by Measha Stone
“I mean, we aren’t tied to each other. Like, it’s not serious.” She went back to the pile. Heading to George’s office to help him had been an attempt not to think about her and Ryder’s situation. She knew it was temporary, knew as soon as she got a job and found an apartment, things would change. She didn’t need to obsess over it all day, though.
“Ah,” he picked up the next stack of papers for shredding, “you’re lying to yourself. Got it.”
“What the hell does that mean?” she asked, slapping her hand down on the papers.
“It means you want it to be casual, you want no ties, because you don’t think he’d want anything other than that, but what you really want, little girl…” he gave her a pointed look, “is him.”
“One, you can’t call me little girl anymore.” An endearment when she was younger held a much different meaning to the adult she’d become. “And two, you’re wrong.”
“I’m wrong?” He laughed. “So, you don’t want to be with him long-term? You don’t want to keep seeing him once you find an apartment? Have you even started looking for one?”
Damn. Him.
“I need a job first.”
“And you told me you got an email asking for a second interview at the Harold Washington. So, you could have a job within a week if that goes well, right?” He settled himself back into his chair at the shredder.
“Once I have a job, I’ll start looking for apartments.” She picked up another invoice to inspect.
“Okay,” George said, though his tone suggested he didn’t quite believe her.
The shredder fired up, and the grinding of paper being torn to pieces filled the room, letting her escape any more questions or theories from him. But it didn’t stop her own mind from going over the facts as he stated them. Did she want more than this temporary fling? Ryder made everything feel so natural, so easy, but how long could that really last? Maybe it was easy with him because they weren’t meant for longevity. It’s easy to be on good behavior for short-term, but how would they make things work down the road?
“You two are good together. I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve seen that look in Ryder’s eyes. And you haven’t had a good man in your life, other than your brother and me, in years,” George said after the last bit of his pile fell into the shredded bag.
“Oh my god.” A thought popped into her head, which sent her heart into a quick patter. “You set us up.”
George’s face contorted into one of mixed defiance and guilt. “What? No. I don’t do shit like that. You know that.”
She pushed the papers from her lap and made her way toward him.
“You did. Is your mom even staying at your place?” She put her hands on her hips.
“Yes, she is. For another week, thanks to that scum of a landlord of hers.” George went to work pulling the bag of torn paper from the machine so she couldn’t see his eyes.
“You have two bedrooms in your apartment…and a pull-out couch.” She rolled her shoulders back.
George tied off the bag and straightened, settling one of his authority glares on her. Only, it didn’t do anything to her—no fluttering stomach, no nerve-ending chills.
“I did not set you up with Ryder. I knew you two would get along and he had an extra bedroom. That’s all.” He tossed the garbage bag toward the door.
“But you hoped—”
“Samantha.” He put up his hands. “I trust Ryder…and he’s unattached, so I figured…” He shrugged. The guilt overpowered his attempt at dominating the conversation. He broke out in a grin. “I figured…whatever happened, happened.”
“You were playing matchmaker like an old hen,” she accused, but couldn’t keep the gentle laughter from underlying her words. George was basically a second big brother, without all the overbearing, protective nature of her actual sibling.
“It wasn’t my primary intention.” He grinned. “Have you talked about what will happen when you move into your own place?”
“He’s been busy with work, and this weekend was kinda crazy. Besides, there’s really nothing to talk about,” she said, turning back to the couch to straighten up the piles. Ryder would be there soon to pick her up for lunch.
They were going to his friend’s house. The meeting was to talk about possible solutions to the Randall issue. It wasn’t an actual meet my friends sort of lunch.
“Uh-huh.” George sighed and grabbed the last pile of papers for shredding.
“Besides, what would long-term even look like? I resolved a while ago I’d most likely not end up with someone, not like forever.”
“What? Why would you think something like that?” George asked with heat.
“You haven’t exactly found someone,” she pointed out.
“Not for lack of looking,” he muttered. “And I’m not the one with such a dismal outlook here.”
“It’s not dismal. It’s based on my experiences. Most guys don’t even like my kink, and the ones who do…well, they get bored with me after a while.” She tried to shrug it off, but she couldn’t hide the ache in her chest from herself. How soon would Ryder get bored? When would the polish wear off?
“That’s because you’ve been around assholes. Ryder’s not an asshole.” George fired up the shredder again before she could respond.
Samantha finished clearing the couch while he made his racket. Another afternoon and she’d have the office completely organized. Then he could finally find an assistant who wasn’t scared off by the mess he’d made of all the invoices and statements.
The noise stopped as the door to the office swung open.
“Hey.” Ryder’s smile hit her like a freight train.
“Hey.” Her chest lightened at the sight of him, filling the doorway with all his muscles and height. “It’s time already?” She grabbed her phone from her pocket and checked the time.
“Yeah. We have a few minutes if you need to finish up,” Ryder said, nodding his greeting to George. “We’re heading to Kendrick’s.”
“Yeah, Sam told me. I’m not sure he’ll have much of a solution, though. Without any actual cause, a restraining order will be hard to get.”
