Everyone laughs. Then Harper presses a button on the remote. The opening notes ofYou Oughta Knowblast through the ceiling speakers. Ryan throws both hands in the air. “Yessss!” He flings the towel over his shoulder and heads back toward the kitchen.
Jen follows him. Halfway there she spots Tyler. “Tyler!” She immediately tackles him in a hug. I barely hear her say, “I was able to book that band.” Tyler's eyes widen. Not excited. Terrified. He immediately makes a face at her that clearly saysyou weren't supposed to say that out loud. Then he grabs her shoulders and physically spins her around so nobody can see them talking.
I narrow my eyes. I don't know what that's about. In fact, I don't know anything that's going on right now. The entire evening feels like I'm trapped inside someone else's life.
I saunter into the kitchen and lean sideways against the island. Ryan is humming along with the music while tossing rainbow carrots in a bowl. His sleeves are rolled up. His apron is crooked. His hair keeps falling into his eyes. He's smiling. A real smile. Not the performative one he uses for cameras. Not the brave one he used when the world was crashing down around him. Just… happy.
“You look happy.”
Ryan glances over at me. The smile softens. His lips twitch. Then he shrugs. “I am.”
Something flutters low in my gut. I don't think before I move. My hand settles against the small of his back. Warm. Solid. Ryan immediately stills.
“I'm glad your sisters are here,” I say quietly. His eyes flick toward mine. I smile a little. “I love seeing the sparkle in your eyes when you're surrounded by your people.”
Ryan freezes completely. The carrots stop moving. The bowl gets set down on the counter. His eyes slide shut. Then he blows out a long breath through his nose. “Spence.”
I cock my head. “Yeah?”
His eyes open. Jesus. That was a mistake. The way he's looking at me. Fuck. “Spence,” he says again, voice rougher now, “you can't say things like that while you have your hands on me.”
My hand immediately freezes against his back. Ryan laughs once. It's strained. “You have no idea what you're doing to me right now.”
I feel my pulse jump. “Ryan—”
“No.” He points at me. “Don't.” His eyes sweep over my face. Then down my body. Then back up again. Slowly. Painfully. “I'm trying really, really hard to be respectful.”
The kitchen suddenly feels about twenty degrees hotter. “But I'm about ninety seconds away from pushing you into a room and shoving my tongue down your throat.”
My stomach flips. Ryan drags a hand through his hair. “I'm really emotional right now.” His voice softens. “The way you look tonight. The way you smell. The way you're being with my sisters...” He shakes his head. “I'm barely holding it together, Perfect.”
My lungs forget how to function. Ryan's gaze holds mine hostage. “So, if you don't want words slipping out of my mouth that you're not ready to hear...” His eyes darken. “You may want to run.”
A smile tugs at my mouth.
“Like, now, Spence.”
I chuckle. Then, because apparently, I've suffered a catastrophic personality malfunction, my hand slides lower.Ryan's breath catches. My palm settles squarely on one ass cheek. Firm. Warm. Ridiculously grab-worthy.
Ryan chokes. “Spence.”
I lean in close enough that my mouth brushes his ear. Then I lower my voice. “I can't wait to get inside this perfect bubble butt later.”
Ryan actually shivers. The reaction shoots straight through me. For good measure, I drag my tongue lightly against the skin just below his ear. Ryan's eyes close. His head falls forward. “You are the worst.”
I grin. “Am I?”
“Yes.” He points toward the dining room without opening his eyes. “Go set the table.”
I laugh. “Am I setting it for six people?”
Ryan opens one eye. “Maybe.”
“Ryan.”
“Mm?”
I narrow mine. “Do you have Anthony and Chance and the rest of Phoenix coming over?”
