ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance (76 page)

If pressed Skylar could admit that she felt cheated by Ryder. He hadn’t given her a chance to apologize for her behavior, just banished her from his life. It was immature of him and sadly, she was disappointed. She expected he would behave better than he had. It’s like the man had never been turned down before, she griped to herself. But she knew it couldn’t have been easy for him to be on the receiving end of her stunned reaction, which she imagined looked a lot like rejection.

He hadn’t reached out to her at all since that day. No calls or emails to inquire about how the campaign was moving along. He’d simply ignored her, pretended that the little hiccup had never happened and had gone out of his way to ensure he wouldn’t be reminded of it again. It stung because she couldn’t stop thinking about the sizzle between them, that would probably never be explored because she had reacted poorly.

“No daydreaming on company time, girl.” Kendra strolled in the office looking like a model in her fitted black leather pants and burgundy silk bow blouse and wine colored stilettos to match. Her bright smile quickly dimmed at the look on Skylar’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she sighed, even though both she and Kendra knew it was a lie. “Well, Ryder isn’t working on our account any more. Specifically he won’t be dealing with me anymore.”

“Is the contract in jeopardy?” She knew it was a selfish question but this business was her baby too.

“No, but thanks for your concern.”

Kendra heard the dry tone and raised an eyebrow. “I am concerned and you know I am. But you said it yourself, this contract was important to the company.” She sighed heavily but reigned in her temper. “What happened?”

Skylar told her every detail about her last interaction with Ryder. “So I reacted badly but I was going to accept the invitation until he took it back. He took it back, Kendra.”

Arms crossed and perfectly sculpted eyebrows lifted skeptically. “Of course he did, you looked horrified at the idea of having a meal with the man.” She shook her head in sympathy. “I’m sorry it turned out that way, but you can’t blame him for not wanting to look at you. Just leave it alone.”

Skylar scoffed. “Would you leave it alone?”

“No, but I would have just said yes or no in the first place. I wouldn’t have turned my face up like there was a rotten animal in my panties.”

“Ugh, seriously Ken?”

She laughed. “Hell yeah, seriously. Why were you so surprised anyway, you said there was major sparks between you two.”

“That’s exactly why! I don’t have time for sparks and chemistry and passion. That way lies madness.”

“Then maybe you should have just made up an excuse about not making things complicated since you’re working together.”

Skylar rolled her eyes. “Hindsight, Kendra.”

She sighed heavily. “Common sense, Skylar.” She waited until Skylar’s hazel eyes were on her again before she contorted her face into an ugly scowl. “If a guy had that reaction to your dinner invitation, would you ever want to see him again?”

Her shoulders sagged. “No.” Dammit she hated when Kendra was right. She still didn’t like it. “Fine, whatever. I need to go there today and show Cressly the final ads before they go out. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck,” she waved to Skylar’s back.

When she arrived at the Tompkins-Cross building, she ran into Ryder’s assistant, Mimi in the lobby. “Hi Mimi, how are you?”

Mimi gifted the woman with a genuine smile. “Hi Skylar. I’m good, how are you?”

Skylar shrugged. “Busy in a good way.”

Mimi nodded thoughtfully. “I’m always busy and I can assure you there is nothing good about it.” She laughed and ran a hand through her nearly white locks. “Did you have a meeting with Ryder today because I don’t have it on the schedule?”

“No, I’m meeting with Cressly now.” Skylar saw something flash in Mimi’s eyes but she couldn’t identify it. “Is he on the same floor? I completely forgot to get that information.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take you up. Follow me.” They walked onto the elevator and silence reined for several floors. “How is the campaign going?”

Skylar smiled, always eager to talk about her work. “It’s going great, actually. There has been a ton of response from social media and online ads. I’m here today to get approval for print ads.”

Mimi’s brow crinkled in confusion. “Shouldn’t Ryder do that?”

She felt her face flush. “I thought so, but I received an email from Cressly saying he was now my point person.” She watched the realization sink in and saw the flash of anger in Mimi’s eyes.

“Stupid man,” she muttered and turned to Skylar. “I know I shouldn’t ask you this but can I see digital copies just to pass them along to Ryder? He’s being a stubborn ass right now, but he’ll kick himself if he hates the ads. Not that he will,” she quickly added.

