“My bike wouldn’t start, and I hate walking in the rain.” Ryker gave the man his best scowl, which wasn’t hard to do since it was his normal visage. The driver remained silent after that. Within minutes, they were out of the car and in the hotel lobby. Ryker checked them into a suite for three nights, since he didn’t know how things would go with Rory or how long it would take his mom to get there. He signed his name and accepted the key cards, then placed his hand at the small of Rhi’s back as he led her to the elevator.
They stood on opposite sides of the lift, which was good. Ryker didn’t need her close. When he opened the door to the suite, Rhi didn’t move. “I vow on all that’s holy I won’t hurt you,” Ryker soothed, once again using his Gryphon voice. He needed her to trust him. She nodded once, then stepped into their room.
“Wow.” Rhi walked around the living area, stuck her head in the bedroom, came back out, then stared at the sofa.
“Why don’t you have a seat?”
“I’m all wet.”
Ryker stepped into the bathroom, returning with several towels. He placed one on the sofa, then handed the others to her.
“Thank you.” Rhi wrapped a towel around her dress and used another to dry her braided hair. She finally sat, twisting her hands in her lap. “Dang, that’s a big TV.”
Ryker thought it was small compared to the one in his own living room back home, but he didn’t know Rhi’s story or where she’d been held. She didn’t seem dangerous, and she wasn’t. Not to him, anyway. If she did have mental issues like the man suggested, she could be a threat to herself. Ryker would have to watch her closely.
Chapter Three
Ryker
Instead of grilling her like he wanted, Ryker asked, “Are you hungry? Because I am.” He found the room service menu and handed it over. “Pick anything you want.”
“Oh, my god. I haven’t had a cheeseburger in forever. And fries. I need all the fries.”
While Rhi was gushing over the food choices, Ryker finally allowed himself to study the woman. She was young, early twenties. Long, dirty-blonde hair was braided. She wore no makeup, but she didn’t need it. She had a natural beauty. Her eyebrows were a little bushy, like she’d never seen a pair of tweezers, but it didn’t detract from her looks. Her dress was frumpy and ill-fitting. Her shoes were basic slip-ons, and something about them niggled at his brain. Big, blue eyes met his when she asked if she could get two orders of fries.
“You can have all the fries you want.” In that moment, Ryker would give her anything she wanted, and he mentally chastised himself. Rhi wasn’t his. She was a young woman in need of help, not anything else. She couldn’t be anything else.
Yes, she can.
Shut it. We don’t know enough about her.
I don’t need to know more. She’s ours.
Ryker ignored his Gryphon, even though he wanted to agree. There was something about the woman that called to him for more than protecting her. “Did you settle on the cheeseburger?” Rhi nodded. “What do you want on it?”
“Everything. And a Coke. No, a milkshake. Chocolate. No, a Coke.”
Ryker’s heart broke for her. Had she been denied something as basic as food and drink choices? If she’d been held in an institution, she probably had to eat shitty food. He took the menu from her and decided on his own meal. The cheeseburger did sound good. He called room service and placed their order. When he asked for a six-pack of sodas and four orders of fries with extra ketchup, Rhi’s eyes filled with tears.
“What’s wrong?” He hung up the receiver and squatted in front of her. The need to touch her was great, but he kept his hands on his own thighs.
“It’s been so long since I had junk food. I…” Rhi closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I don’t know why you’re doing all this, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m going to call my mom and let her know what’s going on. Then I’m going to put you on the phone with her so you can tell her your sizes. I have to warn you, she’ll probably outfit you like a biker chick. Jeans and boots are her usual dress code.”
Rhi’s smile was sad. “I miss wearing jeans, so I have no problem with that. Um, is it okay if I use the restroom?”
“Of course. You’re not a prisoner, Rhi. You don’t need my permission to move around. I would ask you don’t leave the room alone, since we don’t know if that man is still looking for you.”
“James. His name is James, and I guarantee he’s still looking. He won’t dare go home without searching everywhere.”
“Do you want to talk about it? You know what? Don’t worry about that. For now, go use the bathroom. I’ll call Rory, that’s my mom, and then we’ll eat. Everything else can wait.”
“Thank you, Ryker Lazlo. I’m really glad you’re the one who found me.”
“Me too.” Ryker stood and moved out of the way so Rhi could go to the bathroom. When she got to the door, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. It was full of appreciation, not anything else. It didn’t matter, though. The reason for it still transformed her face, and Ryker merely inclined his head. His lion was purring, and the last thing he needed was his shifter getting the wrong idea. He was helping a human in need. Nothing more.
Liar.
Rhiannon
Rhi shut the bathroom door and leaned against it. Closing her eyes, she sent up a silent prayer to the goddess, thanking her for her freedom. For sending Ryker Lazlo to find her. It had to be divine intervention for someone like him to be the one to find her in the dumpster. If what he said was true, his family helped people in need, and there was no one needier than her. Pushing off the door, Rhi took a look at herself in the mirror. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost her head covering. Her hair had come loose from her braid, so she unplaited it. Instead of redoing it, she left it loose around her shoulders. It had been years since she’d been able to wear it down. Years since she’d been allowed to be who she truly was.
Since she told Ryker she needed to use the bathroom, Rhi took the time to pee and wash her hands. She was in serious need of a shower after hiding amongst the garbage, but that would have to wait until she had clean clothes. She didn’t know where Ryker’s mom was or how long it would take her to reach them. There were two plush robes hanging on the back of the door, but she didn’t have deodorant, so she decided to wait a while. When she returned to the living area, Ryker was on the phone.
“Here she is.” Ryker handed the phone to Rhi. “Talk to my mom.”
“Hello?”
“Hello, Rhi. My name is Rory. How are you holding up?” Rory’s voice was a soft, southern twang.
“Uh, pretty good. Except I need a shower. I stink.”
Rory laughed, and the sound was bittersweet. Rhi hadn’t heard her own mother’s laugh in years. “Yeah, Ryker told me about you hiding in the dumpster. That was smart thinking on your part.”
“I don’t know about smart, but it worked.”
“Tell me your sizes, and I’ll stop and get you some clothes on the way.” Rhi did as Rory asked, guessing at her size, but then she nervously looked over at Ryker. There were some things she didn’t want to talk about in front of the handsome man.