Page 25 (1/2)

"All right Sounds good" I turn and start toward the door, eager to get away yet reluctant to leave He er on exactly hohy, but there it is

"Violet?"

I wait until I reach the door before I face hi out my hand to rest it on the handle "Yes?"

"Wear the red dress tonight" He saze roaain "I like you in red" There’s an undercurrent to his request An unspokenI wear red to please him and no one else

I’m so startled by his request I can’t answer him Instead, I push open the door and practically run down the hall back to the elevator Back to the safety of my floor and hts that sithin me every time I’m close to Ryder

But his words echo inand I findrefresh so s at ets? What if he has to cancel? What if he’s changed his ht after all?

And why do I want to see hiht when he followed me outside When he rested his hand onjust beneath the lacy strap ofabout it, and I wonder what it would feel like if he touched me with more purpose If he sunk his hands intoupon mine I have no doubt he’s an expert kisser A master at seduction He’s so tall and ine what his body must be like Not that Zachary has a bad one, but he’s a little soft in spots It co Ryder has one, too … but fro soft on that man’s body whatsoever Except, perhaps, his hair

Oh, and his lips

A shiver h and I see the fa in anticipation of what it s at the er waiting for her boyfriend to call

Clearly I’ve lost er Iover, but I aements for us to have dinner at Harper’s at seven o’clock I hope this works for your schedule and isn’t too early I know you like to stay late at the office on Wednesday nights, so I tried to accommodate you as best I could

I sink ed on the last sentence I read Had Zachary ever tried to accoured we could just ride over together I’ve arranged for a car Unless you wanted to go home first, which I completely understand Let et on that phone call I’ve beenpaperwork Rose left me with last Friday that I still haven’t done

Instead, I hit REPLY and immediately type out my response

Dear Ryder,