Page 27 of The Most Perfect Wrong

“Oh. That’s got to be tough,” he says, sounding sincere.

I shrug. “Yeah, it can be. But we make it work.” I smile softly, appreciating the shift in his tone. “What about you? Anyone special in your life? Dating anyone?”

“Nah. I mean, I’ve got special people in my life, but not like that. Not right now.”

“So… special people… family and friends?”

“Yeah, mostly,” he says, his focus split between me and the computer screen.

“Are they here or in Arizona?”

“Both, I guess.”

“Do you have any siblings?” I ask, hoping to get more than a few words out of him.

“Uh, yeah, I do.”

Man, this is like pulling teeth. “Seriously?” I glance over, but he’s still focused on his computer screen. “Yo, earth to Ryan.”

Finally, he looks up. “What?”

I laugh. “I’m trying to get to know you a bit. You know, if we’re going to be spending long hours working together it might be nice to know a few things about each other. Could you give me more than two or three words?”

He smiles faintly. “Sorry, I’m not great at listening and multitasking. I’ve been told it’s a guy thing.”

“Well, you’re the first guy I’ve ever heard admit it. So, props to you.”

He chuckles and closes his laptop. “What do you want to know?”

My heart skips a beat as his eyes lock onto mine, his attention completely on me—almost like the night we met. Heat rushes to my cheeks. God, I can’t think. I break eye contact, glancing at my screen. “How many siblings do you have?” I ask as casually as I can manage.

I catch his grin out of the corner of my eye—like he knows exactly the effect he has on me. He’s so damn cocky.

“Am I allowed to use more than one sentence?” The look he gives me carries a nostalgia in it that makes my pulse quicken.

I smile softly. “Yes. Look, Ryan, I…” I take a breath, calming my nerves. “I swear my intentions were in the right place… that night. I was trying to move on. Haven’t you ever been so heartbroken that you just needed to numb the pain?”

His expression softens as he gives me a nod. “Yeah… I guess I have.”

We don’t break eye contact, a silent peace offering hanging in the air.

He finally breaks the silence. “I’ve got two younger sisters: Natalie, who’s two years younger, and Erica, four years younger. They both live in Scottsdale with their husbands. Natalie has two girls, and Erica has a one-year-old boy.” He grins. “How’s that for more than two words?”

He leans back, stretching his arms above his head, and his shirt pulls tight against his muscles, just enough to remind me of what’s underneath. Dammit. I drag my eyes back to my laptop, but it’s no use. My brain keeps replaying the way his abs felt under my fingertips when he kissed me.Jesus. A pulsing starts between my thighs, irritating the hell out of me. How can I still be attracted to him when he’s been such an arrogant prick? I force my mind back to the present—to focus on whathe just said—because, unlike Ryan, I’m perfectly capable of listening and multitasking.

“Very good, Ryan. You officially know how to engage in a conversation,” I tease.

“Your turn,” he says.

“Well, you have to ask me a question.”

“Tell me about your family. I know your dad lives in Newport, and you have a sister. What else?”

“Well, I’m from Chicago. Grew up in Arlington Heights, north of the city. My parents divorced when I was ten, which was rough, but I always loved visiting my dad in California. It felt cool as a kid—to get on a plane and fly to see my dad who lived on the beach. My friends were jealous, and I kind of relished that. But I was also the only one with divorced parents, so really, I was jealous of them.” I furrow my brows. “Ugh, sorry, getting all nostalgic and sappy.”

“Anyway, my sister Casey—who’s my best friend—lives in Huntington Beach, near my dad. She’s married to Greg, and they have my nephew, Mason, who’s two. And my mom lives here in Highland Park with her very wealthy husband, Steve. And that’s my family in a nutshell. Fascinating, right?” I say, sarcastically.

“Is your dad remarried?” Ryan asks.

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