One Wright Stand Read online

  One Wright Stand

  K.A. Linde

  Contents

  Also By K.A. Linde

  1. Annie

  2. Annie

  3. Annie

  4. Annie

  5. Jordan

  6. Annie

  7. Jordan

  8. Annie

  9. Annie

  10. Annie

  11. Jordan

  12. Jordan

  13. Annie

  Wright with Benefits

  Also by K.A. Linde

  About the Author

  A L S O B Y K. A. L I N D E

  WRIGHTS

  The Wright Brother | The Wright Boss

  The Wright Mistake | The Wright Secret

  The Wright Love | The Wright One

  A Wright Christmas | One Wright Stand

  Wright with Benefits | Serves Me Wright

  * * *

  CRUEL

  One Cruel Night | Cruel Money

  Cruel Fortune | Cruel Legacy

  Cruel Promise | Cruel Truth

  Cruel Desire | Cruel Marriage

  * * *

  RECORD SERIES

  Off the Record | On the Record | For the Record

  Struck from the Record | Broken Record

  * * *

  AVOIDING SERIES

  Avoiding Commitment | Avoiding Responsibility

  Avoiding Temptation | Avoiding Extras

  Avoiding Boxset

  * * *

  DIAMOND GIRLS SERIES

  Rock Hard | A Girl’s Best Friend

  In the Rough | Shine Bright

  Under Pressure

  * * *

  TAKE ME DUET

  Take Me for Granted | Take Me with You

  * * *

  BLOOD TYPE SERIES

  Blood Type | Blood Match | Blood Cure

  * * *

  ASCENSION SERIES

  The Affiliate | The Bound | The Consort

  The Society | The Domina

  * * *

  ROYAL HOUSES

  House of Dragons | House of Shadows

  * * *

  STAND ALONE

  Following Me

  Hold the Forevers

  One Wright Stand

  Copyright © 2021 by K.A. Linde

  All rights reserved.

  * * *

  Visit my website at

  www.kalinde.com

  * * *

  Cover Designer: Okay Creations., www.okaycreations.com

  Photography: Wander Aguiar Photography,

  www.wanderaguiar.com

  Editor: Unforeseen Editing,

  www.unforeseenediting.com

  * * *

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. 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.

  * * *

  ISBN-13: 978-1948427456

  1

  Annie

  On a scale from one to boring, I’d hit my max three days ago.

  Logically, I’d known that medical school was going to be a challenge, but the past week of orientation had been so mind-numbingly dull that I could hardly stand it. Eight hours a day, stuck in an auditorium, listening to introductory information, had meant only one thing when it was over—drinks.

  “Whoa! Annie, slow down,” Cézanne said. She plucked the beer out of my hand and set it back down on the bar.

  “Oh, come on. You were in the same meetings with me all week. You must have been dying for this happy hour.”

  Cézanne shook her head, swinging her signature box braids. “Some of us actually enjoy school. That’s why we’re here.”

  I grinned at my friend, all tall, slinky grace with dark brown skin that practically glowed in the incandescent overhead lighting. We’d had several chemistry and anatomy classes together in undergrad at Texas Tech. While I’d spent the last year working as a receptionist at a dental office, Cézanne had gotten a Masters in statistics. They’d wanted to fast-track her into the PhD program, but medicine was her true passion.

  “I’m not here to enjoy school. I’m here to become a doctor.”

  After the last couple of years, that was all I really wanted. Losing two people close to me had made it a necessity. I couldn’t stand on the sidelines as someone died and not come out of it changed. Next time, I wanted to be the person who could do something about it.

  “Anyway, let’s talk about more important things,” I said, snatching back my beer and taking another swig. “Like who the hottest guys in our class are.”

  Cézanne eyes drifted to the ceiling. “Lord, help me.”

  “You’re absolutely right. I should be looking at second years and up.” I grinned at her and tugged my long red hair out of its ponytail. The strands fell in a wave just past the shoulders of my black V-neck T-shirt. I messed with my hair in the camera on my phone, checking my pink lipstick and how clear my freckles were through the sheer layer of my pale foundation. Good enough.

  “Can’t you just pick one man and settle down?” Cézanne complained.

  “I could, but what would be the fun in that?” I eyed my friend. “It’s not like you’re settled.”

  Cézanne shrugged. “I haven’t found the right guy.”

  “Sure,” I drawled sarcastically. “Me either.”

  Cézanne snorted.

  My eyes roamed Walkers, a coffee shop by day and grad school bar by night. The room was already packed for the afternoon happy hour. Honestly, it was a little embarrassing that so many of my classmates were still wearing their white coat inside. We’d gotten it during orientation, marking us as official medical students in training. I’d taken the requisite pictures to post all over social media, but I hadn’t exactly planned to wear it out. They must have thought it was going to help them get laid, or they thought very highly of themselves.

