It Started with a Bang by Piper James

Chapter Fifteen

Annabelle

Ipacked my things in a daze, that scene between Ryder and my father—and our discussion afterward—playing over and over in my mind. I was certain Ryder had been having second thoughts about our deal. It had been written all over his face as he read the contract, and I’d been in the process of preparing myself for the letdown when Dad had shown up.

But my father’s harsh words and insulting demeanor had obviously triggered something protective in Ryder, and he’d gone to bat for me in more ways than I’d ever expected. Not only did he do an amazing job selling our fake relationship, he’d been truly appalled by Dad’s cutting insults.

In all honesty, I had, too. While Dad made no bones about his disappointment in having to leave his company to a lowly daughter instead of his sons, he’d never been so negative about my appearance. For a moment, I’d been convinced he was only saying those things to test Ryder. To get him to admit he was only with me because of my money and standing.

But there was a ring of truth I couldn’t deny. My own father thought I was unattractive and that no man could possibly like me for me. I hated to admit it, but that had stung. As much as I detested his brash behavior and disgusting beliefs, I’d always carried a kernel of hope that somewhere deep down inside him, he loved me. Even if only a little.

I could see now that it just wasn’t so. And as I let that seed of hope disintegrate, I was surprised to find I didn’t feel much regret at the loss of it. I felt…freer somehow. Like my desire to impress Dad into loving me had actually been a ball and chain. Without its weight, I felt like I could fly.

And even though the revelation released me in some small way, I was still very much under his thumb as far as my position in the company was concerned. I still needed to get married if I wanted the control I craved. If I still wanted to take Parker Industries in a new, positive direction.

And while I knew Ryder was the perfect man for the job, I felt guilty. I knew he’d been about to let me down, albeit gently, before Dad barged in spouting his poisonous accusations. And while I was touched Ryder came so valiantly to my defense, I couldn’t let this go any further without making sure it was what he really wanted.

I zipped up my bag and carried it into the living room before dropping it beside the door. I spotted Ryder through the windows, and walked out onto the back deck to join him. He didn’t react when I stopped beside him. His eyes remained on the ocean, watching the waves crash into the shore in a constant, never-ending rhythm.

“Listen, Ryder,” I said, keeping my own eyes on those waves. “I know I’ve asked a lot of you. You didn’t really know exactly what you were getting into when you agreed to this. And I’ll understand if you want to back out after what happened earlier.”

“And then what?” he asked, his chocolate gaze spearing mine.

“I’ll go home and tell Dad we broke things off.” My lips parted in a slight smile. “I’ll yell at him for being such an asshole and scaring you away. That would be fun.”

“And then what?” he repeated, his brows drawing downward as he cocked his head. “Will you just bend to his will and marry whatever douchebag he picks out for you?”

I shrugged, hiding the way my heart picked up at the anger in his voice. Not because I was afraid, but because I could tell that anger was on my behalf. No one had supported me like this since my brothers left home. It felt…nice. More than nice.

Looking back out at the sea, Ryder said, “When I initially agreed to this, it was kind of on a lark. I thought it would be fun. Some much-needed entertainment in that tiny, boring town. And, Belle, I’m not going to lie—I intended to intentionally embarrass you along the way.”

“You did?” I asked, staring at his handsome profile with wide eyes.

“I’m not proud of it,” he sighed. “I was offended by your snap judgment of me the day we met, and I told myself that acting like some uncultured buffoon would only be giving you what you expected. But Chase talked some sense into me before I came here with you. I realized you never would’ve come up with this crazy plan if it weren’t your only choice.”

He spun around then, stalking into the house. I followed behind him, watching as he strode into the kitchen, yanked open one of the drawers, and pulled my contract out. Smoothing it against the counter, he opened the junk drawer and grabbed a pen. Flipping the pages, he signed each one as I stared in stunned silence. When he finished, he brought the papers over and placed them in my hand.

“I also realized you weren’t the only one who made snap judgments that day,” he said, his large hand wrapping tightly around mine. “Being here with you, getting to know you better, I can see that I was wrong about you, too. You’re a good person, Annabelle Parker, and you don’t deserve to be treated the way he treats you.”

I sucked in a shuddering breath, and he released me, taking a step backward. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he gave me a firm nod and that irresistible grin.

“I’m all in. I’ll marry you for one year, proving myself a devoted husband, and your father will have no choice but to believe I’m head over heels in love with you. We’re going to get you that company, Belle. I guarantee it.”

With another nod, he turned around and walked out, heading back toward his bedroom. I assumed he was going to gather his things so we could leave, but I thought maybe he was also giving me a moment to process everything he’d just said.

