Appeal to You (A Beyond the Cove Novel Book 3) Read online




  Appeal to You

  A Beyond the Cove Novel

  Copyright © 2019 Jaclyn Quinn

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Cover design by: Cate Ashwood Designs

  Editing done by: Tribe Editing

  Proofreading provided by: Allison's Author Services

  Interior Designs by Morningstar Ashley of Designs by Morningstar

  Interior Design and Formatting provided by: Flawless Touch Formatting

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without express written permission from the author, Jaclyn Quinn, author. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places and events, the names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Other Books by Jaclyn Quinn:

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  All products and/or brand names mentioned are registered trademarks of their respective holders/companies.

  This book contains off-page references to sexual and physical abuse of a minor.

  To the boy whose story broke my heart…I’m so sorry the system failed you and so many others.

  To those who have opened their homes and hearts for the sake of a child who had no one else, you truly are heroes.

  https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

  Ryder walked down the short hall of his friends’ home, pausing outside the bathroom door. Leaning against the opposite wall, he shoved his hands in his pockets and waited for the door to open. When it finally did, he was met with the glare he’d become used to. Why this guy thought that look was going to change Ryder’s mind was beyond him. It hadn’t worked for the past… Hell, it had almost been a year since Ryder had first met Avery Hamilton. He didn’t want to think about that time in their lives. At least, not until he had to.

  “Did you seriously follow me to the bathroom?” Avery snapped, and fuck, the guy was sexy when he scowled. Good thing, because Ryder had a knack for making him angry. It had become one of his favorite things to do, just to see that well-defined jaw tick and those blue eyes flare with irritation.

  “Now, why would I do that?” Ryder pushed off the wall to stand right in front of Avery. He was a couple of inches shorter than Avery—a fact he loved about the stubborn man. They faced off, Avery standing his ground as he usually did. Ryder stared at his golden blond, perfectly styled hair and itched to grab hold and yank the man closer. God, he smells good.

  Something else flashed in those blue eyes. Avery could try and claim it wasn’t a mutual attraction, but Ryder knew better. The man took a step closer to Ryder. “Because after a year of rejection, you’d think you’d get the hint and back off.”

  Ryder stepped even closer, loving that the man didn’t take a step back in order to keep space between them. No…he held his ground and remained close to Ryder, and that was the hint Ryder chose to take. You fucking want me, too. He didn’t bother to say the thought out loud, knowing Avery would deny it. Instead, he answered the man’s question the same way he’d answered the first one. “Now, why would I do that?”

  “Someone needs to knock you down a peg or two.” Avery’s voice was deep and, at the moment, raspy. He glanced down at Ryder’s mouth, making Ryder lick his lips. Avery’s eyes darted back up, obviously realizing what he’d been doing. The air between them sparked. Let him try to deny that one. We could light a damn fire right here in this hallway.

  Laughter rang out from the family room around the corner, and Ryder was forced to remember where they were and why. “You can peg me all you want, but can I pee first?”

  The corner of Avery’s lickable mouth twitched with amusement—another hint Ryder chose to hold on to. Avery didn’t want to admit it, but Ryder knew he loved this back-and-forth between them. “I’m sure you’re all booked up for the weekend. I wouldn’t want to mess with your…what do you call it? Your nail-it-and-bail-it routine.” Avery smirked, slapping Ryder on the arm before turning to head back down the hall to join the rest of the group.

  Have I ever called it that in front of him? Ryder couldn’t remember if he had. Hell, maybe one of his friends had teased him about it before in front of Avery. It didn’t much matter. Ryder was a single guy in his prime. If he wanted to sample the local fare, male or female, there was no reason not to and no one to answer to. He never made anyone any promises, and his one-offs always knew exactly what they were getting.

  He had to admit, for some reason, it bothered him to hear Avery using that term. Ryder joked about nailing it and bailing it, but when Avery said it, it held a level of disapproval that didn’t sit well. It was like he was trying to make Ryder feel guilty, and he had nothing to feel guilty about—at least, he didn’t think he did. He wasn’t stupid; with all the comments Avery had dropped over the last eleven months, he’d obviously run into Ryder before. They couldn’t have fucked, though. Ryder would have remembered that. Wouldn’t I? Not if you were drunk enough. Ryder sighed and went into the bathroom.

  A few minutes later, he headed back down the hall to the family room. He looked at the brown-haired boy sitting in the middle of the room on the carpet, opening his presents. Anyone could tell that Novak’s nephew was trying to have a good birthday. Nick hadn’t wanted to go to Riverside Falls with Eli’s family like his brother, Dylan, did for his birthday. No matter where the thirteen-year-old celebrated, it wouldn’t change what he’d lost almost a year ago or fill the empty spaces where his parents should be.

