by Laney Smith
“Just don’t start it if you can’t . . . Go find your house.”
“Are you going to call me and tell me how he’s doing?”
“Yeah,” she smiled.
Ryan exhaled heavily as he flashed a seductive smile. “You’re trouble.”
“Me?” Corlay gasped. “You! You’re trouble.”
“Call me, please?”
“Sure,” Corlay smiled.
Ryan hugged her again and started for the door. He looked back at her, furrowing his brow as though completely captured by the woman in front of him. He groaned a throaty growl as he exited the door with a smile.
After Ryan left, Corlay rolled her eyes, disgusted with herself for how flirty she had been. She didn’t want to intrude on Nathan and Ryan’s friendship, though she sure wasn’t putting up much of a fight, either. She was flattered that Ryan was paying attention to her. She would always put her child’s needs before her own. However, Ryan was awakening something within her that had been dormant for a long time. It made her feel alive, again. When he flirted with her, it made her feel good about herself. At least until she tried to figure out what someone like him could possibly want with someone like her. Regardless, it made her feel desirable, and she liked that feeling, even if Ryan was just looking for a new field to play in. When she ignored all the logical questions, she felt giddy and as though Ryan added a vibrancy to her monotonous adult world. Maybe Nathan wouldn’t know. The best of both worlds. Corlay smiled a devious grin, feeling selfish, but too swept away to care.
~NINETEEN~
When Ryan met up with Scottie, she looked just as beautiful as ever. Ryan smiled at her and bobbed his head once in a gesture of greeting.
“Hello,” she sang as she leaned against the side of her car, crossing her legs and folding her arms across her chest as she looked up at him. “You’re not being a nanny, today?”
Ryan tilted his head, peering at her from under his brow ridge in a disapproving glare. “He’s sick.”
“So, you wanna go see it?” she asked with a flirty grin as she motioned toward the house.
“Yeah,” Ryan answered with a confused look on his face. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You can ask me anything,” she purred, biting her lower lip.
He squinted, a piercing glare radiating and scorching as his eyes locked on hers. “Did you tell Nathan not to call me?”
“Oh, when you were looking at the other house? I didn’t want him to bother you while you were looking. I was able to take care of him while you walked around upstairs. That’s all.”
“Uh huh,” Ryan nodded as his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek. “Were you worried he’d wake me up while I was walking around upstairs, too? Is that why you told him not to call me and wake me up? Is that why you told him you’re my girlfriend? Would that be why you told him that I live with you and that his calls wake you up, too? Sure! It all makes perfect sense, now. I’m glad I asked. I was a bit fuzzy on a few things, there for a minute,” he said, sarcastically as he stared into her eyes, without blinking.
“I’m trying to help you, that’s all. Did he tell you that I told him I’m worried about how stressed out you are? Because I told him that, too,” she offered in a soft tone. “I’m trying to help.”
Ryan stepped closer to her, his eyes scanning her face before he met her gaze, again. He subtly shook his head as he sighed. “It’s a fight you won’t win. I can’t make that any clearer for you.”
Scottie seemed sincere as a regretful look spread over her face. “You’re right. It’s none of my business.”
Ryan’s eyes shifted around as though he were waiting for some sort of backlash to follow. He nodded and pressed his lips together. “Thank you.”
It seemed Scottie felt put in her place. Her demeanor was more professional as Ryan toured the house. Again, he knew as soon as he stepped into the entry way this was not the house for him. However, in an effort to be polite and keep the peace, he went along with the tour. As they approached the master bedroom, Scottie stood outside the bedroom door, encouraging Ryan to inspect the sleeping quarters, himself. He smiled as he walked past her, noticing the cold distance from her.
He shook his head. “I can save you a little time. This isn’t it.”
“No?” she asked in surprise. “You’re making me look bad. I always get it by the third house.”
As though it were cued, Ryan’s phone rang. “Hold that thought,” he said as Scottie rolled her eyes.
