Ryder chuckled. “Just chalk it up to your never ending charm.” Petra had taken a shine to Hunter after only one night together and she wouldn’t let him go. “Just tell her you’re engaged or gay or…something.”
“You’re not funny at all.”
“I’m kind of funny.” He was also highly motivated to keep Hunter away from Skylar. It was true that he was worried about their relationship making a mess of what the company needs. He also couldn’t stop thinking about the electricity that flowed between them during that initial handshake. It had been more than electric, it was highly charged and he had a feeling it could be life changing. If he went for it, which he wouldn’t because he never did. “Seriously Hunter this is a great chance for some long-term contracts so go charm the hell out of everyone and bring us some good news. I’m counting on you.”
“Really?” His tone was full of disbelief.
“Yes, really. You may be an ass sometimes, okay a lot of the time, but you are damn good at what you do. We all need you to go to Chicago and do that.” Ryder didn’t hate his brother and it didn’t hurt a bit to compliment him. At least until that smug grin appeared.
“Well it’s nice to hear you acknowledge it once in a while, that’s all I’m saying.” He stood and smoothed his suit jacket. “I’ll go and do my thing. But when I come back I’m going after Skylar.”
Ryder groaned. He was afraid of that. If he warned his brother again Hunter would do it just to spite him. If he said nothing, Hunter would steal Skylar right from under him. “Just go to Chicago, Hunter.”
Chapter 2
Skylar lounged on a red chaise lounge with white trim while her partner, Kendra sat on a nearby ottoman inside the loft that was the Innovative Marking Solutions office. They worked all morning on a strategy layout for the ETI contract and she finally felt confident that everything had been settled to her satisfaction. She stretched her back and looked up at the brick façade all around, letting a small smile touched her lips. She always loved these old lofts and seeing her dream come true inside of one, was doubly satisfying.
“I’ll go to Chicago for the Educator’s Fair.” Kendra fingered the papers stacked between them and picked up the itinerary. “I’ve got friends there I haven’t seen in ages and I know you don’t want to go.”
Skylar nodded appreciatively because she really didn’t want to have to deal with Hunter for an entire week. He would be relentless in his efforts to get her into bed and she knew eventually she would have to turn him down flat because she didn’t do that, not with anyone. “You’re the best Kendra. You don’t know how badly I didn’t want to go.”
Kendra smiled sardonically and pushed her thick black hair off her shoulder. “I had an idea Sky. You don’t hide your feelings nearly as well as you think you do.” She knew her friend held back a few details of the meeting but she would get them out of her. Eventually.
Skylar blushed. “Yeah well, leave me to my delusions, will ya?” She planned to spend the week ironing out the details of their campaign with Ryder and Cressly. With their approval in place, she wouldn’t have a reason to spend much time at ETI headquarters and that was exactly what she wanted. Mostly. The social media campaign had already begun and she would show the numbers to Ryder later today.
Kendra wasn’t interested in any of that just yet. “So tell me Sky, are the brothers as gorgeous in person as they seem in the papers?” Ryder and Hunter appeared often in the gossip rags thanks to their publicized beef as well as Hunter’s active social life. Combine their looks, their wealth and prominence in the city, they were staples of the gossip and entertainment publications.
Skylar sighed, reluctant to remember the handsome men any more than necessary. But Kendra was nothing if not persistent. “Yes. They are both gorgeous as hell but in completely different ways. Hunter is blond and tall with lots of swagger. His eyes are so green I’m still not convinced they aren’t due to tinted lenses. He’s flirty, a total playboy I’m sure. Ryder on the other hand is…more intense. He’s got short dark hair and hypnotizing blue eyes, strong jaw and sharp cheekbones. He’s more serious and severe, the perfect opposite of his brother.”
Kendra squealed and stomped her feet. “Damn they both sound hot! You obviously have a thing for Ryder so if the opportunity arises, I’m going for Hunter.” She eyed her friend closely for a reaction. “What? Tell me.”
