10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Scarlett

I spent the afternoon sleeping and getting ready for my forced double date with Allison and her husband, John.

I had no earthly idea who my date was, which I think Allison always did on purpose. Maybe she was afraid I would look him up and then bail on the date? Who knows.

Feeling in a much better mood today, I played music as I got dressed. Selecting a pair of black ankle pants, a silver sequin halter top, and black heels. I pull my hair into a high ponytail and drape a black studded necklace around my neck.

Sprinting my favorite Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue perfume around me, I take a glance at myself in the mirror.

The restaurant that Allison texted me earlier is only a few blocks away from my apartment. I decide to walk and enjoy the beautiful evening.

The small little Italian restaurant was adorable and had a great atmosphere. With an outdoor patio and live music playing inside, it was a great place to eat and enjoy the California weather.

As I walk the short distance, I admire the cute boutiques and bakeries lining the streets. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else in the world. Moving here was the best decision I had ever made.

I could hear the music of the band playing as I turned the corner onto the street where the restaurant was located. I could see the outdoor patio and smell the buttery and garlic aroma of the amazing food. My mouth began to water, and even if this date were a bust, at least I would get a fantastic meal tonight.

Walking up to the hostess stand at the door, I spotted Allison and John. They were the cutest couple, and I secretly hoped to find that kind of happiness one day. John was tall with dark hair and a beard. He had a little beer belly that bounced when he laughed. He was a great guy, and Allison was a lucky woman to have him.

"Scarlett, over here," Allison yelled, as she waved from the outdoor table.

I smiled at the hostess and then made my way through the array of round tables until I reached where Allison was. I smiled at her and John, and then my eyes traveled to a man who I instantly knew was my date.

Standing, he wore khaki pants and a light blue, button-down shirt. Everything about him looked stiff, even his slicked over light brown hair seemed stiff like he had too much gel holding it together.

"Scarlett, this is our friend Gregory," Allison says, introducing us.

Gregory reaches out and shakes my hand, his grip firm, but...nothing happens.

No sparks. No excitement. Nothing that makes my body tremble and my mind race.

We all sat down, and Allison and John began chatting away, trying to build a conversation.

"So, Allison tells me you work with her at a place called All Our Children," Gregory asks me.

I nod in confirmation as I glance at the menu. "Yes, I have been there for a year, and it's a great place to work," I say.

"For now, right? I mean, eventually, you will want a more corporate position," he says, his tone more businesslike than formal.

"I don't know," I say, a little perturbed by his question. What if I wanted to stay there forever? I had this uneasy feeling that this man was judging me.

I gave Allison a knowing look, and she pretended not to notice.

"Well, what is your business plan? Where do you see yourself professionally in the next five years?" Gregory asks, his eyes looking at me as though I am a child.

"Is this a job interview or a double date?" I joke, taking a sip of my ice water that the waiter had placed on the table.

I could feel the tension growing at the table as Allison and John could sense that this date wasn't going as they had planned. I mean, did Allison and John not know me at all? What in the world would make either of them think someone like Gregory would be a good match for me?

Then, something hit me like a ton of breaks. Allison had set me up with Gregory because he was safe. He was absolutely everything I had said I wanted in someone after my disastrous breakup. When, in reality, that was the last thing I wanted. I sunk deeper into my chair, feeling the weight of that clarity piling on me.

Gregory offered a slight chuckle, and I could see he wasn't impressed all that much with me either. While he was kind enough, he wanted someone more business-minded. However, that wasn't how love worked. I wanted someone who would make my heart skip a beat with just a smile. To laugh and joke while at dinner, not talk about work.

"You are right, Scarlett, this conversation feels too stuffy," he says, but I can tell that would interest him more than anything else I would want to talk about.

Gregory started up a conversation with John, and I just smiled at Allison. She opened her mouth to say something, but she was cut off by a familiar roar of a motorcycle engine.

"It couldn't be," Allison stated, her eyes growing wide as she turned in her seat to face the street.

