Caspian (Carolina Reapers 8)

“Maybe he’s just helping out his family like Ryleigh.” Maxim glanced back across the field, no doubt checking on Mila.

“Ryleigh runs her family store because no one else can. Peggy Champion got fired just so Chuck could have the bartending job, and we’re short cops in this town. Trust me, he took the job at his mom’s because it was the easy way out. Chuck always takes the easy way out. He’s used to having everything handed to him.” He was completely and totally wrong for Ryleigh.

She needed a man who knew how to work alongside her. A man who didn’t balk at her ambitions or try to hold her back. A man who knew how to stick when the going got tough.

“What the actual fuck?” Maxim growled. “Is he in kindergarten?”

I turned to see one of the younger guys dangling Evie’s book above her head.

“I will fucking kill you if you don’t hand that back right now!” he roared across the field, already on his way to deal with the problem.

“You did what?” I heard Ryleigh’s soft exclamation through the trees and whipped my head back toward the gazebo. My feet were moving before I even made the conscious thought to get closer.

Before I knew it, I was at the base of the steps to the gazebo.

“You heard me,” Chuck sneered. “They won’t cancel the contract without both parties to sign.”

“That’s our house!”

“No, it’s someone’s house. Unless you want to live there by yourself, in which case it’s your house.”

My stomach hit the floor at what he was saying, how it had to be making Ryleigh feel. I moved up onto the first step but made myself stop just in case this was the section of the fight before they’d make up. She deserved her shot at happiness…even if I wasn’t sure he’d give that to her.

“Chuck—”

“But wait!” Chuck flung his arms wide. “Maybe Caspian Foster will want to live there with you! Like he ever would. We both know this shit with you two isn’t real.”

“It’s none of your business what Caspian and I do.” Ryleigh’s chin went up a few inches.

That’s my girl.

“You think I don’t know that your mothers arranged this whole little thing so you wouldn’t look pathetic at London’s wedding?” He scoffed.

I stiffened. Gossip traveled fast in a small town, but neither of our mothers would have said a word.

But if the dozen or so people who had gathered on their picnic blankets within hearing distance had tuned into this conversation, the tongues would be wagging by sundown.

“That’s not…” Ryleigh started, but her voice trailed off.

“Please. Your mothers have been trying to play matchmakers for years between you two. Even while we were together, your mom would drop little hints that Caspian was the perfect guy. Let me tell you, Ryleigh, he’s not. He fucks anything that says yes and leaves them high and dry. Just google his name.”

“He’s never once treated me like that!” she snapped.

“Right! Because he’s not interested in you! He’s got supermodels on his damned speed dial, and you think he wants you?” He made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Come on, Ryleigh. You’re a smart girl.”

My resolve hardened like ice, straightening my spine. She was smart. Way too fucking smart to be jacked with by him.

“There you are!” I said loudly, heaving my chest like I’d just jogged over as I bounded up the stairs, offering a wide smile. “I was looking all over for you after the game.”

Ryleigh’s gaze jumped to mine, relief streaming through those green orbs even as they fell away in embarrassment. “Caspian,” she whispered.

“Good game,” Chuck said with a condescending smile. “Better luck next time.” He gave my shoulder a pat as he meandered down the stairs, heading toward the first picnic blanket only a few feet away.

Shit, that was Stephanie Brown—town busybody—sitting there, waiting for him, and by the look on her face, she’d heard all of that go down.

Ryleigh leaned back against the railing, her knuckles white as she gripped the painted wood. “Guess that didn’t go as planned,” she whispered.

“Have I told you how incredibly fucking gorgeous you are?” I said loudly enough for Stephanie and Chuck to hear but meaning every single word. “It’s no wonder we lost. I couldn’t keep my eyes off your body.” I prowled closer, then caged her in between my arms, holding on to the railing on either side of her.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, dragging her eyes up to meet mine.

They were eyes I’d seen thousands of times in my life, and yet they hit me differently now. Took my breath and any attempt at logical thought. They were eyes a man could lose himself in, could stare at for years and still find hidden specks of teal and streaks of hunter.

“Trust me.” It was an order, not a request. I slid one hand to the small of her back and used the other to tilt her chin upward.