“Well Hunter already tried and I shot him down.”
“Why?”
Skylar sighed. “He’s a player and I don’t want to shit where I eat, for lack of a better phrase.”
Kendra frowned and shook her head in disgust. “Well any other phrase would’ve been better than that one!”
She laughed lightly. “This contract could turn into something big for us, for the company. If it were to go sideways with either brother you and I might find ourselves working for jackasses like Harper Crenshaw again.”
That thought sobered both of them. Their previous employer was stuck in his ways, had no problem taking everyone’s ideas and passing them off as his own and his hands ever met an ass they didn’t want to touch. “Yeah okay, amended plan. You leave them both alone but I may or may not make a play for Hunter.” At Skylar’s affronted look, she explained, “I can separate my need to get some from my need to get ahead and we both know you can’t.”
She nodded and agreed as she finger combed her hair back into a bouncy ponytail. “True enough. Just be careful, Hunter strikes me as the kind of guy who loves nothing more than the chase.”
Kendra waved off her concern. “Don’t worry, whatever happens or doesn’t happen will be done by the time I get back from the fair.” She stood and smoothed the silky shirt that had ridden up and showed off a sliver of her dark brown tummy. “That ponytail looks fine, so does your lips and skin so stop stalling and get to your meeting.”
Skylar frowned but couldn’t argue that’s what she had been doing. “Yes Mom,” she whined and stood to pack her bag. An hour later she was sitting across from a stiff and standoffish Ryder, unaware what she had done to cause such a swift change in his demeanor. Things had been fine with them over the past week, they had talked on the phone several times and exchanged several emails. All were friendly and professional. Today he was downright icy.
Ryder stared at Skylar, looking more beautiful than ever with her fresh-faced, girl next door appeal. She wore dark jeans with a deep pink cashmere sweater, her hair in a ponytail and minimal makeup. With a friendly, if wary, smile she looked like exactly the kind of woman Ryder wanted by his side. At least she would if he hadn’t already decided to give up on his attraction to her and their undeniable chemistry. Hunter had Skylar in his sights and she would probably succumb to his charms as most women did. So he had decided he would rather never have her at all than risk losing her to his charming step brother. Although it had never happened before—surprisingly given their extreme competition—things between them were more contentious than ever and he wouldn’t put it past Hunter to do it just because he could. “I’ve seen some of the ads you’ve used on social media and I have to say they are pretty good, even if they are a little offbeat.”
She smiled at the change in his demeanor. “That’s true but we’ve found that offbeat works well, especially in professional communities where people tend to take themselves a tad too seriously.” She handed him a document that outlined their reach over the past seven days. “You can see that the click rate is over ten percent, which is extremely good. I’m sure if you speak with Cressly he’ll tell you they’ve seen an uptick in interest.”
The force of his smile nearly knocked the breath out of Skylar. “Ah yes, his email this morning makes more sense now.” He chuckled and told her about the cryptic but effusive email from his Business Development president. “He’s ecstatic with your work so far and you’ve just gotten started.” He paused and looked up at her through thick dark lashes and then looked away nervously. “So I, uh, was wondering Skylar. Would you, I mean that is, if you like to.
Have dinner with me, that is.” Ryder felt his face flush as his incoherent invite sank in. He watched Skylar’s hazel eyes widen in shock, her mouth open and shut like a startled fish. A look similar to mortification crossed her face and his heart sank. “Oh. Right. I apologize for that and withdraw my offer. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Skylar still stared at him, unsure what had happened. She’d clearly opened her mouth to accept his invitation yet nothing but silence came out. She stood woodenly with a deflated heart at the humiliated look on Ryder’s handsome face. With tears bubbling in her eyes she packed up and left the Tompkins-Cross Building. Why had she stood there like a mute idiot when he was clearly asking her to explore the spark between them?