I almost forgot how to breathe as my eyes began searching the street for a raven-haired man on a motorcycle. I knew I shouldn't feel this anxious at the thought of seeing Ryder, but I couldn't help that my body was betraying me.

"What's wrong?" John asked, noticing how Allison was now standing as she searched the crowds.

Suddenly, Ryder came into view as he turned his large black and chrome motorcycle into the small parking lot beside the restaurant. As he moved out of sight, I relaxed a bit. Surely, he didn't see us here. He was probably out for some event or on a date himself.

A sharp pain struck my heart at the thought of Ryder on a date, and again, I had no idea why I was feeling this way. I had only met him a handful of times. I had no stake or claim over him, nor did I want any.

Allison sat back down and gazed at me. I just shook my head, pleading with her not to say anything. Thankfully, she obliged.

John and Gregory just moved on with their conversation as Allison said she thought she saw Tom Cruise.

I reached for another drink of my water when I heard a deep voice resonate from behind me.

"Hello, Scarlett."

My head jerked around, and my body swiveled in my chair at the sound of that familiar, deep voice.

Standing behind me was Ryder Raven. His black hair wild and his smile wickedly appealing. People all around us were talking and whispering as they stared at the man who was for some strange reason, talking to me. His face is plastered all over billboards around Los Angeles, and he has been seen around every club in Hollywood.

"Hi, Ryder," I say, my knees suddenly shaking and weak.

He smiles at Allison and nods at the guys, giving Gregory a strange glare that made me super uncomfortable.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, unsure of what else to say.

"I heard you would be here tonight," Ryder says, his baby blue eyes boring into me.

I snapped my head over to Allison, who held her hands up in defense. "Hey, don't look at me. I didn't tell him," she states firmly.

Shaking his head, Ryder pulls up a chair from another table and sits down right beside me. Unwelcomes, I must add.

"Nah, Allison didn't say anything. Actually, I called All Our Children, and they told me you were off tonight. I had my publicist locate you," he said, winking at me.

That had to be some type of violation of privacy, I was sure. What, did he hire a detective?

"Did you need something?" I ask, my voice clipped.

"I wanted to see if you were available to have dinner with me tonight?" Ryder asked.

He was extremely rude right now, and it was making me frustrated beyond belief. How dare him to interrupt my dinner, ignore my date, and then have the audacity to ask me out in front of said date.

"Excuse me. We are actually enjoying our evening. Do you think you could contact Scarlett at a later date?" Gregory asked, his eyes looking Ryder up and down as though he were beneath him.

Whatever rage I was feeling for Ryder seconds ago, was now drifting to Gregory.

"I wouldn't call us enjoying our evening," I said, rolling my eyes.

I heard Allison gasp, and Gregory gives a humph as he sat back and folded his arms across his chest.

Ryder just chuckled and seemed to be enjoying how uneasy he was making me feel.

"So, what do you say?" Ryder asks me, his tone laced with a seductive growl.

I felt myself shudder from the intensity of his stare. "Ryder, I will call you later…" I begin, but Gregory jumps in and takes the lead.

"You know what? I think this dinner is over. I am not interested in a woman who is already seeing some guy who can't even dress appropriately for dinner," Gregory seethes.

"Whoa buddy, I don't know who you are fucking talking about," Ryder begins, and I place my hand on his chest to stop him. Ryder pauses, his eyes locked on my hand, which is now holding him in place.

Gregory pushes his chair back and offers a smile to Allison and John. "My apologies, but I am leaving," he nods toward the pair.

Allison and John seem to be shocked as they just sit there and watch the show before them.

Embarrassed, I glance around and realize people are watching us now, and not because Ryder Raven is in their presence. It's the spectacle we are creating that has them watching us with their phones out. Oh no, I hope we aren't on TMZ tomorrow.

As Gregory begins to move past me, he nudges me out of his way, and I fall into Ryder. In one quick move, Ryder shifts my body behind him, and he now has Gregory in his grasp, shaking him with extreme fury.

"Don't you ever put your hands on a woman," Ryder roars.

