Ryker grinned back. “You’re looking for any excuse to be at the ballroom.”
“Just like you use every trick in the book to get me here. We all have our weaknesses.”
“True,” he said, sitting on the couch, already opening his laptop. I curled up next to him, yawning. I had no idea how he still had energy to prepare for tomorrow. All I wanted to do was go to sleep. The weekend had been great, but I didn’t really get a chance to rest. Despite tomorrow being Memorial Day, Ryker still had to go to the office.
“Holy fuck. Owen was fired.”
I straightened up. “What? On what grounds?”
“Apparently senior management considered him reaching out to Dawson a bad idea, just like we did.”
Ryker was silent then as he started reading his emails. I wondered if that would have any implications for him and what they could be. I kept watching him, admiring the calm and collected way in which he dealt with difficult situations.
“I can feel you watching me,” he said playfully.
“What? You’re smoking hot when you’re all focused like this.”
Chuckling, he shut off his laptop, placing it to the side, turning to me. Before I realized what he intended, he awkwardly pulled me toward him and I climbed onto his lap.
“Stay here tomorrow too?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. On second thought... why were you and Avery exchanging all those secret glances in Arizona?”
Ryker laughed, feathering his fingers around my ankles. “Are you trying to negotiate, love?”
“Yes. Is it working?”
Smiling devilishly, he moved both hands all the way up under my skirt.
“No, but you have all night to keep trying.”
***
The next morning, Ryker left the apartment early, but I slept in until eight. I had two articles to work on but had more than enough time to finish them.
I was making myself a coffee at Ryker’s fancy machine when Danielle called.
“Morning,” I greeted.
“Hey! So, I have some news for you. I don’t know if you’re aware, but Owen was fired from Pearman. Apparently there was some disagreement there with management, I don't know the details, but that changed our management’s perspective.”
“I’ve heard.” I didn't want to share anything else, since Ryker told me everything in confidence.
“Anyway, I spoke with our higher-ups again, and they’ve decided to publish your article after all, but they want you to rework it a little, include Owen’s departure and emphasize how Dawson’s article played a role in it.”
Holy shit. I was suddenly bursting with energy and hadn’t even touched my coffee.
“Sure! I’ll get on with that right away.”
“You’re also getting your bonus. Finally made them sign that. It’s there, in black and white.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
My mind was already spinning with ways to weave the recent developments in the existing piece I’d written.
As soon as I ended the call, I texted Ryker to tell him the good news.
Ryker: Sounds like we have a lot to celebrate tonight.
My fingertips tingled as I typed back. Something was telling me that my man had a plan... and it went beyond just finalizing the gala preparations.
Heather: I’m all yours.
Ryker: Music to my ears.
A huge weight had lifted off my shoulders, because this meant I could finally persuade my landlord not to evict me.
I got to work right away, rewriting sections of the article, not even bothering to take a shower until I realized it was four o’clock. Holy shit! Ryker was going to arrive any second now. We were going to the ballroom together.
I showered quickly, putting on the clothes I’d traveled in yesterday.
I heard the front door open just as I finished my makeup.
“I’m ready, I’m ready!” I exclaimed, running to the foyer.
“I’m a little late, so you’d better be ready.”
I checked the time on the wall clock. “Holy shit, you’re a lot late.”
“Had an errand to run,” he said vaguely. “I see you’re in a great mood.”
“Well, yes I am. I’m super happy with the way the article is coming along. Danielle also said I’m getting my bonus earlier as well.” And since things had settled for him at the office and I was handling things with my landlord, I decided to share that with him too. “I was a little stressed out when they’d told me they weren’t going to publish the piece, because I knew I’d be evicted without that additional money. But now I can send him confirmation of my income so that should put his mind at ease. Anyway, I’m sure it’ll all work out.”
Ryker looked at me with a confused and dark expression.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” He actually sounded a bit hurt that I didn’t share it with him, and it made me feel a little uneasy. I should have told him before now, it was silly of me really, but I hadn’t wanted to burden him with everything else he had going on.
“Well, I thought you had enough to deal with already, and anyway, now it’s all cleared up.”
If I thought this was going to appease him, damn was I wrong. If anything, his expression turned even darker. He stalked toward me until he was right in front of me, nearly pressing me into the shelves.
“Heather, we need to talk.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t want you to do this. Doesn’t matter if I have a deadline, shit hits the fan in the family, or anything else. You still tell me, okay? We’re in this together. I want to be there for you to help you whenever I can.”
“O-okay.”
“You and Avery are... you’re family. But I can’t be there for you if I don’t know what’s happening.”
I nodded, because he made perfect sense, of course.
“Move in with me. Cancel the lease.”
“Oh!”
I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. I’d clung so much to the idea of providing a stable home to my girl in our apartment, that I hadn’t even dared to dream about what it would be like living with Ryker as a family.
“Trust me, Heather. To make you and Avery happy. Make this a home with me.”
My heart swelled; I swear I could feel it expanding in my chest. I couldn’t find any words at all, let alone the right ones, so I simply nodded.
Ryker’s smile widened even more. I calmed down just from feeling the warmth of his body, the possessive way he touched my face. I felt centered again. He was my center.
“I’ll call my whole family to help with packing... and we’ll bring your stuff to my place.”
Oh my God. I fought the silly impulse to press my palms against my chest, but I really felt as if I might just burst from so much joy.
I couldn’t believe that he wanted to intertwine our lives so deeply, that he wanted both of us to be such an integral part of his life.
“Between you and me, I think Avery’s going to be psyched. She loves my place.”
I scoffed, playfully rolling my eyes. Duh, of course Avery loved it. I was psyched too.
“Shouldn’t we go to the ballroom? Otherwise we’ll miss the moderator,” I said.
“Yes, you’re right.” He straightened up, as if he’d suddenly remembered something. Dropping his hand from my face, he took a step back. “Let’s go.”