Page 22 of Ryder

“Yeah, I know,” he teases me.

I laugh and am thankful for his humor. “I think you are one of the kindest people I have ever met, and if this had happened at a different moment in time for me, I would love to be with you,” I admit, realizing I have shown him my vulnerability, so why stop now. “But right now, I can’t open my heart up to anyone. All I can offer you is friendship.”

I am not sure what he is going to say next, so I just sit there and turn my gaze back to the street. People walk past us, enjoying the beauty of the night, and I envy them for their carefree attitudes as they laugh and talk.

Grabbing my hand, Ryder pulls my gaze back to his. “I wish I could ask you to reconsider, but I respect that you need time. Ican handle being your friend, maybe even friends with benefits,” he says, wiggling his eyes at me seductively.

I laugh out loud again, and it feels good. “We will see, hotshot,” I tease back.

We finish eating and then Ryder helps me up.

He offers to drive me the short distance back to my apartment, and I allow him. As I ride with him, I feel the freeing sensation that riding on a motorcycle brings. I can only imagine the limitless emotions he must feel when he’s racing. With wind racing through you and the world blazing past you at incredible speeds-- it must be incredible.

As we approach my apartment, I realize I don’t want the night to end. Oh no, what is Ryder Raven doing to me?

Chapter 12

Ryder

Chapter 11

Ryder

I knew it was wrong the moment I saw Scarlett walking into the restaurant with that asshole, but I just couldn’t help myself.

I had gone out to get some dinner when I caught Scarlett walking with another man. He was eying her like she was a piece of candy and she looked slightly uncomfortable.

I felt like I wasn’t in control of my body any longer. Parking my bike, I saw red as I stormed into the restaurant and interrupted what appeared to be a double date with her and Allison and a man who I assumed was Allison’s husband.

Was she really on a date?

Without thinking, I asked Scarlett to have dinner with me. Sure, it was a bold and ballsy move, but I didn’t care. I was on a mission to win over Scarlett and some asshole in a cheap looking suit wasn’t going to get in my way.

Clearly I pissed the guy off, but when he nudged past Scarlett to get in my face, something deep inside of me snapped.

“What?” I scream, attracting more attention to us. “What do you want to embarrass me more? To keep me from dating someone else?” I throw out.

Ryder stops and looks at me like I have just bruised his ego. “Scarlett, that’s not at all what I want,” he begins to say, but I stop him.

Shouts and dishes crashing to the ground filled the evening air. Someone intervened and broke us up, but I have no idea who. It was like I was having an out of body experience. My vision was blurred with rage and my body shook from the extreme anger flowing through me like lava.

Once we are out on the sidewalk and my body and mind had time to calm down, I could finally see and think clearly again. However, Scarlett seemed to be even more pissed at me now.

Shaking her head, Scarlett was seething mad as she crossed her arms across her chest.

“Ryder, you are playing a game with me, and I don’t do games. Look, I appreciate more than you will ever know what you are doing for the boys at All Our Children. But, that doesn’t mean I will let you play me like a fool.” Tears pooled in her eyes and seeing her hurting just about ended me.

Here I was trying to win her over, but instead, I just made her more furious with me and made her cry. I need to fix this.

“Scarlett, you have no idea what I think and feel,” I say, stepping closer to her. My voice is deep but it shakes from my desire and proximity to her.

She looks stunning tonight and I hate how she was dressed up for another man. Instinctively I take a step closer to her, closing the space between us. I inhale her sweet scent and all I want to do is taste her body.

“Really?” she shoots back at me. “Because I have you pegged as the type of guy who just wants to take me home and fuck me, then forget I even existed the next day. Let me tell you something. I’m not that type of girl. I won’t be a one-night stand for you.”

Even after spending time together, she still sees me as this fuck boy who only wants to play her.

Doesn’t she see how I look at her?

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