by Measha Stone
“Hmmm.” He leaned back in his chair and slipped his hands from the table. “You didn’t already have it in your maps?”
She met his glare with what she hoped was a stern look of her own. “No. I didn’t. When George text me about it, I was already on the highway.”
His eyes, melted chocolate, narrowed. “He text you this morning. I was with him. You didn’t stop at all on the drive?”
She sighed again. Inquisitions irritated her. “I didn’t. No.”
“Easy drive then?” he asked, lightening his tone slightly.
“Yeah. Not bad.” She glanced at George, who had moved up one spot. This was not how she wanted this conversation to go.
“George said you have a few interviews this week?”
She swerved her gaze back to Ryder. “Yeah. Look, maybe it would be better if I just got a hotel. I should hopefully have a job by the end of the week, and I can start looking at apartments tomorrow. Hopefully, only be a few weeks.”
The tip of his tongue slipped out between his teeth before he bit the edge of it. Was he trying to hold back his words or deciding what best to say? As irritating as he was, she couldn’t help but wonder what pleasure that tongue could bring.
The drive must have been more tense than she’d thought.
Stress made her libido kick into overdrive. And she’d been alone in the romance department for over a year. Yes, that was what made him so damn attractive.
“No.”
She snapped her attention back to him. “What?”
“You’re not staying in a hotel. I told George you can have my spare bedroom, and you can. We’ll get along fine.”
“You’re bossy, aren’t you,” she stated.
He laughed, soft and low, sending a warmth over her skin.
“You don’t know the half of it.” He craned his neck to check on George’s status. Finally, George was headed back to the table with her drink in hand.
“Sorry, the girl at the register was new.” George handed the coffee to Samantha.
“No problem. Thank you.” She grinned at him and took a long sip of the drink.
“Careful! It’s hot,” George said, but she’d already realized how hot when the first drop fell on her tongue.
She pulled the coffee back and wiped the bit of foam from her lip.
“A little. Not bad,” she lied, casually taking in a cool breath. Ryder’s eyes were on her, watching. He already thought she was careless, and now he probably graduated to moronic.
Ugh! She was getting everything wrong!
Closing her eyes and taking a long breath, she reopened them and focused on George.
“How’s your mom?”
“Stubborn as a mule, but fine.” He grinned.
“Maybe I can take her out to dinner this week. I haven’t seen her in years,” Samantha offered. Their moms were friends and had kept in touch since their sons’ graduated college ten years ago. Samantha’s mom always kept her up to date.
“I’m sure she’d like that. She’s been complaining about my kitchen not being big enough for her liking anyway,” George said. He looked over at Ryder. “Ryder’s apartment is bigger than mine. You two should have plenty of room.”
“It’s not for long,” Samantha said, trying to assure Ryder.
“It’s for as long as you need,” Ryder corrected, keeping his gaze steady on her. There was a strength to his stare that trickled down her spine. A strength a girl could get lost in if she let herself.
She took another sip of her coffee, turning to stare at the table. Ryder brought too many feelings to the surface. One moment, she wanted to smack the arrogance from his glare. The next, she had the urge to crawl into his lap. Both were inappropriate and she had to curb them.
“It’s really generous of you to let me crash. I won’t be any trouble, I swear. Like I said, hopefully it’s only for a short time.”
“Not a problem at all. I’m working some long hours this week anyway, so I won’t even notice I have a roommate.” He smiled, producing a deep dimple on his left cheek.
“What sort of work do you do?” she asked, playing with the cardboard protector around the coffee cup.
“I’m a carpenter. I have a few jobs lined up with the city this summer.” He crossed his arms over his chest, like he was daring her to judge him.
“Summer is the time for construction, you’re probably up to your balls—I mean, eyeballs!” Heat flamed her cheeks. “Eyeballs in work…” She swallowed again, trying to get rid of the dry patch in her throat.
Ryder tilted his head slightly, examining her.
“It’s a busy time, yeah.”
“Speaking of busy. I have to get to the club. I’m interviewing a woman for the manager position this afternoon. And I’m sure you want to get home and get unpacked.” George stood from the table, and Samantha pushed back, jumping to her feet.
“I’ll see you soon?” she rushed out.
George grinned. “Of course, Sam. I have to work tonight, but lunch Monday?”
Her shoulder dropped. A full twenty-four hours with Ryder and no buffer?
“Sure. Sounds good.”
“Great. I drove Ryder here, so he can ride with you to his place.” George slapped Ryder on the back. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Yeah,” Ryder answered, keeping his gaze set on Samantha.
George gave her another brief hug, then went on his way, leaving her standing a foot away from Ryder.
“Are you ready to go, or do you want to finish your coffee?” he asked.
“Yeah, let’s go. I’ll bring it.” She snatched up the cup and grabbed her purse, stuffing it beneath her arm. “I parked around the corner.”
“Okay. I’ll drive, if that’s okay, it’ll be easier.” He put his open palm out, and the mental image of his large form folding itself into her little Beetle made her grin.
