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“Are you sure it’s the only reason?”
I rolled my eyes but was giddy inside. I felt as if we were engaging in a foreplay of sorts.
To my astonishment, after we ordered, Ryker didn’t lead me to one of the long, crammed tables. Instead, we went to the back, up a tiny spiral staircase I hadn’t noticed before. My heartbeat intensified with every step, as if warning me that I was going to get more than I bargained for.
I sighed when we reached the upper floor. It was small and intimate. There were only a few other people here, and I knew I was absolutely in trouble.
“You call this a bistro?” I teased.
“Mary does. I’m just following her lead.”
Uh-uh... as if. Ryker wasn’t the type to follow anyone’s lead but his own. There were small round tables set around the room.
We sat at the one near a fake fireplace at the back. Ryker put his guitar against the wall. When he took off his coat, I couldn’t help but stare. He was wearing a navy suit and platinum cuff links—he was every bit a respectable venture capitalist. That half smile didn’t quite fit; too charming, too seductive.
“And? What’s the verdict?” he asked. “Like the scruffy look or the suit better?”
I blushed. “Can’t decide.”
“You need more occasions to decide? I can make that happen.”
I laughed, just as our food was delivered. I bit into my burger right away. I didn’t even know what to say.
“So, Mr. Venture Capitalist, care to tell me how you went into finance?” I asked.
“I’ve always been good with numbers, and I got an internship when I was a college freshman. They said I could have a bright future, so I threw everything I had at it. Worked part-time at the fund after the internship.”
I had the feeling that was his motto in life. He worked with dedication, played the guitar with passion. I was certain that passion would carry on between the sheets too. I felt my face heat up at the mere thought.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Hmm?”
“That blush.”
“Nothing.”
He didn’t believe me, I was sure of it.
“Did you ever think about doing something with your music professionally?”
“Honestly, no. Family finances were precarious. I wanted to contribute. I did odd jobs in high school too. We all did what we could. It was so weird, there were a few years when absolutely everyone in the family was just trying to make ends meet. And then we all sort of started to do well at once. Hunter and Cole suddenly hit it big in real estate, my sisters got great jobs right out of college....”
“What are they doing?”
“They’ve just left their jobs to focus on their own business, a lingerie store. They’ve been working twelve hours a day for years, juggling their online shop and jobs. Now they’re also opening a physical store. I don’t think their workload will decrease at all. I have a feeling they’re going to have a tough time in the following months.”
He frowned, clearly worried about his sisters. I had the sudden urge to reach out and comfort him.
“But tell me about your living issue.”
“Well, I really don’t want to move Avery somewhere else. It’s our new home, you know? And she’s already had to change schools once. She loves her room. We’ve just finished decorating, and I don’t want her to feel disheartened if I just drag her somewhere else now.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t feel that,” he said softly.
“I don’t know, I just want to give her the best there is.... Anyway, I either need a second job or to convince my current employer to pay part of my bonus earlier, not all of it at the end of the year.”
“What do you do?”
