, Ryland was mostly away from the office at his meetings, which was perfectly fine by me. After the way I'd embarrassed myself, I would be happy if I didn't ever have to see him again.
But on the bright side, I had been assigned the desk I passed earlier on my first day. It had a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree view of the city, but better yet, it was also sequestered away from the other employees at the main office floor.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't manage to enjoy socializing like Karin did. Though from the way Aurelia, the admin girl from the front desk, glared at me whenever I passed, I was probably not missing out on much.
The not-so-great thing about this desk?
It was seated right outside Ryland's office.
Which meant that he passed me at least eight times a day.
That added up to about forty times this week, and yet he had not spoken to me since Monday.
Not even once.
He stared at me, sure. His gaze burned into the top of my head every time he passed my desk, but that was the extent of it.
Weirder still, his right hand was bandaged at the knuckles.
Had he’d been in a fight?
At that thought, I typed harder on my keyboard, using more force than was necessary.
So he was hurt. Why should I bother?
Ryland Wyatt was the very definition of bad news. First Estelle, and now this. My life before him had been exhausting, but at least it had been predictable.
Now it felt like I was being thrown around on one of those spinning teacup rides at the amusement park.
But maybe I could do something about it…?
I threw a narrowed look at the doors to Ryland’s office.
He was out for another one of his meetings, and wouldn't be back for another hour at least. That should give me plenty of time to search for info on Estelle.
Before I could chicken out, I quickly made my way over to the double doors, pausing to listen and ensure that no one was coming this way.
Then with a deep breath, I pushed my way into his office, carefully shutting the heavy door behind me.
His office was larger than I remembered, though it was probably because Ryland wasn't occupying it. It was like he possessed an ability to suck my attention like a time-space warp.
As I crept into the center of the room, I realized that something about his office seemed a little…off.
I paused uneasily, glancing about for several moments. Everything was kept in clinically perfect order, from the furniture in the seating area to the few pieces of stationery on his desk.
Then it hit me.
My eyes widened in surprise as I took another look around.
Offices and cubicles usually had knick-knacks that pointed to the owner's character, like photos, or greeting cards, or cute but useless souvenirs that colleagues brought back from their holidays.
Ryland's was practically barren.
The office was designed in a minimalist style, but more than that, it was also completely devoid of personality. It was as if Ryland had moved into this showroom just yesterday.
I hadn't realized it when I was in here before, but now that I did, there was no denying that it was weird as hell.
But then again, Ryland wasn’t exactly normal either.
I gave a mental shrug and got to work quickly, starting from the drawers under his glass desk.
Out of three of them, two were locked, and the last one held only accounting reports—nothing that could point me to what Estelle was blackmailing Ryland for, nor where I could find her.
“Crap,” I muttered. I'd never find it at this rate.
Where would a shrewd man like Ryland keep his private stuff?
Probably…
A safe?
Abandoning the search at the desk, I quickly headed to the black wall panels where Ryland kept his jackets.
The glass clicked open easily when I pushed on it, revealing a surprisingly spacious walk-in closet within.
Venturing further into the space, I ran my hands over the assortment of jackets. The smell of Ryland's cologne was stronger in here, filling my lungs with his now-familiar scent. I resisted the urge to sniff at his clothing like a creep, hastening to find something useful instead.
As I parted the jackets at the back, my hands came in contact with cool metal.
Bingo.
If my luck continued, his combination would be his birthday, or maybe it wouldn’t even be locked.
“Found what you were looking for?” A drawl came from behind me.
Crap.
I spun around, masking my startled expression at the last second.
“No, actually. I can't seem to find the jackets you want dry cleaned.” I paused for effect. “Which ones were they again?”
Ryland folded his arms, leaning against the jamb of the doorway. His shoulders filled the entire opening, trapping me within the closet.
“Nice try, Allie cat,” he drawled, his gaze ice-cold, “but I think we’ve already established that you can’t lie for shit.”
I shrugged, keeping my expression carefully blank. “No idea what you're talking about.”
“No? How about this. You broke into my office while I was gone, hoping to find info on Estelle. Sounds familiar?”
“Nope.”
Ryland let out a harsh bark of laughter. “You stubborn little… I have cameras throughout my office—I watched you going through my shit. You're just wasting both our times by denying.”
Knowing that I was caught, I stared at him sullenly. “Fine, I admit it. But you pushed me to it.”
“I pushed you?” Ryland’s expression was incredulous. “How, by practically giving you a luxury suite in fucking Manhattan?”
O-kay. He was in a really bad mood today.
“By not giving me a chance to defend myself.” I folded my arms. “It's like running around in the open when there's a sniper out there who wants to use your head as target practice.”
“Then don't run around in the open! Simple shit, Allie.”
