Chapter Four
Stacy frowned when Ryan opened the door and his duffle bag was sitting beside it. He was leaving. She’d just spent the last hour making plans to take him around and show him the city, and he was leaving.
Ryan reached out and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m gonna miss you so damn much,” he said as he hugged her really tight.
Stacy pulled away. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. I canceled the rest of my nights here at the hotel. I already paid for tonight, but I checked out.” He pointed to the checkout screen on the TV. “I’m gonna go ahead and go home tonight.” Ryan smiled weakly.
“Okay,” Stacy said, defeated.
“I thought maybe we could have dinner on my way out of town. If that’s okay?” Ryan asked.
Stacy’s mind raced. Riley’s words had really hit home. She needed to give this a shot, or she’d live the rest of her life wondering “what if”. There was still a chance she could talk him into staying a few days. She would have to chance to show him she was more than fitted blouses and tulle skirts.
“Do you mind if we run by my apartment so I can change?” she asked.
“You need to change?”
Stacy smiled at his baffled expression. He’d pretty much only seen her in work clothes. This was going to be interesting, and she knew exactly what she was going to wear.
“Well, yeah. These are my work clothes. You’re not in work clothes.” Stacy grinned.
“Hmm. I thought that was just what you always wore. It’s you.”
“No. It’s just we’re usually together when we’re working. You’ve seen me in pants.”
“Yeah, but it’s just so rare.”
Stacy laughed. Yep, just like she’d thought. “Let’s go. You can follow me, but if you lose me, just put the Collins House in your GPS,” Stacy said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him through the door.
The two of them holding hands really wasn’t that big a deal. She’d often pull him along and vice versa when looking at homes they were listing. This time, however, there seemed to be a little electricity in the hold. It startled her, and she let go.
Damn it.
Ryan sat on the couch in Stacy’s new apartment. It had an open concept and had apparently come furnished. Everything in the place was new. Lucas Whiting had done an amazing job with the renovations, he’d give him that.
It didn’t escape his attention that Stacy had been sad when she’d realized he was leaving tonight. But Derek had been right. He shouldn’t mess this opportunity up for her.
Stacy stepped out of her bedroom, and Ryan had to focus on things like breathing and staying upright. She wore an extremely short, flowing dress that didn’t even come to her mid-thigh. It had long, sheer sleeves, but her shoulders were bare. She was fucking gorgeous.
“You forget your pants?” Ryan asked.
“Huh?” Stacy asked as she looked down at herself. “No. This is what’s called a dress,” she said slowly with a grin.
Ryan watched as Stacy slipped on a pair of wedge shoes. Damn it. He loved it when women wore those kind of shoes. They looked almost as good as pumps, but were a lot sturdier when he backed them up against a wall for…various reasons. Yeah, he needed to get the hell out of here. He was about two seconds away from finding out what flavor lip gloss she was wearing. It was probably something sweet, like strawberry.
“You ready to go?” Ryan stood.
“It’s only six. You wanna go this early?”
“Yeah. I still have a two-hour drive home. Don’t want to fall asleep at the wheel.”
“Okay. Let me just grab my purse.”
Ryan watched as Stacy leaned across the center island to get her purse. Her dress rose dangerously high on the backs of her thighs, and it was all Ryan could do not to groan. Her legs were amazing.
“Do you run?” Ryan asked suddenly.
Stacy turned to him with a look of confusion. “You know I do. Every morning before work.”
“Yeah, but I thought that was like running for fun. I didn’t know you were, like a runner-runner.”
“Are you feeling okay?” Stacy looked at him, and he shrugged. “My goal is to stay healthy and fit. I’m not sure anyone runs just for fun.”
“That’s great. You look great.” Damn. He sounded like an idiot. But a person could only handle so much. In less than a week, he’d kissed his best friend, imagined doing all sorts of naughty things with her, she’d moved away, he’d found out she had a thing for him, and now this. Stacy, standing there, looking sexy as sin. He was lucky he could form complete sentences. And he was struggling with those.
Stacy smiled. “Thanks. You ready to go?”
Stacy looked at Ryan as they took their seats on the outdoor patio at the Harbor Café. They had scored a wonderful table right at the edge of the patio, looking over the harbor. Ryan, however, had a strange look on his face as he glanced back toward the building.
“Did you want to sit inside?” she asked.
“No. This is fine,” he said as he glanced back again.
Stacy tried to see what he was looking at, but it was just waiters and tables full of people between them and the building. “Is something wrong?”
“Did you see all the people watching you as you walked by?” Ryan was unusually irritated.
“They did? Maybe I should go to the restroom so I can see for myself.” Stacy smiled and raised her eyebrows.
“No. Trust me, they did,” he said with a frown.
The waiter approached before Stacy could give much thought to that reaction. She ordered a bottle of wine and an appetizer of crab dip. Ryan asked for a few minutes to look over the menu, and they were left alone again.
“You didn’t even look at the menu. Have you eaten here before?” Ryan furrowed his brow.
“Of course. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.”
“Well then, what do you suggest?” he asked.
“Anything. Absolutely everything is wonderful.”
“I don’t want to eat too much. You know—it’s a long ride ahead of me. I don’t want to be sleepy on the way home.”
