Invisibility Cloak (20 page)

Chapter 12

“D
on’t we need to get your car?” Amanda asked after they finished with her therapy exrcises.

“Nah, I’m good where I’m at.” Ryder guided her left onto the concrete pathway as they exited the gym.

Walking into a brown building across from Go Fitness she asked, “Is your business in one of these office buildings?”

He pulled out his badge and swiped it in the front of the door. “Yeah, it’s on the second floor.” Ryder held the door open for Amanda and waited for her to walk through. “It’s not a big place. Just my office, a meeting area, and Marge’s receptionist desk as you walk in.”

Amanda nodded and hesitated after she went through another door and asked him, “Elevator or stairs?”

“Stairs would be healthier, but how does your ankle feel?” Pulling his brows down, he studied her. “You already did some extensive exercises and I didn’t. Don’t want to push your ankle too hard. That’s when accidents happen.”

She pressed her mouth together, and he thought for sure she’d insist on the stairs; she could be stubborn as a mule. But she surprised him and said grudgingly, “I guess the elevator.”

He nodded once and directed her with his hand behind her back to the elevator door. “Good choice.”

She leaned forward and pressed the button for the second floor. “Yeah, well, you know me.” She smirked at him. “Miss Congeniality.”

“Uh, huh.” He wanted to laugh out-loud at that comment, but he didn’t. “That’s you, all right.”

She gave him a healthier smile and her green eyes twinkled. “That’s me.”

She was so damn cute with those sparkling green eyes and that mulish attitude. He cleared his throat when the elevator dinged. “I won’t be long.”

After the doors slid open Ryder steered her to the right. “My office is over here.” They walked down the second floor aisle way, until he came to a stop in front of Wolf Security Systems. The smoky glassed door had a wolf howling at the moon etched into it. A white note was taped on the door and Ryder tore it off and read it out-loud.

“It’s from Marge, my secretary, she said she set the contract on my desk and she had a lunch date. She’ll be back soon.” He smirked. “She can take as long as she wants. She’s the best damn secretary I’ve ever had.”

“Love this.” Amanda traced the white opaque silhouette on the glass with her fingertips.

Ryder couldn’t hold back his smile. He had a special artist from Tucson come down and etch it on. Cost him a mint. “Thanks, I do too.” After unlocking the office, he gestured to the small couch in front of the receptionist’s desk. “Why don’t you relax? Can I make you some coffee? Or a bottle of water?”

“Water would be great.” Amanda leaned back to sit down, but hopped back up. “Just tell me where to get the water and you can do your work.”

“You sure?”

Nodding she looked around. “I don’t want to keep you from your business, Ryder. You have been with me and my kids constantly since that man broke into my home. I feel bad. I’m disrupting your life.” Amanda pulled her brows down. “I’m sorry; this is my mess, not yours.”

“Amanda.” He cupped her shoulders in his palms. “Right now your safety is my number one priority. So I’m here for you.”

She shook her head. “But why?” Pulling her arm up she stuck up her palm. “Please, don’t get me wrong, I’m very, very grateful that you have been around, believe me.” Amanda jerked her hand up and ran her fingers through her hair. “Just confused that you’ve helped me take on whatever it is that is coming after me and my kids.”

“Well, for one.” Ryder gripped her shoulders. “I’m in the business and it is what I do for a living. And two.” Softening his grasp, he ran his hands up and down her arms. “I like you. And I like your kids.” He clenched his jaw and then said, “What I don’t like is what’s happening to you.”

“Well, thank-you, Ryder.” Amanda ducked her head and brought the corners of her mouth up. “I know I sometimes don’t act like it, but I am glad I have you around being my white knight.”

“Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.” He nodded once. “Is that settled?”

“Yes,” she muttered.

“Okay.” Pointing to the left, he said, “Small kitchenette is down there. Water bottles are in the fridge.” He thumbed it to right. “My office is right over here. Come on inside or relax on the couch, whatever you want.”

“Aye-Aye, captain.” She saluted him and went to the kitchen.

