Page 39 of Bad for Business
Instead, when my dad asked how things were going, I lied. I told him it was just okay. I don’t know why I felt the need to lie about it, but something in my gut told me that telling him how great things were going wasn’t the best idea. He’s so confidentRyker won’t be able to pull it off that I don’t know if I want to change his opinion. At least not yet.
“There you are.” Ryker’s voice breaks me from my thoughts.
I turn around, finding him walking toward me. He still wears his suit from the evening. I try not to think about how good he looks in it.
“How’d it go?” I ask, making sure to keep my voice controlled. Tonight was an event for the male members of the club. It was some kind of tasting and auction, gearing up for Pembroke’s annual charity golf tournament in two days.
“It went well.” Ryker tugs at his tie. He effortlessly loosens the knot, letting the tie drape around his neck.
I surprise myself by not objecting when he takes a seat next to me. He angles his body toward mine so the tips of his dress shoes almost touch my thigh.
I hadn’t expected Ryker to be home so early, and now I’m questioning the decision to come outside in only a cotton nightie. I’d thrown a light sweater over it, but it definitely is fewer clothes than I’m used to wearing around him.
“That’s good to hear,” I respond, not knowing what else to say.
Ever since the afternoon on the boat, the bickering has died down, at least a little bit. I don’t know how to feel about it. I’m not used to it yet.
“You’re not going to ask me any more questions about the night?” Ryker prods. He sits up so his forearms rest on top of his knees. The way he’s sitting seems so casual for the nice suit he’s wearing.
My lips twitch as I try to fight the smile. “I want to ask you more questions, but I don’t want you to think I don’t trust you.”
Ryker lets out a dramatic gasp. “I’m sorry. Did you just say you trusted me? Can I have you say that again so I know I’m hearing you correctly?”
I roll my eyes. “You already know I trust you. If I didn’t, I would’ve shown up tonight.”
“It was for the men of the club.”
“Yeah, well, the fact that women weren’t invited is stupid.”
He laughs. “There’s an event for the female members tomorrow. The auctions are different. I wonder if Pembroke does two separate ones so people spend more money.”
“Probably.”
We both settle into a comfortable silence.
Ryker is the one to eventually break it. “My mom always used to sit out here at night,” he offers, his voice soft.
My feet continue to make circles in the water, but my eyes focus on him. I haven’t pushed him on talking about his mom, no matter how badly I’ve wanted to know more about her. Her death is the reason he went from being the media’s golden boy to someone they tear apart online. I’d love to know more about her. I feel like it’d help me understand Ryker more. I try to convince myself that the only reason I want to understand Ryker more is because of my job. It’s a lie. The reason I want to understand him better is completely selfish and has nothing to do with me being his publicist.
“It’s beautiful out here.” My gaze travels over the large backyard. It’s truly picked straight out of a magazine. Even with only the light of the moon to illuminate the space, it’s breathtaking. The pool is massive, and there are stone pavers and landscaping all around it, creating an oasis. Both sides of the yard have tall trees and bushes, making the backyard feel closed off from any neighbors.
Their property is also a beachfront one. The backyard leads right to the beach and then the water. One of these nights, I want to be brave enough to go dip my toes in the ocean, but I haven’t made it that far yet. For now, it’s stunning to look at.
“Yeah,” Ryker agrees, his voice hushed. I’d been so swept up in taking in the views in front of me that I forgot I even said anything. “This place truly was my mother’s favorite place in the world.” He looks over at me with a sad smile. “I wish you could’ve met her. She would’ve loved you.”
I don’t know why, but his words hit me right in the chest. It’s obvious how much he loved her, and for some reason, him telling me she would’ve loved me is something I really wanted to hear.
I yank my gaze from his and look at my feet in the water. I hate how my cheeks warm at his words. “She probably actually wouldn’t have. I don’t always make a good first impression on moms…or anyone, really. People don’t exactly think I’m the friendliest. Especially when they first meet me.”
“She would’ve loved you,” he repeats, his words confident and full of conviction.
I want to look at him so badly, but I can’t. I can’t quite figure out why something about tonight has felt different. Maybe it’s not just tonight. Maybe it really has been since that afternoon on the boat. We both came back a little less mean to one another. Maybe it’s because we’ve both accepted that we work well together. Or maybe it’s something else. Either way, I hate to admit how good it feels for him to tell me his mom would’ve liked me. I just don’t know if I believe him. “I’m not so sure about that,” I respond, letting out a long sigh.
“Why do you do that?” Ryker asks, clearly blurting out the question without taking the time to think it through.
I can’t fight the urge to look at him any longer. I bring my gaze to his, my head feeling fuzzy because of the intense way he looks right back at me. The darkness of the night makes his brown eyes seem even darker. The color might not be as light as it normally is, but there’s still nothing but warmth in the gaze staring back at me.
“Do what?” I whisper.
