Page 104 of Undeniable Temptation

“Want my advice?”

“No.”

Mason laughed. “Well, you’re going to get it anyway. I suggest making sure she’s on the other side of a locked door. Or tied to a secure structure.”

“Thanks for stating the blindingly obvious.” A loud whistle split the lobby and Ryan glanced toward the sound, finding Sean waving them toward the elevators. “Good timing.”

Mason started forward.

“Wait a second.” Ryan placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Before we get upstairs, I wanted to thank you.”

“For what?”

“Supporting me even though my decision is going to fuck with the band.”

Mason shrugged. “We’ll bounce back. We always do. And besides, it’s not only you I’m supporting. It’s Leah. Reckless never would’ve made it this far without her.”

“Have you ever told her that?”

“And ruin the dynamic we’ve got going on?” Mason started for the elevators. “Nah. We’re right where we need to be. If she knew how much I adored her it’d get weird. And I don’t like weird. I prefer the bitter animosity we share.”

“Right…” It made no sense. But then again, nothing they’d done tonight had.

“Who’s sharing bitter animosity?” Sean asked, holding open the elevator doors.

“Leah.” Ryan stepped inside the confined space, Mason following close behind. “How is she?”

“I convinced her to pass out about an hour ago and I’m not looking forward to seeing what happens when she wakes up.” He pressed the button to the top floor. “I suggest greeting her with a mouth and groin guard.”

“He doesn’t want suggestions,” Mason announced. “Lover boy thinks he knows best.”

Sean chuckled. “Then we should have the paramedics on standby.”

Ryan ignored the banter as they ascended. He appreciated the distraction technique; really, he did. But he needed to focus. He still hadn’t figured out how to break the news. Inspiration hadn’t even hit once they quietly made their way into the penthouse, Blake and Mitch greeting them in the living room.

“Hey,” Blake murmured. “How’d you do?”

“Not as good as we’d hoped.” Mason made for the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge. “We had to settle for Plan B.”

“So that means…” Mitch let the sentence hang.

“Yeah.” Mason nodded. “It means more fun times ahead.”

The resulting silence hit Ryan with a truckload of guilt. This was all on him. He’d been selfish. He’d put himself first. And no matter how much it made his chest ache, he couldn’t regret it.

“What was Plan B?” Leah’s voice murmured from the other end of the room.

He swung around, finding her leaning on one shoulder against the hallway wall, her suit crushed, her hair loose and framing her face. Those beautiful eyes blinked in lazy strokes, the blush of sleep darkening her cheeks. “Give me a second.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and turned on her toes, walking out of view.

“Do you plan on telling her alone?” Mitch asked.

“Yeah.” He deserved the brunt of her anger. Nobody else. She was independent. Resourceful. Accomplished. It wouldn’t be easy for her to accept what he’d done. He could barely accept it himself.

“Want me to go in first and remove any loose items she might want to throw?”

Ryan met Mason’s gaze, hearing the humor but also seeing the concern staring back at him. “I can handle it.”

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