“Thanks, Charlie,” I croak, the words snagging in my throat.
“It’s been a pleasure working with you. I gotta run and meet with some other clients here, but I’ll see you around. Oh, and I saw you have your pies up for a donation. I’ve already put in my bid for that!”
I let out a slight giggle, which grows into a hearty laugh as my mind embraces what I’ve just accomplished. “OK, see you later, Charlie, and I hope you win!”
After Charlie leaves, I stare at the keys in my hand.
The keys to my future.
20
Ryker
Shit. I’m late. I can’t stand being late, but I lost track of time working on the Blackstar case. My dad was right, it is fascinating. Maybe even world-changing. But, dammit, I didn’t want to be late for the event. Aspen’s going to be there!
I pull into the gallery parking lot and turn off the engine. It’s been too many days since I’ve seen her, and my eyes are hungry. I wonder if I should tell her tonight about her Popster and me. Just get it over with. We’ll be in a crowded place, she’s happy her inspection has gone through, and everything is happening the way she wants.
I pull out my phone and find Emerson’s number, Aspen’s Popster. I find our former thread of text messages from when we finalized details when I bought his house.
Me: Hey Emerson, I’m thinking I should tell Aspen tonight. I have to tell her eventually, right?
Emerson: NO! Absolutely not! Not if you want to keep your balls. And definitely not if you have any hope of winning her heart, which is the point of this, right?
Shit.
Me: But I can’t lie to her.
Emerson: I agree. But let’s give it time and figure out a better way to tell her.
Me: OK. But soon.
I slide my phone into the jacket pocket of my black Brioni suit, and I check my Lange & Söhne watch for the time. I’m thirty minutes late. I get out of the car and lock the doors with the remote. I walk into the event and scan the room for her blond hair and black dress. It’s barely two seconds before my eyes land on her hair, bright as sunshine, and falling halfway down her back.
But she’s not wearing the black dress.
She’s wearing the red dress.
The one I wanted her to wear.
I’m stunned, and my feet won’t move. I stare at her backside, admiring the way her dress hugs her glorious ass. I lean my head to the side to crack my neck. My dick is getting thick. I discreetly shift my stance because my pants are getting too tight.
I swallow hard and then take a deep breath to cool my flaming balls. I’m ready to approach her. As my feet move in her direction, she shifts to the side, and I see she’s talking with some young, too handsome, jerkoff. Who the fuck is he?
He’s laughing with her, and he reaches out and touches the back of her arm. My chest fills with rage as I watch the two of them. I’ve been working too hard on making my way into her life to compete with anyone now.
She didn’t say anything about having a date, and she wouldn’t have one, right? For all her talk about not having time for a man?
And she’s wearing the red dress!
For me!
Right?!
He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a business card. He hands it to her, and she sticks it in her purse. If my eyes could shoot death rays, he’d be a pile of ashes right now. She belongs to me, asshole.
I’m about to break up their Kumbaya fest, when someone grabs my arm, preventing me from taking what’s mine. I spin around, ready to bite the head off the person, when I see it’s Dad and his wife, Nancy. “Ryker, how are you, son?”
“Hey, Dad. Hi, Nancy. How are you?” I say, shaking his hand and giving her a quick hug, clenching my teeth at the untimely interruption.
“I’m doing well,” Nancy replies. “It’s so good to see you. We were just talking about your first week at the office. Your Dad says you’re enjoying it. Is that true?”
“It’s going great,” I say, eager to get this conversation done with, while trying not to look like it. And I’d be doing better if I could punch that guy’s lights out who’s standing next to Aspen, having too good of a time with her.
“That’s good. But don’t let your dad work you too hard,” Nancy says with a smile.
I sigh and give them my attention so I’m not rude. “If you’d told me a month ago what I’d be doing, I would’ve banged my head against the wall, but the timing worked out. I needed something to do, and the case is interesting. I’m learning a ton.”
Dad smiles and puts his arm around Nancy, and she looks up at him with a gaze of adoration. And for a moment, I take in the scene before me. A loving relationship. He’s right. He is crazy about her, and she’s crazy about him.
Which brings my attention back to Aspen. I look over at her, and my eyes narrow. My dad turns his head to follow my gaze, and he lets out a small chuckle. “Looks like we’ll see you later, son.”
“Yeah. Catch you later. Bye, Nancy, good to see you.”
Three seconds later, I’m standing next to Aspen, looking down on the twerp in front of her. I’m at least two inches taller than him, but I feel ten inches taller. I clear my throat. She turns to me, and her breath catches in her throat as her eyes take me in.
She composes herself. “Ryker!
