Chapter Two
Ryan had once again avoided Callie after work and sent Marco to pick her up.
Marco confirmed he was bringing her to their dinner venue and that Ryan would meet her there.
Discouraged, she let Marco escort her to the restaurant, though she was relieved to see it was a public place.
Ryan had picked a place along the waterfront with a patio overlooking the lake.
Ryan was already waiting for her and embraced her when she approached.
Then Callie frowned as she saw he had his laptop with him, opened to a document.
“I need to run something by you quickly,” Ryan said, inviting her to sit beside him at the laptop.
“Is it really that urgent?” Callie asked.
“Just a quick question,” Ryan said. He then explained what he needed from her.
The work conversation continued until the food arrived. But when that happened, Ryan needed to put away the computer, though he kept the conversation still focused on the current deal.
“Why are you so involved in this?” Callie challenged. “It’s George’s project.”
“He asked me to take a look,” Ryan replied, but Callie wasn’t so sure that was true.
“Ryan,” Callie interrupted him mid-sentence. “I need to ask you something.”
Ryan fell silent. He didn’t object, though she knew he was expecting her question.
“We need to talk about the other night,” she began. He started to object, but she cut him off. “Don’t tell me you’re fine. If you were, you wouldn’t be avoiding the conversation.”
“Wow, maybe we should be sending you to law school,” Ryan joked, and Callie frowned at him. “I’m…”
“If you say fine, I will throw you into that lake,” Callie snapped.
“OK,” Ryan sat back. “Tell me why I’m not fine, since you seem to know me better than I know myself.”
“You aren’t talking about it,” Callie said. “And you started avoiding Damian.”
Ryan sighed and stared at her for a moment, trying to decide how to reply. She was right, of course, but he wasn’t going to admit it so easily.
“I’m not exactly sure what we should be talking about,” he started. “And I don’t know why you got the impression I was avoiding Damian.”
“He told me about his case,” Callie snapped back, growing impatient, and she could see Ryan wasn’t expecting that.
“He said you were the one who always updated him, and now you have your staff do it. And as for talking about it, what we need to talk about is how we feel about what happened and whether we want to consider it again.”
Ryan was about to argue. As a lawyer, it was his instinct, though doing so would only turn their conversation into a confrontation. He stopped and stared at her, a dozen emotions crossing his face. For a moment, she thought he would start to make out with her, but then he looked at her shyly.
“I’m fine,” he said, but quickly added, “But I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it just yet. I just need time to process it in my own mind first.”
“You can’t keep avoiding Damian,” Callie objected.
“I need more time to process this,” Ryan repeated. “I really can’t talk about it yet.”
“You know there’s nothing wrong with what we did,” Callie continued, but didn’t get a chance to finish.
“I said I didn’t want to talk about it,” Ryan said forcefully. He regretted his tone immediately. He didn’t continue. Instead, he looked panicked and trapped. “I’m sorry. I need to go.”
He grabbed his computer, shoved it into his bag, and quickly stood from the table.
Callie tried to object, but he apologized again, dropped more cash than necessary on the table to cover the meal, and left the restaurant.
Callie sat, shocked, at the table. She wasn’t sure what had just happened.
He had never spoken to her that way. She sighed and started to check her phone to order an Uber when she saw Marco approaching.
“Miss Bennett, I’m going to drive you home,” Marco said apologetically. “When you’re ready.”
“I suppose I’m ready,” Callie said. She stood, grabbed her mostly full glass of wine, drained it, then headed to the door.
“I'm guessing that if I ask you to take me to Ryan’s place, you won’t,” Callie said to Marco as he drove.
“Sorry, Miss Bennett, he did ask me to make sure you went back to your place,” Marco replied.
“And did he also ask you to stay and watch to see if Damian came by?” Callie asked.
“Yes,” Marco confirmed sadly.
Ever since their drive home together, when Marco brought her back to the city without Ryan’s knowledge after she had encountered Lawrence, they had an honest relationship. Marco wouldn’t contradict Ryan’s instructions. Callie understood that, but he also wouldn’t lie to her.
“I’ll save you a long night,” Callie said. “I plan to go to bed. Alone!”
“I don’t know what’s happening,” Marco replied. “But Mr. Grant felt it necessary to tell me that he was the one with the issue and that you’ve done nothing wrong.”