  My gaze shifted to the entrance. “Do you see what I see?”

  Cézanne nodded next to me. “Uh…yeah. Okay, you win. I don’t know what year he is, but he is right up your alley.”

  I laughed but didn’t disagree. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome was definitely my type. At least, if I had a type, he’d be it. His khakis were pressed, and the sleeves of his light-blue button-up shirt were rolled to his elbows. He had on polished leather dress shoes. Not cheap loafers or boat shoes and definitely not cowboy boots, which were always hit or miss in middle-of-nowhere West Texas. He was couth with his gelled dark brown hair and chiseled jaw. He looked more like he’d walked out of a GQ spread than into a dusty bar in Lubbock, Texas.

  So what the hell was he doing here?

  Despite the sheer number of people in the room at five o’clock in the afternoon, he navigated it with ease. Just as he approached, I swiveled around to face the bar. Cézanne shot me a questioning look and huffed when I winked at her.

  “Excuse me,” he said, his voice deep.

  I shifted to the side, giving him enough room to wedge himself in front of the bar. “Sorry about that.”

  He glanced in my direction. “Why is this place so packed?”

  I met his gaze, a shiver running down my spine. Anything I’d thought about him being my type before was completely blown out of the water when I got a good look at that face. Strong lines and high cheekbones and full, almost-pouty lips with eyes the deepest, darkest brown that bored into my very soul.

  “I guess no one tol
d you about the med school happy hour?”

  “I unfortunately didn’t get that memo.”

  “Well, your loss is my gain,” I said with a laugh.

  He arched an eyebrow and quirked his lips. “Is that so?”

  “Well, I sure think so.” I stuck my hand out. “I’m Annie.”

  He shook my hand with the strength and power of a man who knew what he wanted. “Jordan.”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m guessing you’re not a med student.”

  “That I’m not.” His eyes drifted around the room. “Is it normal for you to be wearing the jacket in public?”

  I chuckled. “No. It’s kind of ridiculous, right?”

  “Definitely surprising. I was told this was a good place to get coffee.”

  “It is during the day, but after five, it’s primarily a bar.” I gestured to the rows of booths still cluttered with laptops and paperwork. “It’s why all the grad students come here.”

  “They still serve coffee after five? It would suck to have driven all the way out here for nothing.”

  I shot him a dimpled grin. “Don’t worry about it. I know the bartender. He’s a morning barista. I’m sure he’ll hook you up.” With a heft upward, I leaned over the bar, revealing my ass in all its glory in my favorite frayed jean shorts. “Ken!”

  I could feel Jordan’s eyes on me as I flagged down my favorite bartender. Ken waved me off, letting me know he’d seen me, and I hopped back down. My foot caught the bottom of the railing wrong, and my ankle rolled.

  “Oof,” I gasped, sliding sideways into the stranger. “Sorry.”

  His strong arms held me in place, righting me back onto my feet. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah. I always forget about this.” I gently toed the bottom step.

  I reluctantly backed out of his arms as Ken appeared before us.

  “Hey, Barbie. What can I get you?” Ken asked.

  I rolled my eyes. “Coffee for my friend here.”

  Jordan leaned in. “I’ll take a latte with a double shot of espresso.”

  “You got it.”

  “Barbie?” Jordan asked with an arched eyebrow as Ken went for his order.

  “Ugh. It’s a stupid nickname that I got in high school. Ken and Barbie.” I shrugged. “It stuck.”

  “I would have thought they’d bestow that title on a blonde.” He fingered a loose strand of my dark auburn hair.

  “Trust me, it was actually better than being a redhead named Annie.”

  He chuckled. “I could see that.”

  “Here you go, bro,” Ken said, sliding Jordan’s drink across the bar.

  Jordan passed him cash. “Keep the change.”

  “You got it.” Ken nodded and then disappeared back into the crowd desperate for more libations.

  “Hey,” I said, putting a hand on his forearm. Might as well go for it. He was hot. What did I have to lose? “Maybe you could stay and party with us tonight.”

  He shot me another one of those heart-melting smiles. “I wish I could. But unfortunately, I have family obligations.”

  “Bummer,” I said, sticking my bottom lip out slightly.

  “It is.”

  “I think we’ll be here again tomorrow night,” I suggested

  “I’ll see if I can get away. Thanks for the coffee and conversation, Annie.”

  “Yeah,” I said with a smile. “It was my pleasure.”

  Then I watched him walk away. My heart still beat a frantic note in my chest, telling me to run after him. He was too damn gorgeous. I wanted to get to know him. I wanted to know what someone dressed like that was doing in Lubbock. I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a huge mistake.

  “Oh, girl, did you get his number?” Cézanne asked, reappearing at precisely the right time.

  “Fuck,” I hissed. “I never asked for it.”

