The plan had seemed simple enough. I'd chip in money for rent and move out when the season ended – except my only income came from tips, which I'd been spending mostly on groceries.
I hadn't been living up to my end of the deal. Instead, I'd been giving Maisie whatever cash I had left, usually in singles that she looked embarrassed to accept.
After getting on my feet, I was planning to pay Maisie back – and with interest, too.
But obviously, I'd been an idiot – and worse, a freeloading clod.I hadn't meant to be.Until earlier this week, when I'd spotted some collection letters on the table, I'd had no idea that Maisie had money problems of her own.
But I knewnow, which meant I'd need to step it up, rent-wise, starting with the hundred dollars from Ryder Vaughn.
As I pedaled faster, overly aware that my lunch break was slipping away, I told myself to focus on the road – and not on some Chicago hotshot who, if I was lucky, I'd never see again.
I failed miserably.
And why?
Because when I rounded the next bend, I spotted the hotshot himself standing directly in my path, like hewantedto be run over. I let out a noise somewhere between a scream and a honk, and by some miracle, I didn't hit him.
But Ryder Vaughn?Hedidn't even flinch.
So, who was the idiotnow?
12
Almost Roadkill
Ryder
I didn't move. Not an inch.
Good thing the bike did – swerving, skidding, and somehow stopping just short of turning me into roadkill.
What the hell?
In a flash, I took in the rider – feminine, fast, and furious, with blonde hair and wide, frantic eyes –blueeyes that were all too familiar.
I blinked.Holy fuck.
It washer.
For half a second, the only sound was her breath, sharp and disbelieving, like she'd just spotted a ferret in her fridge. But then, her eyes narrowed as she asked, "Are youtryingto die?"
I laughed. "No. Are you?"
Straddling the bike, she continued to glare. "What?"
"I'm just saying,you'rethe one aiming for pedestrians."
"Aiming?" she sputtered.
"Notgoodaiming," I clarified, spreading my arms wide. "You missed."
Judging from her face, she was already regretting it. "I onlymissedbecause I swerved."
I dropped my arms. "Still a miss."
"Not if I wasn't aiming. Andyouwere the one standing in the road."
"I wasn't standing. I was crouching."
