by J. Sterling
“Angel, would you believe me if I told you not to believe everything you hear?”
Ryan’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I looked up to see those gorgeous blue eyes looking down at me.
“You forget that I’ve seen you in action,” I said, my tone far less harsh than it had been a few minutes earlier.
“Things aren’t always how they seem. That’s my job, and I’m really good at it.”
I nodded and gave him a slight smile. “I’m aware.”
“Still not going to give me a chance, are you?”
Ryan sounded so defeated, I almost crumpled on the spot. Instead, I shook my head, afraid I might not be able to form the actual words to resist him again.
“I’m not giving up,” he said.
“You should.”
“I’m not a quitter.”
“And I’m not a pushover.”
He leaned in close, so close that I could breathe in his natural scent. “I never thought you were. You have one hell of a backbone, angel, and one day, you’re going to tell me exactly where it came from.”
I fought back a gasp as Ryan moved to press the button on the elevator, and the doors immediately slid open. He stepped inside, and the doors closed.
It was only then that I released a long breath and looked around, remembering that we weren’t alone. I glanced up and down the empty corridors, thankful that no one had heard our exchange.
Ryan Freaking Fisher drove me crazy and jumbled my emotions into a convoluted, confused mess. He refused to listen, just pushed and pushed and pushed, knowing full well that a woman had only so much strength before she caved. It was like he could smell my weakness like a shark scenting blood.
He seemed to be intrigued by me, but I wasn’t stupid enough to think that it was based in reality, no matter how hot it was. No, Ryan was attracted to me because I kept pushing him away. Guys like him were always drawn to the chase.
But I wasn’t playing a game. I didn’t want him to chase me. I wanted him to leave me alone.
He thought he was interested now, but I could imagine the look on his face the second I told him that I was a single mom. That charming smile would falter ever so slightly, and the sparkle in his gorgeous eyes would dull as the reality of my situation set in. I’d seen it all before, and I couldn’t bear to watch the disappointment transform Ryan’s face.
There was no way in hell a guy like him would be interested in dating a woman with a kid. I had what most men called “baggage,” but I’d never consider my son that. Matson and I were more like a package deal. You wanted me . . . you got a spunky eight-year-old too. You were lucky, not burdened.
It took a special kind of guy to see my situation in that way. And that guy was definitely not Ryan Fisher.
Forcing thoughts of Ryan from my head, I found Grant’s room and stepped inside.
“My angel! You are real. I thought that asshole was lying to me.”
Grant’s unexpected welcome made me laugh out loud as I stepped closer to the side of the bed.
“Hi, Grant. I’m so happy you’re okay.” I smiled, unsure whether I should sit or stand. “You are okay, right?”
“I’m fine. Because of you. You saved my life,” he said, reaching for my hand and planting a kiss on top of it.
“I was just in the right place at the right time. And I’m glad I was. Ryan helped too, you know,” I said, not sure why I brought him up.
Grant’s face twisted into a snarl and he tossed a hand into the air. “I don’t care about that knucklehead. I only care about you. About us,” he cooed, and I laughed again.
“Are you trying to woo me?”
“Is it working?”
“It might be.”
“Good. I’m a much better catch than Ryan. You should definitely choose me.”
“Oh, I already have,” I said, trying to push Ryan’s image from my mind.
Grant gave me a toothy grin. “I knew it. I can’t wait to throw that in his stupid face.”
The old man’s indomitable spirit was amazing. He’d nearly died this morning, and now here he was flirting with me. The outrageousness of it made me smile.
“Sit.” He pointed at the empty chair, and I did as I was told. “Now, tell me your real name, sweetheart. I should know it since we’re dating.”
“It’s Sofia.”
He grinned. “Sofia. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Does Ryan know it?”
My smile fell away. “No.”
“Good.” Grant laughed and then began to cough.
I jumped to my feet. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Sorry. I’m just old, Sofia. But don’t worry, we’ve still got plenty of time.” He patted my hand, and I moved back to my chair.
“That’s good, considering I just found you. I can’t lose you already,” I said in my sweetest voice.
“I plan on staying around and torturing Ryan for as long as I can.”
“What is it with the two of you? You’re not related, are you?”
His relationship with a man young enough to be his grandson made them an odd pair. I couldn’t help but wonder how they knew each other and what their story was. It would make sense if they were related somehow, but otherwise, I had no idea how they would have become friends, considering their age difference.
“Related? I’d end it all right now if I was related to that pretty boy.”
“Stop it.” I playfully swatted at his arm. “How’d you two meet, anyway?”
The old man huffed out a long, annoyed breath. “He invaded my personal space one morning, and I haven’t been able to get rid of him since. Ryan’s like a stray dog that won’t go away, no matter how many times you shoo him away. He always comes back for more.”
“You probably feed him, don’t you?” I said, hiding my smile. “Strays never leave if you give them food.”
“Dammit. You’re right.”
Making fun of Ryan behind his back should have felt wrong, but it didn’t. I sensed that we would have said these things in front of Ryan if he were standing here, so that made it okay in my mind. Plus, it was sort of fun to pick on him.
