Page 46 of Selfless

“Delicious. But I’ll let you be the judge of that,” she says, handing him the extra meal she had ordered.

“For me?” he asks wide-eyed. She nods with a smile. “Thank you, Ashlyn,” he says with a smile of his own.

She stays quiet as we make our way to the theater. I don’t push her to talk because I already see the inner struggle. I can hear it in the way she spoke to me at dinner. And I can see it in the way she looks at me. She’s still unsure if coming tonight was the best idea, but I am on a mission to prove to her that it is.

We pull up to the theater and get out. Her eyes widen as she sees Romeo and Juliet light up the marquee that stands tall above the theater. I take her hand in mine, and I’m thankful when she doesn’t pull away.

“Good evening, sir,” a man dressed in an all-black three-piece suit says as he holds the door open for us to the Grand Theater. “Miss,” he adds, bowing to Ashlyn.

“Thank you,” we say in unison as we enter.

Coming to a stop, she drops my hand and slowly spins around as she looks up at the gold and cream walls. The ceiling has a picture of a champagne-colored crown. I watch her in awe as her eyes light up and her lips part, sucking in a deep breath.

“Ryder, this is …” She can’t finish the sentence as her eyes drop to the floor, and she takes in the blood red carpet.

People dressed in their finest Kiton suits while their wives don just as expensive designer evening gowns are walking around and talking to one another. I spot a man I know, and he gives me a smile as he sees me. “Mr. O’Kane,” he says, reaching out to shake my hand. “Surprised to see you here. Thought you steered clear of these places,” he says with a chuckle.

I nod. “Well, I figured I’ve lived here all my life. This time is as good as any to try it out.”

He laughs and looks over at Ashlyn as she silently stands beside us. He reaches his hand out to her. “And who might this beautiful woman be?” he asks.

I place my hand on the small of her back. “Mr. Tucker, this is Ashlyn Whitaker.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Tucker,” she says, shaking his hand.

“Ashlyn just moved to New York,” I tell him.

“Oh, really?” he asks, giving her a big smile. “Well, I hope it’s living up to your expectations.”

She smiles. “Yes, sir.”

“Mr. Tucker is the mayor of New York,” I inform her.

Her eyes widen, and he laughs, looking back at me. “Call me next week. I’m still waiting for my chance to beat you at another round of golf.”

ASHLYN

I stand at Ryder’s side in amazement and pretty tipsy from the wine and champagne. But I’m trying to sober myself up because the man knows everyone here! I’ve met a senator, the mayor, the district attorney, and a judge. A woman who looked like she belonged in a movie instead of here at the Broadway play insisted I have lunch with her. I’m not sure what she does or who she was, but she seemed important. Two women and a man stood behind her as if waiting for her approval to move. One man we stopped and spoke to went on and on about his daughter who has the lead role of Juliet in this play. And I was happy to know that she had just got engaged to the very man who plays her Romeo.

I stand next to Ryder as he makes his way through the people talking here and there about anything and everything under the sun.

Ryder leans down and whispers in my ear. “You okay?”

I pull away and look up at him. Yes, I’m okay. I’m just speechless. One man he spoke to said that Ryder hated these things. He came here for me, and I didn’t realize how much that meant to me until he had said it. I nod my head and give him a smile, so he doesn’t think I’ve gone mute.

“Ryder,” a man calls out, getting his attention.

“George.” Ryder says excitedly. “It’s been a long time.” They shake hands.

“It has. Funny I see you here. I was going to call you next week.”

“Oh?” Ryder asks, pulling me to his side. I don’t think he knows he’s even doing it. He isn’t being overly handsy or anything, but he can’t help but hold my hand or touch my back. As if he’s making a claim to me for every man to see, and I hate how much I like it.

“Yeah. I have a piece of property you may be interested in.”

Ryder smiles. “I’m always interested.”

The man he called George fixes an already straight bow tie. “One word; Hamptons.”

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