Invisibility Cloak

by Jill Elaine Prim

  Why was he talking to Ryder? Amanda ground her teeth together some more. “Uh, I’m over here, Josh.” She stuck her hand up and waved. “Hellloooooo?”

  “Amanda, Joshua has another appointment, so he asked if I could take over your regular exercises.” Ryder walked over to a stationary bike and patted the seat. “How about this one?”

  Amanda turned to look at Joshua and her face was hot. “You have another appointment, Joshua?” For two months right after her car accident she’d seen and only worked with Joshua. It was only Joshua and no one else. For just a moment she felt like her therapist was cheating on her, which was totally ridiculous.

  Joshua cleared his throat. “Well, actually―”

  Ryder cut him off. “It’s no problem really, Joshua, you go on to do your other obligation.”

  “Amanda, I―” Joshua scrunched his forehead and looked at her worriedly.

  This time she cut him off. “No, if you have other things to do, Joshua, of course you go.” She nodded at Ryder. “I’m sure Mr. Stevenson will be just fine.” A knot formed in her throat.

  “I promise, I won’t be long,” Joshua said as he walked toward the offices. “Hey, thanks, Ryder.”

  Ryder nodded at Josh then turned his attention to her. “Let me help you up.” When he attempted to put his arm around her waist to lift her up to the seat, she slapped off his hands.

  “I can do it myself.”

  “O-Kay.” Ryder took a step back and held both hands up. “I know when I’m not wanted.”

  After grunting and huffing, she finally hefted herself up on the bicycle seat only to swipe at the sweat that trickled down her chest.

  How totally ungraceful. Amanda was already perspiring and that was just getting up on the stationary bike seat! She shoved her right foot into the stirrup on the pedal. Then she turned her attention to her left foot and attempted to stick her left toe into the stirrup bar. When her left toe edged the plastic stirrup and tried to dip into it, it didn’t go in. After her car accident, she’d lost the agility to manipulate anything below her left ankle, like she used to. She eyed the spinning pedal and tried once again to stick her left foot into the stirrup. Her tennis shoe caused the pedal to spin even faster.

  All it did was spin.

  And spin.

  Heat crept up her neck onto her face.

  Crap. Joshua, had always helped her put her weak foot on the pedal in the past. She rolled her eyes and turned to Ryder. “Ah, Ryder?” She pointed to her left foot. “Would you mind helping me out?” Tilting her head, she mustered up a half smile. “Puleeze?”

  This was soooo humiliating.

  “Oh?” Ryder stepped up next to her and gently put her foot onto the pedal and adjusted the strap. “So now, you need me, eh?”

  “Thank you,” she gritted out. That man. Her feet pushed the pedals.

  He leaned over and set the timer and the course intensity. “I’ll start at one.”

  “I always do at least three,” she countered while her legs vigorously bicycled.

  “O-Kay.” He adjusted it to level two.

  “I can handle level three.” She’d show him.

  Ryder just lifted an eyebrow at her.

  “Three.” What in the blazes was wrong with the man? Couldn’t he hear? She snorted.

  “Just try it here, for a while, Amanda.”

  “No.” Pant, pant, pant. “Three.” She grunted and pedaled faster. Whoa, two was harder. But no way was she going to let him tell her what speed she should go. Tilting her head, she narrowed her eyes at him and spit out, “Three.”

  “O-Kay, three it is.” Ryder adjusted it up to three.

  Ahhh. What was she thinking? Amanda glanced at the timer, only fourteen more minutes. How do I get myself in these messes? Her eyes shifted back to Ryder. It’s all his fault! He was purposefully pushing her buttons. Was that a smile on his face? He rocked on his heels with his arms crossed in front of his big, strong, muscular chest.

  I despise him right now.

  “Almost done, honey.” His brown eyes twinkled. She was sure he tried not to laugh. “Only thirteen more easy minutes to go.”

