Page 33 of Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind
Chapter Fourteen
Something had goneterribly wrong. He had planned the sunset dinner cruise down to the minutest detail. The two of them alone at sea, drinking fine wine and partaking of a lovely meal while watching a spectacular sunset reflected on the waves. It wassupposedto be romantic and endearing.
However, Ryan had grown increasingly pale from the moment he had maneuvered the small but luxurious craft into open waters. Her smiles had been forced and her body language exceptionally tense. She hadn’t even tasted the succulent lobster bites before running headlong toward the facilities, where she had remained ever since.
“Ryan, please open the door. We have arrived back at the marina.”
The door was opened, but she refused to look at him. Her skin was alarmingly pale, and she had tied her long, lustrous hair into a messy knot at the base of her skull.
“I am so sorry.” She whispered the words, punctuating them with a sniffle. “I thought I could do it.”
“Thought you could do what?”
“This. The boat. The seafood. But I can’t. I just can’t. Not even for you. I’m sorry.”
She did look at him then, and her inner torment cut through him like a knife. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
“Why did you not tell me?”
“You went to all this trouble and expense. I can’t even imagine how much this cost.”
“Money is unimportant,” he consoled. “Your comfort and happiness are far more valuable to me.”
She sighed and softened against him. “That’s a nice thing to say.”
“I speak only the truth. Now come. We shall relocate to somewhere you will feel more at ease.”
Without waiting for a response, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her off the boat, where Antonio was waiting for them with the car. Though he was loath to release her, he gently placed her in the back seat then joined her.
“Where to, sweet Ryan?”
She looked at him with big, round eyes. He was pleased to see that some of the color had returned to her face. “Don’t you just want to cut your losses and take me home?”
“Absolutely not. Unless, of course, that is what you wish.”
She looked down at her hands, now folded in her lap, and said quietly, “I would like to go home, please.”
Tiberius’s heart fell. In his desire to impress his mate, he had made a mess of things. Clearly, he had to try much harder.
Ryan gave Antonio her address.
For the duration of the ride, Tiberius tried to think of something, anything to extend their time together, but he was at a loss. He hadn’t considered his plan would fail, let alone so spectacularly, and had neglected to formulate an alternative.
When they arrived at her apartment building, Antonio got out to open her door. Tiberius got out, too, but hung back at the car, disgusted with himself. How was he going to fix—
“Aren’t you coming?”
He lifted his gaze, certain that he had heard incorrectly. Ryan was poised at the entrance, looking back at him. “Coming?”
“Yes, well, since I ruined your incredibly thoughtful plans for the evening, the least I can do is feed you. It won’t be anything as impressive as what you had, I’m afraid, but I can grill a mean burger. That is, if you don’t mind.”
Mind?His heart leapt. “I would be most honored.”
Her smile widened, and he felt the power of it course through his veins.
Unprompted, she took his hand in hers and led him inside. “The elevator’s busted, but I’m just on the third floor, so it’s not too bad of a climb.”
Tiberius realized what a big step this was for his mate. First, she had voluntarily divulged her address, and now she was inviting him into her personal abode.
