And kiss a lot of money goodbye.
Yeah, she wasn’t particularly proud of the fact that she even considered the money, but how could anyone say no to that kind of cash?
Certainly not me…
The initial offer he threw out annoyed her. The second shocked her. But once he mentioned building her restaurant, she was a goner. So it was important for her to test the waters tonight and see how unbearable Ryder was and what he was going to be like to work with. If he didn’t listen to her ideas or tried to push aside her contributions, then she’d seriously reconsider this deal.
And then immediately said a prayer that he wasn’t as awful as she originally thought.
She ordered the pizza and then grimaced at her wine selection.
“Screw it,” she murmured. “We’ll consider that our first test.”
Under normal circumstances, Peyton wasn’t this antagonistic or confrontational. Something about Ryder just seemed to push all her buttons. At first it was his looks that intimidated her, then his presence–he seriously seemed to command attention no matter where he was. With all the ways he had gotten involved with her cousins, he was around more and more and she knew eventually she’d get up the nerve to introduce herself. She just never imagined things would end up going down the way they did.
Or how bold she’d end up being.
Maybe it was a good thing; maybe by asserting herself the way she was, Ryder would take her seriously. It was obvious he had an issue with her age–that “mature enough” comment was definitely a dig at her–but she was going to prove to him that her age wasn’t a strike against her. If anything, her friends and family had always said she was sensible and cautious and that she was born old.
Not the most flattering description, but accurate nonetheless.
So maybe now that she and Ryder overcame this first obstacle, she could prove he shouldn’t discount her based on her age.
No, but he could certainly do it based on your lack of experience…
Yeah. That.
Peyton knew in her heart that she could do what he was asking for anyone else. It was Ryder personally that was a bit of a stumbling block for her. If any other person in Magnolia Sound had come to her with the offer to consult–much like Tommy Flynn did with The Mystic Magnolia–she wouldn’t have even given it a second thought. Of course she could do it. But when the offer came from Ryder, it suddenly seemed far too challenging. The kind of business he was proposing seemed way more out of her league than the places she was familiar with.
Plus, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to handle working so closely with him without it becoming obvious that she was attracted to him.
“Please don’t let me make an ass out of myself,” she muttered as she walked around fluffing pillows and making sure everything was neat and tidy. Considering the house was really more of a bungalow, it didn’t take long and the only thing left to do was put out a couple of plates, napkins, and wine glasses. Once that was done, all she could do was wait.
Fortunately, Ryder was prompt, and so was the pizza delivery because they showed up at the same time. Peyton watched as Ryder tipped the driver before walking up to her door. For some reason, she expected him to show up in perfectly creased khakis and a polo shirt carrying a bottle of wine. But he surprised her–pleasantly. Wearing a pair of navy athletic shorts, gray t-shirt, sneakers, and sunglasses, he looked extremely casual. It wasn’t until he was closer that she saw he also looked extremely uncomfortable.
And how the clothes were brand new.
Smiling, she took the pizza from him. “Hey, thanks! Perfect timing! Come on in!” He followed with a murmured “thanks” and didn’t say anything else.
Weird.
Placing the pizza on her kitchen table, Peyton motioned for him to have a seat. “I went with sausage and peppers. I hope that’s okay.”
Nodding, he took off his sunglasses and seemed unsure of where to put them. It was almost comical watching him look around.
“Why don’t you just put them on the coffee table,” she suggested and was relieved when he did. But once he sat at the table, he squirmed a bit before he finally seemed to settle. “Are you okay?”
He nodded again. “I’m fine. Why?”
“You seem uncomfortable.” Then she noticed him tugging on the shorts and then the neck of the t-shirt and decided she’d had enough. “You cannot possibly be this twitchy over dressing casually, Ryder.”
The glare he shot her way said otherwise.
“This is absurd. Do you have a change of clothes in your car?”
“Now that would be absurd,” he replied defensively. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m perfectly fine.” And to prove it, he reached for a slice of pizza and took a bite.
With a shrug, Peyton sat and took a slice for herself. “Can I pour you some wine? It’s nothing fancy, but it’s not awful either.”
“With a glowing recommendation like that, how can I resist?”
Yeah, this wasn’t going to work.
Closing the pizza box with a weary sigh, that’s exactly what she told him. “This was a stupid idea and I never should have suggested it. You should just…go. Go home and put on a suit or a tux, eat lobster and filet mignon, drink expensive champagne and just…find another consultant.”
She watched as he slowly finished chewing and braced herself to watch him get up and go.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he stood up and grabbed the bottle of wine before pouring them each a glass. He sat back down and took a sip of his wine before looking at her. “Peyton, one of the most important rules of business is to never be afraid to leave your comfort zone. While this isn’t the sort of thing I’d normally put in that category, the fact is it’s exactly what you forced me to do.” He raised his glass to her. “Thank you.”
Now she was thoroughly confused. “I’m not even sure what to say to that.”
