HIS HEART,HIS RIDE

CHAPTER 8:NOT MY PROBLEM

Bella stared at Vanessa, wondering whether the woman expected her to congratulate her.

"He's promised to marry you?" Bella repeated.

Vanessa smiled proudly. "That's what I said."

"Congratulations, then."

"Thank you." Vanessa tilted her head. "You don't sound particularly interested."

Should I be?

"Not at all. I just wanted to make sure you understood the situation."

Bella adjusted her camera bag. "Trust me, I understand perfectly. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

She turned toward the garage, refusing to let Vanessa see how uncomfortable the conversation had made her.

Ryder was still standing beside his motorcycle when Bella returned. Vanessa followed a few steps behind, looking pleased with herself.

"Everything okay?" Ryder asked.

"Perfect," Bella replied.

He studied her face. "You look like you're planning to murder someone."

"Don't flatter yourself. You're not important enough to inspire that much effort."

Mason, who had been listening nearby, burst out laughing.

Ryder shook his head. "Whatever you say, camera girl."

Vanessa slipped her arm through his. "Are you coming with me for lunch?"

"I've got practice."

You can spare an hour.

"I said I've got practice."

Her smile faded slightly. "You promised we'd spend today together."

Ryder glanced at the motorcycle, then sighed. "Fine. Give me twenty minutes."

Vanessa kissed his cheek. "I'll wait in the car."

After she walked away, Ryder turned toward Bella.

"Can you photograph Mason first? I'll be back before practice starts."

Bella looked at him incredulously. "Why are you asking me?"

Because you're the photographer.

You have an entire garage full of people. Ask somebody else.

Ryder's eyebrows rose. "What's your problem?"

Nothing.

Then stop acting like I personally ruined your morning.

Bella forced a smile. "Enjoy your lunch with your fiancée."

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

Ryder's expression changed.

What did you just say?

Bella lifted her camera. "You heard me."

He stepped closer. "What did Vanessa tell you?"

Nothing I wasn't apparently supposed to know.

Ryder stared at her for a moment before letting out a humorless laugh.

"Unbelievable."

He walked away without another word.

Bella watched him climb into Vanessa's car. A moment later, they drove out of the parking area.

She turned back to her camera and concentrated on her work.

She didn't care where Ryder went. She didn't care who he dated, who he kissed, or who he promised to marry.

And she certainly didn't care that he hadn't bothered to explain anything.

She was here to build her photography career, not waste time worrying about a man who treated every conversation like a competition.

"You're doing that thing again," Mason said beside her.

Bella glanced at him. "What thing?"

"Looking like you want to throw your camera at somebody."

"Maybe I do."

"Let me guess. Ryder?"

"No."

Mason grinned. "You know, you say his name surprisingly often for someone who doesn't care about him."

Bella pointed her camera at him. "Smile."

He immediately posed dramatically, making her laugh despite herself.

"That's better," he said. "You look less terrifying when you smile."

"Don't push your luck."

For the next hour, Bella concentrated on photographing Mason and the other riders. She captured their preparations, the details of their motorcycles, and several candid moments around the garage. Work helped distract her from thoughts she had no intention of entertaining.

Unfortunately, Ryder returned just before noon.

He stepped out of the car alone, carrying a paper bag and wearing the same careless expression he always seemed to have.

Bella barely glanced at him.

"Where's Vanessa?" Mason asked.

"Busy."

Everything okay?

Why wouldn't it be?

Mason raised his hands. "Just asking."

Ryder looked toward Bella. "Are you finished with the photographs?"

"Almost."

"Good. Daniel wants to see the best ones before you leave."

I can send them to him.

He wants to see them here.

"Then he can look at them when I'm finished."

Ryder gave her an amused look. "You've become very difficult today."

Bella lowered her camera. "And you've always been difficult. At least I'm consistent."

Mason coughed to hide his laughter.

Ryder shook his head and walked into the office.

Bella thought that would be the end of it, but ten minutes later, Daniel called her inside.