Truthfully she knew exactly why she’d said no. The spark between them was undeniable, their chemistry off the charts and that was exactly why her brain had intervened on her behalf. Chemistry that strong could, and would, spiral out of control quickly. It would turn into a raging inferno that required all of her time and energy until her business began to suffer and she no longer retained her own identity. She’d watched her parents’ love rage and rage until it had cost them both their lives. She didn’t want that, didn’t need chemistry and fireworks. She wanted a simple good time with a guy, no sizzle required. But she didn’t need to humiliate the man because of her own hang ups. When she finally reached the parking garage she held in her tears and ran up the six flights of stairs until she could seek safety in her car. With the doors closed she let herself cry for ruining what could have been something great, but never would because she couldn’t have that kind of passion.
Ryder sat in his office stunned and humiliated. Eyes closed, he replayed that awkward moment time and again until it was so ingrained in him that he could recall the feeling instantly. He hadn’t meant to ask her out, which is why it had been so awkward. That horrified look on her face though, was something he could never forget for as long as he lived. Well now Hunter could have her, he thought bitterly.
“Well that was awkward,” Mimi chimed in after too much silence had settled over his large office. “Tough luck, boss.”
He smiled at her but it didn’t reach his eyes and he shook off her words. “Don’t worry about it. I took a chance a she wasn’t interested. End of.”
Mimi scoffs and gives him a pitiful shake of her head. “Not interested? Don’t be a fool Ryder. That woman is interested in you, the chemistry between you two is insane, even I could see that. She’s holding back for some reason but believe me, it isn’t because she doesn’t want you.” She didn’t know why a woman would turn down Ryder, who was such a catch but Skylar was now on her shit list.
Ryder shrugged. “Her reasons don’t matter to me because I won’t be enduring that kind of embarrassment again. Can you imagine if you weren’t my friend and just witnessed that humiliation?” His fingers scraped against his short dark hair in frustration. “God what an idiot I am! Well now Hunter will go after her and she’ll fall at his feet like the rest of them so really Mimi, it doesn’t matter to me. Not anymore.”
She stiffened at his words and he apologized immediately when he realized what he’d said. “Don’t worry about it Ryder. When you’re right, you’re right.” He was the only one who knew about her long ago love affair with Hunter that she never really got over.
He nodded even though they both knew it was a lie. She cared about his hordes of women just like he cared that Skylar would now become one of them. But friends let friends have their delusions on occasion and this was one of them. “We’re a sorry pair, aren’t we? If only,” he began but cut off the thought as soon as he had it because it was a useless thought.
Mimi laughed but there was no humor it. “I know, right?” They always joked that life would be so much easier if they were in love with each other. “We can pick who we love Ry, believe me I know.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore Mimi, let it go. I have.”
“Liar,” she turned and stuck her tongue out at him, biting back a smile.
“Takes one to know one,” he replied and beaned her in the chest with a paper triangle he used as a stress-relieving football.
“Hey!” She picked it up and flicked it back at him, missing by a mile.
“Great job, Mimi. Don’t quit your day job, woman.”
She laughed. “And miss all the excitement here? Not on your life!”
They laughed together for a few minutes and then Mimi left, leaving Ryder alone with his humiliation.
***
Hunter strode into the office with his cocky saunter, green eyes alight with amusement. His week in Chicago had been a big success and he couldn’t wait to rub Ryder’s smug face in it. He was damned good at his job, despite what his brother thought. He may be CEO and technically Hunter’s boss but that did mean he could tell him how to do his job. He bypassed Mimi’s empty desk and opened one of the large wooden doors that led to Ryder’s massive office.
There his brother was, head bent over documents, the top of his dark head the only thing visible from his vantage point. Always the overachiever, he thought bitterly. “Hey there, little brother,” Hunter goaded. Three months separated them and Hunter never let Ryder forget it.
He looked up with a welcome smile. “Hunter, you’re back. Come in,” he waved him in and gestured to the chairs opposite his desk.
