Page 55 of Something to Someone

“Did Scott treat you like crap when he took you out? He felt comfortable showing up at your house and asking you to dinner, so I’m guessing you’ve been out with him before.”

Spinning the tiny straw in my glass, I had no idea what to tell him or what he really wanted to hear. “Actually, I’ve never met him a day in my life. So odd. People are extremely forward these days.”

“Caroline,” Ryder chided, and my eyes bounced to his. He’d leaned forward in his seat, facing me but with an elbow on the bar. Serious, intent eyes held mine.

With a sigh, I took another sip and turned more toward him. Enough that my knees fit between his.

“No, he didn’t treat me any particular way. Every time we went out, he pulled my chair out, bought the meal, paid for my ride home.”

Ryder nodded, and I wished we weren’t having the conversation at all, but especially not there. The music was loud enough it was hard to hear yourself think let alone speak to another person.

“So, why can’t I do it?”

Because it means more coming from you,I thought but didn’t say out loud.

“I’ll let you buy my drinks if it’ll make you feel better,” I said instead.

He put his hand against his chest and feigned relief. “Wow, perfect. That’s exactly what I wanted.”

I tossed my hands in the air and nudged his knee with mine. He dropped his hand and reached for mine, taking two of my fingers between his. My chest loosened a little bit when that easy smile once again found his lips.

“It’s not a dick-measuring contest,” I said. “Just because he bought me expensive dinners, doesn’t mean I expect the same from you.”

Ryder’s eyes narrowed, and his smile took on a far more devious, calculating quality. I immediately stiffened in my seat and prepared for the next words out of his mouth.

“But if it was a dick-measuring contest…”

My sigh was loud enough to be heard over the music. What a poor choice of words on my part. “I know men don’t often believe this, but I promise, size is not always most important when determining if the sex is or will be good.”

He nodded and continued stroking my fingers that were resting on his knee. “Fair enough, but my curiosity is killing me, so humor me. Head-to-head, no pun intended, which would you choose? Using whatever factors you see fit to decide.”

I took another sip of my drink to give me more time to contemplate my answer. Not that it was really a contest, but I was trying to decide whether the truth was the best option. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I didn’t know, there was just enough alcohol running through my bloodstream that my filter had been significantly altered.

“I’m here with you, aren’t I?”

When I glanced back at him, Ryder appeared subtly triumphant, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a blush darkening the apples of his cheeks just above his stubble.

“That you are,” he said in a low voice that sent a shiver of desire through me. His fingers against my hand slowed, and his eyes darkened. “You’re saying you’re not here because of my winning personality and exceptionalnotdate choosing skills?”

My eye roll only made him smile wider. “I only tolerate those parts.”

“Okay, so just so we’re clear. I’m better in bed than expensive-suit-wearing, six-figure-salary, five-course-dinner, Scott?”

Another sarcastic, snippy remark was on the tip of my tongue, but behind the playfulness in Ryder’s eyes was something more. Something akin to worry or anticipation for my answer. And the feeling that sat heavy in my chest and my stomach when I was around him made me want to extinguish it.

“You are much better in bed than…Scott.”Anyone,I almost said but caught myself. It was a step too far. Although I hadn’t said the word outright, Ryder caught the change in my voice and tone. Like it wasn’t what I meant to say.

Thankfully, he didn’t question it further. “We can finish these,” he said, motioning to our drinks in front of us. “Then we can go back to your place, or mine, and put my much better, highly superior dick to good use.”

I laughed and blamed my blush on the alcohol in my system, not the images that were conjured just by Ryder mentioning his highly superior dick.

“Although my apartment probably isn’t a good idea. It’s a maze of boxes and other random shit in piles.”

“When do you move?”

“In two days. Connor, Theo, and my mom will be there bright and early Saturday morning to help me pack the U-Haul and drive it across town.”

Across town, not across the country. And somehow, closer to me. The offices of the engineering firm that hired him were on my side of the city. If he’d stayed in his apartment near campus, he’d have at least an hour commute one way. It only made sense for him to find something new. And the fact that it was closer to me was just a perk.

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