  Time to change the subject or else she’d claw his eyes out. “So how do you know Joshua?”

  “What? You think you’re the only one allowed to come to Go Fitness?” He scowled at her as she took in deep breaths. “I belong here, too.”

  “I’ve never seen you here before.” Pant, pant, pant.

  “I usually come in in the late afternoon.”

  “Oh.” Pant, pant, pant.

  “What time will your parents be in today?”

  Pant, pant, pant. “They usually get in around two or three o’clock.” Pant, pant, pant. “Usually early afternoon.”

  “What time will they take off?”

  Amanda eyed his easy going stance. “Mom and Dad usually leave in the morning.” Her eyes darted to her time left. Pant, pant, pant. Only eight more minutes. “They take their time driving, exploring new areas and towns along the way home to Ft. Collins.” Pant, pant, pant.

  “How are we doing Amanda?” Joshua crept up behind her and he clapped his hands together before slapping Ryder on the back. “Thanks, Ryder. I’m all set to go, I can take over now.”

  “I don’t mind hanging out, Josh.” Ryder surveyed the gym, acting like her private bodyguard. “Is everything okay at home?”

  “What?” Pant, pant, pant. “What’s wrong, Josh?”

  “Marcus, my newborn just got out of a minor surgery. Everything went great.”

  “Wow, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Now Amanda really felt like a heel. “We could’ve canceled today, Josh.”

  “No, all is good.” Joshua shook his head. “Besides, you already missed our time last Friday. Didn’t want you out of the routine. As soon as I’m done here, I’m heading home.”

  Now she really felt like a skank-breath, as her son would say. “Ryder can help me out today, go on home.” She swallowed.

  Ryder narrowed his eyes at him. “You heard the lady, Josh.”

  “You sure?” Joshua looked at her with big eyes.

  “Absolutely.” Pant, pant, pant. “Please, get out of here.”

  “Not a problem, Josh,” Ryder said easily. “I got this, man. I’ll be here the whole time as well.”

  Amanda couldn’t help herself and she snorted. Five more minutes. Praise the Lord.

  “You sure, Amanda?”

  “Yes, Joshua, I’ll fill Ryder in on our exercises.”

  “I got this, man. Ryder nodded. “Go on.”

  Joshua jogged out and Ryder stepped closer to her. “One more minute and counting.” His brows lifted. “Want to keep on going a few more minutes?”

  No! She was light-headed but managed to grunt, “Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one!” and sagged over the handlebars. “All done. I’ll probably ache for three days,” she muttered under her breath.

  “I got you.” Ryder moved up behind her and placed both hands around her waist. Plucking her off the seat, he set her down.

  She scowled at him. “I could’ve gotten down myself.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Ryder walked away from her and gestured to her with his hand. “Come on, you little spitfire.”

  Gesturing with her arms toward the matted area that had the free weights she said, “We usually go over to those machines and . . .” She took tentative steps to the weight room area but stopped short when he walked toward the exercise room.

  “You are all mine right now.” Uh oh, he got a crazy look in his eyes. “I think you need some heavy duty core exercises as well as your regular leg workouts.” His hand motioned to his stomach. “Good for balance and everything, really.”

  “Oh.” She followed him in the yo
ga room. Could be beneficial, she knew she had a weak stomach and trunk area.

  Bring it on, Ryder. She followed him into the room and flicked on the lights. I am woman hear me groan.

  He went left and pulled out two mats from the storage area. “Core. Strengthen.” Laying the mats side by side, he said, “Everything starts here, darlin’.” He pointed to his flat, hard stomach.

  Stop that, she chastised herself. Stop mooning over his strong, God-like hard body. He had that stupid little grin on his face. The one that made him look so sexy and masculine.

  “Okay.” Rolling her eyes, she sat cross-legged on the green mat. “I’m all yours.”

  His mouth quirked up. “Now lay down.” Ryder knelt beside her. “And slowly pull from here.” He laid his palm on her stomach.

