Rylan's Heart Read Free

me in mind. Right now I am staying with Victor and Selma at their bed and breakfast.”
    Molly nodded. “I will keep you in mind as well as telling the big boss.”
    “Thanks.” Aviana turned away paying no attention to Rylan who had taken a seat in the corner.
    “Why are you looking for a job?” Rylan asked her when they left the diner.
    Rylan didn’t work and from what Aviana could tell he also never worried about money.
    “A job provides me with that elusive stuff called money. I pay all my pesky bills with it. I also use it to take care of Mckayla.”
    “Do you need money?”
    “No! Yes! I mean my savings will only take us so far and soon I will have to replenish it.”
    “I will give you what you need.”
    She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to face him.
    “No. No, you will not just give me money that I will then have to struggle to pay back. I am not a charity case, and I won’t take it.”
    “I know exactly who and what you are, Aviana. You’re definitely not a charity case, but you’re also not supposed to be working. I don’t care if it’s in a diner or being the president of a huge company.”
    She opened her mouth to argue but decided to walk instead. His simple words made her feel better and the last part about being president of a company made her feel important. She used to have dreams like that when she was younger. She would go to New York and take it by storm. She had been on her way until her life had changed on a long walk home after school one day.
    “You can’t just give people money because you feel sad for them. They need to pay you back or you won’t have any money.
    “I’ll always have money, more than I know what to do with.” He pulled his phone out of his coat pocket and turned on some music.
    “Because Newburg is where the rich and famous come to play.” She gave him a blank smile.
    “Do you recognize that song?”
    “Of course I do, it’s the hottest song out right now.”
    “Thank you.”
    “What?”
    “Gabe and I wrote the song, both lyrics and music.”
    Her mouth dropped open. They were famous songwriters? Well didn’t that put him out of her league. So she could continue to dream on because a man who could have anything wasn’t wasting his time on her and Mckayla.
    “I thought a woman wrote that song.”
    “We have more than one alter ego, both male and female. It’s how we stay anonymous.”
    She understood how he had money to give away, but not to her. She wasn’t his responsibility and wasn’t trying to get anything from him.
    “Rylan, I don’t want your money.”
    “Then what do you want?”
    Now wasn’t that the million dollar question. Ever since she met him in the Principal’s office at Mckayla’s school she had been aware of him. Her body ran warm around him and the desire to touch him was great. Seemed reasonable that she wanted a one-night stand, so why couldn’t she get the image of just lying in his arms out of her head?
    “I don’t want anything. Maybe we can just be friends.”
    He gave a rusty laugh. “Even I know better than that, Aviana. You’re like paper and I am definitely a match. Together we’ll go up in flames.”
    “Paper and matches get along every day. Unless the match is lit, all is ok.”
    “Aviana, this match was lit a long time ago. Now I’m just looking for the kindling so I can explode. I won’t let it be you.”
    “Guess that’s a no to my offer of friendship.” She moved further down the street.
    “Already we are so much more than friends.” Rylan spoke low before catching up with her.
    She walked into a new hotel that would soon be opening its doors. It would give the small bed and breakfast a run for its money. Rylan followed her in.
    “Hi, can I help you?” A young woman asked, stopping at the lobby desk.
    “Yes, I was looking to put in an application for a job.”
    “All job applications go through the owner who happens to be the hotel’s manager as well. He is in the back, I