“Sure.” She stood, wiping the dirt from her hands.
“Let’s walk.” He led the way down one of the many paths into the woods on the property, looking for all the world like he was just out for a casual stroll, like he was the same Ryan he’d been her whole life until last night, when he’d kissed the daylights out of her and given her an orgasm in the back hallway of The Music Factory.
“Beautiful weather,” he commented as they walked.
“Yeah.” She chewed her bottom lip. He’d better not be planning to act like last night never happened because—
“So here’s the thing,” he said once they’d rounded a corner, firmly out of sight from anyone else on the property.
“Yes?” she asked hopefully.
“The thing is…” He blew out a breath, shaking his head. “I have no idea what to do about this thing between us.”
Nervous laughter bubbled out of her, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Me either. So maybe we should quit overthinking it and just see what happens.”
He pushed his glasses up on his head and took her hands in his. “Promise me, Em. Promise me that whatever happens, we won’t let it ruin our friendship, okay?”
She nodded, as her heart flopped in her chest. “I promise. We can just be friends with benefits, or whatever, in the meantime.”
His expression grew more intense, and he tugged her in close. “I’m not sure there’s anything friendly about the way I’m feeling about you right now.”
Her heart started pounding, and heat pooled in her belly. “That makes two of us.” Although standing here in broad daylight at Off-the-Grid, it did indeed sound kind of surreal to be talking about hooking up with Ryan.
“And no guys from Tinder,” he said, his expression fierce.
“No one but you.” She hoped he couldn’t hear the absolute truth in her words. Then she narrowed her eyes. “Same goes for you.”
“I never mess around, Emma,” he said, looking so protective and loyal it made her chest hurt. “If I’m with you, I’monlywith you.”
“Okay then.” She tried to hide the big mushy mess that was her heart behind a casual smile. “What will we tell everyone else?”
“Let’s play it by ear,” he said. “Right now, I think we’re doing way too much talking.”
“Agreed.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
Next thing she knew, she was plastered against his chest. His hands had found their way into her back pockets while his mouth devoured hers. “Wow,” she said when they’d finally come up for air.
“Yeah.” He looked just as dazed as she felt. “You are blowing my mind right now.”
She grinned. “Thanks, I think.”
“So what now?” he asked, for once looking at a loss.
Yeah, this was slightly awkward. Last night, beneath the strobing lights of the dance floor and fueled by alcohol, they’d been possessed by their need for each other. But here, in the bright sunshine, while both of them were technically at work? It wasn’t as if they could just fall into bed together.
“Well, I was thinking…I’ve decided on my tattoo. Will you take me to get it done?”
He was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded. “If you’re sure it’s what you want. I used to manage a place in Charlotte. The guys there are top notch. They did most of mine.”
She traced her fingers over a tribal design that wrapped around his wrist. The reality of getting a tattoo—namely, the pain from the needle, but also the idea of it being on her body forever—was still slightly terrifying, but this was something she’d always wanted to do. And having Ryan take her felt beyond perfect. “I like yours. So Charlotte, huh?”
He nodded. “We could go this weekend.”
Charlotte was at least a two-hour drive from Haven. Maybe they could spend the night, too, but right now that still felt a bit too forward to mention. “It’s a date.”
“So what are you getting?”
“A poppy.” She smiled when his brow furrowed. “It’s a flower. You knew I had to get a flower, right?”
