Authors: Kylie Knight
When a waitress stopped at her table, she ordered a large red sangria and sent thanks up to the universe that she’d taken a cab tonight. Sometimes having a temperamental car worked out for the best. She knew that whatever happened tonight, she would need the sangria to keep her from castrating Hunter Cross. “Can I get the Whoa Baby tapas platter too, please?” The waitress nodded and walked away.
She wouldn’t sit back and wait for Hunter to grace her with his presence. She would enjoy the food, whatever in the hell tapas were, drink the sangria and enjoy a night catching up on The Big Bang Theory. Whether he showed at her table or not, because it was her table, she would enjoy the lively party atmosphere just long enough to satisfy her hunger and then take a taxi home.
Watching Hunter smile that dimpled smile and charm every man and woman in sight, made her think about Ryder and his dark good looks. He was a tad awkward and more than a little abrupt but he was sweet and gorgeous. If she was in the market for something more, he would be right up her alley. As it was, her reaction to him had caused a rift between them she wasn’t sure would ever be healed. The only positive was that it hadn’t cost them the contract, which just went to show how stupid she really was. A man who had the power to screw her over, but chose not to because he was a good guy, was a truly good man. She took a long gulp of her sangria, glad that she had made a mess of things with Ryder. With his looks, inhere goodness and the chemistry between them, she would turn her life upside down for a man like that. If she were looking for a man like that.
But her plan had backfired because she’d chosen a man who was nice to look at but had nothing under his beautiful surface. She’d chosen shallow to passion and tonight she paid the price.
“Skylar, when did you get here?” Hunter leaned down and kissed her cheek with a bit too much force.
She glared at him, unaffected by his charming smile. “About fifteen minutes before you walked in.”
He smiled, glad she wouldn’t let him get away with being a bastard. “Really? You should have said something.”
If looks could kill, Hunter would’ve keeled over and died on the spot. “Why would I have done that Hunter? Didn’t you come here to meet me for dinner?”
He took a seat across from her. “You know I did.”
“Then why didn’t you scan the room for me or, I don’t know, ask the hostess if I had arrived yet?” He opened his mouth but she held a hand up to stop him. “Don’t bother. I don’t really care, I’m still here because I’ve already ordered my food.”
He groaned. “You ordered without me?”
“I wasn’t sure you’d even stop by my table.” She gave him a sickly sweet smile that she hoped was menacing.
“Of course I would, babe. That’s why I’m here. For you.” He flashed her that panty dropping smile but he noticed she didn’t smile or blush or give any indication she was affected. “So tell me Skylar, how was your day?”
“It was fine. Busy. How was yours?” She waved the waitress over for another drink.
“It was pretty good. I’ve been working the leads brought in by social media and it’s looking good.” No matter how things played out tonight, he was still impressed by the work her firm had done.
The waitress returned with her platter and another glass of sangria. “Thanks,” she said politely and dug in while Hunter ordered. She ate her fried baby squid while the waitress pushed her boobs in Hunter’s face and flirted like it was her job.
“Hunter you’re funny,” she giggled and touched his arm, making Skylar roll her eyes. “I bet we’d have a great time if we went out.”
Skylar sipped her sangria and said, “Hint, hint” loud enough for them to hear.
Hunter stifled a laugh. He enjoyed this smart, sarcastic version of Skylar. Too bad Ryder wanted her because he had a feeling he could really like her, even though nothing would ever come of it. Nothing could. “Well sugar, maybe some time soon. How about you get me a scotch and some albondigas?”
“Wow,” she said as she bit into a marinated olive. “I’ve never been completely ignored like that.”
He shrugged. “If you looked like this no one would ever ignore you.” He wiggled his eyebrows and ran a hand through his wavy locks.
She wanted to laugh but refused to reward his bad behavior. “Since busty waitresses aren’t my type, I think I’m good.” This was possibly the worst date she had ever been on but she refused to leave until she finished eating. “I won’t be offended if you want to go chat with your friends.”
He looked at her, stunned. “Why would I want to do that?”
