Page 49 of Wicked Games
I pulled Ryder into my arms and kissed him soft and slow like we didn’t have a care in the world. We deserved to have one night where we didn’t think about Banks and the threats he held over me. We could dress up, eat, and have fun out on the town without thinking about why we were there in the first place. I kissed Ryder until he hummed happily.
“We better get going,” Ryder said. “You made plans for me, and I don’t want to miss them.”
We showered together but mostly kept our hands to ourselves because neither of us wanted to rush the plans we’d silently made in the hammock. Ryder stayed in the bathroom to get dressed while I stayed in the bedroom. I had to admit, Rafael picked bolder colors for me than I would’ve chosen, but I loved the way I looked.
“Is it safe to come out?” Ryder asked from the other side of the bathroom door.
“Yep. I’m decent.”
Ryder pushed open the door fast to get my attention then sauntered into the bedroom, turned like a runway model, then raked his eyes over me from head to toe. “Oh, you went with a fedora,” he said, adjusting his straw Panama hat with a white band.
I ran my hand over the camel-colored brim of my hat then performed a circle for him to check me out too. “You like what you see?”
“I love it,” Ryder said. “You look like you were born to wear those clothes.”
Rafael had suggested a peachy-coral color, four-pocket shirt with white pineapples embroidered in the pleating down the front of the shirt. I had to admit; it looked good with my dark coloring. Ryder’s shirt was made of pale blue linen and had classic, unadorned pleats. We both chose white linen pants and brown leather oxfords.
“Damn, love,” I said huskily, “everyone is going to want to steal you away from me.”
“I was just thinking the same about you.” Ryder closed the distance and placed his hand on my pecs then slid them higher to wrap around my neck. “They can look all they want, but that’s as far as it goes.”
“Ready for dinner?”
“Yes. I can’t believe I’m going to say this after our huge meal a few hours ago, but I’m starved.”
The Edge Steak & Bar was elegant and quiet, allowing us to talk over drinks before our food arrived.
“This is going to sound odd, but I didn’t think of you as having parents,” Ryder said after sipping his martini.
I nearly swallowed my Scotch down the wrong pipe. “Did you think I came here from an alien planet like Superman?”
“I assumed you had parents at one time,” Ryder said, then discreetly looked around to see if anyone was within hearing range. “I just figured Banks would prefer agents without familial ties. Until you mentioned your family today, I assumed your parents were no longer living or you were estranged from them. What kind of questions do your parents ask when you leave suddenly or miss holidays?”
“I’ve told them I work for a secret agency and leave when I’m required.”
“They think you’re James Bond,” Ryder said, grinning slyly.
“They’ve never said as much, but I guess it’s possible. Many SAS officers go on to work clandestine jobs. We do have unique skillsets that come in handy and make us overqualified for many careers.”
“Do you ever carry a gun?” Ryder asked, sounding uncertain.
“Not in this line of work. Banks is about us recovering stolen artifacts, not eliminating targets. I did enough of that as an SAS officer, and I never want to hold a gun in my hand again if possible. The thing is, Ryder, Banks is a legitimate businessman and uses his company as a cover. To anyone looking, I’m acquiring antiquities on his behalf. My parents would have a very hard time believing I would choose that job over serving my country. So, it’s not a cover I employ.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Ryder asked.
“No. I’m an only child. My father is an investment banker like yours. His name is Jenson. My mother, Katherine, is a very distant cousin to the queen. Something like a twelfth cousin twice removed or some silliness. She’s very active in causes and committees. She always has someone to meet and someplace to be. Celeste reminds me a lot of my mother, except she’s warmer than mine.”
Ryder snorted. “I bet my mother could freeze water just by looking at it. She’s warmed up a lot since the gala, and she’s trying hard to repair our strained relationship. I realize she needs to be needed. Mother was very involved in our lives when we were little, but once we went to college, she filled her days and nights with activities and committees to make up for our absence. My parents have never had a loving marriage, but they were at least friends once. Our absence made the strain more apparent and they turned away from one another instead of toward each other. My mother was extremely lonely, but I was too selfish to see it. She’s trying to get back to the mother I worshiped. As I told her, it’s not too late for us.”
“I have to admit; I’m dying to meet Iris. I saw her at the gala. She looks like a magnificent force to be reckoned with.”
“She is that, and speaking of Iris, I need to pick her up some good cigars while I’m down here. I’ll ship them home if we don’t head back right away.”
“Iris smokes cigars?”
“And she drinks expensive bourbon and cusses like a sailor.”
“I’m going to adore her.”