Alecia opened her eyes, and her smile widened. Something warm and sharp ran through her, making her stretch out her toes. He looked so handsome. The fabric of the uniform highlighted the muscles in his arms and his chest. The red contrasted with the dark locks of his hair.
She slid off the bed, walked over to him and placed her hands on his chest. “You look so hot.”
“Really,” he said as he wiggled his eyebrows.
She opened her mouth to speak but before she could, Ryder grabbed her by the hips and yanked her close to him, kissing her passionately — the brim of the hat bumping up against the side of her face.
Alecia and Ryder laid in each other’s arms, giggling over a joke, he had told her, while he twirled a curl around his finger. She wore his ball band and uniform shirt that fell over her body like she wasn’t even there.
“You know, Alecia.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “If you....”
Someone knocked on the door, making Alecia flinch and slide more under the covers.
“Yeah,” Ryder said.
“Open up.” It was his father.
“Okay.”
Ryder slipped from the bed and pulled on some slacks.
“Stay under the covers,” he said before he opened the door and revealed his father.
His father walked into the room and stood in front of the bed, staring at Alecia for a few seconds with a smirk on his face. He turned to his son and sat on the bed. “Sheila is in town.”
Ryder nodded, looking at the floor.
“Richard wants you to take her out, and show her a good time.” Mr. Hendrix looked at Alecia, his eyes roving over her. “Take Alecia with you.”
Alecia's stomach flipped. His eyes held that glare, but he smiled at her the same way Ryder did right before he asked for sex. Who was this man?
“Richard wants them to be friends,” he continued.
“I’ll take her to the usual places,” Ryder said.
“Good.” Mr. Hendrix stood to leave, but before he left, he looked straight at Alecia with those glaring eyes one last time, biting on the side of his bottom lip. She pulled the covers up to her chin. “Have a nice time, Alecia.” He walked out the door.
Alecia shuddered. That man could scare a veteran soldier.
“So, are you excited about meeting the president’s daughter?”
Alecia heard what he said, but her focus was on the closed door.
“Ally.” He lay down next to her and ran a hand up her arm. She turned to him. “I can’t wait.”
After dinner, they left to pick up Sheila. Alecia leaned her head against the window of the black corvette Ryder kept in New York to drive when he was in town. She ran her hands over the loose blue jeans he made her wear. The black long-sleeve shirt she wore didn’t even accent one curve. Earlier, when she had tried to apply some light lipstick, he had taken the tube out of her hand, and said she looked prettier without her face made up. He handed her a hair tie and asked that she put her hair in a bun. If he wanted to make sure no one noticed her tonight, he would get his wish. Maybe he was afraid she would outshine Sheila.
Ryder tapped the top of the steering wheel, not saying a word. His gray narrowed eyes focused on the street in front of him as the yellow lines were swept under the car. Fifteen minutes into the trip, he pulled the car into a parking lot and parked next to a dumpster. Alecia looked out the window, noticing the rows of gas pumps, and bright flashing cigarette signs on the glass windows of the store. They were at a gas station.
“Sheila is like my sister,” he said.
Alecia sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and turned to Ryder. His eyes wavered as if he didn’t know what to say. Something was going on, but what could it be? Ryder never looked scared.
“I know. You’ve told me that before.” She smiled, hoping he would see she believed him although she wondered what he truly meant. If they were really like siblings what could he be afraid of?
He nodded. “I always watch out for her when she comes to town. Kind of a favor for Richard”
“Then what’s wrong?”
He took a deep breath and leaned his head against the seat, focusing on the ceiling. “Sheila isn’t exactly the nicest person. If she says anything you don’t like, just ignore her and….” He sat up and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “She’ll want me to give her all my attention. So don’t get upset, just consider this business.” He caressed her cheek with his hand. “Sometimes you’ve to play games in politics.”
“Okay,” she said, turning the information over in her head. She rubbed her hands together. The sweat built between her palms. Miss Sheila sounded like a spoiled brat instead of the education-focused girl the press always portrayed her to be.
Ryder bent and kissed Alecia on the lips, running two fingers down her cheek. “I love you. I always will,” he whispered. “Tomorrow, I’ll treat you really well. We’ll do whatever you want.”
“Anything?” She raised her right brow.
“Anything.” He kissed her one more time before putting the car back in drive. Tomorrow, she would ask for him all to herself.
The gate slid open, revealing a long stone driveway that led to the mansion. Richard's mansion was larger than the Hendrix's, painted white with red oak windowsills. A long, smooth, marble driveway led them to the back garage where they parked the car. They walked in a back door to the foyer, where they met a young man wearing a tucked-in black dress shirt and khakis. He had a smooth face, but it was half-hidden behind glasses.
The man nodded.
“Hey Mike,” Ryder said as he took Alecia's hand and led her to a nearby room. He bent to her ear and whispered, “agent.”
Alecia nodded and glanced around at the ornate scones decorating the wall. This was the main home of the president. Could he be here somewhere, maybe napping on a bed escaping the pressure of the White House and hiding away here for a quick respite? Was this his favorite room, the parlor? Over the fireplace rested a painting of Arther and his family. She let go of Keith’s hand and walked up to the mantle and looked at the pictures of Richard and several dignitaries, but the one she liked most was Ryder leaning against a silver Bugatti.
“That was taken the day, he gave me the car,” Ryder said.
Next to that picture was one of Ryder in a red graduation robe, with Richard's arm around his shoulders. Alecia squinted her eyes. All the pictures were of Ryder and Richard or Richard with some important looking person, but not one of Sheila except for a painting over a brown leather couch. She focused on the light-blue eyes of the girl. Her light-blonde hair curled around her face and reached to her chin, falling in perfect lines.
“Hey, pretty boy.”
Alecia turned around to see Sheila in a tight black dress and black heels, leaning against the side of the door. In her hands she held two beers. She looked slutty; it wasn’t the dress; it was the sneer in her eyes and the sensuous smile.
“Started without me,” Ryder said.
“Of course, you took forever.” She walked up to Ryder and handed him a beer. She then gave him a kiss on the cheek. “How’s my big brother?” She played with a button on his shirt.
Ryder set the beer on a table in front of the couch and placed his hands on her hips. “He’s fine, and how are you?”
Alecia wrapped her arms around her waist as Sheila removed herself from Ryder's embrace and lay on the couch, revealing her legs up to the top of her thighs. Apparently, Sheila was also a flirt besides rude. She batted her eyelashes as if she wanted to draw Ryder to her arms. Maybe, she was the second person Ryder had sex with, but she couldn’t be. They were like siblings. But Sheila didn’t look at him like a sibling. She looked like she was challenging him in some way.
Ryder motioned for Alecia. She walked up to his side, taking his hand. “Hey Sheila, this is Alecia,” he said.
“Did Daddy tell you to bring your ho?” Alecia's mouth flew open.
“Sheila, be nice.”
“I don’t have to be nice to her.” She's a human. Sheila took a sip of her beer. “When am I nice to your girls?”
Ryder took a deep breath before he walked over to Sheila, leaning over her. “Sheila, this is my future wife.”
Sheila took another sip of her beer. “Won’t you tell our daddy?”
“Maybe I will.” Ryder grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet. “Let’s go.”
Alecia winced at the force he used, but they were like siblings. She shook her head. Sheila deserved it.
“Hey, pretty thing, wait in the hall for a second,” he said.
Alecia nodded and walked out the door.