  Oh boy. As soon as he touched her, her body reacted and she tried miserably to ignore how he made her body feel being so close to her. Nodding, she did as he instructed. “Like this?”

  “Yes.” He ran her through several other various abdomen exercises and then showed her some to build up her back strength. “See, these will help you not have back problems.” He looked down at his wrist and flipped it over. “Time to go through your regular leg work-out.”

  “Sounds good.” She took the mats back in the closet.

  A slight buzzing echoed in the room as she flipped the mats back where he grabbed them earlier. He pulled his cell phone out of his jean’s pocket.

  “Yeah?” He turned his back to her as she approached and talked in a hushed voice. “Thanks, Marge. Appreciate it.” Ryder turned back and snapped his phone shut. “Ready?”

  “Yes.” She pointed to his pocket, the one he slipped his cell into. “Do you need to do anything?”

  “Nothing that can’t wait another twenty minutes―after your leg drills. My office is close, so we’ll run up there and I’ll take care of this little item afterward.”

  “Oh joy,” she said sarcastically, and then bit her tongue.

  “Do you know what would have happened if that remark came out of my mouth to my Army drill sergeant?”

  Amanda clucked her tongue. “Well, then praise the Lord I’m not in the Army.”

  Ryder lifted an eyebrow. “Let’s go soldier.” He herded her out of the private exercise room to the larger weight area. “One. Two. Three. Four.”

  Chapter 12

  “Don’t we need to get your car?” Amanda asked after they finished with her therapy exrcises.

  “Nah, I’m good where I’m at.” Ryder guided her left onto the concrete pathway as they exited the gym.

  Walking into a brown building across from Go Fitness she asked, “Is your business in one of these office buildings?”

  He pulled out his badge and swiped it in the front of the door. “Yeah, it’s on the second floor.” Ryder held the door open for Amanda and waited for her to walk through. “It’s not a big place. Just my office, a meeting area, and Marge’s receptionist desk as you walk in.”

  Amanda nodded and hesitated after she went through another door and asked him, “Elevator or stairs?”

  “Stairs would be healthier, but how does your ankle feel?” Pulling his brows down, he studied her. “You already did some extensive exercises and I didn’t. Don’t want to push your ankle too hard. That’s when accidents happen.”

  She pressed her mouth together, and he thought for sure she’d insist on the stairs; she could be stubborn as a mule. But she surprised him and said grudgingly, “I guess the elevator.”

  He nodded once and directed her with his hand behind her back to the elevator door. “Good choice.”

  She leaned forward and pressed the button for the second floor. “Yeah, well, you know me.” She smirked at him. “Miss Congeniality.”

  “Uh, huh.” He wanted to laugh out-loud at that comment, but he didn’t. “That’s you, all right.”

  She gave him a healthier smile and her green eyes twinkled. “That’s me.”

  She was so damn cute with those sparkling green eyes and that mulish attitude. He cleared his throat when the elevator dinged. “I won’t be long.”

  After the doors slid open Ryder steered her to the right. “My office is over here.” They walked down the second floor aisle way, until he came to a stop in front of Wolf Security Systems. The smoky glassed door had a wolf howling at the moon etched into it. A white note was taped on the door and Ryder tore it off and read it out-loud.

  “It’s from Marge, my secretary, she said she set the contract on my desk and she had a lunch date. She’ll be back soon.” He smirked. “She can take as long as she wants. She’s the best damn secretary I’ve ever had.”

  “Love this.” Amanda traced the white opaque silhouette on the glass with her fingertips.

  Ryder couldn’t hold back his smile. He had a special artist from Tucson come down and etch it on. Cost him a mint. “Thanks, I do too.” After unlocking the office, he gestured to the small couch in front of the receptionist’s desk. “Why don’t you relax? Can I make you some coffee? Or a bottle of water?”

