She jumped, her head snapping up. Her frown deepened when her beautiful blue eyes landed on me. “Excuse me?”
I coughed, my face heating. “I mean…fuck, I suck at this shit.”
Her face softened, a laugh bubbling from her. She stuck her phone in her back pocket before turning toward me. “What shit is that?”
“I saw you struggling with the box and bags and was going to come help you but got distracted,” I confessed, surprised at how easy it was to talk to her.
“What did you get distracted by?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Uh…” I smirked. “I was distracted by how beautiful you are.”
She blinked. Once. Twice. Before her face broke out into a huge grin. A laugh followed. “That was slick.”
I shrugged. “It did what I wanted.”
“Oh? And what was that?”
“It made you smile.” I winked.
She shook her head, that same smile staying on her lips. “I’ve seen you around here before.”
“My sisters volunteer here. Meadow bakes and Gigi helps in other areas. She’s a dancer and sometimes holds classes for the girls here too.” I stood up taller, proud of my sisters and the career paths they had chosen.
“Oh yes,” my beautiful new obsession, beamed. “I know them. Gigi’s invited me to a few of the parties she used to throw but I’ve been too busy with school, that I haven’t had a chance to ever go. And I’m also not overly good with crowds or people I don’t know.”
“You seem fine with me,” I corrected her.
“Yeah.” The woman took a step toward me, letting her eyes roam down the length of me. “That’s because it’s just you and I.”
My body stirred. Interesting. “What’s your name, beautiful?”
Her eyes snapped to mine, that delicious flush in her cheeks darkening. “Clara.” She stuck out her hand. “Clara Blanco.”
I wrapped my fingers around hers, giving her a gentle tug until she was another step closer and kissed the back of her hand. “My name’s Ryder. Ryder Rodriguez.” Letting my lips linger a little longer than deemed necessary, I watched as that flush in her cheeks slid all the way down into the V of her white t-shirt.
“You are a slick one, aren’t you, handsome?” she murmured, licking her full ruby red lips.
“Nah.” I rose to my full height, released her hand and shoved mine into my pockets. “I’m leaving on Monday, saw you, made a mission to approach you and here we are.”
“Where are you going on Monday?” she asked, crossing her arms under her chest.
“I’m in the military, Clara,” I said gently.
Her eyes brightened. “My granddaddy was a sergeant. He died doing something secretive. I don’t know what. No one ever told us. Or if they do know, they never told us kids anyway.”
I nodded. “Understandable.”
“So, what do you do in the military, Ryder?” Clara asked.
“Stuff that I can’t talk about.” Truth was, I shot up the ranks rather quickly. My father was impressed. He had told me on more than one occasion how proud he was of me. He had also said that I was a faster learner than him.
“Oh.” Clara turned away from me. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Ryder.”
“Wait.” I closed the distance between us and gently grabbed her upper arm. “It’s not because I don’t want to tell you. Trust me. I do. I want to tell so many people, but I’m not allowed. It’s for everyone who’s involved, my career, my life. It’s to keep people safe. The less you know, the better.”
She searched my face. Probably deciding if I was telling the truth or not. Most cases, I wouldn’t care if the person believed me but there was something about Clara that called out to me. I liked her. Even though I had just found out her name, I had seen her around the center before. She cared for people and had a big heart. That was a bonus in my books. It was one of the reasons why I decided to join the military in the first place. Besides wanting to follow in my father’s footsteps, I wanted to fight for our country. Our ancestors fought for our freedom and I wanted to continue that fight for the generations to come.
“Okay.” She pursed her lips. “Well that’s fair.” She faced me, giving me her full undivided attention. “So, Ryder. What do you have planned for your weekend before you have to leave?”
“I’m having dinner at my parents’ place tomorrow night with my sisters and some friends. Sunday will be spent reassuring my mother that I’ll be coming home again.” Even though I knew it was a possibility that I wouldn’t, I had to tell her different. It was the only way she would let me leave.
“What about tonight?” Clara asked, pulling her phone from her back pocket.
“Tonight, I hope to be spending it with a woman.”
“Oh?” Clara raised a perfect blonde eyebrow. “Is she pretty?”
“No.” I took a step toward her. “She’s absolutely breathtaking.”
Her cheeks reddened, a slow grin spreading on her face. “Are you asking me on a date, Ryder?”
My body stirred. Fuck me, I loved when she said my name and if I had it my way, she’d be screaming it by morning.
I wasn’t the type of guy who had one-night stands. I would rather be abstinent than sleep around. It just wasn’t my thing. But even if sex didn’t happen tonight with Clara, I knew from the moment I saw her, before I even knew her name, that I wanted to spend tonight with her.
Clara handed me her phone. “Type in your number.”
I smirked, taking the phone from her and texted my cell instead. “I sent myself a text.” I handed the phone back to her.
Taking a chance, I pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Text me your address. I’ll pick you up at eight tonight.” I took a step away from her. “Oh, and make sure you wear a sweater.” She wouldn’t need it, but I was being a gentleman by reminding her. I had plans of being the only thing to warm her up.
Before she could respond, I was jogging to my truck with a wide smile on my face.
Clara
I had no idea what the hell just happened.
I knew Meadow and Gigi had a brother, but I had never met him. Not officially anyway. And I didn’t remember him looking like that. Tall. Dark eyes. Tanned skin. And big. He was wide in the shoulders and I knew that if he ever hugged me, I would feel safe, enveloped in his large frame.
As soon as I sat in my car, I checked my phone. Ryder had done what he said and texted me. I sent him my address, drove home and stewed the whole way about what I was going to wear. I still had a few hours before he would pick me up, but I knew that by the time eight rolled around, I’d still probably be wondering what I should wear.
Should I just be comfortable?
Sexy?
In between?
I had no idea.
When I parked the car, I took a breath and looked out at the three story walk up I lived in. The rent was cheap. The location wasn’t too bad, and the other residents were nice.
A soft tap on the window made me jump.
Frank, another resident who lived on the main floor of the building, gave me one of his genuine wide smiles.