“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

was when you were leaning into the cooler. Those jeans you were wearing – yum.”

He took a deep, sultry breath. “Although the ones you’re wearing now are definitely my new favorites. I’m looking forward to untying them with my

teeth later.”

“Just don’t rip them! They were expensive.”

He shrugged and scoffed. “I’ll give you my credit card - go buy yourself a dozen more. Tearing those jeans off of you is worth every penny I have.”

I dismissed his comment and continued our private conversation. “What about the distracting belly scratch? What did that do for you?”

He looked at me and smiled bashfully while he chewed on his straw. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Yes!”

He hesitated before answering. “I spent a few moments thinking about violating you on top of this pool table. Sort of the same thoughts I’m

having right now, but now my thoughts are more from memory and less from imagination.”

I heard something bump against the poolroom window, causing me to flinch from the sound. Since no one was near a window, it had to come

from the outside.

“I think someone is trying to look in the window.” I peered over Ryan’s shoulder to see.

He grabbed my forearm and stopped me from getting any closer.

“Don’t,” he warned. “Just ignore it.”

“Ignore what? What’s out there?”

“Paparazzi and fans. We’ve already been informed by our security.”

“Do you have security outside?”

“Yes,” he answered directly.

I tried to imagine it, picturing all their bodyguards and drivers just standing around outside in the cold… bored, hungry, and waiting for the

celebrities.

“Why didn’t you invite the security guys inside? They could’ve at least had some food.”

“No. Their job is to make sure we can relax and not worry about what they’re worrying about.”