“Uh, sure.” She worked the purse open and pulled out the keys as they walked out of the shop and back into the heat. At least the blast of hot air could explain away the blush on her face when his hand pressed against the small of her back, leading her toward the car.
She hoped.
Chapter 3
Ryder forced his eyes to stay above Samantha’s waist as she took the lead and walked in front of him. The leggings she wore hugged every bit of her curves, and the crop top tank didn’t help keep anything else hidden from his view. Normally, he’d dislike the sort of outfit, but on her petite and curvy form, it came across as subtle. Her shorter torso didn’t let the crop top expose her stomach, but he’d noticed her creamy skin when she reached up to pull her sunglasses down from her head.
“Here it is.” She pointed to a lime Beetle parked between a pick-up truck and a Challenger. The car definitely fit her.
But would it fit him?
He scratched his head.
“Cute car,” he said, taking a look in the windows. “Didn’t bring much?”
“I have two suitcases in the trunk.” She walked around the back of the car to the passenger side and pulled the door open. He jogged around to meet her and grabbed the door from her, gesturing with his chin for her to climb in.
Society may not have appreciated a man who opened doors for women, but he never gave too many fucks when it came to the ideals of the masses.
Once she was tucked neatly inside, he shut the door and went around to the driver’s side. Folding himself into the car, he reached beneath the seat and found the lever. He pulled on it and shoved the driver’s seat back as far as it could go. Relief washed through his legs once he was able to stretch them again.
Samantha laughed from the passenger side. A soothing, warm sound. Maybe she was starting to relax. She’d been wound so tight in the coffee shop, he wondered if she would shatter at any unexpected sound.
“I’m only a few blocks away,” he said, turning the ignition. Cold air blasted through the vents straight into his face. He turned the vent to blow away from him.
“Sorry about that,�
�� she mumbled.
“No problem.” He draped his arm around the back of her headrest and began to maneuver out of the spot and into traffic.
She pulled out her phone and started swiping through screens and tapping away. He left her to herself and drove to his apartment building with an attached garage. His car was in his rented space, but his neighbor was out of town for the next week, so he’d gotten permission to use his spot.
“Is this your building?” she asked, leaning against the glass of her window to look up at the skyrise.
“Yeah. It’s not as big as it looks. The garage is at the bottom, and the apartments are built on top. There’re ten floors. I’m on the eighth.” He turned the car up the ramp toward the next level of the garage.
“Oh, still, bigger than mine.” She laughed, then snapped her mouth shut. “I mean, taller than where I lived.”
He side-eyed her with a grin. The woman definitely had the potential for a seriously dirty mind.
Ryder pulled the Beetle into the spot beside his truck and turned off the ignition. Crawling out of the car, he stretched his back. He would not be driving that thing again. She climbed out before he had the chance to open her door, but he went to the trunk and pulled out her bags.
Two large suitcases and a small rolling carry-on. “This is it?” She was moving her entire life up to Chicago and she had two and a half bags?
“Yep. Just the necessities.” She reached for one of the big suitcases, but he brushed her hand away from the handle.
“Take the small one,” he instructed in a lower tone than he’d intended. Something about her was pulling at the spot inside he tended to keep to himself—a side of him he let come out to play only when he was at the club.
She took the carry-on suitcase and smiled up at him warmly. Her eyes, a perfect mixture of blue and green, met his. His chest clamped hard at the impact of their locked gaze, and he shook it off. George didn’t ask him to seduce his young friend, he asked him to let her borrow a room. She was off limits.
Period.
No second guessing.
“The elevators are this way,” he said with enough gruff to wipe away her smile. Stalking off toward the lifts, he checked over his shoulder to make sure she was keeping up with him. His longer legs meant she had to hurry to stay close by, so he slowed his gait, still checking to be sure she hadn’t lost her way.
Grown women don’t get lost in a parking garage. Stop checking on her!
He stabbed the call button for the elevator and stared at the lit arrows, waiting for it to arrive.
“I hope having me here isn’t inconveniencing you,” she said as the elevator slid open.
“Not at all.” He held the doors and gestured for her to move inside before following her in and hitting the button for his floor.
She pulled her phone back out of her purse while the elevator started to ascend, a frown on her lips. With a heavy sigh, she put the phone away and cleared her throat.
“Everything okay?”
She shook her head slightly but didn’t look at him. A telling sign, but he wasn’t going to press. She wasn’t his to pressure. She was a guest in his home until she found her own place.
The elevator dinged their arrival. He followed her out into the hall with her suitcases, then gestured toward the left.
“All the way at the end. I got lucky with an end unit.”
“It’s a nice building.” She filled the silence as he worked his key into the lock.
“Thanks.” He unbolted the door and pushed it open, letting her enter ahead of him.
“Oh, wow.” She smiled brilliantly at the open room before her. He hadn’t been lying; he’d struck gold with the end unit. The living room faced the lake, and they were high enough to be able to see it well. At first, he hadn’t been thrilled with so many windows in the room, but once he’d gotten a good look at the view, he couldn’t pass it up.
He watched her as she made her way through the living room furniture to the windows. The sky was clear enough, she could probably make out Navy Pier if she leaned against the glass, but she seemed too enthralled with what was right in front of her.
