Mistake Me Not

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

The women got in Sorcha’s car and got themselves to Shep’s office. Sorcha checked her hair and make-up in the rear-view mirror though there was no need because Sorcha looked as perfect as ever.

When Lacie had walked into this office for the first time she had been antsy but knew that she was helping her friend. Yet there she was walking in next to that friend, now Lacie felt she’d let Sorcha down. Sorcha had never wanted to face Shep, though from the swing in her hips Lacie wouldn’t know it to look at her.

A tiny blonde with a D-cup sat at the front desk that had been empty when Lacie had been there the first time. The blonde examined Sorcha as Sorcha did the same to her. Lacie stood shrouded in invisibility, as she always did at Sorcha’s side. But she didn’t mind. It gave her the chance to look at the grey industrial carpet on the floor and the drab beige walls. Her gaze traveled past the plastic chairs to the dusty fake ficus in the corner. She wondered if this was how Ryder’s office was set up.

Shep’s office door opened. When Lacie turned, a part of her expected to see Ryder, but the man that was there wasn’t anything like him. Shep was at least four inches shorter, and not as solid. He wore a washed-out yellow shirt, which did nothing for his short blond hair and pale complexion. That said, his eyes were sharp, his jaw square, and with a little wardrobe advice, and some time working in the sun, Lacie could see how Sorcha had been attracted.

“Shep,” Sorcha drawled, swaying her hips around the blonde’s desk.

Shep took the hand Sorcha extended, but his focus remained on Lacie, which served to confuse her. Sorcha was the noticeable one.

“Ladies, come in,” Shep said, dropping Sorcha’s hand.

Shep moved out of the way to let Sorcha enter his office and still he watched Lacie’s every move.

Something lingered behind the smile Shep bestowed on her when she passed him to enter behind Sorcha. And though the office appeared the same as it had on her first visit, the air was different. Maybe it was because she subconsciously relived her first encounter with Ryder, which had taken place in this space. Carrying on inside, despite her unease, they all found their seats. Shep still watched her, which had Sorcha looking at her with a healthy dollop of her own curiosity.

“What am I missing?” Sorcha asked.

Shep completely ignored her. “I got an email from Stone,” he said with a smile dancing on his lips.

“I know,” Lacie said, glancing to her friend in hope that she would take over, she didn’t.

“I tell you…” Shep said. “I’ve known Stone a long time, too long. He’s never given up business to me. But that’s not the shocking thing.”

“What’s the shocking thing?” Sorcha asked.

“The way he warned me off, it was almost… insecure, tough as he was trying to make himself out to be. Tell me, little lady, is playing away your deal?” His eyes dragged down to her chest. “ ‘Cause I tell you even if he does kill me, I have a feeling it would be worth it.”

“Did he tell you about Bruce?” Lacie asked.

“He gave me the bare bones,” Shep said to her. “The first thing to do would be to check out the address.”

“We did,” Lacie said. “You don’t want a piece of that.”

“We’ll see. Stone and I have different methods.”

From what Ryder had told her that was true.

“Just don’t go alone,” Lacie said.

“I don’t plan to,” he said, switching his attention to Sorcha. “You want to see this guy?”

“No,” Lacie said. “You’re not taking her there.”

“I don’t want a showdown,” Sorcha said.

“Do you see my face?” Lacie asked. “They did this.”

“You’ll be safe with me, sweetheart. Like I said, Stone and I have different methods.”

“What?” Lacie asked.

“You told me not to go alone,” Shep said. “You want to help your friend, don’t you?”

“You want me to go back there?”

“Sure,” Shep said. “I’ll look after you.”

“No, I can’t. Ryder said they won’t be there anymore anyway,” Lacie said.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about, is there? We can check out the place see what they left behind. Think of it as an adventure.”

“I’ve had all the adventures I want this week,” Lacie said.

“You can ID this Bruce guy.”

Lacie wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. “Sorcha has a picture.”

“I work well with a partner,” Shep said. “I’ll give you a break on the final bill if you help me out.”

