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CHAPTER FOUR

“A truce?” Jay eyed Ryden, then his outstretched hand. Mmm, no. He wasn’t going to fall for it. After what Jay had witnessed on the surveillance video from the Rusticucci party, no way Ryden wanted a truce. The guy was still leaving particles of red glitter wherever he went.

“Yes, a truce,” Ryden sighed. “Stop lookin’ at me like my hand’s gonna electrocute you or somethin’.”

“How do I know it won’t?” Jay narrowed his eyes. He was well acquainted with Ryden’s sneaky sneak ways. Pfft. Their office feud had been going on for years. Years . And not once had Ryden ever called for a truce. What would that even look like?

“It’s not a trick.”

Ha! That’s exactly what someone who wanted to trick him would say.

“Yeah, I’m not buying it.” Jay went back to reading his paperback.

He didn’t have time for Ryden’s shenanigans.

Things were about to get steamy between the sexy duke and the equally hot highwayman.

The last thing Jay needed was Mr. Marine, who was not the man of his dreams, trying to pull one over on him.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must find out who betrayed the duke and ruined his good name. Truce not accepted.”

“Fine.” Ryden turned and walked off. “It was his aunt.”

Jay slowly lowered his book. No. Had he…? No way Ryden had just spoiled the end of his book. Besides, Ryden didn’t read historical romances. Or any romance for that matter. The man seemed to be allergic to it. Not a romantic bone in his body. “You didn’t.”

Ryden turned, walking backward, his grin smug. “I read the end while you were at lunch. Oh, and she used the highwayman to do it. The duke’ll find out about that later.”

“No,” Jay gasped. With a frustrated growl, Jay lobbed his book at Ryden, who caught it with a laugh. “You jerk! I was enjoying that book!”

Ryden looked at the paperback and wrinkled his nose. Turning it, he tapped the model on the cover. “Why’s he shirtless? Does he walk around the English countryside shirtless?”

“Maybe he does.” Jay crossed his arms over his chest. Why was he even having this conversation with Ryden? The man was so frustrating!

“It takes place in the winter ,” Ryden shot back. “Look. There’s snow on the cover. He’d freeze his nipples off! Among other things. Completely unrealistic.”

Jay stared at him. “Are you seriously trying to rationalize the hot, bare-chested guy on the cover of my romance novel? Why do you think I bought it? I’m at the bookstore, go to the romance section, and bam —sexy half-naked duke.

I’m in. I read the back, and it gets even better.

It has everything I want. Action, adventure, a dark and sinfully smoldering duke, a dangerous highwayman, intrigue, hot sex, and romance. Why wouldn’t I buy it?”

“It’s ridiculous.” Ryden waved the book at him.

“ You’re ridiculous!”

“What in the hell is all this hollerin’ about?” Mason stormed out of King’s office. “Are you two at it again?”

Jay stood and thrust a finger at Ryden. “That immature man-child not only spoiled the end of my book, a book I was very much looking forward to and enjoying, but then he says it’s ridiculous!”

“I apologize.”

Jay whirled to face Ryden. His expression told Jay he was most definitely not sorry.

“I meant to say it’s pointless trash and stupid.”

Jay clenched his jaw so hard it hurt. He needed to leave before he shouted out something completely inappropriate in the middle of the office. Excusing himself, he stormed into the first empty office he came across, which was, thankfully, Red’s, and slammed the door behind him.

The scent of lavender filled the room, and Jay’s shoulders relaxed a little as he inhaled the soothing mist of essential oil emanating from the glowing diffuser in the corner.

He breathed in through his nose and exhaled out his mouth just like his calming app had taught him.

The fact that he needed a calming app to deal with Ryden should have been enough evidence to stay away from the guy.

Some truce. He should have known Ryden was full of it.

With a frown, Jay dropped onto Red’s couch.

He wasn’t going to let that asshole upset him.

Ryden wasn’t even the first guy to talk shit about Jay’s choice in books.

He had been fighting that battle since middle school when he read his first romance.

Even then, he hadn’t cared what anyone thought because he knew the truth about the books he read, about the stories that were everything he needed—an escape.

Every story was a magical world he could lose himself in, and it felt good.

They made his heart happy. Why did people have to shit on other people’s joy?

Jay had always loved to read. He read all kinds of books, but his true love had always been romance.

What was wrong with being swept away to another world where someone loved you so deeply that they would do anything for you?

