Plan B (Best Laid Plans #2) - Jana Aston Page 0,42

for the wedding and I'm most definitely not. I'm not sure if his reluctance is because of the baby or because he feels trapped by himself and his code of honor, but I think maybe I need to just tell him I'd like him to defile me six ways to Sunday.

Instead, I catch a look at the engagement ring on my finger while I'm unbuttoning his shirt and remember I wanted to talk about that, so instead of getting him out of his shirt I blurt, "Was this Margo's ring?" because I really know how to spoil a mood and cock-block myself.

"No." He takes a step back and looks at me for a long moment. "Of course not."

"But you were engaged to her once? You gave her a ring, but not this ring?"

"Yes. We were engaged at one time, but that's not her ring. I couldn't tell you what happened to the ring I gave her because I never asked for it back." He finishes unbuttoning his shirt, tossing it into the hamper, and I'm distracted by the muscles on his back and also by how attractive the proper use of a hamper is.

"Did she insinuate that it was?" he asks, yanking a cotton T-shirt over his head.

"She did, actually. I was fairly certain she was lying but I wanted to ask."

"She was."

"Okay." I move back to my own closet, unsnapping and removing my bra as I walk before digging a T-shirt out of my suitcase to pull over my head. When I turn to face him again he's leaning against the frame of his closet door, staring at me.

"Yours is bigger, by the way."

"My tits? Thank you."

"Your ring," he says with a little shake of his head and a roll of his eyes.

"So what happened? With Margo? And if you say something like 'it's complicated' I'm likely to knee you in the balls."

His brows rise, in surprise I think.

"Oh, sorry," I mumble. "I forgot I'm both cranky and hungry until just now."

We move to the kitchen, Kyle telling me to sit at the island countertop while he makes me a sandwich, which is really nice of him but also I think he might want my knees tucked under the countertop.

"Do I say that a lot? That it's too complicated to explain?"

"You say it all the time."

He's silent for what feels like a really long time, layering turkey and lettuce on slices of bread. "I find it difficult to open up to people," is what he offers when he finally speaks. In reality it's probably been less than a minute, but a minute is a really long time when you're waiting for someone to make you a sandwich. It's like microwave time, it takes forever.

"Because you're rich and everyone wants something from you? Because you're an independent guy conflicted by your need to caretake for others? Because Margo is a cold gnome who broke your heart?"

He looks up, a wry smile on his face. "I thought gnomes were friendly?"

"They probably are, I just felt like it was time to give the trolls a break."

"So what exactly did Margo say to you today?"

"That you recycled her engagement ring and you always go back to her."

He nods, acknowledging my recap as he places one of the sandwiches on a plate and slides it over to me. "She didn't break my heart. We're not together anymore because... I don't like her."

Wow. Way to elaborate, buddy. I take a bite to keep myself busy and give him time to continue. He doesn't, but he's a man so I suspect he thinks that was a suitable explanation.

"Were you together for a long time?"

"On and off."

"My knee is feeling bouncy, Kyle."

He laughs. A big wide smile covers his face and his eyes flash in amusement. Probably because there's at least six feet of countertop separating us.

"Look, I want to be respectful," he says. "To both of you." God, this guy and his honor. "We dated when we were young. High school. It was rocky throughout college. Then I left the country for a number of years. Business school in London followed by some years spent learning the international side of the business. When my parents died and I moved back to Philadelphia to take care of Kerrigan, Margo was just sorta there for me, I guess. I think there was some expectation that we would get back together and we did. For a while."

Oh, God. This is a long-term on-and-off thing. Am I his rebound?

"But it