Page 38 of Single Mom's Secret Diary
I wipe down the lab table and my stool. It’s a little overboard, but my precautions make me feel better about being back at my job more fully.
Laurel stands opposite me at the table, her arms crossed tightly under her breasts. It’s her smile that’s alarming. “Ryder, huh? You didn’t peg me as one of his flavors of the month.”
She slowly drops her arms and tilts her head to the left. “I thought you had more independence. But Ryder does have his ways, doesn’t he? That little thing he does with his tongue—right—here.”
Laurel touches the base of her neck in the back.
It sends heat into my cheeks and chest because I know the exact move she’s talking about.
“It was one of his moves he used when I got here. Works on every new girl.” Her head tips back and forth, and she steps away to grab her clipboard. “Still works on me.”
Tuning my features into my usual bored look, the panic and hurt rampaging through me is half disbelief. I saw their exchange.
Unless I am just a new conquest. If so, he’ll be done with me before long. The fact that it doesn’t track will not keep me from confronting him about it.
“I had no idea the two of you were a thing at all. Thanks for being honest with me about it. I’ll have to be more careful about his advances.” I toss the cleaning wipes in the bin, putting me right back in Laurel’s vicinity.
She’s got a bland look on her face, but her eyes spark with premature victory. As much as I don’t believe they’re still sleeping together, the best lies are based on truth, and the rest rings true. I have to know how much.
“Of course. I just want to be sure he doesn’t take advantage of you, dear.” Laurel gives me a forced smile, and I return it before exiting the lab in a calm and measured way.
Even though I am fuming inside. For too many reasons.
I take the stairs at a moderate pace. It’s enough to curb the hard pumping in my chest for actual exertion instead of my emotions.
Ryder’s office door is closed, and before I can think better of it, I throw the door open and burst inside, hands planting firmly on my hips.
The other three men in the room turn to gape at me, but my heritage has gotten the better of me. Little can calm me down from this kind of perfect storm.
I glare daggers at Ryder.
19
Ryder
Avery stands like a goddess in my doorway, hand on her full hips, eyes threatening to set me aflame with a thought.
Oh, shit, what have I done to upset her, to make her look at me that way?
I stand, waving the team I’m meeting with away. They don’t hesitate to scatter. Smart move on their part. Avery is a force to be reckoned with.
Approaching cautiously, she follows my movements as I close the door behind her, locking it for good measure. I don’t want anyone to interrupt what’s about to happen. Not if I want to truly deal with it.
When I face her, she’s pivoted, arms crossed and her glare darker than before. “What is it? What have I done to deserve such a deadly stare?”
Her mouth purses as she takes me in. “How many women in this company are you sleeping with?”
I shake my head. “One. You.”
That earns me a raised eyebrow like she’s caught me in a lie. “Two. Don’t forget about Laurel.”
That’s a surprise to me. I blink back my confusion and how in the hell she got that impression. I’ve always flirted with her, but it never amounted to anything more than that. “Laurel? Maybe once, a long, long time ago. But certainly not anymore.”
“I don’t believe you.”
The words wound me. I’ve never been a liar. I amalwaysupfront about my intentions with women. I thought I’d been clear with Avery about how I feel about her.
But then, maybe not if she’s here now, suspecting the worst of me.