“Probably, but we’ll see what he says. I haven’t seen him and Kelly in a while, so it will be nice just to visit.” Ryder’s gaze swept over the room. “You guys got a lot done.”
“Mostly because of your girl here.”
Ryder’s smile dropped a fraction. Damn George and his pushing.
“Yep, piling papers is my specialty.” She shoved a bright smile onto her lips. Playful. Casual. She pointed to the stack at the end table beside the couch. “Those can be shredded, and those on the floor there still need to be gone through. I can come over tomorrow afternoon once I’m finished with my interview and get it done.”
“If you have time. Don’t put yourself out on my account,” George said.
“I have time,” she assured him, picking up her purse and slinging the small bag over her head. “Besides, Ryder’s working late tomorrow. It will give me something to do.”
“And keep her out of trouble,” Ryder added.
George laughed.
“Okay, I’ll meet you here around one?”
Samantha nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll swing by Ryder’s apartment to change then head straight here.”
“Good.” George sat back in his chair and sighed. “Give my hello to Kelly.”
Ryder slipped his hand around Samantha’s, giving her a light squeeze.
“Will do. Talk to you later, George.” Ryder nodded again and tugged Samantha to the door.
She waved on her way out the door and fell in step with Ryder.
The humidity had finally dropped enough outside, making the heat a bit more manageable. At least her hair wouldn’t frizz out before they got to Kendrick’s.
Ryder squeezed her hand again before opening the passenger door for her. He’d said even if Kendrick couldn’t help with Randall, the visit would be nice. What did that mean exactly?
Everything George said mingled with her current question, and she sank into the car with a worried heart.
Where exactly was everything headed? And would she survive it?
Chapter 24
“You okay?” Ryder asked Samantha. They were only a few steps away from Kendrick’s door, and Samantha had barely said a word since he’d picked her up from the dungeon.
“Yeah. Fine.” She nodded and gave him the same plastic smile she’d sported since getting in the car.
“I explained the rule about half truths, right?” He raised his brow and faced off with her as they came to stand in front of Kendrick’s door.
Her smile widened, but it didn’t touch her eyes.
“I’m fine, Ryder. Just nervous about meeting your friends.” She placed a gentle hand on his forearm.
The suspicion didn’t ease, but he wouldn’t press her yet. When they got home, if her mood didn’t improve, they’d have a long discussion about hiding feelings and worries. Because something obviously had her concerned. He could see the worry lines deepen along her forehead.
“Kendrick and Kelly are good people. You’ll have a good time.” He knocked on the door, and Kelly answered with a bright-eyed smile.
“Ryder!” She pulled the door open wider and waved them in.
“You’re Samantha.” Kelly grinned at Sam and pulled her into a big hug. “Thank god you came. I could use some adult company.” She laughed and released Sam.
“Hi, it’s nice to—”
“Kendrick will be out in minute. One sec. Close the door, Ryder. Go in the living room.” Kelly waved at them as she jogged toward a short set of stairs. “Conner’s just going down for his nap. I’ll be right back,” she explained, then disappeared up the steps.
“Don’t run, Kelly. You don’t even have shoes on. You’re going to slip and fall,” Kendrick’s voice boomed.
Ryder didn’t make out Kelly’s response, but Kendrick’s shaking head explained plenty when he stepped into the living room. Ryder laughed.
“Hey, guys,” Kendrick greeted them, shaking Ryder’s hand and smiling down at Samantha. “I put an order in for pizza, hope that’s okay. Should be here soon.”
“Of course,” Ryder said, then gestured for Samantha to take a seat.
“So, Ryder tells me you’re looking for a librarian job?” Kendrick asked, sitting down on the couch. Kelly appeared again and rounded the couch to sit next to her husband.
“I’m trying for a Library Director position.” Sam eased back in her chair. “Hopefully for a larger library.”
Kelly nodded. “You know, I think I saw something in the bulletin at work about our library department looking for a new director.”
“Oh? Where’s that?” Samantha asked, anticipation in her voice.
“UIC. I’m a chem professor there…well, part-time now,” Kelly said.
“I’ll have to look into that. Working for a university would be great.”
The doorbell rang.
“Pizza,” Kendrick announced. “Be right back.”
Samantha fell into an easy conversation with Kelly. Watching her fill with excitement about her career and getting a new start warmed him. The worry he’d seen in her eyes when they’d arrived faded away the longer she talked about work. Whatever she’d been so concerned about seemed to be have been pushed to the back burner.
“Kel, where’s the salad bowl?” Kendrick called from the kitchen.
Kelly rolled her eyes. “I’ll be right back. Sorry.”
“Can I help?” Samantha got up from her seat.
“Just tossing the salad into a bowl, but you can help me grab some drinks.”
Ryder sat back in the chair. Alone.
It was no surprise Samantha fit right in with Kelly and Kendrick. Good people held a magnetic attraction to each other.
“Ryder, let’s eat,” Sam called from behind him. He blew out a sigh and followed her voice to the dining room. A deep-dish cheese and mushroom pizza sat centerstage with a large chopped salad beside it.
He took a seat next to Samantha and accepted a beer from Kelly with a smile.
“So, how’s work been?” Kendrick asked Ryder as he plated a piece of pizza and handed it to him.