“Sure, no problem.” She wasn’t sure how to broach the topic they’d both tiptoed around. “I don’t know what to say to him other than I’m sorry and he probably doesn’t want to hear that.”

Mimi let out a long breath. “You’re right he won’t want to hear it. Just give him time and do your job, that’s about all you can do. This is our floor.”

Skylar followed her onto a floor that looked remarkably like Ryder’s floor except the grey carpet was a dark blue color. They weaved through a maze of cubicles until they stood in front of large wooden double doors, where an kindly woman with grey streaked hair waved them in. She watched Cressly’s face light up in a friendly smile when he spotted her and motioned for her to have a seat.

He ended the call and turned to her. “Skylar, thanks for coming in today. Do you want anything to drink?”

A gin and tonic would be nice, she thought but she shook her head. “No thanks. But I do have something for you,” she teased and opened her portfolio. “Ads.”

“Ah, yes. Let’s see what magic you and Kendra have created.” He stood and she followed him to a large table off to the side.

Skylar laid out the print ads on the large table and went to stand on the other side while she explained where each ad would be published and why she thought it would work. “We have a series of ads for each level of education. Each add will focus on learning disabilities, teaching aids and learning aids. They’ll publish over time so the Edu-Tech name is always in their minds.” Skylar held her breath and waited as he looked over each ad.

“This looks incredible Skylar, truly amazing. I’m giving you the okay on all of them. Hang on,” he held up a finger and picked up the nearest phone. “Hey, can you come to my office? Yeah, now. Okay.” He turned back to her. “I’ve asked Hunter to come down to see if he has any input.” Cressly explained to her that it was Hunter’s job to bring in new business.

“Cressly, what’s up?” Hunter burst into the office and stopped when he caught sight of a shock of red hair. “Skylar, how wonderful to see you again. You’re looking lovelier than ever.”

She smiled at his flirtatious words even though she was completely unaffected by him. “Hunter. Good to see you as well.”

“What do you need me for,” he asked, his words purposely suggestive.

“Take a look at the ads and tell me what you think,” Cressly motioned to the table.

“Gladly.” His smile was predatory and he walked with purpose, stopping right behind Skylar. He stepped in front of her and looked them over, impressed with everything. Straightening his tall frame until he towered over her, Hunter flashed his dimpled smile. “These look great Skylar. You ladies have some serious talent.”

“Thank you.” As close as he was and as good as he smelled, she felt nothing, not an iota of desire. She thought Hunter was funny and charming but he didn’t make her heart go pitter patter and he didn’t make her stupid with lust.

“We should be thanking you.” Hunter turned his charm factor up to a seven. Now that he’d seen her again, he was certain he wanted her. “In fact, let me thank you tonight. With dinner.”

This time she schooled her face into a blank mask, unwilling to hurt or piss off another brother. Skylar thought about his handsome face and surface charm and how they produced none of the feelings his brother had and she knew her answer. “Sure, why not?”

Cressly cleared his throat, certain they had forgotten he was in the room. “Thanks for your help Skylar. I’ll double check with Ryder and call you in the morning. Let me walk you out.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Hunter held his hand up, “I’ll walk her out.”

Cressly nodded warily and watched them walk away. When he heard the elevator bell, he called Mimi and took the ads up to Ryder for review. Something strange was going on, but he didn’t know what it was and had no desire to insert himself into the middle of it.

As skeptical as she was about her date with Hunter, Skylar was impressed with the restaurant he’d chosen. It was a new traditional French restaurant, lined with rustic café chairs and tables alongside small wooden picnic tables. It was beautiful and quaint, but the smells coming from the kitchen were heavenly. She stood and waited for the hostess to acknowledge her. The woman looked up with a phony smile and a raised eyebrow, which she guessed passed for a question in her world. “I’m meeting someone, reservations for Cross at eight.”

The underweight blonde scanned the list and gave a curt nod. “Right this way.”

Skylar followed her to a small table for two where Hunter had already been seated. He stood and waved when he saw her, looking like he’d stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. “Hunter, good to see you.”

He stepped back and eyed her up and down several times, a slow smile crawled across his face. “Skylar, you look good enough to eat.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh boy.”

