Ryder

by Ali Parker

  6) Any changes to the above rules must be approved by both parties.

  Please do not hesitate to contact me if there are any questions or concerns with the above rules, and to confirm in writing that you agree to the terms. Enclosed you will find Tony's availability as well. Please contact him directly at the number provided. I look forward to hearing from you.

  Sincerely,

  Brice T. Masterson

  Janna wanted to laugh at the formality of the letter's tone. She decided to respond in kind, but with a "Janna" twist.

  Brice Baby,

  I'm picking up with what you are laying down, big boy, and all systems are go. That spending limit is really over the moon, ain't it? And if you're too scared to go first, I'll take pity on you and let you bring up the rear. Won't matter though, because it's gonna be a blowout.

  So long sucker,

  Janna "Only my enemies call me 'Puchie'" Puchina.

  She laughed as she pushed Send. She liked that she could be her crazy self with Brice. Since she had no pretensions of this "relationship" lasting, she could just say whatever came into her scrambled mind. And he seemed to enjoy the game just as much as she did.

  My Virtuous Miss Puchina,

  Was your letter intentionally so full of innuendo, or does your virtue truly blind you to such indelicacies? You know I'd be only too happy to "bring up the rear," especially if we are talking about your delectable rear. And I thought our last date was a "blowout." Looking to relive the event? I'm always game.

  Until our next "blowout,"

  Brice

  Janna realized she was playing with fire and shut down her email. She picked up an article she was reading and used it to fan the heat away from her cheeks. How did he do this to her? She was sitting in her office, the one she shared with three other students, and she was getting turned on by his digital dirty talk.

  Closing down her laptop with a sigh, she rushed to pack everything up and hurry to her class. She was assisting in Biology 101 again and sitting through another lecture on single-celled organisms. At least it would give her time to plan for the date. She talked a big game, but she didn't have a clue about what to do to win the bet.

  As the professor's monotone voice filled the large lecture hall, she let her mind drift. How did she impress someone she hardly knew anything about? Someone who had everything he could possibly want, someone who'd probably been there and done that already?

  A gentle buzz against her leg startled her out of her thoughts, and she pulled her cell out of her pocket and glanced at it underneath her desk so that the professor wouldn't see her texting. It was a message from Tony, Brice's faithful assistant, telling her that he was available to meet her tomorrow afternoon. If anyone knew Brice, it had to be his assistant. Janna prayed that he would make up for her lack of information on how to please a millionaire playboy. Suddenly she smiled, remembering that she would decide the winning date. Well, even if he somehow managed to top me, I can always just cheat!

  * * *

  Brice swept into the office building he kept in town and nodded to the receptionist. She smiled and waved, then continued talking on her headset. He moved down the hall and into his own office, taking a seat behind his desk and thumbing through the pile of mail that had collected there. It had already been sorted once by his employees, so only the more interesting or important pieces were left. While examining the draft of a contract to purchase a failing coffee chain, he heard a knock at the door.

  "Come in," Brice said, smiling at his assistant as he made his way into the office and took a seat in one of the leather armchairs facing his desk. Tony Beckham was as impeccably dressed as ever, today in a white dress shirt covered with a black vest accompanied by a skinny black tie. His goatee and handlebar mustache were carefully styled, as was his chestnut hair, which meant it looked purposefully unruly.

  "What do you think of the Coffee City contract? I always thought Dawson was expanding too rapidly, and now that the economy's in the toilet, I'm not surprised that he can't keep his stores afloat."

  "Yes," Brice said with a sigh. "It's too bad, really. The chain was going well until the collapse."

  "So are you going to step in?"

  "Thinking about it," Brice said, dropping the contract onto his desk and eyeing his assistant. "Although I won't have time to hold Dawson's hand during the changeover. I doubt he will see our help as anything but interference. We'll need someone to convince him to stay on as a junior partner since he's the only one who really knows the business. After the recovery, we'll be able to sell it back to him at a profit, and everyone will be happy."

