Stronger (The University of Gatica #4) by Lexy Timms, Book Cover By Design

brought her back as the waitress placed a Coke in front of each of them. She set Chrissy’s down hard.
    "Sorry. Just thinking about all I need to do to get back to running."
    "What'll you two be having?"
    "Turkey sandwich with fries for me." Chrissy handed her the menu, keeping her eyes adverted toward Ryan.
    "Burger with an extra patty, no mayo and add a couple of extra tomatoes to it."
    "Fries?" the older woman asked.
    "No, fruit if possible."
    She mumbled something and left.
    Chrissy sat back, pulling her napkin in her lap. "Okay. So ask a question and I'll answer it. Then it's my turn."
    "I already did. Gotta be quick on the uptake, Chrissy." He smiled again, teasing clear on his face.
    She growled softly at him. "So the other day after I first got injured, Jason brought me in here. He toted me to the table and said a few curse words in front of the waitress. The waitress said he should be polite around his girlfriend. She got onto him about his language and teasingly I told him that if he didn't stop, no sex for him. It was a joke." She shrugged, her cheeks burning.
    "Oh that's classy. Does the lady know he’s your brother?"
    "No!" Chrissy threw her napkin at him. "It was a joke and not a funny one. I regretted it as soon as I said it."
    Ryan laughed, his finger brushing by his lips and grabbing her attention. "So she must think you're a hussy."
    "A hussy?"
    "Google it later." He chuckled again.
    He wasn't the stoic guy he appeared to be at The Red Coats. His smile was contagious, his need for companionship obvious.
    "Whatever. Donkey. My turn."
    He burst out laughing. “Did you just call me an ass?” He waved his hand. "Okay, shoot."
    "Why the hang up with your father? We all know him to be a great guy and yet you obviously don't." Chrissy picked up her soda, taking a sip through the straw as she watched him.
    "Ouch! I ask you about a diner and you dive right into the meat of the deal. We haven't even slept together and you want to ask me about my daddy-issues?"
    She choked on her drink, setting the cup down and reaching for his napkin before coughing loudly into it. Her eyes filled with tears at the burn in her throat, Ryan chuckling again from across the table. She pressed the napkin to her mouth and just stared at him. Never in her life had she met someone so full of himself. "You assume we're going to sleep together?"
    "I hope we are." He tilted his head to the side, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth as he watched her. "You don't?"
    "I asked a question. I'm going to leave your over-confidence alone. You can crash and burn on your own when you realize that women aren't interested in sex with strangers."
    "We're getting to know each other right now, aren't we?"
    "You asked me to lunch in hopes of us having sex?"
    "Nope. That would be an asshole move. I asked you to lunch because you're beautiful and I don't know anyone here. Might as well get to know the girl I'm going to be spending the holidays with. If sex happens, all the better."
    "You're ridiculous. Answer my questions and let's not talk about my upcoming denial of you."
    He smirked, as if she would ever deny his advances. Something inside of her told her quickly that he was probably right. "I'm an only child and my mother passed away when I was young. Car accident. Don't ask because I'm not reliving that today." He crossed his arms over his chest. "My father’s a dick. My mom got caught cheating around the time she found out she was pregnant with me. My father never really forgave her and he thinks I'm a product of her infidelities."
    "That's horrible, Ryan. Shit..." Chrissy's heart ached in her chest, the steeled resolve on the handsome boy across from her making it hurt worse. "Why didn't he just take a paternity test?"
    "He did."
    "And?"
    "I don't know. He won't tell me. He just treats me like shit half the time and loves on me the rest. Who knows?"
    She stared at him, unsure of how to respond. Crap! She was going to end up sleeping with