Chapter 66 Apparently, We’re Both Crazy
Apparently, We're Both Crazy
Tessa
I summoned up a smirk. "So you admit it?"
Ryder frowned. "Admit what? That I had his card?"
"Oh, come on!" Annoyed, I turned and set the candle on a nearby shelf before turning back to add, "It's pretty obvious you know what I mean, so why don't you spill it?"
"Because it's not what you think."
"Oh, yeah? What do I think?"
His jaw flexed. "Obviously, you think he and I are on the same side."
This wasn't all of it. "And that he sent you."
"Yeah, well he didn't."
I made a sound of frustration. "Then how do you explain the business card?" I held up my hand. "And before you claim that you've had it forever, I saw the date on the back."
He turned and set the radio on a nearby side table before asking, "And what date is that?"
"The date he must've given it to you." When his only reply was a blank look, I demanded, "Are you seriously going to claim it's a coincidence that it was practically the same day I first saw you here on the island?"
This time, he didn't hesitate. "No."
He could deny it all he wanted, but I knew what I knew. "I saw the date. And with my own eyes. I did mention that, right?"
"I'm not denying the date," he said. "I'm telling you it's no coincidence." His gaze hardened. "And you wanna know why I saw him?"
"Why?"
"Because I tracked him down, that's why."
What? I searched his eyes. "But why would you?"
"Because I heard he was after you." Something dark flashed across his face. "And I didn't like it."
His words hit hard, and I nearly staggered under the weight of them. Did I believe what he was saying?
In a flash, I considered everything I knew – and everything he'd said and done during the time I'd known him. Mostly, he'd been nothing short of spectacular.
Even tonight, the way it looked, he'd been wandering outside for hours, braving the storm itself to find me. Not to harm me. But to rescue me.
Something hard squeezed at my chest. Oh, my God.
I'd been such a fool. But I wasn't the only one. Desperately, I asked, "Why didn't you tell me? About meeting him, I mean?"
We were standing so close, I swear, I could feel the heat of his body cutting through the cold air. His voice was quiet when he said, "The truth? I didn't want to scare you."
I almost laughed. "Don't you think that smashing through the door is pretty scary on its own?"
Behind him, the door creaked on its busted hinges, but his gaze didn't waver. "I wasn't thinking of the door."
"So what were you thinking of?"
His voice softened. "Only you."
My lips curved before I could stop them. "You know that's crazy, right?"
His lips twitched. "But you're still smiling."
Suddenly, I felt a wild urge to laugh. "Yeah, because I'm crazy, too."
My breath caught as his gaze dipped to my mouth. And just like that, I became acutely aware of how close he was – and how desperately I wanted him to be even closer.
I didn't think about it. I just moved. And so did he. We collided in a kiss that left me breathless. My hands fisted into the dripping fabric of his jacket as his hands slid through my damp hair.
The kiss seemed to go on forever, and yet, not nearly long enough when it was broken by the shattered door banging against the wall, rattling the frame and making me pull back to look.
I groaned, but not for the reason I wanted to. "Maisie's door."
He barely glanced. "Screw the door."
I tried to laugh. "I don't want to screw the door. That's what I want to do with you."
A slow smile spread across his face. "Yeah?"
I nodded. I didn't merely want him. I was craving him like oxygen after being underwater too long. But there was no way on Earth I'd leave Maisie's door, splintered and half off its hinges while I dragged him upstairs for what I really wanted.
For some reason, he laughed.
I asked, "What's so funny?"
"I know what you're gonna say."
"What?"
"That we're not doing anything until I fix the door."
"And that's funny?"
"Hell, yeah." His voice softened. "And sweet. You're a good person. I like that about you."
"I'm not that good," I said as a rush of warmth slid through me. "If you only knew what going through my mind."
"Oh, I know," he said. "Because I'm pretty sure I'm thinking the same thing."