Page 11 of Save Me

“I get it and believe it or not, I appreciate it! But…it’s complicated, Ryker! I already told you I’m not comfortable putting you in a position where your feelings are going to get hurt!”

He stared down at her and she waited for him to argue with her.

But he didn’t.

She waited for him to plead his case again.

But he didn’t.

“I should go,” she forced herself to say, taking a step back. “Thanks again for the help with the keys and…and I promise to get a new lock for my apartment.” When he still said nothing, she started to get a little annoyed. “So, um…yeah. Goodnight.”

As soon as she turned away, he spoke.

“I think you enjoy the drama,” he called after her.

Turning, she stood in wide-eyed confusion. “Excuse me?”

Nodding, he repeated. “The drama. I think you like it and that’s why you’re not really looking for a solution. It’s like you’re in a dysfunctional relationship with your family, but you’re not really serious about being taken seriously.” Then he shrugged. “My mistake for trying to help. Have a good night, Ryleigh. I’ll see you around.”

For a moment, she just stood there sputtering in disbelief. Ryker closed the passenger side door of the truck before he casually strolled around to the driver’s side.

That’s when she found her voice.

“I donotenjoy the drama,” she argued, storming over to him.

With little more than a glance at her, he countered with, “You say that, and yet no matter what anyone suggests or even when you’re presented with the perfect solution, you won’t do it. That means you’re either not as bothered by everything you’ve been bitching about or you just enjoy the drama. Personally, I didn’t take you for a drama queen, but I guess I was wrong.”

Drama queen?She seethed.

“I amnota drama queen, and I resent you even putting that out there. You don’t know anything about me, Ryker, and I don’t appreciate you acting like you do!”

“Prove me wrong, Princess,” he challenged.

“I know what you’re doing,” Ryleigh replied with just a hint of snark. “You’re baiting me into accepting your help. Well, newsflash, your idea isn’t perfect. I’ll admit that there are some perks to it, but I’m trying to be a good person here. I kind of pride myself on not being a liar or leading guys on. It’s just not who I am. So if you think for one minute…”

“Ryleigh? What are you still doing here?” Kate Donovan called out as she stepped outside.

Crap.

Right then and there, all logical thought went flying out the window and she did something she never thought she’d do.

She launched herself at Ryker and kissed him.

* * *

Ryker wasn’t a fool. He knew exactly what Ryleigh was doing and why, and he was more than okay with it.

Then again, maybe he was a fool.

Wrapping his arms around her, he hauled her in close and immediately took control of the kiss. She felt tiny and almost fragile against him, and he had to remind himself not to get too carried away and scare her off.

For months he’d done everything except stand on his damn head to get her to give him a chance, and if playing her fake boyfriend for a little while opened the door for him, then who was he to complain?

The moment he’d first seen her when he arrived in Laurel Bay, it was like being struck by Cupid’s arrow.

As corny as that sounded, it was the truth.

She was feisty and beautiful and even though she turned him down every single time he even attempted to ask her out, he started to enjoy the challenge.

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