White Trash Witch (9 page)

On silent feet, she made her way through the house
and down the hall to the kitchen. Only nightlights lit her way.
When she reached the kitchen, she quietly closed the door behind
her and aimed straight for the fridge, opening it.

Bent over, she searched through the mountain of food,
and finally came out with a container of cream cheese and a bagel.
Holding them in her arms, she pulled out a beer and used her foot
to close the door.

When Ryder suddenly appeared from behind the door,
she screamed and dropped her hoard. His quick spell, freezing the
items in place, prevented them from hitting the floor. Scooping the
beer and bagel out of the air, he placed them on the island, and
then went back for the cheese.

Wiley hadn't moved, frozen in place as she stared at
him, her hand over her heart, breathing rapidly from the fright. He
was naked, but for his blue satin boxers.

"Hi," he murmured, his tone low and sexy.

"Oh, ah…hi," she said, still staring at his muscular
chest, arms and legs.

"Midnight snack?"

"Ye…Yes. What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep. You?" he asked. She could tell
that he was trying not to stare at her legs peeking out of her
short t-shirt.

Shaking her head, she moved to the bagel, and then
looked for a sharp knife.

Ryder opened a drawer, pulled out a knife, and took
the bagel from her, cutting it neatly in half.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Your mom tells me that she's going
home in the morning after she sees Dara. She said that she's taking
Lacy with her."

She swallowed hard at the image that that put in her
mind, and nodded. She'd never been so tongue-tied before when it
came to a man. The two of them would be alone in the house until
Dara was ready to leave the hospital.

"You will stay here for the rest of your stay in
Toronto, won't you?" he asked, taking her forgotten bagel, and
slathering it with creamed cheese.

"I…I hadn't thought that far ahead." Her hands shook
as she waited for him to finish, barely noticing the bagel for his
hands.

"Your mom said that she's making up the downstairs
bedroom at your house for Dara and Lacy, for when Dara's released
from the hospital, so that she can recover at home. She'll have a
nurse come around daily until she isn't needed anymore, and a
physiotherapist."

"Yes," she said, clearing her throat. She accepted
the bagel Ryder offered her, and took a small bite, getting cream
cheese on the side of her mouth.

Reaching over, Ryder wiped the cheese away with his
thumb, and then put it to his lips, sucking the cheese off.

Trying desperately to focus on her stomach, she took
another bite then put the bagel down, while she tried to open her
beer. The cap was stuck. She struggled with it until he gently took
it from her hands, and quickly twisted it in an effortless
move.

"Thank you," she said, swallowing a swig of beer.

Ryder opened the fridge, taking out another bagel and
a beer.

Wiley watched his deft hands as he cut the bread and
put creamed cheese on it, then opened the beer. As he took a long
drink of it, she watched his Adam's Apple bob up and down,
wondering why she'd never noticed another man's throat. It stirred
her awareness of him, causing all kinds of sparks in her veins.

Through widened eyes Wily studied his gorgeous face,
thick auburn curly hair and intense blue eyes. He was what women
dreamed of, and yet she'd avoided him for weeks. When she looked
into his eyes, she saw the other Ryder, and that confused her.

She couldn't deny the way her lower belly responded
to him. She couldn't ignore the way her heart raced when he was
near, or the way her breath stilled when he looked deep into her
eyes. She was falling for him, and that had her shaking in her
boots. Wiley wondered if she could entrust her heart to him,
remembering the betrayal of her last relationship, and the pain
she'd felt. She fought her attraction, but knew then that she
couldn't possibly win.

"Would you like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow
night?" he asked, taking a bite of his bagel.

"Ah…dinner?"

"Sure. I thought it'd be nice to have dinner out for
a change. Maybe Chinese food? Italian? French?"

"Well, I…ah…I don't…no, I don't think I can," she
said, trembling.

Cupping her chin in his hand, he looked into her
eyes.

"We can go as friends. No romantic stuff, okay?" he
said, his eyes urging her to say yes.

Swallowing hard, she melted beneath is simmering
gaze.

