Free Impacted (Conflicted Encounters #2) by Alyne Roberts Page B

diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals. I can't keep a boyfriend or make someone love me, but I can tell you how many carats are in that woman's earrings. They are square cut set in white gold, not silver. Twelve carat."  
    They both turned to look at the woman I used as an example. They wouldn't have been able to tell if I was right or not, but I think I made my point. It's what was force-fed into my mind from the time I could walk. The business side I never enjoyed, but the art side was the reason I came in each day.  
    "Why would he lie?" Ryder asked. I sensed he wasn't that surprised, but unhappy he now had a confirmed reason to dislike the guy.
    "Let's find out," I said.
    "Why are you paying for this if you don't think it's right?"  
    "Because I hope I'm wrong. If not, I want her happy for as long as she can be," I shrugged.  
    "So, let me get this straight," he said, putting his hands on the table and demanding my attention. "You told her you would pay for her wedding, but meanwhile you will be trying to prove her fiancé is a piece of shit."
    He struck a nerve then. He had the guts to look at me like I was the one being manipulative and uncaring. "No. I want her to marry the man of her dreams. I want her to live for the rest of her life in love and have lots of little babies I can babysit. I just want to be sure that he is the one that can give that to her. If he's not, I can't let her marry him. You want her to find out years later, after they have kids or something, that he's the wrong one?"
    A range of feelings displayed on his face. I hated to bring up his own father, but I hoped that's what he was thinking. I hoped he wanted to shield her from going through that pain again. He finally settled on a look of determination with some anger underneath.  
    "So, you're wasting your money?"
    "Nope," I said, sitting back in the booth. "We're all still going to Hawaii either way."
    Chloe giggled as he shook his head and laughed softly. We finished our meals with some easy conversation, and I tipped Tiffany generously when we left. I paused at the shop window again on the way back to the truck. I thought of how nice the necklace would look with a black dress. I reluctantly pulled myself away from the window and smacked into a hard chest.  
    Ryder stood over me, looking down at me. I heated with the closeness of our bodies. I didn't care to stop myself when I placed my hands on his chest, feeling the firmness and heartbeat beneath. I let the feel of him seep through my hands. His heartbeat quickened, and I felt the steady thumping under my palms. I ran my fingers lightly down to his waist. Hooking my fingers through his belt loops of his jeans, I pulled him forward slightly while pushing myself up on my toes.  
    I pressed my lips gently to his. I just let our lips touch; I didn't push or open up to him. I savored the little taste that I had and the tingling that buzzed between us. I pulled away slowly, lowering back down to the ground, and let go of his jeans. His face stayed frozen, his eyes searching mine. I smiled, stepped aside him, and continued walking to his truck.

C HAPTER E IGHT

    Ryder
    She's evil. Pure, bad-to-the-bone, I-will-torture-you, kind of evil. She makes me worry, calls me out on it, and then kisses me. Now, her and Chloe return with me to the apartment like she didn't just punch a hole in my chest. The kiss was on the chaste side, but I knew it was more than that. She made the first move. That's something she rarely did, especially sober.  
    I could already tell the party tonight would be interesting. I had little control over myself around her, and then I have to consider Kallie into the mixture, who has apparently forgotten the boundaries. I knew I needed to protect myself, but she was testing my limits. Once we got back, the girls took over the living room with more wedding planning. I hid out in my room to get away from the giggling and constant chatter.  
    "Ryder?" Kallie called from