“Are we close enough to walk to the beach?” she asked in an airy voice.
“About seven blocks, but it’s doable.” He stayed in the hallway, watching her explore the view with abandoned excitement.
“That’s definitely doable.” She spun around to face him. “And it’s hot enough to take a dip today.”
“You’ve had a long day. Maybe put off a beach trip for a few days,” he said, merely suggesting, but he couldn’t stop the authority from wiggling its way into his voice. She’d been driving all morning and hadn’t taken a break. She hadn’t eaten at the coffee shop, so she must be starved. She needed a good meal and a nap.
Her lips scrunched up in disappointment. “I can’t go tomorrow. There’s a book festival near the library I’m planning to go to. I’ll just unpack and take a stroll down there.” The smile popped back up on her lips.
Reminding himself he had no say in what she did, he clamped his jaw closed.
“Your room’s this way.” He led her down the hall to the bedroom across from his. The room was set up for guests already. His mother, before she passed three years ago, had visited him quite often. It had been more her room than his. Since her passing, he hadn’t changed anything.
“This is great. Thank you so much,” she said, breezing into the room and lifting her bag onto the bed. “The bathroom?”
One at a time, he picked up the suitcases and placed them on the bed. “Door to the left. My room is across the hall. The kitchen was right off the living room.”
“I saw it. Thanks.”
He rubbed his palms together. “Okay…well, I need to get a load of laundry done before I head to the club tonight, so I’m going to take care of that.”
“Okay,” she said, unzipping her smaller suitcase and tossing the lid open. “I’m going to unpack a little and shower, if it’s okay?”
He smiled. “Anything you need is already in the bathroom. Towels are in the cabinet.”
“Perfect.” She grinned.
Her phone chirped from her purse, and the smile dropped from her lips. He wanted to pressure her about what was upsetting her. Every time the damn phone made a sound, a cloud appeared over her head.
“Okay, I’ll let you get to it.” He started to walk out, then stopped. “The key! Sorry, here’s a key to the apartment. The code to the parking garage is the apartment number plus one. So, eighty-seven one.”
“Got it.” She nodded.
He left the key on the dresser and made his way out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him. Once in the hallway, he blew out a long breath.
It was going to be a long few weeks.
Chapter 4
Samantha folded her legs beneath her and stretched her arms over her head, taking in the fresh air. She’d walked the seven blocks from Ryder’s apartment to the closest beach, reminding herself the smog and exhaust smell would clear the moment she got to the lake. Thankfully, her fibs were right.
Laying on the beach, feeling the sun warm her skin, while the cool breeze brushed away some of the humidity, she felt herself finally relaxing. The drive had taken a lot out of her, and the anxiety of meeting Ryder yanked even more energy from her, but nothing refueled her like taking in fresh surroundings.
Swimming for the past hour in the crisp, cold water of Lake Michigan had at first invigorated her, but now she felt the effects. Another yawn escaped her as she pushed her sunglasses onto her head and wiped the sweat from beneath the nose pads. A nap sounded good, real good, and the sun was starting to show signs of setting.
It was time to get back to Ryder’s and take a power nap before making evening plans. She’d already heard Ryder was going to the club with George, and she didn’t want to impose herself on either of them, so she wouldn’t be tagging along. Besides, as much as she loved George, it was a strange feeling being at a BDSM club w
ith her big brother’s friend hanging around.
Samantha made her way back to the apartment easily. The city was big and could be confusing, but she’d already picked up on the grid system. It also helped that Ryder’s apartment was a straight shot from the beach entrance.
The cool air in the lobby washed over her when she entered. She hoped some of the sweat from her walk would dry before she made it up to the apartment. Her hair was already frizzed out from the humidity and getting wet in the lake, she didn’t need sweat streaks on her face to make her look any worse before she saw Ryder again. The man looked like those Facebook posts she let herself drool over before swiping past. And from what she could tell, it wasn’t on purpose. He naturally looked like someone who could crush any threat coming his way.
He also looked strong enough to handle a girl like her, but she wouldn’t let her thoughts travel down that path. He was a friend of a friend, and he probably had dozens of submissives lining up to play with him at the clubs. Hell, he probably had a steady girlfriend waiting for him. A woman who wasn’t as needy. A woman who didn’t have the history trail she did.
No. He was completely out of bounds.
Completely.
“Hey.” Ryder stepped into the hallway as soon as she closed the door behind her and locked it.
“Hi.” She put on a smile. So much for getting into a shower and cleaned up before he noticed the hell she’d made of herself.
“You went to the beach,” he said with a frown.
“Yeah. It’s a nice beach.” She walked past him, trying to ignore the displeasure written on his face. Her stomach sank with his downturned lips pointed at her, and she couldn’t afford that feeling. She needed to get showered. The smell of lake water would seep into her hair if she left it too long.
“You got a lot of sun.” He followed her down the hall.
She stopped outside the guest bedroom and looked down at her chest.
“I guess I am a bit pink.” She shrugged.
“Didn’t you use sunscreen?” he asked, his hands perched on his hips.
