Ryan clutched the steering wheel until his knuckles whitened and clenched his teeth until they hurt. He’d arrived at her apartment with the intent of catching her before her date came to get her. He was two minutes too late. There stood a six-foot three man with a build that mirrored Ryan’s strong body. She clearly had a type. He was about to turn around and go home, but he wasn’t going to give the guy the satisfaction of stripping her bare. Tonight, that was going to be him. He followed them to the place he’d been to several times with his family. It galled him that she would pick a spot so close to his heart. That she would take another man there after he’d taken her there twice on business dinners. In truth, they were more than that, but he always made her believe otherwise. He took her there to see her in that soft light.

Ryan purposely pulled up to the parking spot two away from them, watching how the man treated her with southern charm and his hand on the small of her back as he led her into the restaurant. He had sent her two text messages since they pulled away from her apartment. She hadn’t responded to either and that annoyed him. She forgot that he could call on her whenever he needed, and he definitely needed her tonight.

He called her and she sent it to voicemail. “Fine,” he muttered to himself, then opened the door to Carrigan’s. Instead of looking for them, he had a feeling she would pick their spot, and like a queen of evil, she did. He walked up to the bar and ordered a stiff drink. As a regular, he had his drink in his hand before they were fully seated. Taking it down in one large gulp, he left a twenty on the bar and strutted toward his assistant and her country boy.

“Ryan,” she cried out in shock, nearly dropping the glass of water she just brought to her lips.

Ryan looked over to her date, giving him a warning glare that had nothing to do with work and all to do with marking his territory. “July, I’m so glad I caught you here. I need your help with the project before I leave. I tried your cell several times and even went to your place.”

“How did you know I’d be here?”

“I didn’t. I came to have dinner until you called me back but you obviously are too preoccupied to handle your job.” He feigned the anger that usually sent her into a tailspin and she did just that.

That dark deadly stare down that turned him on was right no cue. She glared and gritted her teeth. “What? I’m off the clock. I said I was leaving on time today.”

“Yes. Well, you know that file you sent me as you rushed out the door? It was corrupted. It didn’t open and I need it.” Ryan threw on that lie to the other, but desperate times called for action.

“Shit, are you serious?” Her mouth dropped open in disappointment and upset. Ryan immediately regretted the tactic. He knew she was a perfectionist.

As much as he hated it, there was no backing down now. “Yes, I am. If you’d answered the messages or called me back, you’d know.”

She looked over to her date and gave him the saddest eyes, which only served to make Ryan growl. “Oh, Tyler, I’m sorry, but I have to get this done.”

“Not a problem, sugar. I’m not leaving until tomorrow. Are you done being the working woman and coming back home soon?” Tyler knew damn well the file wasn’t corrupted. July was thorough and amazing back at her parents’ ranch. He could see the way the guy eyed him from the first moment. It was a territorial thing. She believed him, but he didn’t miss the way her pulse picked up. It was fine with him because he wasn’t really interested in her. His woman was back home, and he wished that she’d grow up already so he could marry her. This trip came up at the perfect time because he had almost gone too far with his sweet little Lily.

“You know I’ll be there for the holidays.”

“That’ll have to do for now.” He stood up and dropped the napkin down, but not before downing the bourbon he ordered. “That’s on you, pal.” Then he leaned into Ryan and added in a hush, “If you hurt her, I have tons of guns and I’ll take your Yankee ass out in a heartbeat.” Tyler walked up to July and hugged her tight. “If he hurts you, he’s going to pay.”

“Get out of here, Tyler. I’m really sorry about tonight.”

“It’s okay, doll. Thanksgiving is at my parents.”

“I’ll be there.”

~~~~

July stood up and Ryan left a fifty on the table. He took her coat from the rack and looked down at her with eyes that made her body shiver. “Come on, let’s go before it gets any later.”

“Okay.” She felt his hand slide under her coat and to the small of her back. Tyler had done nearly the same thing, but the effect was different.

“You look stunning, July.”

“Thank you,” she replied, blushing and feeling her heart pick up a beat. She picked his favorite place because she hoped at least one of the Kane family members would have seen her there. Her heart foolishly had hoped that she could have him all to herself.

“You didn’t valet?”

“Do you always think I’m a snob? There was a space available.”

“An ass, yes, a snob, no. It’s just about to snow.” She stuck her hand out and caught a flake in her palm. It melted on impact and Ryan’s tongue slipped from his mouth, wetting his lower lip as he looked at the now water droplet.

“Ryan, is the office still open?” she asked as he helped her into the car. He went around then looked at his watch.

Turning to her, he started the engine then replied with another lie, “No, everyone was out of the office. Matt was the last there, but he was leaving, too.”

“Okay, so how will we access it? I don’t have it on my phone anymore.”

“Why not?” he growled. His bright eyes pierced hers.

“I was tired of it crashing. It was supposed to be fixed but it still didn’t work and my phone has since been total shit.”

“Sorry, I’ll get you a new one tomorrow.”

“Isn’t your flight tomorrow?”

“No, it’s Sunday.”

“Wait, so this could have waited until tomorrow,” she exclaimed, feeling totally tricked. Tyler would go back home and tell her parents that she wasn’t as hospitable because she was working a lot and then her parents would guilt her into staying home.

“What the hell, July? Was I supposed to wait and hope that you weren’t too busy in his God damn bed to answer the phone?”

She didn’t say a thing because she sensed that this was more than work. Ryan was jealous. “I’m sorry. I can see Tyler later.” She knew what she was doing when she said it and loved that he grabbed the steering wheel hard. Her thighs were rubbing together as the wetness slipped from her panties and coated her flesh. She was heated by his jealousy, but nothing would ever happen between them because he would always fight the feelings.

They arrived at his apartment and he led her to the elevator. The energy in the elevator became magnetized and pressurized like a heated kettle. Their pulses kicked up a few notches as the elevator climbed six floors. They were at the top in a few seconds, but it didn’t stop them from looking at each other a little longer than necessary.

He stuck out his hand, telling her to go first, following her as he admired her ass.