EIGHT

Alecia sat on the wooden bench out in the park. Today was her study date with Ryder, and she found she wasn’t even thinking of her books. The wind danced around her, ruffling her clothes and playing with her hair.

A smile curved at her lips,

Ryder would be there any second. He had called, wanting to study at his apartment, but she knew it would be wrong be alone with him so she’d suggested a picnic. She shivered. He might be a nice guy, but still, anything could happen. One look at his gray eyes and she’d crumbled. How could someone be so handsome, like he was a Greek statue?

A silver Bugatti pulled into the street in front of the park. Alecia

bounced on her feet, as the warm feeling spread through her. She placed a hand on her cheek. Her mother always said a woman’s face glowed in the presence of her beloved. Did hers?

The car stopped in front of her and Ryder opened the door and came out from the driver’s side, dressed in a dark blue T shirt