25. Ryan
K yle is emptying his mailbox when I walk into our building on Wednesday night, struggling with my overloaded backpack. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Hey, stranger.” He reaches for the strap. “Let me help you.”
Normally I’d decline the offer, but I’m too tired and it’s too heavy.
He grunts under the weight. “God, I don’t miss these days.”
“Trust me, I can’t wait until it’s over.” Do I really need my MBA?
He presses the button for the elevator. “It’s been four years since I graduated and I still sometimes wake up in a panic, thinking I’m late for an exam.”
“Is that what I have to look forward to?” Four years. That would make him around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, if I had to guess. Not that much older than me, but older. I like that.
The door opens and he hangs back, gesturing for me to go first. An older gentleman. I like that too.
“So, when do you write?” he asks.
“First one’s next Wednesday. ”
Kyle hits the button for the fourth floor. But not the one for the second floor, his floor, I notice. “Are you ready?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I work full time, I just broke up with my boyfriend, I’ve been …” Fucking my roommate every single night . “The last couple weeks have been distracting.”
The elevator opens. Kyle holds the door for me and then steps out behind.
I reach for my backpack but he’s already moving around me and down the hall. “If you’re free on Friday night, you could come over and I’ll help you study. We could order in Thai or something.”
He says it so casually. Is he being a nice, helpful fellow building dweller or did Kyle just ask me out on a date?
“Actually, my roommates are leaving for Alaska and they’re having a goodbye party that night.”
“Alaska. Wow.” His eyebrows pop with genuine amazement.
“Yeah, for the summer.”
“Oh.” He nods. “Well, you probably don’t want to miss that.”
“Actually, I probably do. It’s liable to get out of hand, knowing my brother.” I peer up into kind, blue eyes. Kyle really is handsome. “Can I let you know?”
He grins, revealing deep dimples. “Sure. I’ll be home, reading about statistical probabilities or something equally wild .”
I giggle as I collect my bag from him. “Thanks for carrying this.”
“No problem. Maybe I’ll see you Friday?”
I watch him stroll to the elevator, stealing a glance back at me … twice.
Okay, Kyle’s definitely into me.
I’m smiling as I walk into our condo. Ronan’s in the kitchen, hovering in front of the open fridge, shirtless, the view of his muscular back mesmerizing .
He turns to me. “Good night in class?”
“Kind of.” I drop my bag, exhausted. “Where’s Connor?”
“Concert.”
“I swear, he spends half his salary on tickets.” I frown. “Are you eating my yogurt?”
Ronan licks the spoon. “Yup. It’s my second one.”
My jaw hangs. “Why?”
He shrugs. “I was hungry. And bored.”
“You shithead!”
“Yeah. What are you gonna do about it?” he taunts, his eyes roving over me, the simple act raising my pulse.
Oh my God, this guy is a machine. I’ve never had so much sex in my life.
Every single night, sometimes twice. There’s no denying him either, not that I’d want to.
But still, I pretend that I have the willpower to say no.
It usually lasts all of ten seconds. As soon as his lips are on me, I’m a goner.
“Nothing. I’m going to sleep.” I bolt for my room with a shriek, making it all the way to my door before his arms rope around my waist and I’m laughing hysterically. “Put me down!”
He tosses me onto my bed and yanks off my shoes and socks, followed by my pants, then my panties. I help him by tugging my own shirt off and unfastening my bra. In seconds, I’m lying naked in front of him. Waiting.
He pauses, his gaze softening for a moment. “I’m gonna miss you.”
“I’m gonna miss you too.” But I don’t think I’d be so cavalier if he wasn’t leaving.
Still, next week will be quiet, lonely.
Ronan drops his pants—he’s not wearing briefs tonight, and he’s already fully erect. “How do you want it?” The deep rasp in his voice is intoxicating.
“Well, seeing as you ate my snack, it’s only fair.” I stretch my legs wide.
With a grin, he drops to his knees.
“Did you hear?” Jean hisses, startling me in my cube.
My stomach clenches. What will today’s gossip be? Hopefully nothing David related. “I doubt it.”
“Henry Wolf is in Miami.” Her onyx eyes dance with excitement.
That piques my interest. The CEO of Wolf Hotels, who will one day officially take over the luxury hotel chain from his father, is a celebrity to most Wolf employees and the source of a lot of racy gossip.
I’ve only seen pictures of him, but the man could easily grace a “most beautiful people” magazine cover.
No wonder I’ve sensed a strange buzz around the office today.
Everyone’s in heat.
And the rumor is, that’s exactly the way he likes it.
Regardless, I’ve always wanted to see him in person, to understand what all the hype is.
“They’re in the Pacific, having some big meeting, but Dana said they called her to arrange for a car to take them to lunch, off-site, for noon.”
I glance at my watch. That’s in five minutes.
Jean grins. “Feel like a walk to the lobby?”
“My legs could use a stretch.” I lock my computer and grab my lunch bag.
