Chapter 18: Chapter Eighteen

Ryder lay perfectly still, staring up at the ceiling. Not that he could see it with the room shrouded in total darkness. Beside him, Madison slept. At least, he thought she was asleep. Her breathing was even, and she hadn’t moved a muscle since they’d both climbed into bed an hour ago.

They’d both agreed to stay at the only place in this rinky-dink town—a family owned bed and breakfast—and at the time, he thought it would be fine, but now that he was forced to be in bed next to her, he was seriously regretting his decision. But he’d been too exhausted to drive another minute, and this room with this one bed was their only option if they didn’t want to sleep in his car.

“Are you awake?” she whispered.

“Yeah.” And he had a feeling he would be for a long time. It had been way too long since he’d had a woman in bed with him, and knowing nothing would happen, that he’d have to sleep next to her and not so much as touch her, was the worst form of torture. Not exactly how he’d imagined things would go when he finally got her into bed with him.

“I can’t sleep.” She rolled onto her side and faced him. “The mirror is distracting me.”

He glanced at the mirror that hung above the dresser. “Why is the mirror bothering you?”

“Because every time I move, I catch the reflection of things, and I keep thinking someone else is in here.”

He laughed, and she playfully kicked his leg beneath the blankets they lay under. Her feet were surprisingly warm, and soft. “There’s no one but us in this room,” he said. “But we could always try to conjure someone else. You know, like Bloody Mary or Candyma—”

She reached over and slapped her hand over his mouth. “Don’t you dare! That movie scared the crap out of me when I was younger.”

Reaching up, he took her hand and kissed her palm. Then her wrist, letting his lips linger on her rapid pulse. Her skin was soft as silk, punctuated by the goose bumps his kisses caused. Her sharp intake of breath swirled around him, and he rolled to his side, bringing their bodies closer. He dragged his mouth back up her wrist and over her palm, turning her hand and kissing her knuckles.

And then she slipped her hand up the hem of his shirt, her fingertips whispering over his stomach. His heart raced, and he licked his lips. Was this it? Would she finally give in to their attraction? Regardless of what she said, he knew she felt the desire simmering between them.

“Ryder.” His name came out sounding as seductive as her touch, and he inched closer. She flattened her palm against his chest, the skin-to-skin contact lighting a spark deep within him. His cock thickened.

He couldn’t see anything more than the outline of her body, but it was enough to know she was moving toward him instead of away. “Madison.” He caressed her cheek. His entire body thrummed with the need for more, to kiss her, touch her, be inside of her. “The next move is yours,” he whispered.

She pulled her hand from under his shirt and moved away from his touch. “I’m sorry.”

Rolling onto his back, he suppressed a groan. “Just friends,” he mumbled, more for his benefit than hers.

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have…” She sat up and grabbed her pillow. “I’ll just go sleep over there, on the window seat.”

“You’re not going to sleep sitting up next to the window.”

“It’s no different than falling asleep on a plane, right?” She laughed nervously. “Except that seat over there is bigger.”

He took a deep, calming breath. “You stay in the bed. I’ll grab the extra blankets from the dresser and sleep on the floor.” He flung the covers off.

“No.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “Please, don’t. I won’t be able to sleep knowing it’ll be two nights in a row you don’t get to sleep in a bed.”

He sighed heavily and put the covers back over his body. “Okay, how about we both agree to try again? I promise to stay on my side of the bed.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” she muttered as she settled back under the blankets, her back to him.

Despite the serious case of blue balls he was now sporting, he couldn’t stop from smiling. He was cracking that tough exterior she’d put up around her. And maybe, by the time they got to Vegas, he’d break all the way through.

****

He drove for nine hours the following day. Neither of them spoke all that much, the events of last night weighing heavily between them. He wanted to talk about it, but based on the way she’d crossed her arms, glared at him, and then fell asleep as soon as he’d gotten back on the highway, he guessed she didn’t. And then when she’d barely spoken during lunch, he knew the topic wasn’t open for discussion.

“There’s a hotel about five miles from here. I’m planning to stop for the night,” he said, turning on his signal light and getting off the highway. “I don’t think there’s much to do around here, but it’s getting late, and I’m tired.”

“Yeah, okay.” She didn’t move from staring out the passenger’s window.

“I’ll be sure to get two beds this time.”

She grunted but didn’t respond. And before he could say anything else, his phone rang. He accepted the call and put the phone on speaker. “Fair warning, I’m not alone, so watch what you say.”

Xander laughed. “Like that’s ever stopped me.”

Ryder smiled and shook his head. “What’s up?”

