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“Hi, Lis.” He leans close enough for me to feel his breath waft over the nape of my neck.
I spin around. “Did you call me Lis?”
He shrugs. “You’re like a different version of the Calista I know.” His heated gaze lazily glides from my head to my feet and back up again, lingering on my cleavage revealed by the deep V of my neckline.
“I’m still me. You’ve just never seen me dressed for anything but cooking,” I say.
His fingers brush my bare skin when he plucks one of my thick curls from my shoulder. He rubs the lock between his fingers before letting it slide free to my drape down over my chest. “You’re beautiful, but then again, you always are.”
I smile. “Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself.”
He flashes his teeth in a brief smile. “Thanks.”
Wendy spins around to face me. “Can you believe we’re playing fucking laser tag? I knew we should’ve gone to the strip club.”
Murphy pokes her side, making her jump. “You don’t need to go to a club, Sparky. I’ll strip for you anytime you want.”
“At least I have something to look forward to,” she says, facing forward once more.
Ryder leans forward until our cheeks almost touch. “Do you wish you went to a strip club?”
With his face so close, I don’t dare move beyond a barely imperceptible shake of my head. “No, that’s not really my thing.”
“Then what is?” he asks.
“Cooking.”
His hands grip my shoulders, pivoting me to face him. “There’s more to you than your job. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?”
“I like to work out at home.”
“What else?”
“I like taking care of my yard. It gives me a reason to be outdoors and I take pride in how it looks.”
“I can attest that you do a great job,” he says.
“Thank you. I mow my next door neighbor’s lawn too.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“Well, she’s also my friend, so it’s not some big gesture. She despises yard work and I don’t.” I laugh and it feels awkward. In fact, this whole talking about me thing is painful. It’s time for a subject change.
“What do you like to do in your spare time? I know you work out but what else?” I ask.
“Taking care of things on the farm is time consuming and occupies most of my time during the offseason. Since I had the pool put in, I’ve been swimming a lot.”
“Hey, you two, the line’s up here,” Murphy shouts, and I swivel around. He sends a questioning look toward Ryder.
“Oops,” I say, my heels tapping against the concrete as I scuttle forward. I’ve been in Ryder’s company for a matter of minutes and I’m already losing track of everything and everyone else around me. Maybe laser tag is the best option for this evening. It’ll keep distance between us and there’s nothing remotely sexy about it.
CHAPTER13
RYDER
Ned holdsup his finger to gain our attention. “Just a couple more things. No pushing or shoving one another. And, finally, have ablast!”
Silence.
