Zayn and Saif exchanged a glance before both turned on Max.“You’d know,” Saif teased.“Last I checked, you were the reigning champion of avoiding entanglements.”
Max’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t bite.Instead, his gaze swung back to Rylan.“So?You going to tell us about her, or do we pry it out of you?”
Rylan rubbed a hand over his face, muttering under his breath before giving in.“Fine.Her name’s Natalie.She’s an interior designer.And no, I haven’t slept with her.Yet.”
Zayn pounced on the word like a predator on fresh prey.“Yet?So it’s in the plan?”
“Shut up,” Rylan growled.
They laughed like wolves circling a wounded animal.
“She must be something special,” Max said thoughtfully.“Got you doing yoga and saying her name like it’s a secret you want to keep.”
There was a beat before Rylan’s mouth curved—just slightly—as he nodded.“She is.”He left it there, but the tightening of his jaw and the softening of his eyes said more than he’d ever admit.
Saif leaned back, smug as a cat licking up cream.“Oh, this is going to be fun to watch.”
“You two should leave,” Rylan warned.“And take Max with you.”
Max’s chuckle was low and amused.“Not happening.This is better than cable.”
Rylan’s glare could have melted steel.Max only shrugged.“What can I say?I enjoy watching a man squirm.”
Zayn lifted his coffee in a mock toast.“To Natalie—the woman who finally brought Rylan to his knees.”
“Get.Out.”
Their laughter echoed through the room as Rylan’s lips twitched despite himself.He hated them all in that moment.But he wouldn’t trade them for anything.
And yeah—Natalie was worth every second of this torment.
Chapter 21
“What are you doing tonight,friend?”
Rylan’s deep voice rolled through her phone, smooth and warm enough to send an involuntary shiver down Natalie’s spine.She leaned back in her desk chair, biting back a smile that insisted on taking over her face.
“I’m working on your design concepts,” she said, aiming for professional even as her stomach fluttered.“Might do another yoga class tonight.Any interest in joining me?”
“Never again,” he grumbled, with such vehemence she had to laugh.Then he surprised her.“Want to join me for a boxing workout?”
“Boxing?”She sat up straighter, curiosity piqued.“I’ve never tried boxing.Isn’t it… you know…punch-in-the-facedangerous?”
He chuckled, low and rich, the sound curling through her like warm whiskey.“I won’t throw you in the ring.Not the first time, at least.”
Her heart did an unhelpful skip.“First time?You’re assuming there will be more?”
“Oh, there will be,” he said, so certain she could almost see the smirk in his voice.“I’ll pick you up at six, we’ll hit my gym, then I’ll take you to dinner.”
“I think it’s my turn to pay for dinner, Rylan,” she argued.
“Not a chance,” he replied firmly.“I’m keeping the upper hand in this friendship.”
“Friendship?”she teased.“Funny… most of my friends don’t growl when they talk to me.”
“You haven’t met the right friends,” he said.And before she could fire back, he hung up.
Natalie stared at her phone, half-irritated, half-grinning like a fool.The man was maddening—and utterly captivating.