“There’s been a slight change of plans.”

His smile faded, and he scowled at his phone. “If you tell me we’re not going to Vegas, I’m going to turn around, go back to Florida, and kick your ass.”

“Wait. What? Turn your ass around? Where the fuck are you?”

He should’ve known better than to put Xander on speaker phone. That boy couldn’t speak a full sentence without using fuck at least once. “I’m halfway to Vegas. I left Thursday morning.”

“You’re driving?” There was a pause. “Whatever. We’re still going to Vegas, so loosen your thong.”

Beside him, Madison chuckled. He glanced over to find her watching him with narrowed, curious eyes. He smiled, pleased she wasn’t giving him the cold shoulder any longer.

“So, then what’s the change in plans?” he asked, returning his attention to the road and his phone call.

“We’re staying Sunday night. Ky and Jules are going to fly in, and we’re all going out to dinner and a show,” Xander said.

Great. He was going to be the fifth wheel.

“I know how you feel about blind dates and being set up, but—”

“Exactly, which means you don’t need to waste your breath finishing that sentence.” Ever since his brothers got into committed relationships, they’d been trying to set him up. While he appreciated the sentiment, he didn’t need his brothers to find him dates.

“C’mon, dude. Don’t be a dick about this.”

“I’m not.” He slowed to a stop at the traffic light, snatched his phone from the cup holder, and took it off speaker. “You and Tanner don’t need me tagging along. Besides, I’m already missing a week of classes. I’ll just head back Sunday morning.”

“Ever think maybe we want you to go with us?” Xander asked.

Ryder sighed. He’d thought this weekend was supposed to be just him and his brothers, and it pissed him off that Xander was trying to throw out a guilt trip. It was hard enough not seeing his brothers as much as he used to, knowing they were moving on in their lives, settling down… Ryder didn’t need to have a front row seat to their love fests.

“Don’t even think of it as a date, okay?” Xander said, his tone taking on a sympathetic lilt.

The light turned green. Ryder put the phone back on speaker and returned it to the cup holder. He really didn’t want to get a ticket for driving and talking on his cell phone.

“Kylie’s best friend is coming along, and she doesn’t want to feel like a third wheel. I figured you two could hang out for the night.”

Ryder had never met Kylie’s best friend, and he was sure she was a nice person, but he wasn’t interested because he knew how this would play out. He’d go, he and this girl would get along—he could get along with an angry rattlesnake—and then his brothers would pressure him to set up a “real” date. He’d been to that circus before, and he wasn’t going again.

“I’ll think about it, okay?” he finally said, mostly to appease Xander so he could get off the phone. But Ryder had no intention of doing it or even thinking about it. “I gotta go. I’ll call you later, all right?”

“Fine, but I’m not letting this go.”

“I don’t expect you to.” Ryder said goodbye and ended the call. If he didn’t come up with an alternate solution or a damn good excuse, he was going to have to listen to Xander harass him about this all weekend.

“I could go with you,” Madison said.

“What?” He jerked his head toward her, eyes wide. “You’re offering to be my date Sunday night?”

She nodded. “It’s the least I can do considering everything you’ve done for me this week.”

Anger heated his face. “So, you’re offering me a pity date?” He pulled into the hotel parking lot and killed the engine. “No thanks.”

“It’s not a pity date,” she said defensively. “We can consider it an even trade.”

“An even trade?”

She nodded and glanced down at her hands. “Yeah. You pretend to be my fiancé, and I’ll go to dinner with you and your brothers on Sunday.”

His ears rang. “Wait… you want me to be your fake fiancé?”

Madison glanced up at him, her gaze pleading. “Please?”

He stared at her a moment, contemplating her suggestion. It would solve both their problems, but… “You don’t know what you’re offering. My brothers, they’re not very nice when it comes to girlfriends.” He held up his hand before she could say anything. “I know, we’re just friends, but to them…” He shook his head, knowing his brothers would make a big deal out of it, and he wasn’t going to put her in that position. “I appreciate the offer, but no thanks.”

She frowned. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know.”

He opened the car door then stopped. What was up with her? Did she want more than friendship or not? Because sometimes he thought she did, and then other times she shot him down cold.

“I will be your fake fiancé, though,” he said.

“Really?”

“Yes. On one condition.”

She rolled her eyes. “What?”

“We have to make it believable, which means, like it or not, we’re going to have to get to know each other better. You’re going to have to act like you like me.”

“I might be able to manage that.” She gave him a cheeky smile then got out of the car.

Ryder got out and slammed his door harder than necessary, frustration unfurling in his gut. After getting their bags from the trunk, he walked inside and up to the front desk. “I’d like a room with two beds, please.”

