Chapter 2

Checking out of the hospital, Ryan was less a person and more a human-shaped barnacle, attached permanently to my side.

Everywhere I went, he followed, his gorgeous eyes filled with a skittish anxiety about the new surroundings and a complete trust in me.

I was soaring.

This was the same guy who could turn me to ice with a single glare if I looked at him for too long at the office.

But now, things were about to get interesting.

"Ryan, come here. Hold my hand," I said, holding out my own with a grin that felt distinctly wolf-like.

He hesitated for a split second before obediently placing his hand in mine.

His palm was huge, completely enveloping my hand in a warmth that seeped straight into my heart.

I tugged him along as I strutted out of the hospital, feeling like I owned the world.

In the bright sunlight, I snuck a peek at him. Was it my imagination, or was the corner of his mouth tilted up in a tiny, almost-smile?

It had to be an illusion, right? There was no way a cold-blooded statue like Ryan actually knew how to smile.

Instead of taking him back to his ridiculously massive mansion, I took him straight to my cozy little one-bedroom apartment.

"This is our love nest," I announced, lying through my teeth. "You always said you preferred staying here. You said it smelled like me, and it helped you sleep."

Ryan scanned the homey but admittedly cramped living room and nodded with a look of newfound realization on his face, as if he was finally piecing his entire world back together.

I pushed him down gently onto the sofa and pulled a slice of strawberry cheesecake from the fridge.

"Open up," I cooed, holding a forkful up to his lips.

He froze, that handsome face of his flushing again. He darted a look from me to the cake and back, as if wrestling with a monumental decision.

"What's wrong?" I pouted, feigning disappointment. "You used to love it when I fed you. You said anything I fed you was the most delicious thing in the world."

That worked. He immediately leaned forward and took the bite of cake.

A smudge of white cream clung to the corner of his mouth, looking sinfully tempting.

My heart did a little flip-flop.

On pure impulse, I reached out, swiped the cream from his lip with my thumb, and popped it into my mouth.

"So sweet," I murmured, licking my thumb and giving him a deliberate wink.

Boom!

I could've sworn I saw steam rising from his head.

He went completely rigid, the blush on his face spreading down his neck and ears until he was the color of a boiled lobster.

He whipped his head to the side, avoiding my eyes, and stammered, "I... I'm full."

Honestly, he was so freaking innocent! It was almost too much to handle. Who could possibly resist a guy that pure?

I bit back a laugh and set the cake aside. "Okay, all full. You just hang out and watch some TV. I'll go run you a bath," I said.

I hummed a little tune as I went into the bathroom, already scheming my next move in his "re-education."

When I came out, he wasn't watching TV. He was standing in front of my bookshelf, holding a picture frame.

It was our high school graduation photo.

In it, he looked as cool and aloof as ever, staring straight ahead. And there I was, next to him, secretly throwing up a peace sign behind his back and smiling like an idiot.

"Sophie," he said, turning around. He held up the frame, but his eyes were clouded with confusion. "We've known each other a long time?"

"Yup," I said, strolling over to take the frame from him. "We grew up together. You've had a crush on me since we were kids. You used to follow me around like a little lost puppy."

I continued the tall tale without even blinking.

Actually, I was the one who used to be his shadow.

He took that in, nodding thoughtfully, and then his gaze settled on me. He looked so sincere when he asked, "Then, am I still your lost puppy now?"

He asked it with such devastating sincerity, his voice treading so carefully, while his eyes searched mine with the clarity of a mountain spring.

His stare made my heart flutter.

"Of course you are!" I argued and cleared my throat, taking back control of the situation. "You're going to be my lost puppy for the rest of your life!"

He smiled.

It was barely a twitch of his lips, but it was, without a doubt, a smile.

It was like a switch had been flipped, illuminating his entire face and turning his already devastating good looks into something absolutely breathtaking.

I stared at him, completely lost for a second.

He was getting way too handsome for my own good.

He took a step toward me, leaning down until his voice dropped into a low hum. "Fine. Then I'll be your lost puppy forever."

In that moment, I had a sudden thought. Maybe I could let this little lie go on for a while longer.