days.”
“I’m good. You know, just working.”
“All work and no play?”
Ari glanced at her lime dress in a heap on the floor, her stilettos on the rug and Ryder’s tie still knotted to the top of the chaise. Evidence of play where everywhere. “Well, I’ve got a job to do.”
“All right, who is this? Please put my little sister on the phone.”
“Ha ha. Very funny.” Ari fastened the first button of Ryder’s shirt. “Don’t you work on Sundays?”
“I changed my days so I can spend my weekends with Shannon. Quality time together is tough between her crazy schedule and mine.”
“You two have a lot going on, especially with a wedding in the works.” Ari walked over to the window. She gazed at a hummingbird flitting in and out of flowers near the terrace. “I’m glad you’re finding a way to spend more time with your fiancée.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Ari frowned when her brother remained silent a beat too long. “Jay? What’s wrong?”
Her brother blew out a breath. “It’s Red… I mean, Shannon. She’s getting antsy as her six month mammogram check-up approaches. I want to reassure her but she’s got valid reasons to be scared. Hell, I am too.”
“Oh, Jay.” Ari placed her hand on the glass as a colorful butterfly fluttered against the window pane. “I think you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing…being there for her. I know you don’t want to spout false hope in the face of the unknown.”
“That’s exactly it. Even though things have been going really well for Shannon, I can’t tell her everything is going to be all right when I’m not sure it will be.”
“I know.”
“It’s tough, but we’ll get through it.”
Ari smiled. “You will, together, as you two have been throughout this whole ordeal. You’re amazing, you know that?”
“Thanks. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since I suggested you take the job at The Cove.”
“Suggested? You practically threw me on the plane.”
Jay laughed. “I don’t remember it that way.”
“Uh huh. Well, I do.” Ari fiddled with the edge of Ryder’s shirt. “It’s all good though.”
“Is it? Are you admitting that Florida’s been good for you?”
Ari briefly closed her eyes, picturing Ryder kissing and spanking her. “Maybe.”
“I’ll take it.” Jay chuckled. “Say, rumor has it Ryder might be one of the celebrity judges for that music competition show that comes on Thursday nights. Did he tell you he was thinking of taking that gig?”
“He didn’t mention it.” Ari smoothed her hand over Ryder’s shirt.
“Shannon told me he’s been in contract negotiations with the producers of the show.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yup. Try-outs will be held in Florida in a few weeks for the fifth season. Ari, I think you should audition.”
“I’m too old.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Hmm.” Ari turned away from the window and walked over to the piano, thinking of her commitment to Ryder. Ari knew auditioning for the competition wasn’t an option. “I’ve always wanted to try out for one of those talent shows.”
“You should do it. I’ve told you this before but you’re really good. You could take it, Ari. You could win. Hell, do it just for the exposure. Promise me you’ll at least check out the website for the details for when they come your way.”
Ari lifted the lid and played a few keys. “I’ll check out the website.”
“Good. Do you think you’re gonna audition?”
“I just might.” Ari hit an ivory key harder than what was needed. Her brother had no idea of the money Ryder had loaned her or of their deal for her to pay him back. She hadn’t wanted to hear the disapproval she knew would be there in Jay’s voice once he’d learned how much she’d really lost in Sin City.
“Cool. Okay then, I’m off to make peach crepes.”
“Yummy. Shannon’s lucky. I’m jealous. Enjoy.”
“Thanks.”
Ari ended the call with Jay, disappointed Ryder
“I’m good. You know, just working.”
“All work and no play?”
Ari glanced at her lime dress in a heap on the floor, her stilettos on the rug and Ryder’s tie still knotted to the top of the chaise. Evidence of play where everywhere. “Well, I’ve got a job to do.”
“All right, who is this? Please put my little sister on the phone.”
“Ha ha. Very funny.” Ari fastened the first button of Ryder’s shirt. “Don’t you work on Sundays?”
“I changed my days so I can spend my weekends with Shannon. Quality time together is tough between her crazy schedule and mine.”
“You two have a lot going on, especially with a wedding in the works.” Ari walked over to the window. She gazed at a hummingbird flitting in and out of flowers near the terrace. “I’m glad you’re finding a way to spend more time with your fiancée.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Ari frowned when her brother remained silent a beat too long. “Jay? What’s wrong?”
Her brother blew out a breath. “It’s Red… I mean, Shannon. She’s getting antsy as her six month mammogram check-up approaches. I want to reassure her but she’s got valid reasons to be scared. Hell, I am too.”
“Oh, Jay.” Ari placed her hand on the glass as a colorful butterfly fluttered against the window pane. “I think you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing…being there for her. I know you don’t want to spout false hope in the face of the unknown.”
“That’s exactly it. Even though things have been going really well for Shannon, I can’t tell her everything is going to be all right when I’m not sure it will be.”
“I know.”
“It’s tough, but we’ll get through it.”
Ari smiled. “You will, together, as you two have been throughout this whole ordeal. You’re amazing, you know that?”
“Thanks. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since I suggested you take the job at The Cove.”
“Suggested? You practically threw me on the plane.”
Jay laughed. “I don’t remember it that way.”
“Uh huh. Well, I do.” Ari fiddled with the edge of Ryder’s shirt. “It’s all good though.”
“Is it? Are you admitting that Florida’s been good for you?”
Ari briefly closed her eyes, picturing Ryder kissing and spanking her. “Maybe.”
“I’ll take it.” Jay chuckled. “Say, rumor has it Ryder might be one of the celebrity judges for that music competition show that comes on Thursday nights. Did he tell you he was thinking of taking that gig?”
“He didn’t mention it.” Ari smoothed her hand over Ryder’s shirt.
“Shannon told me he’s been in contract negotiations with the producers of the show.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yup. Try-outs will be held in Florida in a few weeks for the fifth season. Ari, I think you should audition.”
“I’m too old.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Hmm.” Ari turned away from the window and walked over to the piano, thinking of her commitment to Ryder. Ari knew auditioning for the competition wasn’t an option. “I’ve always wanted to try out for one of those talent shows.”
“You should do it. I’ve told you this before but you’re really good. You could take it, Ari. You could win. Hell, do it just for the exposure. Promise me you’ll at least check out the website for the details for when they come your way.”
Ari lifted the lid and played a few keys. “I’ll check out the website.”
“Good. Do you think you’re gonna audition?”
“I just might.” Ari hit an ivory key harder than what was needed. Her brother had no idea of the money Ryder had loaned her or of their deal for her to pay him back. She hadn’t wanted to hear the disapproval she knew would be there in Jay’s voice once he’d learned how much she’d really lost in Sin City.
“Cool. Okay then, I’m off to make peach crepes.”
“Yummy. Shannon’s lucky. I’m jealous. Enjoy.”
“Thanks.”
Ari ended the call with Jay, disappointed Ryder
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