“Do you know how long you have to stay in here?” I asked, wondering how serious Grant’s condition was.
“Eh, they don’t tell me anything. Maybe they’ll tell you since you’re my wife and all.” He waggled his bushy eyebrows at me.
“We’re married now? I swear we were just dating a second ago.”
“Oh yeah, did you forget? No prenup or anything. I get half of all you got, sweetheart.”
“Half of not much isn’t much.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he said. “I don’t think you have not much, and I think there’s far more to you than meets the eye.”
I shifted in my chair, feeling slightly uncomfortable. I had no interest in sharing my personal business with a perfect stranger. Matson was the one thing I kept protected, private, and was none of anyone’s business unless I deemed it so. Telling someone you had a child opened yourself up to a hundred questions, each more personal than the last.
My fierce hesitation came from all the rumors and lies that were spread during and after my pregnancy. Looking back at it now, I knew it was based in immaturity and high-school kids being kids, but it still hurt at the time. The things people said about me and accused me of were hard to deal with, especially since I was just a teen myself.
People I considered close friends claimed I got pregnant on purpose, to trap Derek, as if either of those things were even remotely in my character. Rumors spread that I was trying to get Derek’s family to give me hundreds of thousands of dollars, when the truth was that I hadn’t asked them for a dime. People acted like I was some sort of manipulative genius who had been planning this all along, that my entire two-year relationship with Derek had been some sort of setup and sham.
“Angel? Sofia Angel?” Grant’s voice was soft as he snapped his fingers to get my attention.
“Sorry.” I gave him a we
ak smile.
“You drifted.”
“I did.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“Not really,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t pry further.
“Okay.” He shrugged and carried on like nothing had happened.
I glanced up at the clock on the wall and rose to my feet. It was getting late, and I needed to get home to my son.
“I’m sorry, Grant, but I have to go,” I said, and the disappointment on his face reminded me of the way Matson looked when he didn’t get his way.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No. It’s nothing like that,” I said to reassure him. “I just need to get home.”
“Okay. Will you come back tomorrow?”
“Of course.” Maybe my mom would watch Matson again for me. If she couldn’t, I’d swing by here on my lunch break. Either way, I’d be true to my word.
“Promise?” Grant held out his pinky in my direction, and I linked mine around his and squeezed.
“Promise.”
“We can go ring shopping then,” he said with a wink, and I shook my head
“Were you always this charming?” I asked as I moved toward the door.
Grant gave me a serious nod. “Always.”
I grinned again before leaving for the night, making a mental note to ask my mom about tomorrow when I saw her.
Ryan briefly slipped into my thoughts before I pushed him right back out. I was likely to run into him again if I continued to spend time with Grant, and I convinced myself that that was the only reason he was invading my mind. It wasn’t because he was persistent, or more charming than the old man in the hospital bed, or so damn easy to look at.
Nope. Ryan wasn’t in my thoughts for any reason other than the fact that we now shared a mutual friend. One I was engaged to, apparently.
Ryan would understand. He’d probably even be happy for us.
I laughed at the thought as I left the hospital and headed for my car, ready to pick up the only male in the world who truly mattered to me.
Flowers for an Angel
Ryan
My angel was keeping something from me, and I knew it. What it was exactly, I had absolutely no idea, but I was determined to figure it out.
As I made my way back to work, I found myself actually wanting to talk to my brothers to get their advice. I also hoped that both of their girlfriends would be there too so I could get a woman’s perspective as well.
I was screwed. This was what I’d turned into. Within the span of a twelve-hour period, I’d become completely infatuated with someone I knew nothing about. Was that why she drove me so crazy, because of the mystery and intrigue?
Shaking my head, I searched my thoughts and feelings to be sure that this wasn’t some kind of sick game I convinced myself I needed to play. I wasn’t the kind of man who toyed with women’s emotions, no matter what they might say about me. And the last time I had been so bent out of shape over a woman was . . . hell, never? I couldn’t remember ever feeling quite this way before.
Pulling the heavy bar door open, I stepped into my second home. Thankfully, the evening crowd was somewhat thin, and I spotted Claudia and Jess sitting together at a back table.
I thought about heading straight for them before I realized that I should see what damage Frank and Nick had done to my bar in my absence. We were all equal partners, but behind the bar was my domain. Nick ruled the social media and marketing. Frank ran the finances and the books. The bar, the drinks, the concocting of new and amazing cocktails, that was all me. All mine.
“How’s the old man?” Nick asked as he wiped down a glass.
“Ornery as ever.”
Frank glanced over at me. “So he’s okay?”
“I think so. He didn’t tell me much, except that I’d better see him again tomorrow and bring him some pants.” I made a face, and Nick howled.
“He cracks me up,” Nick said through his laughter.
“I don’t know what the hell is so funny about me bringing the guy pants.”
Frank grinned at me. “You do realize that everyone bosses you around, right?”
My eyes narrowed in response. “Whatever. What the hell have you two done to my bar?”
