Chapter Seven
Holy fuck.
What had just happened?
Ryan led Sarah to the middle of the now-crowded dance floor, keeping ahold of her as they started to move to the fast song.
What she’d done back there, sticking up for him like she had, was pretty hot, and he had no interest—or ability—to remove his hands from her body. Not yet. It might have been the champagne talking, but she’d clearly been ready to rumble, and he found that damn sexy.
He could’ve handled the situation himself, but as they moved to the music, their bodies in sync, he couldn’t help but feel a little hope. Had she meant everything she’d said?
Sarah raised her hands over her head and swayed her hips to the beat. When he finally let go of her waist, she laughed and spun around too fast, teetering on her high heels.
On impulse, he reached back out and steadied her, just as the fast song ended and a slow one began. Perfect.
Grinning, she slipped her arms around his neck. “Did you just save me from wiping out in front of all these people?”
“It’s the least I can do.” He nodded in the direction of their table. “I owed you one for what you did back there.”
She frowned. “Melanie is…”
“A little much. I know.”
“I’m just surprised. I mean, I know we only hang out at work, but I could never see you married to someone who is obviously materialistic and high-maintenance, not to mention petty beyond belief. To tell you she was pregnant right when we sat down…” She shook her head, a look of disgust on her face. “Who does that? I don’t see you two together. Now, I could see you with someone like—”
“You,” he blurted out.
“Me?” She unwrapped her arms from his neck, her eyebrows furrowed.
His heart stopped. Nice going, moron. Fix this now or it’s going to be awkward for the rest of the night. He circumvented any further embarrassment by taking her hand and placing it in his, swaying her to the music. “I meant, we seem to have a lot in common, and I would probably be better suited to someone I can relate to.”
Smooth. He ought to kick his own ass. Worse, Sarah didn’t seem to be buying it.
“Someone like you, is all I’m saying,” he reiterated. “Not you. You like Logan.”
“Yeah,” she said softly.
“And I’m not looking for a relationship,” he added for good measure.
“Right. Of course.” She gave him a half smile. “Mr. Fifth-Quarter Experience.”
“Exactly, fifth quarter, and it’s over.” He needed to change the subject. “So, see that woman over there?” He nodded to the couple dancing not too far away from them. “That’s Jen Harper. Logan made me ask her dorky best friend to prom so that Jen would go with him.” He spun Sarah around and nodded to the couple on the other side. “And that’s Suzy Donaldson, the dorky best friend, who at the time had frizzy brown hair, acne, and bad breath, that I lost—”
“Your virginity to?” Sarah asked, eyes widening.
“No. My bike. We played cards at the prom after-party at Logan’s house while Logan and Jen disappeared upstairs. In addition to an extensive bug collection, Suzy had an older brother who taught her how to play an impressive game of poker.”
He watched Sarah take in Suzy, who’d grown up to be quite a stunner with her sleek brown hair and hourglass figure. “Maybe she could be your Mrs. Wright?” she asked, a tiny frown marring her forehead.
He liked that she wasn’t a fan of the idea.
“Nah, I think if I were looking for a relationship, I’d be more of a friends-to-lovers kind of guy.” He spun her around before he said anything more, and sent them back down the previous uncomfortable path.
“I think that’s how the best relationships start.” She lifted his hand and twirled, stepping on his foot. “Oh my God, I am so sorry.” She gasped, turning an adorable shade of pink. “You’ll have to commiserate with Paul when we get back to NPH. I stepped on his toes at last year’s holiday party, but I ducked out before I could do any real damage.”
“I remember.” His heart swelled at that memory. It was the first time that he’d allowed himself to wonder what it would be like if Sarah was more than a friend. “I found you sound asleep in Logan’s office.”
“You did?”
“Yeah.” He swayed her to the music. “You were all snug in his chair, with your heels kicked off. I didn’t want to wake you, so I grabbed the red throw he keeps over his couch.”
Sarah stopped dancing. “You were the one who covered me?”
“Guilty.”
She frowned again. “Oh…”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I just assumed Logan was the one who did it. I thought it was sweet.”
Disappointment gave him a smack back into reality. Well, hell. She probably would have rather gone on believing it was Logan. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“That I spilled the beans that it was me and not him. I’m sure he would have if he’d found you asleep.” Ryan touched her cheek with the back of his hand, wishing the situation were different. That she wanted him, not his best friend.
