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Bass clapped Ryder on the shoulder. “Tonight you get to be yourself with a stranger that doesn’t know you’re Mr. Diamond of the founding Diamonds.”
“You didn’t tell her my name?”
“Nope. Just told her to be on the lookout for a jackass in a tie.”
“Funny,” Ryder said, really happy he’d ditched the tie now. Bass knew him too well. But the idea his friend had posed was intriguing. For one night, he didn’t have to be Ryder Diamond. And he was meeting his date at the lodge on the edge of town, where almost no locals went.
“I’m going to head out,” Ryder said.
Both guys looked him up and down as if assessing his outfit.
“I dunno…” Huck said.
Bass nodded. “He needs the tie. Don’t you think?”
“Definitely. It would really bring the whole outfit together in that classic ‘I have no clue how to dress myself’ kind of way.”
Ryder rolled his eyes. “What’s her name?”
“Her stage name is Candy,” Bass said.
“Stage name?” Ryder’s eyes shot wide. “Did you set me up with a stripper?”
“She’s really nice,” Bass defended. “A bit quirky, but a fun girl.”
“You’re going to marry my sister, and you know a stripper?” Ryder took a step toward his friend, that itch in his hand doubling.
“Easy there,” Bass said. “I represented her when I worked on a case in Wichita a couple of years ago.” Okay, that was better. But apparently Bass felt the need to elaborate. “Besides, Penny is way sexier than any stripper, and her lap dances are—”
“My ears are bleeding!” Ryder snapped. He didn’t need to hear that shit.
What had Bass been thinking, not telling Ryder these kinds of details about this blind date? He hadn’t even given her actual name. Was Ryder really supposed to call her by her stage name all evening?
He couldn’t. Actually, he shouldn’t go at all.
This was just a bad idea. And bad ideas were what Ryder spent most of his time fighting. He might be responsible, but he had to work at it. Because deep down, Ryder loved a challenge. He also loved his prized control and calm. He had impulses for the wild and crazy as much as the next man, but that was a constant internal battle he fought daily. Logic always won out. It had to.
Huck seemed to recognize the reservation on his face, because he piped up with, “You better get going, golden boy. Running late is against your good manners policy.”
Huck might be giving him a hard time, but he was still right. Ryder hated being late, so yeah, he hustled.
“Remember, this is a casual date,” Bass said. “Be yourself.”
One night to be himself did sound good. But Ryder wasn’t as hopeful as his buddy that this wouldn’t turn in to some kind of disaster. He’d just try to get through what would likely be an awkward meal and be on his way.
“I’m assuming I’ll be able to tell what she looks like?” Ryder asked.
“Yeah, you’ll be able to tell. She’s a brunette stripper. Just look for the hottest girl in the place.”
“And take some condoms with you!” Huck yelled as Ryder grabbed his keys and headed out, hating his friend with a passion at that moment.
Great. Just fucking great.
Whitney took a sip of her pineapple vodka and eyed the pool table. The lodge she was staying at was rustic and quaint. Okay, so it had antlers of all varieties on the wall, and this particular room was covered in floor to ceiling dark wood paneling. The interior decorator was obviously male and some kind of hunting enthusiast. Not her taste, but it was cheap and a place to stay.
The small bar and sitting area around the corner had a few people scattered around, so she came into the horns haven game room to be by herself and try not to think about her life. Or the lack of anyone in it.
On one hand, that was just how she liked it.
