I stepped back. “Is this one of your tricks to make me fall for you?”

An unreadable emotion flickered through Ryder’s eyes, something quick, almost too quick for me to catch. But then, just as fast, it was gone, hidden beneath that signature smirk of his as he leaned back against the fountain like he had all the time in the world.

“I don’t need tricks, Evie,” he drawled. “You’ll fall for me eventually.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Wow. The ego.”

He grinned. “Confidence, ...