Inevitable by Michelle Rowen

“Of course.”
    He left the table and she pressed back in her seat, closing her eyes. There was Ryan again, right on the other side of her eyelids. She didn’t particularly like that she was compelled to do this frequently, but just thinking about him made her feel better. In her imagination, he had the exact opposite effect he had on her when hewas there in person. In person he excited her and drove her crazy—just like he’d always done. In her imagination he calmed her and made her wish things could be different.
    This time imagining Ryan did brush a flush to her skin and a pleasant shiver ran down her body and slid between her legs. The desire that had been lacking while speaking with Leo had suddenly returned in full force.
    Which meant only one thing.
    She forced herself to open her eyes.
    Ryan now sat across from her.
    â€œEvening, Em,” he said.
    She gripped the edge of the table. “Why are you here?”
    â€œI was out for a walk and saw you through the window.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “You’re lying. I thought I saw you by my house earlier. You followed me here, didn’t you?”
    He shrugged. “Think what you like. I’ll keep my secrets.”
    â€œAre you trying to ruin my evening?”
    â€œThat’s not my intention. Really.”
    He looked particularly delicious tonight in a blue button-down shirt the same vivid color of his eyes. It was tight enough that it showed his broad shoulders off to their best advantage.
    She snapped her eyes back up to his face. “Go away.”
    â€œDoes your date know about us?”
    She just looked at him. “Us?”
    â€œAbout our situation.”
    She sighed. “Ryan, why are tormenting me?”
    â€œTormenting you. That doesn’t sound the least bit sexy,does it? And yet it feels so good.” He reached across the table to touch her hand. The contact sent a bolt of desire directly to her groin and she snatched her hand back.
    Emma wagged a finger at him. “Don’t do that.”
    â€œSo strict.”
    She glanced over her shoulder at the restrooms. “My date will be back any minute.”
    â€œThen I suppose I should speed this along.”
    â€œWhat?”
    She heard the sound of something heavy hitting the table. She turned back around and her gaze closed on the object. It was a copy of Inevitable . Her eyes shot to Ryan and widened.
    â€œYou left this behind along with the bottle,” he said casually. “I’ve got the rest of them in my car.”
    She grimaced, but decided to play it cool. She waited until the waiter walked past carrying two plates of Fettuccini Alfredo toward a neighboring table before she answered. “Okay, you caught me. I like to read sexy books every now and then. Big deal. I’m not embarrassed.”
    â€œYou’re the author.”
    She felt herself pale. She wanted to keep her writing a secret. The last person she’d want to know about it was Ryan. “Am not.”
    The denial sounded weak, even to her own ears.
    â€œDon’t even attempt to deny it, Em. The picture is of you. The name isn’t even that much different from your regular name. If you’re trying to stay incognito, it’s not working very well. I think a little part of you wants to be exposed.” He raised an eyebrow. “In more ways than one.”
    She willed away the sudden panicky feeling she got in her gut. This was not the worst thing to happen. If peoplefound out about her publishing career, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
    Emma exhaled slowly and eyed the violin player as he slowly passed their table. The buzz of other diners’ conversations made it difficult to concentrate. “Big deal, Ryan. I wrote a sexy book in my spare time. And I’m damn good at it.”
    â€œI’ll say.”
    Again he surprised her. “Excuse me?”
    â€œYou’re a good writer.”
    â€œYou read