Chapter 4
Ryker Draven, all broody swagger, sauntered up to the office door right as Dr. Draven was hitting the road. She'd been knee-deep in paperwork, Elara Keane's chart in hand, when Ryker's shadow darkened her doorstep. A mental facepalm hit - she had spaced on telling Elara about her Monday afternoon brace date. No sweat - if she wasn't around, another doc could step up, but Dr. Draven? She's a boss, always owning her patient game. She hit up her assistant, "Hit Elara up later, remind her to swing by Monday 10AM for the brace-face makeover. PM's cool too, but need to be after 3. Break it down for her, alright?"
Meanwhile, Ryker, the poster boy for "too cool for school," was glued to his phone, half-listening. His mom's words snagged his attention - Elara, the girl with the quirky smile, was about to level up her grin game. He pictured her minus the dental quirks and - bam! She'd be fire. But let's be real, she already had that cute-as-a-button thing on lock.
"Got it," the assistant chimed in, snapping Ryker out of his daydream.
She caught sight of Ryker, all lean muscle and smolder, propped against the doorway. Her heart did a little somersault. "The Ace, in the flesh! Been a minute!"
The dental clinic was buzzing with the low-key fame of Dr. Draven' knockout son. The man had a fan club among the staff - his matches had them all swooning over his lethal combo of looks and brawn.
Ryker flicked his gaze up, a slow smile spreading. The dude's charm was off the charts. "Not that long. Just a hot sec." The assistant doc couldn't help but do a double-take. There he was, The Ace, looking like a whole snack. She let out a silent, dreamy sigh, her mind whispering, "Girl, he's fine as hell." But she knew the score. A guy like him, a knockout in the ring and on the 'Gram, he'd be vibing with those Insta-famous models or those glitzy showbiz types, not someone who spent her days in scrubs. She stole one last glance before hitting up Elara.
Then, Ryker Draven strutted in. "Mom?" he called out. Diana Draven, all business, was like, "Boy, where's my gown?" She was all set to hit up this fancy shindig with her hubby, and her killer dress was MIA. Ryker, ever the dutiful son, was like, "Chill, it's in the car. I'm your Uber tonight." Diana peaced out to the ride, throwing over her shoulder, "Don't forget to swing by for a teeth check, yeah?"
Ryker flashed that million-dollar smile, the kind only a dentist's kid could have, and was like, "Gotcha, Mom."
...
Come Monday, Elara Keane was getting her grill all braced up. Not a vibe, for real. Mouth wide open, feeling like a Snapchat filter gone wrong, but finally, Dr. Draven was like, "All good, girl. Your face will un-freeze soon." Elara was there, rubbing life back into her cheeks, when Dr. Draven was all, "Lie back, rest on my legs. Trust, it's the chill zone."
Elara was about to take a breather when in walks Mr. Red-Shirt-Hotness himself. The tee was hugging him like a glove, showing off what could be ink or some designer logo. And that face? Even in a sea of red, it was unmistakably Benjamin Hayes. D-j- vu, much?
Ryker, cool as a cucumber, was there for his dental hookup and hit up Diana, "Yo, Mom, I'm out, yeah?" Elara's brain did a full 180. Dr. Diana Draven was his momma? And she was like, "Hang tight, I'll drop you."
So, the doc Charlie Keane set her up with was Benjamin Hayes's own? Damn, universe, you got jokes. Elara could just picture Charlie's face going all kinds of red.Ryker Draven slouched against the wall, all easy swagger and smoldering looks, his gaze lazily locked on the girl who couldn't seem to tear her eyes away. A smirk played at the edge of his lips, a silent challenge hanging between them.
"I'll hang here for a sec," he drawled, the corner of his mouth ticking up in a half-smile.
He flopped into the nearby chair like he owned the place, whipping out his phone and spinning it like a pro. But damn, she was still eyeing him - bold as brass.
What's her deal?
Dr. Diana Draven, cool as a cucumber, said, "Lay your head down, hon."
Elara peeped at Ryker, her voice a mix of curiosity and nerves. "Dr. Draven, can you work some magic on my chompers with braces?"
Dr. Draven beamed, all pearly whites. "Your fangs are kinda your thing, just need to nudge your other teeth to play nice. It's those four troublemakers we'll fix, and those canines will fall in line."
Elara bit her lip, "Would've been smarter to get this done back in the day, huh?"
"Sure," Dr. Draven admitted, "but it's chill. Won't be perfect-perfect, but we'll get you selfie-ready."
"Alright, time to crash," Dr. Draven nudged.
Elara shot a look at Ryker, who was all laid-back vibes in his seat, and after a hot sec, she reclined, resting her head in Dr. Draven's lap, sneaking another glance at Benjamin Hayes. Was he seriously gonna park it there and watch her get all wired up?
Dr. Draven was all business. "Open up."
Elara, red as a beet, did as told. Dr. Draven caught on quick - girl was shy as hell.
She shot Ryker the stink eye. "Bounce, will ya?"
Elara's eyes sparkled with relief.
Ryker got the message, his nod a silent promise.
So she wanted him to jet? Scared he'd catch her mid-brace face?
"Just spit it out next time. I won't peep. I'm outtie."
He rose, all casual grace, and shot her a wicked grin that could melt steel. Then he sauntered off, his T-shirt screaming something bold across the back. But Elara missed the memo - his exit was too swift, and then he was gone.
That last line? Pure Ryker.
Dr. Draven got down to business, all "how you doin'?" and "here's the 411 on your brace face routine."
Post-brace-face, Elara stepped out of the clinic, poker-faced but for the metal party in her mouth. She tongued the braces - awkward, weird, totally not her vibe - and her face scrunched.
Her lips puffed out, just a touch.
Charlie's birthday gift was a long-haul commitment - this year, maybe next.
Ryker was still there, all nonchalant against the clinic's wall, one foot cocked. His eyes zeroed in on her, watching her silent monologue with a glint of amusement.
Elara, braces and all, felt his stare and whipped around. Their eyes locked, and the world went quiet. She threw him a glare that could freeze hell over and snapped, "Eyes off the merchandise, buddy."
What's the big deal about a mouthful of metal anyway...
Ryker was shook. Girl had zero chill.
He let out a low laugh, threw up a peace sign, and pivoted with a cheeky grin, "Cool, cool, not peeking."
