Page 36 of I Did Before I Do

Sydney,

Last night was fun. If you ever want somebody to come eat your cooking, let me know. I’m always game.

Ryker

At the bottom of the paper was a drawing—an illustration of a sunflower. It had been done quickly but was still beautiful. And next to that…a phone number.

Maybe I hadn’t scared him off after all.

Chapter Fourteen

Ryker

Knowing what I knew about the future of No Regrets made it easy to throw myself into work. I couldn’t help but be in a good mood. We were doing well enough to expand, and it was going to give all of us more opportunities.

And I’d had a really great date with Sydney.

She was beautiful and funny, and far more adventurous than I’d imagined. Maybe a little reluctant to give up her V-card, but that was okay.

It would make it even better when I got her in bed.

But more than that, I liked hanging out with her. Maybe we could make a little arrangement, once she was ready for it. A friends-with-benefits sort of thing sounded fun, and she’d still be able to play and experience single life.

I’d talk to her about it sometime. Later.

I sat at my booth, laying out tiny jars of colored ink. I had a client coming in to get color work done, and it was going to take a few hours. I heard the door open up front and, assuming it was my client, sat up and waved.

It was Kenzie.

And she was looking right at me.

Shit.

She started up the stairs, passing Bradley and Benny, but she didn’t stop at my station. She went back to Logan’s booth, leaning on the half-wall.

“Hey, how are you?” she asked him.

Logan looked up, smiling. “Kenzie, hey. I’m good, thanks. How are you?”

Kenzie smiled. “I’m good. Just dropping by, you know.”

Logan nodded. “Okay, yeah. Hey, are you—”

Bradley lifted his head. “Back up, Logan, you know the rules.”

“What rules?” Kenzie smiled, batting her eyelashes at her brother.

“The rule that nobody flirts with you. Logan knows it.” Bradley looked at Logan, shaking his head.

Kenzie snorted. “Please. Logan’s harmless. And what if I want somebody to flirt with me? Feels nice.” She looked back at Logan for a moment, giving him a smile, then turned away.

She came back to my booth and paused. “Ryker. Got a minute? I need to talk to you.”

Shit.

She came into my space and plopped down in my chair.

I’d just sterilized it, but okay.

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