Gregory places his hands up in defense, and I can see him tremble under Ryder's hold. I want to yell at them to stop, but my voice has suddenly gone silent. With wide eyes, I watch everything unfold like I am outside of my body right now.

"Calm down, man. I don't know who you are, but unless you want a lawsuit, get your hands off of me," Gregory shouts back, trying to pretend to be brave.

Standing taller, Ryder leans in so that he and Gregory are nose-to-nose. "I will tell you who the fuck I am. I am Ryder Fucking Raven, and I own this town. Go ahead and sue me, my lawyers will laugh while they write you a check to run away like the bitch you are," Ryder seethes.

Gregory's eyes go wide. Of course, now he realizes who this man is. The man who he looked at like nothing more than a low life, is a man who has more money than any of us can dream of having.

"Alright, I didn't know. Let me go, and I will leave," Gregory pleads.

"Ryder, please just stop," I say, finally finding my voice.

Ryder turns his head a bit and looks at me. I nod, letting him know he needs to do this. Slowly, Ryder loosens his grip on Gregory and takes a step back.

Gregory straightens out his shirt and then rushes out of the patio area.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper to Allison.

She and John are still watching us, but I see amusement in their eyes.

"No worries," Allison says, standing and taking John's hand. "I think it is safe to say dinner is over. You two should go on that date after all," she finishes.

"But, I'm hungry," John whines.

"Come on," Allison says, pulling him behind her. She waves at me and offers a wink.

I turn to face Ryder, and I'm so confused and angry by the entire situation, I just lower my eyes at him and storm off.

I can hear him chasing after me as I push my way through the crowds on the patio. When I reach the parking lot, he grabs my arm, and I turn on my heels.

"What?" I scream, attracting more attention to us. "What do you want to embarrass me more? To keep me from dating someone else?" I throw out.

Ryder stops and looks at me like I have just bruised his ego. "Scarlett, that's not at all what I want," he begins to say, but I stop him.

"Ryder, you are playing a game with me, and I don't do games. Look, I appreciate more than you will ever know what you are doing for the boys at All Our Children. But, that doesn't mean I will let you play me like a fool."

"Scarlett, you have no idea what I think and feel," Ryder says, stepping closer to me.

We are so close now, and I can hear his ragged breathing. I gulp down my fear and plead with my body, not to betray me by crying or shaking. Ryder does things to me I just can't explain, and I definitely don't want him knowing that.

"Really?" I ask, my tone sarcastic and full of doubt. "Because I have you pegged as the type of guy who just wants to take me home and fuck me, then forget I even existed the next day. Let me tell you something. I'm not that type of girl. I won't be a one-night stand for you."

I see rage fill Ryder's eyes at my outburst. "Let me tell you something, Scarlett," he begins, moving so close to me that I can feel the heat from his breath burning my skin. I shake under his glare and gulp down my own trepidations. "You aren't the type of woman that should ever be someone's one-night stand. You are too good for that, and you better never let someone make you feel otherwise," he snarls out.

"How can you say that?" I whisper. I am beyond stunned by his admission. "You don't know me outside of my job. You can't believe what you just said," I say, my voice shaking. From fear? I have no idea.

"No. Did you know that when I first saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on? Did you know that when you wear jeans and sweats, I think that is the most attractive thing a woman can wear? Did you know I think you are golden, someone with a heart so big, that you put others before yourself?" he asks, his voice breathless as he speaks in a rush.

My mind is blown. Never had I dreamed he would say those things about me? I want to argue and tell him it's all a lie. To beg him not to drag me down this path, but I just can't. Something in my heart and soul tells me Ryder is telling the truth. And what is killing me is knowing that regardless if he is sincere or not, I could never open my heart to him. I have closed that off for--how long I don't know.

"So, can I please just take you to get something to eat?" Ryder asks, extending his hand to me.

I stare down at his hand, knowing I am about to betray myself, but I just can't help it. I will tell him I can only be his friend. I will let him down easy, but right now, all I can do is place my hand in his and let Ryder lead me away.