Page 216 of Power Play

Now I was standing in his kitchen hiding the worst parts of my own mind while he brushed his teeth down the hall.

The realization sat ugly in my chest, but I still rolled the tape tightly and buried it beneath the tissues and lipstick. I checked the counter twice before returning the cosmetic case to my purse.

Nothing remained for Ryan to notice.

The ritual hadn’t made me feel better. It had made me feel steadier by giving my fear numbers and rules, and for the moment, my mind accepted that false sense of control as enough.

Ryan walked out dressed in black travel pants and a fitted Frost shirt, his backward cap restored to the exact angle I had already fixed twice that morning. His eyes went directly to me.

“You okay?”

My heart stumbled. “I’m fine.”

He studied me for a beat, and I hated how easily the lie left my mouth. Then his attention shifted toward the avocado sitting on the counter.

“You making breakfast?”

“I was considering it.”

“Considering?”

“You distracted me with your secret country career.”

“Excuses.”

He came toward me and slid both hands around my waist. The contact landed directly over the skin I had measured, and I fought the urge to pull away.

“You have forty minutes,” I reminded him.

“Thirty-seven.”

“You’re going to miss the bus.”

“They know where I live.”

“That doesn’t reassure me.”

Ryan kissed me. I let myself disappear into the warmth of his mouth and the security of his hands for several seconds, allowing him to quiet the noise I hadn’t managed to control on my own.

When he pulled back, I pointed toward the table. “Sit down. I’m making breakfast.”

His eyebrows lifted. “You bossing me around?”

“Yes.”

“That’s hot.”

“Sit.”

He did.

I made toast, sliced the avocados, and added lime, salt, and red pepper flakes while Ryan watched with the suspicion of a man convinced I might garnish his breakfast against his will.

“No edible flowers,” he warned.

“I didn’t bring any.”

“You thought about it.”