Ryker looked inside the file that was handed to him and pulled out the pictures. "Wow." He said in shock. "I'm not so sure I would like to take this case." He says as he rubbed the stubble surrounding his chin and mouth.

"Please take the case, you're my best guy for this and I know you'll be able to solve it." His boss Mr. Porter begged.

"I'll take the file home with me and look it all over." He said with a sigh. He stood up and started walking towards the door "Oh the Justin Thompson case is finished, I delivered my findings before coming in here."

"That was fast." Mr. Porter said amazed.

"It was the easiest one yet." Ryker said with a smile as he walked out.

Ryker left the office and headed back to the coffee shop to see if he could catch Talia and see if she would like to go to dinner later. He was willing to try anything to get her to notice him. He walked in and saw Andrea still working but didn't see Talia.

"Hey Ryker.." Andrea called out as she was cleaning off a table.

He walked over to her while looking around to see if he could see Talia "Is Talia still around?"

"No, she's gone home for the day."

"Damn." He huffed. "Well being that she's not here, what can you tell me about her?" He pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Would you like a coffee or something?" Andrea smiled, this was a perfect chance to fill him in on her and see if he could get her out of her trance that she has been in. "I'd love to tell you about her."

Andrea went and grabbed him a coffee, being that it was slow she grabbed herself a cup and sat down with him. "So Talia would kill me if I told you anything, but in my heart I believe you are the one for her. Maybe that's hopeful talk since I really don't know you, but it's something that I definitely feel." 

"Well I have tried to get her to go out with me, and she turned me down."

"I overheard you two this morning, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in her. That girl is still in love with someone that was a complete jerk to her."

"So she's in love with someone." He then leaned back in his chair and looked up towards the ceiling. "Damn and here I thought that I had a chance with her."

"Well you do and you will, I'll promise you that." Andrea started to say and smiled when his head lowered down, he leaned forward raising an eyebrow "I'm listening." 

"This man, boy or asshole, whatever you want to call him, is a fucking jerk that doesn't deserve her love. I caught the cheater red fucking handed and she still won't accept it." She said sounding perturbed.

"Why is she so hung up on the guy if he did in fact cheat on her?"  He asks setting his coffee back down. He kept looking at the door hoping to see her walk in, but knew it wouldn't happen being that she was done for the day.

"I think it's because it was the first guy that promised her everything, but it was all lies, everything he said to her he said knowing that it was what she wanted to hear, nothing he said to her he meant."

Ryker pinched the bridge of his nose then rubbed his face. "How long were they together?"

"A few years... I never liked the fucker." She stood up and walked over to the register grabbing a pen and some paper and sat back down. She started writing and smiled when she handed it to him. "Here's her number and address. I'm only giving it to you because for some odd reason I trust you, I like you and would like to see you two hit it off."

He looks at the paper she handed him and grinned. She lived not too far from him, and thought about stopping over but was afraid she would think that he was a psycho or a stalker.

"You seriously think I have a chance with her?"

"Oh yes, I saw that kiss you gave her and I saw how she was the next morning, she likes you. She's just afraid to admit it, and afraid to give up on Dante."

"Dante?"

"Her asshole ex."

They sat and talked more about Talia until a customer finally came in. Andrea stood up and took care of the customers, while Ryker sat and finished his coffee, debating on making a visit to Talia's apartment.

"Do you think she would think I were some sort of stalker if I shown up at her apartment?" He asked as Andrea sat back down across from him.

She giggled and smiled "No.. I don't think she would, I think she would be more in shock or surprised. She would also know that I was the one who told you where you would find her."

Ryker stood up and handed her a folded up twenty dollar bill. "Thank you, maybe I'll see you tomorrow."

On his way home to change and drop the file off his boss gave him, he drove past a flower shop and kept driving, the more he thought about it he thought that Talia might like some flowers and did a quick u-turn at the next set of lights that he came upon and headed over to buy her some flowers.

He looked at all the bouquets and one caught his eye, they called them the key to my heart. Liking the coloring of the flowers and the name he grabbed them, paid for them and quickly drove home.

Throwing the file on his table when he got home, he figured that he would look at it later and make his decision then. Hoping to catch her at home, he quickly hopped in the shower, changed and put on some cologne that he was sure would make her go wild.

As he approached her apartment his heart started to beat faster what the hell is wrong with me? He thought to himself I never get this way....

Taking a deep breath he knocked on her door while holding the flowers behind him. Please be home, please be home he whispered. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her open the door, seeing her in a white tank and short shorts showing off her long legs had him melting inside. He was about to say hi, and the door closed in his face "Shit..."

Talia opened the door and saw Ryker standing outside her door and shut the door quickly. Shit! What the hell is wrong with me? She mumbled. What the hell is he doing here? She heard a knock again and opened the door.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to shut the door in your face." She said embarrassed. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"It's OK, I should have called, but I wanted to surprise you." He grinned.