She gave him an, are you kidding me look. “Because your head is swiveling so much I think it’s about to roll right off.” She shook her head in disgust and dug in to her stuffed mussels. “It’s fine” Her words were cut off by the approach of a sexy Asian girl wearing leather. Leather!
“Hi Hunter baby. It’s good to see you.” She bent over and pressed her plump pink lips against his, and moaned into the kiss.
It went on and on and on until even Skylar felt uncomfortable. She dropped her fork loudly on the plate and when that didn’t work, she stood and went to her busty waitress. “Excuse me, can you have my platter put in a to go bag and get my bill? I’ll be by the cash register, thanks.” The girl gave her a strained smile until she caught a glimpse of Hunter mouth locked with Leather Girl, and gave her a pitying smile.
“Sure thing. Just give me a sec.”
A few minutes later she had two small boxes inside a bag and a check for Skylar. The boxes were still warm and she smiled. If the cab ride was quick enough she could eat it warm when she got home. “Thanks,” she said as she signed the receipt. “Keep the change.” She heard the waitress’ surprise ‘thanks’ as the door closed behind her. She sent Kendra a text to let her know she was on her way home. Well that’s a date I’ll never forget.
Her phone rang and she picked it up before looking at the screen, a fact she regretted until she heard her aunt’s soft voice. “Sky sweetheart, how are you?”
She sighed wistfully and a real smile touched her mouth. “Aunt Marie, I’ve just come back from the world’s worst date, that’s how I am. How are you?”
“Was he at least a good lover?”
“Aunt Marie! I didn’t sleep with him, it was the second, and last date.” She heard the chuckles on the other end of the line.
“Oh dear, what is the arbitrary date number for sex these days?”
She had no idea but that wasn’t the point. “Aunt Marie, we are not having this conversation.”
“Oh psh, dear! I need your help and I’m hoping you’ll come spend a few days with me.”
“I’m not sure if I can. When do you need me?”
“If you can come sometime next week, that would be great. I have something in the works and I could use your expertise. I’ll pay you of course, dear.”
“Aunt Marie you know that’s not necessary. I’ll look at my schedule and tell you when I can come.”
“Let me know when you can get here and I will pay you. Good night, Sky.”
She hung up before Skylar could protest payment so she grunted at the phone and threw it back in her purse. What a crazy week! “That’s it, I’m staying in the house until Monday morning!” She didn’t even flinch about talking to herself in the backseat of a cab. Nope, after tonight she was going full on spinster cat lady.
***
“If you don’t get out of her soon Ry, you’re going to miss your plane.” Mimi pushed him out of his office and shoved his briefcase into the elevator with him. “If you miss your flight you’ll be stuck at the airport for the next six hours.”
“Ugh, why didn’t you book a later flight?” He turned to look down at her small frame.
“Why didn’t you buy that company jet like I told you to?”
He sighed. “Not this again. I told you it was a prudent purchase, particularly until we’ve had eight consecutive quarters of growth.” Dammit he didn’t even want to make this trip except it would put ETI on the map.
“Yeah well, this is why you have to take commercial flights. Maybe you should look into it when you get back.” She gave him a knowing smirk and walked out of the elevator ahead of him. “Now let’s go and we can go over a few things on the way to the airport.”
He huffed with irritation and slid into the back of the Town Car. “How’s the marketing campaign going?”
Mimi fought to keep the smile that threatened to appear. “It’s going great, actually. You should meet with Skylar again and get an idea how things are going.”
“That’s alright. I don’t need to, I’m delegating. You should be happy.” Mimi had been after him for years to delegate more.
“Oh I am, but you aren’t delegating for the right reasons.”
“But I am delegating and that’s what matters. As long as I see results, Cressly can handle it.” Plus the last thing he wanted to see was the glow on her pale skin from an all night sex session with Hunter. No thank you.
“Ryder, you exasperate me. Seriously. Just admit that your feelings are still hurt and then talk to her again. Explain things.”
“Not going to happen.” He would rather eat soup off a public toilet than explain anything to her. About anything. Ever.
“Well fine then. Let Hunter have her, date her and break her heart so she quits and we have to start this whole thing over in six months.” Dramatic, sure but she wanted to get her point across.
“Don’t you think you’re being a tad dramatic Mimi?”
