Page 9 of Keeping What He Wants

“Of course.” Ryker grabbed his hand, and the two men slapped each other on the back. “And since when is she your girl? She can do better than you.”

Rizzo snorted. Ryker glanced over at Beth who had yet to take her attention off him. “We’re staying in town for a night or two. You mind if we crash here?”

“Nah.” Ryker glanced toward the hallway that lead to the back rooms. “Make yourself at home.”

Rizzo nodded. “Does that include your chicks?”

Ryker chuckled. “I don’t have chicks anymore, but if you find one willing, I’m not going to stop you.”

“Oh, yeah.” He propped his foot up on the barstool. “The skinny prospect told me about the doctor.”

“Ella.”

Rizzo glanced over at Beth. “And that’s an exclusive thing?”

“Very.” Ryker glanced over at Beth who looked away finally. “Ella is my life.”

Rizzo shook his head. “Pussy-whipped.”

Vampire came in the room with one of the club women behind him. “Hey, Riz. What the hell are you doing here?”

“I came to bust Ryker’s balls.”

“Yeah?” Vampire snorted. “Are you making progress?”

“Getting there.”

Ryker left his friends to chat while he walked to the back. He needed to get in a workout before he gained ten pounds of fat from eating out all the time. Hell, he needed to learn how to cook, but he didn’t trust himself not to burn a pot of water. He spent a good thirty minutes lifting weights. Each flex of the barbell had his muscles straining and burning. Sweat dripped down his face until it fell into his eyes. He sat the weights down and swiped at the droplets.

“Your phone keeps buzzing.” Beth walked toward him and handed him the gadget.

He took it from her and saw Ella’s name on the caller ID. He answered it. “Yeah, babe?”

“Please tell me that you can talk right now.”

“Of course I can talk. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She blew out a harsh breath. “I’m on my break and I really needed to hear you voice.”

Beth tossed him a towel and Ryker caught it with one hand before dabbing it on the back of his neck.

“I just finished a workout. I’m all yours.”

“It’s been a really bad day.” She sighed. “I got thrown up against the desk by a mentally unstable man. I had another run through the ER naked with orderlies chasing him. It’s mental health day at the hospital.”

“Are you okay?” Ryker asked, keeping his eyes on Beth. She licked her lips and took a step toward him.

When he’d visited Rizzo’s club prior to dating Ella, Beth had been there, willing to entertain him for the weekend. It’d been pretty fucking good, but he didn’t see her the same now. Things were different.

Beth stood in front of him and brushed her hands along his sweaty chest. Ryker let out a slow breath before pulling his phone from his ear and pushing the mute button.

“I’ve missed you.” Beth slid her hand along his wet skin. “I know you’ve missed me too.”

Her hand dipped lower. Her soft fingers brushed against his abs before dipping even lower to the waistband of his shorts. Ryker grabbed her hand and pushed it away. So many people were hell-bent on proving to him that he couldn’t be a one-woman man. He shook his head slowly. Beth was every man’s fantasy, but he’d been there and done that. He had the woman he wanted and he didn’t need another.

“She doesn’t have to know.” Beth glanced at the phone in his hand. “We are attracted to each other, Ryker. Maybe one more time will get it out of our systems.”

He let her hand go and rubbed his forehead. “Attraction only goes so far, Beth. I have a life with Ella. A life I like. You may warm my bed, but she warms my soul. She’s the only woman in this world that has that kind of power. I am a guy and you are gorgeous, but there’s nothing between us. There never will be regardless of the past.”

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