  Brice noticed that his assistant had paled while he'd been talking. "You don't think everyone will be happy?" he asked, confused by Tony's reaction.

  "Doubtful." Tony frowned. "I know Dawson. He's not one to relinquish control willingly. Even if it is in his best interest."

  "Then it sounds like you're the man for the hand-holding job." Brice was amazed when his friend's frown turned into a grimace, and his eyes dropped to the ground.

  "Let me think about it."

  Brice nodded, not wanting to push what was obviously a sensitive subject. "Fine. Now, if we can turn our attention to that little distraction I told you about."

  Tony's smile finally returned. "Ah yes. We have an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I'm excited to see exactly who's peaked your interest after so long."

  "She's something special," Brice mumbled, feeling shy all of a sudden. "I want to you give her whatever she wants. You've read the rules, right?"

  Tony nearly giggled, and the strangled sound of his laugh made Brice smile. "Yes, I read them."

  "Well, ignore them if you need to. Whatever she wants, she gets." Brice's smile faded as he saw a wary look enter his assistant's eye. "What is it?" Tony had worked for Brice for almost a decade, and his instincts were good. He wondered what had him worried.

  "It's just, are you sure? You haven't opened up to anyone like this since...well, since Evetta. Now you're saying to give this girl essentially what amounts to a blank check. Aren't you worried that she might--"

  "No." Brice's response was rapid and unequivocal. He could see that his assistant didn't share his certainty. "Trust me, when you meet her, you'll see."

  "Okay," Tony agreed at last. "But I'm going to keep my eye on her. Run a background check before I meet her. I don't want to see a repeat of five years ago. You weren't a very nice guy for about a year or so after that."

  "I know," Brice grumbled, wishing they could change the subject. "Do what you have to do. Just make sure to give her what she wants."

  "And what about you? When do you want your six hours of my undivided attention?"

  Brice laughed at his assistant's put-upon tone. "Don't worry about that, either. I'm going to win this one on my own."

  Tony grinned. "She has no idea what's she's in for, does she?"

  "Mess with the bull, you get the horns," Brice said with a chuckle. "I only need one thing from you."

  "Anything."

  "Find out what her favorite charity is. She promised to make me donate my time, no doubt mucking out stalls or digging ditches or some other manner of humiliating work, and I'd like to find out exactly where she'd choose."

  "Can do," Tony said with a smile, but then he leaned forward as if remembering something, and his face turned serious. "Brice, before I go, I have some news. Your cousin Chester came snooping around again yesterday. He told Brenda in reception that he had an appointment with you, and when she was on the phone he ran into your office and began rifling through your desk."

  Brice frowned. His cousin's behavior had become increasingly erratic since Brice had assisted in building a federal case against Chester's father, Uncle Wesley. Wesley Masterson had attempted to illegally mine state land; the land Brice had donated to build his parents' memorial park. Thanks to Caleb and Dani, they'd been able to apprehend his uncle's crew before the damage was too severe, but Wesley's contacts in local government
had kept him out of jail. It was only through the efforts of Brice and the people he hired that Wesley was charged in a federal court with crimes ranging from bribery to racketeering.

  Last month, Uncle Wesley had been sentenced to fifteen years in a federal penitentiary. Cousin Chester, his alcoholic son, was predictably upset.

  "Did he take anything?"

  Tony shook his head. "No, security responded before he could cause any real trouble. But he did make some threats against you as he was being escorted out of the building. I believe he said he would 'make you pay for your arrogance.' We didn't report his threats because he's your family, but I figured you ought to know he was making them."

  Brice sighed, running his long fingers through his hair in frustration. "I understand. I'll make some calls, see if I can convince someone to talk to him. Maybe get him in rehab, at my expense, of course."

