Flirting With First Read online

  Cole started walking toward the door. “Let’s hang out at my place.”

  “Oh, yeah! I’m going in Cole’s car.” Sawyer headed for the door.

  “I didn’t bring it. The limo’s here.”

  “Mine too.” Trista called out.

  Everyone divided between the two cars and headed to Cole’s. Trista rode with Levi, Sawyer, and Ryker.

  Sawyer pointed toward a hill far ahead on their right. “He’s got the best house, up there on the hill.”

  “Yeah, he can’t sell it.”

  “Why would he need to?” Trista felt sad he might lose such a beautiful location. She knew how difficult it was to find such a place in the LA area.

  “Oh, well, it might not be news yet. But he’s moving teams.” Sawyer glance at Ryker who nodded.

  She shrugged. “Maybe you told me that already. It’s so hard to keep up with everything. Your schedules, your lives, your teams.”

  Levi raised his eyebrows.

  “You’re doing great.” Ryker winked at Trista. “You don’t call them field goals anymore.”

  “Oh stop. They’re gonna think I’m an idiot.”

  “Not when you do a pi recitation tonight.”

  “Hush.”

  “What’s this?” Sawyer leaned forward. “Pi recitation? As in the number?”

  She could have smacked Ryker. “How do you even remember I do that?”

  “Uh, it’s kind of memorable.”

  Sawyer’s eyes twinkled. “PI recitations? Did she now!”

  “Oh stop. Yes. I have a quirky hobby.” She looked away, hoping they’d drop it.

  “Which is what exactly?” Sawyer was openly interested, and Ryker’s eyes showed nothing but respect.

  “I memorize the digits of the number pi,” she admitted. “You know, from geometry?”

  Sawyer frowned and then a lightbulb went off. “I’m finishing up my degree right now, and I do remember 3.14, right? Only it repeats forever after that.”

  “Yup.” Ryker’s grin was full of pride. So she guessed she’d be alright. She was used to people picking on her for it, and she was so accustomed to needing to play a part for her career that she didn’t know what to do with her weird hobby being discussed so openly.

  “Our Trista here has a whole bunch of it memorized.”

  She shrugged. “Math is kind of my thing.”

  “Wow, so acting is like a side hustle, but math is your real love?”

  She thought about it for a moment. “Yeah. That’s right. But acting pays the bills.”

  Sawyer sat back. “Totally. After today, I think there’s something to this. I just pitched at a wall for about ten minutes, and they’re sending me a sweet check.”

  Trista sipped from her water bottle. “True. Remember though that they aren’t just paying you for those ten minutes, they’re paying for your reputation, your skills. And those took a lifetime to develop.”

  “You’ve got one smart woman there, Ryker.”

  “Oh, she’s not mine. Believe me, I’d never call myself so lucky. But I’m sure happy when she agrees to spend some time with me.”

  Her stomach twisted in an unhappy knot. Again, he was friend-zoning her. All the time, always making sure their relationship was never defined. Never established. She almost sighed out loud.

  Sawyer bit back a smile, which she found curious. Axel had said Ryker was into her. Maybe she’d get some deets out of these guys.

  They pulled up in front of Cole’s house. “Last one in!” Levi shouted and took off running.

  “What?” Trista asked.

  “Swimming. “Cole’s got a sweet infinity pool, very warm. Come on, I’ll show you around.” Ryker put his hand on her lower back, and she leaned closer to him. Maybe they were going to be together tonight, not just a part of the group.

  His breath tickled her neck, his lips close to her skin. “How are you at Ping-Pong?”

  She had to laugh. “Ping-Pong?”

  “Yeah, you know…” He mimed a paddle hitting a ball.

  “Yes, I know what it is. I’m okay at it. I beat my brother all the time growing up, but it’s been awhile.”

  “Hey, Cole,” Ryker called.

  Cole turned around and lifted an eyebrow.

  “Trista here says she can totally whop your fanny in Ping-Pong.”

  “What? I did not—”

  “Shh.”

  She laughed when Cole cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders. “Sounds like there’s some kind of gauntlet out, Sunshine.”

