Since I’d seen him naked, I knew more than one underwear designer would take him on too. Those images were not helping me pay attention to what was happening at the porch.
They were talking. Maybe arguing? The man moved, his hand cutting a sharp line between them as if refusing something Ryder had said. He looked angry.
Okay, Delaney, pay attention.
Ryder’s expression had gone flat and unreadable. He waited until the guy was done gesturing, then nodded, a clear invitation for the guy to leave.
The man leaned in a little, his finger pointed at Ryder’s face, then off to the side at nothing in particular, or maybe indicating the neighborhood or town.
Hard to know. With the moonlight shaded by clouds, I couldn’t even get a good look at his face.
Ryder didn’t say anything. I could see his face thanks to the angle of the porch light and the fact that he was facing the street where I was hidden. He looked controlled, but the clenching of his jaw and something about the angle of his oh-so-relaxed body told me he was furious.
The man turned and I finally got a look at him. Light hair cut high and tight, square face. He was several inches shorter than Ryder, and wore a business suit tailored to his stocky build. I’d put him somewhere in his late forties, maybe early fifties.
From that single wash of light across his face I could tell he was angry too.
I didn’t like him. I don’t know why, but my split-second read on the guy told me he was a jerk.
I’d have guessed he was Ryder’s boss, except Ryder was in business for himself. So maybe this was a big-wig client or an investor? Whoever it was, he got into his fancy sedan and left.
Even though I’d told Myra and Jean that I would stop by and talk to Ryder, now that I was here, I decided it would be better to talk to him tomorrow.
Good thing it was dark and cloudy. He hadn’t noticed me sitting here in the Jeep.
I waited as he watched the man drive away. Then Ryder half turned toward the house.
Just as I was sure he hadn’t spotted me, the cloud cover cleared and shot a beam of neon silver moonlight smack dab down on the Jeep, lighting it up. Lighting me up too.
“Thanks a lot, Thor,” I grumbled.
Ryder noticed the light. Noticed the Jeep. Noticed me.
He paused, his hands clenching into loose fists, as if he were the one who had been spotted instead of the other way around.
I kind of hoped he’d ignore me. I kind of hoped he would just go inside.
He shut the door and jogged down the path to me.
I thought about starting the engine and gunning it out of there.
But that would be unprofessional.
Plus, I hadn’t thought about it until it was too late.
Ryder knocked on the driver’s side window. “Delaney?”
I rolled down the window. “Hey, Ryder.”
“What are you doing out here so late? Something wrong? Need me at the station? Are Myra and Jean okay?”
See, this was the trouble with Ryder. Even though he was the sort of guy who would date ‘em and dump ‘em, he was also the kind of guy who would reach out to people in need and help his neighbors and coworkers without hesitation.
“They’re fine. We don’t need you at the station.”
He made a little “huh” sound then bent a bit lower, his arm draped across the door frame as he inspected the interior of the car. “So what are you doing out here watching my house, Delaney? Are you watching me?”
Yes.