“You mean stay indoors like a prisoner.”
“Are you kidding me now? Do you know how many would kill to be that prisoner?”
“Not me, and not my sister.” I lifted my chin. “And I'm not leaving until I get what I want from that safe.”
Ryland’s brows drew together in disbelief.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” he demanded. “I'm not gonna empty out my safe just because you've got the idea in your head to play hero.”
“I'm not playing at anything, I just want a chance to protect myself!”
“I'm protecting you,” Ryland snapped. “Isn't that enough?”
My heart gave a lurch at his outburst.
We stared at each other, both our breathing coming a little too fast.
This version of Ryland was not the one I had first met.
This Ryland was angry and tense, his brilliant blue eyes looking wild instead of mocking or arrogant.
And they looked almost uncertain as they watched me, asking me to trust him with my life.
But who would keep me safe from him?
I shook my head stubbornly. “I need to know. I need to protect myself, it's how I've lived for the past ten years.”
Ryland’s jaw tightened. “You don't have to live like that anymore.”
But I did.
Ryland might be keeping me safe now, but one day, all of this would go away, and I'd be back to fending for myself and Karin. I couldn't let myself get complacent, no matter how tempting it was to believe his promises.
No matter how badly I yearned to have someone look out for me, just once.
“There's nothing in that safe,” he said, his jaw hard. “It's where I chuck things I have no use for.”
“I don't believe you,” I muttered.
He rolled his eyes and pushed off the door jamb. “Move.”
I stepped to the side as he came further into the closet space. He entered the code into the safe and pulled the door open.
“Here's your information,” he said sarcastically, sifting his hand through the small pile of items in the safe. “Photos, postcards, certs… Totally useful shit.” He moved to shut the door again. “I'll accept your apology now, so get on your knees.”
“Wait.” I grabbed his arm to still him, and Ryland stiffened at the contact. I dropped my hand quickly. “I want to check.”
Ryland cursed impatiently, but he didn't stop me when I leaned in for a closer look.
I gingerly reached out and poked at the small pile of trinkets and papers. Some looked at least several years old, and none of them looked like what I was looking for.
Damn it.
I finally drew back, exhaling shortly. “So that's where you keep them,” I muttered.
Ryland shot me an irritated look. “Keep what?”
I shrugged. “All your sentimental stuff. Your office is completely bare, so I was wondering where all your things were.”
“Sentimental, my ass,” he scoffed. “Like I said, these are stuff I have no use for. I just haven't gotten round to throwing them out.”
“Like this invitation to this baby’s first birthday party?” I picked up a faded light blue card with a cartoon cake on it. A photo enclosed within showed a toddler in the arms of his parents. Beside them stood the grey-haired old man who had escorted me to meet Ryland at the exhibition, beaming with pride.
Maybe I should have been nicer to him.
Ryland plucked the card from my hand and tossed it back into the safe. “Exactly.”
“Did you go?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
I blinked, surprised. “You did.”
Ryland narrowed his eyes. “You're taking up my time here, Beckett—”
Reaching back in the pile, I picked up another item, blinking when I turned it over.
“That’s so cute.” I held up the photo of a smiling elderly couple with two young boys. “Who are they?”
“Housekeeper’s family. From back in San Juan,” Ryland said curtly.
“Were you close?”
Ryland didn’t answer, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. He was so unused to sharing anything with anyone, and it showed.
It was good to have the upper hand for a change.
“And the grey-haired man?” I prompted. “He’s working for you now, isn’t he?”
Ryland looked irritated at my prodding. “That’s Worthy. He was our butler before he came to with me.”
“Butler? Like with Alfred and Batman?” I grinned. “Did he call you Master Wyatt?”
“Funny,” Ryland drawled, though his lips tipped at the corners.
I sifted around the safe again. “What about this?” I picked up a chain link Rolex watch that had stopped ticking.
Ryland eased a little, leaning his bicep against the edge of a wardrobe. “That, Allie cat, is the first item I stole.”
My eyes bugged. “But why would you steal? You already have so much money.”
He studied me with an unreadable expression. “Maybe I like the idea of taking something I’m not allowed to touch.”
“But a Rolex?” I said doubtfully. “Most people just nick a Snickers bar or something.”
“I have standards, Allie cat.”
“I can't believe you just said that with a straight face,” I muttered. “When was this?”
“Relax, it's also the last time I stole anything. Illegally,” Ryland added. “You remember that watch shop across the mall back in San Juan?”
“The one with the black cat in the window?”
“Yep. The shop owner called Theo a piece of shit with too much money and no respect. He was right, but obviously Theo was still pissed. We agreed that I would head over and swap out one of the watches for a counterfeit.”
“That’s horrible,” I said flatly.
