Page 112 of Love In Hiding

“All good things, I assume,” she said.

“I haven’t heard otherwise.”

“Ryker.” Spencer’s voice cut in as he stepped up beside her. “Good to see you.”

Ever the professional. His steady voice and polite smile. No matter that this was the man who’d tried to kneecap his career.

“I hadn’t realized you were going to land on your feet so well,” Ryker said.

“How’s that?” he asked mildly.

She moved closer, slipping her arm around Spencer’s waist. His body went rigid for a half-second, but she didn’t care. He’d been steadying her all night and she could damn well return the favor.

“Well,” Ryker said, his eyes flicking to her arm around Spencer, “this is… unexpected. More than colleagues, I take it? And to get picked up by The Carlisle Group. Impressive. Not exactly easy.”

“No, it’s not,” he said, “but I’m damn good at what I do.”

“He’s the best,” she said without hesitation.

He shot her a quick sideways look. “I don’t need you to sing my praises, but thank you.”

“Maybe I want to. Maybe theyshouldknow what they lost by forcing you out. Their loss is my gain.”

“Oh?” Ryker lifted an eyebrow. “Forcingyou? Is that what you told her?”

“I told her the truth,” he said coolly. “If you want to rewrite history, go right ahead. I’m sure you did plenty of that when you explained everything upstairs. Now, if you’ll excuse us?—”

“Yes, you’d better run back to West,” Ryker said. “Be his little lapdog. Didn’t expect that from you.”

Her jaw almost popped. “Are you on crack?” she hissed. “Do you think someone like West needs a lapdog? You’re projecting howyouoperate.”

“London,” he said sharper than normal but not anything like she was doing. “Let’s go.” He pulled her away before she launched into round two. “Not the best way to make an impression in a room full of potential clients.”

“Fuck that,” she muttered into his ear, her voice sharp even if she kept the volume down. “Stand up for yourself.”

And there his body went rigid again. “I did. In my way. I don’t need you to fight my battles.” He guided her down the hall, out of the room and out of the tension. “Thereareno battles. Except the ones you keep creating. For one night, can’t you just tone it down?”

He turned and walked away.

Just like that.

Leaving her alone in the hallway, staring at the broad, rigid line of his back as it retreated, while her anger, embarrassment, and something dangerously close to hurt burned all the way up her throat.

31

YOUR STRATEGY

“Are we going to talk about this tonight?” London demanded the second they stepped into his place.

He didn’t look at her. He yanked his suit jacket off, shoved it on a hanger, and moved to his shirt buttons without the frantic energy he’d had earlier. He was deliberately calm. The kind of calm that meant he wasfurious.

“There’s nothing to say,” he tossed over his shoulder.

“There is a lot to say,” she snapped, marching over to stand directly in front of him. The navy dress that had nearly made him forget his own damn name earlier didn’t tempt him at all now. His frustration had burned straight through it.

“No,” he said flatly. “There’s not. You let your tongue guide you more times than it should. My history with Ryker is exactly that—history. I know how to handle him.”

“By keeping your mouth shut?” Her voice rose. “By letting him walk all over you?That’syour strategy?”