“Ryan, what are you doing here?” An older man in a loose blue t-shirt and black netted shorts looked over at him. “It’s your day off. You really want to fight?”
“Yes.” Ryan tugged off his t-shirt and squeezed through the ropes into the ring.
“Don’t you want to change?”
“If I did, would I be here?” Ryan pointed to the mat. “Are you up for it or not, George?”
George narrowed his eyes and studied him. “What’s going on? Something have you riled up?”
“I’m not here to talk.” Ryan spread his arms out wide. “Are you going to join me or should I get one of the kids from the rookie pool?”
“Alright.” George laughed and made his way into the ring. “Just remember, you asked for it.”
As soon as George was in the ring, Ryan’s mind went blank. The only thing he focused on was the flurry of movement, the thrust of his muscles, and the timing of attacks. His entire body transformed from a vessel for life into a weapon. He’d trained for over twenty years, and the skill in his movements demonstrated this with every snap and recoil.
When George lost his footing, Ryan lunged toward him. George hit the mat and Ryan drew back his fist. Blood pumped through his veins, the pounding of his heart drowned out all sound, and his hand launched forward. George snapped back and raised a hand to shield his face. In the same moment, Ryan’s hand twisted and opened to offer him a hand up.
“What was that trash talk, old man?” Ryan laughed.
George grabbed his hand and let Ryan pull him up to his feet. “I figured you needed a win.” He eyed him and seemed to struggle a bit to get his breath. “I haven’t seen you fight like that in a while. What’s going on?”
“I told you I wasn’t here to talk.” Ryan grabbed a bottle of water from an ice chest beside the ring and handed another to George.
“I didn’t ask you if you wanted to talk. I’m asking you what’s going on?” George leaned back against the ropes and cracked the bottle of water open.
Ryan clenched his jaw and looked over at him. “You’ll laugh at me.”
“I laugh at you a lot, Ryan. We’ve known each other for twenty years.”
“I met this woman.”
George laughed. “It’s about a woman? Seriously?”
“See!” Ryan rolled his eyes and chugged down half the bottle of water.
“I’m sorry. But with you it’s never about a woman.”
“This one is different. I just—I felt this weird connection with this woman I met.”
“How do you know her?”
“I don’t really. I just met her today.”
“And you’re already in the ring over her? That’s awfully fast.”
“I know. Am I crazy?” He met George’s eyes. “Have you ever met a woman that just got under your skin from the first moment you saw her?”
“Sure.” George nodded. “My wife.”
Ryan finished the bottle of water and crushed it in his fist. “That’s not helping.”
“I’m not kidding. I knew I was going to marry Charlotte from the first time I met her. Of course, she didn’t know that.”
“Do you think it’s possible to feel so strongly for someone and have them not feel anything for you?”
“Unfortunately it happens. The important thing to remember, Ry, is that you can’t make anyone fall for you. If this woman doesn’t see what a catch you are, well then, she’s not smart enough to be with you.”
“Aw, you’re so sweet to me.” Ryan grinned.
George threw his empty water bottle at him. “Don’t get used to it. I let you win this one.”
“Let me?” Ryan laughed and picked up the water battle. “You cowered like a dog.”
“A dog? Really?” George thrust out his chest. “You want to go again?”
“No, I’d better not. It’s been a strange day.”
“I mean it, Ryan. Don’t waste your time on someone who thinks they’re too good for you.”
“I’m not sure it’s like that. I don’t know. Maybe it is.” He shrugged. “Maybe I’m just getting old.”
“Well, that’s for sure.” George winked at him. “But don’t let that stop you. Trust your instincts. If you want her, go after her. Don’t let her get away.”
“What if she doesn’t want me?” Ryan met his eyes.
“Then she’s probably the crazy one.”
Ryan laughed. “You’re just hoping I’ll go easy on you next time.”
“I let you win!” George climbed out of the ring.
Ryan rolled his eyes and climbed out of the ring on the other side. He reached inside his gym bag and his fingertips brushed over his phone. He couldn’t resist checking.
When he saw the text from her, his sore muscles relaxed. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was something. It was the dinner date he’d asked for.
Chapter 9
Spots on the glass surface of the mirror reminded Angela that she needed to buy some window cleaner. Beyond the spots, the fitted black dress she wore seemed to mock her. It looked fine, but was it the right choice? She stared with a mounting sense of dread.
Am I really going to do this? After decades of dressing up for a first date, she found the routine overrated and a bit exhausting. It seemed like a waste of time to head out for this dinner.
Still, she picked up her purse, grabbed her cell phone, and headed out the door.
When she reached the restaurant, she lingered in the car. If there was a way to text him and get out of it, she might have done that. But she didn’t want to be rude. At the very least, Ryan might end up being a halfway decent friend.
When she stepped inside the restaurant, she spotted Ryan right away. He stood up as she approached the table.
“You look beautiful.”
“Oh, thanks.” Angela smiled and sat down.
He sat down across from her.
