<b>Chapter </b><b>492 </b>


    Ryan shot me a mock re. “You’re really not shy at all.”


    “I don’t need to be polite with you,” I teased.


    Ryan sighed, a mix of exasperation and affection in his eyes, as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Alright, then don’t hold


    back.”


    When Ryan put his arm around me, I tensed up for a moment, but then I let myself rx. ‘Why am I still so jumpy around him?‘ I thought, but his warmth made it easy to melt into his embrace.


    The butler came over, greeted me politely, and said, “Mr. Jennings, I’m heading out to pick up a few things. You and Ms. Murphy go ahead and start lunch.”


    “Make sure to get enough,” Ryan reminded him with a gentle nod.


    The butler shot Ryan a look that said ‘got it,‘ then headed out and drove away.


    I turned to Ryan right away. “What’s he even going out to get? Aren’t you leaving for Braylin this afternoon?”


    Ryan reached out and pinched my earlobe, his lips curled in a mischievous half–smile. “Vic, you’re just too adorable.”


    I froze for a second, then it hit me. I shot him a re. “You totally sent him away on purpose.”


    “I was worried you’d be too loud…” he said, smirking.


    “Shut up!” I pinched his side hard, and Ryan immediately put on a pleading face. “Ouch! Vic, I won’t do it again.”


    I let go, but my face was still burning. Tootest night I was way too into it, and now Ryan was still totally caught up in the afterglow.


    ‘God, this is so embarrassing I could just die,‘ I thought.


    Ryan pulled out a chair for me. “Sit here,” he said gently.


    I walked over and sat down, and saw five dishes and a soupid out on the table–it was a real feast.


    “Go ahead and try it. See if you like how it tastes,” Ryan said, his voice full of warmth and care.


    I took a bite, and it was honestly delicious. None of that artificial, restaurant–style voring–just real, home–cooked goodness.


    Ryan picked up a piece of beef and ced it in my bowl. “Have some more,” he said softly.


    I stared at the beef Ryan had just put in my bowl, and my heart just melted with warmth.


    After we finished eating, I washed up some fruit and brought it over. Ryan’s phone started blowing up with work calls, so he stepped outside to answer them.


    Watching his back, I realized that the golden boy vibe he used to have was shifting–suddenly there was this air of quiet confidence about him.


    Maybe he was finally leveling up from boy to man, inside and out.


    Θεμι


    Ryan came back from his call, grabbed a grape and tossed it in his mouth, then shot me a smile. “These are seriously sweet.”


    So I tried one myself–yep, definitely sweet. Almost too sweet, probably loaded with fake sugar or something.


    “Vic, you’re even sweeter than these grapes,” Ryan teased. When he saw I missed the hint, he leaned in with a yful smile and exined, “I mean, you’re sweeter than the fruit.”


    I shot him a yful smile. “Oh yeah? Think you’ll ever forget how sweet I am?”


    Ryan shook his head, grinning. “Not a chance. I’m gonna remember it for the rest of my life.”


    “What if… I mean, what if you lost your memory? How would you remember me then?” I teased.


    “Lost my memory?” Ryan chuckled, pinching my cheek yfully. “Even if I ended up in hell, I’d crawl back to find you. Forget about losing my memory.”


    Realizing this was getting way too dramatic, I quickly stood on my tiptoes and leaned in for a quick kiss on his lips. “Don’t worry, that’s never gonna happen.”


    Ryan’s whole face lit up, happiness shining in his eyes as he pulled me into his arms, his lips lingering softly on mine. “Yeah, it won’t. When youe to Braylin, we’ll keep living just <i>like </i>this–just the two of us, happy together.”


    Stunned, I pushed him away, disbelief all over my face. “I just never pictured you as the kind of guy who’d want a quiet, steady life with someone.”


    ‘I was being honest,‘ I thought. ‘At Ryan’s age, he’s got that fire in him–the kind of ambition that wants to take on the whole world. Guys like him are always looking outward, chasing bigger things. How could he possibly be content just living an ordinary life with one woman?‘


    “Don’t sell me short, Vic,” Ryan put on his best puppy–dog eyes, looking all innocent and hurt. “Honestly, I dream about having a cozy ce to call home, and someone waiting for me when I walk through the door.”


    I couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, if there’s ever a chance<i>, </i>I’ll be here, waiting for you.”


    Ryan took the fruit basket from my hands and lifted me off my feet right then and there. Startled, I instinctively clung to his shoulders.


    He spun me around a couple of times, then pinned me against the wall, <i>his </i>strong arms locking me in ce as his lips crashed onto mine.


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