“You could say ‘you’re welcome’ and eat your dinner. That would be a start.” Then he shifted a bit in his seat before taking another bite of his pizza.
“Can I ask you something?”
He nodded.
“How is dressing casually in the same category as taking a business risk?”
Ryder studied her for a long moment before responding. “Work is my life. Even when I’m not in the office, I’m working. I’ve made a name for myself and created an image and that means that I’m almost always…on.”
It was her turn to nod.
“I work long hours and the only time I ever truly relax is at night when I go to bed.” With a shrug, he continued. “It’s not a bad thing, but basically I am in a suit all day and that’s what I’m used to because…”
“Because you’re always working,” she finished for him. “I get that, but I’m sitting here watching you and it seems like it’s completely foreign for you to be in shorts and a t-shirt. How is that possible? You weren’t born in a suit. You were obviously a kid at some point, so…why is this so hard for you?”
He blinked at her, but instead of answering, he took another bite of his dinner.
“When was the last time you wore something like this just…because?”
“Maybe…fifteen years,” he finally said, and Peyton was fairly certain her jaw hit the floor.
“How is that even possible?”
“It wasn’t necessary. I worked all through college and the only time I had to wear anything like this was that semester I needed to get my phys ed credits in.” He took a sip of wine before shaking his head. “Other than that, I had no use for them.”
“Not even for comfort? I mean…what do you wear around the house? What do you sleep in?” The moment that last one was out of her mouth, Peyton wanted to crawl under the table and hide.
“My suits are very comfortable,” he said, completely unfazed by her question. “I do take off my shoes when I get home as well as my jacket and tie if I’m wearing one.” He shrugged. “I roll up my sleeves too.” Pausing, he took another
sip of his wine. “As for sleeping…well…I don’t think we know each other well enough to discuss that.”
She was pretty sure her face was on fire and she grabbed her glass and downed the rest of her wine just to have something to do.
Big mistake.
Everyone knew Peyton was a lightweight where alcohol was concerned, but never had she felt it more than that moment. She put her glass down with a little too much force and the room began to spin slightly.
“Peyton? Are you okay?”
Rather than speak, she giggled.
Giggled!
Ugh…kill me now…
Out of the corner of her eye, Peyton could see the amusement on his face and rather than call him out on it, she opted to finish her dinner. The sooner they got through this meal, the better.
Turning the tables on her, he asked, “Can I ask you something?”
She desperately wanted to say no, but ultimately shook her head yes.
“Why did you want me to come here dressed like this? I know you mentioned us starting to work together and being casual, but…this was a bit of an odd request.”
The groan was out before she could stop it.
“It’s not a big deal,” she said, unable to look directly at him. “Really. It was a stupid thing for me to ask and I’m sorry.”
It was weird how she could actually feel Ryder staring at her, but she did.
“Okay, fine!” she said with a huff, forcing herself to look at him. “You’re very intimidating, Ryder! You’re this huge, handsome, and sexy presence and I’m not comfortable with that. It’s one of the main reasons we’d never been introduced before. I’ve seen you at several family events and I’ve gone out of my way to avoid meeting you. So I thought if we could sit and talk tonight with you just looking like…you know…a regular man instead of your Mr. Sexy Suity-Suit persona, I’d be able to relax with you!”
Pushing away from the table, Peyton stood and walked away, feeling completely mortified.
Seriously, if the man didn’t leave and immediately start looking for someone else to act as a consultant, then he was crazy. At the sliding glass doors that led out to her deck, she stopped and slid them open and stepped outside, hoping the fresh air would clear her head. It seemed like the thing to do, even as she wondered what had possessed her to do…well…everything tonight.
No wonder he had an issue with your age. You’re acting like a child…
As she leaned against the railing and looked out at the ocean, Peyton cursed herself. It was like she was going out of her way to sabotage herself and this deal. Shaking her head, she sighed and then found Ryder standing beside her, mimicking her pose. She glanced at him and found him staring out at the ocean too.
“I think we need to address some things,” he said without looking at her. “I can’t help if I intimidate you. I realize it’s something I strive for in business dealings, but I didn’t realize it came across at social events too.”
She wanted to call BS on that statement, but kept it to herself.
“But this is business, Peyton,” he went on. “I’m not going to jump through hoops and change who I am just to amuse you. Believe it or not, I’m trying to help you.”
“Help me? How?”
“I realize I’m hiring you as a consultant, but I’d also like to help you learn a little more about how to grow your business. Sort of like a teacher or a mentor.”
While that was a sweet offer, it would be easier for her to handle if he were about twenty years older, six inches shorter, and possibly bald. The man standing beside her was very…tempting. It didn’t seem possible, but she found him even more attractive right now than she did in a tuxedo.
I’m in deep, deep trouble…
Ryder turned his head and caught her staring at him. Blushing, Peyton wanted to look away, but his eyes sort of held her right where she was.
It was practically hypnotic.
Peyton had always been shy around boys, and later, men.
And those had just been average-looking guys.
