Sofia

Nervous energy ran through me as I waited for the world’s slowest elevator to arrive on the proper floor. Surrounded by a handful of solemn strangers, I had no idea why I was so anxious, my stomach knotting tighter with each breath I inhaled. The doors finally opened and I moved to step out, my gaze on the floor as I watched my step.

“Hey.”

A voice grabbed my attention just as a hand wrapped firmly around my arm, bringing me to a halt.

When I looked up into Ryan’s panty-melting blue eyes, my stomach knotted even tighter. He was the reason for all that nervous, pent-up energy. Something inside me must have known that he would be here. I must have sensed his presence, regardless of how crazy that seemed.

“Oh, hey.” I took a step back, pulling my arm from his grasp, but the spot where he’d touched me still tingled.

“You coming to see Grant?” he asked, blocking the elevator door, and I moved a few steps to the side to give the people exiting it more room.

Pretending not to be unnerved by Ryan’s presence, I said, “Yeah, I just came to check on him. Have you seen him?”

Ryan’s mouth twisted into a grin. “Oh yeah. He’s a pistol, but he’ll be happy to see you.”

“He will?” How could an unconscious man I’d never met before this morning possibly be happy to see me?

“He will. I’m about to head back to the bar, unless you wanted to grab a coffee or dinner or something? I could wait until you’re done visiting him first.” Ryan frowned, seeming unsure of himself. “If you wanted, I mean.”

I shifted my weight, unsure of how to answer. “That’s probably not a good idea,” I said, trying to convince him of what I’d already convinced myself.

A flirtatious gleam came to his eyes. “How could going out with me be anything but a good idea?”

The man was trying to bait me and I knew it, but I didn’t have time for games. Looking into his beautiful eyes, I kept my gaze steady. “I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”

“And what impression would that be, exactly?”

“That I’m interested in you.”

I used my most convincing voice so Ryan would understand, but he didn’t waver. No, his grin only widened and his gaze intensified. It didn’t matter what I said . . . he obviously didn’t believe me.

“So we’ll get coffee as friends.” He shrugged as if this was totally normal, the two of us being friends. “Friends get coffee.”

“Friends?” A small laugh escaped me.

“Yep. How else will I get to know your name?”

I laughed again, annoyed at myself for giving in, even the slightest bit. “I forgot about that.”

“It’s okay. I’ve given you a nickname until you tell me.” He folded his arms across his chest as if he was the cleverest man on the planet.

“You’ve given me a nickname?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it. Some guys were immature and crude, so the last thing I needed was to hear Ryan call me something degrading or idiotic.

“Yeah. I had to call you something,” he said, his tone still flirty.

“Let me guess.” I paused before looking around at the hospital walls. “Peaches?”

He bent over, laughing. “Peaches? No. But I love it. Please tell me I can call you that.”

“Not if you expect to live,” I all but growled.

Ryan stood back up, his tall frame towering over mine as his expression turned serious. “Angel. I call you my angel.”

My jaw dropped before I sucked in a shaky breath, pissed that his nickname for me had drawn out such a noticeable reaction. I knew I wasn’t hiding it well. Hell, I couldn’t hide it at all.

Angel? And not only angel, but his angel. No wonder half the bar patrons were in love with this man.

“I should probably hurry. You know, before visiting hours are over.” I focused on the stark white hallway and the black room numbers on the wall. Anything to avoid those eyes.

“I thought we were getting coffee?” Ryan sounded almost pleading now, no longer the confident man from a moment ago.

“I never said that.”

“Please?”

Stop begging me, Ryan, because I’m about two seconds from giving in. “I don’t think so.”

He swallowed hard, his throat moving as his jaw clenched. “Give me one reason why you won’t.”

A multitude of valid reasons flashed through my mind.

Because I’m a single mom.

Because you work at a bar.

Because you’ve dated half the women in town.

Because you probably drink more than most people.

Because your livelihood is based around alcohol, late nights, and loose women.

There were a million reasons, and those were just a few.

“You’re just not the kind of guy I’m looking for, Ryan.”

When the words left my mouth, his entire body tensed as though I’d just punched him in the gut.

“Look, I’m not trying to offend you, you’re just not my type.” I added the last part to lessen the blow, but it only seemed to make things worse.

His eyes narrowed. “How would you even know that?”

Unable to look at him, I dropped my gaze, and couldn’t help but notice how his hands clenched by his sides. Apparently, I’d struck a nerve.

“Trust me, your reputation precedes you.”

It was a bit of a low blow, but it was all I had to really drive the point home. If Ryan wouldn’t take my word, then I had to use his own against him.

“What if my reputation is all off base?” He spat out the word reputation like it tasted bitter on his tongue.

I paused for a moment, pondering his question. Could his reputation be wrong, based on exaggerations and falsehoods, wishful fantasies, or maybe outright lies? I knew better than most people how the truth could be twisted and exaggerated, turned into a story that no longer resembled anything close to reality.

Was that the case here?

No, I’d seen Ryan in action. I’d watched the way he treated women, the way he flirted, and I’d heard what women said about his performance in the bedroom. Those things meant Ryan wasn’t selective when it came to sex and having it. I needed a man who could keep it in his pants, who wanted to only be with me and would be satisfied with that.

“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 weak 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.