When I tried to laugh, it stuck in my throat like I'd swallowed something sharp.
Ryder's eyes narrowed. "Do I know you?"
What kind of question wasthat?"Sorry, what?"
"Well, youlookfamiliar, but…" He shrugged as if there was nothing more to say.
I squinted across the counter. "Is that a joke?"
His expression remained dead-serious. "Do Ilooklike I'm joking?"
"Not particularly," I admitted. "But that question…I mean, surely, you can't be serious." As my words hit home, I sucked in a breath.Oh, crap.
Airplane!I was quoting itagain. I hadn't meant to. But Ihad, which meant this washiscue to reply,"Don't call me Shirley."
But he didn't.Instead, he said nothing at all. And for some stupid reason, it made my heart ache just a little.
Quickly, I rushed to fill the void. "I just mean…I waited on you the other day. Remember?" I didn't even mention the giftshop. "So you obviously 'know' me. We were just talking about it."
His gaze hardened. "I don't mean from here. And I'm pretty sure you know it."
That's when the blood drained from my face.Shit.
Just then, the door jingled, and a swarm of tourists rushed in. The woman in the lead called out, "We're not too late, are we?"
No. They were just in time.
I needed a breather, pronto. I dug deep and forced a smile as I called out, "Nope. Not at all. I'll be with you in a minute."
My heart hammered as I looked back to Ryder and then down to the box. I couldn't bring myself to look up as I mumbled, "I don't even know what to charge you for this."
I was still looking down when a hundred-dollar bill appeared on the counter, maybe an inch away from the box.
I looked up and tried not to wince.
Ryder's mouth was tight as he said, "I'm sure you'll figure it out." Something flickered in his eyes as he added, "Keep the change."
Oh, gosh. A tip?I hated the thought of taking it – and not only because it was far too big. "Thanks, but—"
"It's not a tip," he said, as if reading my mind. "It's a delivery fee."
I swallowed. "So you want me to deliver it? You mean…to the bike shop?" This was, after all, where Griff would be, assuming he hadn't already quit.
Ryder shrugged. "Sure, why not?" And with that, he turned and strode to the door, bypassing the tourists on his way.
When the door closed behind him, I was still staring.Remember that whiplash?It was hitting harder than ever.
I didn't even know who to blame. But Ididknow one thing. Ryder had made it pretty clear that he recognized me from Chicago, which meant…what, exactly?
Had he just realized this?
Or was it something he'd known all along?
I had no idea.
It was then that I made a little vow. The next time I saw him – wherever it might be – I would just flat-out ask him like I should've from the start.
36
