“Yes, I tend to work into the early morning hours. That’s why I was at the port when the bomb went off,” Ryker told her.
“It was a bomb? Who set it? Why were you bombed?”
“The shipping world is actually a dangerous place. There’s a lot of criminal activity that goes on at ports. I have a feeling it’s tied to the fact that I won’t let criminals operate at my port.”
Kenzie reached across the table and grabbed his hand. “I hate the idea of you in danger.”
Her hand was warm and his skin seemed almost electrified from their physical connection. “Kenzie, since tonight was unclear, I’ll be more direct. I’d like to take you on a real date tomorrow. Are you free?”
Ryker loved the way she smiled at him. “I am and I’d like that.”
“I’ll pick you up at nine. Is that too late for dinner?”
“I work the night shift. I’m wide awake until six in the morning, so nine is great.”
Ryker glanced at his watch and blinked. It was midnight. They’d talked all evening and well into the night. “Can I drive you home?”
“No need. I’ll need my car tomorrow anyway,” Kenzie said, standing up.
Ryker walked with her to her car and opened the door. “Text me when you get home.”
Kenzie turned to face him and smiled up at him. He almost had to take a step back as her smile slammed into him and filled him with warmth. His new goal was to make her smile as much as possible. “That’s very nice of you to look out for me. Thank you for a wonderful fake first date.”
Kenzie slipped into the car before he could give her a very real kiss. Tonight, he wondered if the loss of her lips would be his nightmare instead of his usual, but alas, by seven in the morning he woke up covered in sweat as he relived that night once again.
Kenzie grabbed Ryker’s hand as the car pulled to a stop outside of Port. “I’ve always wanted to eat here.”
“I’m glad. It’s my favorite.”
The valet opened her door and helped her from the car as Ryker walked around to join her. “How’s your mother, Dell?”
“She’s doing much better thanks to you, Mr. Faulkner.”
“It’s all your care, Dell. Give her my best.”
Kenzie watched the interaction with interest. Everyone seemed to know Ryker here, but no one was in his face. In fact, they acted almost as if they were family while Ryker chatted with the waiter who took them to his reserved table.
“Do you know everyone here?” Kenzie asked as they sat down.
Ryker looked around and nodded his head. “I think so. I’m a silent investor.”
“Of course you are.” Kenzie laughed. “Is there anything you don’t own?”
“I like to be diversified,” Ryker said a little defensively, causing Kenzie to just laugh more.
This felt different from last night. Last night was a long get-to-know-you talk. Tonight, Ryker seemed more relaxed as they teased each other. She wondered if any of his other dates ever laughed at him and doubted it. It was too bad. Ryker seemed like a different person when he smiled. Dark and brooding was sexy. However, smiling and laughing Ryker was like the warmth of a sunrise. It was sexy in a completely different way. It was somehow more intimate as if they were the only two people in the glow of Ryker’s happiness.
Kenzie was in the middle of a story about work when she noticed Ryker’s whole body changed. His face grew hard. His body was somehow rigid while looking completely relaxed. However, because he was holding her hand, she felt the subtle shift.
“Mr. Faulkner, I believe you’ve wanted to talk to me.”
Kenzie looked up at a large man in a three-piece suit standing at their table. His hair was thinning in the middle even though he couldn’t be over forty, and the bulge at his waist was not a few extra pounds. It was a gun. Even she knew that.
Ryker squeezed her fingers as if to reassure her. “Mr. Di Maio, I presume. Yes, I want to have a word with you. But as you can see, now is not the time.” Ryker pulled out his business card and handed it to him. “You’ve already met Mary Alice when you rudely showed up without an appointment. Call her and make an appointment. Then we’ll talk.”
Mr. Di Maio crossed himself at the mention of Mary Alice, Ryker’s sweet executive assistant. “I don’t think you know who I am. I don’t make appointments.”
Ryker never let go of her hand, but Kenzie almost wished he had. The change in him was borderline scary. His face somehow grew menacing as he tilted his lip into a sneer. “You’re not in New Jersey anymore, Joey. This is my town. And in my town, you use your damn manners. It’s no wonder you’re having trouble getting settled here. Now, since you’ve already rudely interrupted my dinner, let me tell you what’s going to happen. You’re going to show up to your scheduled appointment with me. You will have one hell of an apology for your lack of manners. And you will be completely forthcoming or your great-uncle will feel my wrath. I’ll make sure he knows it’s your fault, too.”
Kenzie watched the man’s face flush with anger. “You can’t touch me. I’m sure he’ll make you pay for this disrespect.”
Ryker finally dropped her hand as he stood up. He towered over Joey Di Maio and the smile on his face was something that stopped Kenzie from breathing. Predatory didn’t even describe it. Ryker lowered his head until he was whispering into Di Maio’s ear. Whatever he said was enough to make the man turn white as a ghost. Kenzie was worried she was going to have to give him CPR by the time Ryker stepped back.
Mr. Di Maio cleared his throat and turned to Kenzie. “I’m terribly sorry for my rude disruption of your dinner. Please forgive me.”
Kenzie didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded and Mr. Di Maio took off with the promise of making an appointment. Ryker took his seat and never took his eyes off Di Maio until he was out of the restaurant.
“I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Kenzie looked at Ryker with wide eyes, seeing the ruthless man the press liked to talk about. “I don’t understand. You were so scary.”
Ryker’s eyes met hers and he reached for her hand. She thought about not placing it in his, but the look in his eyes was desperate. She placed her hand in his and he squeezed it gently. “Kenzie, I’d never hurt you. I never want to scare you. I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
“Then tell me what is going on. Help me understand why you have to go to such a dark place, because that’s what you did. You went someplace dark to handle that man.”
“He’s the grand-nephew of a mob boss in New Jersey. There are two organized crime families trying to take over the ports in Charleston as they’ve done in New York and New Jersey. They want my port and I’m not giving it to them. I have to go to that dark place because when you get to where I am, everyone is out to take you down. They want to take part of what you built or use you for their advantage and not yours. I realized last night I’m my own mafia boss in a way and I hate that. However, if I don’t flex my power every now and then, they forget and come at me like he just did.”
“What could you do to him? Kill him?” Kenzie hoped not. Business was one thing, murder was another.