Chapter Fourteen

 

 

After Ryan left, Annie shoved her money, phone, and credit card into her pocket and went outside to wander around a little. She wanted to check out the tattoo shop she’d researched and then go over to Circus Circus to catch one of its midway shows.

After leaving her hotel, she stopped at Starbucks and got a latte. There was a handsome man in a business suit sitting at one of the tables. He looked her up and down, but not in a creepy way, and smiled. She smiled back. She hadn’t put much effort into her appearance before leaving, but she suspected she was glowing. Radiating happiness. Even though she hadn’t told Ryan how she felt, she was still riding the high of their time together. And feeling hopeful that he felt more for her than she’d thought. He had to. The way he’d touched her…the way he’d looked at her…all suggested their time together had been more than just casual sex.

Practically skipping, she got her coffee and continued heading down the Strip until she reached the little strip mall where the tattoo parlor was located. She peeked through the large glass windows. All she could really see was the counter and two college-age girls sitting in the chairs next to it. There were pictures on the wall with prices underneath and a sign in the window that said the parlor had recently passed a health inspection. That had been one of the biggest reasons Annie had picked this place out when she’d researched tattoo parlors online. It had been in operation since the late eighties and had never received a poor rating from the health inspector. Another sign said that the artist could do “custom designs.” That got her thinking about her design and how she might like to change it.

She continued on down to Circus Circus, making it in time for one of the acrobat shows to start. While she watched the show, she couldn’t help but notice all the children. She felt a pang in her chest and realized that it was her biological clock calling out to her. She wanted a family. No, she wanted a family with Ryan. Although it wasn’t the first time she’d had the thought, it was the first time she’d allowed herself to feel a flutter of hope for the possibility.

She finished watching the show and played the slots for a while. Then she went into Vince Neil’s restaurant and had an awesome burger on a jalapeño roll. She didn’t even worry about the calories, finally taking to heart Ryan’s assurances that he thought she was beautiful whether she was thirty pounds heavier or not. The burger tasted amazing. By the time she finished her delicious lunch, she figured she should head back. She wanted to freshen up before she met Ryan in the bar.

Annie was showered, shampooed, and shining by the time Ryan called her cell. She wore a new pair of skinny jeans with bling on the pockets, a red satin cowgirl-cut short-sleeved shirt, and a pair of black and red wedge sandals that topped it all off. She felt pretty, and she could already envision the approving look on Ryan’s face when he saw her.

“Hey!” she said when she picked up the call.

“Hey, I’m finished fixing the smoke alarms. Rhys’s family is safe once more.”

“Super Hennessey to the rescue!”

“Got that right, baby!” He sounded happy, and she couldn’t help thinking he was happy for the same reason she was—because of the new turn their relationship had taken.

“Are you on your way back?” she asked.

“I’m already back,” he said. “I went by your room and you weren’t there, so I showered and changed. Then you still weren’t there so I came down to see if you were at the bar, and I had a drink. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not. I’ll be right down.” As she left her room and made her way to Gilley’s, Annie mentally practiced telling Ryan everything she’d been longing to tell him. She decided she’d ask him to dance first. When they were in each other’s arms, she’d confess how much she loved him. How she wanted to be with him in every sense of the word after they left Vegas. In her fantasy he would whisper back that he felt the same way and then they would kiss. Later, they would go back to the room and make love all night long.

She was smiling when she walked into the bar, but her smile faded when she saw Ryan. A jab of pain knifed through her. He was sitting at the bar talking to a gorgeous woman standing beside him, her hand on his arm.

Annie’s first impulse was turn around and leave. But no, Ryan wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was only talking to another woman. As usual, she was catastrophizing things in her head. Those fantasies she’d been having about her and Ryan could be reality, but not if she bolted every time a beautiful woman spoke to him.

She took a deep breath and made her way over to them. Just before she got there, Ryan looked up at her. His expression brightened when he saw her, and he smiled. That did her heart good.

“Hi there,” she said, stepping up to him.

The woman turned and took her hand off Ryan’s arm.

That’s right, Annie thought. He’s mine, lady.

