“Would you help me out tonight?” he asked before he chickened out.
“Sure.” She grinned. “Unless by help you out, you mean finally letting you win at basketball.”
Ryder chuckled, wishing it was that simple. “I’ve got this benefit auction for Little Lambs.”
She nodded. “I love all they do for kids in foster care.” She bit at her lip, and he realized this cause would be very dear to her heart.
“Will you come?”
“Can we bring Tate?”
He shook his head. “My sister texted earlier. She’s in Dallas for the weekend for a photo shoot and fitness convention and wondered if we could hang out tonight. She’ll be great with Tate.” His older sister was one of the top fitness experts in the nation. He was proud of all she’d accomplished, but he wondered when she’d ever settle down. Maybe never as she was mid-thirties and showed no signs of slowing down or dating anyone seriously.
“Okay.”
“So two more favors.” He assembled a ham sandwich for Tate.
“Man, you’re eating those favors up today.” She teased him.
“For sure.” Ryder loved being around her. “I’ll give you a blank check from my foundation. Will you win the bid on me so I don’t have to go on a date with someone I don’t know?”
Bree’s brow furrowed. “Is that allowed?”
“All they care about is raising money for the children. Please.”
She finally nodded, and relief rushed through him. He wouldn’t be subjected to the meat market tonight. That had never been his scene.
“What’s the second favor?” Bree asked.
“We need to go shopping. I need a new tux, and I’d love to buy you a dress and heels.” He held his breath. He didn’t want to offend her, but he was pretty sure from the state of her swimwear that she wouldn’t have the kind of dress she’d need for tonight.
“Wow, you are pushy today. So I have to let you spoil me with shopping, go to some fancy dinner, and give all your money away to children so I can protect you from all the women swarming you. Did I get it all?”
He grinned. “Pretty close.” Did he dare ask for the next favor? A kiss.
“You drive a hard bargain, but since you’re my boss, I guess I can’t say no.”
He winked, hoping she wouldn’t say no when he tried to kiss her tonight. The boundaries of employer and employee had dissolved. All he wanted was to get closer to Bree. He just had to make sure that doing so didn’t drive her away from him or Tate.
Chapter Eight
They arrived at the Galleria Dallas Shopping Center late that afternoon. Bree loved this huge mall with the ice-skating rink in the center and every shop imaginable. Ryder had on a baseball cap and sunglasses, and she got a little touch of his life outside the protective bubble of his home. It would be hard to feel like you had to hide. Ryder directed her with his right hand on her lower back toward some exclusive-looking store with a bunch of letters in its name. The only distinguishable word in the name was Max. Bree was having a hard time focusing on anything but his warm palm that she could feel too well through her silky shirt.
“Let’s get your tux first,” she said, suddenly nervous. She’d never bought clothes anywhere besides thrift stores. To walk into a fancy-looking store with fancy-looking employees had her stomach rolling. How was she going to feel tonight when she walked into some high-dollar auction with Ryder?
Ryder had Tate in his left arm. He stopped walking, and she hated those sunglasses covering his beautiful blue eyes. However, there was nothing concealing the sexy smirk on his lips. “I don’t need a tux,” he said.
She folded her arms across her chest and glared up at him. She was wearing her best skirt and blouse, the same ones she’d worn the first day she met these two. Ryder hadn’t commented or even acted like he’d seen the outfit before. “Of course, you need a tux. You’ll be the one up in front of everybody.”
His smile deepened. “Bree,” he said her name so appealingly she had to clench her arms together or she’d reach out for him. “I already have a couple of tuxes for events like this.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You tricked me into shopping?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I thought women loved shopping.”
For some reason, that hit her wrong. She’d seen pictures of his gorgeous wife, always decked out to perfection. Bree could never fit that kind of a mold. She’d lost sight of her purpose with Ryder and Tate, and she’d only been with them a few days. She wasn’t the super model who dated the hot football player. She was the girl who worked her tail off to rise from nothing and was going to make a difference helping other children. Tate first of all.