He laughed. “Too much?”

Skylar held her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. “Just a little.” She looked around the restaurant and couples sipping wine and quietly flirting. “This place is amazing, great choice.”

“Thanks,” his eyes held a predatory gaze. “I’m glad you decided to go out with me tonight.”

“Oh yeah? Why?” She laughed at confusion that crossed his face. Women probably didn’t really care why he asked them out, as long as he did.

“Mostly because you’re hot.”

She laughed at his honesty. “Alright. Anything else?”

Hunter leaned in close, giving her a good look at his gorgeous green eyes. “That is yet to be seen.”

A beautiful waitress with long brown hair approached the table. “Good evening, my name is Tammy and I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start you with a drink?” Her gaze never left Hunter’s face and he ate it up, flirting shamelessly with her.

“I’ll have a gin martini. Dirty.” The girl nodded but she seemed incapable of pulling her gaze from Hunter.

“I’ll have your best scotch, Tammy.”

“You got it. I’ll be back soon,” she promised and put a little extra sway in her hips when she walked away.

“Someone has a fan,” she teased even though she was a little disappointed that he’d flirted so openly with her.

“Jealous?”

She shook her head. “Why should I be jealous?” Hunter wasn’t hers and she had a feeling he would never belong to just one woman.

“Because you want me all to yourself?”

She laughed at the way he batted his eyelashes at her. “You’re a funny guy, Hunter.” She was about to say more but Tammy returned with their drinks and took their orders. Skylar watched them flirt a bit more before she sauntered away and she knew already, accepting this date had been a mistake. “Tell me Hunter, what do you do when you aren’t working?”

The smile that split his face made him look a work of art. “I love extreme sports and whenever I have time, I fly off to ice climb, BASE jump, white water rafting, surfing you name it. I love the rush of conquering nature.” He sipped his scotch with great satisfaction. “I’ll be ice climbing in Norway this winter.”

She nodded, mildly interested in what he was saying but mesmerized by his enthusiasm. Dismay quickly set in when she realized he wouldn’t ask about her interests. “You do love a rush, don’t you?”

“I do! When I’m not traveling for extreme sports I indulge in cars, mostly fast cars. I have all the quality sports cars, Porsche, Lamborghini, Corvette and I just bought a Formula One car.”

Their food had arrived and Skylar had never been more grateful. Conversation was stilted and boring and she was ready to go home. There would be no more attempts at conversation on her part. He wasn’t interested and she didn’t need to waste her breath. The only sounds she made were a few moans while she finished off her torte. “That was delicious.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure go ahead.”

“Are you a real redhead?”

Her brows wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t dye my hair if that’s what you’re asking.”

He leered at her and she grew nervous. “I’m eager to find out for myself, Skylar. Will I? I’ve heard good things about redheads in the sack.”

His words sank in. “Okay Hunter, time to go.”

His eyes widened. “Let’s go.”

Before she could tell him he’d misunderstood he was out of his chair and in search of Tammy. Oh well, she thought and stood to gather her purse and jacket. She had nearly made it to her car when Hunter caught up with her. She turned at his voice. “Thanks for dinner Hunter, the food was delicious.”

“And the rest of it?”

She nodded. “It’s been interesting.” Hunter leaned and cut off the rest of her words by shoving his tongue down her throat. His kiss was too wet and too aggressive for her taste and she pushed him back. “Jeez Hunter, read a room!”

“I thought we were on the same page, babe.”

“No. We’re not. I’m not sleeping with you.”

Realizing his mistake, Hunter stepped back apologetically. He was not deterred thought. “Sorry Skylar, you’re just so hot I guess I lost my mind for a moment. Can we start over, please?”

She knew she would regret it but she nodded her agreement. “Fine.”

“Great, let’s go out again on Saturday night?”

“Sure.” What’s the worst that could happen?

***

Ryder stood behind his desk, looking out over the city as rained drenched everything in sight. The grey sky combined with the grey concrete made everything look lifeless, vacant. He loved the rain though and he spent a few minutes just enjoying the monotony of each drop falling from the sky. It had been more than week since he’d seen Skylar and he felt about as happy and the dreary landscape beyond his office window. He’d probably handled the entire situation badly, but no one had ever accused him of having good people skills.