“Yeah. You’re right. I don’t want to mess with your head.” But I know he’s messing with my head now from that grin on his face. “We’ll wait to kiss again until our date. Keep everything simple like that.”
He’s walking away now, and I’m glancing around for something I can chuck at the back of his head. Ryan makes me so mad I could scream. He’s always in control. Always has the upper hand. He thinks he’s going to torture me by not letting me kiss him?! Two can play at this game, and I have a feeling I’ll enjoy it more than he will.
DING DONG.
Ryan and I both look at each other, and his brows furrow.
“You hear that?” I ask. “It’s called a doorbell. Normal people use it before entering a house.”
And that’s one point for me, because if I’ve learned anything by now, it’s that Ryan finds my sarcasm sexy. Too bad, so sad, Ryan. No kisses for you.
I give him a haughty look as I pass
him, but he gives me a smolder in return that makes my knees buckle a little when I try to walk. I manage to make it to the door, though, and when I open it, I’ve never been more disappointed to see anyone in my entire life. Remember when I said my family’s intrusiveness was their best quality? I was wrong.
“Hi, darlin’! We felt terrible about you being all alone over here, so we thought—oh! Ryan! Look, everyone, Ryan is here!” says my mama with the least innocent face I’ve ever seen and a gift bag slung over her arm.
Jake and Evie (along with my daddy, all three of my sisters, their spouses, and children) are standing behind Mama, looking like the cat that ate the canary.
“OH! Now I remember him!” says Daddy.
And I guess kissing really isn’t on the table today. Wonderful.
Chapter Nineteen
Ryan
“So, Ryan, hun, what have you been up to all these years?” asks Bonnie from where she’s just sidled up next to my elbow by the stove.
I would scoot to my right to get a little space, but I can’t because one of June’s sisters is clinging to me on that side. She has three sisters (Jennie, Julia, and Josie) as well as her sister-in-law, Evie. And yeah, they are all surrounding me. I’m completely circled by Broaden women, and it’s making me sweat. I think that’s their goal, though.
“After high school, I attended culinary school, and I’ve been working as a chef ever since.”
“A chef! Goodness, boy. I had no idea. Based on how you and June used to duel back then, I would’ve thought you’d join the military.”
I laugh and aim a smile down at her. “Oddly enough, that career path never even crossed my mind.”
She uses her hip to bump me. “Probably ‘cause you were never actually fighting, right?”
“Well…” I tap the wooden spoon against the pot and set it on the counter before turning around to face all the women. “They do say love is war.”
Each of the sisters physically swoons and awwws in unison. Their choir alerts June that something is happening in here, because in the next moment, she’s rounding the corner into the kitchen. “I should have known you guys would be harassing Ryan. He’s cooking us all lunch. Let the man work in peace.”
“We’re not hinderin’ his work in any way, are we, Ryan?” Bonnie turns her eyes up to me, and I see now that we’re choosing teams for dodgeball. I definitely want her on mine, so I wrap an arm around her shoulder and say, “I love the company.”
June rolls her eyes and turns back around. “Don’t say I never tried.”
The moment she’s out of the room, Evie turns to me and flat-out asks, “So, Ryan…how many women have you been with?”
Shocked does not begin to convey how I feel after that question. My mouth falls open a little, but before I can answer, Jennie steps up to the plate. “Do you have a criminal record?”
Julia: “Why did your past relationships not work out?”
Evie: “Are you serious about June?”
Someone help me. They are closing in. How can four small women tower over me like this?
Josie: “Do you want a family?”