asked. “All the other guys are going.”
“Positive. I need to catch up on some sleep. I’ve been running on an average of three hours a night for the past two weeks. I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
“Fair enough. See you then.”
The sound of footsteps headed in my direction. I scuttled back to my desk just in time to see Elliot stride past without looking into my office. A minute later, Ryker walked by, staring intently at his phone. As he disappeared from view, I let out the breath I’d been holding and returned my gaze to the screen.
“You’re working late.”
My head snapped up to find Ryker propped up against the wall, his arms folded over his chest. Damn the man. He’d given the impression of being on his way out.
“Yeah, I, um, I want to finish what I’m doing.”
“How very dedicated of you,” he drawled, sarcasm prevalent in the deep timbre of his voice.
Don’t bite. Stay calm.
“Is there something you wanted?” I asked sweetly.
He jerked his chin in my direction. “Log off, Athena. I’ll see you home.”
“I’m not done yet.”
“You’re done when I say you’re done. Get your things.”
“You’re not the boss of me,” I snapped.
Terrific, Athena. So much for staying calm.
Ryker strolled inside, his eyes glittering with an expression I couldn’t place. My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through my veins. He reached my desk, bent down, and put his mouth right next to my ear.
“I’m the boss of everyone,” he murmured. “Especially you. Now move, or I’ll forcibly remove you.”
I doubted even Ryker would go so far as to manhandle me out of there, although I clearly wasn’t prepared to test the theory because I switched off my laptop and placed it in my desk pedestal, locking it securely. Ryker’s gaze followed me to the coat stand, then tracked me as I returned to my desk to grab my purse.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I can easily ride the subway home.”
He walked away, ignoring me as though I hadn’t spoken. His long strides ate up the floor, and I had to put in the occasional skip to keep pace with him. He pressed the button for the elevator, then gestured for me to go in first.
We rode down to the lobby in silence, Ryker’s gaze locked on me. I stared at the floor. By the time I stepped outside into the bracing wind of a New York winter, I was sweating, despite the freezing temperatures. Ryker’s car idled at the curb, his driver standing at attention, holding the back door open. Ryker glared at me then pointed at the limo. I slipped into the warm cabin, edging as far away from Ryker as I could. The door closed and, seconds later, we eased into the traffic.
Ryker poured me a gin and tonic, even though I hadn’t asked for one. That was Ryker all over. Decisive, dominant, powerful. He didn’t wait for permission, nor ask for forgiveness. He did what he wanted, when he wanted.
I took the glass from him, our fingers briefly touching. Butterflies swarmed my stomach, sending a shiver of delight shooting down my spine.
Fixing himself a scotch, he touched his glass to mine. “Cheers.”
He sipped his drink, looking at me over the rim. I kept my eyes on his as long as I was able, but eventually, the intensity with which he stared at me was too much to handle. I turned my attention out the window, watching people go by in a blur.
“How are you settling in?” he asked when a few seconds of silence had scraped by.
“Good,” I replied, still showing him the back of my head. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“You’ll get there,” he said. “You’re smart, resourceful. You’ll pick it up in no time.”
That made me turn and face him. “Did you just pay me a compliment?”
He chuckled, the brief moment of mirth changing his entire appearance. I could stare at him all day when he smiled. The way his eyes crinkled at the edges, the sparkle in his azure irises, the curve to his lips, the dimple in his left cheek.
An irrepressible instinct had my fingertips brushing his jawline. “You should smile more, Ryker. It suits you.”
If I’d told him I’d killed a puppy, his smile couldn’t have disappeared any faster. A deep frown drew his brows low, and his jaw stiffened. He captured my wrist and placed my hand in my lap.
“You’ll have to amuse yourself for the remainder of the ride home, Athena. I have work to do.”
He twisted his body, virtually giving