He makes a face. “You eat like a teenager. Okay, be right back.”
A few minutes later, I’ve just pulled my hair up into a high ponytail when I hear the door open.
“Taylor?” I call. “That was way too fast for coffees. Please don’t tell me they’re closed.”
I peek out of the bathroom. The brush I’m holding clatters to the floor as I gasp in surprise. “What are you doing here, Ryder?”
He’s standing in the open doorway of the apartment, looking rumpled and heartbreakingly gorgeous.
Damn him.
Taylor follows him in. “I found this delicious man sleeping in his fancy car in front of the building.” Taylor settles on the couch with a grin, as if he’s watching one of those K-dramas he admits to loving.
“You slept in your car? On Main Street? Why?”
Ryder’s ears go red. “To make sure you were okay. I couldn’t just leave you here with no one to protect you. You’re splashed all over the internet.”
“I’m only splashed all over the internet becauseyou’rethe famous one. How does sleeping in your car to protect me from one of your own fans make any sense? Who was protecting you?”
“I can take care of myself.”
I snort. “I heard about the girl who broke into your place with a kitchen knife and a full-sized poster of you.”
“And that’s exactly why I slept in front of Taylor’s last night.”
“You’re bananas.”
“Daisy, I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you—” He stops. And I will him not to continue.
“Again.” He says it, damn him.
“Again?” Taylor asks, an immaculately groomed eyebrow raised.
I turn to Taylor. “Hon, I really need that coffee. Can you get it? Pretty please?”
“Only because you said please,” Taylor mutters. “But for the record, I don’t want to leave.”
“Can you grab me a coffee also, man? Black.” Ryder pulls out his wallet.
“I got you, Ryder.”
“Oh, and, Taylor,” I call sweetly before he leaves.
He turns.
“If you find any other superstars sleeping in their cars, just walk on by.”
He laughs and gives me a thumbs-up before shutting the door.
I turn to face Ryder and fold my arms over my chest.
“Well?” I prompt.
And for the first time ever, Ryder’s air of unshakable confidence seems nowhere to be found.
CHAPTER 20
Ryder
