Summer Lovin' (Costas Sisters 2)

Ryan hadn't been included in the family discussion, but he remained silent as he listened to their concerns.

Elena rose from her seat. "I'll take her to Greece ." She nodded and folded her arms in front of her, the long flowing sleeves of her outfit hitting Nicholas in the face as she moved.

Ryan stiffened at the suggestion, but before he could react, Quinn shook his head. "Nothing that drastic is necessary and it wouldn't work, anyway. First, you won't get Social Services to approve the trip and second, you can't run away from the other problem." With that pronouncement, his dark gaze settled on Ryan.

He took that as his cue. Rising from his seat, Ryan faced the family. Their angry stares and hurt gazes weren't easy for him to bear. Zoe and her feelings would be even more of a challenge, but he would have to deal with them later.

"I apologize for lying to you all. The first time was a misunderstanding and after that…well all I can say is that it seemed like the right thing to do." He was careful not to lay blame at Zoe's feet since he'd started the charade and had chosen to let it continue. "I wanted you to know and like me before I gave you the news about who I was."

Zoe shot him a quick smile of gratitude and, dare he hope, respect? But in the silence that followed, Ryan couldn't begin to judge the rest of the family's true feelings or reaction to his confession.

"What is it you want from us?" Nicholas asked, his hands firmly on Sam's shoulders.

Ryan wasn't ready to answer that and start a war, not when they had so much to deal with, beginning with the break-in and, most important, Sam's welfare. "I want time to get to know Sam and for her to know me. I'm willing to start with that."

"I already know all I need to about— "

Zoe slapped a hand across Sam's mouth before she could insult him and it was his turn to shoot her a grateful look.

"Wanting to get to know each other sounds reasonable enough," Zoe said.

"I agree," Quinn said, seeming to be the spokesperson for Zoe's parents. "What's your situation in Boston ?"

Ryan let out a laugh. "Something tells me you can answer that as well or better than I can. I'm sure you've dug deep into my history."

Quinn inclined his head. "True. So let's cut to the chase. After your sister ran away, your parents didn't go out looking for her. They were glad to be rid of the problem, weren't they?"

Ryan's stomach cramped at the harsh reminder. "It's more complicated than that, but they didn't do much more than report her disappearance and let the police handle things. By the time Faith ran away, they'd lost their ability to handle her and didn't know what more they could do to bring her in line."

"Children have wills and minds of their own," Ari, the psych professor, chimed in.

"And my parents failed to respect that. Why are we even discussing this?" The last thing Ryan wanted was to showcase his family's shortcomings when Sam was in the room, and when it would do nothing to strengthen his claim to having her in his life.

"Because Sam needs to get out of New Jersey until we figure out who wants something from her and why. And though you've been careful not to say it, obviously you're contemplating asking for custody of Sam and bringing her home to Boston with you." Quinn stepped between Ryan and the group across the room, obviously sensing they'd take issue with his words.

"The hell I'll go— " Zoe again shut Sam up with a hand across her mouth.

"I think we can accomplish dual goals if Sam takes a short trip with you. I just want to make sure that the atmosphere there isn't hostile, that your parents won't make her feel unwelcome or traumatize her in any way."

Ryan was still reeling from Quinn's words. They were letting him take Sam to Boston without him having to ask? He glanced down and realized his hands were shaking.

"She's perfectly safe with me."

Nicholas eyed him warily, but obviously had agreed to defer to Quinn.

Quinn nodded. "Okay, then. You should know that Elena and Nicholas have agreed to let Social Services know about you and your relationship to Sam. But they aren't giving up their rights as foster parents or their adoption desires. Not yet. We'll have to fully discuss everything over time. But for now, you have the right to get to know your niece and, for her safety, she needs to get out of town."

Ryan stepped forward, gratitude welling in his throat, almost choking him. They could have fought him. They could have engaged him in a prolonged fight for Sam. Hell, they still could.

But for now the Costas family was obviously willing to make him a part of Sam's life and have him help them in protecting his niece. "I don't know what to say. I'll take good care of her."

"Damn right, you will," Nicholas said. "And Zoe will go along to make sure you and your family don't misbehave."

"Or stifle Sam's individuality," Elena added.

Ryan opened his mouth, then shut it again, the shock of it all making him mute. Sam and Zoe were going home with him?

Obviously this had been the focus of their discussion in the kitchen earlier. Just as obviously she'd agreed.

He glanced at Zoe, meeting her gaze. Her cheeks were flushed pink, but she didn't say a word nor could he decipher from her expression how she felt about this turn of events. But no matter how Zoe viewed things, Ryan felt as if he'd been given a second chance with her and with Sam.

And this time they'd be on his turf. Though normally advantage went to the home team, the old adage didn't apply here and Ryan knew he'd have to work extra hard to win Sam over. And not to lose Zoe at the same time.

* * *

ZOE SHIFTED in the passenger seat of Ryan's car. With every breath she took, she inhaled his cologne and her insides cramped with a burning need she couldn't suppress no matter how much practicality dictated she ought to.

She still didn't know how she'd ended up accompanying Sam to Boston with Ryan. She'd fought the good fight with her parents and Quinn, but even she'd agreed Sam needed to get out of town. And everyone including Zoe felt that Sam couldn't go alone with Ryan.

For his part, Ryan had been understanding of Sam's feelings. He'd even shocked Zoe by convincing his uncle that meeting Sam right now would be too traumatic. So after staying one night with Ryan, Russ had gone home and neither Zoe nor her family had had to deal with him just yet.

Just when she thought she'd pegged Ryan, a conservative man with whom she had nothing in common, he went and did something that put him back into high esteem, leaving her confused about her feelings. She shook her head, knowing she'd lied. She wasn't confused. She desired Ryan Baldwin. She liked the man a whole lot. Unless he morphed into the uptight man she'd first met. Then he scared her. And now they were heading to his territory, a place where she had no bearings and where she feared he'd definitely become a man she couldn't understand.