HIS HEART,HIS RIDE

CHAPTER 7:I DON'T CARE WHO SHE IS

Bella regretted asking Ryder about his father's accident the moment she saw his expression.

He stood outside the festival office, staring at her as though she had committed some unforgivable crime. The usual lazy smile was gone, replaced by an expression she couldn't quite understand.

"Who told you about my father?" he repeated.

Bella adjusted the strap of her camera bag. "Someone called me yesterday. I don't even know him properly."

And you believed whatever he said?

"I didn't say I believed him. I asked you a question."

"Then here's my answer. Stay out of it."

Ryder turned toward the office door.

Bella followed him inside, refusing to let him dismiss her so easily. "You know, you could try having a normal conversation with someone."

And you could try minding your own business.

"Fine. I will."

"Good."

"Wonderful."

"Fantastic."

Bella stared at him. "Are you always this childish?"

Only when people ask questions they have no business asking.

He opened the office door and walked inside, leaving Bella standing in the hallway with her mouth open.

She hated him.

Well, perhaps hated was a strong word. She simply disliked his attitude, his arrogance, his stupid smile, and the way he could turn an ordinary conversation into a competition he had to win.

That was all.

She repeated this to herself as she entered the office.

Sophie was already there, sitting beside a table covered with festival brochures. She looked up and smiled.

"Bella! You're here. I was beginning to think Ryder had scared you away."

"Not yet," Bella replied, placing her camera bag on the table.

Ryder dropped into a chair. "Give me time."

Sophie laughed.

Bella opened her notebook and pretended to concentrate on the schedule.

She had no reason to be irritated by their easy conversation. Sophie was friendly, Ryder was apparently capable of being pleasant to people who weren't Bella, and none of that concerned her.

Absolutely none.

"So," Sophie said, turning toward Ryder, "are we still going to the track this evening?"

"Probably."

You promised you'd help me choose the new promotional bike.

"I said I'd look at it."

"That's practically a promise coming from you."

Ryder shrugged. "Then I guess I'm becoming a better person."

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

They laughed again.

Bella pressed her pen against the paper hard enough to leave a small mark.

She looked down at her notebook.

Why was she even listening to them?

She had work to do.

"Is something wrong?" Sophie asked.

Bella looked up. "No. Why?"

You've been staring at that same page for five minutes.

"I was thinking."

Ryder glanced at her notebook. "Must be exhausting."

Bella smiled without warmth. "Not as exhausting as listening to you."

"See? She's fine," Ryder told Sophie. "That's just her face."

Sophie laughed again.

Bella closed her notebook.

Can we please discuss the actual photographs?

"Of course," Sophie said, pulling the schedule toward her. "Sorry."

For the next half hour, Bella focused on the assignment. They planned individual portraits, photographs of the riders preparing for races, and promotional pictures around the garage. Sophie was organized and easy to work with, which made Bella feel slightly guilty for being annoyed with her.

The woman hadn't done anything wrong.

Ryder, on the other hand, seemed determined to make the day difficult.

When Bella suggested photographing the racers beside their motorcycles, he immediately objected.

The lighting near the garage is terrible in the afternoon.

"I can adjust my settings."

And the background is cluttered.

"I can choose a better angle."

You could also listen to someone who knows the place.

Bella put down her pen. "Do you want me to take the photographs or do you want to take them yourself?"

Ryder leaned back. "I want you to take good photographs."

Then stop behaving like I'm incapable of doing my job.

For a moment, they stared at each other.

Sophie cleared her throat. "I think we can test both locations and see which works better."

Bella turned to her. "That's exactly what I suggested."

"I know." Sophie smiled apologetically. "I'm just trying to stop you two from arguing all afternoon."

"Good luck," Ryder said.

Bella gathered her things when the meeting ended.

"I'll see you at the track tomorrow," she told Sophie.

"Definitely. And don't worry about Ryder. He argues with everyone."

"Not everyone," Bella muttered before she could stop herself.

Sophie raised an eyebrow.

Bella immediately regretted speaking.

"I mean, he seems perfectly capable of having a conversation when he wants to."

Ryder stood and picked up his keys. "Are you studying my personality now? Should I be worried?"

Don't flatter yourself.

Wouldn't dream of it.

He walked out with Sophie, leaving Bella to follow them.

Outside, Sophie stopped beside Ryder's motorcycle.

Are you still giving me a lift?

Didn't you bring your car?

