I almost melted under the intensity in his eyes but stayed put.
“You feel like you deserve it?”
“Utterly and completely.”
I laughed. What was going on?
“Well, okay, then. Why did you act so... I don’t know—not like you?”
“Owen wasn’t happy that we know each other. I didn’t want anyone giving you a hard time.”
“That still doesn’t explain why I didn’t get to interview you.”
Ryker cocked a brow, smiling sardonically, as if the answer was obvious. Well, it wasn’t to me.
He stepped closer, bringing a hand to my cheek, pressing the back of his fingers against my jaw. The contact electrified me. For one brief second, it felt as if the traffic had stopped, the passersby vanished into thin air. I was only aware of his skin against mine, his warm breath on the tip of my nose.
“Because I didn’t want to push our luck... I don’t think I can be in the same room with you for longer than five minutes and not make it clear to everyone what my intentions are.”
I was so overwhelmed by him that I didn’t know what to do with myself. This close, the leather and cypress in his cologne permeated the air. They were much fainter than at lunch, but strong enough to ensnare my senses.
“Ryker....”
“I haven’t handled this too well. Let me make it up to you with dinner.”
“Ah... you did say you want to lure me back to Mary’s burgers. But I can’t tonight.”
“Can’t or won’t?” His eyes flashed, determined and demanding.
“Avery’s chorus lessons finish at seven.”
He flashed me a triumphant smile. “That still leaves half an hour.”
“The train ride takes twenty minutes.”
“I’ll walk you to the station, then. I can give you insights about the fund. All unofficial, of course. But you reporters like that, don’t you? Insider knowledge and all that.”
“How come you’re even done with work? There were still lots of people inside.”
“The perks of being a director. Hours aren’t as long, though when we have a deadline, I have to pull all-nighters occasionally. If you get past the initial years when you have to practically sleep at the office, things get better.”
“That makes sense. Where do you live?” I asked as we walked side by side.
“Nearby,” he said vaguely.
I grinned. “Let me guess. Penthouse overlooking Central Park?”
He laughed. “Nah. Bachelor pad on Duane.”
“Thought you didn’t like the noise of downtown.”
“I dislike long commutes even more.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
I was relieved we were walking. I was hoping that would help diffuse this tension between us, make me less aware of this constant thrum in my body when he was near me.
I took a deep breath when we crossed the street together with a million other pedestrians. The smell of spring was thick in the air. Unfortunately, that thrum hadn’t lessened, not one bit. And when Ryker placed an arm around my shoulders as if it were the most natural thing in the world? That thrum turned to an inferno.