Taken aback by his brother’s friendliness he took several tentative steps in and flung himself into the soft leather chair. “I’m back. The trip went well,” he said in that smug tone that he knew would rile Ryder up.
“It went extremely well from what I understand. Three signed contracts, all new clients. Great job Hunter. I knew you’d come through.” Ryder was truly impressed his brother had been able to take advantage of the new opportunity in the state of Illinois. He still smarted from his ill-fated attempt to ask Skylar out but it wasn’t Hunter’s fault.
“You did?”
Why did Hunter seem so surprised? “Of course I did, why do you think I gave you such a hard time at the last meeting? You always come back with something and there hasn’t been a month in the past few years you haven’t brought in a new contract, I was concerned.” He blew out a tense breath and changed the subject. “So, how’d it go with Petra this year?”
Hunter smiled. “She was upset about my new girlfriend so she spent the week shooting us both death glares.”
“Girlfriend?”
He nodded lasciviously. “Skylar’s partner, Kendra.”
Ryder bit the inside of his cheek to keep from reacting. “Right. Speaking of, you need to speak with Cressly about reaching out to some potential new clients. We’ve received a good amount of inquiries from the social media campaign.”
“So it’s really working?” He thought his brother had been more dazzled by Skylar’s beauty than her skill. He should’ve known better, Ryder may be a man but he was CEO first and foremost.
Ryder assured him the first part of the campaign was going better than expected. “You will be very busy over the next few months. One of the clients is a private academy in the suburbs of London, they have schools all over Europe.”
Hunter smiled. “I do love when work takes me overseas.” He would hit up a couple of his old haunts and few of his more creative lovers while he wooed some middle-aged Headmistress. “I have to say Ryder, I’m impressed with those girls. Sexy as hell and smart too? I might be madly in love.” His green eyes sparkled with mischief.
“With which one?”
He laughed at Ryder’s crinkled dark brows. “Does it matter? I can have a bit of both, sweet vanilla and rich chocolate.” With all the flirting he and Kendra had done, he was surprised he hadn’t sealed the deal and he knew she was more his speed. But dammit if the redheaded Skylar had haunted his dreams and gave him some pretty uncomfortable wake up calls.
Ryder said nothing and schooled his face into a mask of indifference. It wasn’t Hunter’s fault that he was better with people—with women—than Ryder, that didn’t
make it sting any less though. The truth was Hunter probably could talk both Kendra and Skylar, otherwise reasonable women, into a threesome. He reminded himself that it didn’t matter though, because he didn’t want anything from either of the women other than their professional expertise. In fact now that Hunter was back, he’d been thinking it was time to turn the marketing over to Cressly. He was ultimately responsible but he had no doubt Cressly was invested in improving numbers. His last bonus full of stock options, pretty much guaranteed it. “Just don’t break any heart and screw with our marketing. Please.”
Hunter’s green gaze went wide at the word. Please. He couldn’t remember the last time Ryder had said that word to him. Usually he issued orders he expected to be followed and that was that. He shook off the moment off warmth for his brother and slid easily into his playboy persona. “I’ll do my best, little brother, but can I help it if all the ladies fall for me?” He flashed that dimpled grin that had always been his get out of jail free, card.
Ryder didn’t respond because there was no response. They both knew the truth. He wore a serious expression that hid everything from the world, as he always did. “Good job again Hunter, with the contracts.”
So that was it, he was dismissed. Again. This time, Hunter could admit it was different. He wasn’t being dismissed, Ryder had simply grown tired of his cocky attitude, which is why he always gave it to him. “Yeah, uh, thanks.” Hunter stood and left the office feeling weird about it. So he stopped by Mimi’s desk to check in. “Hey, Mims. What’s up?” “Nothing Hunter, what do you need?” She didn’t even turn her attention away from the letter she typed for Ryder. Half of her face was hidden by the nearly white-blonde hair.
ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance Page 61