"Oh.. I'm definitely surprised." She smiled when he surprised her with flowers "I figured that you might like these, can I come in?" He says as she took the flowers from his hand.

"I'm sorry, come in." She opened the door further and stepped back allowing him to come in. "What are you doing here?"

"Well. Are you busy tonight?" He asks as he followed her to the kitchen.

She set the flowers on her dining room table and smiled as she liked how the sun shined onto the flowers. "These are really beautiful."

"So are you?"

"Well.. I was going to go to my parents house for dinner, which I was just getting ready to leave."

"Let me take you out to dinner tonight, I know it's last minute, but I'd really like to talk to you and get to know you."

"What about my dinner with my parents? Am I suppose to tell them I'm not coming now?"

Ryker slowly moved closer to her which made her heart start to race, she couldn't figure out why being around him made her feel the way she did. He wrapped his arm around her waist and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, making her stomach dance wildly.

"Give me a chance and let me take you to dinner, being that were underdressed, we can go somewhere casual, or if you would like I can go home and put on a suit and we could go somewhere nicer, more fancier."

"No. Casual is fine." She said quietly, he let out a happy sigh of relief and cupped both sides of her face kissing her forehead.

"Thank you." He said quietly, happily and wanting to give her the biggest kiss ever, but stepped back "Or... we could both go to your parents for dinner." He said with a big smile.

"I'll call them and tell them something came up." She said with a stutter, shaking her head when she realized she stuttered her words.

She thought he was going to kiss her which she almost wanted him to do, but was relieved when he stepped back. After she called her mom they left and went to get a bite to eat.

He walked her to his car, opening the door for her. "Where would you like to go, or what sounds good to eat?" He asked her as she slid onto the seat.

"I don't care."

He shut the the door, taking a deep breath and had to chuckle why do women always say they don't care when it comes to choosing where to eat? He thought to himself as he got in the car.

"I know just the place, it's casual, good home cooked food, and a nice atmosphere."

"Where's that?"

"Cracker Barrel... ever been there?"

"Long long time ago... I don't go out too much."

"One thing about this place, you'll never leave there disappointed, food is always good, and the staff is excellent." He smiled as he looked over at her, he couldn't believe he was finally taking her out and getting to know her. Reaching over he entwined his fingers into hers and brought her hand up to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the top of her fingers. "Thanks for finally agreeing to go out."

The kiss made her tingle at the core and a feeling as if she was melting. She looked at him and smiled. "Wow.. this place is busy!" She said surprised as they pulled up to the restaurant.

"It's always like this, but surprising enough you get seated right away, never had to wait more than ten minutes before."

Placing his hand on the small of her back he walked her in and was happy to get seated right away. While waiting for their food to come, they played the brain teaser triangle peg game, both giggling as no matter what they tried they still ended up three or four pegs left. "I've only ever gotten down to one peg like twice in my life, and for the life of me can never remember how I did it." Ryker laughed.

Talia was determined and kept trying over and over "Dammit." She giggled when she finally got it down to two pegs and couldn't move anymore. He got a laugh out of watching her play until their food came.

"It is possible." He said with a smile.

"I'm going to have to find me one of these and figure it out."

They talked while they ate, he told her about himself and where he was raised, while she opened up to him as well. He is the youngest having an older brother and sister, while she is the oldest having just one younger sister.

He was surprised that she never asked him what he did for work, something that he was dreading if it were ever asked, he didn't want to lie about his job, but also knew he couldn't say anything about it either.

"Dinner was good." She says pushing her plate to the side.

"Told ya, their food is always good... so what's next?" He asked curiously, hoping she would like to do something else. He wasn't ready to bring her home, even though he had work to do yet.

"Well I have to get up really early, so I can't be out too late. Being that I was out late last night I should probably get to bed early tonight."

It wasn't what he wanted to hear but understood, after taking her home he walked her up to her apartment. "I had a good time tonight, it could have lasted longer than it did, but hopefully you'll let me take you out again."

She had to smile, he was completely opposite of her ex and liked how sincere and genuine he was. She also thought that he was better looking than Dante and still couldn't believe that he had an interest in her.

"I'd like that." She said quietly.

He knew he had to go work so dropping her off earlier than he wanted to wasn't so bad afterall, but didn't want to tell her that.

Instead he moved closer to her, she had a feeling he was going to kiss her, she surprised herself when she hoped that he was.

Wrapping an arm around her waist he pressed her tightly against him "I'll most likely see you tomorrow." He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. He was about to pull away but couldn't stop himself and gave her a kiss that left her breathless when pulling away.

"Don't stop." She moaned.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!❤❤❤

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Is she finally going to give in to Ryker? Or is she testing herself to see if he could be the one to get her mind off of Dante?