  “What were you thinking?”

  I didn’t know. I hadn’t been thinking in his presence. I’d just…existed in a bubble with him. And I’d wanted it to last longer.

  I might never see him again. And I’d totally blown my chance.

  2

  Annie

  Cézanne had kept me out way too late. Or maybe I’d kept her out too late. Either way, the next morning, I was feeling the side effects.

  I popped two Tylenol and downed a bottle of Gatorade as I leaned back against the refrigerator. My head was spinning. I wasn’t sure I was even hungover. I might still be drunk. How many shots had I taken? The number eluded me. As did how I’d gotten home.

  “Annie, is that you?” my roommate, Jennifer, asked as she entered the kitchen.

  “Yep,” I muttered.

  Jennifer and I were as opposite as opposite could be. We’d gone to high school together, but while I’d been the head cheerleader, she’d been the quiet, shy yearbook nerd. I’d worn designer clothes while she’d been in hand-me-downs. I cringed now when I thought about how judgmental I’d been then. Because Jennifer Gibson was quite possibly the nicest, most unassuming person I’d ever met.

  She never judged me for dicking around or drinking until I was still drunk the next morning. Somehow, she found the whole thing endearing even. And I was grateful that we’d moved in together after reconnecting through our best friend, Sutton Wright.

  “Wow. You look…”

  “Still drunk,” I offered.

  “A bit, yeah,” Jennifer confessed with a wince. “You’re still planning to go to the Wright pool party, right?”

  “Fuck.”

  “Welp,” Jennifer said with a laugh, “you could stay here and sleep it off.”

  I massaged my temples. “No, it’s Landon’s big day. He’s going back to the PGA after this weekend. I can’t miss it.”

  The Wrights were as close as Lubbock got to royalty. They owned Wright Construction, a Fortune 500 company and the largest construction company in the United States. Jensen, Austin, Landon, Morgan, and Sutton were likely the most well-known people in this city. I’d grown up with Sutton, admiring her older brothers and sister, watching Jensen all but raise them after their parents passed, and seeing them one by one make a name for themselves on their own all while finding their one true pairing.

  Even Sutton had, and along came baby Jason…until tragedy hit. I closed my eyes against the reminder. I’d been there that day. I’d been standing next to her husband Maverick when he collapsed.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Jennifer asked.

  “Fine,” I said at once, pushing those thoughts out of my head. “Just a headache.”

  This was why I’d wanted to become a doctor. I could have fixed it. I could have helped.

  “Okay,” Jennifer said. “I can drive if you want to get dressed.”

  “Sounds good. The Tylenol will kick in soon.”

  I worked for a smile as I passed my roommate. It came out as more of a grimace.

  I’d definitely forgotten about Landon’s party last night when I got hammered, and I was paying for it today.

  My phone buzzed where I’d thankfully plugged it in last night. Cézanne had sent a handful of messages, and I skimmed them as I went in search of a bathing suit.

  You still drunk, child?

  I laughed and rolled my eyes. She was only six months older than me, but she’d been calling me child for as long as I’d known her.

  A bit. I forgot I had a pool party this morning. Sunshine and loud music…just what I need.

  You poor thing. Suffering at a pool party.

  Oh, Cézanne. I tugged on a forest-green bikini with pink and white flowers on it, then my favorite black cover-up, which showed off my milky-white legs, a floppy hat to protect me against the beat of the sun, and oversize glasses…so hopefully not everyone would notice I was a hot mess.

  Twenty minutes later, after Jennifer had packed the essentials and made me eat something, we were in her tiny Honda Civic. The AC had sputtering fits and only worked on days that Jennifer cussed it out. Sweet
little thing. It made my heart soar to hear her get so mad at the vehicle.

  “I swear…this fucking thing,” she spat, hitting the console as she headed toward Landon’s house. “You piece of shit.”

  The car must have heard her because cool air finally came out of the vents, and I leaned my drunk head against them, saying a prayer to whoever was listening.

  “We could have taken my car.”

  Jennifer side-eyed me. “Bertha works just fine.”

  “Bertha needs new AC.”

  “Don’t even with me right now, Annie.”

  I grinned. I wasn’t wrong. But where the money for that was going to come from was up for debate.

  We arrived at Landon’s house without incident. He lived way on the outskirts of the south side of town, where all the new money was trying to escape the expansion. He’d built the Wright golf course over the last year and had its first tournament this summer. It was a sprawling PGA-approved course, and he lived right on the eighteenth hole with his beautiful girlfriend, Heidi.

  Jennifer parked Bertha down the street from the mansion on the only hill in Lubbock, and we hiked up to the front door with our provisions. Jennifer knocked twice and waited, fidgeting with her hands as if she couldn’t possibly stay still.

  Heidi wrenched the door open and smiled wide. “Hey, girls!”