“Hey, there you are,” Ryan said. “Annie, this is Monica. Monica, this is Annie. She’s the friend I was telling you about.”

Annie frowned slightly. Was it her imagination or had Ryan put emphasis on the word “friend” when he’d introduced her?

“Hi,” Monica said, holding out her hand. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

Annie shook her hand gently and said hello back, but couldn’t quite bring herself to repeat the woman’s other words.

“Ryan’s spoken very highly of you for years,” Monica said.

She and Ryan had known each other for years? Suddenly it came to her. Ryan had mentioned a Monica before. She was the wife of one of Ryan’s captains. A couple of years ago, he’d had a crush on her. He’d gone on and on about what a great lady she was and how beautiful she was and how her husband treated her like shit. Ryan hadn’t believed her husband deserved her. “If she was mine, I’d treat her right,” he’d said more than once. Of course, she’d hated it when he talked about her. Each word had been like a punch in the face.

Annie’s eyes scanned the bar for the woman’s husband. She’d met him only once, but she’d probably recognize him. Her gaze darted around but she didn’t see anyone familiar.

Ryan turned to her then and said, “Monica used to teach the first-aid and CPR classes at the station. The classes haven’t been the same since she left. We have to deal with Captain Greer now.”

Monica laughed. “He’s the one who always smells like Oreos, isn’t he?”

“Yes!” Ryan said, grinning widely. “I used to love Oreos, but now I can’t eat one without thinking of him.”

Annie laughed weakly, but only because Ryan and Monica were. When they were done, she turned to Monica and said, “You’re married to the captain who retired last year. Captain Johnson, right?”

Monica’s expression flickered. She glanced at Ryan then back to Annie. “I was just telling Ryan that Blake and I have been divorced for almost six months now. I’m here celebrating a friend’s birthday. They all ditched me for the strip show, though. I wasn’t really feeling up to it.”

Annie felt her face go pale. Monica was divorced?

Monica misunderstood Annie’s silence. “Don’t feel bad for asking, please. I’m happy about the divorce. It could be the best thing that ever happened to me.” She cast another glance at Ryan, who was looking at her with…what? Approval? Excitement? Hope?

“Well, I’m glad you’re happy,” Annie said, not knowing what else to say.

She sat down next to Ryan, noting that Monica sat on the barstool on his other side.

“What do you want to drink?” Ryan asked Annie.

“A margarita sounds great,” she said, but she could hear the lack of enthusiasm in her own voice. She suddenly felt like a third wheel This wasn’t turning out the way she’d been hoping at all. She knew it made her less than nice, but she wanted Monica gone.

After Ryan made sure Annie had her drink, he and Monica chatted about people at the fire station and what they’d all been up to. Annie sipped her margarita and wondered if Ryan was wishing she wasn’t there. He finally had an opportunity to make his move with Monica, and Annie was probably screwing that up for him.

“Dance with me, Ryan?” Annie heard Monica say.

“Thank, but I don’t want to leave Annie.” Ryan immediately looked at Annie, but it was like he was asking her permission with his eyes. No, she wanted to say. Don’t dance with her. Dance with me.

Instead, she forced herself to smile and gave him an almost imperceptible nod. Her heart physically hurt, but she would always be, first and foremost, Ryan’s friend. She wanted him to be happy, not feel obligated to sit with her. Maybe the way to accomplish that would be to let him have his shot with Monica.

“Be right back,” Ryan said as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Annie felt a warm glow rush through her body. Maybe their time together as more than friends was over. He’d wanted her, but now he’d had her. Plus he’d helped her check an item on her list. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

Now he was probably ready to move on.

Her heart sank.

She watched as Monica and Ryan danced together, tears burning in the back of her eyes. They looked great together. Like the perfect couple. When the song was over, he did his best to divide his time between her and Monica, but Anne knew he was only being kind. He even asked her to dance a couple of times, but she passed. She’d imagined telling him how she felt about him on the dance floor, and now that just didn’t seem like the thing to do.

