Page 32 of He Has It All (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“You’re right. But stay with me until I find Levi, will you?” I nod and we turn to go back up the steps to the deck and the party. I want to say something, explain that I’m supposed to be watching out for him, keeping the women away, but my opportunity is lost for the moment when Levi comes bounding down the stairs with Tim and Eli and several other guys.
“What a madhouse in there,” Levi says. “You have the right idea coming outside.” He slides me a glance and nods.
“I was just going back inside to hang with Maggs.”
“Good. She’s looking for you. She has gifts to hand out.” I smile and walk past him, take one glance back at Ryan. He gives me a wink and half grin as the moonlight shines a halo around his golden hair. The knot in the pit of my stomach and weeping of my lady parts force me to run up the last few steps and rush to find Maggs like she’s going to save me from a monster. Said monster being myself, not Ryan. The jerk is behaving perfectly.
Maggs gives out the bridesmaids’ gifts and saves mine for the last. It’s a beautiful charm bracelet with a volleyball and I let tears escape as she hugs me. The tears are not from what she’s assuming, though I am truly grateful for the gift—or for the thought. It’s my own fault I let her think that damn volleyball means so much to me. It does—or it did until—
Oh, who the hell cares anymore? I hug her back with all my might.
We have dinner and I’m separated from Ryan for the rest of the night as he hangs with his brothers, the groomsmen, and Levi, and I sit with Maggie and the bridesmaids. The ladies who’d mobbed Ryan earlier are dispersed through the room and, though I feel surreptitious stares now and again, they seem to have gotten and accepted the message.
Job done. Almost.
As I’m leaving, I say goodbye to the Browns and Mrs. Brown pulls me aside.
“I saw you did your job tonight—chasing those girls away from Ryan. But tomorrow is another matter. At the wedding reception, Ryan won’t be hanging out with Levi. He’ll be on his own and it’ll be a longer party starting at four p.m. with alcohol flowing all afternoon and into the night.”
“You’re right. I’ll be sure and stick to his side, make my position clear.”
She nods. “That’s what I want to hear. Thank you.” She gives me a hug, the real kind, and a kiss on the cheek, making me smile.
If I’m daunted as I find my way back to my room, it’s not about keeping the other women at bay, it’s about keeping myself under control. Because in spite of everything, including good sense and many repeated rebukes, I still want Ryan O’Rourke, still have that crush.
Except now it’s no innocent girlish crush of a teenager. It’s a full-fledged womanly crush full of all kinds of carnal desire.