“Not even a little bit. If anyone knows what she’s in store for Ryder, it’s me.” And I’m still not over him. That part went unsaid because they both knew.
“Well they are both adults and I’ve warned Hunter to tread carefully. If they let their personal lives interfere with work then it’s their business. There’s nothing I can do about that. If she quits, we’ll have to find another marketing firm.”
She poked his arm. “Don’t play nonchalant with me, buster. It’s killing you but you just can’t admit it, damn you!” She stopped the car. “We’re here. Get out.”
He looked up and around at his surroundings. “What? What about my bags?”
“Put those big strong muscles you try to hide to use.” She winked and shoved him out of the car. “Call me when you arrive and I’ll tell you what you’ve missed. Later.”
Ryder stepped into the early morning sunlight and grabbed his luggage. He hated airports.
He hated California more.
Chapter 4
“What are you doing here?” Skylar’s heart hammered out of her chest and she could barely take in any air. Ryder stood a few feet from her, on her aunt’s doorstep, looking so good she wanted to take a big bite out of him.
“I could ask you the same thing.” What the hell kind of sick joke was the universe playing on him?
“So?”
He turned to her, their faces mere inches apart. They were so close he could smell the cinnamon and vanilla wafting from her hair or her breath, he didn’t know but damn it was intoxicating. “Yes?”
“Dammit Ryder, tell me what you’re doing at this house!”
He sighed heavily and raked his fingers through his dark hair, in need of a trim. “I am here for a business meeting Skylar.”
“With who?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “What’s it to you?”
She poked him in the chest with a finger. “Why are you being so difficult? Just tell me who you’re meeting with in this house!”
“Ouch! Stop poking me.” He poked her back in the bicep. “Stop asking me so many questions and go somewhere.”
“Oh good, you’ve already met.” The woman pulled them both in for a hug and kiss and waved them in. “Come inside.”
“Aunt Marie what is Ryder doing here?”
“Aunt Marie?” He looked from Lyla to Skylar. “Lyla Peterson is your aunt?” Could this day get any worse?
“So you know each other prior to meeting on my doorstep?” She looped her arm through Skylar’s. “Is this the gentleman from the bad date who is not your lover?”
“No, it’s not. Ryder’s company is my new client.” Her gaze darted to his, but she couldn’t read any emotion on his face.
Lyla looked over her shoulder. “He’s very handsome and young. Maybe he should be your next lover.”
“Aunt Marie! Stop that, Ryder is a professional contact and you’re making him uncomfortable.”
He suspected it was Skylar who was uncomfortable so he stood in the foyer and kept his mouth shut. “Ms. Peterson, maybe I should come back later. I’ll just find a hotel and you can call me when you’re ready.” He picked up his bags and turned to the door.
“You’re not going anywhere, young man. I told your assistant there was more than enough room in this big old house for you. Now get over here and I’ll show you to your room.” She turned to Skylar. “You can have your old room sweetie.”
“That’s not necessary Ms. Peterson. I’m more than happy to get a hotel so you can spend time with your niece.”
“Nonsense. You’re both here for the same reason. If I’d known you were friends, I would’ve planned this a bit better.”
He cleared his throat. “We’re not. We’re business associates.”
Lyla raised her brows. “Oh. Duly noted, then.”
He didn’t dare look at Skylar because he didn’t want to know if her feelings had been hurt. He didn’t want to care. “Okay, where is the room?” They followed Lyla up two flights of stairs, with Ryder in the back trying hard to keep his gaze from roaming Skylar’s round ass that swayed with every step. He didn’t notice her shapely legs and slender ankles, either. He was so focused on not noticing that he failed to notice that she’d stopped and he slammed into her back. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
“No problem,” she mumbled in return, avoiding looking at him.
“It’s okay to look sweetheart. God wouldn’t have made asses so delicious if he didn’t want us to stare at them!” She winked at Ryder knowingly and laughed when he flushed all the way to the tips of his ears.
What felt like an eternity later, Ryder was safely in his room for the duration of the trip. Lyla was insane, and she was Skylar’s aunt. That would have been a helpful piece of information to have earlier. Much earlier. The last the he wanted was to spend time in such close proximity to her, but he couldn’t be rude or do anything that might risk offending Lyla. So he’d act like the adult he was and tolerate her. He could do that.
