Page 6 of Release Me

“Someone left a message about signing a payroll form so I could?—”

“Jean! Crew guy is here for you.” Ryan stalks away before I can finish, leaving me with my mouth open midsentence, staring at the way her hips swing in that tight purple skirt, her tiny waist making her ass seem bigger than it is. Not that I mind an ass that I can fill my hands with.

“Dick,” I hiss. “You could have warned me.”

“Hell no. Not after this morning. That was priceless, by the way.”

“I’ll bet. Anything else important you want to share with me?”

“Yeah. I’m fuckingstarving.”

A cute Asian girl appears. “Ronan Lyle?”

“That’s me. I got a call about paperwork?”

She sets a form in front of me. “I need you to fill this out.”

“Hey, Jean.” Connor rests his elbows on the counter and flashes her the same stupid smile he was using at the beach all morning. The one that got him four different phone numbers. “Big plans for the weekend?”

She dips her head to hide behind heavy black fringe as she lists her itinerary, hour by hour, it seems. I tune her out right after “sewing club” comes up and set to quickly filling out the form.

“What’s our address again?”

Connor recites and I fill it out, all the while feeling Jean’s black eyes appraising me.

“So,thisis your new roommate?”

“Yeah. Why?” Connor grins. “What did Ryan say?”

“Nothing.” The expression on Jean’s face says Ryan had things to say and they weren’t at all pleasant. She drops her voice. “She’s in a bad mood today.”

“I noticed. Something going on with the douchebag?” Obviously, Connor doesn’t like Ryan’s boyfriend and doesn’t care who knows it.

She glances over her shoulder and then whispers, “I heard they broke up last night, but I’m not asking.”

Connor’s face fills with understanding. “No wonder she’s being such a bitch.” A little louder, “Hey, Ry!” When she doesn’t answer, he raises his voice. “Ryan Tatum! I know you can hear me! Come over here!”

The sound of sandals slapping along the tile floor announces her approach before she appears. And the look on her face …

Connor really doesn’t want to keep his skin today.

“Would you stop being an idiot!” she hisses.

He ignores her tone. “What happened with David?”

I keep my head down, pretending not to listen as I fill out the rest of my form.

“Nothing.” But by the tone of her voice, it’s definitely something.

“You two broke up?” Connor pushes.

“So what?”

“So … you should tell me these things.”

“Why? You don’t give a damn. And it’s none of your business.” She’s trying to play it cool, but the slight waver in her voice betrays her.

“Come on. Don’t be like that.” The ever-present humor in his voice fades a touch.

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