Page 96 of Bleeding Hearts Duet

Chapter Thirty

It took Ryland all of one week before he declared he was ready to go back to work. Any sane person would have tried to reason with him, but I knew there was no reasoning with him when he was this way.

It was a side of him I hadn’t ever seen before. He was on edge and going stir-crazy locked up in his apartment. He’d been trying to conduct business from his laptop and cell phone all week, and all of his employees were bearing the brunt of his frustration.

I’d made myself scarce and let him do what he needed to do while I locked myself away in the sewing room. I’d thrown myself into random projects here and there before I felt restless myself. But then I spotted some rolls of tulle, and the wheels in my brain started to spin.

I flipped through patterns and designs as I sought out inspiration. And then it hit me. Like a mack truck.

I don’t know what inspired me to think this was a good idea, but I couldn’t stop myself. I started with one skirt, then I kind of went crazy. Now I had about ten variations, along with a handful of leotards. They were unique with fun patterns and designs, and I had no idea what I would do with them. But for the first time in a long time, I was proud of something I had accomplished.

Until Ryland opened the door and a surge of guilt flooded through me. I didn’t want him to see. I didn’t know how he would handle it. So I rushed up to him and helped him adjust his tie while he tried to look around the room.

“What are you working on in here?” he eyed me suspiciously.

“It’s not finished yet.” I tugged his hand and pulled him from the room. “And besides, it’s a mess in there, you’d hate it.”

“It doesn’t bother me.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Sure it doesn’t.”

“I mean it.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him. “I love your little messes.”

The words slipped from his lips unexpectedly, and I could tell they had surprised him too. Since that day in the hospital, he hadn’t outright told me he loved me again. It was an honest admission and one that made him vulnerable. Something Ryland never liked to be.

“I have to get going,” he said quickly, wiping the moment from existence.

I frowned and started fidgeting, feeling weird about this whole situation. Now that he was better, I didn’t know what I should do.

“I need to find a job,” I blurted.

Ryland leaned down and kissed my cheek as though he’d expected such an outburst. Then he pulled a shiny black card from his wallet. Knowing better than to try to hand it to me right away, he set it on the counter and gave me a moment to come to terms with it.

“I don’t want you to worry about work,” he said. “I want you to focus on your sewing for now.”

“Ryland…”

“And spending time with Nicole,” he added. “Matt has to go back to work today as well, so he’ll be dropping her off here soon.”

I gave him a suspicious glare, wondering if this was a ruse to keep me busy so I didn’t have time to wonder what he was up to. Of course, I wanted to look after Nicole, but I’d talked to her every day on the phone, and she sounded much better.

Ryland strode to the door, and my opportunity was slipping away. It had to be said. There was no way that it couldn’t be said.

“What are you going to do about Brayden?”

He spun around, and his eyes had turned to ice again.

“I don’t want you to worry about these things, Brighton.”

A dry laugh burst from my throat as I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? They’re my family, Ryland. Of course, I have to worry about these things.”

“You’re not like them,” he argued.

“Yes, I am.” I frowned. “I’m from the same stock, Ryland. I’m no better, no different. Their blood runs through my veins, and that’s not something that will ever change.”

My words hardened his jaw, and he looked away. I wasn’t going to lie, it stung.

“Is that the only way you can be with me?” I rasped. “To pretend I’m not one of them?”

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