Chapter 41 #2
I pull the door open and immediately get hit with a bottle of wine. Well. Not hit. But it's thrust into my chest with enough enthusiasm that it feels like an assault. Jen breezes past me before I've even fully opened the door.
“Oh, for fuck's sake.”
She smiles brightly as she peels off her trench coat and deposits it into my arms on top of the wine bottle.
She must have come straight from the office because she's still wearing the navy pantsuit she had on earlier, her blonde hair perfectly in place despite the fact it's nearly evening. “Nice to see you too, Spence.”
I stare at her. She looks around the condo. “Ooh.” Her eyes widen. “Am I overdressed?”
I frown. “Jen—”
“Or do the cameras need to be rolling before we take off our clothes?”
I groan immediately. “Very funny.”
She grins and leans forward, kissing my cheek. “You know I love you.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I jerk my head toward the living room. “Come in and meet—”
“Oh my, my, my.” She doesn't even let me finish. Jen practically sprints into the living room. I sigh and follow after her. She's already pointing at Cricket. “You're gorgeous.”
Cricket laughs. Then Jen pivots toward Harper. “And you.” She slowly looks her up and down. “You're just plain hot.”
Harper gasps, then flips her hair dramatically. “I know, right?”
The two of them just stand there grinning at each other for a long moment. Ryan comes flying out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. “No.” He points at Jen. “Nope.” Then he points at both sisters. “Nope.” He shakes his head aggressively. “Not happening.”
His sisters burst out laughing. Jen folds her arms. “Everyone's always ruining my fun.”
Ryan wraps her in a hug and kisses the top of her head. Then he gestures toward the women. “Jen, these are my sisters, Cricket and Harper.” He pauses. “They're nuns.”
Everyone laughs. Then Harper presses a button on the remote. The opening notes of You Oughta Know blast through the ceiling speakers. Ryan throws both hands in the air. “Yessss!” He flings the towel over his shoulder and heads back toward the kitchen.
Jen follows him. Halfway there she spots Tyler.
“Tyler!” She immediately tackles him in a hug.
I barely hear her say, “I was able to book that band.” Tyler's eyes widen.
Not excited. Terrified. He immediately makes a face at her that clearly says you weren't supposed to say that out loud.
Then he grabs her shoulders and physically spins her around so nobody can see them talking.
I narrow my eyes. I don't know what that's about. In fact, I don't know anything that's going on right now. The entire evening feels like I'm trapped inside someone else's life.
I saunter into the kitchen and lean sideways against the island.
Ryan is humming along with the music while tossing rainbow carrots in a bowl.
His sleeves are rolled up. His apron is crooked.
His hair keeps falling into his eyes. He's smiling.
A real smile. Not the performative one he uses for cameras.
Not the brave one he used when the world was crashing down around him. Just… happy.
“You look happy.”
Ryan glances over at me. The smile softens. His lips twitch. Then he shrugs. “I am.”
Something flutters low in my gut. I don't think before I move. My hand settles against the small of his back. Warm. Solid. Ryan immediately stills.
“I'm glad your sisters are here,” I say quietly. His eyes flick toward mine. I smile a little. “I love seeing the sparkle in your eyes when you're surrounded by your people.”
Ryan freezes completely. The carrots stop moving. The bowl gets set down on the counter. His eyes slide shut. Then he blows out a long breath through his nose. “Spence.”
I cock my head. “Yeah?”
His eyes open. Jesus. That was a mistake. The way he's looking at me. Fuck. “Spence,” he says again, voice rougher now, “you can't say things like that while you have your hands on me.”
My hand immediately freezes against his back. Ryan laughs once. It's strained. “You have no idea what you're doing to me right now.”
I feel my pulse jump. “Ryan—”
“No.” He points at me. “Don't.” His eyes sweep over my face. Then down my body. Then back up again. Slowly. Painfully. “I'm trying really, really hard to be respectful.”
The kitchen suddenly feels about twenty degrees hotter. “But I'm about ninety seconds away from pushing you into a room and shoving my tongue down your throat.”
My stomach flips. Ryan drags a hand through his hair. “I'm really emotional right now.” His voice softens. “The way you look tonight. The way you smell. The way you're being with my sisters...” He shakes his head. “I'm barely holding it together, Perfect.”
My lungs forget how to function. Ryan's gaze holds mine hostage. “So, if you don't want words slipping out of my mouth that you're not ready to hear...” His eyes darken. “You may want to run.”
A smile tugs at my mouth.
“Like, now, Spence.”
I chuckle. Then, because apparently, I've suffered a catastrophic personality malfunction, my hand slides lower. Ryan's breath catches. My palm settles squarely on one ass cheek. Firm. Warm. Ridiculously grab-worthy.
Ryan chokes. “Spence.”
I lean in close enough that my mouth brushes his ear. Then I lower my voice. “I can't wait to get inside this perfect bubble butt later.”
Ryan actually shivers. The reaction shoots straight through me. For good measure, I drag my tongue lightly against the skin just below his ear. Ryan's eyes close. His head falls forward. “You are the worst.”
I grin. “Am I?”
“Yes.” He points toward the dining room without opening his eyes. “Go set the table.”
I laugh. “Am I setting it for six people?”
Ryan opens one eye. “Maybe.”
“Ryan.”
“Mm?”
I narrow mine. “Do you have Anthony and Chance and the rest of Phoenix coming over?”
His mouth tilts up into a mischievous grin. “Nah.” He starts mixing the carrots again. “They've got their hands full with the babies tonight.” The smile softens. “I told them I'd make them a to-go bag and have Jen drop it off on her way home.”
And there it is again. That stupid giant heart of his. That instinct to take care of everyone around him. To make sure nobody gets forgotten. I don't think. I simply rise onto my toes and press a kiss to his cheek.
Ryan goes completely still. His eyes flutter shut. “Spence.” There's warning in his voice. Longing too. Enough of it that I immediately take a step backward. “Okay, okay.” I hold both hands up. “I'll go set the table.”
Ryan opens his eyes. Slowly. His gaze follows me as I back away. “Good idea.”
“Probably.”
“Definitely.”
I can't stop smiling as I turn toward the dining room. Which is deeply concerning. Because twenty minutes ago I thought this dinner party was chaos. Now? Now I'm pretty sure the most dangerous thing in this condo is standing in my kitchen wearing an apron and humming Alanis Morissette.