Ryder suddenly glared at me and stepped back to lean against the wall.
“You asked what happened?” I wasn’t sure why he was giving me that look. “My car was broken into.”
“Your car?”
“I know, right? I have this lousy little compact, but it’s my lousy little compact, and someone smashed the window. I was so upset, I must not have noticed that there was glass on my seat too.”
“When did this happen?”
“When I was at the gym just now. I was only there for like an hour, doing my kickboxing class, but then I went out to my car and saw the window busted in.”
He stared into my eyes with sudden intensity, searching, kind of like what Cynthia was doing earlier, which had also been really weird. As though satisfied by what he saw, he nodded almost to himself.
Okay, then.
“Did you call the police?”
“No. What was the point? There was nothing stolen. People’s cars get broken into all the time, and mine’s a junker anyway.”
“Are you sure nothing was taken? Absolutely?” Again, he watched me searchingly.
“I’m certain. I never keep anything in my car. It just bummed me out because it’s something else I’m going to need to pay for. Busted window.”
With a sigh, I leaned my butt against the counter and crossed my arms. In the sudden silence, I saw that the movement had drawn his eyes like a magnet. Following his line of sight, I saw that my cleavage was pushed up enticingly against my sports-bra shirt. When I looked back at Ryder, his pale eyes had, again, gone heavy lidded with heat. Quickly, I dropped my arms, not wanting him to think I was trying to be a tease, but it was too late. The damage was done. And if I were being totally honest, I would admit that maybe I was excited to see what he would do next. Anticipation is an amazing aphrodisiac.
He took a step forward, which brought him close enough to me in this tiny space that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. What to do? What did I want to do? Desire swamped my senses. Nerves had me feeling quivery. I was alone with this big, strong man whom I was attracted to. What was I supposed to do next? I wasn’t really sure... Can anyone say “in over my head?”
Ryder took the final step, and his arms boxed me in against the sink, the length of his body inches from mine. I could feel his anger, as though he didn’t want to be attracted, which gave me a hit of power. I thrust my chin up in defiance, some of which was bravado, and just stared at him, daring him to try something, without feeling any fear. I could make this large, imposing male want me.
My heart pumped with a mixture of lust and some anxiety, not knowing what was about to happen. I could feel my pulse in my throat and found my eyes feasting hungrily on his sensual lips.
“You don’t get it, do you?” This was said in a soft, gravelly tone that made tingles spread through my body.
“Get what?” My voice was all breathy Marilyn Monroe.
“Your impact.” His voice sounded deep and foreboding.
“My impact?”
His eyes narrowed on me. He kept his silence for a moment, and I could only stare helplessly up into his eyes, not knowing what to say or do. He raised his hand and traced a gentle finger down my cheek, but wore an accusatory glare as he looked down at me. Even his voice sounded frustrated. “You’re actually so innocent. How did you get to be this age, living on your own, and still know so little about men?”