is for her to explain what the Winston’s did to her. The things she’s saying make me think it wasn’t just Ryker, but all of them.
Marie gives me one last glance over her shoulder, a sad smile forming on her lips as she walks out the door. I want to chase her down and beg her to explain, but I can’t… I won’t.
It has to be on her terms, and that unsettles me, because with each passing day, I find myself growing closer to Ryker. If he or one of his brother’s hurt her, I’m not sure what I’ll do. I want to believe that nothing bad happened, but I have no way of knowing, and not knowing kills me.
Lying down on the mattress, I close my eyes for a moment, telling myself I’ll order food in a minute, but as soon as my eyes shut, I see Ryker’s face above mine, the memories of our one night together surging to the forefront of my mind.
Chapter Ten
Ryker
Ava forgiving me doesn’t feel like it’s enough. I watch as she scurries around the office, the mug of piping hot coffee in my hand, made just how I like it, proves she is more than perfect for the job as my assistant. Still, I cringe thinking back to the day I cornered her in my office. My head wasn’t in the right place then—hell, it still isn’t—but I know if I want to have a decent relationship with the woman, I can’t be pushing her for sex.
I feel like a bastard for treating her the way I did. Maybe I should offer to take her to lunch or something as another apology? The thought has me planning it out as I watch her curiously from my office. Even from here I can see the color drain from her face, and my brow furrows with worry. I’m moving toward the door immediately.
Is she okay?
“Ava?” My voice is loud in the quiet office, more demanding and sharp than I intend, but something inside me says she needs me.
She shakes her head, her beautiful blonde curls escaping from behind her ears, making my fingers itch to put them back. One of her hands presses against her stomach as she rushes to the bathroom, the other covering her mouth as her whiskey-colored eyes watering and her face filled with panic.
Setting my cup down on the nearest desk, I take off after her. If she’s sick, I need to make sure she’s okay. After all, she’s my assistant, or at least that’s the excuse I’m going to give myself for chasing after her like a lunatic.
“Hey,” I grip her by the arm, watching her swallow hard, her hand dropping from her mouth while her eyes move from my hand, up my arm to my face. She takes a few deep breaths, the color returning slightly to her face, so I release my hold on her. “Are you okay? You don’t look like you’re feeling well.” I try my best to sound sincere and caring, but it comes out more like an accusation than an observation..
I know that’s true when her gaze narrows and her spine stiffens. “Why do you care? I came to work, that’s all that matters, right?” Her voice is cold, her body language reflecting her irritation.
“No, that’s not all that matters. If you’re sick, you should go home. I don’t want you feeling like crap and thinking you have to be here when you don’t. I can survive for one day, I swear.” The boyish grin I give her doesn’t diffuse her annoyance, and I start to wonder if I’ve done something wrong yet again.
Her suspicious expression makes pain shoot through my chest. “Look, Ryker, apologizing for being a dick doesn’t make us friends.” Her words sting more than I care to admit, and when she turns a pale shade of green and pulls away, running for the bathroom again, I’m faced with the decision of going after her once more and forcing her to tell me what is wrong or leaving her to be sick in peace. Both options suck.
Before I can make a decision, Fallon interrupts me. “Whoa, where are you going?” Her dig into my forearm, stopping me in my tracks. Dread fills my stomach as I watch Ava gag as she escapes into the bathroom.
“After her.” I sigh, sounding about as defeated as I feel. My heart thumps painfully against my ribs, and I don’t understand why. Ava’s no one to