Page 12 of Entwined with My Best Friend's Brother

His eyes hold mine as he explains, clearing his throat, "That's also part of why I'm here. But…"

He inches toward me, and his hot hand finds mine, "…please let me protect you. I'm not intervening in your choices. I'm just worried about you."

He stops talking, his thumb rubbing circles on my hand as if comforting a partner.

What is this? Why is he acting… so sweet?

I clear my throat in embarrassment, trying to change the topic, "What did she tell you?"

Ryan smiles at me but then looks behind me, "Jen, is that your son?"

Snapping out of the spell Ryan had cast over me, I look back to find Cale peeping from the garage, "Cale, sweetie. You can come out."

Cale makes his way hesitantly down our front yard, usually shy of strangers, as he whispers, "Mom, this car is better than Uncle Charles' beaten-up and smelly Jeep."

Oh! Cale hated that he'd had to stay in Charles' Jeep. He could talk about it all week. I smile as I bend to pick up Cale. "Cale, say hello. This is Uncle Ryan. He is Gwen's brother. We will be seeing more of him for a while."

I look at Ryan, who nods awkwardly. He raises his hand to wave at Cale. "Hey, little man. I'll happily take you in my car if you want?"

Cale grabs Ryan's hand, his shyness forgotten, "You promise? I can ride in your car instead of Uncle Charles'?"

Ryan questions, turning to me, "Uncle Charles' car? Didn't you have your vehicle? Did something happen?"

Sighing, I point toward my house, "Let's talk inside."

Ryan helps get our bags from the Jeep as we open the door. I whisper to Cale, "Go get freshened up. I'll prepare a sunny-side hamburger for you today."

I smile as I let him go, "Call me if you need me, honey."

Excited, Cale runs upstairs, "Okay!"

Turning to Ryan but avoiding his eyes, I invite him, "Come on in, Ryan."

Taking off my coat, I drape it over the stand near the door and fix my hair into a bun as I walk to the kitchen to make dinner. "You can put the bags on the couch. Also, I'm making dinner – sunnyside hamburgers, Cale's favorite. Would you like some?" I ask, glancing back at him, his gaze on my figure as hot and heavy as ever. "Love to have some," he quips.

My throat suddenly feels dry. So, walking to the fridge, I take out some ingredients and a water bottle. Drinking a glass of water and cautiously placing one on the counter for Ryan to take, I make dinner.

Once I am done seasoning the salad, I glance back. I am amused to find Ryan looking awkward, sitting in a chair much too small for his giant figure, "Sorry, I hardly invite many people to my house, so the furniture mostly caters to children, women with average height, and men with average height."

Ryan chuckles, his voice hot and low, "Does that mean I'm the first man you've had in a while?"

His question seems innocent, but it is too suggestive. Ignoring the question, I pick up the bowl of salad and some plates and start preparing the table when Ryan stands up to help me. We move in sync as if we were meant to live together like this. I don't let my thoughts venture further as I call for Cale, too nervous about being in Ryan's proximity alone. "Cale, dinner's ready."

Sitting on our respective chairs, Cale giggles, "Uncle Ryan, what are you doing? That chair is too small for you."

Ryan turns to Cale in astonishment, making me amused, "Cale, how about you call me Ryan?"

Cale looks confused, making me chuckle at Ryan's misery. "But. But I call Uncle Charles, Uncle Charles."

Ryan seems conflicted, so I help him, causing him more misery. "Cale, if Uncle Ryan wants you to call him Ryan. You can."

Ryan probably snaps his eyes to mine at my use of 'Uncle Ryan,' while Cale's eyes get impossibly big, "Really?"

All of this is new to him.

Nodding my head, I smile, "Of course. Now eat your hamburger before it gets cold."

Once we finish our dinner, I let Cale watch Tom and Jerry on television in the living room while I wash the dishes and Ryan helps to dry them.

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