He slid his finger across his screen. “Hi, Mom.”
“I just wanted to remind you that Rick is coming for dinner. I know you’re angry with me. But, it would -”
“I’m not angry with you,” Ryan interrupted. “I’m sorry I was a jerk to you. It’s not because of you.”
“Will you please be here for dinner? Just test the waters and see how things go with Rick. Please?”
Ryan sighed, with a soft growl as he exhaled. “Alright. But, it’s going to get ugly. You may as well prepare yourself.”
“Rick promised he won’t let it get ugly. So, if you’ll make the same promise . . .”
“I’ll try,” Ryan conceded. “I’ll be there. Usual time?”
“Six o’clock. I love you and I’ll see you, soon,” Frannie said.
“I love you, too.”
Ryan ended the call and thought for a second as his eyes scanned the house around him. It seemed like a dump, stashed in a nice outer shell. His professional partnership with Scottie seemed to be a waste of time. It wasn’t that she didn’t try - sort of. Ryan simply felt their “ideal visions” were very different. It also seemed to be in poor taste for him to ask Scottie to help him procure property for his potential new business venture – a greenhouse – considering the reasons he wanted it.
Ryan smiled as he realized what he was thinking.
“What is that look all about?” Scottie asked with a curious excitement. “You look like a man with a very wicked plan. It was like I just watched it blow up all over your face. What is this expression?” she asked, twirling her hand through the air.
Ryan reached for her hand and kissed the back of it before he sighed and flashed her a regretful look.
“You’ve been great to work with. But, this isn’t working.”
She hiccupped a giggle before she realized he was serious.
“Wait! What?” she demanded.
Ryan shrugged. “It should be a relief. At least I won’t be tarnishing your record.”
“What’re you talking about? OK. Forget what I said. I don’t care about a record. Is this because of that kid?”
Ryan shook his head. “Just be my friend. Let’s hang out or whatever. But, no more house hunting.”
“Are you out of your mind? Hanging out doesn’t pay my commission.”
“Neither does parading me through all the wrong houses,” he said with a dimply grin. “It’s nothing personal. We’ve just gone as far as we can with this house hunting expedition.”
“I swear, if you go sign with another realtor, I’ll find out. I will hunt you down and -”
Ryan pursed his lips and arched his eyebrows. “We can’t be friends? We can’t have a friendship outside of real estate?”
“Don’t look at me with your bedroom eyes as you’re telling me you’re firing me. You, asshole,” she whined. She put her palm to her forehead as she stared at him. “You’re serious?”
The dimples burrowed deeper into his cheeks as a smile spread across his face. “You’re gorgeous, Scottie. But, all the beauty in the world is not going to dumb me down enough to buy a house I just can’t live in.”
“Tell me what you want, then,” she whined. “Don’t quit on me, now. I’ll get serious. I’ll find you whatever you want. I’ll be nice to that brat child. I’ll even . . .”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” he said in his nurturing tone as he winked at her. “I’m one client. So, what?”
“What did I do wrong?”
Ry
an fought the urge to bust out laughing as he flashed her a condescending look. He smacked his lips, locked into her stare as he sauntered toward a corner at the top of the stairs. “This,” he said as he pointed to the corner, “is shower caulk. Most people use spackle to cover cracks. This shit?” Ryan chuckled as he shook his head. “It’s not you. This just isn’t working.”
“No one ever complains. Come on, Ryan. Give me a little more time. I can find you the house you want. I’ll just get serious and stop trying to get in your pants,” she flirted as she moved toward him, looping her fingers in his belt loops. “As long as you promise I can still get into your pants, I’ll focus on finding the house of your dreams. I promise.” She bit her lower lip as she stretched up to kiss him. “Promise I can get into your pants?” she asked as her lips brushed against his.
“Yes. But, you’re still fired,” he smiled as their lips pressed together.
“I’ll change your mind.”
Ryan stared down at her, arching his eyebrows as he shook his head. “Sorry.”