“Busy. But at least we’re back at work. Hopefully the rebuild will be done in a month.” Ryder placed the plate of pizza and salad in front of Samantha. He noted the little grimace she gave, but left it alone. Some greens and tomatoes wouldn’t hurt her. She’d eat the salad.
“I put in a bid to put in the security system, but I’m not holding my breath on it. It’s a big project. Small companies like me have a harder time getting those jobs.” Kendrick passed out the rest of the dishes.
“Do you have deep dish in Indiana?” Kelly asked Samantha after the conversation stilled and she still hadn’t touched her pizza.
“Oh, yes, probably not as good as here, though. George said pizza anywhere outside Chicago isn’t really pizza.”
Kelly laughed. “He’s right about that.”
Samantha’s salad was nearly finished, but still she hadn’t taken a bite of her pizza. When she finished the salad, she reached for the large bowl to take a second serving. Kendrick’s gaze wandered to Samantha’s plate, dragging Ryder’s along with it.
“You haven’t touched your pizza. Is it the mushrooms?” Kelly chimed in. “I told Kendrick not everyone likes mushrooms.” She shot her husband an unwanted glare.
“No, I love mushrooms,” Samantha was quick to say. She squirmed a bit in her seat, probably from being the center of attention.
“Sam.” Ryder put his fork and knife down. “What’s wrong?”
She shifted to look at him. He narrowed his eyes when she remained silent.
“I’m…I can’t really have cheese.” She leaned closer to him as she spoke, as though the secret wouldn’t be well received from everyone else. “I have a lactose sensitivity.”
Ryder looked at the thick slice of pizza on her plate. “What do you mean? You had ice-cream yesterday afternoon, and this morning you ate the cheese omelet I made for you.”
A rosey blush crossed her cheeks, and she glanced at Kendrick and Kelly again.
“Sammy,” he said with more warning. His little girl was keeping secrets again.
She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. “Sometimes it’s not so bad. But I had cheese for breakfast. If I have it now too…” the blush deepened, “it will be bad.”
Ryder raised his brow. “Your tummy ache last night.”
She looked at her plate and nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you wouldn’t let me have the ice-cream if you knew,” she pointed out softly, still trying to keep their conversation from their hosts.
“Of course I wouldn’t. If it makes you sick, you shouldn’t eat it.” He picked up her plate and pushed her slice onto his plate.
“I can whip you up a sandwich if you’d like instead,” Kelly offered.
Sam waved her hands. “No, no. The salad is perfect. More than enough. I swear.”
“There’s feta in the salad,” Kendrick pointed out.
“I pushed it off.” Sam pointed to the white clumps of cheese lining the edge of the plate.
“You should have told me,” Ryder said firmly.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Can we talk about it later?” She shifted her gaze to show him other people were there.
“Oh, we will,” he promised. Another lesson in not keeping secrets was in order. A sterner lesson.
She piled on more salad. “Kelly, how are you feeling? Ryder told me you’re pregnant.” She turned the topic.
Kelly was all too willing to help her out of the hole she’d dug herself into—an area she had plenty of experience in from what he knew of her.
Once they were finished eating, Ryder and Kendrick picked up the plates and took them to the kitchen while the girls continued talking.
“She’s sweet,” Kendrick noted when they were in t
he kitchen.
“Yeah,” Ryder huffed. “All sugar and spice.”
Kendrick laughed. “Don’t even pretend you aren’t into her.”
Ryder grinned. “I won’t. It’s good having her around.”
“Good? Man, it’s been a long time since you took a little girl. And she’s definitely your girl.”
“She’s just staying at my place for a while.”
“So, you aren’t together?
“We are…but not like you think…” He scratched his chin. “It’s just casual.”
Kendrick raised his brow. “Casual?” He burst out laughing. “Right.”
“Okay, whatever. Did you find anything out for me?”
“Nothing all that helpful. The best bet would be to get a restraining order, but there’s basis for one right now. Plus, even if we did get one, that doesn’t guarantee he won’t ignore it altogether,” Kendrick explained.
“That’s what I was expecting you to say.” Ryder sighed.
“We can put in a security system at your place for the time being. A trigger alarm that would alert you and the security company if someone enters the apartment.”
“That might be a good idea. I don’t like her sitting in the apartment alone while I’m working. She has an interview tomorrow, then she’s spending the afternoon helping George. But Tuesday, she’s going to be all by herself all day,” Ryder said.
“I can have someone out tomorrow night.”
“Great. Perfect. Thanks, man.” Ryder scraped the last bit of salad from a dish and handed it over to Kendrick.
“You said George is friends with her older brother. Where’s he in all this? If my sister were involved in this mess, I’m not sure I would be comfortable leaving her alone.”
“Your sister wouldn’t let you anywhere near her if you were to barge in all commander style.” Ryder laughed. Kendrick’s sister had an independent streak that ran wild and deep.
“True. Sharon would hate it.” Kendrick dropped the dishwashing pod into the compartment. “Still, I’d probably at least go check in on her.”
“Well, Paul is a bit caught up in his own drama right now, so he can’t get away.”