She pivoted away from him. “I don’t think I should go tonight.”
Ryder gently turned her back to face him. “Please.”
Bree stared up at him. He’d been so good to her, and she hated to turn him down.
He bounced Tate. “Beg her for me, will you buddy?”
Tate gave her his smile and reached for her. Bree opened her arms and pulled him into her chest. He put both of his chubby arms around her neck. Bree loved the comforting weight of him against her. She was falling quickly for this little man. She glanced at his handsome father. This duo might prove irresistible if she didn’t gain some self-control soon.
“Ask her please, Tate,” Ryder encouraged. His smile was bordering on too-confident, but she could sense in his voice that he was nervous. He really wanted her to go tonight. If only she could see his eyes right now.
Tate released his right hand from Bree’s shoulder and rubbed his chest in the “please” sign.
Ryder grinned. “Please let me buy you a dress. You’re doing me the favor tonight, right?”
Bree huffed. “Fine, but next time just tell me the truth.”
Ryder’s smile froze. “What do you mean?”
“You tricked me into coming, saying you needed a tux. Why not just tell me the truth?” That he knew she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear to such an event. She’d go in a t-shirt if it meant helping the children, but she didn’t want to embarrass Ryder.
“Would you have let me buy you a dress if you knew I didn’t need a tux?”
Bree shrugged. “If Tate asked me please, I wouldn’t have been able to resist.” She tilted her head. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He swallowed and shifted from foot to foot. “Jessica was delicate. I had to keep a lot of things from her or soften them. I lived in a world of half-truths for the four years we were married, and I hated it.”
Bree’s heart twisted for him. She’d assumed he and his wife had had some perfect relationship, but maybe that wasn’t the whole story. She didn’t like to think of him tiptoeing around the truth to protect his wife, but from what their file said, Jessica had been sick over a year. That would’ve been hard on any relationship. Bree didn’t like to think of him or Tate hurting in any aspect of their lives but especially not in the bond with their wife and mother.
“I can handle the truth,” she said, trying for a bad movie impersonation.
Ryder smiled, as if he got the reference, and she really liked him for it. “I can see that.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and directed her toward the store. “Time to shop.”
“Don’t sound so excited,” she said teasingly.
He pulled off his sunglasses and looked straight at her. “I’m excited to be with you.”
If it hadn’t been real enough with him sharing a piece of his relationship with his wife, his last statement brought in all the honesty. Bree held Tate closer, not sure what her response should be to her boss. He was still her boss, no matter how badly she wanted more. She settled for simply smiling as she walked into the store. Ryder shoved his sunglasses back on before the sales ladies converged on them. One started exclaiming over how adorable Tate was, and another one was gushing about how cute this little family was. It was pretty obvious they were paid on commission.
“We need a forma
l for tonight.” Ryder got right to the point. He turned to Bree. “Would you like to look through the store or go back to the dressing room and have them bring you gowns to try on?”
Bree’s eyebrows shot up. She hadn’t realized this tough football player knew his way around a shopping experience.
“Um, I wouldn’t mind looking for a few minutes.” She had her own style, and from what she’d seen just walking in here, there were a lot of great options.
Ryder took Tate from her arms and said, “Sounds great. Tate and I will wait by the dressing rooms.”
“Thanks.” She liked that he was giving her time to shop and wasn’t going to follow her around.
One of the ladies escorted him back to a set of couches, and Bree started perusing the formal section. Another one of the ladies stayed close by. She didn’t get in Bree’s way, but when Bree pulled a gown out and gave her approval, the lady would take it and go put it in the dressing room before returning. Bree thought she had to have at least a dozen back there when she finally went to try them on. Ryder and Tate were watching something on his phone, both of them laughing.
The saleswomen were whispering, and one was brave enough to ask, “Are you dating Ryder Quinn?”
