Chapter 19 Don’t Do That—My Heart Can’t Take It
Ryan didn’t look away.
“Really? Go ahead.”
Chloe’s fingers froze.
That wasn’t how this was supposed to work. He was meant to blush, back down, and give her an opening to insist he stay.
Instead, he looked perfectly willing to watch.
Her cheeks heated.
“Creep.”
“You offered.” Ryan spread his hands. “How does that make me the creep?”
He laughed.
“You were bluffing. Don’t start a game you don’t want to finish. Let go of the dress.”
To Chloe, his smile looked unbearably smug.
He thought she wouldn’t dare. That she was all talk.
Fine.
He’d already seen her once. What difference would another glimpse make?
Before she could reconsider, she pulled the neckline open.
Ryan’s smile vanished.
She’d actually done it.
For a brief instant, he could only stare. He wasn’t inexperienced, but she had caught him completely off guard.
Then she pulled the fabric back into place.
“You were serious?” he managed.
Chloe’s face burned. Regret hit almost at once.
What had possessed her? She’d just exposed herself to him because he’d challenged her. What would he think of her now?
Then she noticed his expression.
He was embarrassed, too.
That helped. If she could act as though she hadn’t just mortified herself, he would be the one left floundering.
It had only been a moment. He’d seen her before. And once he finished helping her fool the family, they wouldn’t have to see each other again.
People in real relationships did far more. One glimpse was hardly the end of the world.
Having argued herself into a fragile semblance of composure, she lifted her chin.
“Enjoy the view?”
Ryan had no idea how to answer.
Yes would get him into trouble. No would probably get him into worse trouble.
Chloe pressed on.
“Last time, you saved me. We could call it even. This time, you just got a free look.”
He gave a crooked, helpless smile.
“Do you always have to win?”
“No!”
The answer escaped too quickly. She took a breath and returned to the point.
“Stay for lunch. Help me get rid of Jason. Please.”
“All right.” Ryan sighed. “I’ll stay. Just don’t do that again. My heart can’t take it.”
His heart?
For an instant, her thoughts went somewhere entirely different. Had he really liked what he saw that much?
“Fine. Let’s go.”
He gestured toward her face.
“You might want to wait a minute. You’re bright red. Your neck, too.”
She bit her lip, then reached for his hand.
“No. We go down now. Let them imagine what happened. It’ll work better.”
Ryan considered that. She had a point.
She led him downstairs by the hand.
Everyone in the living room turned at the sound of their footsteps. Chloe’s cheeks were still flushed, her manner unusually shy. With her hand in Ryan’s, the implication was difficult to miss.
The men’s faces darkened.
Jason’s fists clenched.
Richard had just told him to keep trying, win Chloe over, and drive the penniless soldier away. He’d been delighted to have her father’s support.
Then she’d come downstairs looking like that.
Chloe saw their reactions and felt a fierce little spark of satisfaction.
At least she hadn’t embarrassed herself for nothing.
Remembering what she’d done brought fresh warmth to her cheeks. It only made her look more like a woman caught up in a new romance.
Richard felt humiliated. He’d barely finished encouraging Jason, and his daughter had practically contradicted him in front of everyone.
He hurried to change the subject.
“How’s your grandfather?”
“Much better,” Ryan said easily. “Keep giving him the medicine.”
Richard relaxed a little. Whatever he thought of Ryan, his father’s health mattered more.
“Can we eat?” Chloe asked with a smile. “We’re hungry.”
Richard glanced at Ryan, who showed no intention of leaving.
So he was staying.
Fine. Lunch would give him a chance to show the young man exactly how far out of his depth he was.