Page 75 of The Lessons

“Good. Let them hear. Then you will have experienced exactly one-millionth of the embarrassment I am about to incur,” I hissed as he pulled me over the threshold.

“What are you talking about?” He peered out to the front yard before closing the door behind me.

“You told Brad! You told him I’m one of your patients! In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Brad and I work together. Or did.” I covered my face with my hands and cringed. “Oh, God, this day could not get any worse.”

“Natalie, wait.” He reached out and tried to put his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t touch me! I amsomad at you. You havenoidea what you’ve done.” I glared at him.

“Natalie.” He was cool and calm as can be, which only served to agitate me. “Can I put some clothes on? I feel like this conversation might require more…coverage.” He glanced down at his towel.

Dammit, his common sense and good-lookingness were so frustrating. Why’d he have to be so golden and delicious? Like a fucking Nilla wafer.

My own personal Nilla wafer.

A frustrating Nilla wafer, but still…

“Ugh. Fine. Hurry.” My body was now a mixed mess of raging hormones and raging…well, rage.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Promise me you won’t bolt?”

I took a deep breath. “I was the one pounding downyourdoor, remember?” Then I looked down at the ground. “Fucking Ph.D., my ass,” I muttered.

“What was that?” he asked, cupping his ear.

“Nothing. Go get dressed.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something but decided against it. “I’ll be right back. Go have a seat.” He motioned down the hall to the living room.

I stomped down the hall and took a seat on the couch, slipping off my heels. Pulling my knees up to my chin, I started to rock, attempting to calm myself down. While I was waiting on him, my eyes darted around impatiently. This was the first time I’d gotten a good look at Ryan’s house. His living room didn’t show the way I’d pictured him living at all. I guess I’d assumed his house would be more like a bachelor pad, but this?this was more like a family home fromBetter Homes and Gardens. There were bookshelves and tasteful throw pillows, even a painting above the mantel. It was an abstract work, all deep blues. It reminded me of Ryan’s eyes. And then I got mad again.

Because thosestupidfuckingeyeswere attached to hisstupidfuckingfacein which sat hisstupidfuckingmouthwhich had nowruined my life.

Ryan reemerged a few moments later in dark jeans, a tight, white T-shirt, and bare feet. Somehow thatstupid fucking manstill managed to take my breath away.

Damn. That guy could wear the hell out of a T-shirt.

“Okay, much better. Now, where were we?” He paused as he put in his hearing aid, pretending he couldn’t remember the bomb I’d earlier dropped on him. “Oh, right, you were yelling at me. Would you like to continue? I can hear you in stereo now.”

I hugged my knees with my arms, trying not to explode into a ball of rage.

“Ruining my life is no joking matter, Andrews.”

Me dramatic?Nah.

He squinted at me. “I still don’t understand.”

“You told Brad about us. Now he knows, and soon enough, everyone at work will know. I do marketing for a fuckinglingeriecompany, Ryan. They can’t take seduction advice from a virgin! This is going to ruin me!”

He held up his hands as he took a seat next to me on the couch. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’ve got it all wrong. Calm down.”

“Calm down?!” The order agitated me all over again.

“Yes. Give me a minute. I can explain everything.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. As he met me with his deep blues, a shiver ripped through me. It really was not fair, this effect he had on me.

“Natalie, I didnottell him you were seeing me as a surrogate. I told him you were seeing me just as one of my regular patients. Remember? I’m logging hours for my license.”

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