Maybe it was for the best, though. He’d meant what he’d said on stage—Logan was the better man. What could Ryan give her, really? As much as he wanted her, he’d made no attempt to hide his lack of interest in commitment. Sarah deserved better.
She gave him a shaky smile. “It was nice of you to do. Thanks for looking out for me. You seem to do that a lot.”
Did he? “As your coach, it’s my job.” There. That should put them back where they should be. Friends. Nothing more, nothing less.
He brought her in close, resting one hand on the small of her back. Even if it couldn’t go anywhere, ever, he’d thoroughly enjoy the closeness of her body while he had her in his arms.
“Oh, I get it.” She laughed. “Hold the woman with the two left feet closer to protect your own. Smart move.”
“Yeah.”
Smart move, indeed. Protecting his heart was another matter.
…
“Wow, I can’t believe this weather.” Sarah followed Ryan over to the terrace railing, breathing in the fresh night air. The temperature had dropped, but wasn’t bitter cold.
“Are you cold? I could go get our coats.” Ryan motioned for the glass doors.
“No. I’ll be fine.” She stepped closer toward the railing, taking in the enormous football field. “I’m sorry for what happened earlier at dinner. I probably just made things super uncomfortable—more uncomfortable than they already were, I mean.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Ryan came up beside her, propping his elbows on the railing and leaning in. “I liked seeing feisty Sarah in action.”
“Ha. You should see me when the FedEx guy arrives late on a Friday afternoon.”
“I’m sure that’s a sight.”
She gave him a half smile. “I meant what I said, by the way. I’ve got your back. I mean, you’re my friend and now my love coach. I need to look out for you.”
“Right. The coaching thing. How am I doing?”
“On a scale of one to ten, I’d give you a solid four,” she teased.
Ryan pretended to push a dagger straight through his heart. “That hurts.”
She reached over and moved his hand from his heart, a pleasurable tingle shooting straight up her arm. Damn. She might need another excuse to touch him so she could feel it again. “Don’t worry. I’ll still drop off and pick up your dry cleaning.”
“Pressed pants?”
“Of course.” She laughed and glanced over at the school, imagining Melanie and Jeff doing the Electric Slide on the dance floor, happy they were missing it. As far as she was concerned, they could stay out here for the rest of the party.
Then she could protect her friend from rude jabs by beauty queen has-beens. What could Ryan have possibly seen in a woman who was quick to throw in his face that he worked under his best friend from high school? “Do you ever feel second to Logan?”
He held her gaze. “Sometimes.”
A detectable sadness in his voice set Sarah’s blood on fire, and she had a good mind to march back into the ballroom and tell Melanie off a second time. Ryan was the nicest, funniest, and most interesting guy she’d met since she’d moved to New York City. He had everything going for him, and that woman had no right to shame him.
Her heart broke for him. No wonder he was a commitment-phobe. “You should never feel second to Logan. You are an amazing architect. Logan talks about you all the time to our potential clients, not to mention how many times he brings you up to senior staff. He really looks up to you, and honestly, I don’t think he could run NPH Designs without you.”
Ryan straightened, shoving his hands in his pockets. “His friendship means everything to me.”
That declaration made her smile. She knew the two were high school friends, but this weekend was opening her eyes to just how tight they were. “Your speech was really touching.”
“Thank you.”
If they were sharing insecurities tonight when it came to how they stacked up to Logan, she might as well admit hers. “I just wonder…”
“What?’
“Do you think I’m good enough for Logan?”
Ryan frowned. “How could you even ask that?”
“You know him best,” she pressed. “Do you think I’m someone he’d want to be in a relationship with? Someone worthy of his love? I mean…” She lowered her head, running her hands over her short party dress she’d picked up on clearance, a far cry from all the couture she’d seen this evening. “I’m not like any of those women inside.”
Ryan reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “And that’s a good thing. I think any man would be lucky to have you.”
Sarah’s cheeks warmed. “Well, geez, Coach Wright. You sure know how to flatter your pupil.”
“You mean my player.”
“Heads up, Wright,” a male voice called out behind them.
Ryan turned and caught the football that sailed toward them. “It’s good to see you, Coach.”
A middle-aged man and an adorably round woman approached, warm smiles on their faces. After hugs and pats on the back were exchanged, he introduced her. “This is Sarah. Sarah, I’d like you to meet Coach Sullivan and his wife, Connie.”
Sarah shook hands with both, complimenting Connie on her pretty royal-blue gown. While Ryan caught up with his former coach, Sarah tried to make small talk with the woman.