  Ryder walked over to the couch and sat on the arm next to Kenz. They gave each other a solemn smile as Nick held up the iPad he’d just opened from his uncle Jake—Novak, to all of Jake’s closest friends—and Eli. As much as he and Eli had stepped up into the role of parents for Nick and Dylan, the loss of Novak’s brother Kevin and his wife Maggie was hanging in the air today. But the amount of people in the room, mostly Eli’s family, helped to fill the void a little. Ryder hoped they did, anyway. He hadn’t known Kevin and Maggie all that well, but Novak was one of his best friends. Eli was, too. Ryder didn’t know much about family, but he tried to be there for them for whatever they needed. Real families must do that kind of shit, right?

  “Thank you, Ryder,” Nick called out, holding up the video game Eli had told Ryder to get him. He sure as hell didn’t know what to get a thirteen-year-old. Hell, he was in awe of the way Novak and Eli had become parents overnight and, for the most p
art, seemed to know what they were doing.

  “You’re welcome.” Ryder smiled at Nick then looked across the room, his eyes scanning for Avery. It’d seemed to become a habit of his. His eyes landed on Avery who was absently looking down at the floor. If Ryder didn’t know any better, he’d say the man was lost in his own world. Ryder wasn’t great at reading people unless it was to catch someone’s eye across a crowded bar—a silent agreement of fun things to come. But there was something about the look in Avery’s eyes, a heavy somberness clouding his otherwise bright baby blues, that made Ryder watch him more closely.

  “Uncle Avery?” Nick said, and who knew how many times he’d said it already. Ryder had been focused on Avery, but by the look of concern on the boy’s face, he must have tried a couple of times to get his uncle’s attention.

  Avery took a deep breath in, as if coming out of whatever fog he’d been in. “Yeah. Sorry. What’s up?”

  Nick held up a gift card, giving his honorary uncle a worried look. “I said thank you for the gift card to the movies.”

  “Oh…you’re welcome. You can use it on movie tickets or snacks.” Avery rubbed his hands on his designer jeans, forcing a big grin on his face. Where the thought came from, Ryder had no idea, but the smile seemed like it took effort for Avery. It sure wasn’t the effortless, radiant smile that made his eyes sparkle. Made his eyes sparkle? Dude, snap the fuck out of it.

  Avery glanced over at Novak, and the two of them shared a look of understanding. And then it hit Ryder. Sometimes, it was easy to forget the main reason Avery was a part of this family. Kevin had been his best friend. Novak had lost a brother, and Avery had lost his closest friend. Ryder rubbed a hand over his chest, over an ache he wasn’t used to feeling. He’d never claim to know how a family was supposed to be, but the people surrounding him right now were the closest thing he’d ever had to a normal one. He didn’t even want to think about what it would feel like to lose one of them.

  “You ready to go?” Kenz asked, standing up as she tucked her purple hair behind her ears. Ryder nodded and then Kenz turned to their other friend Parker. “Ready?”

  “Yeah,” he said, standing up alongside Kenz.

  All three of them approached Novak and Eli to say their goodbyes, but Ryder found himself looking for Avery again. He didn’t really understand his fascination with the man. All he knew was it was there, and it was strong. When Avery’s eyes connected with his, it was like a punch to the gut. Sorrow was still there, under the surface, but as Avery arched an eyebrow and stared back at Ryder, all logical thought headed south. Ryder gave a cocky smirk and wiggled his eyebrows, making Avery shake his head and huff out a laugh.

  “Snap out of it,” Kenz ordered, snapping her fingers in front of Ryder’s face to get his attention. “Let’s say goodbye to everyone else and head out.”

  One by one, Eli’s family hugged Ryder or shook his hand, as if they’d always known him. It was something he’d definitely had to get used to in the beginning, but now, he was comfortable with these people. Some of the Taylor clan hadn’t been able to make the trek to Jersey this weekend, but with good reason.

  “Don’t even think about leaving without giving me a hug,” Nina, Novak and Eli’s neighbor, said to Ryder after he’d said goodbye to her husband Stan.

  “Are you kidding? That would never happen.” Ryder wrapped the smaller woman in a tight hug, relishing the warmth she gave back. If he’d had his choice out of every woman in the world, he wished he could have had Nina for a mom. She and her husband Stan had become like surrogate parents to all of them in the last year. He knew how much Nick and Dylan loved them, too; they were like grandparents to the kids.

  When he released her, he bent down and kissed her cheek. She put a hand on his face and said, “Come to dinner one night this week. I’ll make lasagna.”

  “Nina, you know the way to a man’s heart.” Oddly enough, even with the shit parents he’d had, he’d found himself growing attached to Nina as soon as he’d met her. And who could blame him? Nina had this loving way about her; with all the tattoos, piercings, and brightly colored hair his group of friends had, she never treated them like a stereotype. Neither did her husband Stan.