Stacy forced a smile. Damn it. She was disappointed he was going home. Riley had told her to take a chance, and he was leaving before she could even try. At the same time, though, he’d had the opportunity to stay for a few days and he’d chosen to leave. That kind of reiterated the fact that he didn’t have a romantic interest in her.
The waiter returned placing the crab dip on the table and poured the wine. They placed their entrée orders, then both went for the dip at the same time.
“Sorry. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since this morning,” Stacy said as dunked the pita toast into the creamy crab dip.
Ryan chuckled, doing the same. “Me either.”
Stacy was glad they’d taken a cab to the Inner Harbor. She’d quickly downed her first glass of wine and was starting her second. The wine wouldn’t get her drunk, but a little liquid courage certainly wouldn’t hurt. She’d pretty much determined that he wasn’t interested in her, but she be damned if she was going to let him leave here tonight without knowing exactly how she felt.
They chatted about the amazing crab dip, and she pointed out different spots of interest surrounding the harbor while finishing off her second glass of wine.
“Let me ask you something. Why didn’t you ever ask me out?” she asked.
“We went out all the time for lunch and sometimes dinner,” Ryan said as he paused with his glass in hand.
“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about like out on a date.” Stacy placed her elbows on the table and clasped her hands under her chin.
Ryan pulled the wine glass from his lips and swallowed hard. “You’re my best friend. You deserve someone who will treat you like a lady.”
Stacy cocked her head. “What does that even mean? Treat me like a lady?”
“Maybe you need to slow down on the wine,” Ryan said as he placed his glass on the table and refilled it.
“I’m fine. You and I both know that two glasses of wine isn’t going to get me fucked up.”
“Damn, Stacy.” Ryan looked around as if checking to see whether anyone had heard her.
“Well? What does it mean?” Stacy asked again.
“You know. Someone who will bring you flowers for no reason, rub your feet after you’ve had an open house all day, bring you breakfast in bed, go on walks holding hands with you. That sort of thing.” Ryan took a long sip of wine.
“That’s it? You think I should be with someone who will bring me flowers for no reason?” Stacy asked. “You’ve gotten me flowers at least a dozen times in the last couple of years.”
“Sure. For your birthday or a home sale or that time you were sick.” Ryan paused. “There was a reason. I’m talking about someone bringing you flowers simply because you exist. You deserve that.”
Stacy smiled. That was really sweet, whether he knew it or not. And Stacy wasn’t going to mention the two times he’d showed up at her office door with flowers just because he’d figured she’d like them. There had been excuses for why he had them, but still. They’d been flowers from Ryan, for no reason. She’d never given it any thought, but giving someone flowers apparently meant something to Ryan. He’d never offered to rub her feet, but it was nice that he thought that was something she deserved.
The waiter arrived with their entrees and offered another bottle of wine. They both declined, opting for water. Stacy was practically bouncing in her seat waiting for him to leave so she could get back to her conversation with Ryan.
“You know, we hold hands all the time,” she said, and took a bite of chicken. It was damn good.
“Yeah, but that’s usually just me hauling you away from whoever you’re talking to so we can get where we need to be on time.” Ryan waved off her comment with his fork.
“Me? That’s totally you!”
Ryan chuckled. “If you say so.”
“So you’ve never asked me out…because I need someone who will bring me breakfast in bed?” she asked.
“Well, and you know. Someone who will take things slow.” Ryan took another sip of the last of his wine.
“Take things slow? What the hell does that mean?” Stacy asked, sitting back in her seat and folding her arms over her chest.
Ryan motioned to the waiter, who quickly made his way to the table.
“I think I will take that second bottle of wine,” Ryan said.
The waiter nodded, and Stacy watched as he then quickly made his way back to the café.
“What does that mean, Ryan?” Stacy asked with a furrowed brow.
He quickly downed the last of the wine in his glass. “I don’t know.” He paused. “Well, okay. How about that guy you dated last year? The financial advisor. He seemed like a nice guy.”
Stacy’s eyebrows rose. That was what this was all about? He thought she was a goody two-shoes. He thought she was too strait-laced for him. Obviously he didn’t know her as well as either of them thought he did.
The waiter quickly returned and filled their wine glasses. Stacy waited until he was out of earshot before responding.
“No. Martin wasn’t my type. He was such a prude.”
She picked up her fork and began eating again. She was just going to let him simmer over that for a while. She hid her grin by taking a bite when he picked up his wine glass and swallowed about half the contents.
“Have you seen your grandparents yet?” Ryan asked.
Stacy grinned again. He was changing the subject. She’d let him. For now.
“Yes. I’ve been to their house twice since moving. They fed me my first two nights here.”
“That’s nice. Not that you moved here—I’m still not happy about that—but it’s nice that you’ve been to see them,” Ryan said.
Stacy pushed back in her chair. “I’m going to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
She stood and then leaned, probably more than necessary, to pick up her purse. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ryan take another long drink. She grinned.
Stacy turned and headed for the café with just a little extra bounce in her step. She peeked over her shoulder as she entered, to see him rubbing his hand over his face. She was having fun. She was breaking all his preconceived notions about her tonight.