“Jack just loves seeing his former players,” Connie said.
“Is he still coaching?”
“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “But he’s never had the season that he had Ryan’s senior year.”
“Were they really good?”
“They sure were.” Connie walked over to the terrace and pointed to the field’s huge scoreboard that brightly displayed Westbrook Academy Cardinals. “That would say ‘State Champs’ if Ryan hadn’t broken his arm toward the end of the season. Jack was sure of it.”
“Ryan broke his arm?” Her stomach twisted at the thought. She may have grown up on a farm, but broken bones still hurt. “Did he break it playing football?”
That got a laugh from Connie. “You could say that.” She leaned in close, a twinkle in her eye. “Ryan and his teammates were practicing when they spotted a kitten stranded at the very top of that giant oak tree to the right of the field.”
Sarah looked out across the field. With the lights, she could see the trees off in the distance behind it.
“Ryan, bless his heart, climbed up to rescue the poor thing and slipped on a branch coming down. He’s lucky he only broke his arm.”
“Oh my God.” Sarah’s heart couldn’t help but squeeze, picturing a young Ryan scaling a tree in front of the entire football team just to rescue a scared cat. She’d always known he was a stand-up guy. Tonight was proving it. “And the kitten?”
“He’d held on to it the whole way down. We’re still not sure how he didn’t crush the poor thing. They were inseparable for the rest of the year.” She winked. “That’s a special man you’ve got there. Hold on to him.”
Sarah choked on the cold air. Before she could decide whether to keep the gossip mill churning, she blurted out, “Oh, we’re not dating.”
“No?” The older woman studied her. “I’m surprised, given the way he looks at you.”
Goose bumps surfaced immediately and had nothing to do with the temperature outside. Sarah rubbed her arms, trying to mask the effect Connie’s comment had had on her.
What was the coach’s wife implying? How was Ryan looking at her?
She highly doubted Mr. “I Don’t Do Relationships” was looking at her any way except as a friend would. “Sure has gotten chilly out here,” she offered lamely.
The guys finished their conversation. Coach collected Connie, leaving her and Ryan alone. “Sorry about that,” he said, slipping his arm around her shoulders. “I haven’t seen Coach in years.”
She watched the couple stroll back into the gala still consumed with what Connie had revealed, overanalyzing in her head that Ryan’s arm was now around her. That action was a little more than friendly, right?
She decided to test Connie’s hypothesis, tilting her head up.
His smile was the same she’d experienced all the way back to the first day they’d met, when he’d slid into an empty seat next to her in the conference room and offered her a malt ball—sweet with a hint of mischief.
No longing. No look of desire. Connie was wrong. “They’re nice.” She nudged his hip with hers. “I didn’t know you were such a cat lover.”
That got a hearty chuckle as he removed his arm from around her shoulders. “Of course she told you that story.”
“I thought it was adorable.” And sexy as hell, but he didn’t need to know that. She sighed and looked out over the football field. “So this is where the legendary Ryan Wright got his start?”
He rocked back on his heels. “I’m not sure how legendary I was, but yes, that’s the infamous football field.”
“Let’s go.” She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him toward the stairs, but he didn’t budge.
“Where?”
“To see it, of course. Unless…” She nodded in the direction of the glass doors. “…you want to go back to table one for coffee and conversation with Mr. and Mrs. McGee?”
“That would be a definite no.” He led her down the stairs and through the entrance of the field.
“Is that where the magic happened?” she asked, wrapping her arms around her. Without the adrenaline from her encounter with Melanie, or the blood-pumping dances they’d shared, her body had cooled rapidly. She shivered, and goose bumps spread across her arms.
“You are cold.” He removed his suit jacket. “Here, wear this.”
“Thank you.” She let him help slide her arms in. The same sensation that had shot up her back earlier from his touch now radiated down her arms.
She pulled his coat around her, breathing in his fresh, minty cologne that was unmistakably masculine and highly intoxicating. “Wow. I’ve never been on a high school football field before.”
“No?”
“Nope. We only had a basketball team.”
“Were you a cheerleader?”
“Oh, no. I didn’t have time for sports. There were a lot of chores to do on the farm.” She touched her dress, reminding herself she was more than a little out of place at this fancy party. “Didn’t wear a lot of these, either. I feel like a bit of an impostor.”
“I think you look amazing tonight. You should wear dresses to work more often.”