  Ryder glanced one more time at the man who drove him fucking crazy, but seeing how naturally he smiled and interacted with everyone else stung a little. Maybe it’s time to give up. When Ryder caught Avery’s eye once more, the smile faded from Avery’s gorgeous face.

  But it was Ryder who chose to turn away this time and walk out the door.

  Avery had no clue why the look Ryder had just given him bothered him so much. Hell, he’ll probably just go work off his frustration with the first person he finds. Bottom line was, though, it was none of Avery’s business what Ryder did or with whom. The man wasn’t doing anything wrong, but Avery was past the point in his life when one-night stands were enough. He’d been down that road before…even literally on the same road as Ryder…but he wanted more now.

  “Hey, you okay, man?” Jake asked, and it was then that Avery realized all the friends had cleared out except for him. He was the only one left besides Eli’s family.

  “Yeah, sorry. I’ll, uh, just get going…”

  “We’re not kicking you out. Stay as long as you want to.” Eli picked up the crumpled wrapping paper from the floor, shoving the garbage in the plastic bag he was holding.

  “I’m guessing you’re feelin’ what I am today.” Jake studied Avery, and suddenly, he felt like he was under a microscope.

  There was no point lying to him, though. “I miss him. Both of them. It’s been almost a year, and…it doesn’t seem to get any easier.”

  Jake sighed, giving an understanding nod. “I know. They should be here.” Jake glanced at the stairs Nick and Dylan had just gone up. “All I can do is hope this day was at least somewhat of a good one for him.”

  “I’m sure it was. I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s cool. I get it.” Jake smiled and picked up a couple of empty cups from the coffee table.

  Avery glanced around and saw the Taylors all pitching in to get the house back in order. “Let me help you guys clean up.” Avery reached for the folding chair next to him and closed it up.

  “You don’t have—” Jake stopped short. Something in Avery’s eyes must have given away how much he needed to take his mind off of everything else, because Jake quickly changed directions. “Thanks. Could you get all the chairs and bring them to the garage?”

  Releasing a grateful breath, Avery worked his way around the room, folding the chairs one by one. After bringing them all to the garage and seeing that everything else had been cleaned up, he realized he couldn’t stall any longer. Walking into the kitchen, he found the whole Taylor clan gathered around a phone on the counter.

  “Jonah, congrats, man,” Eli said toward the phone. “I sure hope Cameron knows what he’s getting into with this family.”

  “Our family is amazing, Elijah,” Eli’s mom chided. “So hush.” Everyone snickered then she added, “Jonah, I’m so happy for you, honey. I had no doubt he’d say yes.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Jonah replied.

  Now it all made sense. Jonah must have gotten engaged. An ache filled Avery’s chest, but he pushed it aside. That was until he caught a glimpse of Jake leaning in to kiss Eli as they stood side by side next to the counter, and it made him truly feel like he was an interloper. Yet, he couldn’t help but watch them for just one more minute.

  So much had changed for them over the last year. Heartbreaking things and happy things. He’d heard loss brought people together, yet as he stood in Kevin’s house—now Jake and Eli’s—surrounded by a huge family that clearly loved each other, Avery had never felt more alone in his life. He couldn’t blame it on his two friends in the kitchen. They’d welcomed him into the fold, kept him in Kevin’s boys’ lives, and he was so incredibly grateful for it. It doesn’t help the ache in my chest, though.

  When they ended the call with Jonah, Avery cl
eared his throat and entered the kitchen, and they all looked over with glowing smiles. He focused on the happy faces of his friends. Smiles of people in love. Wonder what that feels like?

  Eli said what Avery had already figured out. “My brother Jonah just got engaged.”

  “That’s great. Tell him congratulations for me.” Avery nodded his head toward the door. “I’m going to head out. Thanks for inviting me.”

  “Anytime, man. You know that,” Jake said.

  Avery did know that. He never felt like an outsider with Jake and Eli’s friends or family. That’s probably what had gotten him through the last year without his best friend. “Thanks.” He smiled and said his goodbyes to Eli’s family and was about to head to the door when Jake stopped him.

  “Nick and Dylan!” Jake yelled up the stairs. “Uncle Avery is leaving!”

  “They don’t have to—” he started to say, but when the boys came barreling down the stairs and wrapped their arms around his waist, he realized it was exactly what he’d needed. These people felt more like family than his own. He sure as hell didn’t have this relationship with his brother’s kids.

  “Thanks again for the gift card, Uncle Avery,” Nick mumbled against his stomach.

  Avery hugged them both back. “You’re welcome.” As fast as they had come, they both shot back up the stairs and into Nick’s room. Most likely to play one of Nick’s new video games.

  “See you next weekend?” Jake asked as he opened the door for Avery. It had become tradition since losing Kevin and Maggie to have Sunday dinner here. What began as something they did for the boys, turned into something they all looked forward to every week.