As Ryan turned to speak with one of his men, Laura took a moment to study him. He’d always been handsome, but the years had been kind to him. He carried himself with a quiet confidence that she found irresistibly attractive. And the way he’d handled those bikers.
Laura shook her head, trying to dispel the direction of her thoughts. She was married, she reminded herself. Even if things with Leon were rocky right now, that didn’t change the fact.
Ryan returned to her side. “All set,” he said. “Ready to go?
aura nodded, suddenly aware of how close he was standing She could smell his cologne, a subtle, masculine scent that made her
pulse quicken
CHAPTER SEVEN – KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR
고고
As they walked to his car, Ryan placed a gentle hand on the small of her back, guiding her. The touch sent a sliver up Laura’s spine, and she found herself leaning into it slightly.
“Se,” Ryan said as they settled into the plush leather seats of his car, “tell me what you’ve been up to all these years.”
Laura laughed, a nervous sound that surprised even her. “Oh, you know,” she said, frantically trying to think of something to say that didn’t involve her current marital crisis. “Work, mostly. I’ve been doing some freelance graphic design.”
Ryan nodded, looking genuinely interested. “That’s great. You always had a good eye for design ”
As they pulled out of the gas station and onto the highway, Laura found herself relaxing. The conversation flowed easily between them, touching on old memories and catching up on the years they’d spent apart. Ryan told her about his business ventures, his voice animated as he described his latest projects.
Laura found herself hanging on his every word, admiring the passion and drive that had always been a part of him. She remembered the Ryan she’d known in college–ambitious, charismatic, always with big dreams. It seemed he’d achieved many of them.
“And what about you?” Ryan asked, glancing at her. “Any big dreams you’re chasing
Laura hesitated, her throat tightening. Her dreams had become somewhat lost in the day–to–day struggle of her marriage. “I’m… still figuring that out,” she admitted.
Ryan nodded, his expression understanding. “Sometimes it takes a while to find our path,” he said. “But I’ve always believed you were capable of great things, Laura.”
His words warned her, and she found herself smiling. “Thanks, Ryan. That means a lot.”
As the miles passed, Laura found herself stealing glances at Ryan’s profile. The strong line of his jaw, the way his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners when he smiled. She remembered how it felt to be held by him, to be the focus of his attention.
Stop it, she chided herself. You’re married. This is just two old friends reconnecting
But as Ryan’s hand accidentally brushed hers while reaching for the radio, Laura couldn’t deny the spark of electricity that passed between them. She saw Ryan’s eyes flick to her for a moment, and she wondered if he’d felt it too.
The rest of the journey passed in a blur of conversation and stolen glances. As they approached New York, Laura Jelt a mix of excitement and apprehension. She had no real plan, no friend waiting for her. But she couldn’t bring herself to admit the truth to Ryan
As they entered the city, Ryan turned to her. “Where am I dropping you off?”
Laura’s mind raced “Oh, um Central Park,” she said, picking the first landmark that came to mind. I’m meeting my friend there.”
Ryan nodded, navigating through the busy streets. As they pulled up to the park, Laura felt a pang of regret. She didn’t want this time with Ryan to end.
“Well, here we are,” Ryan said, putting the car in park. “It was really great seeing you, Laura.”
Laura nodded, her hand on the door handle. “You too, Ryan And thank you again, for everything.”
There was a moment of silence, heavy with unspoken words. Then Ryan reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Here, “he said, holding it out to her. “In case you need anything while you’re in the city. Or… If you just want to catch up again.”
Laura took
ook the card, their fingers brushing, “Thanks,” she said softly “I’d like that.”
With a final smile, she stepped out of the car. As Ryan drove away, Laura stood on the sidewalk, clutching his business card and wondering what she’d gotten herself into
With a sigh, she turned and headed into the park, her mind already searching for a nearby hotel where she could stay and figure out her next move.
As she walked, she couldn’t shake the lingering warmth of Ryan’s presence, or the complicated mix of emotions their reunion had stirred up.
-ON THE
CHAPTER EIGHT–ON THE CROSSROADS
The following morning, Laura was jolted awake by the shrill ring of her hotel room phone. Groggily, she reached for the receiver, her mind still foggy with sleep.
“Hello?” she mumbled, stifling a yawn.
“Laura?” The familiar voice on the other end instantly cleared the cobwebs from her mind. “It’s Ryan.”
Laura sat up straight in bed, suddenly wide awake. “Ryan? How did you…?”
She could almost hear the smile in his voice as he replied, “I have my ways, I hope you don’t mind, but I couldn’t stop thinking about our reunion yesterday. I was wondering if you’d like to join me for lunch?”
r more
Laura’s heart raced. She knew she should decline, make up some excuse about her fictional friend. But the prospect of spending time with Ryan was too tempting to resist
“I’d love to,” she heard herself say, a mix of excitement and guilt swirling in her stomach.
“Great!” Ryan’s enthusiasm was palpable. “I’ll pick you up at noon. Wear something nice – I want to take you somewhere special.”
As Laura hung up the phone, she couldn’t help but smile. The rational part of her brain was screaming that this was a bad idea, but her heart was doing cartwheels.
At precisely noon, Laura stepped out of the hotel, feeling both nervous and exhilarated. She’d chosen a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, paired with elegant heels. As Ryan’s car pulled up, she saw his eyes widen appreciatively.
“You look stunning,” he said as she slid into the passenger seat.
Laura felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself.”
Ryan grinned, looking dashing in a tailored suit. As they drove through the bustling streets of New York, Laura found herself stealing glances at him, admiring the way the sunlight played across his features.
Their destination turned out to be an exclusive rooftop restaurant with a breathtaking view of the city skyline. As they were led to their table, Laura couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. This felt dangerously like a date
“So,” Ryan said as they settled into their seats, “tell me more about what you’ve been up to. I feel like we barely scratched the surface yesterday.”
Laura took a sip of water, buying herself time. “Oh, you know, she began, carefully avoiding any mention of Leon, “work keeps me busy. But what about you? Your business seems to be thriving”
Ryan launched into an animated description of his latest ventures, his eyes lighting up with passion. Laura found herself captivated, not just by his words, but by his energy and enthusiasm.
As their meals arrived – exquisitely prepared dishes that looked more like works of art than food – the conversation flowed freely. They reminisced about college days, laughing over shared memories and inside jokes.
“Remember that time we snack into the campus pool after hours?” nyan asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Laura laughed, the memory vivid in her mind. “How could I forget? I thought for sure we were going to get caught.”