Sarah’s cheeks heated at his compliment. “Maybe I will.”
Note to self: buy a new dress to wear on Monday STAT.
“So…” Ryan touched her arm. “You never told me you grew up on a farm.”
She didn’t tell many people. It wasn’t that she was ashamed, but she wanted her colleagues to see her as a sophisticated city girl, not someone who not that long ago fed goats and shoveled manure. She nodded, shrinking a bit inside his coat. “Small-town America.”
“That must have been an experience.”
“It was. I stayed in the area for a few years after college, but when the executive assistant position opened up at NPH, I went for it. Living in New York City had always been my dream.” She laughed. “But there are days when I miss Clara Belle and Henry.”
“Friends?”
“You could say that. Clara Belle is my dad’s favorite cow, and Henry, the rooster, showed up one day when I was eighteen and has never left Clara Belle’s side. He has quite a crush. They’re practically inseparable, and quite a sight to see. I have a picture.” She opened up her clutch and pulled out her phone, tapping until she found the photo she’d taken of them in the barn the last time she’d visited. “See.”
Ryan took a look at her phone. “Wow. Looks like love. I don’t know. Maybe someone should tell them that it’s probably not going to work out, and Clara Belle will kick Henry out to pasture the minute a bull walks by.”
“Never going to happen,” she protested, touching the phone to her heart. “She’s smitten with Henry. Besides, we don’t have bulls on the farm.”
Ryan laughed and guided her down the field with his hand on the small of her back. It was…comforting. “I’m really glad you came with me this weekend.”
Her heart beat a little faster. Did he mean as his coworker that he ate lunch with most days of the week or something more?
She gave that question a mental slap. Stop reading into everything he says and get back to the plan. “I really like working for Logan,” she said, half-heartedly bringing up the guy she was supposed to be interested in.
“Of course you do.” He smirked.
She swatted his arm. “I didn’t mean it that way. He’s a great boss and leader. Now, having to deal with the architects and their high demands is another story,” she teased.
“I’ve heard that. The civil engineers are assholes.”
They continued down the field in silence. Normally, dead air would have worried her, but there wasn’t anything awkward about this stroll. There was something special in taking in the starlit sky with Ryan by her side.
“So, what was Logan’s position on the team?”
“I told you. Bench warmer.”
“He didn’t have a position?”
“He was offense, but I could count on one hand how many plays he made his entire four years. I love the guy, but I wasn’t about to lose a state championship because he couldn’t catch the damn ball. He wasn’t very athletic—still isn’t. Haven’t you noticed?”
She laughed because, yeah, he really wasn’t. Logan always made excuses to not participate in the company softball team. While she could see him maybe with a racket in his hand, she couldn’t conjure up a visual of him playing any type of contact sport.
Why was that so disappointing?
Frowning, she scanned the length of the field. “You’re right. I can’t see Logan in a football helmet. Or a jersey, for that matter.” But she could see Ryan in both. Particularly him in his football jersey, surrounded by adoring fans, as he rushed off the field after a big win.
Was it her imagination, or did Ryan suddenly look hotter?
“It’s definitely not for everyone.”
Flustered—who knew she had a thing for football players?—she lifted her chin. “I bet I wouldn’t have cost you a game.”
“Yeah?” Ryan tossed the ball in the air. “I’d like to see you prove it.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
Crap. She gestured to herself. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m wearing a dress.”
His eyes trailed down her body like a caress. “Oh, I’ve noticed.”
Her whole body flushed, bringing the temperature up a few degrees inside his suit jacket. Good lord. The man was too sexy for his own good. No wonder all the women in the office wanted him.
And she’d gone and bet him she could play football? A full-contact sport?
This was either the worst or best idea ever.
Slipping off one heel and then the other, Sarah stepped onto the field, the ice-cold grass crunching under her toes. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Ryan chuckled and shook his head. “You asked for it.”
“Yes, I did.” She slid off his jacket and set it on the grass with her heels. She backed up a few yards and grinned. “Show me what you’ve got, Coach Wright.”
He jogged a few yards off then stared her down, football clutched in his hands. Sarah couldn’t help but notice how his biceps bulged through his thin dress shirt. There was also something different in the way he was looking at her—a playfulness in his eyes she hadn’t seen before.
She gulped.
He lobbed the ball in her direction, and it soared perfectly into her hands. Tucking it to her chest, Sarah took off toward the end zone. Halfway down the field, though, she glanced back. Ryan stood where she’d left him, watching her with a dopey grin on his face.
