“I’m all alone here, Ryd,” she said, looking around the small store as if to prove her point. “I can’t just take off for a lunch date.”
“Sure you can, Baby Doll,” Jack said, strolling in from the back room. Shit—she hadn’t counted on him coming out of his office any time soon. Ryder squinted his eyes at her boss and then looked back at her.
“I think we might need to buy you a dictionary, Honey. You should look up what the word, “alone” means,” he teased.
“Well, I—um, I meant that I am the only salesperson on the floor today. Jack is my boss,” she said, pointing to him. Her boss stood next to her checking Ryder out, smiling at him like a loon. She knew that Ryder was Jack’s type—she had seen the parade of men going through the store to his back office. He had a type and Ryder was definitely it.
“Well, aren’t you yummy?” Jack asked Ryder. She stifled her giggle at Ryder’s reaction to her boss.
“I’ve been told that a time or two,” Ryder said. Jack barked out his laugh and looked down at her.
“If you don’t go to lunch with this man, I will,” he warned. “And I won’t return him to you any time soon, Sweetheart.” Double shit—her whole argument went right out the window as soon as Jack opened his damn mouth. Yeah—she was liking her new boss less and less right now.
“So, which one of you am I taking to lunch?” he asked. “Don’t worry, it’s just lunch so I won’t expect my date to put out or anything—well unless you want dessert, then we can negotiate.” She knew he was teasing but the way he talked about sex made her hot.
Jack and Ryder were both staring her down and she knew she had to be bright pink with embarrassment. “I’ll get my purse,” she griped. “And, I won’t be ordering dessert,” she quickly added. Ryder and Jack both laughed and she disappeared into the backroom to grab her things. What the hell did she just agree to? Ryder was crafty but she never expected this from him. It was almost like he was waiting for his window of opportunity and once he found one, he ran with it.
She returned to the front counter to find Jack and Ryder deep in conversation as if they were old friends catching up. “She ran you down with her car?” Jack said, sending her an incredulous look.
“Yep,” Ryder said. “Me and my Harley.”
“Mmm,” Jack hummed, “I do love a man who rides a motorcycle.”
“Okay,” she said. Putting her hand on Jack’s chest as if trying to stave off his advances toward Ryder. “Down, Boss,” she said.
“You made it sound like you were taking care of this man out of the kindness of your heart. You never said anything about causing his injuries or anything like that, Tatum,” Jack said.
“It was an accident,” she defended.
Jack smiled at her, “Well, remind me never to get on your bad side, Miss T. I’d hate to see what you do to men on purpose when you’re angry with them.”
She teasingly stuck her tongue out at him, “I’ll be back in an hour,” she said.
“Take two,” Jack offered.
“But that’s my shift,” she said. “I won’t finish the day.” She really couldn’t give up the pay with saving for a new place. “I could use the money,” she admitted.
“I’ll pay you for the day, Tatum,” Jack challenged. “Just promise me you’ll order the damn dessert.” He looked Ryder up and down once more and turned to go back to his office. “See you tomorrow, Sugar. I’ll be waiting for all the dirty details,” he shouted back over his shoulder.
“I like your boss,” Ryder whispered.
“Yeah—I used to like him too,” she teased.
“It’s a little late for lunch, don’t you think?” she asked.
Ryder shrugged and held open the door for her. “Sure,” he agreed. “So, we’ll just make it a dinner date. I’m betting you’re more likely to order dessert after dinner, Tatum,” he breathed.
She smiled up at him and shook her head. “Not going to happen, Ryd,” she promised. She was lying. Tatum wanted to order the fucking dessert more than she ever wanted to in her whole life. She wanted Ryder and if she had to eat an entire cheesecake to get him, she would—calories be damned.
She sat across the table from Ryder and God, she felt nervous. She had seen this man all but naked, slept in his bed when he had a concussion from his fall and had helped take care of him—for better or worse, she knew him.
Their waiter came and took their order and when he left, she fidgeted with her silverware. Ryder reached across the table and covered her hand with his own. “You okay, Honey?” he questioned.
She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t. That she was a nervous wreck and wanted to go home but he wouldn’t let her hide. “I’d love to tell you that I’m fine but I’m nervous,” she admitted.
He rubbed his hand over hers, “It’s just me, Tatum,” he whispered. “You don’t need to be nervous around me, Baby.” He was wrong because everything about him made her nervous since she admitted to him that she was a virgin. He said he wanted her and if she was being completely honest, she’d admit that she wanted him too. Her denying her feelings for Ryder had so much more to do with him being capable of breaking her heart. He had that power over her and that scared the hell out of her.
She pulled her hand free from his and he sighed and sat back in his chair. “Why do you keep pushing me away, Tatum? You agreed to go out with me and then dodged me for the last two weeks. I thought we were connecting—you told me personal stuff I’m betting you don’t tell everyone.”
“No,” she breathed. “I don’t share that with anyone.” She told him that she was a virgin knowing that he wouldn’t want her anymore after he knew. She wanted to be on the up and up with him and let him know who she was from the start. But instead of telling her that he wanted nothing to do with her, he completely surprised her and asked her out.
“I can’t let you hurt me,” she whispered.
“I won’t,” he promised.
“Ryder, you can’t make me that promise,” she said. “You said it yourself, the last woman to run you down with her car wanted you for more than just a quick fuck and you turned her down,” she whispered.
Ryder leaned across the table, “I also told you that I want more, Tatum. You’re talking about ancient history. When that happened with my commander’s daughter, I was a young, stupid asshole. I’ve changed and I was being completely honest with you when I said that I want to find the right woman to settle down with. I want kids and a home, Tatum. I want a family.” Hearing the big, badass biker admit that did crazy things to her heart. She wanted to believe him so much that she nearly threw herself across the table at him.
The waiter brought their food, effectively stalling their conversation, and she nervously ate her dinner. Ryder watched her almost like he was waiting her out to say or do something. Instead, she quietly ate her meal, just wanting to get their “date” over with. Then, she could go home and spend the next few hours before bed scouring the internet, looking for a place to rent.