To f**kingyourmom: I'm not exactly sure what your review meant since you just said "No!" but thank you for reviewing anyways.
To Guest: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you like it so far.
Also, thank you again to erdi99 for your review! Now, Onto the story!
I saw Ryder sporadically over the next few weeks and each time he would make small talk with me while Connie got him files, or processed his body receipts. He liked to throw in a few innuendos that made me blush and his signature grin that made me melt. Every day my heart would beat fast in anticipation of seeing him again. There were times, however, that I wanted to punch him badly.
Like the day that he came in when a delivery guy was there dropping off the food me and Connie had ordered. The guy was cute and he was flirting with me. Ryder asked me if I needed any Midol since he could see the pad sticking out of my bag. He was also shooting dirty looks at the guy when he thought I wasn't watching. Needless, to say, that delivery guy never came back.
I became flustered and didn't talk much when Ryder was around but he infuriated me like no other. I've never met a guy who affected me that way before. Either way I knew I had strong feelings for him. A lot of people say there is a thin line between love and hate. Right now, my line is between kissing him like my life depends on it, or taking his gun and shooting him with it right between the eyes. It could go either way.
Anyways, Connie wanted Gio's for lunch and I was the designated lunch lady. So, I was on my way to Gio's when a black Lamborghini pulled up next to me. The window rolled down and I saw Ryder sitting in the driver's seat.
"Need a lift?" he asked, as he stopped at a red light. He was looking at me over his sunglasses. I raised an eyebrow.
"Does it look like I need a lift?" I replied, annoyed that he was there. His eyebrows lifted and the corners of his mouth twitched. I wasn't happy with him right now. Just the other day he came to the office when we were closed. Connie let him in before I could stop her. You see, I had Mexican food the night before, so I was bloated. I had been uncomfortable all day because my jeans were tight, so since it was just me and Connie after we closed, I unbuttoned my pants. But when he pointed it out, I couldn't very well say 'No, shit, asshole, I'm bloated' so I just crossed my arms and stared at him. So, yeah, I'm not very excited to see him.
"Well, you are walking to wherever it is you're going, so, yeah, I would say you need a ride," he said, then just sat there, even after the light turned green. I contemplated my next move. Here was a gorgeous hunk of man candy, offering me a ride in a freaking Lamborghini. But I was pissed at him. Hence my dilemma. I was afraid I would totally make an idiot of myself again, as I had done multiple times while fumbling over my own words. But I was also afraid to let this guy go. After about five blown horns, and almost an entire minute of contemplation I nodded yes. He grinned as he popped open the door for me. I climbed into the car and slid the door down. Ryder gunned the engine and barely made it through the light before it turned, which resulted in a couple of faint horns behind us.
"Where are you heading?" Ryder asked, driving aimlessly.
"I'm getting me and Aunt Connie lunch," I said, "She wants Giovichinni's but I don't know what I'm getting yet." I fiddled with the hem of my RangeMan hoodie's sleeve. I was so nervous. I had never been well versed in the etiquette that was being around a person of the male variety. Especially, one that looked the way Ryder did. He turned at the next light heading toward Gio's.
"You have a RangeMan hoodie." He asked, "Why?"
"A while back, Ranger and Steph decided that I should stay at RangeMan when I became the target of a stalker." I told him. "The guys are all like over-protective big brothers, especially Ranger and Tank. I was cold one night so Ranger gave me a hoodie and I kept it because it was comfortable." He nodded. It seemed he wasn't as quiet as his uncle, but he was still not that talkative.
"Here we are," he said, parking in front of Gio's. I took off my seat belt and was climbing out of the car, when I noticed Ryder getting out.
"Umm, thanks for the ride," I said, squinting at him. I had left my sunglasses at home earlier and the sun was really bright. He stopped in front of me, temporarily blocking the sun out. He smirked.
"One day, you will say that to me, with a completely different connotation." He said. My eyes widened and I felt my face get hot. I didn't know what to say so I just turned around and walked into Gio's very aware that Ryder followed me into the store. He leaned against the counter next to me as I waited for the clerk to come around.
"Because I am hopelessly curious, and in spite of the fact that I will probably regret asking this question, what are you still doing here?" I asked Ryder, slightly exasperated. I had never had someone make that kind of innuendo at me before. I was still feeling the heat in my ears, and my mind was playing a very naughty movie starring Ryder and I. He raised his eyebrow, his face amused.
"Well, you need a ride back to the office don't you?" he responded. I nodded feeling stupid.
"I knew I would regret it," I said. Just then the clerk poked his head out the door to the kitchen and grinned widely.
"I'll be right with you Melanie!" Joshua said, excitedly. He went back inside and I groaned. Ryder looked at me amused.
"This day just gets better and better," I mumbled. Ryder looked absolutely gleeful.
"Problem?" he asked.
"Joshua. He's had a crush on me since we were juniors in high school. He's asked me out at least a million times since then." I said. A strange look passed over Ryder's face quickly but then he grinned widely.
"Persistent." He said.
"I turn him down every time. He doesn't seem to get that I am not going to say yes. It's really annoying," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. Just then Joshua came back out.
"What can I get for you Melanie?" he asked.
"Turkey Club please," I said, hoping that would be the extent of the conversation. My hopes were crushed.
"So, I heard there is an outdoor concert in a couple of weeks." Joshua said. I closed my eyes and groaned inwardly.
