When she stepped back he opened the door and got out and then he stood there gazing down at her like she was a rare treasure he’d just discovered.
And, unable to help herself, she gazed back into the deep, dark pools of his eyes, wanting to run to him but not daring to move.
There was a sudden harsh grunt, making them both start. They turned to look at Ted who had just cleared his throat and now seemed slightly uncomfortable. “Well, I guess I’ll be moseying along. I’ll catch up with you another time, Blake.” He gave Ryder a slight nod, tipped his head toward Blake then he turned and sauntered off the way he’d come.
Blake smiled at his departing figure, glad that he'd quickly decided to give her and Ryder some space, and then she turned her attention back to the man who was making her heart dance to the beat of a very fast drum. “What are you doing here?” Her voice came out soft and breathless.
Ryder gazed at her a moment longer and when he spoke it was with a hint of amusement. “Checking in for work, boss. Do I still have the job?” But then as she watched him, before she gave him an answer, his face turned serious. “I missed you,” he said. That was all. But for Blake it was enough.
“I missed you, too,” she whispered back.
When he reached down and took her hands she curled her fingers around his and when he drew her into him she did not resist.
As he stared down at her his eyes were dark and enigmatic. “I’m going to kiss you. You know that, don’t you?”
Blake’s heart fluttered. She knew it. With all her heart she knew it and she wanted nothing more. When she answered it was with one word, an urgent, breathless, “Yes.”
At her response he released her but it was so that he could slide his hands up her arms and around her shoulders and then he was pulling her into his arms and against the rock-solid wall of his chest. The pounding of his heart told her he wanted her. It felt like he wanted her as bad as she wanted him.
When Ryder lowered his head to claim her lips she lifted her face to meet him. Their lips touched and the thrill that rippled through her made her moan. Wanting more, wanting him so desperately, she slid her hands up to grasp his arms and so she clung to him, drawing from his strength, fortifying herself with his latent power.
This time Ryder’s kiss was urgent and masterful. There was little in the way of gentleness. This time it was all about the desperation of desire, the wanton expression of want.
Right then it was what Blake wanted, needed desperately. She gave Ryder as good as he was giving, kissing him back with such fervor that when he pulled back she moaned again and reached up to cup the back of his head with both hands. When their lips touched again it was she who was doing the kissing, taking from Ryder all that she’d been craving all those lonely weeks.
When they finally parted both of them were panting and as Ryder stared down at her his eyes searched her face. “What’s wrong, Blake?” he asked, his brows knitted. “What’s happened to you?”
Blake’s heart lurched. Had she come on too strong? “What do you mean?” Her tone was cautious.
For a moment Ryder said nothing but then he tilted his head as he regarded her. “Something’s changed. There’s a tension in you that wasn’t there before.”
Taken aback, Blake dropped her gaze. Could he read her that easily? He was perceptive and that meant she would have to explain. She bit her lip and she nodded.
When she looked up at him she was struggling to contain her emotions. “A lot has happened since you left,” she said softly. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Your lover? He’s here in town? What the devil is he doing here?” Ryder couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Blake had spoken as if this guy was in her past but now he was here in Pequoia and what the heck did that mean?
“My fiancé, Ryder.” She shook her head. “My ex-fiancé. There’s absolutely nothing between us.”
“Then why is he here?” Confused, as he spoke Ryder drew back and away from Blake. He needed space, some air. He needed to think. “I thought you said he didn’t know where you were.” As he watched her face his eyes narrowed. “When you saw him in Dallas did you tell him?”
Blake glared at him. “Of course I didn’t. I’m trying to stay out of his way, not invite him back into my life.”
That made him pause. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt but he had to ask. “Are you sure?”
Eyes wide, Blake stared back at him and then she shook her head. “I can’t believe you asked that. I told you about Jerome and what he did to me. I told you it’s over between us.”
“Yes, you did. I’m sorry.” Ryder felt like the worst jerk. By way of apology he took Blake’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “This just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
She nodded. “Me, too. Can you imagine how I felt when he showed up at Beaumont’s?”
“He actually came here?” Ryder couldn’t stop himself from frowning.
“He did. And before he left he promised to make life unbearable for me. He said he wouldn’t stop until I left Pequoia with him. He’s going to keep harassing me-”
“Not with me here, he’s not. Where is he?” Ryder was getting so riled up he couldn’t stay still. He decided he’d better release Blake’s hand before he crushed it in his agitation. He shoved both hands inside his pockets.
“I’m not going to tell you. I can handle this on my own.” Blake’s mouth was set in a stubborn line that told Ryder she wasn’t planning on budging any time soon.
“Why are you protecting him? I thought you wanted to get rid of this jerk.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets and folded his arms across his chest. He felt as jittery as a bug and this was the best way he knew to keep his anger under control.
“I’m not protecting him.” By this time Blake’s glare was more like a scowl.
“You could’ve fooled me. I can get rid of your problem once and for all. Why won’t you let me?” There was more to this than Blake was letting on. He could tell. He could read it in her eyes. There was a cloud of conflicting emotions there, a storm that seemed to confirm his worst fears. Blake was protecting her ex-lover because she still felt something for him. She’d denied it but why else was she shielding him?
“Ryder, I don’t want you to get involved,” she began but he’d heard enough.