Divine Awakening Read online

  Yep, she was a real catch. No wonder he didn’t call.

  At ten-fifteen her cell phone rang and she jumped over her couch with the skill of a gold medalist to answer it. The dogs ran behind her, thinking she was playing. When she read the name on the screen, her heart fell.

  “Hi Frank.” She walked back to her room, swatted Castor’s nose when he nipped at her ankle, still wanting to play.

  “Hey kiddo. Didn’t figure you’d be up.”

  “I was just going to bed,” Avery lied as she unzipped her dress and let it slip to the floor.

  “Tomorrow your day off?”

  “Yeah. I plan on sleeping in so don’t bug me,” Avery teased and she could hear Frank chuckle. She made him hold long enough to slip on a camisole. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Am I hot?”

  Whatever Frank had been drinking got caught in his throat. He choked and coughed. “Where the hell did that come from? You nearly made me spew my beer.”

  Avery flopped down on the bed and put her arm over her eyes. “I just mean, if you weren’t like my freakin’ brother, would you think I’m attractive?” The dogs jumped up with her and licked her face and arm. At least these guys loved her.

  There was a long pause on the other end of the phone. “Uh, Avery, it might break this platonic code we got goin’ on, but I think you’re the prettiest damn thing this side of the Mississippi.”

  Leave it to Frank to heal the bruises on her heart. Why couldn’t she be attracted to him? It would make her life so simple.

  But you don’t want simple, do you? asked a small voice in the back of her mind.

  “So if you were to ask me out, you wouldn’t forget to call me and cancel?”

  Frank let out a heavy breath. “Hell. I see. Who is he?”

  “It’s no big deal. I just met him today.”

  “Brenden’s friend? That underwear model lookin’ guy?”

  Avery chuckled and told him about their meeting. He teased when she told him how she’d dropped the mug and banged her head on the table.

  “It sounds really stupid, but I thought we had a connection.”

  “You don’t ever have connections,” Frank stated with a hint of sour grapes in his tone.

  Avery stood and paced her room while she vented. “I know. But I felt something, Frank. I can’t explain it. He acted like he really wanted to go out with me. Jeez. I’m so gullible. What a joke, right? Did you see him? Izzy called him a walking orgasm inducer.”

  “Hold that thought, I have to vomit,” Frank deadpanned.

  Avery laughed. She was probably talking to the wrong person. “You don’t want to hear this. I’m sorry.”

  “Naw, it’s fine. He sure was a tall sucker. No stranger to the gym. I guess you think he was shit on a stick, huh?”

  Avery giggled. “Yeah, Frank. Something like that.” She paused, remembering the way her breath had stilled in her lungs when Ryse smiled. Then she rubbed her hand over her heart that now ached with his rejection. “This is why I never date. It hurts too much to risk it.”

  “Wow kiddo, you really wanted to see this guy.”

  She could hear the bewilderment in his voice.

  “I’m tired of being alone, Frank. I know I have you but . . .” She couldn’t say what she wanted to in fear of hurting his feelings.

  “I get it Avery. We’re not strangers to this conversation. You need a guy that trips your trigger.”

  “I need a guy that can pick up the freaking phone. That way I’m not sitting at the house all night waiting on him like a schmuck.”

  “Aw, give him some slack. I’m sure he had a good reason.”

  Avery stopped pacing and examined her face in the mirror. She rarely wore makeup. Tonight her eyes were smoky with shadow, her cheeks pink, and lips red with gloss. Efforts spent on a man who didn’t even call. “Honestly Frank, I don’t give a damn to hear it.”

  She washed the makeup off her face, put her hair in a braid, and curled up with her pillow, the dogs sleeping at the foot of her bed. At least Castor and Pollux would never leave her. She went to sleep wishing she could get the color of Ryse’s eyes out of her head. What else had she expected from a man like that? He probably had women in every state and two in Texas. There was no room in her life for a player. Her heart was too valuable—and too vulnerable.

  Frank rolled over at five a.m. to see who the blue blazes was calling him. “Billings here.”

  “Frank, forgive the early hour. But I need to speak with you.”

  The minute he heard that voice, he knew. This was the muscled dirt bag who hurt his best friend. “You’ve got some balls calling me.” Frank sat up and scrubbed a hand down his face.

  “I am deeply sorry and I plan to make it up to her, you have my word.”

  “You want to make it up to her? Never show your face in that café again, alright?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that Frank.”

  “You’d better try. She waited all damned night on you. If you think she’s one of these flunkies that will fall into bed with you, you might as well pack up and move on.”

  “I am aware that Avery is a woman of integrity. It is not my intention to get her to—fall into bed with me, as you put it. I would try to court her properly.”

  His language caught Frank off guard. Who the hell talks like that in Texas? “You’re not from around here, are ya?”

  “No, Frank. I’m not.” There was humor in his voice.

  Something tugged in the back of Frank’s mind. It was something Avery had said the day he’d found her cowered in a corner of her living room. She’d been wrapped in a blanket, her clothes covered in blood. Two men had broken into her home, raped her, beat her up, and left as quickly and mysteriously as they came. She’d been twenty at the time. The police had no leads, no forensic evidence left behind from the attackers, and no idea how they could have covered their tracks so thoroughly.