"Mmm," I hummed in response. The corners of Ryder's lips twitched.
"Yeah, so I was wondering," he said, queue Ryder's lips twitching again. "Maybe we could go check it out together?" he asked.
"Gee, Joshua, I think I'm busy that night." I said. Then the worst thing that could possibly happen…happened.
"He didn't say which night it was did you, buddy?" Ryder asked a full blown grin breaking out over his face as I looked at him enraged. I managed to mask my face before Joshua looked up from the sandwich.
"That's right," he said, "I didn't say when it was." My brain spun.
"Well, what I meant was, I'm really busy and don't have a lot of free time. So, it probably wouldn't work out." I said, fake apology written all over my face. Ryder opened his mouth to say something but I kicked him in the shin. Hard. He grunted slightly, but his face was still amused.
"Oh, that's too bad," Joshua said, "Maybe next time." He smiled at me as I paid for the sandwich.
"Yeah," I said, "Maybe." I grabbed my change and the sandwich and practically ran out of the store. I started walking back towards the office and I heard footsteps behind me. Ryder then pulled up next to me draping his arm over my shoulders. I shrugged him off.
"What?" he asked. I should probably tell you now that I have a little bit of a temper. I whirled around on him and lit into him.
"What the hell was that?" I practically screamed at him. "You almost screwed me over!" His face was surprised for a moment before he smirked.
"Angel, you would know it if I screwed you over," he said. My face reddened even more.
"And that! What is up with all the innuendos? We get it. You're a bad ass. You are sexually experienced! I had just told you that I didn't want to go out with him and here you come trying to play matchmaker." I said. He raised an eyebrow. "You know, I should totally kick your ass. I could do it too because you know if you lay a finger on me, your uncle would kick your ass."
"Well, if you had calmed down and let me speak instead of kicking me, that hurt by the way," he said, shooting me a pointed look. I just lifted my head high and smirked. "You would have had an excuse to never have him ask you out again." He said. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What excuse?" I said. He crossed his arms over his chest and grinned.
"I was going to find out what night the concert was and remind you that we had plans that night for our two month anniversary." He said, "Then I would have threatened him, subtly of course." I gaped at him.
"Why would you do that?" I asked. His face turned serious. He leaned down so our noses were almost touching and looked me straight in the eye.
"Because I like you Melanie and I plan on making you mine." He said. His eyes were dark, smoky blue and it seemed like they were gazing into my soul. My eyes widened and I took a wobbly step back. My foot caught on an uneven brick and I almost tripped. Ryder caught me before I fell. His grin was back in place as he pulled my body into his. His lips were dangerously close to mine, and I lost all coherent thought. I wished that he would just kiss me already, he wanted to, I wanted him to.
"Be careful," he whispered, brushing his lips ever so lightly against mine. I gasped and turned my head away, trying to clear my brain as it was confusing me. I don't like Ryder. Well I don't know what I feel about Ryder, but I'm mad at him right now. I shouldn't want to kiss him…right? He chuckled and let me go, but steered me toward his car with his hand on the small of my back. It was a bit before he spoke again. He just kept glancing over at me as he drove.
"I know why he keeps asking you out." Ryder said. I just looked over at him. I didn't trust myself to speak. I was afraid stupid would spill out. "You never just say no to him. You come up with an excuse. He probably just thinks that you want to go out with him, but are always too busy. You need to be straight with him. Tell him you aren't interested."
"But I'm a nice person," I said. He raised his eyebrow and looked at me.
"After you just kicked me and yelled at me and told me you should kick my ass, in public I might add, you are going to tell me you are a nice person?" he replied his eyebrows raised.
"You pissed me off," I replied, simply.
"Anyway, you don't have to be bitchy when you say no," he said, like that whole interlude had never happened, "Just tell him thanks but you aren't interested." He made it sound so simple. We pulled into the lot at the office. "You didn't get yourself any lunch." He said. I shrugged.
"I'll be fine. I think there was an apple in the fridge." I replied and climbed out of the car. I walked into the office and handed Connie her lunch. She squinted out the window.
"Did you just get out…" she started. I cut her off.
"Yep I did. No, nothing happened." I said, reaching for the fridge. The door to the office opened and I heard footsteps cross the room. I turned around with the apple in my hand as Ryder grabbed me by the waist and threw me over his shoulder. A squeak wormed its way out of my mouth. Ryder turned and headed toward the door.
"I'm just taking Melly out for lunch, Connie, I'll bring her back in about an hour or so," he said, I assume flashing a grin at Connie.
"PUT ME DOWN," I practically screamed at him, "RYDER!" He ignored me. I reached for my phone in my back pocket and pressed Ranger's speed dial number.
"Melly," he answered.
"Your crazy nephew is carrying me out of the bail bond's office and won't put me down." I yelled into the phone. I heard Ryder's laugh in the background and seethed.
He didn't say anything.
"Aren't you going to do anything about it?" I asked. I could practically hear his lips twitching, which is the closest that Ranger got to laughing.
"Melly," was all I got before he hung up and Ryder put me into the passenger seat of his car.
I huffed as I strapped myself in. Ryder had the child lock on the door so I couldn't get out of the car. Believe me I tried. He got into the driver's seat and pulled out of the parking lot.
"You know this is kidnapping," I said, halfheartedly. He smirked.
"I would have just asked you if you wanted me to take you to lunch but you would have probably told me you thought you were busy," he teased. I narrowed my eyes at him but just sat there.