Page 103 of A Ryan Recollection

“Hmm,” Shane agrees as he rubs a hand over his jaw.

“How did you know about that?” I ask.

“Because you know we always watch you. How else would you have gone through with your little surprise if you didn’t do something to the feed downstairs?”

I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out. I have no comeback and should have known he would realize what I’d done.

“That was incredibly dangerous, sweetheart. What if something had happened to you?” Shane goes on.

“I was in our basement. Chester was going to be there,” I protest as my blush deepens.

“I don’t care. One of us has eyes on you at all times. That’s the rule.”

“Yeah, baby,” Liam agrees with him.

I look at the concerned faces of Conor and Liam and then back at Shane. “So why are you only bringing this up now? Why didn’t you say something the other day?”

Shane trails his fingertips over my cheek. “Because Conor was with you. You would never have gotten to that basement alone. Besides, then you went and floored me with that beautiful tattoo and…” he trails off and looks at Conor.

“That leads us to your other little indiscretion,” Conor says, narrowing his eyes at me. “Making me come in front of Gia when I warned you not to.”

I stifle a giggle. “I don’t think I can be held accountable for your inability to control yourself,” I say, trying to keep a straight face.

Shane laughs, the sound rumbling through him and making me shake on his lap.

Conor narrows his eyes at me. “Really, angel?” he challenges me.

“Really.”

“Not to mention wearing the tiniest, tightest mini skirt possible when you went to work at the club the other night, and giving me a three hour boner,” Shane goes on.

“It’s the only black mini I own,” I say with a shrug. “Conor chose it for me.”

“I did,” Conor admits with a wicked grin.

“You realize how many guys saw her in that sexy little skirt the other night, Con?” Shane asks and suddenly Conor’s face darkens.

“Fuck,” he growls.

“Am I wasting my time pulling all these gifts out?” Mikey asks as he sits back on his heels. “Because our girl has been so bad.”

“I have not,” I insist.

“Then there was the incident at Callie’s,” Liam adds.

I scowl at him. “I am definitely not responsible for that.”

“I kinda think you are, baby,” he says, winking at me and making heat coil up my spine.

“And now we have a hideous purple chair in our guest bedroom,” Shane laughs.

“I quite like it,” I say with a shrug.

“And the dress,” Shane goes on.

“Oh, the dress,” Mikey groans as he pokes his head back under the tree and both Liam and Conor voice their agreement.

“The dress?” I blink in confusion.

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