Page 36 of Bear In A Boutique
Maybe it was time that he did.
Chapter Twelve
Just friends.
Ryker wanted out of Estes Park, and she wanted to stay. Of course, they could only be friends. But who fantasized about making out with their friend, of having him throw her on the bed and rip her clothes off with his teeth? Who woke up next to him in the front seat of his truck and had the most intense urge to straddle him and kiss him until she couldn’t breathe? Friends didn’t do that.
She was the problem here.
Pausing outside the boutique, Olive unlocked the backdoor but didn’t push it open right away. It was bright and sunny outside, and inside… wasn’t.
The interior of the store was filled with unwelcoming, dim silver light and dark shadows. She’d prefer not to go inside at all, but Cara called and asked if she could meet the electrician in twenty minutes until Jett could get there.
Finding the nerve, she went in and turned on the flashlight app on her phone. She had time to run upstairs to her apartment and grab a few things to take to Lulu’s, but no way was she going up there without a flashlight.
Hurrying to her desk, she grabbed a flashlight from the bottom drawer and clicked it on, feeling instantly better as the bright glow lit the space. A hard tingle raced down her spine, her hands feeling suddenly prickly and numb. Gripping the flashlight with both hands, she made a sweep of the room.
This was silly. She knew every inch of this store, every rack and shelf and item. There was nothing here but darkened shapes of familiar things. She’d been on edge since waking up with Ryker this morning. She’d been scared last night and hadn’t even thought twice about racing to him for comfort.
It just happened, like an instinct she couldn’t control.
Who wouldn’t be out of sorts after being pressed against a man like that for hours, having his arms around you, his body heat comforting your very soul, while every fiber of your body begged for more, while knowing you couldn’t have it because you’re just friends?
That’s not the only reason you’re anxious, Olive.
No, it wasn’t. Kyle had sent her several texts last night, all of which she ignored. And when she’d climbed into bed in the van and turned off the light, something happened. She felt panicky and had the strongest urge to get out of there before the van swallowed her whole.
Racing up the staircase, she hurried to her apartment and went inside. Glad to be home, she inhaled the warm scent of the apple cinnamon candle on her kitchen table and made her way to the bedroom.
Rummaging around for clothes in the dresser, a sudden thought gave her pause.
She’d been claustrophobic last night. All the years she’d spent living in her car came rushing back, along with the fear. Finding a safe place to park each night, never being able to fully rest because every sound outside could be someone trying to break in. The smoldering heat of summer and the cold of winter—the feeling like the rusted walls of that old station wagon would be her prison forever.
The van prompted very strong emotions, a small panic attack, maybe. Maybe she was grateful for the spider after all because it gave her a legit excuse to go sleep with Ryker instead of trying to tough it out in the van.
Van life wasnotfor her. There went that backup plan.
Ryker wasn’t for her, either, at least in a relationship sense. Sorry, crush, it was time to get over it.
This apartment might not be for her anymore if Cara sold the crappy building. No idea what she’d do then.
Everything she wanted, her backup plans, her hopes for the future, hung in the balance and the stress was doing strange things to her body. She’d been so hot all day, despite the cool spring temperature, and she couldn’t sit still for long before restlessness kicked in. It started when she woke up on Ryker’s shoulder this morning and had been getting worse all morning. Maybe she was getting the spring cold that was going around, even though the symptoms didn’t feel quite right for a cold.
Her phone rang with an incoming call from Cara.
“Hey.”
“Are you at the store?”
Finished packing, Olive locked the apartment door and headed downstairs. “Yep.”
“Great. The electrician should be there any minute. Thanks again.”
A noise from the front of the store echoed into the hallway. It sounded like the front door was being jiggled against the lock.
“I think he’s here now.”
“Ok. Jett’s on his way, too.”
