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Prologue
Ryker released an enormoussigh of relief as he climbed into his Lexus Sport, ready to head to Dallas for the Military Law Conference. A week of talking about one of his passions with professionals who lived it daily made him eager to arrive. The freedom of being off the clock and taking his suit jacket off was all that got him through the last couple of days. It was also a way to escape the situation he had been nurturing with Finley, his best friend Jac’s Marine baby nanny. He’d been attracted to Finley and, along with one of Jac’s agents, had been throwing his hat in the ring to win Finley’s heart, or at least in exclusive favor.
The last couple of weeks had been grueling, with many of his ongoing court cases appearing before the judge for some sort of action, but he was familiar with that kind of feast-or-famine existence. The tricky thing about this past week realized that all things considered, he and Finley weren’t a good match. They liked different things, and she was adamant she was not interested in having children, but Ryker was ready for them.
He wanted to move out of his condo and buy a house with the proverbial white picket fence. Only his place was more likely to be iron gated and wired for sound, but he could paint the iron white. His 2.3 kids could be four, and he’d be happy. Recently, he had said as much to Finley, who didn’t seem broken up about the fact that one of her would-be suitors was falling out of the race. If she were honest, she wasn’t looking toward parenting or a white picket fence. It was an amicable parting.
He didn’t have much time to look for women that might be his match, but conferences were good places to get out there and find someone who wanted what he wanted. With that in mind, he headed for Dallas. It was early Saturday morning, and he’d pulled onto the highway; only thirteen hours to go. His plan was to pull into the parking lot in Dallas tonight at dinner time, check-in, have dinner, sleep twelve hours, then enjoy a leisurely Sunday reconnecting with friends. Monday was day one of the four-and-a-half-day conference, ending on Friday morning.
***
DOG-TIRED AND CONTEMPLATINGskipping dinner for a bed and sleep, Ryker parked his car. He closed the roof he had opened once arriving in Dallas because the traffic had slowed down. Still lots of it, but slower. Not rush hour or holiday busy. Getting out and stretching his legs, he wondered if it wasn’t time to look for a roomier vehicle, something more practical. He’d keep this one for fun drives, but for extended drives and daily work. Hemight look at something he didn’t feel poured into at the end of a long day.
His legs and torso were long, but more than that, he worked out for stress relief, and he’d needed plenty of that lately. Reaching into the trunk to grab his suitcase, he heard what sounded like a scuffle in the parking garage. Sounds were louder and carried well in the covered area, so he listened, and when he didn’t hear anything else, he closed the trunk. Another sound, only this one was a scream.
He threw his bag under the car, not taking the precious time to return it to the trunk, pocketed his keys, and patted his phone in his pocket to locate it, just in case. As he raced for the sound, he looked around and saw clothes flying in the air. Then an open suitcase was swung, connecting with the man in front of a scared and pissed-off woman.
Racing, Ryker dove for the man and connected; the momentum and size of his body threw the attacker to the ground. He pulled out his camera, took a picture, and asked for a hair tie, which the woman produced with shaking hands. He twisted the man’s wrists in the figure eight of the hair tie. Ryker straightened.
“Th-thank you. I’ve called the police,” said the woman. Ryker reached around her, trying to pick up her clothes off the ground. She joined him.
“Do you know this man? Ms.?”
She reached out her hand. “Oakley Addison, and no. I don’t even live here. I’ve just arrived for the conference that starts on Monday.”
“Military Justice?”
“Yes,” she said as she nodded her head. “Mr.?”
“Sorry, Bennett. Ryker Bennett. What did he want?”
“He never said. Just grabbed me, then yanked the bag from my hand and started throwing clothes around, saying something about consequences and ruining people’s lives.”
“And you’re sure you don’t know him?”
“Positive. Maybe he has a mental health problem.” She looked at the very subdued man still on his belly. “He’s suspiciously calm for a man waiting on the police.”
“It does seem odd. Are you sure you’re all right? I would have expected you to be more upset.”
“I imagine it hasn’t set in yet. I will probably process this when it’s all over with when I’m in my room tonight.” She paused. “Nice cuffs, by the way.”
Ryker grinned and shrugged. “I have some DIY friends.” He took a surreptitious glance at the woman before him and was impressed. Too impressed. He was attracted, and not in the needy, anyone-will-do kind of way, but she appealed to him. The way she stood, the fearful irritation she exhibited. And she had won the lottery in the gene pool. His cock, which had been on vacation for a while, reacted to Oakley Addison as though she were the answer to his prayers.
Soon, a Dallas police car pulled up, and two officers stepped out. The attacker was immediately placed in the cop’s car, and after giving statements, the two officers left with their charge. Quicker than he expected, but Ryker was glad it was.
“Well, thank you for being a good Samaritan. I don’t know what the man wanted, but I’m glad it’s over. Can I pay for your dinner tonight?”
“Dinner is unnecessary. I’m glad I was close by. However, I would enjoy your company at dinner.”
“I would be very lousy company tonight. But I can send a message to cover your dinner for you.”
“Don’t. No thanks are necessary. I’m heading to bed because it has been a long day. I started early this morning, and after your little adventure, I’m pretty tired. I’ll walk you to the lobby if you let me stop at my car and pick up my suitcase.”
When they approached his car, Oakley laughed. “Your case is under your car?”
He shrugged. “I had to ditch it quickly, so I tossed it under the car.”
“But someone could have taken it.”
