Page 39 of Undeniable Temptation

She peered through the peep hole and sucked in a breath at his carefree lean against the far wall of the hall. He was looking directly at her, his grin smug.

“How long do you think you’re going to make me wait?” His lips curved higher. “Maybe I should get Mason to come keep me company.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” she whispered. He was threatening her.

“I can hear you.” He placed a booted foot against the wall and crossed his arms to look lazily down the hall. “I’m sure all the guys will come searching for me when I don’t arrive at sound check. Then we could talk this through as a group.”

Gorgeous bastard.

She sighed and opened the door a crack. “Did you speak to her?”

“I went back to my room, told her not to repeat what she walked in on, and then came straight down here.”

“Ryan—” she nudged the door wider, “—you need to tell her why. This is important.”

“I know it is, and I’ll fill her in later. Right now, you’re my main concern.” He pushed from the wall.

“I shouldn’t be.” She shook her head. “Nothing happened.” Her voice was frantic as she tried to erase the past. It was a mistake. She needed to keep reminding herself, otherwise her future was going to slide down the drain like boiling grease. And the way he looked at her. Gah! Those eyes. Those penetrating, soulful eyes.

“Bullshit.” He approached, his authority growing before her. His confidence far more prevalent than she was used to. “Everything happened. Every god damn thing that should’ve been happening for years.”

She swallowed, otherwise she would’ve whimpered, or mewled, or done some other pathetically weak thing to undermine her future as band manager. “Don’t be like this.”

“Like what?” He placed his hand against the door, his gaze gliding from her face, to her heating neck, and then back to her lips. He’d never looked at her like that before. Not like she was a woman and he was a man. It was always a friendly appreciation. A glance filled with love and kindness but amiable nonetheless. “Like a guy who’s finally sick of being a spineless asshole all for the sake of a wife who never loved him. This is me, Leah. This is me demanding what I’ve wanted for too long.”

Silence.

She had no words. She could barely breathe.

He took another step and she retreated as he moved into her room. She was always retreating. Always the weaker party when it came to him.

“What are you thinking?” he murmured.

She let her hands fall to her sides and concentrated on keeping her fingers still. “I’m thinking that I want you to leave.”

“That’s a lie.”

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s not. I need you to walk out that door and pretend we didn’t just lose our minds.Please, Ryan. For the sake of my job.”

His lips lifted in a sad smile. “You know I can’t do that. Not again.”

She turned away, trying to determine what she could say to make him leave. She couldn’t hurt him. Not anymore. But he couldn’t stay either. Not when her fingers were tingling with the need to touch and her heart was pounding with yearning beats.

“I know you’re scared.”

Those words kept getting repeated. Maybe it was time to listen. She’d dropped her warrior status long ago and hadn’t been anyone of strength for a while now. Not since Australia when she lost a part of herself. And definitely not since the news of his divorce.

“I’m petrified,” she admitted. “I’m scared sick of what I might lose.”

“Have you thought of what you might gain?”

“The fairytale of happily ever after?” She raised a brow. “Apart from me not being a fairytale kinda girl, I don’t think your marriage, your girlfriends, and our careers will allow for it.”

“It won’t be easy, but you know I can make you happy.”

Her heart clenched, trying to cling to his promise.

“Admit it, Leah.” He remained near the door, not encroaching, not demanding, because his words did that all on their own. “If it weren’t for external influences, we’d be perfect together.”

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