Soul Chance Read Free Page A

stunned by how her body reacted in his presence. He was the only man to have such an intense effect on her and it both infuriated and aroused her further.
    Ryder’s slow grin made Ari weak in the knees. “I am.”
    Ari attempted to swallow the enormous lump in her throat, wishing she had of come up with something more savvier to say other than state the obvious, but under the circumstances it was the best she could muster. Intense longing she’d been trying to ignore for weeks made Ari wish things had gone differently in Vegas.
    Has Ryder thought of me at all since then ?
    That question taunted Ari, along with the one that had kept her awake many nights. Has he forgiven me?
     

Chapter Two
     
     
     
    “I just got in.” Ryder watched Ari take a sip from her glass.
    “The rumor around here was that you were getting in tomorrow.”
    “Change of plans at the last minute.” Ryder grinned as Ari nodded.
    He knew her well enough to know he’d surprised her, but she’d regained her composure within seconds. For a brief moment, he’d thought she might rush into his arms. He would’ve enjoyed such a welcoming, especially after how tense their last encounter had been.
    “Easy flight?”
    “Easy enough.”
    Their polite chit chat and the cool wall Ari seemed hell bent on keeping between them set Ryder on edge. In Vegas, they’d been able to talk about anything and everything. Things had changed, but Ryder didn’t care if Ari was no longer gambling. As long as she was safe, she could resent him all she wanted. He’d done what he could to help her make the necessary changes to get her life together.
    Ryder gestured at Ari’s suit. “Going for a swim?”
    “No. I was hot.”
    Her innocent comment conjured up several naughty responses in Ryder’s head. God, how he’d missed those lips. He wanted to crush those soft, deliciously feminine curves that had haunted his dreams for the past few weeks against him. Ari had made it very clear she wasn’t interested in anything other than sex and his money after what had gone down in Vegas. Ryder had no intentions of further blurring the lines between them by mixing business with pleasure.
    “I decided to come out here and enjoy my margarita.” Ari lifted her glass. “Would you like one?”
    “Please.” Ryder followed her back into the stuffy beach house, wishing he were in swim trunks. “Is the air conditioner not working?”
    “It’s working fine.” Ari moved into the kitchen. She set her half-empty glass on the countertop and Ryder noticed the sheerness of her swimsuit in the light. “I like natural air unless it’s sweltering hot and humid.”
    “Ari, it’s hot as hell in here.” Ryder leaned against the door as Ari emptied the margarita mix into the blender.
    “It’s not that bad.” Ari glanced at him before bending over and opening the freezer. “Besides, you won’t mind the heat once you have your drink.”
    Ryder’s cock stiffened as he watched Ari grab some ice. His gaze moved over her legs up to the delectable roundness of her ass. Flashbacks of her, naked and breathless in Sin City, sent more blood surging to Ryder’s dick. He adjusted his hard-on as Ari turned on the blender and he noticed the Taser on the counter. He walked over and picked it up. “Are you concerned about your safety here?”
    “What?” Ari turned off the blender and glanced at the weapon. “Oh, that. Am I concerned? No.”
    Ryder frowned, thinking of the gambling thugs that would love to teach him and Ari a lesson for getting the cops involved in Sin City. “Has anyone around here made you feel unsafe?”
    “No.” Ari sighed. “I just feel better having one.”
    “I’m glad you have one too.”
    “I never want to be unprepared or unable to handle myself again.” Ari poured the icy drink into another glass tumbler. “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on getting into anymore situations like that one in Vegas.”
    “Glad to hear it.”
    Ari turned and offered Ryder the