There was nothing average about Ryder and now, as she stood close to him–could smell his cologne and feel the heat radiating off his body–she felt way out of her element. It would be incredibly rude to walk away from him twice, and she realized he was waiting for her to respond.
“Oh.”
He arched a dark brow at her. “Oh? That’s all you have to say?” Amusement laced his words.
Forcing herself to look away, Peyton let out a long breath and chose to focus on the waves while she spoke. She wanted to say it was odd how he was taking an interest in her and her business, but considering what he’d just done for her cousin Garrett, maybe it wasn’t so odd.
Say something!
“I appreciate the offer, Ryder. You certainly don’t need to do that. I’m sure you’re very busy as it is without adding teaching me to your schedule.” She paused, but the confession was out before she could stop it. “I’ve worked very hard to manage everything. I’ve only really taken the lead at the café in the last year because the staff had everything under control and I wanted to learn as much as I could before stepping in and being the boss. I doubled up on classes at school when I inherited it and I’m always taking online classes to make sure I’m as up-to-date as possible on everything, but it’s exhausting. I’ve got no one to talk to about it and I keep a smile on my face so no one knows I’m struggling.” Then she let out a mirthless laugh before turning and facing him. “Still want to take me on as a consultant?”
Ryder’s expression was intense and he was quiet for so long that she was on the verge of babbling an apology. But then he reached out and took one of her hands in his and her knees went a little weak.
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” he said, his voice low and soft. “I know it’s not easy to admit to struggling and I’m sorry you don’t have some sort of support group of friends or family that you can turn to. But you’re not alone. Not anymore.” He squeezed her hand as tears stung her eyes. There was a sincerity there that she didn’t expect, and it was crazy how much she wanted to lean in and hug him.
But she didn’t.
“Part of being good at your job is knowing your strengths and weaknesses and always wanting to learn how to do better. Based on what you just told me, I bet you’re doing a better job than you think.”
“I don’t know about that…”
He gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “Come on. Let’s go back inside and start talking about our visions.”
“Our?”
Nodding, he explained. “I obviously have a vision for the resort and you have a vision for the restaurant you were going to build. I’d be honored if you shared some of that with me.” He gave her a boyish grin that seemed completely out of character for him. “Of course, I’d completely understand if you wanted to keep it to yourself and use on a future restaurant.”
“I doubt…”
She never got to finish.
“I told you I’d build your restaurant,” he quickly interrupted. “But if you’d rather hold on to your original plans and use them at a later date, that’s fine too.”
This was all almost too good to be true. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. But then Ryder squeezed her hand and she figured that was close enough.
“Let’s go inside,” he said softly, and Peyton was more than happy to let him lead the way.
As soon as Peyton excused herself to go get her laptop and files, Ryder let out a long, uneven breath.
He wanted her.
When he had followed her out onto the deck and listened to her confession, he’d felt something he’d never felt before–the need to comfort and protect. In his mind, he kept telling himself to treat her like a friend’s little sister who was off-limits. When that didn’t work, he reminded himself how they were entering into a potentially long-term business arrangement and how he never mixed business with pleasure.
Then he went and touched her and all th
ose thoughts flew right out the window. The rush to get her inside to talk about plans and strategy was less about him actually wanting to do it, but more like he needed to. If they had stayed outside any longer, Ryder knew he would have pulled her into his arms to offer her comfort and then…
It didn’t matter. He’d taken control of the situation and he knew he would hold onto it while they opened a dialogue on how they saw these two projects going. He’d never had a problem keeping his focus on a task before, and he didn’t plan on having one now.
“Why don’t we sit in the living room and I’ll lay everything out on the coffee table,” Peyton said with a smile as she walked back into the room.
Ryder watched as she moved with the grace of a dancer, and realized he’d also never done business with a beautiful woman wearing yoga pants and a clingy top.
Austin had warned him not to do this, not to show up on her doorstep and try to convince her to work with him. Of course, Austin’s reasoning for it being a bad idea had nothing to do with how alluring his cousin was.
She walked by him on her way to the kitchen. “Would you like another glass of wine? A bottle of water?”
“Um…”
“We really didn’t finish eating, either,” she called out. “Want me to warm the pizza up and we can eat while we work?”
“Um…” For a man who always had something to say, Ryder found himself at a loss for words. Not that it mattered. Peyton was fluttering around putting the pizza in the oven, pouring him another glass of wine and grabbing a bottle of water for herself. Within minutes, she had everything set up on the large coffee table and was sitting with her feet tucked under her. She smiled up at him, and he knew he would need to sit down.
Close to her.
Think business…statistics…financial statements…
He sat putting the most distance he could between them without being obvious and thanked her when she handed him a plate with another slice of pizza on it.
“Okay, I need to apologize for my behavior,” Peyton stated. “And not just tonight. I was rude to you at the café, and then again at Austin’s office. So…I’m sorry. I swear I’m not usually like that and I promise to be more professional moving forward.”
Nobody Does it Better Page 6