Easy.
***
“What’s going on with you and that handsome CEO?” Lyla poured iced tea into two glasses and took a seat with a plate of peanut butter cookies between them.
“Nothing other than business.” That’s what he’d said so she would stick with that. We’re not friends, he said with cold finality.
“Apparently you think I’m old as well as blind.” She sipped her tea and scowled. “This needs some bourbon.” She stood and went to a cupboard full of cans and pulled out a small bottle. “If you think I can’t see there’s something between you, then you don’t know me at all.”
Aunt Marie was right. Through their ridiculous argument on the doorstep, his harshly spoken words and his accidental bump into her, electricity crackled between them. “I know you really well, I think. But no matter what you think you see, there’s nothing between us.” Mostly because she’d made the wrong choice and there was no going back.
“Maybe not now, but I think there will be. And soon.”
Skylar couldn’t even bring herself to wish that would happen because it was a longer than long shot. “I doubt it Aunt Marie and please, don’t say anything to Ryder. We have to work together and I don’t want it to be tense between us.”
“Oh honey, things are already tense. I could slice that tension with a spoon!” She shivered with a smile. “The sex between you will be explosive!”
“Auntie, stop it!” She couldn’t help but laugh. Her aunt was eccentric, highly sexual and she always said what was on her mind. It made life entertaining, if sometimes embarrassing. “Promise me you’ll muzzle yourself about this. Please.”
Lyla motioned a lock to her mouth. “I’ll do my best.”
Skylar heard the, but I make no promises. She knew her aunt well.
“Lunch is just about ready, go bring Ryder downstairs.”
“I can just text him to come down.” She reached for her phone.
“You’ll do no such thing in my house. We have manners here so take your cute little bottom up those stairs and go get my guest.” She shooed her up and turned to attend to their meal.
Skylar slowly climbed the stairs like a prisoner walking to the executioner’s chamber. Except those minutes on the doorstep she hadn’t been alone with Ryder since she stumbled over her words like guppy fish and hurt his feelings. She hoped he wouldn’t hold it against her because she felt bad enough about it. She stood outside his door for too many minutes and tried to get her breathing under control. Finally, she knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again and heard a muffled voice. Twisting the knob she stuck her head in, “Ryder?”
“Yes?”
Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of Ryder without his shirt on, a dark smattering of hair tapering down to a thick trail that lead to…paradise, she imagined. His shoulders were wide and strong, his chest muscles firm and prominent. “Damn,” she whispered and continued to stare.
Ryder hid a smile at her obvious appreciation of his body. He prided himself on keeping in shape because it kept the mind sharp. But it was also a great way to relieve stress when he was between bed mates. “Did you need something Skylar?”
She nodded, mouth still wide open while her eyes raked over his body. “Yeah,” she said on an exhale.
Hands on his hips, Ryder smiled and flexed his muscles. He put on a little show since Skylar couldn’t seem to tear her eyes from his body. The flare of desire in her eyes was enough to make him forget her rejection, almost. After several long minutes she still stared so he had to take matters into hand. He stalked to her, pushing her back until she was between his hard body and a wall. “Skylar?” He pushed a little more.
One hand went to his chest with the goal of pushing him back, instead it ended up caressing that hard muscle that flexed under her hand. “Y-Y-Yes?”
“Is there something I can help you with?” He pressed his body into hers, making her gasp and bite her lip.
“Lunch.” Her voice was husky even to her own ears. Her other hand went to his abs and skipped down every bump and back up again until it rested on her chest. “It’s time for lunch.”
“Are we having lunch in here?”
She heard amusement in his voice and looked up. Damn he was gorgeous with those smiling blue eyes. She had never seen him look so fun or happy. The dark stubble on his jaw was the perfect length to scrape against her, “Oh!” She shouldn’t have thoughts like that. They didn’t like each other. But he looked so good right now, her lady parts responded like they never had before.