“They’re saying it’s going to be one of the nicest Wolf locations in the world,” Dana gushes. The towering, lithe brunette is a popular concierge. There’s usually a circle of businessmen hovering around her desk when she’s on shift.
“That’s what I keep hearing too,” Jean says. “Plane rides and tours to see grizzly bears. And the scenery alone, with all the mountains and lakes and wilderness!”
I’ve seen the brochure. It’s going to be an incredible place. Had I not been in school, I would have considered applying. Then again, I don’t know if I could handle the living conditions. “The staff are all in cabins. Like six people to each or something like that.”
Dana and Jean both look at me with blank expressions.
“Absolutely no privacy?”
“Oh, yeah,” Jean agrees. “I don’t know how Connor and Ronan are going to handle that.”
“Something tells me they won’t care one way or another,” I answer dryly. Ronan might be keeping his pants on while he’s messing around with me, but he leaves for Alaska on Saturday morning, and tomorrow’s the party. My fun time is coming to an end.
A prickle of jealousy sparks in my chest. I quickly chase it away. I don’t want to date Ronan. It’s just … I guess I don’t want to think about him with someone else either. Not yet. I’ve selfishly enjoyed him too much. I’ve barely thought of David.
That Connor hasn’t caught us yet is mind-boggling. I’m beginning to question how he functions at the basics in life.
“You know, you’re going to miss them when they’re gone,” Jean says.
“I know,” I admit with reluctance. I’ll even miss my big, dumb brother. But it’s also for the best, because I can’t concentrate on anything when Ronan’s around. I’m going to fail my exams if I can’t clear my head.
“Oh, speaking of those two, guess what happened!” Dana’s chocolate eyes twinkle with juicy gossip. “The front desk girls went out last weekend, and the guys were there. Apparently, Eliza hit on Ronan.”
My stomach clenches with dread.
“And?” Jean pushes, asking the question I can’t.
“And he turned her down. Basically called her out for messing around with David behind Ryan’s back. ”
A mixture of relief and adoration for the guy swells inside me. Despite our sordid relationship, he is actually a real friend.
“See?” Jean elbows me. “You should have hooked up with him!”
I did , at least twenty times , in every position you could imagine—many I never imagined . I bite my tongue against the urge to say it, especially now that I know Eliza had her sights set on him. My vindictive side wants it to get back to her.
“Anyway, from what I heard, Eliza and David are over.” Dana looks at me when she says this, as if gauging my reaction to the news.
“ I don’t want him back,” I blurt, and the moment the words are out there, I know them to be true. There’s not an inkling of “what if” stirring. An invisible weight lifts with that comprehension.
“There he is!” Dana suddenly hisses, derailing all talk of David and Ronan.
The three of us—and pretty much every other female in the lobby—zone in on the five-man conglomerate that strides out of the elevator, heading for us.
Speaking of not being able to concentrate …
I’m not one to openly fawn, and yet there’s no ignoring Henry Wolf.
Not his piercing blue gaze, or his sharp, angular features, or his dark, thick hair, styled in sexy waves.
I watch the way his fit body moves smoothly, how his tailored suit falls perfectly with each step as he approaches, preoccupied with conversation.
I’m mesmerized.
“What’s with the beard?” Jean whispers. “Is he going lumberjack for Alaska?”
Dana giggles. “I heard he’s going to be up there a lot. The hotel is his pet project.”
Henry Wolf’s eyes slide over Jean and me before moving on to Dana. My face instantly flushes.
“I believe there’s a car for us?” he says smoothly. Beneath that scruff, I can make out a set of plump lips. If rumor is correct, those are reserved for Victoria’s Secret models and other gorgeous celebrities, not lowly Wolf staff.
Dana glances over her shoulder to check the carport. A doorman waves at her. “Yes, Mr. Wolf. It’s already waiting.” She beams at him.
He responds with a cool, polite smile. “Lead the way then, please.” He and the other men follow Dana out.
Jean sighs. “What I would do for a night with that.”
“Are you cheating on Connor?” I tease as we head toward the doors to the staff area.
“Connor doesn’t even know I exist, and you won’t help me,” she mutters sullenly.
“I am helping you by not letting you subject yourself to an STD cocktail. My brother doesn’t do relationships, and I’m not going to be his pimp.”
“But I want to come to the goodbye party!”
“How do you know about that?”
“ Everyone knows about that.”
Great . “Trust me, you don’t belong there. I don’t belong there. I’m probably going to leave so I can study.” Will it be to Kyle’s or the library? I’ve been too distracted by Ronan to give my cute neighbor’s invitation any real thought, but I actually could use the help.
“Why? What’s going to happen?” Jean asks warily.
“Let’s see … the last time Connor threw a get-together, there was a naked girl stretched out across the kitchen island and people doing body shots off her. Off every part of her.” I give her a knowing stare.
Jean’s face pales. “On second thought, I think I have a sewing club engagement.”
“Good call.”