Page 68 of Save Me

“There’s no way I can answer that and you know it. I greatly doubt a shave and a haircut would have done anything to reduce your confidence and swagger, so I can only say that you still would have intimidated me.”

That wasn’t what he was expecting at all.

“And as for choosing you because of how you look now?” She shook her head. “At the risk of sounding like a total bitch, it was a matter of timing. You were right there and…”

“That’s what I thought,” he murmured, but it still stung.

Again.

So maybe stop talking about it, jackass…

“You know what? Let’s go for a walk,” he said after a long moment. “Maybe walking around the town and looking closer at the local businesses will inspire me.”

The smile Ryleigh gave him practically lit up the room. “That sounds like an awesome plan.”

Together, they walked out and Ryker told himself that nothing had really changed—not with his feelings on the business and not with the two of them—but…maybe it had. All this time he’d been so focused on himself and what the parlor looked like and what other people were going to think, but there was one thing he hadn’t admitted to anyone.

Even himself.

Until right this moment.

“I’m afraid to fail,” he said quietly once he locked the door. Hanging his head, he couldn’t bear to face Ryleigh and see her reaction. “Everything has come naturally to me—the art, the competitions, all of it. But this? This is 100% on me and…it terrifies me.”

His hands shook, his voice trembled, and it was the most brutally honest admission he’d ever made in his entire life.

Beside him, Ryleigh reached out and gently touched his jaw. Her expression was sympathetic and fierce. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Ryker stared at her as if she were crazy. “For what?”

“For trusting me enough to share that with me. I know that wasn’t easy.” Leaning in, she placed a soft kiss on his cheek before taking his hand and slowly leading him away from the shop. Hooking her arm with his, they began a leisurely stroll down the sidewalk. “Here’s the thing,” she began, “I kind of love the fact that for all your confidence and cocky swagger, that the real you is a decent guy. The fact that you’re not looking at this as a guaranteed success makes you human like the rest of us.”

“As much as I’m glad that makes you feel better, it doesn’t do a whole lot for me.”

“I know, but…we’re just now getting to what’s really going on. This wasn’t going to be a quick fix. Obviously, this is some deep-seated anxiety you’re dealing with.”

“I don’t have anxiety…”

“Oh, really? And what would you call it?”

As much as he wanted to argue, he knew she was right.

“Fine. Anxiety.” Glancing across the street, he saw the sign for Alloro. “Remind me again what that place is?”

“A day spa. Everyone raves about it. I’m not sure what the name means, but it sounds like allure, so…”

“It means Laurel in Italian,” he told her, liking the fact that there was a little something different here.

“Ooh…I like that! I wish some of the other businesses were creative with their names rather than things like Dave’s Electronics or Pete’s Printing. Ugh…” Then she laughed. “Which is why you can’t put your name on the sign when you open your place. Just…no.”

“Aren’t you forgetting your own family business? Donovan’s Pub?”

“I have no control over that. The place has been in our family for four generations. What’s done is done.”

“And your business name? Designs by Ryleigh?”

She shrugged. “I panicked! And besides, I work out of my apartment. It’s not like I’m hanging up a sign on Main Street or anything.”

“Fair point.” They were almost to the end of the block and what he really wanted was to go back to his house and show her a few more things.

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