  Tony nodded, and with his business finished, he stood up and straightened his tie. "Now, I realize it's been nearly an hour since you walked in the door and you must be getting itchy feet. We've got things under control here. Why don't you skedaddle on and get this bet-winning date operation off the ground."

  Brice stood and walked around his desk, patting his assistant on the back as they headed towards the door. "My thoughts exactly. I knew there was a reason I paid you so well."

  Tony laughed. "And I thought it was for my good looks."

  Chapter 6

  Janna entered the Coffee City near the south end of campus and scanned the occupants, hoping to recognize Brice's assistant although she had no idea what he looked like. No one's eyes met hers, so she headed to the counter and ordered a caramel macchiato. Taking a seat at one of the tables she sipped her drink slowly. Each new person who walked through the front doors was given the once-over, and before long a pair of alert hazel eyes met hers and a handsome and fashionably dressed young man made his way over to her.

  "Janna Puchina?" his well-modulated voice asked politely.

  "You must be Tony Beckham, Brice's assistant. How did you know it was me?"

  Tony smiled down at her, and Janna liked him instantly. "I googled you," he said with a shrug, then motioned towards the counter. "I'm going to grab a coffee. Be right back."

  Before long he was sliding into the chair across from her and giving her a business like grin. "You've got exactly six hours of my undivided attention, per the ridiculous rules that have Brice's stink all over them. How can I help you beat the pants off that bastard?"

  Janna laughed. She could tell Tony was kidding around. He must like his boss very much. She couldn't help continuing the joke. "Believe me; I don't need any help in that department. He's only too eager to take his pants off."

  Tony laughed, a happy sound, almost like a songbird at dawn, and Janna relaxed. Suddenly Tony spotted someone across the room and his laugh faded. His eyes grew dark, and his face took on a pained expression. It all happened so fast, Janna barely caught it before he composed his features back into a professional mask.

  Janna glanced across the room and saw a handsome, silver-haired man in conversation with one of the coffee shop employees. His dark brown eyes flicked up once, quickly, to check out their table. Interesting. Janna wondered what the connection between the two men was. Tony didn't let her wonder long, however, before he steered the conversation back to the wager. "So how do you plan to beat Brice? He's not going to concede defeat easily."

  Letting out a big exhale, Janna's shoulders slumped, her confidence fading. "I don't know. I've been thinking about it for days, but I haven't come up with any winning ideas yet. I was hoping I could pump you for information about Brice and maybe I'd come up with something then."

  Tony smiled. "It's very intimidating, trying to plan a date for someone like Brice. He's a goddamn millionaire, after all."

  "I know!" Janna said, glad that Tony understood her dilemma. "And I barely know the guy. I don't know if he hates pizza, or likes to go bowling, or if he knows how to use chopsticks. All I know is that he has a disappearing dimple, dances like the Devil himself, and is dynamite in the sack." Janna covered her mouth when she realized what she'd just blurted out, but when Tony laughed with delight, she joined him. Something about Brice's assistant put her at ease.

  "Well, yes, he likes pizza. He is human after all. Not sure about the bowling, but he definitely knows how to use chopsticks." Tony scratched his stubbly jaw, his bright blue eyes traveling up to the ceiling while he thought. "Your best bet would be not to put too much thought into it."

  He laughed when he saw her eyes bug out in disbelief. "Hear me out. You're over-thinking things. It's just a date in the end. Dates should be enjoyable, an opportunity to get to know one another better. Find something you'll both like doing that provides time to talk and enjoy each other's company, and you can't go wrong."

  "I guess you're right," Janna grumbled finally. "And even if I lose the bet, it won't be that bad I suppose."

  "So what happens if each of you wins?" Tony asked, clearly curious. It seemed his boss had not informed him of all the terms of their wager.

  "Well, if I win, Brice has to donate two hours of his time to a charity of my choosing." Janna bit her lip, wondering how much to tell her companion. "And if Brice wins, I have to donate two hours of my time as well."

