Page 64 of Billionaire Bachelor
He watches me closely. “You seem…jumpy.”
“When is shenotjumpy?” Sylvie snorts. “Jesus, Ry, what is up with you tonight? It’s like you’re new here or something.”
Ryan’s nose twitches as his gaze sweeps the room. “Is someone else here?”
“Do youseeanyone else?” I ask, hoping like hell my cheeks aren’t as flushed as they feel.
Stupid sexy cologne wafting through the air making me act like a Pavlovian dog.
His brown eyes flick to my bedroom door which, thankfully, is wide open. When he doesn’t find whatever he’s looking for, he backs off.
“Weird,” he mumbles. “We eating over there?” Ryan jerks his chin toward my couch.
With no dining table, our only seating options are at the breakfast bar or in the living room.
“I’m good right here,” Sylvie offers. “You two can take the couch.”
God, I love her.
Ryan shrugs, a silent ‘suit yourself,’ and grabs a plate. I do the same and follow him over to the couch, blowing Sylvie a kiss along the way.
I exhale quietly as I take a seat, my heart still lodged in my throat.
Holy shit. That was way too close.
“So, tell me what you’ve been up to, Rosa.” Ryan shovels some drunken noodles into his mouth.
“Just the usual,” I reply casually, as if I’m not hiding a life-altering secret. “Work mostly. I’m assigned to a big image rebrand which takes up a lot of my time.” I heap a big scoop of pineapple fried rice into my mouth, cutting off the impending anxiety-induced word vomit.
Less is more, Rosalie. Less. Is. More.
“That’s all?” He arches a brow.
“Damn, these skewers are the shit. Where’d you get ’em, Ry?” Sylvie asks, clearly trying to distract him again.
“Royal Orchid.” He barely spares her a glance. “Rosa? What’d you wind up doing on Valentine’s weekend?”
Oh, not much, bro. Just, you know, banged your bestie on every available surface of our family’s cabin.
“Sorry, starving.” I take three more bites of rice to buy me time to think and swallow hard. “Um…just laid low mostly. Why?”
Ryan’s eyes are lasered in on me. “Why were you being so weird when I wanted to hang out?”
Okay, I feel like a total jerk for playing this card, but I’m literally starting to sweat under the pressure here. I’m terrified I’m going to blurt out, “Logan and I had sex!” if we don’t change the subject fast. Let’s just say my impulse control isn’t the best when I’m panicking.
“Why do you think, Ry? It was supposed to be my wedding day. Can’t a girl wallow in peace without having to explain herself?”
His face falls. “Rosa, I didn’t?—”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I hold a hand up. “I’m over Julian, Ryan. I swear. I’mgladwe didn’t get married. I just needed to escape reality and be alone for a few days, that’s all.”
Not untrue.
Thatwasmy original intention when I went to Tahoe. It’s not my fault my brother’s gorgeous, sex-on-legs best friend just happened to be there, too, offering up orgasms on a silver platter. I mean, truly, I had no choice but to take him up on it. I would’ve been doing a disservice to all womankind if I hadn’t.
I snort, earning a suspicious look from my brother.
Dammit.