Seriously?
She stopped and circled back, tossing the ball back to him.
“Um, while I commend your sportsmanship, that’s not quite how this works,” he said. “You need to run with the ball all the way to the end. Not give it back to me.”
“I wouldn’t give it back if we were actually playing. I’m pretty sure you skipped the part where you try to chase me down and tackle me.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You want me to tackle you?”
“Yes.”
“In that dress?”
Sarah looked down at herself. Whoops. “Okay, maybe just don’t let me win so easily.”
“Okay.” He motioned her to get back into position down the field. “Get ready.”
“I should warn you,” she called to him. “Before I fed the chickens in high school, I ran two miles each morning.”
“Noted.” Once again, he lobbed the ball in her direction. Knowing he’d follow, she grabbed the ball out of the air and ran as fast as she physically could in her dress. Ryan caught up a little too quickly for her liking, so she dodged right and then quickly faked a left, throwing him off just long enough to dash straight for the end zone.
Before she could celebrate victory, Ryan grabbed her waist and lifted her off the ground.
“I win, I win!” she shrieked between laughs.
Ryan gently put her down and she turned around, standing inches from him. “See? I wouldn’t have lost you a game,” she said, hugging the football.
“Nope,” he said, not moving from his spot.
Maybe it was the champagne, or maybe it was her pesky new football-player fantasy, but she stepped closer into his space. “Are you going to show me how you celebrated touchdowns? I’d love to see you do one of those funny dances players do.”
“I could do that.” He touched her cheek with his knuckle, letting it linger. “But I’d rather do this.”
He leaned down and brushed her lips with his. Just a simple touch of warm, soft skin that left her drifting forward.
And then it was over. Ryan pulled back, his eyes hooded, his gaze hypnotizing.
She clutched the football and blinked up at him, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. At the top of the list?
Holy crap. Ryan Wright just kissed me.
Followed quickly by, I want him to do it again.
No. Bad idea. Ryan was her colleague. Her friend. Kissing him would ruin everything. She’d have to quit her job because no way could she pretend like nothing happened, and it would hurt too much to see him, knowing a momentary lapse of judgment cost her their relationship.
She willed herself to step back…and failed.
What are you doing? You’re supposed to want Logan. You’re here, at this gala, for Logan.
But was she? When Ryan invited her, Sarah had been prepared to say yes before he even mentioned Logan. She’d never had as much fun with a guy in her life as she’d had with Ryan the past year. He was incredibly hot, apparently thought she was hot, and was by far one of the most thoughtful and charming men she’d ever met. He’d rescued a kitten at the expense of his arm, for God’s sake.
Did she mention he was hot?
Screw it. One more kiss—just a little one—wouldn’t hurt anything.
“Sarah, I’m sor—”
She spiked the ball and tugged Ryan back down. His immediate groan sent thrills skittering across her chest, and lower. His mouth fit over hers perfectly and, oh God, that only added to her desperation. She parted her lips, inviting him in, needing to taste him. She might die if she didn’t.
So much for a little kiss.
Ryan seemed to be on the same page. He pulled her against him, deepening their kiss, the feel of his tongue more addicting than she’d expected. She wrapped her arms around his neck and grabbed on to the back of his hair. That dragged another groan from somewhere deep in his chest, weakening her knees, but he was there. Clutching her closer. Running his hand up to her face, cupping her jaw, devouring her mouth—
A loud catcall yanked them apart. From up on the terrace, Jeff and Melanie and a half a dozen other couples stared down at them.
“Get a room!” Jeff called down.
Ryan stepped between her and the terrace, shielding her with his body. “Are you okay?”
Sarah stared at him. Was she okay? She’d just made out with her closest friend, and it was earth shattering. She might never be okay again.
Not that she could tell him that.
She cleared her throat. “Sure. I mean, we wanted to give your town something to talk about, right?” she asked in a shaky voice.
He frowned. “Yeah. I guess so. Thanks for taking one for the team.” He nodded to the school. “We should probably go back inside.”
“Right…go back inside…sure, good idea,” she mumbled. While she tried to slow her pulse to non-heart-attack levels, he jogged back to where they’d started and retrieved his jacket and her heels.
She touched a hand to her tingling lips. This was so not how she’d expected her night to turn out. Not at all. She needed to get back on track.
Which meant no more kissing Ryan Wright.