lit his eyes.
“Maybe.” That could be fun. Then again, I didn’t want to destroy anything inside the restaurant.
He paid the bill, which he didn’t let me see, but I was guessing it looked like a rent payment. My conscience twinged at the expense, but the food was as good as I’d fantasized, and a splurge wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.
The valet brought around the car and for a second time, Ryan offered me his jacket. “A lot of cameras out there.”
“Really?” I peered though the window, and he wasn’t kidding. But today I wasn’t crusty, and someone needed to appreciate this dress. I put my arms in the jacket. It would be rude to give it back when he’d offered it so nicely, but I wasn’t covering my head this time. “A few pictures won’t hurt.”
“You know what they’re going to write if they see you in that?”
“I know.” Leaving a super-expensive restaurant together, dressed up, and me in Red Ruin’s jacket? We’d be in the gossip columns as the newest super couple. And that was…okay. “I don’t mind.”
Ryan tried to keep a straight face, but the littlest smug smile tilted the corner of his lips. “Shall we?” He offered his arm.
He really was the cutest thing. “Let’s.”
Flashes exploded and the paparazzi crowded in, but Ryan shielded me with his body. He opened the door and got me in the car before braving his way to the other side. Some knocked on my window, and everyone was shouting questions. Mostly one question.
Are you together?
Good question.
He slammed the door behind himself and let out a breath. “Well, that was fun.”
Ryan inched the car forward and the photographers slowly moved away, making sure to get a few dozen more shots before we could drive past. “Can’t you just zap them?”
“I wish.” Ryan flicked the high beams at one of them, and finally we were clear.
The ride back to the tower was quiet, but comfortably so. Ryan was there to open my door when we arrived, and he took my hand to walk to the elevator. Who knew guys still acted like this? My last boyfriend was so busy texting that we hardly made eye contact. I couldn’t even tell if Ryan had his phone with him.
He walked me all the way to the guest room, and my stomach fluttered. This was like a high school first date.
“Thanks for taking me. That was amazing.”
“It was.” He smiled and drew closer. “Should I risk it?”
“Risk wh—”
Ryan stole a kiss, just a brush against my mouth that jolted my entire body. He drew back before I could lean into it or destroy anything. I licked my lips. He tasted like vermouth.
“Goodnight.”
As he strutted away, I could practically hear the theme music. How could a man with an ass like that be inadequate? I bit my lip. The more I got to know about him the harder it was to stay away, but we wouldn’t be able to get together while I was such a hazard.
All the more reason to bear down on training. Angel had left me her number and I wanted to drop her a voicemail about getting a barre in the stadium.
My stomach clenched as I turned on my cell. Welcome back to reality .
It vibrated like a machine gun as it processed all the backed-up texts and e-mails. Every damned one of those texts hit me like bullets.
Most were the studio staff.
Are you okay?
Where are you?
Rehers @ 8 You coming?!
The director had left me with a lovely, WTF Belle? CALL US.
The ring tone—from the opening act of Giselle —went off and I had the phone to my ear before the 913 area code processed.
Savannah. Oh shit .
“Beulah? Answer your mother.”
My brain froze. No contact in forever and she called now ?
“I can hear you breathing.”
I could hang up. Instead I swallowed. “Hi, Mama.”
“Don’t you dare.” The blender pulsed in the background. Mama was always testier on one of her shake diets. “You don’t pick up the phone. We see you on the news, don’t hear from you, and all you can say is ‘ hi, Mama ?’”
I
“Maybe.” That could be fun. Then again, I didn’t want to destroy anything inside the restaurant.
He paid the bill, which he didn’t let me see, but I was guessing it looked like a rent payment. My conscience twinged at the expense, but the food was as good as I’d fantasized, and a splurge wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.
The valet brought around the car and for a second time, Ryan offered me his jacket. “A lot of cameras out there.”
“Really?” I peered though the window, and he wasn’t kidding. But today I wasn’t crusty, and someone needed to appreciate this dress. I put my arms in the jacket. It would be rude to give it back when he’d offered it so nicely, but I wasn’t covering my head this time. “A few pictures won’t hurt.”
“You know what they’re going to write if they see you in that?”
“I know.” Leaving a super-expensive restaurant together, dressed up, and me in Red Ruin’s jacket? We’d be in the gossip columns as the newest super couple. And that was…okay. “I don’t mind.”
Ryan tried to keep a straight face, but the littlest smug smile tilted the corner of his lips. “Shall we?” He offered his arm.
He really was the cutest thing. “Let’s.”
Flashes exploded and the paparazzi crowded in, but Ryan shielded me with his body. He opened the door and got me in the car before braving his way to the other side. Some knocked on my window, and everyone was shouting questions. Mostly one question.
Are you together?
Good question.
He slammed the door behind himself and let out a breath. “Well, that was fun.”
Ryan inched the car forward and the photographers slowly moved away, making sure to get a few dozen more shots before we could drive past. “Can’t you just zap them?”
“I wish.” Ryan flicked the high beams at one of them, and finally we were clear.
The ride back to the tower was quiet, but comfortably so. Ryan was there to open my door when we arrived, and he took my hand to walk to the elevator. Who knew guys still acted like this? My last boyfriend was so busy texting that we hardly made eye contact. I couldn’t even tell if Ryan had his phone with him.
He walked me all the way to the guest room, and my stomach fluttered. This was like a high school first date.
“Thanks for taking me. That was amazing.”
“It was.” He smiled and drew closer. “Should I risk it?”
“Risk wh—”
Ryan stole a kiss, just a brush against my mouth that jolted my entire body. He drew back before I could lean into it or destroy anything. I licked my lips. He tasted like vermouth.
“Goodnight.”
As he strutted away, I could practically hear the theme music. How could a man with an ass like that be inadequate? I bit my lip. The more I got to know about him the harder it was to stay away, but we wouldn’t be able to get together while I was such a hazard.
All the more reason to bear down on training. Angel had left me her number and I wanted to drop her a voicemail about getting a barre in the stadium.
My stomach clenched as I turned on my cell. Welcome back to reality .
It vibrated like a machine gun as it processed all the backed-up texts and e-mails. Every damned one of those texts hit me like bullets.
Most were the studio staff.
Are you okay?
Where are you?
Rehers @ 8 You coming?!
The director had left me with a lovely, WTF Belle? CALL US.
The ring tone—from the opening act of Giselle —went off and I had the phone to my ear before the 913 area code processed.
Savannah. Oh shit .
“Beulah? Answer your mother.”
My brain froze. No contact in forever and she called now ?
“I can hear you breathing.”
I could hang up. Instead I swallowed. “Hi, Mama.”
“Don’t you dare.” The blender pulsed in the background. Mama was always testier on one of her shake diets. “You don’t pick up the phone. We see you on the news, don’t hear from you, and all you can say is ‘ hi, Mama ?’”
I
Similar Books
