Rider's Kiss

Her eyes popped open. “How is that going to fix anything?”

“The way I see it, you need to show Rider that you are anything but spinsterish. So we get you prettied up. I guarantee you he’ll get his butt in gear once I’m done with you.”

Victoria burst out laughing. “A makeover? Seriously?”

“The thing is, I’ve never once thought you really needed to change a single thing. I happen to feel that you’re beautiful just the way you are. Still, taking some of that natural beauty and making it more…noticeable couldn’t hurt either, right?”

Her poor ego deserved the boost, for damn sure. “But if he notices the new-and-improved me when he never gave the nerdy me the time of day, that’s going to seriously suck too.”

“You think it’ll hurt worse if he’s only attracted to the stylish clothes and fancier makeup?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “I guess I’d rather he want me as-is.”

“I understand, but sometimes you have to give men a little nudge in the right direction. That’s all we’d be doing here, Victoria, giving Rider a wakeup call.”

Victoria let out a breath, then took the plunge. “I might live to regret it, but I’m starting to really like your plan, Reena.”

Reena clapped her hands together. “Finally! I can’t wait to get started.”

“Oh God, I feel like I’ve just unleashed Doctor Frankenstein.”

Chapter Three

Rider needed to see Victoria. He had things to say, and she was going to listen, damn it. After she’d taken Reena shopping on Monday, looking as if he’d struck her, Rider had counted the hours until his sister had come home. He’d pleaded with Reena to give up Victoria’s address. He’d explained that he wanted to apologize for his hurtful remarks. But that was only part of his reason for seeking her out. He wanted to see her. He missed her bright smiles and the warmth in her hazel eyes. It’d been ten years since Rider had last laid eyes on Victoria. She’d barely changed, though. She still looked as young as ever, and she even wore her hair the same, long and pulled up into a high ponytail.

One thing had been different, though. Her spirit. When she’d all but told him off the other night, it’d been the first time Victoria hadn’t stuttered around him. He liked the fire in her. It was appealing as hell. Christ, if Reena only knew how badly he’d craved Victoria over the years, she’d keep her friend far away from him. It’d been half the reason he’d fled to New York. He’d always known that if he’d stayed in Ohio, he’d end up taking her to his bed. Victoria deserved better than that. She deserved a man who would stay by her side, a man without a bad reputation following him around like the plague. Someone respectable.

But his mind was on one thing—seeing her, making sure she was safe, if for no other reason than his own peace of mind. He hated that she got under his skin so easily. He liked keeping women a few feet from his heart, never giving them the notion that he wanted anything more than a mutually satisfying relationship with a few laughs and some great sex. Somehow, Victoria Kiss had managed to wiggle her way around all the barriers Rider had set up. Despite the years that had passed, he still ached for her. He should be giving her a wide berth. And yet, here he was, coming to her. Needing to see her. Christ, he wanted her and always had. More than any woman he’d ever met. He couldn’t figure that out.

What was it about Victoria that made her so different? She did seem to hide behind a bulky layer of clothes. But Rider had gotten a glimpse of what lay beneath once. Victoria had been a junior in high school at the time. She’d spent the night with Reena, and they’d stayed up late watching scary movies. Rider had gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and Victoria had run right into him in the hall. She’d only had on a T-shirt and a pair of white cotton panties. Her hair had been brushed out, and it hung in shiny waves all around her shoulders. She’d been the prettiest damn thing Rider had ever seen. And too young. Too naïve. It’d taken all his strength to remember that little detail. Even now, Rider could easily picture her naked. The only thing that would cover her from his view would be all that gorgeous, dark hair. Ah, hell, he was getting hard just thinking about it.

Now it was Wednesday night and he was finally standing at the door to her ranch-style house. His frustrated libido caused him to knock louder than he’d intended. He looked at the time. Nine o’clock in the evening. Damn, would she be in bed already? When no one answered, Rider knocked again.

A curtain moved in the window, and he saw Victoria peeking out.

“Victoria, it’s me, Rider. I wanted to talk to you.”

“Rider, what are you doing here?” Victoria asked as she opened the door wide. “I wasn’t expecting you.” She waved a hand in the air and said, “Come in.”

“I needed to explain, and since you wouldn’t let me the other day, I figure this is the only way.” When she turned around, Rider took a moment to look her over. She wore a pair of baby-blue sweatpants and a white T-shirt. Big and baggy, Victoria’s usual style. Still, Rider saw just the smallest hint of a perfect, heart-shaped ass. God, how he wished he had the right to strip her bare and get a closer look at the curves she hid from the world.

As he walked farther into the living room, he thought of how she sounded when he knocked a moment ago. Tired. “Did I wake you?” Rider asked.

“No, I was just reading.” Victoria’s spine stiffened, and her fists clenched and unclenched at her sides. “Why are you here, Rider?”

She was angry and for good reason. Still, watching her get all riled was a damn sight better than the hurt he’d seen in her eyes the other day. “Will you please forgive me? I was mean, and it was uncalled for.”

“Mean?” she asked dryly. “It seemed more like total honesty to me.” She turned away, as if unable to look at him.

The sight of her backside distracted him. Even in baggy sweats, the woman’s curves showed through. Lord in heaven, he loved the way she was built. Did she have any idea how she affected him? Would he ever feel her sweet body underneath him, writhing in ecstasy? He ached to touch her silky skin, but that wasn’t the reason he’d come to her tonight.

Rider had a feeling no matter how much he wanted to believe otherwise, Victoria would never forgive him. She was too proud for that, and too damn stubborn. He stepped toward her and grasped her arm. “I’m sorry. I know it’s feeble, but I didn’t mean what I said. None of it.”

She turned in his arms, a frown marring her brow. “Then why say it?” She squirmed, and Rider released her.

He tunneled his fingers through his hair, frustrated at his own idiocy. “Reena was trying to rig up a date between you and me, and she wouldn’t listen to reason. I tried to explain that I have zero time for a personal life right now. The business is sucking away all my time. She wouldn

’t let up, though.”