“Why do you want me involved?” Lacie asked. “You’re trying to rile up Ryder, aren’t you?”

He didn’t answer but the mischief in his eyes told her that she was right.

“You’re not taking Lacie, she’s been through enough,” Sorcha belatedly asserted.

“Couldn’t agree more.”

The women turned in their chairs as Shep looked to the door. Ryder stood leaning against the frame with one thumb tucked into his jeans pocket. He looked cool and tough, he needed a shave and he’d clearly only combed his hair with his fingers today. Her lips parted in expectation of his. There was a room between them, and he hadn’t even looked at her. Why was her heart racing?

No one moved for a minute, then Ryder began to swagger across the room one long, slow stride at a time.

“Lacie’s going nowhere, neither is Sorcha. They’re paying you to do a job. If you can’t do it, I’ll get one of my boys on it.”

“Don’t think it’s you that the ladies want,” Shep said.

“You had a personal relationship with the principal which is the only reason you’re getting a c***k at this at all,” Ryder answered.

“You took the girl with you,” Shep said.

“She’s not the girl,” Ryder said, stopping between their seats, widening his stance. “She’s my girl and you know it.”

“Would you excuse us for a moment?” Lacie asked, bouncing to her feet, and taking Ryder’s arm to drag him to the corner. “What are you doing here? How did you know we were here?”

“I called Tiffany.”

“Tiffany?”

“The girl out front. And Sorcha’s car is outside.”

“How do you know her car? Forget it, I don’t want to know,” she said, swiping an eyelash from his cheek and realizing for the first time how intimately close they stood. “I told you not to come.”

“I’m glad I did, he was trying to strong-arm you. I told you, I know what he’s like.”

“I was saying no. I was handling it.”

His hand went to the wall far above her head and he leaned in. “I know. But I’m here to back you up.”

“Why are you here?” she asked. “He was only pressuring me to go in an effort to rile you up. With you showing up, he’ll know it’s working.”

“We’re having a private conference in the corner,” Ryder said. “I’m riled up for reasons that are nothing to do with him.”

Ryder’s eyes traveled down her body. Instead of feeling violated as she had when Shep looked at her that way, the crackling of the air between them got almost audible. Touching his sternum with her index finger, she pushed up to her tiptoes and kissed the stubble on his jaw. His eyes flared as that corner of his mouth tilted up.

Parting her lips, she tipped her chin upwards and he took her cue, lowering his mouth to hers for a kiss. Though it was chaste in comparison to their last union, the kiss was certainly more than friendly.

“Are you okay?” he asked, any delight replaced with concern.

“He keeps staring,” she whispered. “I don’t like the way he looks at me. I’m angry at you and confused by this whole thing, but…”

“But?”

“I like the way you look at me. I like how it makes me feel,” she said, stalling her examination of his tee-shirt to look up at him.

“I love your mind,” he said. “And how you speak it.”

“I’m not usually this… verbal.”

“Then I count myself lucky.”

“I’m angry,” she said, sounding anything but.

“I’ll grovel.”

“Isn’t that beneath you?”

“Not if it gets me beneath you,” he muttered, leaning in again.

Lacie retreated. “I’m confused. I don’t understand.”

“I’ll explain everything, anything you want to know.”

“Why?” she asked. “Why me?”

“You feel it too,” he said. “Can you explain it?”

She couldn’t but knew what he was talking about. That undeniable, indestructible, invisible bond that drew them to each other, and had since their very first shared moment.

“Excuse me,” Sorcha chirped. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have to get going.”

“What?” Lacie said in unison with Ryder who hooked her under his arm as they turned.

Sorcha was closing in on them. “We’re all going, together.”

“Sorcha,” Lacie said with warning, knowing that tickle in her friend’s voice.

“Come on,” Sorcha said. “Shep assures me it will be an adventure.”

“You’re not going,” Lacie said. “It’s dangerous.”

“You’re not going either,” Ryder said to her.

Lacie completely ignored him and slid her hand into his back pocket. “Sorcha, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Would you rather the boys went alone?” Sorcha asked.

