Page 21 of Deserving Ryleigh
“I probably shouldn’t admit it, but I like that bloodthirsty look in your eye,” Tiny said, palming her cheek and lifting her head, so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. “She’s in jail. Comes up for parole in a year or so. We can worry about it then. For now, she’s reaping what she sowed. You didn’t comment on the first part of what I said, though.”
Jail. Even better. That’s all the info Ry needed to find the bitch. She could search databases for Tiny’s name and figure out where she was.
“Ryleigh? Are you listening to me?”
Blinking, she focused. The hand on her cheek wascalloused and warm, and it took all her control not to tilt her head into his touch. “I’m listening.”
“I haven’t felt an attraction toward a woman in years. And when I realized that you weren’t who we all thought you were, it sent me spiraling. I let my bitterness overwhelm my common sense. You don’t deserve the way I’ve treated you, and I’m done thinking the worst. You’re scary as fuck with what you can do with that computer of yours, but since you’ve been here, you’ve done nothing but look after us. It’s appreciated, but you don’t have to protect us all by yourself anymore.
“Let us in…letmein. Let me help you with whatever it is you’re scared of. The Refuge is all of ours. You don’t have to shoulder the responsibility for this place by yourself.”
“I do if it’s my fault the place is threatened,” she whispered.
But Tiny shook his head firmly. Then he crouched in front of her, and she was no longer looking up, but instead looking down at him between her legs. His hands were resting on her thighs now, not in a sexually suggestive way, but a comforting hold.
“If I screw up and one of the guests gets hurt, no one would blame me, they’d all work together to make sure that person is cared for. If Tonka messes up and leaves a gate open and Melba gets out, we’ll all pitch in to get her back home. If Savannah makes a mistake on our taxes, we’ll work to fix it. We’re a team at The Refuge, Ryleigh, and you’re now a part of that.”
She wanted to cry. Shewantedto be a part of Team Refuge, but the hellfire she could bring down on this place wasn’t like a cow escaping its pen or a simple mistake ontaxes. Her being there could literally get people hurt. She had no doubt her father would do whatever he felt was necessary to get his money. Including killing people she held near and dear, if that’s what it took to get her to transfer the cash back to his account.
But it wasn’t that easy. Not anymore.
“I have one more question before I let you eat and we head out to get some fresh air,” Tiny said.
Ry held her breath as she waited to see what he was going to ask.
“Before…well…before, I thought you were feeling some of the same things formethat I was for you. Have I ruined that? Has my shitty attitude toward you killed any chance I might’ve had of being more than your friend?”
Ry literally thought she was having a heart attack. Was shocked that he was coming right out and asking what she thought about him.
“I’m a virgin,” she blurted—then immediately closed her eyes in mortification. She couldn’t believe she’d said that.
“Ooookay,” Tiny said slowly. “You think that matters?”
Ry forced her eyes open. “Itdoesn’t? I’m thirty-one and haven’t ever had sex. That’sweird. I mean, I’m not ashamed of it. I just haven’t felt the urge to do it with a guy.”
“Do it,” Tiny echoed with a small chuckle.
Ry frowned. Was he making fun of her?
“You being a virgin doesn’t change how I think about you. You’re mysterious, smart as hell, compassionate, selfless. You’re also a nerd, too pale because you spend way too much time inside, and somewhere along your life’s journey, you’ve learned that it’s better to lie than to tell thetruth. None of that turns me off. I admit that the lying thing is a tough one for me, with my past, but the lies you’ve told haven’t been malicious, so I can overlook them…for now. But I need you to do what you can to try to curb that. There’s no need to lie to me. About anything. If you don’t want to tell me something, just tell me you need time. I’ll give it to you. But please, no more lies.”
Ry swallowed hard. Tiny was being…overwhelmingly awesome. She didn’t expect this. She almost preferred his scowls.
“Guys like women with experience,” she said, once again blurting out what she was thinking.
“No, they don’t,” Tiny countered. “Men like women who are into them. Period. How much experience she does or doesn’t have isn’t a factor. It’s about the emotional connection between them. Learning what they like to do together. Your virginity has no bearing on my feelings about you one way or the other. You could’ve supported yourself on the streets by taking money for sex, or you could’ve been a nun, and I’d still feel the same way about you.”
Ry swallowed hard.
“You never answered my question,” Tiny said gently.
“Which one?”
“Did I kill any interest you might’ve had in me by being an overbearing asshole?”
Ry was at a crossroads. She could lie and say yes. She had no doubt Tiny would back off. Wouldn’t kick her out, would continue to be her friend, while keeping his distance as she did her best to figure out how to deal with her father.
Or she could suck it up, find the courage to tell himthat she was still just as attracted to him now as she’d been before her true identity was revealed. She had no idea what that would mean. She would still probably have to leave, and it would hurt a hundred times worse if she got involved with him.
