Wild Embrace (Wilder Irish #11) - Mari Carr Page 0,21
she knew he didn’t mean them that way. “I’m a Collins. And if you think I’m tenacious, you should meet my mother.”
“I’ve met Riley, so I’m perfectly aware of where you get that particular personality trait. Sit down, Darcy,” he said, pointing to the floor. Before she could do so, he dropped down first, assuming the same spot he’d occupied for the past few hours.
She followed suit, curious.
“I’m going to tell you another secret.”
She nodded, uncertain if this was something she wanted to hear. His first secret had broken her heart, shattered it. She now understood why he was so cynical when it came to romance, but it also made her that much more determined to prove him wrong. To show him that true love did exist.
“I haven’t been with a woman since Denise died.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, even though she wasn’t sure why his secret was that shocking. She knew he didn’t date, knew he’d wrapped his life around work and his sons. But even so, fucking wasn’t the same thing as dating. And Ryder didn’t strike her as the type of man who would do without for so long.
“Why not?”
And she knew the second the words left her mouth, that was one secret Ryder would not reveal to her. She could see it in the tightness around his mouth and the crease in his brow.
Then, he softened his voice. “Darcy, please. You have to let me do the right thing here.”
Before she could respond, the lights flickered on and, another moment later, the elevator started to descend.
Darcy and Ryder both slipped their shoes back on, rising and gathering their stuff.
Rodney, the security guard, was waiting on the ground floor when the doors opened, smiling tentatively. “Everyone okay?” he asked.
Darcy nodded, letting Ryder answer the man and thank him for his help. She opened up the rideshare app on her phone, requesting a car for them.
Ryder stepped up next to her. “Is there a very long wait?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Only a minute or two.”
“I’m sorry,” he murmured quietly, and there was no questioning the sincerity of the words. Or the sadness.
Darcy wasn’t sure what to make of the sadness…but she was a Collins, and she had not yet begun to fight.
Turning, she smiled at Ryder, letting her expression set his mind at ease. For now. “Don’t be sorry, Ryder. You have no reason to be.”
He looked like he wanted to argue that fact, but instead he held his piece, then pointed toward the front door. “Looks like our ride is here.”
The two of them walked to the car, climbing in the back, explaining to the driver they had two stops.
She was surprised when Ryder reached across the backseat, taking her hand for a moment and giving it a squeeze.
Darcy squeezed back, depressed when he pulled his grip away again.
Neither of them spoke on the ride to the pub. It was dark inside the bar, though the apartment above was well-lit. Knowing her sister Sunnie, chances were good—blackout or not—the Halloween party had still continued, even though the pub had been forced to close.
“Guess I can’t convince you to come up and join the party,” she said, not bothering to phrase the words as a request. She knew how he’d respond.
“I think it’s better if I head home.”
She nodded, getting out of the car. Ryder stepped out as well, looking at the driver. “I’m just going to walk her to the door.”
The guy waved, picking up his phone to kill time as he waited.
They walked to the front door of the pub as she searched for her keys in her purse. Once she had them, she looked at him.
“Tonight was…” He paused and she held her breath, wondering what word he’d use to describe it.
“Don’t say fine,” she teased.
She smiled when instead, he said, “Surprising. In a good way. A very good way. I’m sorry you were trapped, but I’m glad you were there with me.”
“I don’t regret anything that happened. I hope you don’t, either.”
His rueful expression told her he wasn’t there yet.
They were silent for a moment, both of them clearly searching for something to say.
“Friends?” he asked tentatively.
They’d never been friends. Not really. But she got a sense he was asking sincerely. “Of course,” she said easily, certain that, despite her desire for more, they’d definitely stepped out of that in-between limbo land and crossed the line into a genuine friendship.
He bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. It wasn’t