"My brother borrowed it."

Ryder handed her a spare helmet. "Fine. Get on."

Bella watched Sophie climb onto the motorcycle behind him.

It was an ordinary thing. Ryder was helping a friend. There was nothing unusual about it.

Yet Bella found herself staring at the way Sophie rested a hand on his shoulder.

She looked away immediately.

What was wrong with her?

She didn't like Ryder. She had spent the entire morning wishing he would disappear. So why did seeing him with another woman suddenly make her feel as though she'd swallowed something unpleasant?

It was ridiculous.

Completely ridiculous.

"Coming, camera girl?" Ryder called.

Bella realized she was still standing beside the office.

I'm not going anywhere with you.

"Didn't ask you to."

"Good."

"Excellent."

He started the motorcycle. Sophie waved at Bella before they rode away.

Bella stood there for another second, then marched toward the road to find a taxi.

She was not jealous.

She was simply annoyed that Ryder seemed to enjoy making her look foolish.

That explanation sounded much better.

***

The following morning, Bella arrived at the garage early to photograph the motorcycles before the practice session began.

She was setting up her camera when Mason approached with two cups of coffee.

"Peace offering," he announced, handing her one.

Bella accepted it gratefully. "For what?"

"For having to work with Ryder."

That man is a public health concern.

Mason laughed. "You know, he doesn't usually spend this much time arguing with people."

"Perhaps everyone else has better things to do than listen to him."

"Perhaps."

Bella lifted her camera and photographed a motorcycle near the entrance.

Mason watched her work for a moment before asking, "So, what do you think of Sophie?"

Bella nearly dropped her camera.

Why are you asking me?

"No reason."

Then stop asking strange questions.

Mason grinned. "You know, you're not very good at pretending you don't care."

"I don't care."

About Sophie?

About anything involving Ryder Black.

"Interesting."

"Mason."

"Okay, okay. I'll stop."

He raised his hands and walked away, laughing.

Bella returned to her photographs, irritated that everyone seemed determined to involve her in a situation that existed entirely in their imaginations.

She had more important things to worry about, like completing the festival assignment and building her photography portfolio.

Ryder's personal life wasn't her responsibility.

A few minutes later, a sleek black car pulled into the garage.

A woman stepped out wearing sunglasses and carrying a small handbag. She looked around until she spotted Ryder near the workbench.

"Ryder!"

He turned, and his expression changed into a wide, genuine smile.

Bella froze.

She had never seen him smile like that at her.

The woman walked straight up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ryder laughed, caught her around the waist, and lifted her briefly off the ground.

Bella's fingers tightened around her camera.

Who was she?

Sophie had never mentioned another woman. Mason hadn't either.

Not that they owed Bella an explanation.

She reminded herself of that as the woman pulled back and touched Ryder's cheek.

Then Ryder said something that made her laugh before she kissed him on the cheek.

Bella looked away so quickly that her camera strap slipped from her shoulder.

The camera struck the workbench with a sharp clatter.

Ryder turned at the sound.

Their eyes met across the garage.

His gaze moved from her face to the camera, then back again. A slow, knowing smile appeared on his lips.

"Careful, camera girl," he called. "You might break something expensive."

Bella straightened, her embarrassment turning into anger.

Don't worry about me.

"I wasn't."

"Good."

She picked up her camera and walked toward the exit.

She had almost reached the door when she heard the woman ask Ryder a question.

"Who's that girl?"

Bella stopped despite herself.

Ryder answered casually.

"Nobody important."

The words should have meant nothing to her.

Instead, they landed with an unpleasant sting.

Bella forced herself to keep walking.

She was halfway across the parking area when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Bella, wait."

She turned.

It wasn't Ryder.

It was the woman from the car.

Up close, she looked even more confident, with a perfectly composed smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm Vanessa," she said, extending her hand. "Ryder's girlfriend."

Bella stared at her.

Girlfriend?

She had barely recovered from thinking Sophie was his girlfriend, and now there was Vanessa.

Bella shook her hand slowly.

"Nice to meet you."

Vanessa's smile widened.

"Good. Because Ryder and I have been together for three years."

Bella's stomach tightened.

Three years?

Vanessa glanced toward the garage, where Ryder was watching them.

Then she leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"And if you're planning to get close to him, I suggest you don't waste your time."

Bella's eyes narrowed.

Before she could answer, Vanessa added five words that made her blood run cold.

"He's already promised to marry me."