"Uh, okay." When he gave her that puppy-dog eyed
look, she practically forgot her own name.

"Great. I'll make the reservations for seven o'clock.
That gives you all day to visit Dara."

"Sure," she said, distracted by his lips. They were
moist and full, and she ached to kiss them again. It had been two
weeks since they'd slept together. She felt like she was going
crazy with wanting him. Every minute of the day he was in her mind,
teasing and beckoning her to come to him.

"Well, I'd better get some sleep. Goodnight, Wiley,"
he said, turning to leave. His firmly shaped butt teased her eyes
as he walked out of the room.

When the door closed behind him, she nearly
groaned.

"He didn't even kiss me goodnight," she grumbled,
staring at the door. Confused, Wiley opened the fridge and
practically threw the creamed cheese back inside, slamming the
door.

"What am I, invisible, here?" she muttered.

Picking up her bottle, she chugged the rest of the
beer then threw the rest of her bagel out, gasping when she
realized what she'd done. In her whole lifetime, she'd never wasted
food. Ryder had her so perplexed that she could barely think
straight!

Once she finished the beer, she made her way back to
her room, pausing in front of Ryder's closed door as she battled
the urge to knock, and beg him to make wild, passionate love to
her.

Growling, she marched to her room and slipped quietly
into bed beside her niece. It took hours for her to finally fall
asleep, and when she did, she dreamed about a handsome man with
auburn curls, and a smile that could melt the polar icecaps!

Lily and Lacy went back to Salem early in the day,
while Wiley sat with Dara. She had no idea where Ryder was, though
she had a hunch he was taking care of business.

The day went by fast, and at five o'clock Ryder came
to pick her up and take her back to the house to get ready for
their dinner date. He never once touched her, except when he
steered her clear of the pillar in the hospital lobby that she'd
nearly walked into, she was so distracted.

Once at the house, he disappeared behind his bedroom
door, leaving Wiley staring at the solid panel wishing she could
see behind it. After giving herself a shake, she went to her room,
had a quick shower, and dressed in a slinky dark purple mini-dress
he'd bought for her. Telling herself she would pay him back, she
gave in. She wore a silver necklace with a pentagram pendant
hanging from it, and a thin, chain-linked silver belt that dangled
on her hips below her waist. Her black pumps and purse completed
the ensemble.

She swept her long red hair up into a French bun,
leaving a few tendrils hanging down. Last, but not least, she added
a touch of makeup. The eyeliner and mascara made her eyes stand
out, and the mauve eye shadow softened them, making the green more
vivid. With just a touch of plum blush, she was ready.

Opening the door, she nearly screamed. Ryder stood
there with his hand poised to knock.

"Good timing. Wow, you look beautiful, Wiley. Purple
really suits you."

"Thank you. You look nice too," she said, liking his
navy blue plaid shirt, and blue pants. He didn't have a wrinkle on
him. She smoothed down the dress with her palms, feeling
self-conscious about her appearance.

Holding out his arm, he said, "Are you ready to
go?"

She slipped her hand on his forearm, nodded, and they
made their way downstairs.

The Chinese food restaurant was busy, so Ryder
suggested that they order from the menu, rather than fight their
way through the buffet line. Wiley nodded, unable to form a
sentence because of his nearness. She favored the cologne he wore,
it's scent subtle. Once they'd ordered, they sat back to talk.

"I understand that Dara is doing better than
expected," he said.

"My sister doesn't let anything keep her down for
long." Wiley smiled, her earthy green eyes meeting his. There went
her stomach, flipping over again. What was it about him that
unsettled her so much?

"It must run in the family."

His eyes were full of admiration. Ryder waited until
the waiter had placed their drinks on the table and left before he
continued to talk.

"I heard from my lawyer today. He said he'd be happy
to take on Dara's divorce case and that she'd probably get most of
everything. Her husband will more than likely be in jail for a few
years at least for driving while intoxicated, and causing two
deaths."

"I hope they throw away the key. If I ever get my
hands on him, he'll prefer jail, believe me."

"Oh, I believe you all right. After seeing you attack
two big strong men with ice cream and syrup, I wouldn't think of
crossing you!" he teased, watching her expression.

