HARPER
I will never beable to forget Ryan’s stupefied expression while he watched me swim. And the kiss he gave me after that first lap was one of the best kisses of my life. We stayed in the pool for a little longer, swimming and laughing, checking each other out.
When my lungs yelled at me to take a break, I reveled in the sight that is Ryan’s “real” swimming because we both know he only pretended to race with me. He probably wasn’t even using half of his strength. And boy, he’s an absolute sight to watch. I’ve seen countless swimmers over the years, live and on TV, but no one has ever made me speechless the way he does.
Seeing his body in action has been absolutely astounding.
And now I’m getting ready to go out to dinner with this stunning man.
We took a quick nap after our swim session before I retreated to the bathroom to get ready. In all these months, he hasn’t exactly seen me at my best, and I’m ready to wow him tonight. It’s our last night together before he has to leave for California again. And before I have to completely come clean, but at least I won’t have to carry this guilt around with me any longer either. I’m definitely looking forward to that.
You should have told him this morning when the crap show with Ben’s flowers happened.
I really should have but I was utterly dumbfounded by my ex-husband, and I wanted to forget as fast as possible. What on earth is he trying to achieve anyway? It makes no sense. I was also nervous of Ryan seeing any pictures of me and my dad anywhere, which is why I didn’t want to stay long at my mom’s apartment with him.
We took all the trash with us when we left the building, including the flowers, and Ryan happily disposed of them. Maybe with a little bit too much aggression, but I don’t blame him. I also felt pretty irritated with the whole situation, and I’m incredibly grateful the topic hasn’t come up again.
There’s a knock on the door just as I apply a coat of lipstick and press my lips together.
“Can I come in?”
“I’m almost ready.”
“I don’t care if you’re ready or not. I just want to see you.”
A flutter erupts in my stomach. I thought I was crazy to feel this way about Ryan, to want him and be near him with such desperation it had me worried at times. Yet here we are, and it seems like I’m not the only one who feels like this.
“You can come in as long as you don’t distract me.”
The door opens so fast, it almost slams into the wall. I chuckle at Ryan’s entry, but my laughter dies in my throat as I take him in. His build is so broad, he’s pretty much filling the whole doorframe with his shoulders. To top it off, he put his magnificent body into a classic black suit. At least I’m assuming the jacket is waiting in the suite. And for all that’s holy, it’s not just any suit, but a three-piece suit. He’s standing in front of me in black slacks, a white button-down that exposes his throat since it’s not all the way buttoned up, and a black vest.
My absolute weakness.
Heat spreads through every inch of my body like an inferno. That dizzying sensation combined with the way he takes me in has my knees almost buckling. It’s also a firm reminder I’m standing in front of him in only my underwear and nothing else.
“That’s it, we’re staying.” Ryan’s hands clench at his sides before releasing again.
I laugh at his comment. “Be good. We’re going.”
He groans but stays where he is while I grab my navy-blue chiffon dress from the hanger and step into it. It’s floor-length with a deep neckline and a sexy front split. Ryan’s gaze doesn’t leave me, not even for a second before I walk over to him and turn around.
“Zip me up, please?”
“You’re killing me, baby.” He closes the zipper painfully slowly, his fingers touching every surrounding inch of skin in the process.
Once he’s done, he hauls me back against his body and nuzzles my neck. “You look absolutely breathtaking.”
“Thank you.” I turn in his arms and loop my arms around his neck. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
The heat in his eyes makes way for amusement as he presses a soft kiss to the top of my hair.
He grabs my hand and pulls me out of the bathroom after him. “Let’s go before I throw my good manners out the window and fuck you so hard, we won’t be leaving this room tonight.”
My breath quickens at his words, and a delicious shiver runs through my body that feels more like torture at this point.
I dig my heels in to stop and let go of his hand so I can step into my heels. Then I point at him. “You better stop with these comments before I take you up on that offer.”
The sexy smirk I love so much appears on his face, and my brain’s about to melt alongside my body.