Ryder had taken his sunglasses off as he relaxed with Tate, and they’d recognized him quickly. Bree froze, not knowing how to respond. Ryder looked up and met her gaze. He winked and smiled. “Do I get a fashion show now?”
Bree ignored the ladies’ twittering and put a hand on her hip. “No way. Then you won’t have anything to look forward to tonight.”
“Oh, I’ll have plenty to look forward to tonight,” he said in a low, sexy tone.
Bree’s heart thumped harder against her rib cage as the women behind her all seemed to suck in a breath. She hoped they didn’t pull out phones and start snapping pics. Guaranteed they were all going to be telling their friends about this interaction. It was well known Ryder Quinn didn’t date. Why her? Why now? She gave him a forced smile and hurried into the dressing room. They weren’t dating. She was his employee, and for some reason, they were both letting their emotions get away from them. She slid off her blouse and skirt and tried on the first gown, a pale blue, lacy dress with a high neck and a really short hemline. Hmm. She loved the color with her dark skin and the material was fabulous, but she didn’t want to worry about bending over and showing off her tush.
Slipping the next dress off the hanger, her mind spun through what tonight might be like. She truly had no clue, but she was certain of one thing: It was going to be nearly impossible not to hug Ryder … or more.
Chapter Nine
Ryder was nervous as he waited for Bree to come down the stairs that evening. Tate was on the couch playing with some of his Marvel action heroes. They watched Thor movies when they needed a break from reality, and Tate loved all of the Marvel characters.
Navy had been excited to come spend some time with Tate and to meet Bree. Ryder had tried to caution her over and over again that Bree was working for him. He repeatedly told her they weren’t romantically involved. If only he could believe his own words. Why hadn’t she responded at the clothing store when he said he’d have plenty to look forward to tonight? Had he scared her? Was there something she’d been through that had her leery around men? Whatever happened with that Peter idiot last night made him mad and uneasy. Ryder couldn’t relate to a rough past, and he worried that the beautiful Bree may have been taken advantage of.
Would that make it impossible for her to trust a man, to trust him? He blew out a breath and focused on Tate, who was making Thor fly around while Loki was standing by. Ryder was getting so far ahead of himself. What if Bree wasn’t interested in dating him? What if he tried to kiss her tonight and she turned away or slapped him? He pushed his hand through his hair, mussing the gelled look. He just had no experience with women besides Jessica, and he’d walked on eggshells around her. Bree had told him earlier that she wanted him to be honest with her. Well tonight, he was planning on it. After the banquet, he was going to drive her somewhere quiet, tell her how amazing she was, and ask her if she’d date him. Maybe it would be awkward, but he had to do it, or he was going to go nuts.
Motion on the stairs drew his gaze. He looked up and saw Bree descending. It looked like she was floating. The V-neck white lace gown showed off her beautifully formed smooth brown neck and shoulders. The dress fell to her knees in the front and then all the way to the floor in the back. Her hair was as pretty as he’d ever seen it. The curls held back by a wide white lace band were bigger and smoother, waving and dipping around her face. Her shoes revealed her spunky personality. They were pink and glittery and fit her style perfectly. He wondered how she could walk in heels that high.
She got closer and tilted her head, smirking at him. “What do you think? Can you handle all this glitter and shine?”
Ryder chuckled. He pushed down the fear of rejection and stepped in close. She smelled so fresh and clean he wanted to bury his head in her neck and kiss the pulse point that was visible. Was it possible she was nervous too?
“You’re absolutely perfect, Bree,” he murmured.
“You look pretty decent yourself, Ryder Quinn.”
Ryder couldn’t resist any longer. He put his arms around her back and was shocked when his hands met warm flesh. “Whoa.” He gently turned her and admired her smooth back and how the bodice of the dress cut a low V in the back, matching the V in the front and complimenting the line of the skirt being high in the front then dropping to the floor in the back. Thankfully, there had been no price tags in the store, and the attendants were smart enough not to announce to her that the dress and heels were over seven hundred dollars together. It was money well spent, and she might have refused if she’d known the total. “I like this.” He turned her back and stared into her eyes. “Bree.” He breathed out unsteadily.