He stepped into his office and looked for the Hillerman file. Marge, called him earlier and said they phoned wanting him to install a nice big system in their mansion as soon as possible, but the estimate needed his signature on it. And he wasn’t sure what time he’d be in today, so since he was literally in his office’s backyard when Amanda was doing her workout, this seemed like the opportune time to come sign that contract. He opened up the manila folder and spread the papers out on his desk to look them over one more time before he signed the agreement.

A
manda looked round the small kitchenette before opening the door handle of the white refrigerator to get the bottle of water. Ryder’s office may be small, but it was tastefully decorated. The walls were painted an orangey-red clay color. Butcher block covered the cheerful white kitchen cabinets and the floor was covered in a tile that had the same clay tone as the walls. A small round table with four chairs sat in the middle of the room showcasing a big window that let in a lot of natural light. She unscrewed the plastic lid off the water and strode to the window. Another pretty day. The structure across the way looked awfully familiar. Then she noticed a therapist from the gym walking down below her on the sidewalk.
Mandy I think her name is
.

Why that’s the gym. There was a flutter of people going back and forth through the doors. She watched as a younger man pushed a much older man in a wheelchair and they pressed on the automatic doors and like magic, the glass doors spread open for them. Setting her water bottle on the small table, she took a seat and observed the people strolling back and forth on the walkway.

It wasn’t so long ago that she was in a wheelchair, she remembered. Her parents both rushed down from Colorado and spent two weeks with her and the kids to help out. They truly were her life-savers. Her body involuntarily shuddered as the thought ran through her mind of not having them around. They were her only family. Well, of course except for her kiddos. She had two aunts and a handful of cousins, but she never saw them.

In the midst of taking a sip of water, she heard Ryder’s office door open and walked over to see who came in.

A small older woman was putting her purse in the front desk and looked up when she noticed Amanda. “Hi, there, you must be Amanda Harris.” She smiled and covered Amanda’s hands with both of hers. “Ryder told me everything you’ve been through. I’m so sorry, dearie.”

“You must be Marge. He’s spoken very highly of you.”

Marge’s eyes twinkled. “If only I was thirty years younger.” She put her finger in front of her lips and said, “Now, don’t you dare tell him I said that.”

“You can trust me.” Amanda winked.

“Yes, well if only I could tell the others that call the same thing.” Marge pushed a button on the phone and it appeared she was taking the missed messages, so Amanda silently waved her hand and walked down to see what Ryder was doing.

Peeking around the corner, Amanda found Ryder behind his desk working on papers scattered in front of him.

“Knock, knock.”

He waved her inside. “C’mon in, did Marge get back?” He stood and stacked the papers evenly with both hands. “I’m about done.” The sunlight from the large picture window behind him outlined his movements in an incandescent way.

Amanda gestured to his window. “That’s the gym.”

Ryder nodded. “Yep.”

“And you belong there, too?” Her mouth went dry.

Again, he nodded.

“I’m surprised I never ran into you.” She tilted the bottle up and took a sip of water.

“I usually go in the afternoon. I prefer that time. Less people. It was always too congested for me in the morning.”

“I would’ve definitely noticed if you were in the gym when I was there, Ryder.” What in the devil made her say that? She bit her tongue for punishment. Didn’t she, in so many words, just tell Marge that they had to keep his ego in check?

“Amanda.” Ryder walked over to her. “There is something I need to tell you.” He looked down at the floor and clenched his jaw.

Something bad? She felt faint. This must be bad, because he couldn’t even look at her. He was married! What a louse. Her mind raced and she collapsed onto the chair behind her.

“Look, Amanda.” He shoved both his hands into his pants pockets. “I swear this isn’t as bad as it sounds.”

“You’re married―”

He cut her off. “No, that’s not it.”

Oh Thank God
. “Then, you’re engaged to be―”

He scowled. “Is that all women think about?”

