Page 38 of Forbidden to Fall

“Why?”

I took in a shaky breath. This was not how I’d intended to tell him. “It’s a long story, but…I needed some maple syrup for the dessert, and I asked him to bring it.”

I realized that this would naturally lead to follow-up questions about how I had James’s number or even knew he was in town when Ryan hadn’t.

“I can explain it all later,” I said, trying to head questions off, “but I really need to get this maple inside.”

“He can explain it to me.” Ryan’s gaze didn’t waver from James. His jaw was hard, his chin high, his demeanor like a snake coiling before the strike.

“No,” I said flatly. I turned to James, who was looking at Ryan with an expression I found impossible to read. “You should go.”

His eyes met mine. He hesitated, then gave a reluctant nod.

“Stay away from my sister, Carver,” Ryan said as James opened the door.

James paused, his back to us, then got in and shut the door.

The engine rumbled to life, and I pulled Ryan out of the way so James could reverse.

He watched the truck like it might kiss Lily if he so much as blinked. When the headlights disappeared after turning out of the parking lot, he finally shifted to me.

He didn’t say anything.

I wished he had. The anger was fading from his eyes, hurt and betrayal taking its place.

“I know you’re upset and you have questions,” I said, my voice trembling like my hands, “and I promise to explain it to you later. But I have to get this maple glaze done, or I may not have a job come Monday.”

Ryan shook his head and turned away.

“I’ll come to Mom’s after the party,” I called out as he strode back to the door.

I took in a shaky breath and blew it back out through rounded lips, but I didn’t have time to do any more than that.

Heavy bag in hand, I hurried to the kitchen door.

The students were at the stove, two stirring the butter while the other two supervised, but they all turned toward me.

Ethan smiled like he knew a secret of mine.

I was just grateful he hadn’t witnessed what had happened after he’d come inside again.

I forced my focus to making the glaze, then drizzling it over the plated cheesecake, but my body swarmed with energy and nerves.

The whole thing was my fault, and I wasn’t convinced I could undo the problems I’d caused by waiting to tell Ryan. I should’ve just called him to let him know about James, but I’d been so busy, and, well, it wasn’t like I’d been eager to have that conversation.

Now I got to have a different conversation. A worse one.

I took a seat next to Archer when the desserts were all served.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Oh, the joys of wearing my heart on my sleeve. Why couldn’t I be more like James?

“If I don’t show up at the stables next week, it’s because Ryan murdered me. For the record, I don’t want to press charges.”

Archer chuckled, but his brow was knit. “What are you talking about?”

I shut my eyes, my stomach roiling at the memory of the parking lot encounter. “I needed more maple syrup, so I had James bring it. Ryan saw him.”