  Ryker nudged her. Was he trying to set her up with Cole? “Oh yeah? Well, let’s see what you got.”

  Cole waved to a girl across the room. “Bonfire, we’re in need of your skills.”

  “What? Bonfire?”

  “Yeah, that’s Harlow. She’s from Belltown too.” He turned back to the girl. “It’s us versus them.”

  Relief washed through her. Trista was on Ryker’s team. That made a whole world of difference. “Okay, let’s do this.” She stood on tiptoe to reach his ear. “I've got a killer serve.”

  Did she imagine it or did the hairs on his neck stand on end? Hiding a large triumphant smile, she swung her hips on the way to the table, where Cole and a beautiful woman with white-blond hair were razzing each other.

  Ryker stood at her side. “Don’t mind them. Just two of the most competitive people I’ve ever met.”

  “Woah, that’s saying a lot in our present company.” Trista laughed.

  “Yeah well, be warned.”

  “You sure about this game?”

  “Oh yeah. It’s time someone put the Big Dawg in his place.”

  She snorted. “And they’re the most competitive?”

  He swung his arms in circles and then and faced the pair across the table. “It’s moments like these I can’t help but remember the words of Yogi.” He cleared his throat. “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.” Then he winked and served the ball.

  “Wait, what?” Cole snorted. “That does not make sense.”

  “Half the stuff our Rabbit here says doesn’t make sense.” Levi joined them.

  Grizz approached on the other side. “We can’t even be sure Yogi actually said that.”

  “Works on base.” Ryker slammed the ball back to Cole, who returned it. The ball flew faster and harder between the two of them, and she would have laughed, but she knew any minute it would come to her. Then Cole missed a return.

  “Dawwwg.” Harlow shook her head.

  “Rabbit’s out for meat. Did you see his serve?”

  “He’s got nothing on us. Now get ready.” Harlow winked at Trista, who didn’t know what to make of this woman, but she suspected she’d like her.

  They played two out of three and then three out of five and then would have done five out of seven, but at last Trista and Harlow held up their hands. Harlow high fived them both. “I’m Harlow by the way.”

  Trista smiled. “Pong first, introductions later?”

  “Exactly. I’m happy to meet you. Our Belltown group could use some new faces.”

  “Thanks. Happy to be here.”

  The group moved into the sitting area and took spots on the couches. Ryker saved her a seat in the crook of his arm, and she thought this might be one of the most perfect nights she’d had, until Ryker said, “Guys, did anyone catch the latest spread with Trista? She went out with Trevor Dayton.”

  “The new Spiderman?”

  “The very same.”

  Trista felt uncomfortable. She wanted to nix any speculation right then, but what could she say? Her agent wanted people to suspect there might be a budding romance between the two of them. She wanted to get her a spot in one of the next comic movies.

  “Oh that? He’s nothing special. Not like you guys.”

  Cole puffed out his chest. “Here that gentlemen? Nothing like us.”

  “I think she means, nothing like our Ryker here.” Grizz kicked Cole. He winked. “Well, darling, we hav
e a few stories about Rabbit that might be of interest.”

  She leaned forward. “Now you’re talking.”

  Chapter 4

  Ryker groaned. The guys laughed, and Grizz leaned forward to match Trista’s interest.. “See, most people don’t know that Ryker here is our secret weapon.”

  She brushed against him, and he loved the feel of her so close.

  He lowered his fingers lightly graze the soft skin on her shoulder. Then he nodded. “It’s ‘cause I’m so fast…”

  Grizz pointed at him. “You are fast. I’ll give you that, Rabbit.” He winked at Trista. “But the truth is the man has uncanny luck.”

  “Oh boy, here they go.” Ryker winked down at Trista’s upturned, beautiful face. Wow, her eyes were blue. Stunning, light, and wide with approval. Maybe she was falling for him after all.

  “It’s true.” Axe Man looked from Ryker to Trista and nodded approval.

  Ryker winked.

