Page 108 of Power Play

He should’ve returned to the lesson, but he didn’t, and I wasn’t relieved. Another fear had been circling the larger one, more embarrassing because it had nothing to do with schedules or distance and everything to do with how easy Ryan had always been for women to want.

Flint would have women who didn’t spend twenty minutes hating themselves in mirrors before letting him through the door.

Ryan caught the shift in my expression. “What now?”

“Nothing.”

“Charm.”

I exhaled. “You’ll meet people.”

His eyebrows lifted. “I already know people.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

“That’s cruel.”

“That means I definitely want to hear it.”

I tried glaring at him, but his dimple appeared.

“Women,” I muttered.

“What about them?”

“You’ll meet them.”

Ryan stared at me before laughing.

Humiliation flared, and I pulled away. “Never mind.”

His hand caught my wrist before I could stand. “I’m not laughing at you.”

“You definitely laughed.”

“I laughed because there are women in Kimball Falls too.”

“That isn’t helpful.”

“It’s relevant.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Yes, it is.” Ryan tugged gently until I faced him again. “You want to know whether I’m going to Flint and start fucking somebody else.”

My entire face caught fire. “I didn’t say that.”

“You tried to make me translate it through travel logistics.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

His confidence was obnoxious, and worse, it was justified.

Ryan slid his chair closer until my knee fit between both of his. “I’m not interested in anybody else right now.”