Rush Me (New York Leopards 1)

I groaned and dropped my face to the grass.

“Oops, he’s moving again,” Eva said. “And the scowl is back.”

“Why would he think you’re awful at sex?” Bri asked.

“She’s just nervous because they got in a fight.”

Bri sounded amazed. “Ryan doesn’t fight with girls.”

“Gee, I’m so glad to be the exception.” Then I snapped my head at her. “What’s that mean?”

Bri tilted her head. “Ryan just breaks up with people when they argue with him. He doesn’t like conflict.”

That boded really well for the conversation we were about to have.

“Are you going to head him off?” Eva asked.

No. But I wouldn’t greet him lying face flat on the ground, either. I sat up, the other two girls following.

Ryan’s attention stayed fixed at my face, but I pretended I didn’t see him, resisting the urge to glance over as he closed the distance. It was hard, and I concentrated on Abe instead, watching as he gesticulated wildly, while Laurel laughed her high-pitched false laugh.

I watched peripherally as Ryan strode into the group, and the guys broke apart to let him in, thumping him hello and grinning. They stalled him for a bare minute. I angled my face toward Eva. “Quick. Pretend we’re having an interesting conversation.”

“Why? I just want to watch this interesting conversation. Besides, it’s too late now.”

Ryan blocked out the sun. Seriously. It just wasn’t fair that he was able to do that. Also, maybe I should have stood up to meet him. This angle made him all the more imposing. Plus, I was pretty sure he could see down my scoop top.

At least I’d worn a black lace bra.

“Hey, Bri,” he said flatly. “Eva.” I could feel the weight of his gaze. “Can I talk to you a moment?”

“Go ahead.” I looked at the grass.

He growled. “Don’t be infantile.”

My head shot up. Me? Where did he get off, calling me infantile? “Fine.” I shot to my feet. “Let’s talk. In private.” I stormed away from the group, leaving Ryan to follow me.

Yes, I’d overreacted at the gala, but there was no reason for him to be cruel. How could Bri say he was actually nice to other girls? Or maybe he was only nice to girls he actually liked. Something inside shriveled up even more.

I didn’t stop until I reached the relative privacy of the trees. In the shade it was cooler, and I buttoned my jacket back up. “So? What did you want to talk about?”

“Why the hell did you tell Caitlin Morriston we were dating?”

I hadn’t exactly expected an apology, but I certainly hadn’t expected this. “Who? What’re you talking about?”

“Caitlin Morriston,” he repeated, crossing his

arms. A thin grey sweater was the only thing that separated him from the air. “I saw her last night and she said you’d told her we were a couple!”

The only people I had told that to had been the predatory rich girls at the auction. The fine-boned face of the brunette popped into my head, and I scowled at him. “Saw her how?”

“For Christ’s sake. Saw her naked.”

I stared at him, my chest squeezing in on itself.

“Because that’s what I do, right? Just hook-up with whoever’s available.”

My chest opened up a bit. He was just baiting me. “Are you still mad about that?”