She couldn’t help but notice how well his suit fit him—how handsome he looked.
“And thanks for the invitation. I’m sorry if I was a little abrupt earlier.”
“It’s fine. How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay, really. I’ve honestly never experienced anything like that before, but I’m sure I’ll be just fine.”
“You strike me as a very strong person.” He accepted a menu from the waiter who approached them.
Angela took her menu as well. She skimmed through the options but could hardly concentrate. Maybe it was the dim lighting of the restaurant, or the hushed atmosphere, but Ryan was coming across so much more serious than he had earlier in the day.
Once they’d ordered, Angela took a long hard look at the man sitting across from her. Maybe Sasha was right. There was no question that he appealed to her physically, and it had been a while since even that had happened. But maybe there was more between them than just the jolt of a scary situation.
“So, Ryan, you mentioned earlier that you’ve never married?’
“No. You either?”
“No. Although I did try.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, it was one of those one-sided relationships. I was determined to make it work and he had other ideas.”
“Ouch.” He nodded. “That’s not easy to deal with. Is that why you’re still single?”
“I don’t know. I guess it just hasn’t happened for me. I tried quite a bit in my thirties. I mean, there was always that pressure to get married, have kids. All my friends took the plunge, but I just couldn’t find anyone that I thought I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. What about you?” She swept her gaze over him. “I find it very hard to believe that someone didn’t fight hard to pin you down.” She smiled, aware that she was probably blushing the moment the words left her mouth.
“Oh, really?” He laughed and as his eyes widened the candlelight sparkled in them
Angela’s heart skipped a beat. Wow, he’s beautiful. She almost didn’t hear his next words.
“The truth is, I’ve been the one to end
most of my relationships.”
“A heartbreaker—I knew it.” Angela picked up her glass of wine. “The eternal bachelor, I guess?”
“No.” He frowned. “It’s not like that. I just didn’t want to marry someone just to marry them. Sure, I wanted kids. I still think about having one or two. Many of the women I dated wanted me to rush right to the altar, but it didn’t feel right.”
“No regrets?” Angela met his eyes.
“Maybe one.”
“The one that got away?” Angela smiled at the waiter as he delivered their food.
“She was perfect.”
“So? What happened?”
“She was perfect. But not perfect for me.” He shook his head. “I’m sure that makes me sound like a finicky jerk.”
“No, I understand exactly what you mean. There were men I might have been able to start a family with. Some—we even got as far as discussing our future together. But when it came down to it, there was always something that stopped me. After a while, I kind of gave up, I guess.”
“On love?”
“On the idea that there might be someone out there for me. You know—someone special.”
“Interesting how we had similar experiences and took it in opposite directions. I’m more certain than ever that there’s one amazing woman out there for me.”
“Let me guess—gorgeous and about a size four?”
“Wow.” He laughed. “Is that how I come across to you?’
“No, I’m sorry.” Angela laughed too. “Like I said, I’m not great at this.”
“Honestly, Angela, if I met her, I don’t think it would matter to me what she looked like.”
“Sure.” Angela smiled a little but she didn’t buy a word he said. She’d met too many men over forty, ones that wanted the young perfect babes, to think that Ryan would be any different when it came to that. “I guess it’s hard for a woman to want to marry into your lifestyle.”
“My lifestyle?” His brow furrowed.
“As a police officer, I mean. Who wants to worry all the time?”
“I guess I can see your point. I mean, most just like the uniform.”
“I bet.” Angela grinned. “Do you ever wear it out just to get phone numbers?”
“Stop. No, I don’t.” He laughed. As his laughter faded he held her gaze. “Even if I did, it wouldn’t have worked with you, huh? You have a problem with my profession, don’t you?”
Chapter 10
The question hung in the air between them. Ryan didn’t even consider retracting it. He wanted the truth from Angela. He’d noticed her recoil in response to the subject of his occupation a few times.
“I wouldn’t say I have a problem exactly.”
“No?” He picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “Then just a general dislike for cops?”
Angela shifted in her chair. He watched the way her cheeks grew red and her fingertips skipped across the white linen of the tablecloth.
“I just feel that the current state of our police force is a little out of control. I think there are more nonviolent ways that crimes can be handled.”
“I agree with you.” He set his napkin back down.
“You do?”
“Sure. Every time I hear a story about police violence it makes me cringe. It’s easy for people to lump all police officers into the same category, but we’re just as varied as any other profession. I mean, how would you feel if I told you I hated all florists because one got my order wrong one time?”
“It’s not quite the same thing.”
“Isn’t it?” He shrugged. “I’m not some great villain with a badge. I’m just a person, like you, trying to do what I think is best.”
“Are you aware of how many people are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes? Their entire lives are wiped out, sometimes before they even make it to adulthood.”
“I don’t make the laws.”
“No, but you enforce them.”
She met his eyes with a level of intensity that only encouraged him to gaze back at her.
“I do. It’s my job.”