Shep was out from behind the desk and approaching. “Stone’s chicken, he’s already f****d this up.”

“Watch your language in front of the ladies,” Ryder said. “And you’re not going to goad me into it.”

“Just me and the girls then,” Shep said, taking Sorcha’s arm and eyeing Lacie.

“Keep looking at her like that and I’ll make sure you lose the ability to look at anything,” Ryder said.

“I’m going,” Sorcha said. “I think I deserve this.”

Lacie read between the lines, it might be her last chance for excitement and adventure. But Sorcha didn’t know what lay out there.

Lacie couldn’t let her go alone especially in her current condition. “Sorch, let’s talk about this.”

“My father doesn’t know I’m back, if they see me—”

“Please, let’s sleep on it,” Lacie said.

“It’s lunchtime,” Sorcha said. “You know how important this is.”

“Nothing will change between now and then,” Lacie said.

“Actually it might,” Ryder said. “Toby’s following the money.”

“Can’t have much of a trail,” Shep said.

“Got us there in the first place,” Ryder responded.

“Turned out well didn’t it,” Shep said. “Hence why you’re here.”

“The guy is careless.”

“If he was, you’ve scared him into hiding now.”

“Bruce is not running from anything,” Sorcha said.

“Why did he leave town?” Shep asked.

“We don’t know what’s going on,” Ryder said. “But he’s mixed up with something, and from experience, I can tell you it stinks.”

Lacie’s phone started to ring. Her purse was on the back of her chair, so she dashed away from Ryder to get it. As she fished it out, she saw that Sorcha had separated herself from the men.

“Is it him?” Sorcha asked.

The phone screen held one word and when Lacie looked up at Sorcha she didn’t have to say it, Sorcha read her expression and held up two hands of crossed fingers.

“Darwin,” Lacie answered turning her back on the group and sticking her finger in her ear to block everyone else out. “You called. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so quickly.”

Lacie listened to Darwin’s pitch but was crucially aware of the prickle on the back of her neck, which signified the three sets of eyes on her. Somehow, dealing with business now seemed surreal even though this was her life.

“Yes, I promise… of course, thank you.”

Lacie hung up and dropped her phone into her bag.

“Well?” Sorcha asked as she turned.

“Forty-five,” Lacie said.

The men remained in the background while Sorcha bounded closer. “Have you heard from Briggs?”

“No, and I don’t expect to. Not yet.”

“Did you tell him about Spencer’s offer?”

“No,” Lacie said. “I’m not playing them off each other.”

“You’re terrible. Was he trying to get you onto his yacht again? Did you tell him about Elijah?”

“That’s none of his business, and I still don’t believe Elijah’s offer was real.”

“I think it was,” Sorcha said. “I think that’s how much he wants you.”

“What’s your other job?” Shep asked, moseying up beside Sorcha. “Are you a hooker?”

“Watch your mouth,” Ryder said, smacking the back of Shep’s head while passing him to reach Lacie.

“He wanted to host a reception?” Sorcha asked. “He’s trying to court you. You have to play the game.”

“I don’t.”

“So much for your girl,” Shep laughed. “She’s got them lined up.”

Ryder propped himself on Shep’s desk behind her but didn’t touch her. Lacie didn’t like Shep’s attitude or Ryder’s reticence.

“Shut up,” Sorcha said, taking her turn to chide Shep.

“I have to go to dinner next week with a know-it-all millionaire,” Lacie said then spun on the spot to fix Ryder in her sights. “Will you come with me?”

The brooding man’s arms had been folded the width of his chest; he’d been examining his boots. But when she spoke, he seemed to snap out of his distraction.

“What?” Ryder asked.

“Their pursuit of her is relentless,” Sorcha said, putting an arm around Lacie’s waist to squeeze. “Everyone wants to commission her. It’s worse since the MoMA exhibition. But she’s so bad at this. She’s got a reputation as a recluse because she hates to be the center of attention.”

“I’m not social. I’m better in small groups,” Lacie said.