I scanned the liquor bottles displayed behind the bar, noting how some of them were out of place, in the wrong order and facing the wrong direction. I groaned, muttering amateurs as I went behind the bar to fix it all.
“He’s still grouchy,” Nick said, talking about me but not to me.
Frank nodded. “I told you. It’s the girl.”
They were obviously trying to goad me, which was one of their favorite things to do. As much as I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction, I needed their help, so I had to suck it up.
I stopped rearranging the bottles and turned to face them. “Can you guys be serious for two seconds and actually help me, or are you gonna be assholes all night?”
Frank opened his mouth to respond, but Nick put his hand below his jaw and closed it before he could speak.
“We’ll be nice,” Nick said, and Frank glared at him. I wondered for a second if he was going to lose it, but he stayed calm.
“Probably need the girls for this one.” I tilted my head in the direction of their girlfriends.
“Love of my life,” Nick shouted across the bar, and Jess’s blond head popped up in response, a big smile on her face. “We need you.”
Instead of chastising Nick like I expected, Frank yelled to his girlfriend, Claudia.
“You too, gorgeous.”
I just stood there, dumbfounded at the turn of events. A year ago, Frank would have been yelling at both of us, calling us names because he was so damned miserable himself. But now, instead of reacting the way I’d grown accustomed to, he was acting . . . like a man in love. It was as sickening as it was fucking adorable. I couldn’t even hate him for it, no matter how badly I wanted to.
Both women hopped up from the table and hurried toward us. Drinks in hand, they climbed onto stools at the bar, their gazes pinging between the three of us in anticipation. I couldn’t help but laugh at how serious they looked.
Claudia’s brown eyes widened. “What is it?”
“Are we in trouble?” Jess asked. “Ooh, I sort of hope we’re in trouble,” she teased before waggling her eyebrows at Nick and nudging Claudia with her elbow.
Claudia elbowed her back, then turned serious. “Wait. Is everything okay?” Her gaze swung to Frank before she looked at me, concern filling her features.
Frank shrugged. “Don’t ask me. He’s the one who wanted a family powwow.”
He nodded toward me, and both women softened at the word family. But that’s what they were. Claudia and Jess were the women my brothers were going to marry and spend the rest of their lives with. They’d eventually be my sisters-in-law someday, and that made us family. The realization made me smile, but I fought it off because this was serious.
“Okay, listen, I need your help. Or just your opinion.” I held up one finger, asking for a moment of patience, then took care of the last two remaining customers before asking my brothers if we could close the doors a little early. The bar was dead, and I knew they wouldn’t oppose the idea.
Once the customers had cleared out and the doors were locked, I resumed my position behind the bar and faced the girls. “So I met this girl,” I said, and when both Jess and Claudia squealed, I rolled my eyes. “Before you get too excited, you need to know that she hates me.”
“Impossible. No way,” the girls said immediately, talking over each other.
“My best friend’s in love with you,” Jess said, meaning her friend Rachel.
“Mine too,” Claudia added, talking about her best friend, Britney.
“See? Everyone loves you, Ryan. No way this chick hates you,” Nick said before walking toward Jess. He picked her up and sat on her bar stool before placing her on his lap. It was downright adorable, but everything the two of them did was like that.
She slipped one arm around his neck nuzzled into him, her blond hair spilling over his shoulder as she pressed her cheek to his.
“She hates me,” I told them. “She said that she met me before, which is why she won’t tell me her name or go out with me.”
“Why won’t she tell you her name?” Claudia asked, her face crinkled in confusion.
“She said she’s already told me.”
Claudia nodded in understanding. “So, she’s been in here?”
“Yeah. She said she’s been here once before.”
“Only once?” Jess asked.
“That’s the impression I got.”
The girls glanced at each other in some secret unspoken communication that only females understood, then Claudia said, “You don’t hear the way women at the bar talk about you.”
“Yeah, they say some crazy shit, Ryan,” Jess added.
“Like what?” I asked. Not because I didn’t have a general idea of what they said, but I didn’t know exactly what women talked about while I was working. I couldn’t hear most of the things they said when the bar was hopping.
Jess rolled her eyes. “They talk about dating you, sleeping with you, how you’re a tiger in the sack. They formulate plans on how to get you. Typical crazy-girl shit.”
“They say that about me too, don’t they?” Nick asked, and Jess smacked his shoulder.
“They’d better not,” she said seriously, and Nick smirked at me. Idiot.
Claudia shot Frank a look. “Don’t even think about asking me that.”
He laughed, his hands in the air. “Wouldn’t dream of it, baby.”
“I don’t see how any of that has to do with this girl hating me,” I said, trying to bring the conversation back on topic. I wanted to understand what it was that I could have possibly done to this girl, and how I didn’t even remotely remember it.
“Pretend for a second that you’re a twenty-something-year-old woman,” Claudia said before stopping abruptly. “Is she twenty-something? I just assumed.” She cocked her head, her dark hair falling over her eyes before she tucked it behind her ear.
“I think so. She looks early twenties, I guess,” I said with a shrug.
