“Hi, um, can I call you back?” I answered quickly. “I’m interviewing someone right now. I’ll call you in a few minutes, okay?”

“No, that’s okay. I have to get back on set in ten minutes and then I’m going out to eat with some of the cast. I just thought of something I wanted

to tell you. I’ll call you when I get to the hotel later,” Ryan rambled and then hung up.

“Sorry about that,” I apologized to Cory. Knowing Ryan, he just wanted to talk.

I escorted Cory out to the bar, and instead of leaving, he sat down on a barstool. I liked the fact that he wanted to check out the atmosphere of

the bar. It showed he was interested in working here.

“I like him too,” I said to Marie. “If his references check out, maybe we can give him a trial run this weekend?”

“Yeah, sure.” She nodded. “He knows his drinks and he seems like a nice guy. Something for all the females to look at?” she added. “Besides,

two bitches behind the bar are enough.”

Chapter 9 - Gestures

I spent an hour Friday afternoon calling Cory’s references, even though I was pretty decided that I was going to hire him. Cory was willing to start

tonight and that sounded perfect to me. I was wondering if Ryan was going to just show up again; surely we would get slammed with customers if he

did that.

I was tempted to call Ryan since he didn’t call me back last night like he said he would. I wondered if he was waiting for me to call him - if it was

a test. It didn’t matter; I still wasn’t going to sway from my rule not to chase him.

I had already given up hope hearing from Ryan when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I looked at the time; it was ten thirty.

“Marie, I’ll be right back,” I said as I ran for my stairwell.

“Hi,” I answered, very much knowing whose voice was going to respond.

“Hi – how are you?” Ryan asked.

“I’m great! How are you?” I was definitely happy to hear from him.

“I’m good. I just left dinner. I really want to see you tonight.”

“I really want to see you too.” Damn, another slip.

“Good!” he said happily.

“Are you going to walk through my front door in two minutes?” I chuckled, attempting to cover up my mistake.

“Mike, stop right here. I’ll see you tomorrow.” It sounded like he had the phone away from his face, and then I heard a car door slam. I could hear

his breathing rate pick up.

“Why does it sound like you’re running?” I asked.

“Because I’m halfway down your alley,” he breathed back.

I ran to the back door.

A few moments later a dark cloaked figure slipped through my back door. The hood of his jacket was pulled way up to hide his face and he had

his large messenger bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes met mine and a huge smile appeared on his face.

“Hey you,” Ryan greeted me, slipping his hand through his hair to knock his hood back. The lights in the kitchen made the reddish tinge in his

dirty blond hair even more noticeable.

“Hey back,” I said, matching his beaming smile with my own as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders to give me a quick hug.

“Brrr, it’s cold out there.” Ryan shivered slightly and stepped back to release me. “Um... so, how are you?” His eyebrows narrowed.

“I’m good!” I was smiling so hard my face started to hurt. He gave me a little wink. So much for not letting him hug me.

“You look… great!” he complimented. He ran his eyes down my body; his fingers touched the edge of my shirt.

His eyes seemed to linger until the music playing in the pub distracted him.

“Sounds like you have another great band tonight.” His head bobbed slightly with the music.

“Thanks! I have ‘Far from Human’ playing.” I gestured. “They’re one of the better cover bands in town.”

“They’re really rocking!” he said. “But I can’t deal with a crowd tonight. I’d rather not have anyone know I’m here.” I could see the concern in his

eyes and I understood what he meant. I knew he didn’t have a private life. “Do you mind if I hang out upstairs and wait until you’re done?”

He smiled my favorite innocent, smirky-smile, which shattered most of my protective shell. The word “no” no longer seemed to exist in my

vocabulary. I motioned with my head for him to follow me.

I squeezed through the kitchen door and opened up the stairwell door, holding my hand out to him. Our eyes met as he gently placed his hand in

mine, then I slipped him from one door to another completely unnoticed.

He took his bag off his shoulder and removed his jacket, making a small pile of his stuff on my living room floor.

Instinctively I walked over to my windows and pulled down the shades. I could only imagine the photographers scaling the walls to take pictures.

“How was your day?” I asked, trying to get back to friends mode.

“Busy. We filmed all day. I just got off the set and then a few of us went out for a quick bite to eat.”

“No rest for the weary, huh?” I teased.

“No, not usually,” he agreed. “But I was actually able to have a meal without fans screaming tonight though!”

“Did you use the Ninja cloaking device?” I kidded.

“I told Cal what you said when we went to dinner tonight. He couldn’t stop laughing.” Ryan chuckled.

I laughed with him, remembering one of our sillier conversations from yesterday. “Were you on your way back to the hotel?”

“Yeah, but I decided to take a detour!” Ryan snorted. “Would have been nice to freshen up though,” he said as he rubbed his face.

“What? No cuts on your lip?” I was looking to see if he was still wearing any special effects makeup.

“No.” He grimaced at my comment. “But it’s been a long day. Hey, do you mind if I take a shower?”

My mind went straight to Hell with the visions that instantly appeared in my thoughts.

“No, I don’t mind.” I tried to sound unaffected by his request. “You know your way around, make yourself at home.” Friends sometimes take

showers at their friend’s houses, I justified.

Thinking about him being naked and wet in my apartment was too dangerous, especially with a crowded bar to attend to. I hurried down the hall

to the bathroom and set out a fresh towel on the counter for him. My mind wandered as I tried not to envision him all soapy and wet in my shower.

I could all too clearly picture him standing in the stream of hot water as the soap lather gathered in the crevices of his muscular frame, washing

him clean. Do friends sometimes wash their friends? Naked, wet, hot sex in the shower... could I handle a “friends with benefits” relationship with

him? Stop! Bar. Business to run. Focus Taryn.

“I have to run downstairs and make sure Marie is okay covering the bar. I have a new bartender working tonight. I’ll be right back. Can I get you

anything to drink while I’m down there?” Back to business mode.

“Yeah, no problem. Do what you have to do.” He nodded at me.

“Ah… if you can bring me back a beer, that would be great,” he said as he wheeled around in a bit of a circle.

“Do you have a preference?” I figured I’d ask.

Ryan smiled. “Surprise me!”

After I settled things with Marie to cover the bar, I returned to him with a six pack in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other. He peeked up

over some papers in his hand; a very sultry grin cracked on his lips as he shook his head at me in disbelief again.

“So what are you reading?” I handed a cold bottle of beer to him.

“I got a new script that my agent wants me to look over.” He briefly held the papers up in the air. “It’s called Slipknot.”

I had never seen a movie script before and I was surprised to see it was a pretty thick packet.

“What’s it about?” I asked, genuinely interested in knowing what types of movies he was being courted for.

“I’ve been told it’s about a guy whose parents and sister are murdered and he has to uncover why it happened and who did it.” He took a sip of