19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Scarlett

We landed in Kentucky a little over five hours after we departed from Los Angeles. I had never traveled to Kentucky before, so of course, I had done a little research before we left. All I knew was that Kentucky was known as the Bluegrass state and famous for its elite horse racing and bourbon.

We arrived at the Bluegrass airport and had another limousine waiting for us. I was starting to like these amenities that came with knowing Ryder Raven. We drove through the busy city traffic, and I marveled at all of the green that I saw. In California, we didn't have this much natural green landscaping. It was amazing.

As we traveled further out of town, we made our way to the outskirts of Lexington. I saw the sign for Hollow Cove, and a wave of nervousness washed over me. I had no idea why I felt this way. Ryder had a broad boyish grin on his face, and his happiness radiated off him in waves.

"You are really excited to be here, aren't you?" I ask, watching him admire the scenery outside of the car window.

"Yes, sometimes you need to go home," he says.

I wish I could relate to that sentiment. I ran away from home, while Ryder was running toward his.

"So, any advice or warnings before I travel into the world of the Ravens?" I ask coyly.

This causes Ryder to turn his attention back to inside the vehicle finally. He thinks over this, and I can see the naughtiness building.

"Well, you are about to become immersed in a world full of guys with tattoos, biker clubs, bars, and filthy language," he laughs.

"Oh, so not very different from you," I joke.

Ryder offers a hearty laugh at this, and we both crack up for a minute. With Ryder, it's so easy to be light and carefree. Even though his celebrity status, he still manages to remain down to earth and connected with his roots. Seeing his brother, Axel, was a great insight into his world, so hopefully, I wasn't in for as big a shock as Ryder made it seem.

After a few more minutes, the car slowed down, and I moved closer to the window. Outside, I spotted a full parking lot with various motorcycles parked everywhere. A bar sat in the middle of the lot, loud music heard even through the car.

Offering me his hand, Ryder moved to open the door. "Welcome to the world of the Ravens," he said, before opening the door.

Stumbling out, I was met with a couple walking past us, glaring at me like I didn't belong. In my denim black jeans, rose gold top, and gold sandals, I guess I wasn't fitting in. The woman wore leather pants and a blood-red shirt. The man had worn jeans, and a black vest with patches sewn all over.

"Should I change?" I ask, suddenly feeling very uneasy.

"Nah, just wait until you meet Axel's wife, Ivy. I think you two will get along," Ryder smirks.

Not sure what that means, I follow his lead as he begins to walk inside of the bar. Once the doors open, I spot neon green signs on the walls. A band played in the back, and a few people swayed side-to-side as they listened to the heavy metal music. Behind the bar, I saw a picture of a group of guys that held a strong resemblance to Ryder.

"So, who owns this bar?" I asked.

Earlier, Ryder had tried to fill me in on the information I needed, but there were so many Raven's or friends, it was hard to keep them all in order.

"Drake Raven owns this bar. He is the oldest of my brothers. He sort of shares ownership with all of us. But, Axel owns a mechanic shop just down the street," he informs me.

I look around and spot Drake Raven behind the bar, pouring drinks and chatting with customers.

"What was your role here?" I ask.

From our earlier conversations, I learned that all of the Raven's played an integral role in the family motorcycle club business. However, Ryder was vastly different from these guys. While the rest of the Ravens lived in this small town, Ryder was living as a wildlife in the big city of Los Angeles.

"Honestly," he begins, running a hand through his dark hair, "I spent most of my time getting into trouble. It wasn't until Axel made me start to learn how to work on Harley Davidson bikes that I really found a purpose and reason to stop being a little shit. I would leave and travel, looking for something... But I always came back home. It wasn't until I moved to Los Angeles, that I realized I could have more out of life. While I love what the Raven's represent here in Hollows Cove, I like what I am building too," he says.

He seems larger than life standing before me. He looks the part of the biker guy, in his hip-hugging jeans, white t-shirt, and black boots. However, he exudes a star quality that only certain people can possess.

"Ryder!" a voice rings out, and I see Drake waving for us to come to the bar.

Taking my hand, Ryder leads me through the thick crowd. As we move, everyone parts, patting Ryder on the back and offering welcoming greetings. This is different from the fans who see him out in Los Angeles. Here, they are friends, out there, they are star-struck.

"Hey man," Ryder greets, reaching out his hand as they shake.

"Nice to see things never change around here," Ryder says, his eyes dancing over every surface and figure in the bar.

I stand watching their exchange, but strangely, I don't feel left out. It's nice watching Ryder with his family.

"Hey, Ryder," a female voice purrs from behind us.

I see a red nailed hand reach out and touch Ryder's arm. I turn and spot a woman wearing a skimpy black leather skirt and a come fuck me smile. I instantly hate her.

Ryder turns and sees the woman, and a look of disdain crosses his features. At first, I thought I was going to feel inferior next to this vixen, but instead, Ryder's response makes me feel like I belong in the place next to him.

"Hi, Erica," Ryder says, his voice void of emotion.

