Truth or Dare: A Sweet Romantic Comedy Collection by Laura Burton (free ebook reader for ipad txt) 📗

a little rain will stop us? Nah. The storm has stopped another wedding party from arriving, so there’s a conference room all set up for a wedding and it’s got our name on it.”

“Great. I’m gonna go and take a shower,” Katia says, trembling.

Mark elbows me and gives me a wink. “Nice one. I knew you two would hook up.”

“It’s definitely not what it looks like,” I say with a hard look at him. Katia enters the elevator and I watch the doors close. “I don’t think she’s going to speak to me ever again.”

“Where the heck have you been?”

I look back to find Debbie and Holly walking over. The sight of the family milling out of the doors makes my heart race. I can’t let Katia’s dad see me like this.

“I have to go.” And without another word, I hot tail it out of there.

The problem is, now I’m not sure what I’m more afraid of. Katia’s dad finding out I’ve upset his baby girl... Again. Or walking into our room to find Katia fresh out of the shower.

Katia

My boiling, Italian blood pumps through my veins as I stand in the steaming shower, trying in vain to calm myself down. I bite my lip furiously, replaying the night’s events.

Ryder bought an engagement ring for me. After years of giving me the silent treatment.

Is he crazy?

And how could he have carried this thing around all these months without a word to anyone? Deciding that the shower is doing nothing to cool my nerves, I turn off the water and stumble out. Have I secretly wished, all this time, that Ryder would turn around one day and profess his love? Well... Sure.

Did I hope that we’d get to flirt with each other this weekend? Maybe.

But I never dreamed he would hand me a ring that he actually purchased for me. Long before this wedding––let alone the dare––was on the cards.

I grumble to myself as I towel off. Ryder Black is a mystery.

And my feelings are a mystery too. Part of me wants to slap him for keeping me in the dark for so long. The other part––a teeny, tiny part––wants to call him an idiot and throw myself onto his lips. And maybe never let go. Maybe.

I scrunch up my face and force the thought out of my head. There’s a storm raging outside, Debbie’s getting married in the morning, and the last thing I should be thinking about right now is Ryder.

Besides, he's just doing what I asked him to do: pretend to be in love with me.

Problem is, the “act” is a little too convincing for me to handle. And knowing that he was still thinking about me this whole time sends my stomach into knots.

I get ready in record time, painfully aware of the maid-of-honor duties that need to be tended to. And just as I walk out of the bathroom, the door opens and Ryder stumbles into the bedroom wearing nothing but a white fluffy towel around his waist. I glance at his damp clothes draped carefully over his arm and gulp.

“Where have you been?” I blurt, my voice sounding far more accusatory than it should. Who am I to ask him where he’s been? It’s none of my business. But seeing him half-naked––his muscles... Correction: his glistening muscles staring at me––has caught me off-guard. His body has matured over the years. Any remnants of his teen years were erased and instead, I’m looking at a man. A red-blooded male who carried me away from the storm in his burly arms.

“I just came to get my bag. Your sister will be here soon.”

“Oh.” That’s right. The bride and groom have to sleep apart the night before their wedding.

I take a sidestep, letting him in. As he walks past, the scent of menthol washes over me and like a moth to a flame––a very hot, dangerous flame––I grab his arm.

Ryder turns, and his eyes flash as he glances at my hand gripping his bicep. My brain catches up and I let him go. “I’m sorry.”

I’m terrible at apologies. They make me feel ridiculously lame and small. But in this case, I've behaved childishly. What was I thinking walking out into the storm?

Sometimes my emotions blind my senses and all I see is red.

I blink back the prickling sensation in my eyes and look up at Ryder, who just smiles at me warmly.

“Katia…” he says in a breathy voice. He grazes his thumb along my jawline and nips his bottom lip. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

His head gravitates to me, and he hovers so close to my lips, his breath tickles my cheeks. I wonder if he’s realized that the only thing standing between his naked body and me is a towel. The thought sends my brain into a spin and my icy disposition melts into a puddle on the floor.

Even though I’m still mad at him for the years of hurt, I want to kiss him. I need to kiss him. Perhaps if we throw caution to the wind, just this once, I’ll finally get the closure I need. Maybe kissing him will feel wrong and it’ll be like kissing my brother––if I had one.

Then Ryder and I can stop playing this awkward game and just focus on being friends.

I let my hand rest on his chest and his defined pectorals tense in response.

“What did you want to say?” I whisper, reaching up and resting my hand on his shoulder. My breaths come out quick and shallow as my heart picks up speed. The tension between us is like a current of electricity encircling our bodies, creating little sparks whenever his breath touches my skin.

I don’t care what he has to say. He could tell me the sky is falling and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. I don’t even need him to say the L-word. In fact, it may be better to avoid words altogether. They might just complicate things.

Besides, right now, we’re alone in a hotel room. His dark