Where they would sweep you off your feet and fight for you, love you for who you were, flaws and all?

Maybe they were unrealistic sometimes, but so what?

Who the fuck wanted reality? He’d had a lifetime of realistic relationships, and guess what?

Zero stars. Would not recommend. He wanted the handsome hero to rescue him, and he wouldn’t say no to some mind-blowing sex.

A knock sounded at the door, and Jay straightened. It was probably Mason. Poor man. He did not sign up for this when King asked him to take the reins. The door opened and shut, but Jay closed his eyes.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Jay muttered.

“I’m sorry.”

Jay’s head shot up. It was Ryden.

Great. What the hell did he want now? “Come to make fun of me some more?”

Ryden hesitated, then sat down at the opposite end of the couch. “I wasn’t makin’ fun of you.”

“You were making fun of something I love. Therefore, you were making fun of me.”

“Oh. I didn’t think ’bout it that way,” Ryden murmured. “There’s nothin’ wrong with what you read.”

Jay glared at him. “I know that. I’m not ashamed of what I read. I love what I read and don’t care what anyone thinks.”

“Then why are you in here? And not to be a jerk, but the fellas tease you about your books all the time.”

“It’s not the same,” Jay growled. “They’re not mean about it. They don’t insult what I read or call it stupid trash because they don’t believe it. You believe it is, and you were trying to be hurtful.”

Ryden rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re right. I was an asshole.”

“Why?” Jay shook his head. “I don’t understand. Do you dislike me that much?”

“What? I don’t dislike you.”

“Really? Because everything that comes out of your mouth says otherwise.” Jay stood and turned away. What the hell was this? He didn’t like it.

His whole life, Jay had dealt with people saying hurtful things about and to him, whether it was about his wardrobe, his voice, his personality, what he read, and yes, sometimes it hurt, but most of the time, he didn’t care because they didn’t matter.

He’d learned early on that other people’s perceptions of him were not his problem, and the words they used said more about them than him.

He also gave as good as he got. Of all people, why would he care what Ryden thought?

The hand on his arm startled him, and he turned, surprised to find Ryden standing there. Close. Too close. Heat rose to his cheeks, and he hated that he couldn’t stop it. He was not blushing because of Ryden. It was, um, anger. Yes, he was flushed because he was angry .

“I’m sorry,” Ryden said, his voice quiet. This time, he sounded sincere.

Jay swallowed hard and nodded. “It’s fine. I just…” He closed his eyes and sighed. It used to be light fun, but somewhere along the way, things between them changed, and Jay couldn’t figure out what or when, only that it had, and not for the better. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

“Neither do I,” Ryden murmured, raising a hand and pausing.

He seemed to be considering something. Whatever he concluded led him to brush Jay’s bangs away from his face.

Jay stared at him, eyes wide. He’d never seen this side of Ryden.

Not that he couldn’t be. Jay had seen Ryden be kind and sweet, charming even, but it was never aimed at Jay, and he’d certainly never been this… gentle.

What was happening right now?

“I’ve been a real asshole to you, and I’m sorry, truly sorry.” His lips quirked in the corner, and Jay asked himself questions he’d never asked before. Like what did Ryden’s lips feel like? What did they taste like? How would it feel to have those strong arms around him?

Jay quickly shook himself out of it. Was there such a thing as inhaling too much lavender? Because what was he even thinking right now? “Why should I believe you? How is this different from the hundreds of times you’ve apologized?”

“Only to go and act the fool again and again. You’re right. You’re right. You just…okay, cards on the table. You get under my skin, Jay, in a way no one ever has, and I don’t know what to do with that.”

Jay blinked at him. “I do?”

“Yeah.” Ryden brushed his fingers down Jay’s cheek. “I know I get under your skin, too.”

Had he fallen asleep in the staff room during lunch again? In what world did the two of them stand together like this, touching and speaking quiet words? Jay opened his mouth to deny it, but Ryden arched a thick eyebrow at him. Damn.

“Yeah, okay. Fine. But what does that mean anyway? That we both excel at annoying each other? Perfect. Wonderful.”

“I don’t know, maybe it means there’s somethin’ else going on underneath all the shoutin’ and arguin’. Maybe....” Ryden leaned in, hesitating, as if allowing Jay the chance to step away, but Jay didn’t. Why wasn’t he moving? Instead of heading for the door, Jay lifted his chin and closed his eyes.