by Kendall Ryan
When I arrive, I park my car, making sure to lock it, and then head inside.
Blinking to allow my eyes to adjust to the dim interior, I approach the hostess station, already looking around for Ryleigh. I don’t see her, but a blond hostess smiles at me and grabs a sticky menu as she steps out front to greet me. She’s in a skintight black dress that’s so short, I’m sure if she bent over, I’d see what color her panties are—if she’s even wearing any panties in this “upscale” establishment.
“Hi, handsome. One for lunch?” she asks.
“Sure. Is Ryleigh working today?”
The blonde nods. “I’ll seat you in her section. Right this way.”
Frustration blooms inside my gut as I follow her through the bar and toward the back where high-top tables and booths wait, mostly empty at this time of day. The walls are painted black, and red silk sheets hang from the ceiling, dividing off the space. Deep, seductive bass music thumps softly in the background.
After sitting in one side of the booth and accepting the menu, I still haven’t spotted Ryleigh. The hostess flounces away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Part of me knows I shouldn’t be here, but the other part of me won’t be satisfied until I see her.
I thought I was prepared to see her again . . . until Ryleigh turns the corner and steps into my line of sight. What I wasn’t prepared for is the heavily made-up version of Ryleigh wearing nothing but a tiny pair of glittery booty shorts. My heart begins beating like a snare drum inside my chest. Fuck.
She stops in her tracks when she sees me, her eyes widening almost comically large, and something inside me twists.
For a second I think she’s going to run and hide, or at least try to cover herself. But then Ryleigh finds her composure, straightens her shoulders, and moves toward me.
As she struts closer, my mouth goes dry and my cock twitches in my pants. Her skin looks so soft and creamy, and her hair is flowing in loose waves down to her shoulders. Her breasts are perfect, not too large, but a nice handful that my palms ache to touch. Her nipples are tight and blush pink, and I want my mouth all over them. Now.
When she stops beside my table, I’m so hard and also so irritated that I’ve forgotten how to speak. The tiny shorts she’s wearing are basically just a pair of panties, and there’s some kind of delicate chain necklace thing around her hips. It’s distracting as fuck.
“What can I get you?” she purrs, her voice low and seductive.
What the hell? Why is she acting like we’ve never met?
“I came to check on you,” I say, my voice coming out too tight. “You okay?”
She bats her dark eyelashes. “Just peachy.”
“Did your heat come back on?” I ask, straight to the point.
An annoyed look flashes across Ryleigh’s face, and then she smiles at me again, only this time it doesn’t reach her eyes, which have turned an icy shade of blue. “That’s not for you to worry about, Alexei. I’m not a charity case, and despite what you witnessed last night, I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself. Now, would you like to order lunch or not?”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the tone of her voice. “Sure. Bring me a burger, please. Salad on the side. And a couple glasses of ice water.”
“Right away, sir,” Ryleigh says before strutting away, her shapely ass taunting me as she leaves.
I squeeze my eyes closed and huff out a sigh. It’s a strange and unexpected reaction, but it makes me angry to see her here like this, knowing that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can walk in here and get an eyeful of her. I knew she worked here when we met, so I have no idea why it’s suddenly giving me heartburn to see her in this environment. She’s beautiful and almost naked, and it’s pissing me right the fuck off.
Soon, she delivers two glasses of ice water, and I waste no time in drinking one of them in three big gulps. I’m usually dehydrated after such an intense workout and practice, but I’m pretty sure this is me attempting to quench my thirst for something else.
Without another word, Ryleigh turns to go again.
“Wait,” I say, setting down the water as calmly as I can.
“Yes?” Her tone is clipped.
“How’s Ella? Is she with your neighbor?”
Ryleigh nods. “She’s fine, Alexei. Please stop worrying about us.”
The way she says my name is too intimate, like we’ve known each other for years rather than less than twenty-four hours, like we’re lovers and not virtual strangers. I like the sound of it way too much.
Ryleigh turns away to head back toward the kitchen, as if on a mission to get away from me as quickly as possible.
The next time she comes by my table, it’s to deliver my food, which she does without a word. Normally, I’m ravenous after practice. Today, I barely manage to take a few bites before I push my plate away.
I hate that she has to work here where strange men look at her. I hate that her apartment is in a neighborhood that’s so unsafe I don’t even want to walk around there alone. I hate that her roommate gave her more to worry about and take care of when she left Ella there with nothing.
Scrubbing my hands through my hair, I rise from my seat. I dig out my wallet and toss down a couple of bills, enough to cover my meal plus a $100 tip.
I need to leave before I do something stupid like beg her to quit.
And what would she do then, Alexei?
Come home with me again, my brain says, answering the unspoken question.
Not a good idea, and I know it. Yet, I still wish there was something I could do to fix this.
I find her lingering by the bar, where she’s waiting as the bartender fills a drink order. I’d forgotten how much taller I am, but standing beside her emphasizes how petite she really is.
She spins to face me. “Your food come out okay?”
I nod and shove a piece of paper at her. “Here’s my number. Please text me if you need anything. You or Ella. Okay?”
Ryleigh looks surprised, her big blue eyes peering up at mine as she accepts the scrap of paper. “Okay. But I won’t need it.”
Without a backward glance, I walk out with a hollow feeling inside my chest. A feeling of loss for something that was never really mine to lose.
• • •
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Acknowledgments
A mountain of gratitude to all of the readers out there who have bought my books, who have read them and left reviews, and who have messaged me, telling me you enjoyed my stories. I am so grateful to you! I couldn’t live without my rock stars Alyssa Garcia and Danielle Sanchez. Thank you both so much. I would be lost without my miracle-working editor, Pam Berehulke. I would seriously be rocking in a corner somewhere. Thank you for being so easy to work with, and for helping make my stories shine.
Last, thank you to my football-playing husband, John, for all the inspiration.
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About the Author
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over two million books, and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller list more than three dozen times. Kend
all has been featured in publications such as USA TODAY, Newsweek, and In Touch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.
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Other Books by Kendall Ryan
Unravel Me
Make Me Yours
Working It
Craving Him
All or Nothing
When I Break Series
Filthy Beautiful Lies Series
The Gentleman Mentor
Sinfully Mine
Bait & Switch
Slow & Steady
The Room Mate
The Play Mate
The House Mate
The Bed Mate
The Soul Mate
Hard to Love
Reckless Love
Resisting Her
The Impact of You
Screwed
Monster Prick
The Fix Up
Sexy Stranger
Dirty Little Secret
Dirty Little Promise
Torrid Little Affair
xo, Zach
Baby Daddy
Tempting Little Tease
Bro Code
Love Machine
Flirting with Forever
Dear Jane
For a complete list of Kendall’s books, visit:
www.kendallryanbooks.com/all-books/
