Ryan turned back to me, his eyes gentle, almost indulgent. “Maybe. I wanted to see if you’d actually stand up and fight for


    us.”


    I dropped my head, feeling totally crushed. “I barely even tried to resist before Uncle Ryan’s temptations got to me. Ryan, guess I just proved you had me all wrong. Stop being so good to me–I don’t deserve it.”


    With that, I turned and headed for my bedroom, too embarrassed to even look at him.


    But Ryan followed me into the room, standing by the door as he watched me sink <i>onto </i>the couch, lookingpletely defeated. He let out a quiet sigh. “It’s just human nature. Trying to fight it is like fighting against yourself. I don’t me you. I’ll have a real talk with Uncle Ryan about this.”


    I looked up at him nkly. “What are you even gonna say to him?”


    “I’ll tell him to stop interfering in our rtionship,” Ryan said, his voice dropping low and serious.


    “What if he doesn’t agree? Would you really turn against him? Ryan, let’s be rational about this,” I blurted out, jumping to my feet. I honestly didn’t want to be the femme fatale here, the one who brings disaster. I couldn’t bear the me, and I definitely didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of me.


    This isn’t about being kind–it’s just me trying to protect myself.,


    Ryan’s eyes burned into me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Victoria, even now, at a time like this, all you care about is


    whether Uncle Ryan and I will end up as enemies.”


    11


    11


    ‘Am I really acting like a green tea girl right now?‘ I thought.


    ‘Do all guys really fall for this green tea act?‘ I wondered.


    Maybe even fake kindness just looks real to them.


    For a moment, I waspletely speechless.


    Ryan gently cupped my face, his voice soft. “You’re my line in the sand. As long as Uncle Ryan doesn’t cross it and stays away from you, I won’t let things get ugly between us.”


    “Ryan, for real… why do you even like me? Just tell me straight,” I said, getting all serious.


    Ryan leaned in and kissed my neck. “Honestly? I don’t really know. You’ve got this nurturing vibe, like something I’ve always wanted. And don’t freak out, it’s not some weird mommy thing–I’m not into that. Actually, me and my mom aren’t


    even that close.”


    I blinked at him, a little lost. “Why would you even think I’m like that?”


    “Mother Earth, you know? She takes in everything, makes things grow quietly. When you smile, there’s this softness about you–it’s just impossible to resist,” Ryan murmured, his voice low and gentle.


    09:08 Fri, 29 Aug


    The space between us was almost nonexistent, his lips lingering softly against my neck and corbone, like he just


    couldn’t bear to let go.


    90%


    The air in the bedroom seemed to thin out, making it hard to breathe. A flush of heat surged up from deep inside me, and my fingers curled instinctively, as if I could hold back the rush of warmth flooding through my body.


    “Ryan, there are plenty of kind, loving women out there. Why not pick one of them?” I said, thinking to myself, ‘If being caring is somon, I’m definitely not the only one with it.‘


    “Because you’re beautiful,” Ryan murmured, his cheeks suddenly tinged with red, <i>voice </i>husky. “And your eyes… there’s


    something about them. They look like they’ve lived a thousand stories.”


    I froze, caught off guard again. Of course my eyes had stories–how could they not, when I carried memories from two lifetimes?


    “You should go after some A–list actress or something. I bet their eyes have even more stories than mine,” I whispered, my body shivering a little despite myself. Honestly, Ryan was seriously irresistible in this moment.


    Seriously, what woman could ever resist a guy who’s both seductive and pure at the same time?


    Just as his lips started to move down for a kiss, I quickly put my hand on his chest and pushed him away. “Ryan, can we talk about your uncle instead?”


    Ryan reached out and swept me forward, his broad palm sliding around my waist, holding me with surprising tenderness. The pull was so sudden I nearly tumbled right into his chest.


    “If Uncle Ryan’s so worried about us being together, then let’s just do it,” Ryan said, and he didn’t hesitate–his lips


    crashed onto mine.


    AD