Ryder frowned. "So that's who you think I am?"
"I don't know," I admitted.
"Ihaveworked shitty jobs before."
I blinked in surprise. "You have?"
"Hell yeah. So I know what it's like. Why do you think I tip so good?"
I saw his point.He was an incredibly generous tipper as I knew firsthand. And now, as we faced off on the moonlit street, I struggled to rearrange everything in my head, starting with his arrival on the island and ending with…well, now, actually.
But then, as I backtracked even further, I couldn't help but wonder who the infamous Ryder Vaughn truly was, not just now, but years ago. "So you're saying…you weren't always…" I wasn't quite sure how to put it.
"Rich?" he said.
I let out an embarrassed laugh. "Well…yeah, actually."
He gave me a tight smile. "I hate to break it to you, but you don't know me half as well as you think." And with that, he turned and started walking.
I fell in beside him, even as something in my chest pulled a little too tight.Iswallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "Ryder…"
"Forget it. Just do me a favor, okay?"
"What?"
"Stop comparing us. In case you haven't noticed, we're nothing alike."
Obviously, he meant him and Evan Carver. Quickly, I said, "That's not what I meant."
"You're full of it. Youdoknow that?"
His words hit hard, but only because he was right.
Iwasfull of it.
Right from the beginning, I'd been lumping the two guys together, like Ryder Vaughn and Evan Carver were two peas in a gold-plated pod.And when I wasn't lumping them?I was acting like Ryder had nothing better to do than act as Evan's lackey.
The idea was ridiculous. Ryder was rich, independent, and definitely had a mind of his own. Plus, as I'd seen firsthand, he treated normal people – yeah, meaning regular baristas like me – actually pretty decent.
Even on that very first day, sure, he'd teased me just a little, but if I hadn't recognized him from Chicago, I would've called his teasing fun and friendly, not overbearing.
But Evan Carver?Hewas just the opposite, throwing around his weight like the whole world lived to serve him.
Lamely, I said, "I'm really sorry."
Ryder let out a scoff. "Yeah, me, too."
As my feet moved forward, I turned my head to study his profile. His expression was utterly unreadable, only adding to my confusion. Quietly, I asked, "But what areyousorry for?"
He kept his eyes straight ahead. "I'm sorry I lied."
I didn't get it."About what?"
Finally, he glanced my way. "The rain."
Dumbfounded, I faltered mid-step. "Wait, what?"
He shocked me with a sudden grin. "There's none in the forecast."
