Page 62 of Fierce-Hyde

“Sure,” he said. “I’ve got your number still. But we’ve got to get going.”

“Good seeing you,” Coop said.

“Sorry about that,” he said when they were further away and he’d turned back a few times to make sure his loose-lipped friend was gone from sight.

“I’m not hearing anything I didn’t know about,” she said.

“Ryder isn’t like that anymore.”

“He’s not,” she said.

“Coop, I’m not surprised he’s going on his second divorce. He always believed everything everyone told him.”

“Ahh,” she said. “One of them that would do any dare too?”

“That’s him,” he said. “He’d date a woman and give her everything she wanted and be fully committed and then they’d leave him for someone else.”

“So not a cheater?” she asked.

“I have no idea about his life now, but back then, he was like this big old teddy bear with jars of honey everywhere and he wasn’t sure which one to grab, but he wasn’t fussy in that he had many choices either. He’d pick one, get all sticky, and then not be able to clean up before he went to the next one.”

She frowned. “I’m not sure I like that analogy, but I kind of get it. You’re saying women played with him?”

“Back then, they did,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if someone took advantage of him again now, but that is his life.” He’s known to say stupid things and tick a woman off too.”

“So you don’t have the only license for that in your group of friends?” she asked.

If she wasn’t grinning, he’d think they’d be getting into it again and it was the last thing he wanted.

But she was making a joke.

He’d give it back.

“Between the two of us, I’d say we both have the same problem. Something we should work on, huh?”

“I’m willing if you are because I wouldn’t be here with you right now if I wasn’t,” she said.

19

A WALL UP

“You slept with Hyde,” Raina said the next day. “Wait. I need a drink for this and it’s too early for wine, so we are having coffee. Do you want one?”

“Yes, please,” she said. “How long does Duke sleep? I want to play with him.”

“He just went down for his nap a few minutes before you got here. I tried to hold him off, but then he’d be cranky. Cody won’t be back for hours.”

“So we’ve got time,” she said. “Sorry to just drop in like this. You were probably planning on a nice quiet day alone. I only called to talk.”

“I had no plans at all. Cody went golfing last minute when Ryder called him. They are taking Tommy and one of his friends out and Ryder wanted to make it a foursome.”

“Then it works in my favor,” she said.

Tori sat at the island while Raina prepared their coffee and then set them both down.

“Fill me in. I’m stunned, to say the least. I mean I knew you were giving him another try on a date, but you’re not one that sleeps with a lot of men. You’re worse about it than me.”

“You had your reasons, but for me, I just don’t let too many in.”

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