“Haven’t you ever thought about what the arrest you make will lead to?”
“It’s not my place.”
“So you’re just a soldier? Mindless and obedient?”
“Ha. I’m forty-three. I can’t remember the last time I was accused of being obedient.”
“Maybe you’re just too brainwashed to realize.”
“Brainwashed?” He leaned forward in his chair and stared her straight in the eyes. “Are you telling me I’m brainwashed?”
“I’m merely suggesting that you should consider whether just taking orders is the intelligent thing to do.”
“Now I’m stupid?” He folded his hands above his plate to keep them from curling into fists.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You don’t have to. If I’m such a bore, then why did you agree to dinner?”
“To say thank you.”
“Some thank you.” He pushed his plate back and stared at her. “You don’t know anything about me or my job. But you’re real quick to judge, aren’t you?”
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“How could calling someone a brainwashed order-taking robot be upsetting?” He shook his head. “Honestly, I’m not upset. I’m glad we had this conversation. It’s made a few things clear to me.”
Angela sighed and finished her glass of wine. “See? This is why I don’t bother with dating.”
“Because no one meets your lofty standards?”
“And you think you know me?”
“I think I know more about you than you do me. I went out of my way today to make sure that you were safe. I guess maybe if I’d been an average guy, instead of a cop, you’d have some respect for me.”
“That’s what it all comes down to with police, isn’t it? Respect? Just because you have a gun, that doesn’t mean I have to bow down.”
“Is that what I asked you to do today?” He snapped his words out. “Clearly this was a mistake.” He raised his hand toward the waiter to summon the check.
“That, I can agree with you on.” She whipped some cash out of her purse and placed it on the table. “Thank you.”
“Please, keep it.” He pushed the money back across the table. “I wouldn’t want you to violate your beliefs by supporting someone like me.”
“Aren’t you being a little dramatic?”
“Maybe I’m entitled to be.” He met her gaze and did his best to ignore the surge of desire that still washed over him. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Angela.”
“If you say so.” She turned and walked away from the table. The closer she got to the door, the more infuriated he became. Sure, he’d been taunted now and then about his job, but never so openly and by someone that he’d hoped to begin a relationship with. Despite the anger that pulsed through him, the fierce longing for her presence remained—which caused his frustration level to reach a new point altogether.
“Is everything okay, sir? Would you like a box?”
He glared at the waiter. “It’s fine. No box.” He stood up from the table and handed the waiter cash for the bill.
As he started to walk away the waiter called out to him.
“Sir, you left money on the table.”
“Consider it a tip.”
“It’s too much—”
“Just keep it.”
Ryan pushed his way through the door and strode out into the parking lot. As clear as it was that Angela was not the right person for him, a part of him still hoped she’d be out there waiting. When he saw no sign of her, he jerked the door of his car open.
He’d been around hardened criminals that made him less furious than Angela just had. “At least it’s over.” He climbed into the car and turned on the engine. “I can stop wondering and put all of this behind me now.”
Still, as he drove away from the restaurant, he couldn’t resist a glance in the rear-view mirror.
&nbs
p; Chapter 11
Angela woke up the next morning with a headache. She couldn’t quite figure out what had happened the night before. One minute she and Ryan had been sharing a laugh, the next the meal had been ruined. She also didn’t think that she’d done anything wrong. She’d been honest with him about how she felt.
So why did her chest ache every time she thought about the things that she’d said to him?
She took a quick shower then flipped on the news. As she prepared breakfast, she heard a report about an officer being injured during a shootout that morning. Her heart dropped and she rushed to the television. To her relief, it hadn’t been Ryan. But as she stood there, it stunned her how much fear had traveled through her at the thought of Ryan being in danger.
She shook her head. “Get over it, Angela, I’m sure he’s over you.”
She returned to the kitchen in time to salvage her eggs. She finished the news along with coffee.
On her way out the door she considered whether it might be a good idea to text Ryan. What would she say? She wasn’t sorry for what she’d said. She did feel guilty that he’d done so much to help her and then their conversation had taken such an ugly turn.
She decided, instead, to focus on her flea market trip.
She met Sasha at one of the local markets.
“How did it go last night?” Sasha grinned.
“Not well.” Angela grimaced. “Though I guess that was to be expected.”
“What happened?”
“Let’s just say things ended abruptly.”
“What did you do?” Sasha narrowed her eyes.
“Why is it always my fault? I might have mentioned my opinion about police officers.”
“Oh, Angela!” Sasha shook her head. “When are you going to learn?”
“What’s the point of lying about it? He was going to find out eventually.”
“Or you could have just waited to get to know him a little bit, instead of reacting to his job.”
“Look, Sasha, it’s not like anything was ever going to happen between us. We’re too different. Me with a cop? Could you imagine?”
“Maybe not, but a person is not a cop. That’s a profession, not who they are.”
“Please, can we just drop it? I’ve been looking forward to treasure hunting with you.”
Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 1 - 4 Page 40
