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“I’m not sure, but his family’s planning a surprise party for him on Saturday.”
“I wasn’t invited.”
“I’m not sure anyone knows he’s dating. But I assumed you’d go with him. I’m sure they’ve planned some sort of ruse to get him to the party.”
A party meant family and Ryan had an enormous family. Would it be all of them? Where would it take place?
“I wanted to give you advance notice so my presence didn’t throw you for a loop. But if me being there makes you uncomfortable, I can easily stay home. An evening without my in-laws isn’t always a hardship. We see each other often.”
She didn’t like making waves and didn’t want to cause anyone to change their plans. “No, he’s your family. You should go.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” It was a small town, and they’d been in the same place at the same time before with his family. Besides, she wasn’t even on the guest list, so it didn’t matter anyway. “I’ll be fine. It’ll be fine.”
“No one knows you're my client, so there’s no need to feel uncomfortable.”
But she knew and Ryan was very observant. He’d pick up on their connection. “Okay. Then I guess I’ll see you…”
“Saturday,” he supplied.
“Right. Saturday.” She had less than forty-eight hours to think of a gift idea or an excuse. Maybe she was getting that bug going around.
Chapter 16
On the ride home from therapy, Maggie thought about possible birthday gifts for Ryan. Since he hadn’t told her his birthday was approaching, she had to act like she didn’t know. Why hadn’t he told her? He’d bought her several thoughtful little gifts since they’d met, so she wanted to get him something special for his birthday. But what?
Alec seemed surprised that she didn’t know about the party. She wasn’t surprised. Ryan had moved out of his parents’ house to get some space from his family. Their relationship was new and still fragile. He likely hadn’t told his relatives about her. And seeing how many there were that was probably a good thing.
On the nights Ryan worked at the bar, he could get tied up until well after midnight if they were busy. With summer coming, and the college students returning home, the nightlife tended to pick up a bit in town.
That night he worked a second shift at the pub and she waited for him to come home. She constantly checked the window to see if his truck was in the driveway.
After two hours of hovering and stalking, she decided to take a ride into town and visit him. So long as the crowd was nothing like St. Patrick’s Day, she would be fine.
The days were lasting longer, and it was officially spring. She parked her bike out back of O’Malley’s where no one would mess with it. Then walked around the front to the entrance.
The pub appeared empty compared to the last time she’d been there. Crimson and Clover played from the jukebox and her breath caught. This was a Nash song, but it didn’t quite paralyze her the way his music sometimes could. She scanned the bar, focusing on her other senses in an attempt to ignore the music.
A few people filled the booths along the wall, and a group of men ate at a center round table. The bar stools were mostly full, but she found an opening and climbed up. Being as vertically challenged as she was, her feet dangled like a toddler’s from a highchair.
“Can I get you somethin’, love?”
Her jaw fell open. All words and thoughts literally came out in one clunk of a syllable that sounded nothing like a word, more like a “glinfdh.”
Was she having a stroke? Her vision seemed fine. Unless she was dreaming.
“What’ll it be, beautiful?” The dark haired bartender waited, but her motor skills had taken an unexpected vacation.
Her face heated and she giggled—a sort of girlie chirp reserved for playgrounds and pep squads, a sound she couldn’t recall ever making before. As he stared at her with those crystal blue eyes, her face caught fire. That look was the flirtatious equivalent of a lobotomy. And she was not immune.
“Hey!” Ryan appeared beside the black haired Adonis, his welcoming grin a much more comfortable place for her eyes to rest. “What a great surprise. I wasn’t expecting you. Did you meet my cousin, Kelly?”
Another cousin? Of course they were related. Why should she be surprised? She briefly glanced back at the bartender and regained control of her face and words. “Hi.”
“You two know each other?” the blue eyed devil asked.
Maggie didn’t risk more than a glance in his direction. Those eyes had tighter grips than bear traps. And sweet Jesus, his hair was a mussed disaster of bed head and beauty. Testosterone wafted off this man in consuming gusts.
Ryan rounded the bar, and she only slightly tensed when he rested his hands on her shoulders, massaging gently. “Kelly, this is my girlfriend, Maggie O’Malley.”