“You know what we could do, since we’re here?” Scottie flirted.
Ryan gripped her hand and started toward the stairs. “Come on. I gotta get you out of here before this place falls down around us.”
“Want to go try to break my bed, again,” she played as he dragged her behind him down the stairs and toward the door.
“I have dinner with my family, tonight. Another time, OK?” he suggested as he lifted her hand in his over her head and spun her.
Scottie abruptly stopped his efforts, her eyes locking on his. “Is something different between us, now?”
“Um, nope. You’re still as spoiled and demanding as ever,” he teased as he attempted to kiss her.
She pulled away. “Something seems different. You seem different.”
“I am different. I just figured out what I can do to keep from sitting around, collecting dust and withering into human jerky. I’m excited. I’m motivated and inspired. So, forgive me. I feel like I have a purpose. I’m excited about that,” he offered enthusiastically.
“So, what is it? What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to open a nursery for exotic plants,” he smiled.
Scottie looked at him in confusion, her eyes darting around as she processed what he said. “A pot farmer? You’re going to grow pot?”
“Hmm . . . I . . . don’t . . . think so,” he nervously answered. “No. Well, no. I mean, I’m not going to grow pot. I don’t know what the nursery will grow. I don’t know anything about plants, other than they’re green - or flowers - or trees. I don’t care,” he shrugged. “Who cares! I want all the landscaping architects to know this greenhouse. You don’t care, do you?” he smiled. “I’m rambling. I don’t know. I just - It doesn’t have to make sense to you. I know what I’m doing.”
“From baseball to plants. Wow! It was more fun to brag about banging a baseball player.”
Ryan smirked as he twirled one of her curls around his fingers. “I wouldn’t embarrass you like that. Come on, now! Just because I want to buy a nursery doesn’t mean I want anyone to know about it. In fact, I’d prefer no one knew. So, brag about whatever you want. I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“You should get back into baseball. Be a coach or something. Don’t give up your dream. Women love athletic men.”
Ryan chuckled. “Go sell a house or something.”
“Will I see you later?”
“I can’t. I have a family dinner, remember?”
“All night long? We should make videos,” Scottie flirted.
“No.”
“It could be good for both of us if those leaked out,” she teased.
“I could put you in touch with some of my buddies that would tell you that’s not as much fun as you would think.”
“I want to be famous. Ryan Priest’s girlfriend. Make me famous, Ryan. Maybe not sex tapes. Whatever! I don’t care. But, I don’t want to be your little closet girlfriend. You fired me. Help me out,” she urged.
Ryan chuckled as he shook his head. “You don’t want to be associated with me. The guy that got shit canned for a gambling problem? You sure you want that?”
“You’re famous. Nobody cares about that stuff.”
“Heh! O…K! Yeah. We’ll figure something out. I gotta run.”
“You gotta help me. Since I won’t be making commission on you, you could do this for me,” she reasoned. “I’ll make you look good. It’s not like it would hurt you, right?”
“Yeah, sure. Really, I gotta go.”
Scottie squealed as she hugged Ryan’s neck and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best! Call me later?”
“OK,” Ryan flatly returned.
Scottie pointed to his cheek. “I’m not wiping the kiss print away. I like it here.”
Ryan watched her tiny frame dance toward her car as she slid into the driver’s seat. He shook his head as though he were freeing it from some sort of binding. He muttered to himself as he went to his car to leave.
“I thought that was never going to end. Shit!”
~TWENTY~
After a few errands, Ryan turned into his parent’s driveway. Parked at the curb was a shiny, new Volvo of some sort. He studied the car in his rearview mirror for a second.
“Fancy, Rick. Nice little family mobile,” he chuckled to himself. “Ah, boy!”
It was just around five-thirty when he stepped out of his car and strolled toward the porch. He had no clue what to expect from his older brother, though he doubted handshakes and jokes about the good ol’ days were on the agenda. As he trudged up the steps, the door flew open and there he stood. Rick.