He was all in.

This whole crazy plan was a go, and at the end of it, I’d have everything I’d ever wanted.

And Ryder would be a million dollars richer.

Only, he hadn’t said a word about the money. All he’d talked about was helping me because he thought I was a good person and deserved it. I looked down at the contract in my hand. He’d signed it without asking for any kind of amendment to the payoff. Which meant he still expected to get paid, whether he mentioned it, or not.

I shook off the twinge of disappointment I felt, berating myself for being stupid. Of course, he wanted the money. He might’ve talked a big game about helping me, but there was no doubt in my mind that the million bucks I offered him was the driving force behind his agreement. And that was okay with me.

Having the money between us like that kept the lines firmly drawn. We had a business arrangement. Nothing more.

And all the hot kisses and pretty words in the world couldn’t change that fact.

* * *

Ryder wasquiet during the helicopter ride back to Red River. His eyes stayed firmly trained out the window, and there was a tension in his body that made his veins pop in his arms and neck. I tried to talk to him a couple of times, but he only answered with single word answers or low grunts. So I gave up, opting to stare out my own window in silence for the rest of the ride.

Once we were back on the ground and inside my car, I tried again.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I asked, turning the radio down so we could talk.

“Yes. Of course,” he said, staring at the road ahead of us as I pulled out of the Parker Industries parking garage.

“You’ve been really quiet since we left Galveston,” I said, hoping he’d open up.

“I’m sorry,” he said, finally looking at me. “I guess I’m still trying to process everything.”

“You can still back out if you want to,” I offered, though it was obvious my heart wasn’t really in it.

I didn’t want him to back out. I wanted him to make all of my dreams come true, just like he’d promised. But I couldn’t spend the next year with him if he was going to be surly and resentful the entire time.

“I said I was in, and I meant it,” he barked. Then, in a much softer voice he added, “I’m not questioning our deal, Belle. When I said I was processing, I was talking about your father and things he said to us. I just…I just don’t understand how a father can speak that way to his child. My dad never showed us anything but complete love and support.”

“You’re lucky, then,” I murmured, my eyes starting to sting. “Most people envy me, like I have this picture-perfect life worth envying. Strangers take one look at my pedigree and either assume I’m a snobby bitch they don’t want to be friends with, or suck up to me with the hope that being associated with me will somehow elevate their own social status. And yet, if they took a closer look, they’d see my life is far from perfect. That I envy them, with their loving parents and strong families untouched by scandal and heartbreak.”

“I see you now,” he said quietly, “and I’m really sorry I was one of those people.”

“It’s okay. I’m used to it,” I said.

“It’s not okay,” he fired back. “It’s never okay, Annabelle.”

“You said yourself, I did the same thing to you,” I argued, not sure why I felt the need to defend him against himself.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” he said, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “My mom used to say that all the time.”

“Well, she was right. I’m sorry, too. Let’s forgive each other and move on,” I said, turning my head to smile at him.

“It’s a deal,” he said.

I pulled into the motel parking lot, an unexpected sadness at the prospect of leaving him there. I knew I was being silly, but I couldn’t stop my next words from pouring out of my mouth.

“I think you should move in with me.”

“What?” he asked, unbuckling his seatbelt and shifting in his seat to face me.

“We’re supposed to be getting married, right? If we’re going to do that soon, we should get the ball rolling. You should move in with me, then we can announce our engagement in a month or so.”

He blinked his eyes a few times while his jaw worked back and forth, like he was debating the sanity of my suggestion. Hell, I was debating it, myself. But I couldn’t deny the excitement coursing through me at the thought of him moving in—even if it was only to be my fake-husband-slash-roommate.

“Okay,” he said slowly.

“Okay?” I asked, throwing the word back at him.

“Yeah. Sure. You’re right. When do you want me to bring my things?”

“Tomorrow after work?” I offered.

“Sounds good. See you tomorrow night,” he said, opening the door and stepping out before grabbing his bag from the backseat.

“See you,” I said back, flinching internally at the flirty little finger-wave I sent him.

But he only smiled, and my heart soared. All the way home, I lectured myself for my giddiness. This wasn’t real. This was a business arrangement. A farce. A trick to fool my father into believing I was heeding his demands.

But as Ryder’s smile flashed behind my eyes again and again, I couldn’t stop the thrill shooting through my veins. I told myself I was only excited because his moving in marked the beginning of my plan to secure my future. I told myself it had nothing to do with the man, himself.

I told myself to stick to the plan, and nothing could go wrong.