Inevitable by Michelle Rowen Page B

criminal who wanted to change his ways, but a bold-faced liar was not someone she wanted in her life. Her father had been like that. His abandonment still crushed her. She didn’t want a repeat performance from another man she willingly gave her love and trust to.
    Maybe it was already too late. Maybe that was exactly why she’d been so heartbroken by his betrayal. Maybe she hadn’t just been falling for him—she’d already fallen.
    Leo approached the table and paused when he saw Ryan. He stretched out his hand.
    â€œLeo Barker,” he said. “And you are?”
    â€œRyan Shephard.” Ryan shook his hand. “A friend of Emma’s. A very good friend.”
    â€œNot anymore,” Emma said tightly. “I believe I asked you to leave.”
    â€œOh, come on, Em, don’t be like that.”
    She was feeling a multitude of emotions at the moment. A high level of exasperation, a lot of embarrassment, and there was still the unbidden desire that swirled within her being so near to Ryan. She’d never wanted to throttle someone and tear his clothes off and have sex with him at the same time. It was a strange combination.
    And damn if she didn’t find him amusing as well. Only Ryan would stroll in here, in the middle of her date, and claim that the character in her erotic novel was based on him.
    She’d feel much more freedom to laugh it off if it wasn’t one hundred percent true.
    Leo frowned. “Emma, are you saying that you asked him to leave and he didn’t?”
    â€œYes,” she confirmed.
    â€œIs this an ex of yours?”
    â€œYou could say that,” Emma said. “But not the way you think.”
    Ryan didn’t budge from his seat. “Emma and I have history. A lot of history. There was a time when we would practically finish each other’s sentences, we were that close. A relationship like that doesn’t just dissolve because of a few unfortunate misunderstandings.”
    Emma rolled her eyes. “We were only partners for a year. Let’s not get carried away.”
    â€œNo, let’s. ” Ryan grinned. “Look, Leo, no offense. You seem like a stand-up sort of fellow. But you’re just not Emma’s type.”
    â€œOh?” Leo eyed him. “And what is Emma’s type?”
    â€œMe,” he said bluntly.
    She just stared across the table at him, temporarily speechless.
    â€œIs that right?” Leo retorted. “Then it’s odd that she’s out for dinner with me tonight and not you, isn’t it?”
    â€œWell, right now she thinks she hates me, but she doesn’t. I’ve come back to town to see if I can prove that. She doesn’t think she wants me here, but she really does. She just has to realize that.”
    â€œI see,” Leo said. “Pardon me for saying this, but that sounds like something a stalker would say. Someone who refuses to take no for an answer.”
    There wasn’t even a fraction of friendliness in his tone. Ryan gave him a stunned look.
    â€œA stalker?” There was now an edge of anger to Ryan’s voice. “You obviously don’t know me because I’d never harm a hair on Emma’s head.”
    â€œThen prove that and leave. You’re clearly not wanted here.”
    Ryan stood up and glared at him. “You think so, huh?”
    â€œYeah, I do.”
    Emma sighed. “Ryan, seriously. You need to go now.”
    He looked at her and frowned. Disappointment slid behind his gaze. “Fine. If that’s what you want. But I will see you later.”
    There was a woman standing right behind him. He turned to leave and Emma gasped as he slammed right into her.
    But, wait. He didn’t slam into her. He walked right through her as if he hadn’t even seen her. As if she wasn’t even there.
    Ryan turned at the sound of Emma’s gasp. “What’s wrong?”
    She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.