I swallow hard, my mouth dry. “Bend over.”
“You’re enjoying this far too much,” he grumbles but obeys.
He bends, and I slip one corner of the inside-out duvet cover over each of his hands.
As he straightens up, I stifle a giggle. This huge man, standing in my bedroom covered in a white duvet cover, arms spread wide, looks utterly ridiculous. And yet, somehow, still sexy as hell.
“You know, white brings out your eyes.”
“Hilarious,” comes his muffled response. “What now?” There’s a note of resignation in his tone that almost makes me feel guilty. Almost.
Riley’s voice rings out from downstairs. “Cora? You up there?”
“In the bedroom!” I call back and turn to pick up the duvet.
Riley’s scream pierces the room. Ryder throws off the cover, shoving me behind him and drawing his gun in one fluid motion.
She screams again.
I step out from behind him, placing my hand on his arm. “Put the gun down. Everything’s fine. She was just scared of you.”
Ryder lowers his arm, holstering his weapon.
“Fuck,” Riley gasps, hand on her heaving chest. “I thought he was a ghost. Nearly peed myself. What the hell are you two doing?”
“Changing sheets.” I shrug, trying to act nonchalant. As if having Ryder in my bedroom, handling my bedding, isn’t making my imagination run wild.
“Like that? Why is he wearing your duvet cover? And since when do you change sheets yourself?” Riley’s eyes dart between us, suspicious.
“There’s an issue with the housekeeper,” I say. “And I saw a video on a new method, thought I might try it.”
A smile creeps across Riley's face. “Those videos are edited, Cora. They’re just clickbait.”
“It looked easy enough,” I mutter, eyeing the tangled mess of bedding on the floor. So much for that brilliant idea.
“I’ll be downstairs,” Ryder mutters, leaving us alone.
“So?” Riley lowers her voice to a whisper, lifting the corner of the fitted sheet and tugging. “Are you two together now?”
“No. Definitely not.”
“But he’s in your bedroom? Changing your sheets?” She raises an eyebrow. “Wait. What did you do on these sheets? Eww. What am I helping to change?” She drops the sheet, disgust twisting her features.
“Relax. These are clean sheets. Besides, I didn’t sleep with him and we’re not together.” I wish I could keep the longing out of my voice, but I’m not sure I succeed.
“But I thought you were interested? You said you liked him.”
“It takes two for that.”
“What do you mean?”
“He said he’s not interested.”
“Fuck, that’s harsh.” Riley’s face crumples.
“Yeah, and now we’re both pretending it never happened.”
Riley flops onto the bed, pulling me down with her. “Oh my God. Tell me everything. Why did he say that? What happened?”
