to let you go.” He stressed his last words.
“I’m falling in love with you, too,” I confessed, looking up into his warm, blue eyes. “That’s why it hurts so much.”
He pulled me into a comforting embrace and crushed his lips on mine. I felt the weight of my uncertainties lift off my heart as I read his lips and
the message his kiss conveyed. Knowing that he wanted me, hearing that he didn’t want it to end, was exactly what I needed to move forward.
His kiss ended and he sighed heavily.
“Oh, Sweetheart, don’t worry. You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily.”
“That’s good to know,” I murmured on his chest.
Ryan hugged me, stroking his hand over my hair.
“I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure how long you and I...” I sniffed. “If this, between us, was only until you left Seaport.”
“No. That was never my intention.” He kissed my head.
“The way I feel about you, and after our incredible night and this morning…” I tossed my head back and took a moment to breathe.
“I don’t know about you, but my feelings for you started way before that!” He tried to joke.
“Mine too,” I admitted. “But Suzanne kept picking until she found my weakness.” I sighed, collecting myself further.
“Ryan, I know you have obligations that will tear you away from here. Suzanne informed me of all of them, emphasizing how much you need your
freedom. The thought of never seeing you again was excruciating. Allowing myself to fall madly in love with you and then having to let you go for
good, I don’t know if I could survive that.”
Ryan softly kissed me. “I know how you feel. A few minutes ago when you broke up with me, I felt that same excruciating pain.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, drowning in regret for hurting him.
“It’s okay, honey. I understand,” he said while gently rocking me back and forth.
I wiped the moisture from my cheeks. “I’m sorry for falling apart.”
“Stop apologizing. It’s all right.” He hugged me tighter. “Just don’t ever break up with me again.” He sounded truly rattled as he kissed my
forehead.
“I swear I never will. The same goes for you,” I muttered.
“I’ve already fallen for you so you’re stuck with me,” Ryan assured me.
“You know my parents are coming here in two weeks, and they are expecting to meet the woman I told them I’m falling in love with – you!” He
smiled and rubbed my cheek with his thumb. “I’ve already told my mom how crazy I am about you.”
I nodded my head and smiled back. “I really want to meet your parents.”
He softly kissed me and rested his forehead on mine. “And I want you to meet them. I’m looking forward to introducing them to my one and only
girlfriend.”
I wondered if the other woman in his life knew where his heart was. “I think Suzanne is in love with you too. She said some really hurtful things.”
“Did you get her back?” He sounded hopeful.
“I got one good one in there. Marie got her a few times too. It was like she wanted the challenge.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have left. That’s why I didn’t want to go downstairs.”
“She would have gotten to me sooner or later. She seemed hell-bent on getting her point across.”
He took my hand in his and held it to his lips. “Well, now you know exactly how I feel so it doesn’t matter what she or anyone else says. All right?”
I nodded in agreement.
“I told you I’m yours!” he reminded. “I knew you didn’t believe me! Do you believe me now?”
I felt silly for doubting him. “Yes!” I laughed out.
Ryan slipped his hand into my hair and held my face to his, kissing me passionately.
“Let’s go get you freshened up,” he suggested, rubbing his thumb under my eye.
“You know, if you were on set right now, you’d have a team of makeup artists touching up your face.”
“You speak from experience?” I muttered while reapplying some eyeliner. I already knew his answer.
“Yes, it’s true. I openly admit it. I wear makeup and lip color just about every day,” he stated in a joking fashion. “It’s quite emasculating, although
I do like the way my skin feels afterwards.”
I could tell by his theatrical performance that he was trying to lift my spirits. Try as he may, I still knew Suzanne was down there, eagerly awaiting
the result of her meddling.
“Wait, before we go, are you going to say anything to her?”
He sniffed. “I’m not sure yet. Do you want me to?”
“No!” I quickly answered. Fear of another confrontation drove my response.
“Are you sure?”
I knew he would defend me if I asked him to.
“Yes, I’m sure. I think it would be best to just leave it go.”
“Then I won’t say anything to her… here.”
Ryan stopped at the bottom of my stairwell. He pulled me in for a tender embrace and kissed me seductively. I couldn’t help but smile.
“That’s better!” He grinned. Ryan took my hand in his and pushed the door open.
I noticed that everyone was sitting separated; actors at one table and my friends were at another. Ryan set his plate down at the empty seat next
to Pete. He pulled out a chair for me to sit down next to him.
“Tar, what would you like to drink?” Ryan asked, resting his hand on my back.
I attempted to get up and serve myself, but he leaned over me, holding me in place.
“A glass of wine, please?”
Marie was just about to take a bite of food in her mouth when she flashed her eyes at me. She smiled at Ryan’s actions.
“You okay?” she mouthed.
I nodded and smiled.
She left out a sigh of relief and shot a dirty look at Suzanne.
Pete stood up and held his glass in the air after Ryan took his seat. “I’d like to make a toast. To my lovely Tammy, for staying up until three a.m.
making all this fabulous food, and to Taryn, for once again making the best steaks in Rhode Island! May we know how truly blessed we are having
these ladies in our lives.”
Pete leaned over and gave Tammy a nice kiss. He was so in love with her.
Ryan leaned over and whispered in my ear. “I am truly blessed.” He kissed me tenderly.
Once everyone finished eating and talking, Ryan and Pete were like the entertainment committee. Pete started a poker game with Kat, Ben,
Shane, and Tammy. There was a lot of hooting and hollering coming from the big table. They were having a good time.
Ryan and I played pool with Cal and Gary. Marie and Kelly were busy talking up a storm at the corner table in the poolroom. Kelly was a huge
celebrity advocate for breast cancer awareness and Marie had recently lost her favorite aunt to the disease. They were deep into their
conversation.
The sourpuss twins were off on their own, text messaging and calling people. That was until Francesca got brave enough to separate herself
from Suzanne and joined the poker game. Sure enough, Suzanne made her way over to the big table soon afterwards. It was apparent that they
were avoiding whatever room I was in.
Ryan never left my side or should I say, my back. No matter where I stood I could easily lean back and rest on him.
“Before I forget to tell you, I really like those boots,” he whispered in my ear. “You’re almost the perfect height.” He pulled my hip back so I’d
bump him and get his point.
“Do you want me to wear them later?” I asked privately in a joking fashion.
“Would you?” he whispered. “Every time you lean over the pool table, I just about go out of my mind,” he snickered in my ear.
I turned to him and looked him in the eyes.
“Question… the first day, here, in the poolroom, were you looking down my shirt?” I whispered.
“Maybe, but only once or twice.” He wet his lips and smiled. “I liked the lace that was on the edge of your bra. But what really got my attention