“So Ryan,” Monica said, “I heard through the grapevine that you’ve been offered a job as a smoke jumper in Northern California. You going to take it?”

Annie had been looking at Ryan, but at Monica’s words, her eyes widened. She looked at Monica, then back at Ryan. Ryan looked guilty.

“Ryan?” she whispered.

“I was going to tell you. I just haven’t had a chance.”

“When did you get the offer?”

“On Friday.”

Three days ago. And they’d spent practically that entire time together. And yet he hadn’t told her anything about it? Why? She closed her eyes briefly. The answer was obvious.

“You’re going to take it, aren’t you?”

“I haven’t made up my mind. But I’ve been seriously considering it, yes.”

As he stared at her, she imagined he could see how sick she felt at the idea. He was going to move away. He’d had sex with her, knowing that was the case. Maybe that’s why he’d done it. To say good-bye. He’d probably figured that their friendship was going to change anyway. They wouldn’t be as close. So why not help out Annie and get off in the process?

Despite all he’d said about not being able to live without her, maybe their friendship hadn’t been worth protecting anymore.

Ryan turned to Monica. “I’m sorry, Monica, but Annie and I need some time to talk privately. Would you mind—”

Annie stood. “No, it’s okay. Don’t be silly. I’m just—I’m just surprised. But you know what? I’m also tired. I’m going to go up to my room.”

Ryan stood as well. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, you stay here.” She glanced at Monica. “You two have fun.”

“Annie—”

She turned and took several steps. Then she froze when she saw a bald head and familiar face. The shock managed to seep through her despair. “Oh my God, that’s the guy who stole my purse.”

The man was standing about six feet from them, and his head snapped up when he heard Annie. He stared at her a moment then took off running toward the door.

“Bastard,” Ryan clipped out just before he chased after him.

“Ryan, no!” Annie shouted.

Monica’s hand was suddenly on her arm. “Come on,” the other woman said.

The two women, as well as a good deal of the bar’s clientele, raced out after them. By the time they reached the street, Ryan had caught up with the thief. Ryan had hold of the guy’s arm and the guy shrugged him off. Both men had their fists clenched.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about. I didn’t take nothing.”

“Tell it to the police. After you give her things back.”

“I’m not giving anything to that bitch,” the other man sneered.

Ryan’s face turned red and his nostrils flared.

“Oh God,” Annie said, knowing what was going to happen before it actually did. Ryan pulled back his fist and punched the guy in the face. The thief hit the ground before scrambling to his feet. He tried to take off running, but Ryan was quick. He punched the guy again, and that one knocked him to the ground, and he stayed there.

Ryan bent down, grabbed the thief by his shirt, and said something to him that they couldn’t hear. The guy looked freaked, but he nodded.

A tall, heavily muscled man in khakis and a polo walked up to Ryan. “I called the police, man. I’m an off-duty cop and I can detain him until they come.”

But Ryan didn’t let the thief go. Annie stepped forward to go to him, but before she could, Monica was by his side.

“Ryan, let him go,” she said. “I know he hurt your friend and you’re protective of her, but let the cops handle it.” She cupped Ryan’s face and turned his head toward her. Then, unbelievably, she kissed his mouth.

Annie couldn’t stand it anymore. She looked away, and that’s when she saw yet another familiar face in the crowd. Clint.

“Clint!” she called. She strode up to him.

“Hey there,” he said. “A lot of excitement tonight, huh?”

She looked at Ryan and Monica. He’d let go of the thief. Monica had grabbed his hand, and Ryan was turned toward her and Clint, frowning. She turned back to Clint. “I had my purse stolen yesterday. That was the guy who stole it. I just happened to look up and see him.”

“And that just happens to be the guy you love who beat the crap out of him,” Clint said with a grin. “And they say chivalry is dead.”

Annie nodded. Then shook her head and gestured toward Monica. “Yes. No. I mean, that’s the woman Ryan’s interested in.”

Clint looked past her. “Nah. He’s not even payin’ attention to her. He can’t take his eyes off you.”