Her eyebrows shot up.
“Excuuuuuzzze
me?” She jerked out of her seat, no longer feeling faint. “Why is it that you men all think that that is all we women think about?” She poked him in the chest with her finger. “I suggest you bend over right now and pull your head out of your a―”

Ryder pulled her to him before she could finish her sentence. “Sometimes you just talk too much, woman,” he said before his mouth crushed down on hers.

Amanda was stubborn at first, but Ryder wanted more. He clamped his hands on the backside of her butt and pulled her even closer.

Yalza.
That faint feeling came over her again. Lordy this man could kiss. They were plastered against each other as they went at each other’s mouth.

“Amanda,” he groaned.

Her head was dizzy in lust, but she somehow heard him through the haze. “What, Ryder?” That voice was smoky and sultry. That voice was her.
That was her?

His hands roamed all over her body and he slid his palm up to her breast.

“Ah,” she groaned and pulled his shirt out of his pants then slid her hands up his bare back.

A soft tapping and a faint voice murmured at the door, “Mr. Stevenson?” Then a startled, “Oops!”

They both seemed to remember where they were at the same time. Ryder grabbed onto Amanda’s arms and stepped back. Mortified, she looked at him and his cheeks flamed red.
Good!

And then she looked down. Oh My God. How embarrassing. She wretched her own two hands out from underneath his shirt and took a step back as well.

“Yes, Marge,” he croaked out. He swiped a hand through the top of his head. “I, uh . . .”

Amanda could actually feel her eyes bug out of their sockets. Ryder was fumbling? Unbelievable.

“I do apologize for the interruption.” His secretary smiled knowingly at them both. “You have a phone call on line two.”

“Who is it?”

“Mrs. Edgington,” she murmured before she looked over at Amanda. “Would you like some more water, Ms. Harris?”

Amanda grabbed her plastic bottle that she’d placed on Ryder’s desk. “You know, that is a great idea.” She fanned her hand in front of her face. “I am kinda hot.”

“I’ll get you one.”

She held up her palm. “No!” Amanda stepped over to the door. “I’ll go, and give Ryder some privacy for the phone call.”

Turning to look at Ryder before she left for the kitchenette, she noticed his color had returned to normal and he reached over to pick up the phone. Before he depressed the line button, his gaze focused on her and he grinned.

Amanda’s stomach flipped over at least three times when he gave her that lop-sided smile. Her mouth curved up in a giddy grin, until his head dropped to take the call.

“Mrs. Edgington.” He paused. “Okay, Sophia, then. What can I do for you?”

Amanda turned to walk to the kitchenette, but tilted her head, hoping to hear more of the conversation.

Oooh!

So, what was really going on between those two? Was it like Ryder insisted; that she was only a client? But Jeffrey Smeth alluded to Ryder being romantically involved with Sophia. As she tossed her empty water bottle in a recycling bin, Marge stepped in the room.

“Ms. Harris, can I get you anything else. Something to eat, maybe?”

“Ah, no.” Amanda looked out the window that overlooked the Go Fitness Gym. “I’m fine, thank-you anyway, Marge.” She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands, so she crossed them, tucking her fingers under her biceps. It was a slight comfort.

“I don’t mean to pry, Ms. Harris.” Marge came to stand next to her. “I know for a fact that Mrs. Edgington will not leave poor Ryder alone.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, I’ve watched the whole episode for months now.” Marge chuckled quietly. “I don’t think the woman is used to the word no or being turned down.”

“Really?” Amanda’s spirit edged up slightly.

Marge leaned into Amanda and said softly, “About the only woman he’s talked about is you.”

Amanda’s level of confidence just soared through the roof, but then something hit her. “Me? But we only just met last Friday.”

“He may not have known your name before Friday, but he knew
you
.”

Her stomach turned. “I don’t understand,” Amanda mumbled as she looked blindly through the window that faced the gym across the way. It was busy across the walkway with various people coming and going through the Go Fitness doors. Movement rustled behind her and her breath hitched in her throat because she knew instinctively it was him.

“Amanda.” Ryder came up behind her and cupped her elbows.

She shivered as his voice rumbled through the back of her nape, unconsciously arching into the hard body that came up behind her.