Page 28 of Hook Up

Ryder presses a kiss to my forehead, a low chuckle reverberating from his throat. Glad he’s so amused. “You can wait in the limo.”

I’m halfway in the limo before he finishes his statement. Some people crave the limelight. I am not one of them.

Instead, I spend the next few minutes wondering what the hell I should do now. What are even my options at this point?

See? I knew Vegas was a bad idea.

Ryder slips into the limo, that artificial smile plastered on his face.

“I hate that smile.”

He chuckles, the goofy grin I know and love taking center stage. “I love that you know the difference.”

“That smile,” I reply, motioning to his delicious mouth, “is a recent addition. Nonexistent when you were a kid.”

“It’s all part of the facade. Total bullshit.” Turning in the seat, he slides his fingers down the length of my hair. “Are you done being mad at me?”

Huffing out a breath, I open the bottle of wine, helping myself to half a glass. “I suppose I don’t have any right, but I hate the idea of being your rebound. It never ends well for the rebound.”

“Gigi, I’ve waited years for a chance with you. That’s hardly a rebound.”

I want to believe him. He seems so earnest in his appeal, but I’ve been burned before—by Ryder, no less. No way in hell I’m racing back into the fire.

Time to change the subject.

“How do you deal with the constant media attention? It would drive me crazy.”

“It’s not all the time. Honestly, my life is pretty normal.”

A snort flies from my mouth at his remark, because it’s total bullshit. Nothing about Ryder Gray’s life is normal.

He laughs, stealing a sip from my glass. “Somewhat normal? Most of the time, it’s photos of me going to dinner or grocery shopping. Normal stuff.”

Rolling my eyes, I snatch back my glass. “Does this qualify as normal?”

“Not at all. They love capturing moments like this. It’s what they live for.”

With a groan, I flop back against the seat. “That settles it. I’m never kissing you again.”

He pulls me against him, grasping my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze. “Like hell you aren’t. You’re going to kiss me a million more times.”

“I’m serious. You said the media is going to eat this up. I don’t want any part of it, particularly since I now know you’re onlynewlysingle.”

I try to jerk my chin away, but he holds me fast. “Well, that’s not exactly true.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up at his blasé statement. “What’s not exactly true?”

“I’m not technically single, but don’t worry, I explained everything to the reporters.”

Suddenly there’s no air in the limo, as my respirations increase in a desperate bid to calm my mind. He told me he was single. Now he’s reneging on that claim? After the media caught us making out in broad daylight?

It’s an introvert’s worst nightmare. Hell, it’s a woman’s worst nightmare.

Ryder picks up on the change in my mood, wrapping an arm around my stiff shoulders. “Gigi, it’s all good. I promise.”

“What’s good about it? What did you tell them to clear everything up? Did you claim I was having a seizure, and you had to keep me from swallowing my tongue?”

I’m freaking out. Ryder, for his part, is totally calm and judging by the upturned corners of his mouth, slightly amused by the entire debacle.

---