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“Ridge, I’m fine.”
Genuine concern showed in his eyes. “Tori, you might still be in shock from everything earlier. It’s been a lot to handle and take in. I want to make sure you’re taking it easy. If you get overwhelmed, please come to me.”
He grabbed my hands and held them to his chest. It was a very intimate move. I let it go since we were in public, and it was PDA. He was right. We needed to ensure people caught us displaying our affections, or we’d have no hope of them believing we were a couple, much less engaged.
“I’m fine, honestly. When I got back to the B&B earlier, I showered and ate, and then I slept. It helped.”
Staring into my eyes as if looking for the truth in my statement, he let it go after a moment. “Dine with me at Blackwood Manor. We can discuss our situation more. We need to be on the same page.”
Out of nowhere, he leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead.
“You’re right,” I acknowledged. “We need to get everything straight. Fine-tune our meet-cute story for all the questions that will be lobbed our way.”
Ridge laughed. “Meet-cute?”
I giggled and waved a hand at him. “Never mind. In answer to your question, yes, I will have dinner with you.”
“Good.” His fingers tightened around mine, causing all my synapses to spark. My wolf let out a contented chuff.
I needed to make my position clear to Ridge and my wolf, though, before we all went down a dangerous path together. “Just so you’re clear, this is for our arrangement. I’m not going to enjoy a single moment of it.”
I wouldn’t. He was a shifter, and the more I was around him, the more my inner monster wanted out. Her getting out again scared me more than the hunters. Okay, maybe more like scared me equally.
A smirk twisted his mouth. “Okay, Tori. No enjoyment.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “I’m serious, Ridge. This is just business.”
“Tori, are you coming or heading off with the mayor?” Margo shouted from the front doors with a grin and a twinkle in her eyes.
Ridge smiled and put his arm around my shoulders. “She’s coming with me, Margo.”
Margo let out a lecherous cackle. “I bet she is.”
Ridge laughed and I blushed. Diana swatted at Margo, shaking her head and trying to hide her smile.
“Be safe, Tori,” Diana said as she and Margo started back toward their place. A warm, squishy feeling puddled in my heart at the two women’s joking and concern.
Ridge squeezed my shoulder and spoke softly. “You belong here, Tori.”
In no time, he had me in his car, and we arrived at Ridge’s fancy manor. This time, I took notice of the elaborate place. He drove slowly down the long driveway, seemingly aware of my interest. This place was a statement piece for sure. It was a grand masterpiece that had many decades of stories to tell.
As he parked the car, I huffed. “You know, you look like the type who grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth.”
Ridge’s easy-going laughter erupted once again. He was so carefree, but after watching him earlier, I wondered if he was only that way with me. Which made me feel sad for him. He had so much responsibility on his shoulders. Did anyone take the time to see if the mayor was happy?
“Most shifters actively avoid silver, even silver spoons.” He exited the car, sighing when I didn’t let him open my door. “I do admit, though, that my family and I have been far more privileged than we had any right to be.”
He grabbed my hand and led me to the front entrance without waiting for my reply. I couldn’t lie—his earnestness caught me off-guard. There was a story to be told about this place and the Blackwoods, but I kept my mouth shut and didn’t ask any questions.
If I started, he’d have free rein to ask his questions, and I didn’t want to answer them.
I wanted to pat myself on the back for refraining from gaping and exclaiming as I walked inside and took in the opulence I’d stormed out of the last time I was here. Ridge pointed rooms out to me as we passed, and I couldn’t help but notice how empty the manor was. Quiet.
Shouldn’t he have a butler to open the front door and have anything Ridge required waiting for him as soon as he walked in? I’d expected there to be a bunch of people working for him, but nobody was here to wait on him.
“So, where’s your Alfred?”
Ridge shook his head as he kept guiding me through his palace. “I only employ one cleaner who stops by once a week. I hire out for landscaping and upkeep. I have two assistants, one for my family business and one for my personal business. Otherwise, I avoid having staff at the manor.”
