Page 25 of Falling for Mr. Wright

“Yeah.” He swayed her to the music. “You were all snug in his chair, with your heels kicked off. I didn’t want to wake you, so I grabbed the red throw he keeps over his couch.”

Sarah stopped dancing. “You were the one who covered me?”

“Guilty.”

She frowned again. “Oh…”

“Is something wrong?”

“No. I just assumed Logan was the one who did it. I thought it was sweet.”

Disappointment gave him a smack back into reality. Well, hell. She probably would have rather gone on believing it was Logan. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“That I spilled the beans that it was me and not him. I’m sure he would have if he’d found you asleep.” Ryan touched her cheek with the back of his hand, wishing the situation were different. That she wanted him, not his best friend.

Maybe it was for the best, though. He’d meant what he’d said on stage—Logan was the better man. What could Ryan give her, really? As much as he wanted her, he’d made no attempt to hide his lack of interest in commitment. Sarah deserved better.

She gave him a shaky smile. “It was nice of you to do. Thanks for looking out for me. You seem to do that a lot.”

Did he? “As your coach, it’s my job.” There. That should put them back where they should be. Friends. Nothing more, nothing less.

He brought her in close, resting one hand on the small of her back. Even if it couldn’t go anywhere, ever, he’d thoroughly enjoy the closeness of her body while he had her in his arms.

“Oh, I get it.” She laughed. “Hold the woman with the two left feet closer to protect your own. Smart move.”

“Yeah.”

Smart move, indeed.Protecting his heart was another matter.

…

“Wow, I can’t believe this weather.” Sarah followed Ryan over to the terrace railing, breathing in the fresh night air. The temperature had dropped, but wasn’t bitter cold.

“Are you cold? I could go get our coats.” Ryan motioned for the glass doors.

“No. I’ll be fine.” She stepped closer toward the railing, taking in the enormous football field. “I’m sorry for what happened earlier at dinner. I probably just made things super uncomfortable—more uncomfortable than they already were, I mean.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Ryan came up beside her, propping his elbows on the railing and leaning in. “I liked seeing feisty Sarah in action.”

“Ha. You should see me when the FedEx guy arrives late on a Friday afternoon.”

“I’m sure that’s a sight.”

She gave him a half smile. “I meant what I said, by the way. I’ve got your back. I mean, you’re my friend and now my love coach. I need to look out for you.”

“Right. The coaching thing. How am I doing?”

“On a scale of one to ten, I’d give you a solid four,” she teased.

Ryan pretended to push a dagger straight through his heart. “That hurts.”

She reached over and moved his hand from his heart, a pleasurable tingle shooting straight up her arm. Damn. She might need another excuse to touch him so she could feel it again. “Don’t worry. I’ll still drop off and pick up your dry cleaning.”

“Pressed pants?”

“Of course.” She laughed and glanced over at the school, imagining Melanie and Jeff doing the Electric Slide on the dance floor, happy they were missing it. As far as she was concerned, they could stay out here for the rest of the party.

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