Page 33 of Release Me

I expected as much, though.

“Dude, your sister’s hot,” Dean jumps in to echo. “Like, in that nerdy school librarian way. But she’s got that ass?—”

Connor cuts off his words with a warning index finger shoved to Dean’s face.

My phone chirps then and I use that excuse to avert my guilty gaze and read the email that just came in from Jean in HR.

I smile. “I need to sign more paperwork for the transfer.”

17.Ryan

“Hey, Tatum!”

My back stiffens at the sound of my brother’s booming voice. I’d like more than anything to pretend I’m not here, but he’ll holler until people glare at me.

With a reluctant groan, I stand.

And inhale sharply at the tall form standing next to him.Of coursethey’re together. They’re inseparable.

Except at night, when I’m propositioning Ronan in his bed.

He watches me approach, the tiniest smile curving his full lips. Lips I have yet to kiss. Yet?No! It’s not happening!

I lock my focus on Connor. Does he know? Has Ronan told him?

If he has, and Connor announces it in here, which I wouldn’t put past him, I will stab him with the pencil in my grip.

“What do you want?” It comes out harsher than I intend. That’s the way my anxiety reveals itself—I turn into a bitch. And boy, am I anxious.

Connor leans over the desk, his massive body dusty andsweaty from being outside in the heat. “You didn’t meet us out back today.”

“Ineverdo.” I’ve intentionally kept myself busy over the lunch hour, eating at my desk or running errands, not wanting to risk an awkward situation where my teammates get together and David is there. Withher.

“You did on Monday.”

“Yeah, well … that was once.” My voice cracks over those words. Ronan basically said that to me last night.Just this once.

Connor shrugs. “We missed you.”

I search for some hint that he knows. I see nothing, and he’s not good at keeping secrets. Especially not one like that.

Ronan hasn’t told him.

A small sigh of relief escapes me, even as the other side of the coin shows itself. Does Ronan regret last night? Did he wake up this morning, dreading seeing me? Did he enjoy it? Oh my God. What if it was terrible for him?

I clear my throat to calm my nerves. “Why are youreallyhere?”

“Jean asked Ronan to come down and sign some things for Alaska.”

“And here they are.” Jean sidles up next to me, laying out a few forms on the counter in front of her, giggling nervously. “I feel like we just did this.”

“Because we did.”

I watch him take the pen in those strong, calloused fingers—the same fingers that were inside me last night—and begin filling in the boxes. His penmanship is surprisingly neat.

Connor’s phone rings in his pocket. “I gotta take this. I’ll wait for you in the hall.”

“All right. I’ll be done in a minute.”

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