  “See, he has this lucky rock.” Levi waited, and when Ryker didn’t pull it out, they got the picture. No lucky rock sighting yet. “And one game he left it in his locker instead of in his pocket where it belonged.”

  “I don’t know what I was thinking.” Ryker shook his head. “Worst idea ever. I think it was ‘cause coach was really after me to catch the low fast ones and he’d had me out there early, running after grounders for a couple hours. Anyway, I was stressed.” He remembered that day all too well. He’d never felt more pressure to do well.

  Grizz crossed a leg on his knee. “So, we had our worst four innings in Belltown history. No one was on their game. Sawyer’s pitches were all over the place. Cole dropped a ball in the outfield.” His two friends cringed while Levi continued, “And coach was furious.

  “After a long inning, the other team was up by astronomical amounts. Ryker rushed back into the locker room and grabbed his lucky rock.”

  All the guys sat back with huge smiles of satisfaction. And the room was quiet for a moment while Ryker relived the awesome memory.

  Trista tapped his knee, sending tingles of electricity through his skin. “What happened?”

  “Only the greatest comeback in Belltown history.” Grizz laughed. “I couldn’t believe it. All of a sudden, we were getting on base. Levi hit one out of the park. Every one of us scored before the other team finally took their turn at bat.”

  Sawyer rubbed his hands together, and the guys laughed. Ryker watched their faces as they told the story. He loved these guys. “And then Sawyer started throwing pitches so fast Grizz had a hard time catching them.”

  The big catcher coughed.

  Sawyer grinned. “Okay, Grizz catches everything I throw at him.”

  Grizz waved his hand. “Point being, if Rabbit’s around and he’s got his rock, miracles happen.”

  Trista laughed. “Really? ‘Cause doesn’t he always carry it…”

  “She doubts.” Levi shook his head. “One time he and I were in Vegas. Both our teams were playing each other, so we went to the Strip.”

  Ryker held up a hand. “Gambling is deplorable. I don’t recommend it.”

  “Which is a royal shame. Because he walks by this one machine, shrugs, puts in a coin, and the thing starts blaring, lights flashing. He won the biggest prize of that month. Ten thousand dollars.”

  “What!” Trista laughed. “That is incredible.”

  “There’s more.”

  Ryker shook his head. “I think we’re good.”

  Levi laughed. “Oh no. We’ve only just started. What about the time you were visiting the assisted living center and won at bingo, like every time. The ladies started fighting over who got to be your partner.”

  Sawyer held up a finger. “Or when you were up against the pitching menace, Doug McCann. He was striking out everyone, one after the other. And just as you get up to bat, the guys sits for the relief pitcher.”

  Ryker had been thrilled about that move. He’d never been so stressed to be up at bat against the fastest, angriest fastball in the league at the time.

  Axel toyed with the tassels on a pillow. “Or what about when we ran into the girls’ softball team—”

  “Okay, alright.” Ryker held up his hands. “I’m lucky. I admit it. Some of us live off of skill and brains…” He indicated Trista, and she blushed furiously. Interesting. “But I live off the lucky rock.”

  Cole shook his head. “Come off it. We all know you’ve got major skill. It just makes us feel better to blame it on the rock.”

  “Woah, did Cole Hunter just admit something right there?” Ryker held his hands up. “It sounded almost like humility.”

  They all laughed, and Trista joined in. Her laugh tinkled with happiness and sent ripples of expectation through him.

  Then Cole shrugged. “I’m happy to admit Ryker here is the fastest guy out there. But let me tell you the last piece of luck that needs to be shared.”

  They all watched him.

  Cole took his time, eyeing each of them. “What guy do you know who, while sitting in his hotel room after an away game, gets a phone call.” He nodded, pausing. “Not just any call, but a call to set him up with a stunning movie star at her premier red carpet event?”

  Trista’s face lit and she turned to Ryker. “Do you feel like you were lucky?”

  Axel grunted. “Cole finally getting his head on straight was a huge boon for us all.”

