Not a chance.If I werethatdrunk, I never would've ventured out, especially without a coat.
Callthatmistake number one. The night was chilly, but in the beginning, I'd been toasty warm. Maybe from the booze. Maybe from the stress. Or maybe from the fact that when I'd slipped out through Maisie's back door, the temperature had been at least ten degrees warmer.
Or at least, it sure felt that way.
Regardless of the reason, my light sweatshirt was feeling thinner with every passing step.
I wasn't going anywhere in particular, but my feet kept moving like they had minds of their own. As for my real mind, it was moving even faster, churning dark and doomy under the ridiculously bright full moon.
I glanced up for another glimpse, only to feel my temperature spike as something much lower caught my eye.
No. Not something. Someone.
Ryder Freaking Vaughn.
Of course.
Four stories up, he was standing there in a plain white button-down with his sleeves rolled up to his forearms as he gripped the railing like a prisoner rattling a cage.
Except he wasn't moving.
He was only staring – and yes, straight in my direction – like he was just as stunned to see me as I was to see him.
My feet stopped. My breath caught. And I stared back, not bothering to hide it. It seemed only fair. I mean, if he had no shame, why should I?
The moment held until a nighttime cloud drifted over the moon, causing him to briefly disappear before the moonlight returned and glinted off his white shirt like a beacon for all kinds of trouble.
I felt my jaw clench.Enough.
Less than twelve hours ago, I'd promised myself that the next time I saw him, I'd be demanding answers regardless of the risk.
Apparently, that time was now.I stalked forward until I was standing just beneath his balcony – or more accurately, as close as I could get without breaking our line of sight.
I craned my neck to call out, "What are you doing here, anyway?"
He scoffed before calling back, "That's a funny question."
"Why?"
"BecauseI'mnot the one walking around in the middle of the night."
"Yeah, well…" I paused.Well, what?
"See?" he called. "Evenyoudon't have a good answer."
I put my hands on my hips. "I do, too!"
"Yeah? Well, let's hear it."
With a jerk of my chin, I called out, "What I'mdoingis asking you a question. That's what."
Before Ryder could reply, a door somewhere below his balcony banged open, and a man's voice exploded into the night. "Hey! Some of us are trying to sleep up here!"
I stiffened as my eyes searched desperately for the source. But the moon – so brilliantly bright a moment ago – chose that exact moment to duck behind a cloud, throwing everything deep into shadow.
What Ididsee was the vague outline of someone big and beefy on the balcony directly below Ryder's. Judging from his outline, the guy was wearing either some kind of black kimono or a dark bathrobe that had no business being that short.
Even more troubling, he was leaning over the railing like he was ready to launch himself over the top and straight onto the street.