She wanted to turn back to see if that was true, but she was afraid Clint was wrong. She suddenly didn’t feel strong enough to face Ryan and the beautiful woman by his side. She needed to be alone. She needed to think. “Can we leave? Together, I mean?”

He glanced at Ryan again. “You sure you want to do that?”

“He’s had a crush on that woman for years. She was married then, now she’s not. As his friend, I need to give him his shot.”

“But darlin’…”

She grabbed onto Clint’s arm. “Please…just get me out of here.”

A part of her wondered if she was being irrational. But all she kept seeing was Ryan dancing with Monica. Ryan kissing Monica. And most of all, Ryan walking away from her to take a job he hadn’t even told her he’d been offered. She’d already been losing him. She just hadn’t known it.

“I have tickets to a calf-roping show over at South Point. It starts in half an hour. If you want to go—”

“Yes,” she said quickly, lacing her arm through his so she wouldn’t collapse with grief. “I want to go. I really do.”

“Annie?” Ryan strode up to them. A quick glance behind him showed that the cops were handcuffing the thief. She looked around, but she didn’t see Monica.

“Hi,” she said. She almost put her hand on his cheek the way Monica had, but stopped herself just in time. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. The cops have your report. They just need you to make a positive ID, and then they’ll question him about your purse and notify you if they’re able to retrieve it.”

“Oh. Okay.” She turned to Clint. “I’ll be right back.”

She talked briefly to the police, who took her statement. Then she turned back to Ryan. “Thank you for sticking up for me. You’re a good friend. You always have been.”

He shook his head, a line forming between his brows. “We need to talk. Let’s go back inside and—”

“No, thank you,” she said. “I’m taking off.”

“What?”

She cocked her head in Clint’s direction. “Turns out you’re an excellent wingman. I ran into Clint again, and he wants to pick up where we left off last night. So I’ll let you do your thing and I’ll go do mine.”

Ryan scowled. “You’re going with him?”

“Sure. You have Monica now, and I—”

“I don’t have Monica. We just ran into each other. Is this because of the job offer? You’re pissed I didn’t tell you? Because I was going to, Annie, I swear. It’s just with everything going on this weekend—everything that’s been going on with you—”

“It’s okay, Ryan. I understand. I’ve caused you enough problems.”

“Problems? That’s not what I meant.” He took her arm and urged her a few feet away so they could have some privacy. “Listen to me, last night was amazing. I don’t want you thinking I want to be with Monica and not you. Because that’s not true.”

Her heart expanded with hope. He looked and sounded like he meant that. But she was scared. Scared that he’d say anything to protect her feelings. Yes, he might be attracted to her, but he’d been attracted to Monica, too. She didn’t want him passing up his chance with her and then later resenting Annie for it.

“It was amazing,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade one second of last night and this morning for anything. But you’ve had a crush on Monica for years. She was never available, but now she is. I see how she looks at you, Ryan. If I kept you from your chance with her, you’d end up hating me.”

As if he didn’t hear her plea, he shot Clint a dirty look. “Is this really about Monica and wanting to protect me, or is this more bullshit about your list? Maybe hooking up with your best friend isn’t naughty enough, so you’re ready to move on to something bigger and badder?”

“Wanting to be more adventurous isn’t bullshit, Ryan.”

“Doing it the way you planned sure is. I’m not—”

“Ryan, are you ready to go back inside?” Monica walked up to them, smiling.

Annie had thought she’d left, that Ryan had sent her away, but obviously that wasn’t the case.

“No, Monica. Annie and I—”

Clint suddenly appeared. “Annie? The show starts in a few minutes. If you don’t want to come—”

“No. I do.” She looked back at Ryan. “It’s okay, Ryan. You and Monica spend some time together, and we’ll catch up later, okay?”

Ryan caught her arm again. “Don’t do this, Annie,” he said.

Instead of pulling away from him, she stepped closer, kissed his cheek, and whispered in his ear, “I’ll always be your friend, Ryan, I promise. No matter what you choose. Don’t let me hold you back. From the job, or anything else.”

Then she did step back, gently pulling her arm out of his grip. He frowned at her. And with her heart breaking, she turned away.