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Ryan’s face fell, and his brow furro
wed in confusion. “Grant, what?”
I couldn’t believe Ryan didn’t already know and I was going to have to tell him. I was sure he would have known before I did. The hospital would have called him, wouldn’t they?
“He’s not at the hospital, Ryan. They didn’t tell you?”
“Wait.” He raised one hand to stop me before placing both of them on my shoulders and squaring me to face him. “You were at the hospital?”
Staring into his ocean-blue eyes, I pretended to ignore how good his hands felt on my body, or how warm. “Yes, I was at the hospital. His room was empty, but all his gifts were still there, and the nurse said he was gone.”
Ryan started laughing. The asshole actually laughed in my face.
I jerked out of his grasp and took a step back, appalled at his behavior and attitude. “Why are you laughing?”
“I took him home this morning. Trust me, the old man’s fine.”
My breath whooshed out of me, taking my anxiety with it. “He’s not dead?”
Ryan shook his head, but the smile refused to leave his lips. “No.”
“I just assumed . . . I mean, his cards and flowers were there, so it looked like—” I stopped short, unable to finish that sentence.
“He made me leave those things. Told me if I even thought about boxing them up and taking them to his house, he’d shoot me once we got there.”
A laugh bubbled up from deep in my throat. “He’s unbelievable.”
“You’re unbelievable.” Ryan smirked.
A throat cleared and I turned to see one of Ryan’s brothers behind the bar. Maybe the youngest brother, but I couldn’t be sure. I definitely needed to brush up on my Fisher trivia.
No, I most certainly do not. Why did that thought even enter my head?
“Hi. I’m Nick.” He offered me a friendly little wave.
Ryan groaned without even giving him a glance. “No one cares who you are. Go away.”
“I bet she cares. Don’t you?” Nick asked, then launched rapid-fire questions at me. “Are you the girl from the beach? The one who saved Grant? The one my brother won’t shut the hell up about?”
All my words escaped me, so I could only nod. Nick knew who I was? Ryan talked about me? This was surreal.
Glancing down at my watch, I noted the time. “Shit,” I mumbled under my breath as I backed away. “I have to go. I’m on my lunch break.”
Ryan moved too, falling into step with me. “I’ll walk you out.”
“You really don’t have to do that.” Trying to ignore him, I headed for the door. “It was nice to meet you, Nick,” I said as I passed by him. His eyes were identical to Ryan’s, but their hair color couldn’t have been more different. Nick’s was jet black, a stark contrast to Ryan’s lighter brown.
“Nice to meet you too, uh . . .” Nick paused, looking sheepish. “I have no idea what your name is. Sorry.”
“Sofia,” I said before I could stop myself.
Dammit. I hadn’t wanted Ryan to know my name, and now I’d given it up without thinking. These Fisher brothers made a girl lose all sense of reason.
“Nice to meet you, Sofia,” Nick called out. “Come back again.”
I tossed him a wave before I pushed the door open and walked out into the blaring sunshine. Dropping my sunglasses over my eyes, I sensed Ryan at my back before I turned to see him there.
“Sofia,” he said, my name a breathy sigh as he closed the space between us. The way he said it sent chills down my spine. “It suits you.”
