Of course, Ryder follows me. He’s like a wild dog and I believe I’ve become his favorite bone. What a gruesome thought. “Are you upset over Lawrence wanting to go to London while you want marriage?”

I hesitate. This conversation has become personal fast. I shouldn’t open up to him. Ryder McKay seems the type that would use my words against me to his advantage. “I don’t know if I want marriage. Not yet, anyway. But a commitment would go a long way in showing that he’s …” Invested. Why am I telling him this? “Not that it’s any of your business,” I add.

“You’re one hundred percent right. It is none of my business.

But I had hoped we could at least become … allies, Violet. We’re going to be working together very closely over the next few months.” I turn to find him watching me carefully, his arm overlapping the metal bar, the breeze tossing his hair carelessly about his head. It’s a good look for him. The elegant suit, that unruly mess of hair blowing, his gorgeous face, and all that pent-up anger still hanging onto him. Very sexy, dark, and dangerous. I’ve never been attracted to dark and dangerous. I dealt with that enough in my past. Fought against it and won.

So why am I suddenly drawn to this man? And why does it feel like he’s also drawn to me?

“I don’t dislike you,” I say. “We can have a professional relationship.”

“But what about what’s happening now?” The pointed look he gives me is filled with unspoken meaning. Meaning I’m not sure I want to decipher.

I go ahead and try, even though I’m nervous. “What exactly are you referring to?”

“You know what I’m talking about, Violet.” His eyes never leave mine. “There’s more between Pilar and Lawrence. You know there is.” A pause, and his gaze darkens, if that’s possible. “And you know there’s something going on between you and me.”

Chapter Six

Ryder

The plan came together faster than I thought. Considering we don’t have much time before Lawrence leaves for his test run in London, this is a good thing. Pilar has already worked her magic. Lawrence is practically mauling her in public, he’s so in lust with her. She told me they kissed last night in the office when everyone had left and she had her hand on his dick within seconds.

But that’s all she told me, the conniving little witch. I know there must be more. Funny how she’s always digging at me for information but has become oddly tight-lipped when it comes to that utter douche in a suit.

I don’t fucking get it. Not that I’m giving her much information in return. Not that I even have that much information to give her. I attended the meeting with Violet. Stopped by her office this morning with the excuse that I wanted to go over a few things regarding plans for the packaging but she blew me off, saying she had a meeting to go to and she was already late.

She flew out of her office within seconds of my arrival, keeping her head down so we couldn’t make eye contact. Weird. I got the sense that I still make her uncomfortable, which is going to be a giant obstacle if she doesn’t get over that.

Besides, women don’t blow me off, even for business matters. Arrogant but true.

I knew tonight was my best chance to truly start working on her, getting into her head and filling it with doubt regarding her boyfriend and Pilar. Pilar and I had discussed it but hadn’t come up with a plan prior to arriving. Hell, we arrived separately because I knew that if something went down tonight, I wouldn’t want to leave with Pilar.

It wouldn’t look right, not when I’m the one who’s supposed to be hurting and pissed at her.

I hadn’t bargained on Violet looking so heartbreakingly beautiful, though, which was a mistake on my part. When I first saw her, she took my breath away, and I didn’t think that was possible, I’m such a callous asshole. But that dress, the way it reveals her creamy, smooth skin but not too much. A hint of sexiness mixed with those big, velvety eyes full of pain and wariness. She doesn’t trust me. Smart girl.

She shouldn’t.

“You believe Pilar and Zachary are …” She screwed up her mouth, those pouty, delectable lips covered in scarlet-red lipstick. “Involved?”

“There’s a flirtation there. There has been for a while.” I step closer to her, our shoulders brushing. She’s still shorter than me, but the heels she has on tonight are incredibly high and incredibly hot. All that restrained elegance she wears as some sort of costume hides a very sexy woman just lingering beneath. “Did you see the way she clings to him?”

Violet averts her head, a little sound escaping her that reminds me of a wounded animal. I’ve pushed her too far. She’ll probably cry and fall apart, and then what am I supposed to do? Cry along with her? I’m supposedly as wronged as she is in this situation.

“This isn’t the first time,” she says, her voice cold yet steady.

Shock races through me. Well, there’s a twist. I’ve heard murmurings of Lawrence’s indiscretions in the past, but I’ve had no real confirmation.

I decide to play dumb. “Are you referring to Lawrence and Pilar?”

“Please.” She waves a hand, dismissing my suggestion. “Well, maybe they have; I don’t know. I wouldn’t put it past him. But I do know for a fact that Zachary has been—unfaithful to me in the past.”

So she is aware. The revelation blows my mind. “Yet you stay with him.”