and opened the envelope, pulling out the little card inside.
I’d tell you that I can be a total dick, but I think you already know that.
—Ryker
I smiled. I couldn’t help it. This morning had gone very, very badly, but it wasn’t entirely his fault. We’d both said some things that we shouldn’t have.
Setting aside the card, I leaned forward, closing my eyes and burying my nose in the velvet petals of the roses. “Mmmmm. They smell wonderful,” I said with a sigh.
“Glad you think so,” Megan said, still grinning. “Because they were hand-delivered.”
She glanced toward the elevators and I saw Ryker standing there, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He was watching me, a small smile playing about the corners of his mouth. When our eyes met, he straightened and headed for me. I barely noticed as Megan melted away.
Ryker had changed and shaved. He still had his jeans and leather jacket, only now he wore a different color T-shirt. This one was a dusky blue that matched his eyes and made them seem even deeper in color. I caught a whiff of his cologne as he stepped into my cube.
“Am I forgiven?” he asked, though by the twist of his lips I could tell he already knew the flowers had softened me up. He rested his hand on my hip and I had to tip my head back to look at him.
“Of course,” I said, “and you deserve an apology, too. What I said—”
“Shh.” He placed a finger over my lips. “This may have started because of him”—he tipped his head toward Parker’s office—“but it doesn’t have to stay that way. I like you, and I’m pretty damn sure you like me, too.”
Leaning forward, he put his mouth by my ear. “I could smell you on my skin this morning.”
My breath caught and my pulse tripled. Unthinkingly, my hands curled into fists, drawing my nails against him. He made a low noise of approval in my ear.
“Is this when I tell you about the marks you left on my back?” he said.
“Oh! I’m so sorry,” I said, pulling back slightly. My face got hot.
But Ryker just grinned. “Don’t be sorry,” he teased. “You can scratch up my back anytime you want, sweetheart.”
“Can I help you?”
Both of us turned to see Parker standing by my desk. He didn’t look pleased. I quickly put some space between Ryker and me and tried to push his hand off my hip, but it wouldn’t budge.
“I doubt there’s anything you could do that would prove helpful to me,” Ryker shot back, his smile gone.
“Sage is working,” Parker said, ignoring the jibe. “We encourage visitors to consider that before…dropping by.” His gaze dropped to where Ryker was still touching me, then lifted to meet my eyes.
“Do you always make your secretary come to work after putting her life in jeopardy?” Ryker asked. “I guess you were too busy yelling at her to ask why she was late.”
“I thought it was perfectly obvious why she was late,” Parker said, his voice rife with contempt as he looked Ryker up and down. His lip curled in distaste. “Though I must confess I’m surprised it took more than a few minutes.”
My jaw dropped in shock. Had Parker just insulted Ryker’s…sexual prowess?
“Nice. Real classy, Parker, but then you and I both know it’s all an act. I know the kind of man you are underneath the expensive suits.”
“At least I can afford a suit.”
“Stop it, both of you,” I interjected. Good Lord, they were degenerating to the level of high school girls. Soon they’d be saying I know you are but what am I? “Parker, can I have a minute?”
Parker’s gaze was unreadable as he looked at me, but then he turned and went back into his office, so I supposed that was a yes.
“Thanks for the flowers,” I said. “Sorry about Parker. You and he are just, um, like oil and water, I guess.”
“Yeah, I’m positive that’s what it is,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “I’m sure it doesn’t have a thing to do with you.” His sarcasm was obvious and I bristled.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked. “It’s not my fault you two go at each other every chance you get.”
“Listen,” he said, moving closer to me. “You may have told me that you and Parker haven’t slept together, but he sure as hell acts like you have. He acts as though he owns you.”