He sat behind his desk, reviewing some paperwork.

"How's everything going with the assignment?" he asked.

"Fine. I've taken some good photographs."

"Excellent. Ryder tells me you're doing a great job."

Bella blinked. "He does?"

Daniel smiled. "He doesn't compliment people often, so take it seriously."

She wasn't sure what to say.

Daniel returned to his paperwork. "By the way, I hope Vanessa hasn't made things uncomfortable for you. She can be a little possessive."

Bella looked up sharply. "You know about that?"

"About what?"

Bella hesitated. She didn't want to get involved in Ryder's personal affairs, especially after he'd made it clear that she should mind her own business.

"Nothing. It's not important."

Daniel studied her briefly but didn't press.

"All right. Just remember that you're here because of your talent. Don't let anybody distract you from what you're trying to achieve."

Bella left the office feeling slightly better.

At least someone around here understood boundaries.

She collected her camera bag and headed toward the exit. She had barely reached the parking area when she heard Ryder calling her name.

"Bella!"

She stopped reluctantly.

He approached with his hands in his pockets.

"What?" she asked.

"Why are you being weird with me?"

"I'm not."

"You've been snapping at me all morning."

"You've survived. Congratulations."

Ryder sighed. "Did Vanessa say something to you?"

Bella stared at him. "Why don't you ask your girlfriend?"

His jaw tightened.

"She's not my girlfriend."

Bella blinked.

"What?"

"Vanessa and I aren't together."

For a moment, Bella couldn't find her voice.

"But she said—"

"Vanessa says a lot of things."

"She told me you've promised to marry her."

Ryder laughed once, without humor.

"Of course she did."

Bella crossed her arms. "Then why would she lie about something like that?"

"Because she wants something from me."

"What?"

"That's none of your business."

There it was again.

Bella felt her patience disappear.

"You know what, Ryder? You're absolutely right. Your relationships aren't my business, your problems aren't my business, and your mysterious little attitude certainly isn't my problem."

"Then why do you care?"

"I DON'T!"

Her voice echoed across the nearly empty parking area.

Ryder stared at her.

Bella immediately wished she'd kept her voice down.

He slowly smiled.

"Interesting."

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"Your face did."

He laughed, and Bella hated that he looked so pleased with himself.

"Relax, camera girl. I was only asking a question."

"And I answered it."

"Very loudly."

Bella turned and marched toward the road.

"See you tomorrow," Ryder called after her.

She didn't look back.

She had spent enough time arguing with him for one day.

***

That evening, Bella sat on Aunt Clara's sofa editing her photographs when her phone buzzed.

A message from an unfamiliar number appeared.

*You should stay away from Ryder Black.*

Bella frowned.

Another message arrived.

*Vanessa isn't the only woman who thinks she has a future with him.*

Bella stared at the screen.

She considered blocking the number, but curiosity made her type a reply.

*Who is this?*

The response came almost immediately.

*Someone who knows Ryder better than you do.*

Bella rolled her eyes.

*Then tell Ryder whatever you want to tell him. I'm not interested.*

She placed the phone facedown and returned to her photographs.

A minute later, another notification appeared.

This time, it was a photograph.

Bella opened it.

The image showed Ryder standing outside a restaurant, his hand resting on a woman's waist. The woman was looking up at him, smiling, while he leaned toward her.

Bella recognized Ryder immediately.

But she didn't recognize the woman.

A message appeared beneath the picture.

*Ask him who he was with last night.*

Bella stared at the photograph, her mind racing despite her determination not to care.

Then another message arrived.

*And if he tells you he was alone, don't believe him.*

Bella's phone began ringing.

It was Ryder.

She watched his name flash across the screen, then answered.

"Hello?"

"Did someone send you a photograph?" he asked, his voice unusually serious.

Bella sat upright.

"How do you know?"

"Listen to me carefully. Don't show that picture to anyone, and don't reply to the number."

Why?

A long silence followed.

Then Ryder said something that made Bella's stomach drop.

"Because the woman in that photograph is my best friend's wife."