Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,7

if she thinks that just because she’s the only one I’m fucking right now she can dictate what I do.

Not happening, darlin.’

Pulling into Kent’s driveway, I grab the bag of snacks and wait at the front of my truck for Stephanie. I’m not a total dick. Knocking once on the door, I walk in since it’s an open invitation at all of our places. We’re family.

“Hey, hey!” I call out. A chorus of the same greets us as we walk into the kitchen.

“Stephanie, right?” Mark asks.

She looks surprised that he remembers. “Yeah.”

“Welcome. You play poker?” Kent greets.

Fucker, he knows she doesn’t. I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“No.”

The look on her face is priceless. She looks as though we just asked her to sleep with all five of us or something. That’s something else that I’ve begun to notice about her. She’s Miss Prim and Proper, never taking time to just relax—that is, of course, unless we are in the bedroom. All other times, she’s so uptight. She needs to learn to let loose every now and then; life is too damn short to be so serious all the time.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. We can show you,” Seth says, throwing his arm over her shoulder.

She looks to me—for what, I don’t know. “I’m good,” she says, shrugging off his arm.

“Suit yourself. We all set?” I ask.

“Yep,” Tyler confirms, grabbing a bowl of chips and setting it on the table.

“Pull up a chair, or the living room is through there if you want to watch TV,” I tell her. Her mouth falls open. What did she expect? I’m not going to coddle her. She’s not my girlfriend, and frankly, I don’t like this side of her.

She rolls her eyes and stomps off toward the living room.

“Whose deal?” I take my seat at the table.

“Trouble in paradise?” Mark asks.

“Paradise? You know the score, brother. Deal em.’” We spend the next two hours playing cards, eating, and shooting the shit. It’s not until I hear Stephanie clear her throat that I remember I brought her. Shit!

“Are you ready?” she asks. Her arms are crossed over her chest and she’s tapping her foot, a scowl on her face.

So it was a dick move to forget she was here, but come on. She chose to separate herself from us. Looking at the time, I see it’s going on nine. “Yeah. This is the last hand.”

She looks irritated that I don’t just stand and leave, but we’re in the middle of a hand. It plays out quickly, with Seth raking in the winnings.

“We’re out,” I say, standing and stretching. “See you ladies in the morning.” I look over at Stephanie. “Ready?”

She doesn’t reply, just turns and walks out the front door. The guys chuckle, and I can’t help but laugh with them. She’s being a diva. I wave over my shoulder as I follow her out to my truck.

“Just take me home, Ridge,” she barks.

I don’t dignify her bitchiness with an answer, just put the truck in drive and take her home.

I pull into her driveway and don’t bother turning off the engine. She’s pissed, and honestly, I don’t care.

“I wanted to ask you something, but you were too caught up with the boys to spend any time with me.”

That’s a red flag. We don’t really call it ‘spending time together’—we eat and fuck, that’s it. “Well?” I say, prompting her to continue.

She blows her hair out of her face and takes a deep breath. “There’s a gala next week. It’s a big deal, showcasing my designs. I don’t want to go alone.”

Well, fuck me. “What day?”

“Friday.”

“Time?”

“We need to leave my place at seven. It starts at eight, but I want to be there early.”

I think about the bet. Shit, it’s the least I can do. I’m on the home stretch, and soon our time will end anyway. “Yeah, what do I need to wear?”

Her face brightens. “A suit?” she asks.

“Got it. See you then.”

She hesitates. “You want to get together this weekend?”

No. “I’ve got a lot going on with finishing up the Allen job. I don’t think I’ll have time. I’ll pick you up at seven on Friday.”

She doesn’t bother with a reply as she climbs out of my truck. I keep my headlights on her door and wait until she’s inside to leave.

Four more weeks.

Chapter 3

Today has been one disaster after another. First, the job we bid on over on Southern Avenue called to let me know we were underbid. I have plenty of