Page 88 of Almost Ours
The buzzof the evening hummed through me–a heady mix of alcohol, the warmth of good company, and the lingering, electric memory of Ryan’s hands on me. I felt weightless, lighter than I had in years. What had happened between us in that bathroom had been something entirely new–intense, consuming, and utterly addictive. I wanted more.Neededmore.
And Ryan… God.
He had looked almost unfairly good tonight. His long, dark hair was slicked back, the ends brushing just past the nape of his neck in a way that made my fingers itch to tangle in it. And that shirt–a dark button-up that clung to his muscles in all the right places, the fabric pulling slightly with every shift of his body. He was all rugged edges and effortless confidence, a perfect balance of refined and rough. Every time I’d glanced at him, heat bloomed low in my stomach, slow and relentless.
Hot didn’t even begin to cover it.
I glanced over to where he stood with Shane, a beer in hand. I’d noticed it was only his second or third of the night–impressive, considering the rowdy energy around us. My lipscurled into a small smile. Responsible and considerate. God, this man was ticking boxes I didn’t even know I had.
As the night began to wind down, I decided it was time to head home. When I caught Ryan’s gaze across the room, it took him all of three seconds to cross the space between us.
“You heading out?” His voice was low, smooth, a quiet contrast to the noise around us.
I nodded, leaning in slightly. “Yeah, I think I’m ready to call it a night.”
“I’ll give you a ride,” he offered, his tone casual–but his eyes said everything his words didn’t.
The thought of being alone with him again sent a slow, spreading warmth through me. I wanted to say yes immediately, but my gaze flicked toward Nina. She was in the middle of a circle of hockey dads, all of them laughing a little too loudly at something she’d said. She didn’t seem to mind the attention, her easy grin lighting up her face.
I turned back to Ryan. “Let me just check with Nina first.”
He nodded, his fingers grazing my arm briefly before he stepped back, the touch fleeting yet enough to send a shiver down my spine. I swallowed, shaking it off as I made my way across the room. As I got closer, I spotted Shane standing off to the side, engaged in what looked like a conversation with one of the hockey moms–or at least pretending to be. His attention kept flicking toward Nina and the men surrounding her, his expression darkening with every burst of laughter that echoed from her group.
He looked pissed.
And honestly? Territorial.
Biting back a grin, I turned my focus to Nina, lightly touching her elbow to get her attention. She glanced my way, her eyes bright, cheeks flushed–whether from the wine or the attention, I couldn’t be sure.
“Hey,” I said. “I’m thinking of heading out. Ryan offered to give me a ride unless you want me to wait for you.”
Nina’s grin widened instantly. Her gaze flicked toward Ryan, then back to me, her enthusiasm cranked up just a little too high. “Oh, you should absolutely go with him.”
I gave her a look. “You sure? I don’t mind waiting.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled me in for a hug, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, “Go with Ryan. Have fun tonight.You deserve this.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I pulled back, trying–and failing–to play it cool. “Thanks, Nina,” I muttered, already bracing for the teasing I knew was coming later.
She gave me a knowing wink before turning back to her admirers, effortlessly slipping back into the conversation. I exhaled, smoothing a hand down my dress as I turned and made my way toward Ryan, who stood waiting near the exit.
This night wasn’t over yet. Not by a long shot.
We stepped out of the party into the crisp night air, our laughter curling into the cold, clouding between us. Snowflakes drifted lazily under the glow of the parking lot lights, dusting the pavement in a shimmering layer. The icy bite seeped through my coat, and before I could even react, Ryan shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
“Chivalrous,” I teased, tugging the jacket closer, the lingering scent of his cologne wrapping around me–warm and grounding, like cedarwood and amber after rain, with a faint spice that curled in my chest.
“Just practical,” he replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Besides, my mom would’ve had a thing or two to say if I didn’t offer my jacket.”
“She sounds like a smart lady,” I said with a grin, but my words faltered slightly when I caught the flicker of something in his eyes–fondness, maybe a touch of sadness.
“She was,” he said simply, his voice soft.
A beat of silence settled between us, filled only by the muffled music and laughter still drifting from the civic centre. The crunch of snow under our boots was the only sound as we crossed the parking lot, our breath hanging in the air. Ryan reached for the truck door, opening it smoothly before his hand brushed against my back, a barely there touch that sent warmth curling low in my stomach.
“Thanks,” I murmured as I climbed in, glancing at him.
As he slid into the seat beside me, he reached over, his fingers grazing mine before he took my hand completely. His touch was rough, warm, steady. He lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles, his eyes flicking up to meet mine with a quiet intensity.