Ryder stood still while her soft hands caressed his body. Her hands combined with her sweet scent, was having a big effect on him. A very big effect. “Skylar,” he groaned. Her hands continued to roam over his shoulders, down his pecs and abs, before brushing his waistband. She did it over and over again, snapping his control in half. “Skylar,” he said and then swooped down and took her mouth. The kiss was combustible from the start. Her mouth was lush and sweet and so damn responsive, he couldn’t get enough and tunneled his fingers through her hair to get a better taste, a deeper taste of her mouth. He shouldn’t be kissing her but he couldn’t stop, not even if his life depended on it.
Skylar heard a groan and realized it came from her. She pulled back, eyes slightly dazed when she looked up at Ryder. He looked…devastatingly handsome. “Wow.”
Ryder took a step back. “Yeah. Wow.” He ran one hand through his hair, then the other. “Do I, uh, need to apologize for this?” He waved a hand between them.
She shook her head. “I’d be insulted if you did.” She gave him a nervous smile which he—surprisingly—returned. “That was a great kiss. A really. Really great kiss.”
His smile slow and lazy and sexy as hell. “It was.”
That kiss is why I said no to this man, or why I meant to. Her head dropped to his chest. “Shit.”
“Regrets?”
“Yes. No. Who knows?”
He chuckled low and deep, vibrating in her ear. “I think you do.”
She lifted her head and looked in those blue eyes. “Do you feel this or am I nuts?”
“I feel it.” His voice was wary, cautious.
“This, Ryder,” she motioned between them. “This is why I made that face when you asked me out.”
“I don’t follow.”
“This thing between us. The spark, chemistry or passion. Whatever you want to call it. It’s too strong, too powerful. It’ll consume us and everything around us.”
She sounded devastated by the prospect but it didn’t sound too bad to him. “And that’s a bad thing, I take it?”
“It’s awful. But I fear it’s inevitable. Even Aunt Marie thinks so.”
“You talked to your aunt about us?”
Skylar shook her head against his chest. “No she talked to me. Said maybe nothing has happened yet, but that it would.”
“She was right.”
“She was.” Skylar stepped back from him and she instantly missed the heat and hardness of his body. “We should go before she comes up and explains how sex will be better if we experiment with different positions and then break out the Kama Sutra.”
He laughed but she didn’t join in. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack. Pace yourself Ryder, this weekend is going to be one wild ride.”
He smiled. “I can’t wait.”
***
Skylar had been right, Ryder was in for a wild ride. After lunch, Aunt Marie as she insisted he call her, had taken them out to explore her property. On horseback. He didn’t even think California had any ranches but Lyla Peterson, no Aunt Marie, lived on an honest to goodness ranch with horses, chickens, a few cows, dogs, barn cats and ranch hands. He’d never been on a horse before, not in his life, and that’s how he found himself sitting behind Skylar with his arms wrapped around her waist.
“Hang on a little tighter than normal and you’ll be fine. In a few minutes you’ll get used to the feel of being on a horse.” Skylar smiled at him over her shoulder and he did as she asked. He held on tight to her tiny waist.
“This okay?” His voice was gruff. The proximity and her sensual scent tortured him in the best way. He felt the telltale tightening in his jeans when she looked over her shoulder again, auburn lashes framing smiling hazel eyes.
“Perfect.” Skylar didn’t know what had happened between her and Ryder since arriving in California, but she felt more relaxed around him. She was at ease and relished the low hum of desire every time she caught sight of Ryder. “Don’t let go.” That husky, sexy voice was hers. Hers!
Ryder and Skylar listened as Aunt Marie outlined her hope for the school she wanted to open right here on the New Day Ranch. “This place will be dedicated to kids with learning disabilities that will make it difficult to learn a trade, but who want to learn a trade.” She pointed to a building set apart from the main house and bunkhouse that would house the school. “Kids can stay here or go home each day. Given the location I imagine most will be living here.”
“This is very impressive, Aunt Marie.” He still had a hard time calling the woman he’d known for just a few days his aunt. “I’m interested in the type of software you’ll need.” In fact his fingers itched to get started.
She nodded. “We’ll get to that. In the meantime I need to go get dinner started. You two enjoy the property and be back in two hours.” She winked, turned her horse around and galloped off with a wink.