Playing Dirty (Risky Business, #2)(5)

“Which is longer than any other relationship you’ve had in the past two years,” she said. “I’m surprised Parker’s allowed it.”

My smile faded at the mention of my boss, Parker Anderson. I knew Megan was kidding … sort of. My work had intruded on my personal time ever since I’d begun my job almost two years ago as Executive Administrative Assistant to Parker Anderson, Director of Investment Analytics at KLP Capital, which was the investment bank in Chicago.

Four months ago, that changed. Whereas I used to get calls at all hours—and I did literally mean all hours—from Parker for various work things, now he rarely called in the evening, and never on the weekends. I should be glad for the space he’d given me. And I was.

Sort of.

“It’s not up to Parker to allow anything,” I said. “It’s my life.”

“And you’re sleeping with his arch-nemesis,” she reminded me.

“So they had a falling-out. It was forever ago.” I shrugged, popping the rest of the donut into my mouth.

“It was over a woman and they still hate each other,” she said. “It’s not like they’re let-bygones-be-bygones kind of guys.”

That much was true. Parker and Ryker actively despised each other, which was kind of sad, considering how they’d been best friends all through childhood, even going as far as to join the Marines together. A woman named Natalie changed all that. They both fell in love with her, and now she was dead.

“I thought you were all about me not letting Parker and my job take over my life,” I reminded Megan. “You should be glad he’s backed off, not giving me trouble about it.”

“I am glad he’s been a lot less of a jerk to you than usual,” she amended, primly blotting her lips with a napkin. “I was just kind of wondering if you are.”

I didn’t have a response to that, and still didn’t even after she’d dropped me back at my apartment. Parker and I had always had a good working relationship—professional and intuitive. I’d liked and admired him from nearly the first time we’d met and he’d given me the job, despite my woeful lack of experience. I’d worked hard for him and the job was a good one. I hadn’t complained at the hours or how often he began contacting me when I wasn’t technically on the clock.

And if part of the reason for that was that I’d fallen in love with him, well, no one had to know that but me.

As an only child to wealthy parents who were still in love even after thirty years of marriage, it was good to feel needed. Because that’s how Parker made me feel. Indispensable. Even if he didn’t look at me the same way I looked at him.

When I’d finally realized that Parker didn’t reciprocate my feelings and never would, I’d decided I wasn’t going to let an infatuation with my boss hold me back from pursuing a relationship with Ryker. Ryker was a good man who wanted me, desired me, and made my pulse climb whenever he was near.

As though the thought had conjured him, Ryker poked his head out of my kitchen when I pushed open my apartment door. He’d obviously just showered, since his dark hair was still wet and he wore only a pair of jeans. The dog tags he never took off dangled from his neck as he headed for me.

“You were gone when I woke up,” he said, brushing a kiss to my lips.

“I promised Megan we’d work out this morning,” I said. His hands had settled firmly on my hips, pulling me against him. “She’d have killed me if I bailed on her.”

“What do you want to do today?” he asked.

“You don’t have to work?”

“Nope. I’m all yours.”

A whole Saturday just to spend together without either of us having to work was an unexpected pleasure. He’d been working so much lately, we hadn’t had time to just be together.

“I just need to run home and take care of McClane first,” he said.

I grimaced at the mention of Ryker’s huge police dog. The canine had flunked out of his training and Ryker had adopted him. I wasn’t a dog person, so of course McClane adored me.

Ryker’s phone buzzed and as he checked the text message, I began cleaning up the kitchen. Neither of us were amazing chefs, but between Ryker and me, we managed to cook a few nights a week.

“Hey, that’s a buddy of mine,” he said, coming up behind me. “Texting me, asking if we want to join him on his boat on the lake today.”

“What kind of boat?” I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. “Does it matter? It’s a beautiful and sunny September day, and winter will be here all too soon.”

“I like winter,” I protested, loading dishes into the dishwasher.

“You’re crazy,” he said. “Snow and ice, colds and flu. Winter sucks.”

“Christmas and fireplaces, sweaters and a white winter wonderland. It all depends on how you look at it, Mr. Cynical.”

Coming from behind me, he slid his arms around my waist and nuzzled my neck. “Maybe if I have you to cuddle with in front of a fire, I won’t mind the cold as much.”

“Maybe not,” I agreed. Things were going well with Ryker. Too well. It was almost scary if I dwelled on it. So I didn’t.

“Go change and don’t forget your suit,” he said, pushing me toward the bedroom.