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Ryan grins again. “They could mean anyone. Do you want to get something to eat?”
“Actually, would it be wrong to tell you that I’d like to get out of here and spend some time alone with you? We could get room service or take a walk and find a café somewhere…I don’t care. I’m just ready for a little quiet. This has been a lot for this small-town girl.”
His eyes warm, and he leans in to press his lips to my ear.
“I’d love nothing more. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
He taps the screen of his phone to, I assume, call the car, and we turn to London and Drew to let them know that we’re taking off.
“I don’t blame you,” London says with a wink. “Go have some downtime. We’re not staying much longer, either.”
“I’m jealous,” Drew says and then grins at me. “I’m ready to go, too. See you later.”
We’re headed toward the door when suddenly, a woman wraps herself around Ryan.
“Well, hello, lover. I was so surprised when I saw you in the audience today, and you didn’t even call to tell me you’d be in town.” Her lips tip down in a pout, making me roll my eyes. “What a magical surprise, baby.”
She moves in to kiss him, and I decide that I’ve had about enough.
“I’d hate to get blood on this brand-new dress, but it might be worth it.”
Ryan takes the woman by the shoulders and pushes her off of him.
“Who is this tiny thing?” she asks, wrinkling her nose like she’s just smelled something from the garbage.
“I can be your worst nightmare,” I reply with a toothy smile. “Especially if you don’t stop trying to touch my man.”
“Have a good evening, Claudia,” Ryan says as he wraps his arm around me, and we turn for the door once more.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Claudia shrieks. “Fuck you, Ryan! You’re a bad lay!”
Without looking back, we climb into the waiting car, and when the door is closed, I take a deep breath.
“Well.” I let it out slowly. “That was fun.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, but I hold a hand up, stopping him.
“You fucked Claudia Dubois?” I turn in the seat and stare at him.
“Years ago,” he confirms without hesitation. “Then I realized she’s loony tunes, and I cut that off real quick.”
I shake my head and right myself in the seat. I’m not mad at him. It’s not his fault at all. Mostly, I’m…amused. I can’t hold the giggle back that escapes my lips.
“Did you just laugh?” he asks me.
I can’t reply. All I can do is laugh some more. I laugh so hard that my sides ache and my cheeks get sore.
When we pull up to the Ritz, the door opens for me, and I step out to more flashing bulbs, but I can’t stop laughing. Ryan hurries around the car to take my hand, and we walk inside and to the elevator.
I’ve just started to calm down when I look up in the mirror on the back of the elevator door and my eyes lock with Ryan’s, and then the giggles start all over again.
He doesn’t speak when the elevator opens or when we walk to our suite.
But once we’re inside, as he’s taking off his jacket, he says, “Does the idea of me with another woman amuse you that much?”
“No.” I shake my head and press my hand to my chest, willing myself to calm down. “No, I wanted to rip her heart out through her throat.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Well then.”
