Chapter Six

The first boarding call for Annie’s flight echoed through the San Francisco airport. All around her, people jockeyed for position, even though the flight had assigned seating.

“Oof!” Annie grunted as she bent to pick up her carry-on bag, trying to move it away from a rather oblivious group of travelers. She’d bagged up all her clothes after she’d lost the weight and taken the bags to the local homeless shelter, then bought all new, form-fitting clothes to show off her new look. But skinny jeans meant just that—skinny. And bending over in pants that were practically painted on was proving rather difficult.

And she’d certainly shoved a lot of stuff into her carry-on bag.

But not her new toy.

That she had shoved deep into her checked bag, which presumably was somewhere in the belly of the plane. No way would she risk having airport security pull out her toy for all to see.

Her stomach clenched, and a surge of panic washed over her. Was she really going to get naughty in Vegas? Next to her, a young woman stood, latte in hand, chatting with a nearly identical woman. Both girls were in their mid-twenties and dressed in designer clothes that fit their rail-thin bodies like a glove. One of the girls was talking about how she’d gotten laid the night before and how amazing it had been.

Annie could barely remember the last time she’d gotten laid. Ryan had coaxed an orgasm easily from her last night, but that had been a favor and it’s not like they were going to do that again. Maybe sex with a stranger was exactly what she needed. No expectations. No confusing feelings. Just hot, sweaty sex solely in the name of fun.

Yep, this trip was definitely going to be a turning point in her transformation.

Last night, after coming hard to the sound of Ryan’s voice in her ears, she’d finally mustered the courage to invite him over. To offer her body to him. But he hadn’t wanted her. That had been clear from his answering silence. The poor guy had obviously been trying to think of a way to turn her down gently. God, how mortifying. She’d spent the next few hours reliving the embarrassment, resulting in a restless night’s sleep.

But that was all behind her now. She was going to go through with her plan, get over him, and not have to suffer through all of these conflicting feelings anymore.

The announcement came loudly that her group was boarding. She hefted her carry-on over her shoulder and got in line behind the two young women. In her back pocket, her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out to see a text from Ryan.

Instantly, her mind and body went where she’d been dutifully trying to keep it from going—back to last night. With Ryan’s husky voice asking her what she was wearing and telling her to touch herself. Despite the circumstances, it had felt so natural—so right—but in the end it had taught her a lesson: the more Ryan gave, the hungrier she became. She needed to keep things between them firmly in the friend zone.

Shuffling forward as her group entered the gangway, she read his text.

Are we okay?

She hesitated only a second before answering. Sure.

Last night…

She held her breath. Waited. But when no further text came, she replied, Didn’t change anything between us.

You sure? I don’t want things to be weird.

She closed her eyes. He was feeling weird. It was obvious. And that’s how she’d known he’d feel this morning. God, she wondered if he’d had more beers after leaving her apartment last night. Had he been drunk? Had that been the only reason he’d been able to talk to her the way he had?

Won’t be, she typed. But can we lock it in the vault?

You want to pretend it didn’t happen?

It didn’t. Not between us. It was between me and Kyle and that’s how I want to keep it. OK?

If that’s what you want.

Wasn’t it what he wanted? But before she could respond, he texted again.

Can I say one thing, though?

Oh God, she thought. Was he going to try to lighten the mood? Joke about how she’d sounded? Tease her about how she had acted utterly ridiculous? She braced herself.

OK

You were incredible. Sexy as hell. You’ve got more naughty in you than you think.

She couldn’t reply. She stared at the text, feeling sparks of joy and tendrils of arousal, but squashing them with determination.

You sounded as beautiful as I know you looked. Thank you for trusting me.

Thank you for trying to help me, she finally texted.

Trying? So you’re still going to Vegas?

She smiled slightly, practically hearing his frown in the words. Yes. No going back now.

I can’t convince you otherwise?

No. Now stop bothering me. ☺

I’m worried for you. Vegas can be a dangerous place.

She sighed. She got it. Ryan was a good friend—good enough that he’d forced himself to have phone sex with her, for God’s sake—and he was worried for her.

In front of her, the line moved forward and she with it until she was suddenly standing in the front of the airplane. She’d have to text back, but right now she needed to find her seat. It took several minutes of waiting behind other people as they shoved their carry-ons into the overhead bins and settled into their seats, but she finally located her window seat toward the back. Thankfully, the two chattering young women who had annoyed her earlier were seated somewhere in the front. The plane wasn’t crowded, and she was pleased to see she had several empty seats around her.

