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“I always liked Lacey, and it wasn’t her fault. It was just hard to talk to her, to hear about Ryan, so I just let the friendship fall off, which I regret.” And now that I was back in town, I could reclaim that friendship too.
Val’s green eyes went wide just as the air in the place crackled and sizzled. “A third Gregory sibling just walked in.”
“Ryan,” I guessed easily.
“Got it in one."
I groaned and let my head fall forward before I looked up at the cracked ceiling. “Why did he have to show up here on my first night out in ages?”
“I don’t think that cracked paint is going to answer, at least not before he makes it to the table.” She pointed at the ceiling and grinned. “The universe is sending you all kinds of signals that you seem determined to ignore because you are as stubborn as they come.”
I heard her words, but all I heard was her say that Ryan was headed towards our table. “No, he’s not.” I panic-whispered, but Valona only nodded with a far too amused smile.
“Yes,” she whispered and then flipped her smile up a few watts. “Ryan, hi. Good to see you.”
“You too, Val. Sorry about Randy.”
“Don’t be,” she waved off his condolences. “How are you?”
“Mostly good, been in my studio for the last few weeks writing and that feels good. You?”
“Can’t complain, just working to get my photography business off the ground.”
“Yeah? You should talk to Roman, he might need a local photographer soon.” He turned to me, expression serious. “Can we talk?”
I stiffened at his abrupt change in topic. “Nothing to talk about that can’t wait until I’m back on the clock.”
“Pippa, please.”
“You know what?” Val slid from the booth and straightened her tall frame. “I need to check in on the girls, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” As soon as the traitor scampered off, Ryan took her seat and leaned half way across the table.
“You’ve been ignoring me.”
“No, I have been working to make your restaurant a success, because it’s my job. If anyone has been ignoring anyone, it’s you who ghosted on your own investment.”
“Maybe,” he conceded. “Maybe I did take some space because I knew you wouldn’t be receptive to talking about that night in Gatlinburg, but I’ve had time to think about it.”
“Two weeks,” I added because my inner smartass wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Okay, I had two weeks to think about it and I’m done letting you off the hook, Pip. I’m ready to talk about it and what comes next.”
What comes next. I let out a loud, completely unladylike bark of laughter. “You’re ready to talk about it, so we talk about it? Is that how things work in your world now?” I shook my head unwilling to learn that he was a spoiled rich prick who dictated terms to everyone around him. “Get over yourself, Ryan. There is nothing to talk about. Gatlinburg was nothing more than a lapse in judgment, a screw for old time’s sake.”
“It’s you I haven’t gotten over, Pip. Not ever.”
Nice words, if I was still the silly little girl so desperate to believe them. “There’s nothing to get over anymore, Ryan. You were happy to leave me behind when it mattered, so how about you channel that part of yourself and walk away. Now.”
“I made a mistake back then, Pip. I was a stupid kid. What’s your excuse for being so damn stubborn and scared now?”
My nostrils flared at his words and anger pulsed in my veins, but I reached for every ounce of cool I could muster and looked him directly in his handsome face. “I’m not stubborn. I’m just not so blindly in love with you that I’m willing to believe every syllable that falls from your lips.” My voice grew louder and people started to stare, so I blew out a breath and sat back, flashing my nothing to see here, folks smile. “Have a good night, Ryan. Roman and Lacey are at the dart boards.”
He flashed a wickedly sexy smile at me. “At least I got you to call me Ryan.”
“I’m off the clock, don’t read anymore into it than that. Now, please, go away.”
“I will. For now, Pip, but this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
“To you maybe, but to me it’s been over since that day you walked away from me on the town green.” I flashed my most professional restaurant worker smile and waited for him to do what he did best. Walk away.
“I’ll let you have what you think you want, for now. But I’ll be seeing you soon, Pip. Real soon.” He pushed out of the booth that was too small for his big body and finally gave me what I asked for.
Too bad watching him walk away now, hurt as much as it did twenty years ago. Except this time, his words felt more like a threat or a warning, than goodbye.