Laughter escaped before silence fell once again when
the dinner came. Wiley didn't know what to say.

Since the salt and pepper were too far from her to
reach, she wiggled her fingers at them and they slid across the
table to her.

At Ryder's raised eyebrows, she grinned.

Next, she waggled her fingers for the soya sauce and
was stunned to find it sliding over to Ryder, instead.

"No fair!" she teased in mock anger.

"First come, first serve," he said, keeping his eyes
on his plate as though to hide the mischief in his eyes.

Biting the top off her egg-roll, Wiley motioned the
plum sauce over and filled the inside with the sweet glaze. When
she bit into it, her eyes closed as the delicious flavors rolled
over her tongue.

Ryder followed suit and moved his leg beneath the
table, grazing along the side of her calf. He seemed to be focused
on his egg-roll, closing his eyes as she had as he bit into it.

Shivers raced up her spine as she watched him, his
leg hot against hers. Suddenly it was hard for her to swallow past
the lump in her throat. She had to put down her food, taking a sip
from her wine.

"Not hungry?" he said, looking a little too
innocent.

Then she realized that he was doing it on purpose so
she offered him payback!

"Yes, I am. I wanted to have a little wine first,"
she said, taking a sip and swallowing, her eyes nearly closing as
she savored it. Then her tongue darted out to capture the drops
from the side of the glass and she licked it clean.

It was Ryder's turn to stop in his tracks. If she
didn't miss her guess, he was thinking about what her tongue had
done to him on that fateful night.

When dinner was finished and dessert ordered, Wiley
thought he was going to leap across the table to get to her when
she picked up the maraschino cherry by the stem and captured it
with her tongue. Her white teeth imprisoned it and she bit the
cherry off the stem. Once she'd swallowed it, she put the stem in
her mouth and moved it around with her tongue, finally releasing
it. It was tied in a knot!

She watched as Ryder swallowed hard, his dessert
forgotten.

Wiley continued to eat her Sunday, licking the spoon
clean after each bite. When she dipped her finger in the whipped
cream and sucked her finger into her mouth, Ryder looked like he
would throw the table out of the way and jump her. From the look on
his face, he was barely able to contain himself, and dropped his
gaze to his plate of chocolate brownies. When he tried to eat it,
his hand was shaking.

Wiley smiled. "I have to go to the ladies' room. I'll
be right back." Once she was standing beside the table, she dropped
her purse and bent straight over to pick it up, her buttocks facing
Ryder. Without pause, she stood up and walked away, leaving a very
excited man in her wake.

When Ryder saw many a head turn to watch Wiley as she
made her way down the isles, he nearly growled in frustration. A
cloak of green encompassed his gaze as jealousy reared its ugly
head. He wanted to pound a few faces to stop them from looking at
her. He was shocked at his reaction. Even with his ex-wife, he'd
never felt jealous before.

"Waiter? Check please!" he said, aching from the hard
on in his tight pants. She'd teased him throughout the entire meal
though she claimed she didn't want anything to do with him.

By the time she returned from the restroom, the bill
was paid, and he took her hand, practically dragging her from the
restaurant.

"Ryder? What are you doing? You didn't eat your
dessert," she said, feigning innocence.

He never spoke a word all the way home, and even then
he kept silent. Walking straight up the stairs, still holding her
hand, he stopped at her bedroom door.

"Thanks. It was a nice evening. Shaking her hand, his
expression impersonal, he turned and went into his own bedroom,
closing the door behind him.

In the hallway, Wiley stood staring after Ryder with
her jaw dropped open. She was totally stunned. She expected him to
want to make love to her. Opening her door, she slammed it shut,
and then stood with her back to the wall beside his door. It took
less than ten seconds for him to open his door again and stride
over to hers, his hand raised to knock.

"Looking for me?" she teased, standing with her arms
across her chest.

Reeling, Ryder turned to face her, his face flushed
red as he stared at her for the space of a few heartbeats. Then, he
marched over to her, took her hand and dragged her into his room,
slamming the door shut behind him.