Soul Chance by Nichelle Gregory Page B

scared the living daylights out of me. Are you related to Ryder?”
    “Am I related to Ryder? ” Cassie blanched. “No.”
    Ari frowned. “How did you get a ke—?”
    “Look”—Cassie took a step back—“I’ve gotta go. If you happen to see a chain with a tiny sand dollar pendant on it, could you leave it at the front desk at The Cove for me? Just put it under my first name. I’d really appreciate it.”
    “Uh, okay, but—”
    “Thanks.” Cassie spun around and was out of the front door before Ari could say another word.
    Ari went to the window and watched Cassie hurry down the walkway, questions running through her mind. She knew the woman’s first name but Cassie hadn’t shared a clue about who she was or why she had a key to the beach house. Ryder had implied the space wasn’t open to regular guests, which meant Cassie was special.
    And she isn’t family.
    A stab of pain shot through Ari’s stomach as she considered the possibility Cassie was special to Ryder. She and Ryder had never discussed ex-lovers. Ari pressed her fingers to her temples. She didn’t have time to obsess about Ryder’s ghosts of girlfriends past when there was a chick marching through the front door.
    Ari glanced around the beach house, picturing Ryder with the willowy brunette. Maybe he’d been seeing Cassie and her at the same time. Mutual exclusivity had not been discussed between them either.
    No, because those are things you discuss when you have a real relationship.
    Ari blinked back the tears burning her eyes as her words circled faster and faster in her mind. Ryder’s secrecy about his possible new television spot and Cassie’s unexpected appearance was the reality check she needed to put things into crystal clear perspective. She had a deal, not a relationship.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
     
    Ryder took his carry-on from Trent and thanked him. He turned from the limo, pleased to see the lights on in the beach house. Negotiations for his new celebrity judge spot had gone better than he’d expected. Ryder had signed a contract to be on the music show for one season. He was excited to be immersed back into the music world, looking forward to judging the music competition and hearing budding new talent. Still, one season had been all Ryder wanted to commit to at the moment, much to the producers’ chagrin. His schedule was jammed already with his hosting gig for Celeb Chef and now The Cove to oversee.
    The limo pulled away, and Ryder headed up to the bungalow, anxious to see Ari. She’d been on his mind all week, infiltrating his every thought. He’d hated to leave her after such an intense night together, but his trip to California had been unavoidable.
    He couldn’t shake the feeling something was bothering her—something other than the stark realization he had every intention of making her uphold her end of their new arrangement. Her text messages had seemed more guarded and he’d been unable to reach her by phone. Ryder stepped onto the veranda and paused when he heard music. He smiled, glad Ari was working on her music.
    Ryder listened to Ari sing a few bars of a song he’d never heard. Her sultry voice affected him almost as much as her soft moans. Ryder unlocked the front door then walked inside the cottage to see Ari with her back to him at the piano. His cock thickened as his gaze traveled over her pink mini skirt and a simple white tee.
    “Hey.”
    Ari stopped playing and turned to look at him, her brown eyes wary. “Hey. Have a good trip?”
    Ryder set his luggage down and slipped out of his leather thongs. “It was productive.” He considered telling her about the latest addition to his list of jobs as he set his keys on the table then decided the last thing he wanted to do now was talk shop.
    “Good.” Ari glanced down at the keyboard as she tinkled the ivories.
    Ryder joined her over by the piano. “How was your week?”
    “Productive.” Ari gave him a bright smile as she pulled her twists