let anything stop you.”
“You don’t mind that I took you out?”
“I wish I’d played smarter and God knows I hate to lose, but it wouldn’t have meant anything if I knew you’d handed me the win.”
A warmth ran through Betsy’s veins, and she was reminded again just why she’d fallen in love with this guy.
“But the Tripp thing,” he said, keeping his eyes firmly focused on the road. “I have to admit that bothers me.”
“You mean that he planted the flag in your fort?”
“Forget the fort.” Ryan’s hand cut a dismissive swath through the air. “That was a game. I’m talking real life. I’m talking about you wanting to date him and me at the same time.”
I don’t really want to date him, Betsy yearned to say, I only want you. But she kept her mouth shut.
He slanted a sideways glance. “You can date him if you want, but I’m not going to date anyone else. I don’t want anyone else.”
“What if Adrianna came and begged you to take her out?” The question popped out of Betsy’s mouth before she could stop it.
“I’d say no.” Ryan met her gaze. “Even if she got down on her hands and knees.”
Betsy slipped her arm through his and moved as close to him as the seat belt would allow, resting her head on his shoulder. She heaved a contented sigh. “I like being with you.”
Ryan’s body relaxed. He took one hand off the wheel, then slipped it around her shoulder. “When we get to your house, invite me in?”
“Of course you can come in.” Betsy lifted her head slightly. “Though I don’t know what I have to offer you. The fridge is pretty bare.”
He pulled up to a stop light, then glanced her way, his gaze dark with desire.
A fire ignited in Betsy’s belly. The air became charged with electricity. Desire flowed through her veins like hot lava. She wasn’t sure how she managed to keep from self-combusting before they reached her apartment. She looked for Mr. Marstand’s car when they pulled into the parking lot, then remembered that he was spending the day—and hopefully the night—with his sister in Idaho Falls.
The only other obstacle to a romantic evening was Puffy. The dog ran to greet her when she opened the door, then turned and unexpectedly bared her teeth to Ryan.
“Hey, Puffball,” he said, looking startled.
The dog began to bark.
“I don’t know what to do with her,” Betsy said, feeling the mood slip away with each yip.
“I have an idea.” Ryan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small green-colored bone. “I picked this up for her. My parents’ dog used to love these.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a Greenie. They’re good for dogs.”
“Puffy can be somewhat picky....”
Ryan leaned down, the bone dangling from his fingers. The Pomeranian paused midyap, swiveled her head and snatched it from his hand.
Betsy smiled as the animal ran across the room to sit on the rag rug in front of the sofa with her new acquisition. “I think she likes it.”
“And I like you.” He kissed Betsy’s nose.
“Want a tour of the house?”
He cocked his head, his gaze puzzled. “I think I’ve been in every room.”
“What about the bedroom?”
The light of understanding flashed in his eyes. “I’d like to check that room out again.”
Betsy reached over and cranked up the thermostat as they walked by. Once they reached her bedroom, Betsy’s courage began to falter. She’d never been good at this kind of stuff....
He must have sensed her distress because he moved to her side. “I know you’re probably ready to start flinging off clothes, but I’d like to just talk for a while.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Are you teasing me?”
He took her hand and tugged her to the bed. When she sat down, he took the place beside her, his fingers still laced with hers. “How about we kick off our shoes and see who can make them go the farthest?”
“They’ll hit the wall.”
“We could see whose shoes can hit the wall at the highest point.”
“Are you crazy? I don’t want marks on my—” She chuckled. “Okay, we’ll take off our shoes, but we’re not kicking them anywhere. Understand?”
Ryan slipped off one boot and then the other. “I guess I’ll have to think of another game to play.”
Betsy unlaced her shoes, trying to figure out what Ryan had up his sleeve.
“Is that a music box?” He pointed to a trinket box with a blue base covered with brightly colored horses.
Betsy leaned forward and grabbed the box. When she opened the top the horses began to revolve while the “Carousel Waltz” played. “My mother gave me this on my seventh birthday. I think it was because she knew I loved carousels.”
“A thoughtful gift.”
“Yes, it was.” Even though in recent years it seemed she could only recall the bad times, there had been some good, too.
“I’ve got an idea for a game,” Ryan said. “Have you ever played Pass the Parcel?”
“Is that sort of like hot potato where you pass something around and if you have it in your hand when the music stops, you’re out?”
“Yes, except we would pass the music box back and forth and when the music stops whoever has it will take off an item of clothing and share something about themselves.”
“Are you serious?”
“What’s the matter? No spirit of adventure?”
Betsy thought for a second. She’d been lucky today. If her luck continued just a little while longer, Ryan would soon be naked and so would she. It was a heady thought. “I’m game.”
For the first few minutes, the clothing came off slowly. A sock here. A sock there. She learned that Ryan hated asparagus but loved tuna. She shared her fear of spiders and love of anything chocolate. But now, they’d made it to the point where a shirt or pants would have to come off.
The music box moved carefully between them, the sound of the tinny waltz filling the air. Ryan had just passed it to her when the sound stopped.
“Share, then strip.” A devilish gleam shone in his eyes. “This time something about family.”
