“I do.” He handed me a glass of wine, which I figured was probably designed to soothe my edges.
When we finished, he helped me into his truck and drove me to Milena’s Ristorante.
“Wow, Milena’s. I guess this fake marriage is going well.”
He grinned. “And they said it wouldn’t last.”
I laughed, surprising myself at how free and enjoyable it felt. “Is this something we can afford? I mean I’m a lowly secretary and you’re a starving artist.”
He took my hand as we walked to the door. “There’s no lowly about you. The mayor’s office would be a chaotic mess without you. And me, I make just enough to splurge on my wife every now and then.”
His use of the word “wife” made my heart do a cartwheel in my chest, followed by a worried tingle up my spine. No matter how much I was enjoying this fake marriage, it was a temporary situation. I couldn’t let myself imagine what it would be like if it were real. This was just a fun moment in time, but it wouldn’t last even if we wanted it to, which I doubted he did. Ryder was a glass-half-full type of guy, so he was going to make the most fun out of any situation, including being stuck fake married to me. But that didn’t mean his feelings went beyond friendship or attraction.
Once we were seated, ordered our meals, and had a glass of wine, Ryder asked, “So, how’d things go at work today? Still feeling under siege?”
I shrugged. “I was able to avoid everyone.”
“What about Sinclair? Surely, she’s on your side,” he said, reaching over to take my hand.
I looked down because there was a part of me that felt betrayed by her. “She says she is.”
“You don’t believe her?”
I wasn’t a person to talk about my feelings. What was the use? Talking let other people know about your inner demons, but it didn’t make them go away.
But Ryder seemed sincere in his interest, so I said, “She probably believes it, but I’m good at my job. I don’t need help and I resent the two of them acting like they’re doing me a favor when what I really feel like is that I’m being pushed aside.”
His eyes were soft and sympathetic. “And you’ve told them how you feel?”
I nodded. “I told Sinclair, but she’s on his side. She probably just likes having Brooke around because now the mayor’s attention is on her instead of Sinclair.”
“Sinclair is married now. Surely his interest stopped then,” Ryder said, lifting his wine glass to his lips.
“I don’t know. I don’t feel like I know anything at work anymore. I hate it.” And I hated feeling so vulnerable. I didn’t like the feeling that things were going around me that I didn’t know about or didn’t have control over.
He smiled. “Who’d have thought this marriage would be the stable, sane part of your life?”
I laughed softly. “Who’d have thought.”
It had been a long time since I’d been on a date. Longer still since I’d gone out and truly enjoyed myself. I was forced to recognize that Ryder might go through life in a relaxed, come-what-may way, but he was solid. He was perceptive and smart. He didn’t once ask me if I was overreacting or misinterpreting the mayor and Sinclair, which is what other people would have probably done. He accepted my feelings as they were, without judgment or giving me an opinion of whether I was right or wrong.
While we waited for dessert, I excused myself to use the restroom. Once I’d done my business and washed my hands, I was touching up my lipstick when the door opened and a woman about my age walked in.
She smiled at me through the mirror. “I noticed you’re eating dinner with Ryder Simms. Are you two together?”
Immediately, I got suspicious. She was pretty with dark hair and green eyes. She looked polished and intelligent, as opposed to one of the groupies that often set their sights on Ryder.
“Who are you?” I asked, working to sound polite.
“Oh, I’m Erica Edmonds.” She extended her hand. “I met Ryder the other day while I was working on a story about how Salvation ousted Simon Stark’s plan to build a prison.”
I was pissed that Ryder didn’t tell me about meeting this woman, even though I knew I had no right to. We weren’t really a couple. And he wasn’t accountable to me.
Manners dictated I accept her hand, so I shook it and said, “His sister would be a better person to talk to.”
“Yes. I heard they arranged a fake marriage to thwart Stark. Amazing what people will do to get what they want.”
I nodded.