“Sure thing, sir.”

It took a total of fifteen minutes to get checked in and up to their room. He was looking forward to sleeping in an actual bed that he’d have all to himself because he wasn’t sure he could handle another night of little to no sleep.

“Do you have a preference?” He nodded at the beds.

“I’ll take the one by the door,” she said.

He crossed the room and dropped his suitcase on the bed near the windows. Then he sat, rubbing his hands over his face. “We can go out and find a place to eat, if you want, or we can order room service.”

She sat on her bed. “Whatever you want.”

“Room service it is then.” He smiled warily. This trip was taking a toll on him, both physically and emotionally. He stood and grabbed the menu from the desk. “What do you want?”

“I’ll eat whatever you want to order.”

He had to stop himself from sighing with annoyance. She was a walking contradiction—either defiant or submissive. It drove him fucking nuts. Without a word, he called and ordered one of everything listed on the appetizer and dinner menu. Thankfully, it wasn’t a very long list, but this way, he knew he couldn’t go wrong and end up buying something she didn’t want to eat.

“It’ll be about half an hour,” he said, hanging up the phone.

She nodded.

Ryder returned to his bed and sat with his back against the headboard, ankles crossed. He absently rubbed his stomach, noticing the way Madison watched him. “Still happy you decided to go to Vegas with me?”

She let out a short laugh. “It’s been interesting.”

Ain’t that the truth? “What was it like growing up in Vegas?”

They’d been together, non-stop, for three days now, and he hadn’t learned anything substantial about her. And he figured that was the safest question to start with because he kind of already knew the answer.

She rummaged around her in her bag, avoiding his question. He waited. Finally, she looked up at him. “What did you say?”

He narrowed his eyes. He knew damn well she’d heard him, but if that’s how she wanted to play it, he’d indulge her. “I asked what it was like growing up in Vegas?”

“That came out of nowhere,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder like this was some sort of game.

“Why won’t you answer my question?”

She gave a lazy, halfhearted shrug. “I just don’t see why it matters.”

“It matters because I have to pretend to be your fiancé, and I know nothing about you.” He toed off his shoes, letting them fall to the floor with a thud. “You can ask me anything you want, and I’ll answer.” Maybe if he opened up, she’d be more willing to do the same.

“Okay.” She turned and crossed her arms. “Why won’t you let your brother set you up?”

She always came out swinging. It was so clearly a defense mechanism, but damn it was frustrating as hell. Whoever had hurt in the past had done a real good job on her, and that pissed him off. The muscle in his jaw tensed, and he fisted his hand. He’d never met anyone like her before, and he wasn’t sure if he was more annoyed or enamored with her.

“Thought you said you’d answer anything I asked you.” She tapped her foot, staring him down like an angry teacher scolding a student.

“Are you going to do the same?”

“Answer my question. Why won’t you let your brother set you up?”

“Because my brothers and I have different tastes in women, and while I know they have good intentions, it never works out. It seems like a waste of time for everyone involved.”

“Bullshit.”

A short, shocked laugh erupted from his lips. “You can’t call bullshit on something I say about myself.”

“Sure I can.” She smirked.

God, she was a handful. A wonderful, exciting, gorgeous handful. “Well, I hate to disappoint you, but it’s the truth.”

“All right.” She sat at the foot of his bed. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”

“Because I don’t want one.”

Holy shit. She actually answered him! When the initial shock wore off, he said, “Bullshit.”

She smacked his leg, fighting to hide a smile. “It’s the truth. Between school and work, I don’t have time.”

“Not having time is different than not wanting a relationship. Which is it?” He pushed off the headboard and sat up.

“Both.”

“Why don’t you want a relationship?” Now that he had her talking—somewhat—he wasn’t going to let her stop. He was desperate to learn something, anything, about her.

“Men are more trouble than they’re worth.”

He cocked a brow and tilted his head slightly. “Speaking from experience?”

“Maybe.”

“Hmm.” He leaned back again, tucking both of his hands behind his head. “That’s really too bad for you, then.”

She narrowed her eyes, indecision warring across her face. “Why?” she said slowly.

“Because, trust me, honey, I’m worth the trouble.”

Her jaw dropped, and then she made a sound of disbelief, shaking her head. He’d never seen her speechless before, and it was a sight to behold. Before she could form any real words, there was a knock on the door.

“Room service,” a male voice called.

Ryder stood and went to the door. He accepted the cart of food, and then gave the guy a tip. “Hope you’re still hungry,” he said, grinning.