure as much as he did. She always made time to see him when his work brought him to her homeland, but his casual rendezvous with her was over.

Donned in all black with a fresh haircut and a sparkling diamond in his ear, Drew headed for Blake’s place. During the ride, he actually thought about calling Lucia. It wouldn’t take much for her to hop a plane and meet him for a birthday rendezvous. However, he had already planned to take care of a lot of business during his stay in New York and she would certainly be a huge distraction. He silently applauded himself for always being one to know his priorities. Occupied with all the thinking he’d done about his women and his plans, Drew made it to Blake’s in no time. One thing he did decide was that it was definitely time for some changes.

The snow crunched under Drew’s tires as he drove into an available space. He pulled his coat together at the collar, hopped out the car and ran to Blake’s door. Drew heard music and several voices and assumed his cousins were partying with them. Eager to get the night started, he rang the bell several times to pierce the chatter.

Blake swung the door open and, before Drew could say a word, the crowd behind Blake yelled, “Surprise!”

“Oh!” Drew’s hand covered his gaping mouth as he reared back. He bent over laughing. Hunter hugged Drew and then Blake pulled him in for a hug. Drew made his way through the crowd, greeting his guests. “Wait!” Everyone stopped and set their focus on Drew. “Does this mean we’re not going out?”

Blake swatted him on the head. “The party is here, fool.”

Drew sauntered over to the bar and grabbed a bottle of cognac and held it in the air. “Then let’s get this party started!”

The guests cheered. Hunter cranked up the music and Drew started dancing right where he stood. Cadence went up to Drew, danced with him for a moment and then hugged him, wishing him a happy birthday before heading back to dance with Blake. Still holding his bottle, Drew continued through the mass of folks, hugging, chatting and giving high fives.

Someone pulled his arm. Drew turned around to his ex Stacey, who attended prep school with the brothers before becoming a Wall Street executive and moving to the same complex as Blake.

“Stacey?” Drew said unbelievingly.

“Yep! I haven’t seen you in years. You’re looking good.” She nodded her approval.

“Thanks.” She smiled wide as Drew looked her over from head to toe, pleased with how well her curves filled her little black dress. He lifted her arm and twirled her around. “You’re looking pretty damn fine yourself, lady. What’s up with you these days?”

“I’m well. I’ve watched some of your races.”

Drew lifted his brows. “Really? That’s cool.”

They danced for a few songs as more guests arrived. When Hunter opened the door and Alana appeared in the doorway, Drew’s focus shifted instantly. Alana arrived alone. He watched as she walked in and embraced Blake, Hunter and Chey before walking off with Cadence. He admired her silky-straight hair as it gracefully framed her face and flowed below her shoulders. He watched her hips sway under her electric-blue dress and allowed his eyes to roam over her legs concealed in black stockings to the sexy pair of high-heeled riding boots. He imagined how sweet she must have smelled, remembering what type of fragrances she preferred. Drew continued to watch as she and Cadence disappeared behind the wall separating the kitchen from the living room and wondered if she had noticed him. Suddenly, he wasn’t so interested in Stacey’s whereabouts in recent years. He didn’t want to be rude, so he continued dancing and chatting with Stacey, but Alana had stolen his focus.