Her deep brown eyes were focused on him. Her heels made her about five nine so he wouldn’t have to lean down very far to touch his lips to her full, beautiful mouth.
An alert on his phone beeped. Navy had opened the gate and was on her way up the driveway. Bree pulled in a shaky breath and stepped out of his arms. She walked over to the couch. “Hey, Tate.”
He glanced up from his guys and gave her a big grin. Standing on the couch, he wrapped his arms around her neck and planted a kiss on her cheek. Ryder felt jealous of his own son.
“Aw, you sweetheart. I’m going to miss you tonight.”
Ryder thought it was fabulous she was so attached to Tate, but he also wanted her to be attached to him.
The front door flew open, and Navy burst in. “The party is here!” she shouted.
Ryder laughed, and she bounced into his arms. Luckily, his sister hadn’t inherited the Quinn genes of being large in stature. She took after their petite, feisty mother, but looked a lot like the rest of them with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was in a casual gray t-shirt and black tights with her hair in a ponytail. She was usually in some kind of fitness wear, probably because of all the companies that gave her free apparel, hoping she’d agree to model it on one of her fitness videos, live segments, or shows.
He hugged her then turned her to face Bree and Tate. His son jumped off the couch and ran to his aunt. Navy picked him up, kissing his cheek. “My little man!” She turned him upside down, and he shrieked with laughter. Navy righted him to hold him close and focused on Bree. “Oh, my goodness. You are gorgeous!”
Bree walked forward with her hand outstretched. “I’m Bree.”
“Navy.” Navy shook her hand, arching an eyebrow at Ryder. “When you decide to find a girl, you do it right, huh little bro?”
“I’m the smart one of the bunch for sure,” he said.
Bree was looking a little uncertain. Maybe she didn’t want to be labeled as Ryder’s girl. How to convince her?
“Ha!” Navy laughed. “Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it you who came up with the idea to cover your footballs in syrup so
they’d stick to your hands?”
“Really?” Ryder’s neck got hot, and he rubbed at it uncomfortably. “You’re gonna tell this story?”
“Oh yeah. And just so you know, this isn’t the best dirt I have on him.” She winked at Bree who was smiling broader and looking more comfortable. Ryder wouldn’t mind being humiliated if it meant Bree felt comfortable. “All five of my little brothers not only covered their footballs in syrup, they also covered the entire house in syrup. It was on the walls, the carpet, the wood floor, the counters, the sinks.” She shook her head.
“Oh my.” Bree laughed with her. “What did your mom say?”
“This is the best part. Mama comes down from upstairs with a load of laundry and starts sticking to the floor. She finds the boys tossing their sticky footballs in the basement, just happy as can be, and she says to them, ‘Do you boys have crap for brains?’”
“No?” Bree put a hand over her mouth. “That’s horrible.”
“You don’t know our mama. That’s about par for the course. She loved us, but she told us how it was, and honestly, syrup on footballs? My brothers do have crap for brains. Wait until you meet Mack. Built like a Mack truck, but more emotional than any woman.”
“Be nice,” Ryder said. Mack was a lineman and had just finished his first season with the Patriots. He was smart and had a business degree from Ohio State, but it was true he was built like a Mack truck and was the softest emotionally of any of them. Navy loved to tease him because he was a big old teddy bear and just smiled at anything she threw at him. Ryder would never tease Mack because he remembered how it was when they were in grade school and Mack got teased for being mute. Navy had been in middle school and had never seen the abuse, and it’s not like the brothers talked freely about pain like that.
“So Mack, Colt, Kaleb, and the one who looks most like you, Grady?” Bree looked to Ryder for help. His chest swelled with happiness at the intimate way she looked at him, like they were a couple and it wasn’t just all in his head. Plus, she knew his brother’s names and knew what they looked like. Clearly, she cared enough to learn something about them.
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