It was long past time to prove to herself that she hadn’t wasted her life chasing a dream.
“I do want it, Ryan.” She paused. “But even more than that, I need it. It’s the next step for me and my career, the perfect way to start fresh and build my reputation as a sculptor in the United States. So if I win the fellowship—”
“When you win it,” he cut in.
“—I want to know that I got it because of the quality of my work.” Not because she’d agreed under pressure to sleep with one of the board members.
“I wanted to kill the creep for touching you.” A muscle jumped in Ryan’s jaw. “Hell, I still want to tear him apart for even looking at you the wrong way.”
“All these years, when I thought about us seeing each other again, I never thought it would be like this. I’m really sorry for roping you into my mess.”
“I like ropes,” he teased her with the naughty grin he was so famous for.
How could she do anything but smile back at the most beautiful man she’d ever set eyes on? Vicki was amazed to find out nothing had changed since they were teenagers. Ryan was still just as able to send heat all through her body as he was to make her laugh.
She’d never met anyone like him before or since.
His hair was lighter than most of his siblings, shot through with highlights due to all of his time spent in the sun. His long-sleeved cotton shirt had an extra button open at the top, giving her a glimpse of just enough tanned skin to make her lose her train of thought all over again.
“Promise me you won’t be alone with him again, Vicki.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t make that mistake again. Thanks again for being my ten-minute boyfriend.”
“Ten minutes?” Ryan looked surprised to be let off the hook so easily. “When is the board going to decide on the fellowship?”
“Next week.”
“In that case, sign me up to be your one-week boyfriend.”
“What? No. You can’t do that for me.” When Ryan lifted an eyebrow at her quick refusal, she said, “Seriously, thank you so much for stepping in tonight. But you don’t have to pretend to be dating me for a week. If James asks about the two of us, I’ll just explain that we had a fight and are taking a break. And I’ll be beyond careful not to put myself in any more situations like this with him again.”
Unfortunately, Ryan looked anything but convinced. “You asked me to come here tonight because you felt like you were all out of options, right?”
She blew out a breath. “Right.”
“When we were kids, you were nearly killed pushing me out of the way of that car. You saved me, Vicki. Big time. Now it’s my turn to return the favor.”
Everyone thought Ryan Sullivan was so easygoing. And it was true that he was quick with laughter, that he made everything look easy. But she knew how much focus went into his ease. When she’d be at her potting wheel in her parents’ garage, he’d throw balls at a soft target he set up on her driveway over and over until her fingers were working in time to the constant thud of the ball into the target.
Now, his focus was on protecting her from James’s less than pure intentions. Ryan was too great not to back her up. And he wouldn’t dream of walking away if he thought she needed him.
He reached into his wallet and tossed a couple of twenties down on the table. “Let’s get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
She felt the same way, surrounded by all that leather and velvet. Everyone at the Pacific Union Club looked like they had metal beams shoved up their you-know-whats.
Ryan stood up, then waited for her to scoot over to the edge of the couch. And even though she knew his sweetly seductive kiss had all been part of their big act, she was hyperaware of her body around him.
The fact that her dress was hiking higher and higher up her thighs as she slid along the couch.
The knowledge that he must have a perfect view of her ample cle**age. The expensive, sky-high heels she’d put on to pretend an Army brat like her belonged in a place like this.
His hand was warm on her back as they headed for the exit. She tried to remind herself that it was no different than what any other gentleman would have done. But her body refused to listen.
How could it, when it felt so good to be touched by him?
She’d never been more glad for fresh air. Now all she needed to do was STOP THINKING ABOUT THAT KISS and everything would be fine. Which, unfortunately, meant she should probably call it a night. Because every second she spent with Ryan only made her want to do it again.
“Why didn’t you call me to tell me you were back in town?”