Sweet Rivalry (1001 Dark Nights)(3)
Thinking isn’t an option.
The anger from before has morphed to want. The adrenaline has recharged with desire.
There is no rivalry.
There is no graduation ceremony tomorrow I’m missing to catch my flight.
There is no panic over if I’ll ever see him again.
It’s just him.
And me.
The scent of his cologne in my nose. The heat of his body against mine. The taste of hunger in his kiss.
Only when his mouth parts from mine and the word “Goddamn” is a desirous groan from his lips, does the world exist again. He leans back, hands still framing my face, thumb rubbing over my bottom lip, eyes searching mine with such an intensity that they cause chills to line my scalp.
“Ryder? You in there? I’m so ready for my night of fun!”
Her voice comes through the door and we both startle back a moment before its handle turns.
“It’s not—she’s not—we’re just friends—”
His eyes are wide but full of apology as I just stare at him, high obliterated, the feeling like I’m the only girl in the world gone.
I take another step back as the door opens and everything that is opposite of me stands in the doorway—lips painted, body perfect, bubbly personality—and smiles giddily at him.
Ryder holds a hand up to Ms. Perky in the doorway as he takes a step toward me and I take one back.
I fight the tears that threaten.
Over what I’ve always wanted and know I can never have.
Over wanting to be just like her and instead being just like me.
Over kissing the boy I’ve wanted for years and realizing he’s just as good as I imagined.
Over knowing tomorrow I’m moving back to New York. To my incredible new job. To start my new life.
“I’m sorry.” I shake my head slowly as my throat burns with unshed tears. “Thank you. For tonight—out there. For…for the things you said.”
Another step in retreat.
“Harper. Come out with us. Celebrate.”
“No.” I shake my head again. Take another step back, my pride and dignity riding that fine line of breaking right now. “Thank you.”
His eyes swim with emotion and confusion.
Because while he may have kissed me on impulse—riding the adrenaline high of the debate and our fight—I kissed him back because for that slight, fleeting moment, I thought maybe I was who he wanted too.
But I’m not.
“Good-bye, Ryder.”
Chapter One
Harper
“Mm––mm––mmm. That is one very fine specimen of a man,” the lady behind me murmurs to her friend, emphasizing every word.
“I’d welcome getting a little beard burn from him.”
“I hear that. And girl, that burn can be other places beside my neck, if you know what I’m saying.” They erupt in a fit of laughter that is contagious enough to make my own lips curve into a smile.
The lobby of Century Development is full of professionals milling around. I’m sure there are many fine men in suits for the ladies to look at while we trudge through the security line.
“And that ass. Mm, I bet you could bounce a quarter off of it,” the first lady says.
“Damn fine.”
That’s it. My interest is piqued. Admiring a hot guy is definitely a better way to pass the time than checking my emails on my phone.
Especially if he’s garnering that kind of reaction from the women behind me.
It takes me a whole two seconds to spot him. There’s not much that I can see of him through the break in the security line in front of me, but it’s enough to make me want to see more.
And they were indeed correct. Tailored pants showcase one very fine ass. A crisply starched dress shirt frames a pair of broad shoulders. His dirty blond hair with streaks of gold in it hints at time spent outdoors. From my angle, I can’t see his face but can make out that the frames of his glasses are black and he’s sporting a full beard that looks sexy as hell but doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the clean-cut package.
But damn what a fine package he is.
God, it feels good to be back in Los Angeles. In the city with its stretched out coastline, endless sunshine, and abundance of ungodly handsome men such as the one front and center.
It’s not like New York didn’t have hot guys because it did, but there’s something unique about California men that I’m drawn to. The touch of sunshine on their skin. The physiques honed by outdoor activities. Their laid-back attitudes. And it’s been way too long since I’ve had the chance to enjoy the sights or company of one.
I continue to stare his way in the hopes of catching another glimpse of all of him, but just when I think he’ll turn my way, the line shuffles forward and what little I can see of him is blocked. Impatient for the line to move again, I shift on my feet so I can steal another glance but am met time and time again with the solid back of a navy blue blazer on the man in front of me.
If I have to wait in this line, can’t the powers that be at least give me a clear line of sight for something good to look at while I’m here?
Better yet, I’ll be here the next few days. I wouldn’t lodge a single complaint if Hot Guy were to be the sight that greeted and entertained me during my time in the security line before I head upstairs for a long day crunching numbers.