“Did you tell them about—”
I shake my head. “I told Maggie that she and Shane needed to make sure they were being extra careful with the kids.” I pause. “They’re diligent about keeping them out of the media. It’s what my dad wanted. I only told her I’d received some threats.”
Ryder doesn’t say anything.
I don’t know if she’s thinking or if I blew her mind, but I decide to push a little. “Tell me about your sisters.”
She stiffens at the mention of them, and I’m afraid the thick shield she wears will slip back into place.
I was shocked when she asked if we could have dinner with Tracker and his wife, but she’s getting an inside look at every detail of my life. Tonight, I’m getting a chance to see part of hers.
With the little bit I’ve learned about Ryder, this has to be damn important for her to bring me to dinner with her family. Something warmed deep inside my chest that she was trusting me with this.
“Jamie runs a coffee shop and does all the baking. Vanessa is beyond brilliant and owns a tech security company. Lyla. . . You’ve probably seen her. She’s an influencer and model. And Jos is in training.”
Training.
I wonder if that’s the same kind of training Ryder endured.
“And they’re all aware I’m—”
“It’s kind of a family business. They understand the rules and the risks. You don’t need to worry.”
I don’t get a chance to ask clarifying questions when we pull onto a gravel drive leading to a large ranch-style home.
We park next to a BMW and an F-150. Ryder hops out, while I wonder what kind of friendly fire waits inside.
“Hold on.” I jump out, and Ryder stops. “Shouldn’t we have brought a gift or something?”
“We went in on one together. Van has it.” She stares at me, and that almost smirk appears again. “Come on, Matthews.”
She heads inside, and I don’t waste time catching up.
We enter a living room with a sectional and a flat screen hanging on the wall. Ryder marches through to a large, bright kitchen with a massive island and a group of women surrounding it. They all stare as if they weren’t expecting us.
Ryder holds up her hand, stretching between them to grab a carrot stick off a tray, utterly unaffected by their wide gazes. “We needed some air, and we weren’t followed.”
Her gaze flicks to mine as she chews. “Track, TJ. You guys have met.”
The two men stand in the corner holding beers, one eyeing me like I’m his number one enemy.
“The rest of you. . . ” Five pairs of feminine eyes run over me. “First, quit being weird and gawking like you haven’t been internet stalking him.”
Smiles and smirks break free.
“This is Cole. Cole, this is Hope.” She points to a woman with short, light brown hair stirring a pot on the stove.
She gestures to the women sitting on stools. “These drama queens are Vanessa, Jos, Jamie, and Lyla.”
I recognize Lyla, but we’ve never met. I’ve seen her at different events, but I’m shocked to see her here.
Hope breaks the silence. “Well, come on in. Don’t be shy. None of these yahoos are.”
Ryder pulls out a stool and sits. She looks at me, waiting for me to do the same, so I drop onto the seat beside her.
“So, Cole,” Lyla leans forward to see me. “Is Ryder making your life a living hell with all her rules?”
“This guy lives by rules and a strict regimen,” Ryder shoots back, eyeing me as she bites into a cracker. “You’ll have to leave the clean diet behind tonight, Hotshot.”
