Page 102 of Desperate Pucker
But I couldn’t help the wave of jealousy that blasted through me just seeing the two of them together…seeing how much she wanted him.
I didn’t know what to do. I’m not bold and confident like Ryker was when he strolled over to Bobby Baker and yanked his hand from my body, then told him off. I’m too awkward.
So I froze and walked off.
I sigh, feeling like a loser. I thought coming to my hotel room and watching a few funny cat videos—my normal cheer-up routine—would distract me. But it hasn’t.
Just then, there’s a soft knock at my door.
I stand up, walk over, and look out the peephole. Comfort washes over me when I see Ryker. A second later, embarrassment follows.
I wonder if he’s annoyed at how I reacted…at how I left after barely saying a word.
But then I open the door and take in the look in his eyes. Warm and worried.
He steps forward and gently cups my face in his hands. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice soft.
I feel myself start to melt. He’s concerned about me.
“I’m fine.”
“Can I come in?”
I nod and step aside. He shuts the door behind him and turns to me.
“I’m sorry for what Alina said to you about the Olympics. It was shitty of her to bring that up,” he says.
I soften at how concerned he is about me.
“You don’t need to be sorry for that,” I say. “I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
He looks confused. “For what?”
“For the way I left.” My shoulders sink, and I glance down at the ground, that embarrassed feeling roasting me from the inside out. “I couldn’t stand there and watch her try and flirt with you. I got too jealous.”
The hard line of his mouth softens. “I was jealous too when I saw Bobby Baker hit on you.”
“Yeah, but you handled it like a boss. You were all confident and bold. I just scampered away.”
“Hey.” Gently, he grabs me by the waist and pulls me closer. “You know that I’m not interested in Alina, right?”
“I know,” I say softly.
“I’d rather fuck a splintered block of wood than be in the same room as her.”
The corner of my mouth hooks up.
“I wanted to go off on her for trying to flirt with me, but I couldn’t. I’m a huge guy. She’s a small woman. I would have looked like a psycho. So I let her say what she wanted to say, and then I told her I wasn’t interested. And that I never, ever would be again.”
Warmth gathers at the center of my chest at how he’s reassuring me. But then I feel guilty. I didn’t think about how uncomfortable he must have been in that moment.
“I’m sorry she cornered you like that. I should have stayed with you.”
He shakes his head and tucks a chunk of my hair behind my ear. “I don’t ever want you to force yourself to stay in a situation that makes you uncomfortable, Maddy. I’m a big boy. I can handle myself. I just wanted you to know what happened.”
I gaze up at him. “Thank you.”
He wraps his arms around me tight.