  “They said I was no good to them now. They wouldn’t come for me because I was impure.”

  At the time it was gibberish mumbled from the mouth of a hysteric woman. For some reason, Frank had a hunch this proper talking stranger and that attack were connected. But was this a friend or foe?

  “What are your intentions, son?” Frank hated how much he sounded like an old man the instant the words crossed his lips. How many times had his father asked that of his sister’s boyfriends?

  There was low laughter on the other end of the line. “It’s been a long time since anyone but my father has called me son.” He paused. “I have only her best interests at heart. You have my word. I have regrettably disappointed her and I will right this situation, with or without your help. But it would expedite the process if I have your permission to pursue her. Your opinion means a great deal. I would never want you to feel uneasy about my actions toward her.”

  Yep, this joker was something out of this world. His gut churned and Frank knew that something monumental was about to happen to his best friend. For most of their adult life, he’d been her go-to guy. He might not have a ring on her finger, but she belonged to him. He’d bought her two German Shepherds and those dogs were like their kids.

  Yet, the one time he and Avery had kissed in a romantic way, there had been no spark—at least not for her. She was waiting for something, for someone who would change her world. Frank’s biggest fear was that she would find a man to do just that.

  He pinched his eyes together, gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. What if this was the guy? This one was different. What if he was the man who made Avery complete in a way Frank couldn’t?

  “Damn it. I can’t believe I’m doing this. You don’t deserve her, you’d better get that through your skull real quick.”

  “I know.”

  “If you want to get in Avery’s good graces, here’s what you do.” Frank told Ryse the secrets to winning Avery’s favor. When their conversation was over, Frank stared at the dead phone. Ryse had promised to pro
tect her before hanging up. It was an odd choice of words, but Frank knew that was exactly what Avery needed.

  “I’M COMING!” AVERY yelled as she threw on her robe to answer the front door. Castor and Pollux were barking and her head hurt like hell. It might have been from crying herself to sleep the night before, but she wouldn’t admit it.

  Today was her only day off all week. Whoever had awakened her at six in the morning better be bleeding or have the last name Depp.

  When she opened the door, her body froze. Standing there in all his beauty and glory was Ryse. Jeans and black cotton had never turned her on so quickly. Then she remembered sitting by the phone all night and her chest ached again. Only when she recalled that pain did she look away, her jaws clenched up.

  “What are you doing here?” she bit out, hiding her body behind the door.

  “About last night, something came up and I couldn’t—”

  “Save it. I don’t care. I lived a perfectly happy life before you blew into town and I’ll live the same happy life after you’re gone.” She tried to shut the door, but Ryse stopped it.

  He held out a bundle of blue roses. They were the most exquisite things Avery had ever beheld. Where on earth did he buy blue roses before six in the morning?

  “Please,” he begged. “I’m truly sorry I hurt you.”

  Avery didn’t move. She didn’t know if she could. He actually regretted ditching her?

  Ryse stepped forward and slowly touched her cheek. “Let me in?”

  Why did it seem he was asking entrance to much more than her house? His eyes peered straight into her soul and warmth spread over her body. Again she inhaled his scent and quivered. Her physical being was magnetically drawn to him. Everything in her mind relaxed and she felt safe. Her eyes veered down to his lips.

  Perfect. They called to her, begging to be kissed until her body leaned in a fraction.

  Castor and Pollux barked, demanding attention. It was just the snap back to reality she needed. Ryse was a drug and she required a serious detox. He bent down and addressed the dogs. They came quickly to his outstretched hand, vying for his affections. Avery gave Ryse their names and he shot his eyes to her face.

  “Interesting choice.”

  “They were gods or something. I read about them. Thought they were unique.” Avery crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly remembering she was in nothing but a camisole and a robe. “Look, why don’t you call me later and—”

  “I brought food. Ingredients, actually.” He rose to his full height and turned to reveal grocery bags sitting on the porch behind him. “I heard you’re a phenomenal chef and you favored breakfast.”

  Damn it. Someone had informed him. “And what little birdie told you that?”

  He had the decency to give her a sheepish grin as he tugged on the collar of his shirt. “Frank.”

  “Frank?” Avery blanched. Well, wasn’t that a shift in the fabric of the universe? Last night Frank had been ready to rip Ryse’s head off.

  “Will you make me leave hungry, Avery?” He peered at her under those thick lashes and her insides softened. He was playing dirty.

  Frank would pay for this.

  She narrowed her eyes and her lips thinned into a straight line. “You set things out in the kitchen while I get dressed.” She poked him in the chest. “Don’t make me regret trusting you a second time.”

  There was no way this could end well, and yet she showed him to the kitchen where he unloaded groceries. Never had she dressed so quickly. Her hair was still braided and she let it be. There was no time to tame the wild mass of brown curls. Before she entered the kitchen, she took a deep breath and prayed she wasn’t setting herself up for another heartache.

  Ryse could feel her unease as she came back into the room. Her movements didn’t betray her though. Avery was the master of her kitchen and she shooed him out of the way.

