He arched a brow but didn’t push, just watched her.
With a huff, she lifted her arms in exasperation—only to have the heavy gloves drag them back down in sad little flops.“Why does someone hate me this much?Breaking into my house, trying to run me down, and now this?A glitter bomb?Glitter!It’s like being mugged by a craft store!”
In two strides, he was in front of her, peeling off the gloves.Then, without warning, his arms were around her—solid, steady, unshakable.And for the first time in a long time, she let herself lean into someone else.
The tears came hot and fast, soaking into his shirt.“I’m not a bad person,” she whispered between hiccupping sobs.“Why would someone do this to me?”
“You’re not a bad person,” Rylan answered, voice firm and grounding.“You’re kind, smart, beautiful.And you definitely don’t deserve a glitter-based assassination attempt.”
She wasn’t sure how long she stayed there, wrapped in him, but when the tears eased, she felt lighter.Exhausted, but lighter.
“I think you should move in with me,” he said suddenly, tone maddeningly matter-of-fact.
She blinked at him… then the laugh hit her—sharp, startled, and unstoppable.“Move in with you?”She choked on another laugh, bending slightly at the waist.“Oh my God, are youserious?That’s your solution to attempted glittercide?”
“Dead serious,” he replied without flinching.
That only made it worse.She slapped a hand over her mouth, trying to smother the sound, but a snort escaped, which set her off all over again.She leaned back against the wall, tears pricking the corners of her eyes for a completely different reason this time.Her laughter bounced off the walls, high and unrestrained, like it had been waiting for days to get out.
Rylan didn’t move, didn’t interrupt—just watched her.On the surface, his expression stayed steady, even faintly amused.But beneath it, there was a flicker of something else—something sharper and possessive—that he carefully tucked away before she could see it.
Finally, she wiped at her eyes, catching her breath.“Thank you for that.I really needed a laugh.”
His gaze softened, though there was steel under it.“Think about it.”
She shook her head, still smiling.“I will,” she lied and they both knew it.“But thank you.I feel better.Sincerely, thank you—for all of this.”She waved toward the gym.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, that dangerous grin reappearing.“We still have dinner plans.Casual.But don’t skimp on dessert—we survived trauma-by-craft supply.That’s worth cake at least.”
Despite herself, Natalie’s heart gave an unhelpful little flutter.Maybe she could enjoy this… just a little.
Chapter 23
Rylan tilted the cast-iron skillet, the golden scallops sizzling as he spooned the garlic- and rosemary-infused butter over them.The rich, savory aroma wrapped around the kitchen like a promise, warm and indulgent.He could almost imagine Natalie’s expression when she tasted them.
The doorbell rang.Without looking up, he called out, “It’s open!”
From across the kitchen, Tom shot him a flat, unimpressed stare.
“You have a gun,” Rylan pointed out with a smirk, setting the skillet aside and moving to plate the pasta.
Tom muttered something under his breath, the words lost as he strode toward the front door.
Moments later, Natalie stepped into the kitchen, and it was as if someone had subtly turned up the light.
“This way, Ms.Gibbons,” Tom said with a courteous nod.
“Oh, please, call me Natalie.”Her gaze swept the kitchen, lingering on the gleam of the countertops, the warm wood cabinetry, and the clean, modern lines.Her lips curved into a faint smile.“I really love your kitchen.”
Rylan turned just in time to catch her admiration before she looked away.“It’s functional,” he said lightly, but the corner of his mouth tugged upward despite himself.“I wasn’t sure how spicy you like your food, so I held back on the jalapeños.”
Each plate of food came together in practiced motions—perfectly browned scallops nestled on creamy corn sauce, twined pasta beneath, and a delicate dusting of green onions.
“Let’s head outside,” he said, grabbing the plates with one hand while thumbing out a quick text to his security team with his other, letting them know dinner was ready and added reheating instructions for the sauce so that the guards on duty would have a hot meal as they cycled off of their rounds.
By the time he stepped onto the stone patio, Tom and Natalie were already there.The cool evening air carried the faint scent of rosemary from a nearby planter.String lights cast a warm, flattering glow over the table, painting soft highlights through Natalie’s hair.
Rylan set the plates down and took the seat beside her, catching the tail end of their conversation where she was trying to convince Tom that there wasn’t a problem.