  “Water would be great.” Amanda leaned back to sit down, but hopped back up. “Just tell me where to get the water and you can do your work.”

  “You sure?”

  Nodding she looked around. “I don’t want to keep you from your business, Ryder. You have been with me and my kids constantly since that man broke into my home. I feel bad. I’m disrupting your life.” Amanda pulled her brows down. “I’m sorry; this is my mess, not yours.”

  “Amanda.” He cupped her shoulders in his palms. “Right now your safety is my number one priority. So I’m here for you.”

  She shook her head. “But why?” Pulling her arm up she stuck up her palm. “Please, don’t get me wrong, I’m very, very grateful that you have been around, believe me.” Amanda jerked her hand up and ran her fingers through her hair. “Just confused that you’ve helped me take on whatever it is that is coming after me and my kids.”

  “Well, for one.” Ryder gripped her shoulders. “I’m in the business and it is what I do for a living. And two.” Softening his grasp, he ran his hands up and down her arms. “I like you. And I like your kids.” He clenched his jaw and then said, “What I don’t like is what’s happening to you.”

  “Well, thank-you, Ryder.” Amanda ducked her head and brought the corners of her mouth up. “I know I sometimes don’t act like it, but I am glad I have you around being my white knight.”

  “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.” He nodded once. “Is that settled?”

  “Yes,” she muttered.

  “Okay.” Pointing to the left, he said, “Small kitchenette is down there. Water bottles are in the fridge.” He thumbed it to right. “My office is right over here. Come on inside or relax on the couch, whatever you want.”

  “Aye-Aye, captain.” She saluted him and went to the kitchen.

  He stepped into his office and looked for the Hillerman file. Marge, called him earlier and said they phoned wanting him to install a nice big system in their mansion as soon as possible, but the estimate needed his signature on it. And he wasn’t sure what time he’d be in today, so since he was literally in his office’s backyard when Amanda was doing her workout, this seemed like the opportune time to come sign that contract. He opened up the manila folder and spread the papers out on his desk to look them over one more time before he signed the agreement.

  Amanda looked round the small kitchenette before opening the door handle of the white refrigerator to get the bottle of water. Ryder’s office may be small, but it was tastefully decorated. The walls were painted an orangey-red clay color. Butcher block covered the cheerful white kitchen cabinets and the floor was covered in a tile that had the same clay tone as the walls. A small round table with four chairs sat in the middle of the room showcasing a big w
indow that let in a lot of natural light. She unscrewed the plastic lid off the water and strode to the window. Another pretty day. The structure across the way looked awfully familiar. Then she noticed a therapist from the gym walking down below her on the sidewalk. Mandy I think her name is.

  Why that’s the gym. There was a flutter of people going back and forth through the doors. She watched as a younger man pushed a much older man in a wheelchair and they pressed on the automatic doors and like magic, the glass doors spread open for them. Setting her water bottle on the small table, she took a seat and observed the people strolling back and forth on the walkway.

  It wasn’t so long ago that she was in a wheelchair, she remembered. Her parents both rushed down from Colorado and spent two weeks with her and the kids to help out. They truly were her life-savers. Her body involuntarily shuddered as the thought ran through her mind of not having them around. They were her only family. Well, of course except for her kiddos. She had two aunts and a handful of cousins, but she never saw them.

  In the midst of taking a sip of water, she heard Ryder’s office door open and walked over to see who came in.

  A small older woman was putting her purse in the front desk and looked up when she noticed Amanda. “Hi, there, you must be Amanda Harris.” She smiled and covered Amanda’s hands with both of hers. “Ryder told me everything you’ve been through. I’m so sorry, dearie.”

  “You must be Marge. He’s spoken very highly of you.”

  Marge’s eyes twinkled. “If only I was thirty years younger.” She put her finger in front of her lips and said, “Now, don’t you dare tell him I said that.”

  “You can trust me.” Amanda winked.