She shoved her carry-on into the overhead bin and then settled down in her seat. As the plane’s engines started, she texted Ryan back.

I adore you for caring, but this is it—Vegas. Naughty list. There’s nothing you can do to stop me.

“Maybe I can’t stop you, but I sure as hell can join you.”

Annie stiffened and gasped, jerking with disbelief when she saw Ryan standing over her, wearing a baseball cap, worn jeans, a blue Henley, and a broad smile.

“W-What are you doing here?” she choked out. Fearing she was losing her mind, she blinked several times. But no, he was still there, grinning like a mad man.

Oh shit, she thought as her cheeks flushed. He probably had an illicit image of her humping a pillow running around in his head.

He stowed his carry-on bag and plopped down in the aisle seat next to her, his muscular frame spilling over the side of the small seat.

“What are you doing here?” she exclaimed.

Ryan fiddled with the seat belt. “Like I said, I’m joining you.”

“What? Why? You can’t come with me!” Panic, worry, and irritation all fought for dominance. Why on earth was Ryan here? And what did he mean, he was joining her? Joining her how?

He finally turned to her. “Since I can’t talk you out of this crazy plan, I’m going with you as your chaperone.”

Annie’s pulse quickened more, and she could feel her breaths shortening.

“My chaperone?”

“Yep, someone has to make sure that you don’t get hurt. You don’t seem to be giving much thought to your own safety lately.”

Really? He didn’t trust her to have good judgment and keep herself safe from harm? Yeah, sure, picking up a stranger in Vegas and having a one-night stand might carry a few risks, but she’d planned ahead. Had booked a room close to the hotel’s security office. And had packed plenty of condoms.

“And how do you propose to keep me safe? Follow me around? Stay in my hotel room with me? Run background checks on any guy I flirt with?”

“Hadn’t thought about the background checks. Sounds like a good idea.”

“Ryan!” That was a horrible idea. A terrible idea. There was no way he could come on this trip with her. He would ruin everything. She was supposed to be getting over him, not falling more in love with him, and after last night… With him sitting so close to her and the memory of his husky voice telling her to touch herself…

“Besides, I needed a break from work,” he said. “I’m off this weekend, and I can even extend my time off. It’ll be fun to hang out with you. Remember the last time we went to Vegas together?”

Did she ever. That trip had inspired the location of this one, actually. Girls had climbed all over Ryan—he’d had multiple offers of sex that weekend, and all from gorgeous, young, sexy women. Now she needed the same to happen for her so she could free him from her heart in that way forever.

She could not embark on this grand adventure of naughtiness in Vegas, with her best friend—the very man she was trying to get over—playing wingman.

For the first time, she noticed how fatigued and anxious he looked. She wondered if more was going on with him than he’d let on last night. She wanted to ask him. Make sure he was okay. But now really wasn’t the time.

“I’m not doing this trip to hang out and play the slots,” she said. “I’m doing this to shake things up in my life. And I’m sorry, but I don’t need you—and I really don’t want you—to be hanging out with me while I’m trying to meet a man to have fun with.”

“Too bad.” Ryan shrugged and dropped her gaze, then reached into the pocket of the seat in front of him and pulled out an in-flight magazine. “This is how I’ll be able to keep my peace of mind. You can pretend I’m your brother. If a guy’s really interested, having me around won’t stop him from coming on to you. But it will stop the assholes from trying to pick you up.”

The flight attendant asked everyone to get in their seats over the PA, and soon the airplane door would close…

“I don’t need you with me. I don’t want you to come along.” She fumed, blowing out a sharp breath, wishing it was really true. She unbuckled his seatbelt, and pointed down the aisle. “Now, get off this plane. Now.”

“Not going to happen,” he said, thumbing through the magazine as if he hadn’t noticed her outburst.

She yanked the magazine out of his hands. “Ryan Hennessey, I swear…”

He suddenly cupped her face in his hands so that her words died off.

“Listen to me, Annie,” he said. “If you insist on going forward with your ridiculous plan, I’m not going to stand in your way—hell, I’ll even help you pick out a guy for you to bang if you want—but I am going to make sure you come back home intact and unscathed.” He leaned forward and gave her a gentle, close-mouthed kiss. “You can take that to the bank.”