“You’re eccentric,” Sorcha said. “Are you going to look after her, or am I going to have to set her up with another of my trust fund suitors?”

“MoMA,” Shep said somewhere in the background.

Lacie couldn’t help but notice that Ryder hadn’t said anything, though he watched her intently.

“I think he only wants into your underwear,” Sorcha said in judgement.

Lacie didn’t think that Ryder heard her friend. His expression didn’t change. There was an intensity in his attention that made her ears buzz and drowned out all other sounds.

Ryder’s stance loosened, he reached for her. Lacie went willingly into the cradle of his arms, nestled in the vee of his thighs. He brushed her nose with his and kissed her again. A long, slow, deep plundering of her mouth as though they had all the time in the world. Like they were all alone with the night stretched out in front of them.

“…She needs someone alert, assertive, and focused,” Sorcha said.

No doubt her words were in continuation of something she’d been saying for a while, but Lacie’s body was Jell-O against Ryder’s. His form held hers up and she had no desire to move and knew without asking that he’d fight to keep her in place. He wanted her right there in his arms.

“You will pay attention, won’t you?” Sorcha insisted. “You know, the exact opposite of what you’re doing now? She’s terrible, she can’t say no, and often fazes out… like now.”

“I’ll look after her,” Ryder said to Sorcha as he stroked Lacie’s face.

“Forty-five,” Shep said, snapping back into the conversation. “Are you talking tens? Hundreds?”

“Thousand,” Sorcha said.

“Now I know what the besotted look is for,” Shep said.

“What?” Sorcha asked.

“This guy doesn’t go gooey eyed over a woman, never seen it. She’s an artist, she’s raking it in.”

Sorcha’s outrage was audible. “Lacie is a beautiful, smart, funny, sensitive—”

“He’s not short of a few doubloons himself,” Shep said. “Course you can never have too much.”

“Are you listening to his babbling?” Ryder asked her.

“Is someone talking?” Lacie asked. His smile tasted hers. “I want to see your office.”

“I want to see your bedroom,” Ryder teased.

“You’ve seen my bedroom,” she said.

“Not for long enough.”

“This is all wonderful, and I couldn’t be happier for you, Lace,” Sorcha said. “It’s about time you got a break after the whole Matt Rhys debacle. If you like this one, keep him. I know how nuts you are for loyalty, and this will tick a box but…”

Lacie kissed Ryder, then turned in his arms, not letting their bodies part for a moment.

“You’re right,” Lacie said, resting her hands on Ryder’s arms that held her flush against him. “We have to get you sorted out. We’ll all pack a bag and meet somewhere in an hour. We’ll do it together and get it done.”

“Really?” Sorcha gushed.

“We know what we’re walking into or at least we’re better prepared now.”

“Pack a bag,” Shep said. “Why do I need—?”

“Always be prepared,” Lacie said, quoting Ryder.

“This is so exciting,” Sorcha said.

“There are more of us this time,” Lacie said to Ryder’s unspoken reservations. “And we have to work as a team.”

“Come on then, quickly,” Sorcha said. “I have to drive you home first.”

“I’ll take her,” Ryder said.

“But you’ll have to—”

“He’s already packed,” Lacie said, linking their fingers. “Everyone meet at mine in an hour.”

“At yours?” Shep objected. “Why?”

“Because they’re the couple who will need some alone time, duh!” Sorcha exclaimed.

“I could take you home,” Shep said to Sorcha.

“Been there, done that,” Sorcha said, sashaying those hips out of the office. “No thanks.”

“And we all know why,” Ryder said to Lacie’s crown, but she elbowed him.

“Privacy, loyalty,” she murmured. “What we discuss goes no further.”

“You got it, baby,” Ryder said and pushed away from the desk. “Better get moving to make the most of our alone time.”

“Heard that part didn’t you?” Lacie teased.

“I heard the word ‘couple,’” he said. “It made me want to drag you back to my cave.”

It was flattering that he didn’t even look at the spritely Tiffany, despite her desperate attempt to get his attention. They got to the street and once again headed to his familiar truck.