Ryland shrugged, unrepentant. “Just be grateful we didn’t let Theo burn the shop down. That was his first plan.”
“I’ll bet,” I muttered. “Are you guys still in touch?”
Ryland paused. “Theo left,” he finally said. “It’s just us three now, but yeah, we still meet for drinks and shit, if that’s what you mean.”
I felt sudden a pang of envy.
I didn’t have many friends myself, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have people to go through life together with.
“You guys sound pretty close,” I mumbled, toying with the metal watch which had warmed with my skin.
“We have to be, with all the bullshit we got up to together.” Ryland folded his arms and looked away. “What about you?” he asked casually. “Anyone you’re close to? A boyfriend?”
I forced a light shrug. “Unless you count Karin, then nope, I’m all by myself.”
“Because you’re too busy with your books.” Ryland folded his arms and eyed me smugly. “Pull your nose out of them once in a while, Allie cat. Life’s more fun that way.”
“Says the CEO who’s working twenty-four-seven.”
“Dude, that’s called dedication. And I still have my fun, trust me.”
I bit my lip, recalling the yacht photo where Ryland had been surrounded by models in their bikinis. No prizes for guessing what fun meant.
“My life isn’t as boring as you think,” I found myself saying.
“Oh yeah? Name your hobby.”
“I...read.”
“Boring. Next.”
I cleared my throat. “I volunteer on Saturdays.”
Ryland scowled. “Can you get any more perfect?”
I scowled right back. “Why does that sound like an insult?”
“Because it was. Next.”
“I…” I paused.
That was it.
I showed up for work. I got home and showered. I had dinner. I read. I slept.
Rinse and repeat.
My realization must have shown on my face, because Ryland gave me another smug smile.
“Game. Set. Match.”
I gave him an irritated look. “What about you then, hot shot? What do you do that’s so interesting?”
Ryland cocked his head, watching me closely. “Easy. I fuck.”
My throat tightened at his answer, and the way his hot gaze was now lingering on my body.
“Everyone…” I cleared my throat. “Everyone does that.”
Ryland leaned in closer, until he was just inches from me, his warm breath fanning my face.
“But not everyone does it the way I do it.”
A sudden image flashed into my mind, of Ryland naked and pounding into a moaning woman from the back. A woman who looked suspiciously like me.
I swallowed, growing hot all of a sudden.
Growing...wet.
I’d never thought that one day, I’d be in a closet, flirting with Ryland Wyatt of all people.
Ryland Wyatt, who wore his arrogant smirk like a second skin, and knew how to demolish me with a single sentence.
Ryland Wyatt, whose off-guard smile was just a little lopsided, and made my heart give an extra thump.
Ryland Wyatt, who was currently watching my heated face with a knowing look.
“How do you do it?” I found myself whispering.
How do you fuck?
His gaze sharpened like he’d been waiting for my signal. “Should I show you?” he murmured, advancing on me.
I licked my lips as I backed up against the wall.
This was a bad idea.
I had always been a person who had my guard up, but for some reason, being around Ryland made me forget that.
It had something to do with his sexual innuendos, and the way he looked at me, like I might as well be naked.
Ryland cocked his head like a predatory cat, not letting my gaze slip away from his.
“Do you want me to show you how I fuck, Allie?” he asked again in a murmur. He pressed in closer, until his pelvis met mine where I leaned against the wall.
His cock was already hard, the bulge impossibly large against my belly.
I swallowed hard.
“Yes or no, Allie cat?” Ryland’s heavy-lidded gaze watched me as he rocked his hips forward, languidly rubbing his thick erection against me, seducing me, arousing me.
My mouth parted, but no sound emerged. I knew he was trying to shock me, to show me that I was completely at his mercy in this space.
And though I knew I should tell him to stop, the words refused to come.
Because I liked it.
I liked the lewd way he was grinding his cock against me, pressing the delicious hardness into my body. I liked how heat was pooling between my legs, and I liked the thought of Ryland touching me there.
My hand moved before I realized. I reached between us and gave his erection a firm squeeze.
Ryland groaned.
Blood rushed in my ears.
What on earth was I doing? This wasn’t me. Allie Beckett didn’t make out with assholes in closets.
And yet here I was.
Here he was.
Ryland's throat worked furiously, and his gaze dropped to my lips. His expression was tense with lust…and something else.
Like he was about to do something he knew he shouldn’t, but was going to do it anyway.
And me?
I felt scared.
I knew that something would change irrevocably in the next few minutes, but even so, I couldn't back away.
Because for the first time in ten years, I was doing something other than running.
I was making a decision that was all mine, and that decision was to take a risk with Ryland, even if it was just for a few minutes.
“Kiss me,” I whispered.
Ryland growled, pulling me to him and crushing his mouth over mine.