* * *

After they took off, Ryan tried to stretch his long legs out, which meant having to shove his feet under the seat in front of him just to keep his knees out of his face. He glanced over at Annie, who stared out the window, giving him the silent treatment. He rubbed his hands across his face, wondering again if he was making a serious mistake by following her to Vegas. In trying to protect her, would he piss her off so much that it would irreparably harm their friendship?

And who was he kidding? With last night’s exploits, their friendship had already changed big-time. He wasn’t sure what he’d been thinking to initiate phone sex with Annie, and he wasn’t sure what he was thinking right now.

All he knew was that he couldn’t let her wander around Vegas by herself.

She was still staring out the window, but her expression had softened, like she was too caught up in thoughts about her upcoming adventure to be angry at him anymore.

God, she made his chest ache. She was pure, simple beauty, and she had no idea how much he wanted her. Of course he understood she wanted more confidence, but she shouldn’t achieve that by pretending to be someone she wasn’t. And he couldn’t let Cole’s questions play with his head, either. Annie didn’t want more from him than friendship. If that was the case, she wouldn’t be heading to Vegas to get laid, especially now that she knew he was single again. She was doing exactly what she’d told him last night—testing out her new look and trying to have some casual fun.

He needed to be practical. He’d tell Annie about the job offer he’d received, but only after they dealt with whatever was going on with her. They’d have to work a little harder to nourish their friendship if he lived farther away, but they could do it.

He just wished he could stop thinking of doing some more-than-friendly things to her right here and now. He was imagining the two of them sneaking into the bathroom and—

Jesus, Ryan thought, bringing his thoughts to a screeching halt. Stop it. He turned to Annie, needing to distract his thoughts. “So, where are we staying?” he asked.

Annie briefly glared at him before turning back to the window.

“Come on, Annie,” he urged. “You know I’ve got your best interests at heart here, right?”

He watched her turn and stare at him so he repeated himself. “Right?”

Her stiff body seemed to relax slightly, and she sighed. She rubbed her temple. “I know that, Ryan. You’re a good friend. My best friend. But I’m a grown woman. And you’re treating me like a child.”

“I just want more time with you, Annie. Time to understand what’s going on inside that pretty head of yours. I know you’re not a child.” He thought quickly, knowing he had to convince her to listen to him. “If you decide you want to go forward with your plan, I promise I won’t interfere. Like I said, I’ll even help you choose a guy to flirt with tonight. But I need to make sure you’re going to be safe. Will you give me that? Please?”

A shadow flickered over her face. “Treasure Island,” she finally said.

“What?”

“That’s where I’m staying. Now, do you mean what you said? You promise that you’ll back off? Because I’m going to do more than flirt with a guy. A guy I can find on my own, by the way.”

He looked at her, then forced himself to say, “Aye, matey!”

She smiled, and he sighed dramatically. “There’s that smile. You know I can’t stand you being mad at me. Besides, I think I gave you plenty of reason to smile last night, wouldn’t you say?”

She flushed bright red but still managed to narrow her eyes at him. “That was Kyle, remember?”

“Right, right. Plus, I forgot. It’s now in the vault.”

Then he pulled his hat down low over his eyes and said, “I think I’ll take a little nap.”

He closed his eyes and pretended to nod off.

A few minutes later, Annie asked, “Ryan, what is going on with you?”

He pushed his hat back up with his fingertips and said, “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I mean last night. That kiss you gave me. The favor on the phone. You being on this airplane.”

He struggled with how to respond. She was obviously sensing how conflicted he was, but she certainly wasn’t giving him any indication that she wanted more from him. “If I’m acting out of character, Annie, it’s because I’m trying to keep up with you.”

“I’m looking for adventure. What are you looking for?”

“What I’m always looking for. To be your friend.”

“That’s it? Just my friend?”

Was she afraid that he was going to try to make a move on her? Ruin her chances of hooking up with another man? Annoyance ran through him. He’d already agreed to let her go through with her damn plan if he couldn’t change her mind. What did she want? For him to sign in blood?

He hesitated. “Being your friend is the most important thing in the world to me, Annie. So, yeah. Just your friend. Like always.”

She smiled tightly. Nodded. “It’s the most important thing to me, too, Ryan.”

He smiled back and pulled his hat back down, closing his eyes.

But peace was the last thing he felt.