“No, it’s fine,” he said. “Talk about him as much as you need.”
“That’s not very convincing,” she said with a frown.
Ryder shook it off and changed the subject. “So, anyway. You were saying?”
CHAPTER 18
Ryder had various club meetings and work lunches scheduled throughout the rest of the week and spent most of his time glued to his laptop when he was home. He tried his best to make sure Stormy wasn’t too bored, but he couldn’t attend to her every beck and call. She didn’t expect him to keep her entertained, but she couldn’t help but grow a little bored with each passing day.
The only thing keeping her excited that week was Brooklyn’s impending visit. She was set to arrive Friday afternoon, and Stormy couldn’t wait. She wasn’t sure what they’d do that weekend, but she was elated to bring a little piece of home to California if only for a brief couple of days.
Ryder sprung for a little Mac Book Air for Stormy so that she could apply for jobs, and when she wasn’t job hunting, she was doing small things for his business. She felt she had to earn her keep, even if he insisted it wasn’t necessary. Stormy was many things, but a mooch she was not. He gave her a few data entry type things and spreadsheets to update, but it was never more than an hour’s worth of work in any given day. It still made her feel better though.
At night, she was growing more and more comfortable with helping herself around the kitchen. She began cooking for the guys, who appreciated her traditional, hearty Midwest pastas, casseroles, and creamy sauce ladled dishes.
“Your old lady is totally trying to fatten me up,” Zander said to Ryder one night.
They hadn’t discussed labels at all. It wasn’t really even in the forefront of their minds. They didn’t know what they were, but it was so weird for Zander to call her his old lady, even if that’s what she was.
“Yeah, my old lady can cook,” Ryder replied, clearly comfortable with the label.
“You don’t have to eat my cooking,” Stormy teased.
“How can I say no?” Zander replied. “I smell this stuff in my room every night and it’s like I just follow my nose and I end up right here with a big old plate of whatever it is you cooked up.”
Stormy smiled. She was starting to see how harmless Zander really was, and she was growing more and more comfortable around him with each passing day. She also couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen when Zander met Brooklyn. There was no doubt in Stormy’s mind that they were perfect for each other. They were both blonde, wild, unfiltered, and up for anything.
“Are you going to be around this weekend?” Stormy asked Zander.
“Uh, yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” he asked. He was such a smart ass.
“My friend is coming to visit,” she replied. “We should all go out or something.”
Zander looked at Ryder who shrugged and nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, we can do that,” Zander said. She could tell he had a hunch that he was being set up. “This isn’t like some double date thing or something is it?”
“No,” Stormy laughed. “But I think you’ll really enjoy meeting her.”
Zander rolled his eyes. He was not one to be tied down, and he rarely had a girlfriend and preferred no-strings-attached one night stands from what Ryder had said about him, which was exactly why he was perfect for Brooklyn. She was the female version of him.
Zander finished his dinner and trekked back to his room, shutting the door.
“Good old Zander,” Ryder laughed. “He really doesn’t like being set up, just so you know.”
“Oh, this is not a set up,” she said. “Brooklyn hates that too. This is more of an experiment for me. Think of it as our entertainment for the weekend. Either they’re going to be all over each other or they’re going to hate each other. My money’s on the former.”
“My money’s on the latter,” Ryder said.
“If I had any money, I’d make you a real bet,” Stormy smirked. “Just be prepared to lose.”
“We can make a wager,” he proposed.
“Okay,” Stormy said, intrigued. “And what are the terms of our little wager?”
“If I’m right and they hate each other, I’ll cook you a five star, gourmet dinner every single night next week,” he said. “I’ll do the dishes and everything.”
“Okay,” Stormy said. “Keep talking.”
“And if you’re right and they are crazy about each other, I’ll take you on a shopping spree, Pretty Woman style,” he said. “Rodeo Drive or wherever. No limit. Anything you want, my treat.”