SWNOVELS My Ex-Boyfriend’s Brothers: Chapter 7
Another of Brad’s big brothers, Ryan was as free looking as Brad was rigid. Curly brown hair, big blue eyes with eyelashes I wanted to steal, and a smile always at the ready, Ryan had always been my favorite. Jackson was intense. Luke, the oldest, was also intense. Ryan was… Ryan was easy-going and sweet.
He caught me before I could fall and grinned down at me. “Whoa. Where’s the fire?”
I smiled despite the fact that I felt like screaming. “I was just going to get some fresh air. How are you?”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and steered me towards the exit. “Better than you it seems. You look like you’re about to snap. I hate to tell you, but you missed your chance at a real Snapped moment. You were supposed to do it while you were with Brad.”
I laughed and let out a sigh as some of the tension left my body. “I just got some not great news. It’s fine. It’s the life of a wedding planner. You look great, by the way. Your tan is making me jealous. Where have you been?”
He opened the door for me and followed me out. “I’ve been here and there. I want to hear about you and this bad news, though. I’m a helper. Let’s see if I can’t cheer you up.”
I sat in one of the log rocking chairs on the huge front porch and smiled when Ryan leaned on the porch railing in front of me. “Honestly, that Snapped comment helped.”
“Come on, Maggie. Tell me what went wrong.”
“The photographer canceled. Just a few minutes ago. And there’s no one else willing to take the job so last minute. Your brother is being a total pain in the ass about everything being perfect and I’m pretty sure not having a wedding photographer is something he’s going to see as not perfect.” I sighed. “It’s trivial in the big picture of life but monumental in this event.”
He braced his hands on my knees and raised his brows. “I’m a little insulted that it only took you three years to forget everything about me. I thought I meant more than that.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t shoot weddings, but my travel photography has been published in a lot of places over the years. People tell me that means I’m pretty good at my job.” He laughed when my face didn’t change. “I could shoot the wedding, Mags. It’s not like I’m going to be hanging onto every word Brad says or getting emotional about my baby brother’s wedding. I’d honestly love a reason to check out.”
I sat up. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. How about we meet later and I can show you some of my stuff? Actually, not later tonight. I told Dad I’d join him for dinner tonight. Unfortunately. Tomorrow? We can do a test photoshoot so you can tell me what you think about the idea.”
I stood up and hugged him. “Thank you so much, Ryan! You have no idea how much you’re saving me.”
He wrapped his arms around me and it only took me a second to realize that neither of us were moving away. A wave of butterflies erupted in me and I was struck with the way his body felt and the way he smelled like warm vanilla. It wasn’t just that. It was the way he hugged me, holding me with his hands nearly resting on my ass. It was also the way he turned his head just slightly and breathed in like he was smelling me the same way I was smelling him.
I forced myself to pull away but it was slow and lingering. Ryan’s face hovered next to mine for a few seconds before I cleared my throat and sank back into the rocking chair. My heart was racing and I could feel how warm my cheeks had gotten. I could tell he saw my flushed face and I panicked as the doubt entered my brain.
Had I just been clinging to him and imagining that he was doing the same to me? Had I created the entire thing in my head? Had he noticed that I was doing it? It was humiliating.
Worse even was the way I was definitely attracted to Ryan when I’d just left his brother’s bed. I wanted to get up and sprint back home to my little apartment where things were normal and I wasn’t feeling lusty over multiple of my ex’s brothers.
“Tomorrow then? We should do sunset so I can take advantage of the lighting. Since it’s around dinner, why don’t I bring food?”
I nodded, still lost in my head. “Yeah. Okay.”
He grinned his signature Ryan grin and leaned forward to push my hair behind my ears. “I’m really glad this isn’t your wedding to my shithead little brother. That would’ve made our date tomorrow pretty fucking awkward.”
I gaped at him, mouth flapping as I tried to put a stop to whatever I’d agreed to. I couldn’t go on a date with him! I’d just slept with his brother! After being in a relationship with his other brother for three years!
“You’re cute when you’re surprised.”
“Ryan!” That was all I could get out, just his name.
He stood up and backed away. “And hot when you’re shouting my name. I’ll see you tomorrow for our date, Maggie.”
I watched as he sauntered off towards the private cabins like he didn’t have a care in the world. Unlike me, who had all the cares in the world. I had so many cares that they were coming out of my ears.
I took a deep breath and looked at my schedule. I didn’t have time to crumble over my newly awakened sexual desire. I had to meet with the baker in town in less than an hour and the drive was half that.