  "To whom?"

  "To him."

  Tony laughed again, and her embarrassment melted away. "Greedy bastard isn't he."

  Janna nodded her head in agreement. "Sure is." She caught his eyes flicking over to the silver-haired man again, and she couldn't resist. "Who is he?" she asked, then instantly regretted it when she saw the haunted look that flashed in his eyes and was just as quickly smothered.

  "That's Jake Dawson. He owns this coffee shop and seven others like it in town. Brice has some business with him, and the negotiations aren't going so well." Tony's face was strangely shuttered, and Janna realized he wasn't telling her everything. Several pieces clicked into place. Tony's fashionable outfit, his carefully styled features, his laughter and attitude, her total comfort with him, and the what could only be called longing looks he gave the handsome man across the room. Tony was gay.

  Janna didn't say anything. Maybe he wasn't out of the closet. Maybe Brice didn't know. It was best to keep her discovery to herself. "Right, well, as I don't want to give my hard-earned free time to the Masterson Foundation, I'll have to figure out something to knock his socks off nonetheless." Janna was glad that the tense moment had passed and Tony's attention returned to their task.

  "Agreed. A question though. If you do win, I'm sorry, when you win, what charity will you be gifting with Mr. Masterson's time?"

  Janna smiled. "There's an after-school program downtown that has been planning to build a new playground on its property for three years now. They've almost raised enough money to start construction. I plan on volunteering Brice to help build the playground. I'd like to see him doing some real work. And I bet he looks sexy, all sun-tanned and sweaty."

  They laughed together at the image of the immaculately tailored millionaire getting dirty. Unfortunately for Janna, that image sent an unexpected jolt of electricity through her system. She glanced at her watch and decided to get busy in earnest. "All right, I've already wasted a half-hour of your undivided attention. Let's get down to business already."

  * * *

  It'd been a long week, and Brice had barely slept last night. Today he would see her again. Finally. He pulled himself out of bed, where he'd been lying with his eyes wide open for the last hour, watching while his room got progressively lighter as the sun rose over the surrounding trees. In the shower, he thought of her and groaned when his cock became painfully hard.

  As he dressed, he wondered what today would hold. It was her date, the one she and Tony had planned for them. He'd received his instructions from them last night.

  Mr. Masterson,

  For tomorrow's date, please follow the guidelines below:

  1) Dress in layers, including a warm la
yer.

  2) Bring gloves.

  3) Be ready to leave at 10:30 am.

  Sincerely,

  Puchina and Beckham

  Future Bet-Winner and Faithful Assistant

  Brice had laughed but was carefully following said instructions this morning. He was ready early, of course, so filled his hours reading the paper, fucking around on the internet, and watching the clock until it was finally time to head out. He wasn't sure exactly what would happen today, so he pulled on his jacket and walked out his front door, deciding he couldn't wait inside any longer.

  Minutes later he heard the sound of his garage door opening and out pulled his familiar black stretch limo. His driver, Chase, hopped out and jogged around the vehicle, stopping to open his door for him. Brice slid inside and was surprised to see Janna already reclining against the leather seat. Unable to resist he moved over to take her into his arms.

  "What are you doing here already?" he said after stealing her lips for a warm kiss.

  "We have a date, of course."

  "I mean, how long have you been here? Were you in my garage the whole time?"

  Janna gave him a mysterious look. "You've got quite a large house, Mr. Masterson."

  Brice growled as he nuzzled her neck. "You should have told me. We could have had breakfast together."

  "Tut, tut, Mr. Masterson. That would have been against the rules. Rule #3 specifically states that the date has a maximum time limit of eight hours." She gave him her sweetest, most obedient smile, and Brice wanted to rip her clothes off, date be damned.

  Unfortunately, she slowly pulled away from him and scooted over towards the window. He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated but highly aroused. Her alternating shyness and willing sexuality almost made him lose his mind.