Chapter Eight

R yker slowed as he took another left and drove into one of Denver's affluent neighborhoods. Reaching the Baldwin estate, he gave his ID to the guard at the gate and pulled through the open gate when he was given the okay.

Hailey waved at him from the front walkway and Ryker parked his sports car in the wide driveway. This was only one of the homes that the Baldwins owned and Ryker knew it was the one Hailey hoped they would live in after their marriage.

"Hi! Your call was so unexpected, but I'm thrilled," she said, smiling and coming forward. When she reached him, she hugged him tight.

"Hi back," he said as he hugged her. She had always smelled so good to him, but now the soapy scent of Marshal took over.

"How long can you stay?"

"Not long, but I need to talk with you about something." He followed her into the house, kicking off his shoes in the large foyer before walking in socks to the den. He loved this room because it felt homey. It was a room he'd relaxed in many times since his return from Switzerland.

Hailey disappeared and came back with two sparkling waters, handing him one.

"So, what's up?" she asked, twisting the lid from her water and dropping down on the sofa next to him. She hitched a leg on the cushion and turned toward him.

He really did feel comfortable around her and she'd become a good friend over the past year. Perhaps that was why he hadn't put up too much of a fuss when his dad suggested the engagement.

However, he now had hope for him and Marshal and unfortunately, any feelings he had had for Hailey paled in comparison.

"There was a threat against us," he told her.

"Again?" She frowned worriedly.

"Yeah." He opened his own water and took a sip. "Until the threat is neutralized, you can't come over and I can't come here."

"But you're here now…and without bodyguards," she pointed out.

"I know and I'm going to catch hell, but I also have something I need to tell you in person."

"Okay." She smiled, placing her hand over his where it lay resting on his thigh.

"I'm getting a sense that our personalities don't mesh," he began, not sure where he was going with this or what he was trying to convey, but he'd start there and see if she'd at least acknowledge that. If would make breaking up easier.

Also, he was never one to mince words when it mattered and he wasn't going to start now. Of course, he wasn't going to mention Marshal, that would just hurt her feelings.

"Mesh? I think we get along great. Is it because we haven't had sex? Because you know I'm open to that." She scooted closer.

"I…don't think so…"

But he couldn't be sure and frowned. Was that the reason he felt disconnected from her? Was the lack of sex the reason he was annoyed with the things she said and did? Would sex make that better? Or more importantly, would sex make them get along better?

He doubted it, plus the idea of having sex with her was unappealing.

"I think our personalities clash." He tried to sound gentle, but the words were stark and anger filled her beautiful face.

"How so?" she snapped. Squeezing the water bottle tightly, the plastic crackled.

Taking a deep breath, he stuck to the facts of why they didn't work.

"I like kids, I love being around kids. I loved being at Light Bright and I don't think you do."

She stared at him and he could see he had her there. He wondered if she'd admit it or lie her way out of it.

"Look, I'm not opposed to children, just not other people's kids," she said.

"I like noisy places. I like to eat from food trucks, and I love to shop at thrift stores," he countered.

"I can learn to like those," she said, her voice full of determination.

"I'm ugly. You're going to go out with me and this face for the rest of your life." He knew his scars bothered her and he also knew she was pinning her hopes on the surgery fixing everything.

"But you're having surgery!" She tightened her hand on his.

"The doctors told me that it won't fix all the scars."

"It…won't?" She frowned.

He'd deliberately not worn a mask today and she flickered her eyes over his face. She couldn't look directly at his scars for long.

"Let's end this," Ryker said, waving a hand between them.

She looked thoughtful but stayed silent.

He left her then and pulled on his shoes before stepping outside and closing the front door. He finally drew in a deep breath of fresh, cool, crisp air as he walked down the front steps.

Ending things had been the right thing to do. There would be hell to pay when his father caught wind of him breaking the engagement, but he'd deal with that when the time came.

Right now, though, he had bigger fish to fry.

Namely in the form of the sexy bodyguard leaning against his sports car.

And if the man's frown was any indication…a storm was brewing.

Hailey sighed with frustration and turned to gaze at her brother lurking in the doorway.

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough." Harold curled his lip with disgust and sauntered into the room. "Don't fuck this up. Langston and Granddad want you and Ryker married asap."

She shuddered with distaste, hating all men who used women for personal gain. Her family came with a set of old traditions that her tyrannical grandfather refused to let go of.

"Why don't you marry him!" She threw up her hands.

"Don't think I wouldn't if given the opportunity, but then that would get in the way of an heir."

"I can always be his surrogate." She moved away from the sofa and toward the window.

"This is more about business than keeping our line alive."

"Don't I know it."

"Langston's raining cash. He has his hand in some pretty powerful deals. Ryker is our meal ticket." Not to mention, when his sister married Ryker, he'd have the beautiful man under his thumb…and more. Preferably beneath him in a bed. Not even the scars on Ryker's face could take away from the man's sex appeal. As far as he was concerned, the scars added character with the added bonus of keeping others away. "So, do whatever you have to do to make it up to him."

She ignored him and kept her eyes on the landscape beyond the window. She knew what her brother wanted from Ryker and she also knew that she had no choice but to chase after Ryker, a man she had no feelings for.

Life sucked.