  The guys talked more, but Trista grew quiet. Ryker wondered if he was pushing the friend thing too far. In truth, he didn’t know what he was doing. He could tell the guys thought he was an idiot. But they were all better at the whole relationship thing, and he didn’t know how to navigate the world of famous women.

  The more he and Trista spent time together, the more he knew he wanted her in his life, but that meant he needed to keep her around as long as possible so that he could convince her that she wanted the same thing.

  Cole nodded. “Well, once you’re a part of us darlin’, you’re in. If you ever need anything here in LA, you let me know.”

  Ryker stiffened. He knew Cole was only being generous, but Ryker had no idea how Trista felt about being left by the guy at the red carpet. Would she always wish she’d finished the night out with Cole instead of himself? Typically when women were given a choice between him and Cole, they picked Cole. Every time.

  Trista placed a hand on Ryker’s knee while she answered Cole which did all kinds of things to Ryker’s insides.. “Thanks Cole, sweetie. I’d love to catch lunch sometime, but I’ll be spending a lot of time out in New York.” She turned to Ryker, the insecurity in her expression more obvious than ever. “And Baltimore.” Her eyes met his, asking something. He opened his mouth to let her know he’d love to see her at a game but was interrupted.

  “Oooh. Gonna start wearing blue, are you?” Grizz grunted. “I suppose it was bound to happen.”

  They razzed her for a few more minutes. And Ryker wasn’t sure where to take things. More than anything, and way too early to try such a thing, he wanted to find a quiet moment and capture that mouth of hers in his own. But was it time? Was she ready for that? Could he handle the new protectiveness that would wash over him?

  When everyone looked like they were slowing down, and people started calling it a night, Ryker whispered, “Can I walk you out?”

  She nodded.

  They were quiet, the others nodding as they made their way out of the rec room to the front door. “So what’s it like, to act out a scene?” Ryker stuck his hands in his pockets.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Does it feel real? Are you really living this stuff?”

  “Oh, sort of, not really real, but I try to find a part of myself in the scene.” She searched his face. “But like all the mushy stuff? That’s professional.”

  He nodded. “I watched you in Falling for Andrew.”

  She groaned. Her first movie. Cheap all round.

  He rocked back and forth. “I got kind of jealous of the dude.” The corner of his mouth lif
ted in a half smile. She stepped closer, eyeing his lips like she might be thinking something.

  “Don’t be jealous of any of my co-stars.” She rested a hand on his arm. “Though I kind of like the thought of you jealous…”

  “Do you?”

  She nodded. “Sort of, I mean, not really.” Her face turned a fascinating pink. “I don’t know what I’m talking about. You don’t need to worry about the co-stars though. Everyone always thinks there’s something there.”

  “Means you’re doing something right on camera I guess.”

  “I guess.” She kicked at a tile then looked up into his face, vulnerability clouding her expression.

  “Come here, you.” He tugged at her to bring her closer.

  She melted into his arms. “Thank you, Ryker. Anytime you want to get together, just give me a call.”

  “Unless you’re in Iceland.”

  “Well, true, but then I’ll send pictures.”

  “Do they call that friends with benefits?”

  She sighed. “No, that’s something completely different.”

  What did she mean by that? No benefits, or no to them being friends? He needed help. Maybe he’d call his sister, Bree tonight. His sister could talk sense into him when no one else could.

  “You asked if I thought I was lucky, getting that first set up?”

  “Mmm. Yes, were you?”

  He reached up and brushed a hair off her forehead, letting his finger trail along the soft skin of her face. “I’m not sure yet, but I think that moment might have been my luckiest.”

  One side of her mouth lifted. “Now I like the sound of that.” She stepped closer. “So, Ryker…” Her words purred out of her.

  Shivers of desire rose up in him like he’d never felt around her before. Oh boy. He was in trouble.

  He cleared his throat, still holding her close, close enough to kiss, close enough to hold again. Close enough his brain stopped working. .

  She stepped back a half step. Her gaze searched his face, lingering on his mouth, and he knew what she wanted.

  Her smile started slow, full and mesmerizing as he watched it grow. “I’m asking again, like you said. What’s it gonna take to get to first base with you?”