Ryan stared into his brother’s eyes for a second before he nodded. “Hey, Rick.”
“Ryan,” his brother returned, coldly. “Pretty nice jalopy you’re running around in. Must be nice.”
Ryan pulled his keys out of his pocket and tossed them to his brother with a smile. “It’s quick.”
“Ah, you can keep those. I kind of grew up – outgrew Camaros,” Rick jabbed as he tossed Ryan’s keys back to him.
“You didn’t grow up. You must’ve died. No one outgrows their love of Camaros.”
“I’ve been a little preoccupied with raising kids – putting their needs in front of my wants. Responsibility. You know. Or, then again, maybe not.”
“It’s been a while. How’ve you been?” Ryan asked, ignoring the bait his brother was setting out.
“Has it been a while? I guess I forgot. Probably because it seems like I see your face looking up at me every single day.”
“You got a question?”
“I’m pretty sure I know the answer. I think I just want to hear what you have to say, after all this time.”
Ryan stared blankly at his brother. “It didn’t happen, Rick.”
“Why? Man, all you have to do is be honest,” Rick fumed.
“You don’t believe I did it, either and you know it. I’m not going to defend myself on this anymore. I did not do it. You know that. But, you can’t beat the hell out of her, can you? So, I’m the designated asshole.”
“I see your kid, Ryan. I see the proof of her story. She stares up at me every day. And, you know what? She calls me Daddy.”
“As she should. You are her daddy, Rick.”
“We’ll see what you say after you see her,” Rick snapped as he turned, poking his head in the door calling to his daughter. “Nicky. Come here, sweetie.”
Frannie came to the door, holding the little girl in her arms as she glared at Rick. Little blonde ringlets fell around her shoulders and her deep blue eyes shifted from Rick to Ryan. The little girl turned her head away from the men, hugging her grandmother.
“Don’t do it, Rick. You’re going to scare her,” Frannie pleaded.
“No, I’m not. Put her down.”
Frannie glared at Rick. “You two work it out without involving her.”
“Let her papa see her,” Rick insisted. “Let him get a go
od look at her.”
“Rick, it’s not true,” Ryan said.
“You two should be ashamed of yourselves,” Frannie griped looking from one to the other. She hugged Nicky, turned away from the men, and went in the house, closing the door behind her.
“Still want to tell me she’s not yours?” Rick demanded. “Did you see her eyes, Ryan? Did you see her? An exact replica in tiny, female form.”
“This shit is about to stop,” Ryan said as he fished his keys out of his pocket for a second time.
“Where in the hell are you going?”
“To the drugstore. They have some kind of mail-in test kits there. I’m not watching you ruin that little girl’s life because you’re being a stubborn idiot. Come with me. Don’t. I don’t care. That beautiful, little girl is your baby, brother.”
Ryan got in his car and within a few seconds, the engine growled to life. Rick watched as his brother backed out of his parent’s driveway. He felt torn as he watched Ryan drive away. Ryan seemed truthful. However, Sasha seemed to be truthful, as well. Why would she lie?
When Rick went inside, Frannie smacked his arm as she glared at him. “Did you run him off? Huh? Is that what you did?”
“He’ll be back,” Rick said with a grit in his tone.
“Well, where is he going? What did you say?”
“I don’t know,” Rick said as he dropped his head. “He’s going to get some test or something.”
“Good!” Frannie barked. “It’s about time.”
“I’m not . . . We can’t put Nicky through those tests. She’s too little. She won’t understand,” Sasha argued. “Rick, we already discussed this.”
“Nicky will be just fine,” Frannie said as she glared at her daughter in-law.
When Ryan came back into the house, he took a box out of the brown paper bag and dumped the contents on the dining table. He looked at all the eyes in the room that watched every move he made and he scoffed.
“Some people have family game night. Not the Priest family! We do family paternity test night. We’re such a wild bunch,” he griped. “I want you all to watch very closely so it can’t be said that I faked anything.”