Erica doesn't seem fazed in the least by Ryder barely acknowledging her. "I heard you were coming back to town. Who is this?" she asks, her eyes finally traveling over to me.

Ryder removes her hand from his arm and moves closer to me, placing his arm around my shoulders. "This is Scarlett. She's my date this weekend," he states.

Erica narrows her eyes at me, and a spark of jealousy flashes in me. It's clear this woman has had her claws in Ryder at some point, and she doesn't like me being here with him.

"Oh. Well, if you get bored, call me," she says, before sauntering away from us.

"That was fun," I say, rolling my eyes.

Drake lets out a loud laugh. "I like you," he says to me.

"Hey, she's with me," Ryder states, flashing his brother a look.

Drake just laughs again. "I've got my hands full with one wife and daughter. Don't think I can handle any more women," he says. "No offense," he adds, winking at me.

"None taken," I chuckle.

"Hey, we are going to the hotel. I will catch up with you later," Ryder announces, before taking my hand and leading us back out of the bar.

"So, Erica…" I begin as we exit the bar.

"She's no one. Just a chick I used to mess with when I was in town," he admonished, waving his hand.

"Ok," I say.

I want to ask him a million questions about her, but I decide against it.

We head back to the limousine, and it takes us to the hotel where Ryder had booked us our rooms. Tonight, we were scheduled to have dinner with his brothers, and tomorrow would begin his work responsibilities. Thankfully, Ryder's publicist had emailed me the itinerary before the trip.

I watch as we head toward the small, downtown area of Hollow's Cove. We pass a few quaint restaurants and boutiques before stopping in front of a large hotel. We get inside and are quickly shown to our separate rooms. I get an hour to change and shower before I am to meet Ryder back in the hotel lobby.

After a nice shower to wash away the travel grime, I am dressed in a black sundress with silver sandals. I meet Ryder in the lobby, and as always, he looks like a dream. With his ripped jeans, charcoal gray shirt, and those striking eyes, he makes my mouth water.

Spotting me stepping off the elevator, he smiles. "Are you ready to meet the rest of the Ravens?" he asks.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I respond.

When we step outside, I am shocked to see a red and silver Harley Davidson motorcycle in the drive. I look to Ryder, who has a knowing grin on his face.

"What? You didn't think I would allow someone to drive me around my hometown, did you?" he asks, his cocky attitude shining brighter than the afternoon sun.

"How?" I ask.

"Axel hooked me up. This is a project he and Blaze have been working on. Come on, or we will be late," he says, before winking and sauntering over to the bike.

"Why didn't I think of that," I tease. "You are sure a little devil," I say, winking.

"And you are an angel," he says, his voice deep and causing my stomach to fill with butterflies.

I follow his lead, and he helps me on the bike. Again, we ride through town, but this time I am on the back of his motorcycle with my arms wrapped around his waist.

We pull up outside of the bar again, and I am confused. I thought we were going to dinner.

Once Ryder turns off the bike, he sees my confusion.

"We are in Hollow's Cove. No fancy restaurants here," he says, watching me carefully.

Maybe he thinks I will judge his choice. But, it's far from the case. This is perfect. I would much rather spend the evening comfortable than sitting inside of a stuffy restaurant with fans hovering over Ryder.

"No, this is perfect," I muse.

Ryder beams as he takes my hand and we walk back inside the bar. Once we enter, I am surprised to see several tables scooted together to make one large, family-style table. I see a bunch of men who look just like Ryder helping a few girls bring dishes out to the table. The smell of fried chicken fills the air.

"Look who made it home," a guy yells, as he runs up and hugs Ryder.

I take a step back and admire the reunion.

"Storm, this is Scarlett," Ryder introduces me.

Storm and I shake hands before he begins calling for more people to come to meet me. At first, I am shy, but soon enough, I am comfortable in this sea of Ravens. Everyone is so kind, and laughter fills the air as they begin to joke and share stories. I am quickly rushed to the table where Ivy, Axel's wife, begins introducing me to the wives and girlfriends. I'm instantly taken into big hugs from their wives. Everyone asks me a million questions and my head spins by the time I've answered them all.

I try to keep up, but I am lost. It doesn't matter though, everyone is so warm and inviting, I feel like I have been part of their world forever.

Once everyone is seated, we begin eating, but the conversations and laughter never cease. Even in my old life, when I thought I had been happy and content, I had never felt like I do right now. I feel at ease, welcomed, and loved.

I feel Ryder place his hand on my leg, and I look down, placing my hand on his. We both lock eyes, and something passes between us that is indescribable. I feel a spark with Ryder that ignites something deep inside my soul. Being here in his home, surrounded by the people who love him the most, I feel like I am getting the last piece of Ryder Raven I needed. He has so many elements that make him so unique and special; The celebrity, the charitable giver, the broken boy, and the family man. All of it combined makes him someone genuinely remarkable, and I know without a doubt that I am falling in love with Ryder. As much as I try to fight it, I just can't. I never want this feeling to end, but somewhere in the back of my mind, that evil voice is telling me nothing for me will ever be right.