Game On by Cheryl Douglas Read Free Book Online Page A

cabinet. “Help yourself.”
    “Thanks,” he said, reaching for a stack of
paper cups. “Can I get you one?”
    She shook her head before pressing her
fingertips to her temples and wincing. “I’ve already had three, not that it
helps.”
    Ryan set the coffee on a small table and
reached for her. She didn’t hesitate to step into his waiting arms. He stroked
her hair as she sobbed softly on his shoulder. “You wanna talk about it? People
tell me I’m a pretty good listener.”
    She tried to pull away, but he held her
tighter. If he’d ever met a woman in need of comfort, it was her. “It’s okay,”
he said, quietly. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
    “Oh, Ry,” she said, sniffling. “What’s the
use? It’s not gonna change anything. It’s over. That’s just the way it has to
be.”
    “It’s obvious this isn’t what you want, and
I know it’s not what Evan wants. Can’t you find a way to work it out?” He led
her to the small sofa tucked away in a corner. Pushing aside a homemade throw
covered in pet hair, he encouraged her to sit down before claiming the seat
beside her. “You can’t throw away five years just because he was a jackass to
you on your birthday.”
    She laughed through a sob as she reached
for a tissue from a box on the coffee table. “It’s not just that. It’s
everything. There’s no place for me in his life anymore.”
    “That’s not true.”
    She looked at him a long time, daring him
to contradict her again. “Isn’t it? You know better than anyone how much time
he spends at the office. He doesn’t have time for a life outside of Titan
anymore, and he sure as hell doesn’t have time for me.”
    “Erika, you have to know how much he loves
you.”
    Her lips tightened, as though she was making
a valiant attempt to control a tremor. “Not as much as he loves his work.”
    Ryan placed a hand on her shoulder, wishing
he could deny her claim, but he knew she was right. Evan was obsessed with
taking Titan to new heights and nothing, not even the woman he loved, could
stand in his way. “I know he’s been busy lately…”
    She leaned back and closed her eyes.
“That’s an understatement.”
    “Maybe this will be the wake-up call my
brother needs. Could be he’ll realize you’re more important than puttin’ his
stamp on the country music industry.”
    She opened one eye to look at him and a
tear slipped down her cheek. “You don’t really believe that.” When he didn’t
respond, she sighed. “I love you for caring, but you can’t say or do anything
to fix this. There’s no point prolonging the inevitable any longer. If Evan and
I both just accept that it’s time to go our separate ways, maybe we can start
to heal, to think about moving on with our lives.”
    Ryan knew he shouldn’t ask, but
self-restraint had never been his strong suit. “Does this have somethin’ to do
with your co-worker? The guy I saw out in the lobby?”
    “You mean Jeff?”
    “Is that his name?”
    “Yeah.” She balled the tissue in her fist.
“We’re just friends.”
    “But he wants more?” Ryan knew his type. He
wouldn’t hesitate to use Erika’s vulnerable state to his advantage.
    “He’s never crossed any lines, if that’s
what you’re asking.” She looked up, her eyes meeting Ryan’s. “Neither have I.
Just for the record, I’ve always been faithful to your brother.”
    “I know,” he said, gripping her knee. “You
don’t even have to say that.”
    She looked at Ryan’s hand before she said,
“I’m gonna miss you guys so much. Evan and I were together so long, y’all felt
like family to me.”
    Ryan leaned back and slung an arm over her
shoulder, drawing her into his side. “You ever need anything, you don’t
hesitate to call me, okay?”
    She rested her head on his shoulder and
sniffled. “Thanks, Ry. Being an only child, you always kind of felt like a
brother to me.”
    Ryan chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
“Yeah,