Callie sank back in her seat, feeling guilty.
Why had she not just given Ryan his space, as he had asked?
She sent him a message, saying sorry. He had been trying to work things out his own way, probably the only way he knew how, alone and in private, as he was raised to do.
And now he was angry with her and avoiding her.
Even if he was overcompensating, it was in a very enjoyable way, and she wished she were with him.
Ryan reread Edward’s email. Edward once again invited Ryan and Callie to his party.
Ryan had asked what kind of party it was, and Edward replied, "whatever we want it to be.” He also confirmed it would be the last time he hosted an event at his Queen’s Isle house.
The place had sold, and the new owner would take possession in a couple of weeks.
Ryan had already experienced one of Edward’s parties and had enjoyed it.
But that was only because he saw Callie there.
He didn’t just see Callie; he saw Callie and Damian performing for the group of guests.
Edward had hired them for a private erotic show, and that experience had forever changed Ryan.
From that moment, he knew he wanted to be with Callie.
But he also realized it wasn’t just Callie he was attracted to.
He watched Damian that night as much as he watched Callie.
He didn’t understand the attraction. Maybe it was just what the two of them did together that turned him on.
Whatever it was, they all took it further last week, when the three of them got into bed together.
Perhaps Edward’s party was exactly what he needed.
At least his family’s place was just down the beach.
It would be a good excuse to get away with Callie.
He knew he had been unfair to her. He was confused, he was feeling guilty, and he knew he was trying to prove something every time they had sex, though he had no idea what.
Maybe it was to show Callie they didn’t need Damian, or maybe to prove to her he wasn’t gay.
Either way, the sex over the past week had been amazing.
Ryan typed a quick reply to Edward, grabbed his jacket and computer, and headed to the office.
He had avoided Callie for most of the day, but this time it wasn’t intentional. Everything suddenly seemed urgent on a Friday. It wasn’t until three o’clock that he finally had a chance to find her. He grabbed the garment bag and travel suitcase from his office and headed to her desk.
“We need to go,” he said, leaning over her desk.
“Go where?” she said. She was still a little upset with him, as expected, after he ditched her.
“We have an engagement to attend, and the helicopter is waiting,” he explained.
“Helicopter?” Callie repeated, then gasped. She realized what he was suggesting. “We’re going to Queen’s Isle for Edward’s party?”
“Yes,” Ryan said. “The party is optional. No one is using our house this weekend, so I thought it would be good to get away. I’ve already packed for us.”
Callie saw the luggage he was carrying and wondered what he had packed for her, anticipating Edward’s party and a weekend alone at the beach house.
“Do I need to re-pack?” she asked. “I’m not sure I trust your packing.”
“No time,” Ryan replied with a laugh. “And have I ever failed to pack suitable clothing for you?”
“That’s exactly the problem. I can only imagine what you think is suitable for this weekend.”
When they landed at Queen’s Isle, they had a few hours before they were expected at Edward’s place.
Callie unpacked what Ryan had selected for her.
He had picked out her most revealing bikini and the skimpiest nighties she owned, but she was happy to see he had included sweats, jeans, and T-shirts.
The dress he had selected for the party was new.
It was red, with thin shoulder straps. It was tight and low-cut on top, but the length kept it modestly below her bottom, flowing loosely.
“I assume my packing selection is OK?” Ryan asked as she joined him for dinner.
“Mostly,” she confirmed. “I may be a bit chilly at night.”
“No, you won’t be,” he grinned. “I promise.”
“Ryan, why do you want to go to Edward’s party?” she asked, hoping for a proper answer.
“I had so much fun at the last one that I thought, why not?” he laughed.
Callie didn’t like that he was making light of the situation. She knew how the last one had affected him, and she didn’t understand what would make him want to go again.
“It’s your decision,” he said thoughtfully.
“And you’re OK with going?” Callie asked.
“Edward is a very important client,” Ryan replied.
“This wasn’t an invitation for a work colleague,” Callie said. “You know that.”
“I did get the sense the invitation was more directed to you than to me,” Ryan smiled.
“OK then,” Callie shrugged. “I’m fine to go if that’s what you want.”
Callie wondered if she was calling Ryan’s bluff, but as the party approached, he seemed relaxed and determined to go. He wore a loose-fitting white shirt, partly unbuttoned, with black pants. She smiled at him. He was a good-looking man.