This Time Around (Maybe #2)(44)

“You’re not going out with him, Tay,” Ryan says, his tone final.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Since when do you control my life?”

“Since you’re trying to spend the day alone with a man who clearly wants in your pants,” he says, his eyes still on Scott, who looks like he wants to be anywhere but here right now. And I don’t blame him. Even I want to be anywhere but here. I turn my back to Ryan, hoping he gets the point. Of course, being Ryan he doesn’t, and decides to move in closer, getting in my personal space.

“I don’t want you going somewhere alone with him,” he says, his voice softer now. He must have noticed I was pissed off and is trying a different approach. Smart man.

I give Scott a drink on the house and he goes back to the table with his friends. I really don’t like being spoken to like that in public. If Ryan had his concerns, he should have pulled me aside and spoken to me quietly, not pee all over me in front of anyone within earshot. I serve another three people and I feel his gaze on me the entire time, but I don’t look at him. I just try and pretend he’s not there, which is pretty hard. It’s extremely difficult to ignore a tall, muscled, sexy man, standing there, watching your every move.

“How long are you going to give me the silent treatment?” he asks, standing directly behind me and gripping my waist gently.

I drop the tea towel in my hand and sigh. “And this is why husbands and wives shouldn’t work together.”

He kisses the top of my head, and turns me around to face him. “I was jealous,” he admits. I lift my gaze to him, surprised by his admission.

“Jealous?” I repeat softly, wanting more of an explanation.

“I know you two are just friends, but… he knows you. He knows you well, and I don’t like that. I want you to be only that close with me,” he says, pursing his lips.

“He’s just a friend, Ryan.”

He rubs the back off his neck. “A friend who you were around while we were separated. I don’t know. I’m not good at explaining things. I just don’t like it. I know he has feelings for you; trust me I know. You can deny it all you want, and f*ck, I don’t blame him because you’re amazing. But, you’re mine, and I don’t want him even thinking he has a chance.”

“Ryan--”

“And how would you feel if I was hanging around with a female friend?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I puff out a breath, not liking that one bit.

“My point exactly,” he says, looking smug.

I suck in my cheeks. “He doesn’t want me. He knows that we’re only friends. Do you really want me to be the type of person that just ditches all the people that were there for her when my heart was broken?”

“At least I fixed it,” he mutters under his breath, looking down.

“I didn’t say that to make you feel bad. I was just trying to get you to understand.”

“I know,” he says, placing his hand on my back. He’s about to say something else when more customers walk up to the bar, wanting drinks. “To be continued later.”

“Okay,” I say, sighing and looking over at Scott who has his eyes on me, a frown marring his expression. Great, he probably thinks Ryan’s controlling me and I’m some weak woman who lets him walk all over me. I stock up the fridge, and tidy everything up as much as I can. I’m collecting empty bottles from one of the tables when Scott walks up to me and pulls something off my back.

“What’s that?” I ask, looking at the piece of paper in his hand. He raises an eyebrow and hands it over to me. The paper reads, ‘property of Ryan’ and he’s stuck it onto my back with a piece of sticky tape, like one would a ‘kick me’ sign. I scrunch the paper up, not knowing whether to laugh or yell. I catch Ryan’s gaze and he gives me a boyish grin and a wink. I shake my head at him, and throw the ball of paper, aiming for his head. He ducks, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

“I’m heading out,” Scott says from next to me. I turn to him, and give him a chaste kiss on his cheek.

“Nice seeing you, Scott. I’ll message you about catching up, okay?”

He smiles and nods, waving once before leaving with his friends. I pick up another empty beer bottle and walk towards the recycling bin, putting them in. Everyone in the bar starts to clear out, and I for one am grateful.

“What time do we close?” I ask him as I approach.

“In about ten minutes. Are you okay?” he asks, taking me into his arms. “You look tired.”

I hide my face into his chest. “I’m fine. A little hungry.”

“Better go feed my woman then… hmmm,” he rumbles, squeezing me tighter. “I’ll quickly close up and then we can go and get something.”

“What do you want me to do?” I ask, looking around.

“The place is sparkling; you’ve done enough. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll make you a drink?” he says, lifting me in his arms. He gropes my ass a little before placing me down on the seat.

“Perve!” I tease, sticking my tongue out.

He stares at my tongue. “Don’t give me any ideas.”

“Like I’d need to!” Let’s just say Ryan can be very… creative.

“True,” he says, smirking.