Page 65 of What are the Risks
“I thought you’d be downstairs, Wheels.”
“I came to check on you.”
She smiled softly. “I’m good, I promise. Bri called and I lost track of time. That’s all.”
As she moved to the dresser and reached for the perfume of hers she always left here, I subtly watched her – well, more like checked her out.
She looked – for lack of a better word – hot. She’d styled her shoulder-length hair into smooth waves, and she’d changed her airport outfit for a fitted white dress, the sleeves purposely slipping off her shoulders, exposing her collarbone.
I couldn’t understand how Noah thought any other girl measured up to Ruby. She was the full package – gorgeous, kind and smart. Ruby had always been settling with him. The fact that he was the one who’d cheated was almost unbelievable.
He was never going to find someone better than her. Hell, the guy could’ve married her one day if he’d kept his dick in his pants. At least now I didn’t have to fudge my way through that wedding toast.
“In case I lose you down there, don’t forget I’m leaving early tomorrow,” Ruby said, while slipping in a pair of earrings.
“What time again?”
“I’ve prebooked an Uber for six-thirty.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t have to do that. It’s way too early.”
I levelled her with an impatient glare. “I’m not arguing with you on this. Cancel the Uber, Rubz.”
She let her hands fall to her sides, darting out her tongue mischievously. “Or what?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Comfort versus desire
Ruby
An evil grin spread across Ryker’s face. Leaping from the bed, he scooped me up with ease before launching me onto the mattress. Before I had a chance to gather my bearings, he was hovering over me and tickling my ribs like we were kids again.
Uncontrollable laughter burst from me as I attempted to squirm from his grip, but it was pointless. He was too strong.
Snickering, he eased up, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his dimpled grin – a dimple that had seemed so innocent as kids, but was now a romantic trope for every girl who looked his way.
“Are you cancelling the Uber, Rubz?”
“I’ll cancel the Uber, Wheels,” I panted, well and truly out of breath.
With a satisfied beam on his face, Ryker leaned back slightly to give me some breathing space. I needed it. My job kept me in shape – some shifts I even hit eighteen thousand steps – but there was something about being tickled to death that always left you winded.
Gently reaching forward, Ryker’s fingertips brushed my collarbone as he lifted the necklace from my neck. It was three tiers – the first a simple, short chain, almost like a choker; the second a little longer, decorated with small diamantes; and the final so delicate it felt fragile, centring around an oval pendant engraved withR&R.
“You’re wearing my gift,” he said, seeming surprised.
“Of course I’m wearing it. I rarely take it off outside of work. It was my favourite graduation present.”
Ryker was the king of gifts. I don’t know how he always pulled them off. He was forever buying things I wanted, down to the sunglasses I’d had sitting in my wish list for months.
“Huh. I guess I’ve never noticed.” His gaze lingered on me, like he was seeing me for the first time. “I’ve never noticed how freakishly long your eyelashes are either. Are they real?”
I barked out a sharp laugh. “Of course they’re real. I’m one hundred percent genuine, which I understand might be a foreign concept to you.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
