"Yeah, well I am." And even though I was serious, I tried to make a joke of it. "Soon they'll be saying we were running from pygmies."
His features clouded over, like this wasn't something he wanted to hear. But then, just like that, the tension cracked. A corner of his mouth lifted, and mischief replaced whatever had been there before. "What, no velociraptors?"
"Not yet," I laughed. "But give it time. The next thing you know, we'll be in all kinds of trouble."
"I dunno," he said, giving me a long, roguish look. "You look like trouble already."
Hah! He was one to talk.I had just gotten off work and stepped outside to find Ryder waiting, looking like sin incarnate.
He'd been leaning near the bike rack with his hands in his pockets and that lazy half-smile tugging at his mouth – making my breath hitch in the crisp springtime air.
But was it any wonder?
The afternoon sun had been hitting him just right, catching the golden strands of his hair and throwing all kinds of enticing shadows over his face and form. And then, there were his eyes – blue and unreadable – that had locked on mine like he knew exactly what I'd been thinking.
I sure as heck hoped not, because for a moment there, my thoughts had been downright obscene.
Still, I'd managed to greet him like Ihadn'tbeen undressing him with my eyes. And then, I'd told him about Franny stopping by.
I hadn't even gotten to the brawl yet, and I was already flustered – but notsoflustered that I couldn't tease Ryder in return. With a playful poke to the chest, I said, "If anyone's trouble, it's you."
"Notme.I'm just standing here, guarding the gift."
"What gift?" But just as the words left my mouth, I spotted it, a bright purple gift bag overflowing with white tissue paper. It was sitting in the front basket of my borrowed bicycle. My pulse skipped as I pointed. "You meanthatgift?"
He nodded. "Unless you see another gift in your basket."
"But how'd you know the bike was mine?" But then I remembered. I'd almost crashed into him on that same bicycle. "Never mind," I laughed. "Stupid question."
He smiled. "So you remember almost flattening me, huh?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. I didn't even come close."
His tone turned ominous. "Notyet."
"Oh, come on! You act like I'm a menace. And besides, you were the one standing in the road."
"Crouching," he corrected.
I gave a theatric groan. "Not this again." But then, my gaze strayed to the gift, and I felt just a little shy. "So that's really for me?"
"Yes and no."
I gave a confused shake of my head. "What does that mean?"
He flicked his head toward the gift. "When I got it, Ithoughtit was for you – except I'm pretty sure it's not."
If that was a joke, I didn't quite get it. Still, I kept my tone teasing. "So it's for another girl?"
"Hey, that'syourcall, not mine."
Okay, now I wasreallyconfused. "Sorry, what?"
He gestured toward the gift. "Open it, and let me know."
Feeling more cautious now, I moved toward the bike and retrieved the gift bag. But as I made a move to open it, Ryder said, "Wait."
I hesitated. "For what?"