  He had to make amends. Last night had been unavoidable. Once he and his men returned to their makeshift headquarters, Cutter, who stayed behind to keep eyes on Avery, made Ryse watch the video from her house. Seeing Avery pace around her house in that sexy black dress had killed him inside. When she finally gave up and went to sleep, Ryse could barely stomach himself. He’d disappointed her. Whatever it took, he would make it up to her. Even if he crossed every line there was.

  “So,” she said curtly. “What was so important you had to blow me off?”

  Well, well. She wasn’t going to give a man an inch, was she? Ryse was ready with a partially fabricated alibi. He sat down at the bar and watched her work.

  “I don’t know if Brenden told you why I’m here, but I’m a bounty hunter of sorts.”

  She raised a brow in his direction.

  “The department called in my team because they believed a serial killer is in the area. We’ve been chasing him; we’re familiar with this M.O. Last night we came close to catching him. It was time consuming.”

  “Who’s he after, cows? Cause that’s about all there is around here.”

  “Young women between the ages of twenty and thirty,” Ryse said with a hard tone so she would know he was serious. He wasn’t about to tell her that the trail he and his men followed last night came within three hundred yards of her house then appeared clear across town.

  He also didn’t presume this was a good time to say the bounty he was after wasn’t completely human. Minor detail.

  Her face fell. “Oh.” The message was received. Being as stubborn as she was, she still wasn’t going to let it slide. “They have phones at the station, you know. There’s not an officer up there that doesn’t have my number.”

  Ryse shook his head. “You’re not going to let me off easy, are you?”

  She turned around and put one hand on her hip. In her other hand was a knife. “Why should I? Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a female business owner in this town? Sometimes I feel like I live in the Wild West, not modern day Texas. Men ‘round here either call me ‘sugar’ with sexism drippin’ off their tongues or they think I’m some kinda he-woman. The pool is limited. I don’t accept date offers from anyone, but I did from you and look what I got back.”

  Gods have mercy, she was beautiful when she was riled up. And that accent! How was he supposed to resist such a strong woman? What had Frank advised? She’s used to being in control. Say things that throw her off balance.

  “You’re incredibly intimidating when you are angry and holding a cleaver. It’s attractive.”

  It must have worked. Avery’s eyes widened before she blushed and turned back to the ingredients sitting on her counter top. “Don’t say things like that, especially if you’re just blowing smoke up my skirt. I don’t need pretty words. I need sincere actions.”

  Ryse laughed. “Heavens woman! I can’t compliment you. I can’t apologize. Will you not allow me to make amends at all? I’ll beg.” He threw his hands up in the air and they fell to his knees with a slap.

  Immediately Castor and Pullox came over and sniffed him, wanting to play. “See, they forgive me. Don’t you boys?” He scratched their heads and gave them a good rub. “Dogs have an uncanny sense about people. You can’t argue with it.”

  Avery rolled her eyes and pink colored her cheeks. “They also chase their own tails. They’re not the brightest bulbs on the tree.”

  Ryse gasped and covered Castor’s ears. “She didn’t mean it, boy,” he whispered to the pooch.

  She tried not to, but she laughed. Ryse stood right in front of her. She looked up to his face. The laughter stopped and she swallowed hard.

  “I apologize.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her right cheek. She sucked in a breath; her body trembled. He moved to her other cheek. “I’m sorry.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m an inconsiderate jerk. I plead for forgiveness.” Then he shocked the poor girl and gently kissed her lips.

  Sensation threatened to drown him. He could taste the mint of her toothpaste, the sweetness of her skin. She smelled of fruit and sugar and some
thing much more carnal. It was all he could do not to deepen the kiss, flick out his tongue, and demand entrance to her mouth.

  May the gods help him, he had no idea it would be this way. All his life he’d avoided physical contact with others. Given his occupation, it was easier that way. But Avery’s inspiriting presence had him breaking all his personal rules. Kissing her was his greatest gift and his greatest mistake.

  Before his body could overrule his brain, he pulled back. The whimper she let out nearly brought him to his knees. Her chest moved up and down with every short breath and her eyes remained closed even after he pulled away.

  “Do you forgive me?” Ryse whispered against her lips.

  “Uh-huh.” The entranced response made him smile.

  Avery clutched the countertop behind her so hard her knuckles were white. Ryse reached down and took her hands, massaging the blood back into them. He used a tiny fraction of his aura to warm her fingers. Avery studied his face.

  “You should put those flowers in water, love.” When she continued to stare at him, he thought he’d made a mistake by kissing her. “What?”

  “You shouldn’t have this effect on me.”

  Curiosity ate him alive. “What do you mean?” He stepped back to give her room. Ryse made sure his aura was locked up tight. Giving himself away could be a problem. Avery had no idea what he was and he didn’t want to tip her off. His pulse spiked in anticipation of her answer.

  Did she sense him after all?

  IN THE LAST fifteen minutes, she had run the emotional gamut. Ryse was overwhelming to be around. First she was pissed, then shocked, then excited and now she wanted to put a lot of distance between them before she jumped him like a horny teenager. There was something so familiar about his presence. It spoke to her of companionship and desire. It made her believe she could trust him.