“Uh-huh.” I narrow my eyes at her. “So, it wasn’t you I had to take to the ER last month to have your stomach pumped because you forgot you’d taken your pills and you took a double dose?”
She flaps her hands at me. “That was an accident, and you overreacted.”
“Sure, I did.” I shake my head, before sitting beside her and running through the list of numbers. “Kayla will drop by once a week, and she’s your second point of contact after Shirley if there’s any emergency.”
“Shirley’s a bitch. I don’t like her.”
“You said that, and you need to give her a chance. Besides, it’s not for long. I’ll be back before you know it.”
I get up, forcing my gaze to Ryder. He’s been on his best behavior, just hanging back and watching our interactions with an amused grin. “Can you keep her company for a second. I just need to check a few things.”
Louise squeals, patting the seat beside her, and a flash of concern darts across Ryder’s face.
“Watch out for her grabby hands,” I whisper as I brush past him, unable to resist teasing him.
I move into the kitchen, checking to ensure Shirley left Louise’s lunch and dinner prepared and that the refrigerator and pantry are well stocked. I check the faucets in the sink and then in the bathroom to ensure they’re all off. Louise can be very forgetful at times, and she’s flooded the place on more than one occasion. All is in order, so I head back to the living room, biting my lip to hold my laughter in as I see her flirting up a storm with Ryder.
We say our goodbyes, and as she’s leaning in to kiss Ryder on the cheek, she diverts her lips at the last minute, planting one on him. I manage to contain my laughter until we’re out in the hallway and the door is closed, and then I double over, laughing hysterically, with tears pumping out of my eyes.
“Are you done yet?” he deadpans.
“That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages.” I keep pace with him as we walk toward the elevator.
“I don’t know whether to feel flattered or insulted,” he admits. “I’m used to women throwing themselves at me, but that was something else. I have no words.”
His reference to other women has the desired effect on my good humor, and my laughter dries up. An awkward silence filters between us, only broken by the ping of the elevator when it arrives.
We step inside with Ryder carrying my case. We stand side by side as the elevator descends, both staring straight ahead. “Does my lifestyle bother you?” he asks, twisting his head to look sideways at me.
“It’s none of my business,” I reply, refusing to make eye contact with him.
I startle when he cups my cheek, forcing my gaze to his. “None of those women meant anything to me, and the only one I’ve ever been in a relationship with is you.”
“If that’s really what we had,” I blurt.
He drops his hand, his jaw clenching. “Why would you say something like that? You know what we had, and continuously trying to deny it is just pissing me off.”
“We were so young, Ryder. What the hell did we know?”
“I know I loved you!” he shouts, as the elevator doors open. “You can fucking lie to yourself all you like, but I know what we had was the real deal.”
“Not real enough to warrant holding on to,” I snap back, as I stomp out of the elevator, annoyed that he’s bringing this up. If this is how he plans to act, it’s going to be a very long couple months in the Hamptons.
Following me, he slams to a halt and pushes me up against the wall in the lobby. His body is pressed against the length of mine as he pins my wrists together up over my head. “Is this how it’s going to be? You’re going to continue to punish me for trying to do the right thing? Continue to deny what I see in your eyes every time you look at me.”
I snort, glaring at him, as I attempt to wriggle out of his hold. “You’re so full of shit. The only thing you see in my eyes is resentment for forcing me into this. If you think any of this will earn you a place in my bed or a spot in my heart, you’re crazy.”
He leans in close, his lips a hairbreadth from mine. “I’m not the one who’s full of shit. You want me so bad, but you’re too chicken to admit it.”
I make another attempt to push him away, but he’s too strong, and every time I try to wriggle out of his grip, I’m conscious of the fact he’s pressed intimately against me, and my body is responding to that. I need to get away from him before I do something stupid.
Like kiss him.
“Your ego is showing, Rock Star. I’m not one of your groupies, and I won’t drop to my knees or open my legs just because you demand it.”
His response is to rock his hips against mine, pushing his erection into my lower belly. “Told you your smart mouth turns me on, so keep going, baby. I can do this all day long.” He thrusts his pelvis into mine again, and a little whimper flies out of my mouth.
He lifts off me instantly, pinning me with a smug expression as he steps back. “Like I said. You want me.”
