“I want to talk to your dad,” he said, like it was no big deal.
“My dad?” I practically choked.
“Come on, Sofia.” He reached for my hand and pulled me toward the front door like he’d been there a million times before.
“Ryan, stop.” I dug in my heels and pulled back on his arm. “Stop.”
“What’s the matter?” He stopped and turned, giving me a questioning look.
“I don’t need you to talk to my dad for me.”
I wasn’t ready for a discussion about Derek with my father. Not before I knew what he even wanted, or why he was suddenly here. My parents would be consumed with worry, and to be the cause of turmoil in their daily lives was the last thing I wanted. Until I was certain that I needed them involved, I wanted my parents as blissfully unaware of all the craziness as possible. Maybe Derek would leave as quickly as he’d shown up?
Ryan looked down at me, his blue eyes practically sparkling in the moonlight. “You’re right,” he said easily, and I felt silly for bracing myself for a debate that clearly wasn’t coming. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
I reached up and cupped his cheek, the scruff prickling my palm. “I know what you were thinking. And it’s sweet, the way you want to protect me. But I’m a grown woman.”
“And your ex is clearly unstable.”
“He might be. But I’ll talk to my parents about it. Not you. Not yet.” I stood my ground while still attempting to sound appreciative. I’d never had a man want to take care of me before. It was as shocking as it was endearing. I loved it as much as I feared it.
“Okay. But you will talk to them, right?”
I nodded, afraid that if I said the words out loud, he might catch on that I was lying. Ryan seemed to read me far too easily.
“I should get in there so I can take Matson home. I’ll call you.” I leaned up on tiptoe and planted a long kiss on his lips, my tongue searching for his.
Kissing Ryan was as good as I’d hoped it would be. He knew exactly how to handle me, his tongue eliciting moans from somewhere deep inside me. My body begged me to strip him naked on my parents’ front lawn, but my brain pinged out a message that it might not be the best idea.
Brains were dumb sometimes. They ruined everything.
“Text me when you’re home so I know you’re safe.” He brushed his thumb down my cheek and kissed me once more.
“I will.”
“We have a date to set up too.” He grinned, and I smiled back.
“We do,” I said, and felt my stomach flip with anticipation and excitement.
“Talk to you later, angel.” He pulled open the driver’s door before adding, “And tell your parents, please. They deserve to know what’s going on.”
“I will,” I promised halfheartedly, watching as Ryan pulled out of the driveway and drove away.
I didn’t tell my parents like I’d told Ryan I would, and my mom was none the wiser. She was more excited about the fact that I’d smoothed things over with Ryan and was going to give him a chance. When I told her about the eventual dinner date, she tried to give me fifty different family recipes—all authentic, she said—before I convinced her to walk away from her recipe box. Actually, my dad got her to stop, claiming that I was turning an unusual shade of green, and she’d better stop before I puked all over their hardwood floors.
Matson cracked up at that, then grew serious, wanting to be sure I was okay. After reassuring him that I was fine and Papa was only joking, he started laughing again.
Our drive back home was uneventful, but I checked my rearview mirror more than normal and was more aware of our surroundings than I usually would be. I realized that I had little to defend myself with if something happened. The pepper spray in the glove compartment had to be expired.
After walking through the front door, I texted Ryan to let him know we were home safe and sound, and then got Matson ready for bed. Ryan texted back right away, and my heart flipped inside my chest. All these feelings were brand new, and they were as exciting as they were terrifying.
“You have a date, Mama?” Matson asked as I sat on my knees, tucking him into bed.
“Who told you that?”
“I heard Nana talking about the way to a man’s heart was through his tummy. She said you were going to cook for him. Can I come?”
My heart cracked a little at his request. I never did things without Mats