Page 63 of Save Me

“I booked a room here at the hotel, but there was a problem with the reservation and so they’re holding my bag down at bell services. I didn’t want to walk around the convention with it and I had no idea how this was all going to go, so…”

“Ryleigh?”

“Hmm?”

“Is it okay if I tear this sweater off you? I’m going to ruin it and I swear I’ll buy you a new one, but…” His hand flexed in preparation.

“This would be a lot sexier if you didn’t ask permission, but…”

Leaning in close until they were practically nose to nose, he growled, “I’ll always ask for your consent, baby girl. Always.”

She was breathless at his words and, with a quick nod, he knew their bantering was over.

Reaching out, he tugged and sent buttons flying everywhere. Her breasts were spilling out of the black lace cups and he suddenly found his second wind.

ChapterTen

It was almost dinner time on Monday when Ryleigh walked through her front door. She’d stayed for the rest of the convention and was in complete awe of everything she’d seen and learned.

And not just about the tattoo arts.

After their bout of makeup sex, they’d talked for hours and Ryker confessed that he’d ended up in Laurel Bay because he was looking for a place where he could go back to his roots and sort of blend into the landscape. He’d won so many awards and had done years of endorsement deals, and all he wanted was a little anonymity. The celebrity lifestyle wasn’t for him and she couldn’t say that she blamed him.

Tomorrow he was taking her to see some project he’d been working on. It was super-secret and anyone who knew about it had signed an NDA so…it was obviously a big deal.

And her curiosity was killing her.

He’d asked her to go to dinner with him tonight, but she saw how tired he was and knew what he needed most was a night to sleep in his own bed without having to set an alarm for the next day. They’d talked about takeout and she promised she’d pick something up on the way over in an hour, but she had no idea what she was in the mood for.

Which was a total lie.

What she really wanted was either a big, fat bacon cheeseburger and fries or her father’s shepherd’s pie. It was too late for her to make the pie on her own, but she knew it was the special at the pub on Monday nights.

Maybe it was time to go in and test the waters.

“Ugh…do I really want to ruin my good mood? My good life?”

Honestly, she knew she was going to have to test the waters eventually, so why not make it tonight? If things got out of hand, she’d simply leave and pick up a pizza on her way to Ryker’s. No big deal.

With her mind made up, Ryleigh went into her bedroom and changed into a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie before re-packing her weekender bag to take with her to Ryker’s house. Thirty minutes later, she was out the door and giving herself a mental pep-talk to not let anything anyone says make her feel bad about herself or put a damper on her evening.

The parking lot wasn’t particularly crowded, but she knew it wouldn’t be. It was still relatively early and the dinner crowd didn’t really get into full-swing until after seven. As soon as she was out of her car, she started seriously second-guessing herself.

There wasn’t anything wrong with pizza. It was a perfectly fine option for a lazy night in. She could even run into the grocery store and grab more ice cream for them to have for dessert and…

“Hey, Ry,” Jamie said hesitantly as he walked across the parking lot toward her. “I thought I saw you standing out here.” He looked around—probably hoping for witnesses in case she decided to kick his ass—and then smiled nervously at her.

“I was in the mood for shepherd’s pie,” she told him defensively. “I told Ryker I’d pick up some takeout and I know it’s Monday, so…”

He nodded. “Yeah, yeah…we just pulled a fresh batch out of the oven. Come on in and I’ll make you a couple of plates to go.”

“Thanks.” Together, they quietly walked into the pub and Jamie went ahead of her and right to the kitchen.

“Ryleigh!” Uncle Ronan called out before coming around the bar to give her a hug. “Oh, I’ve missed you, sweet girl! Missed your smiling face.” He hugged her tight before pulling back and smiling. “I’m damned proud of you.”

She knew her eyes were slightly bugging out. “Why?”

“You stood up for yourself and put a stop to Kate’s meddling ways,” he said as if it were obvious.

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