Must Be Love: (Nicole and Ryan) (A Jetty Beach Romance Book 1) by Claire Kingsley Read Free Book Online Page B

light green button-down shirt, striped tie, and a pair of dark slacks. "You're from Jetty Beach, right? In Ryan's class? That's crazy, I can't remember the last time I saw you."
    I shake Cody's hand. He takes it in a firm grip. "Yeah, I haven't been back in a while."
    "Are you back for good?" Cody asks.
    "No," I say. Did Ryan flinch when I said that? "I'm just here temporarily, while I take care of some things."
    "Nice. Hey, sorry to interrupt. Ryan, you should answer mom's text."
    "Mom texted?" Ryan asks, a look of amusement on his face.
    "She most certainly did," Cody says. "Of course, you didn't answer, and now she wants to know why."
    "Did you come all the way up here to find out why I didn't answer a text from someone who has literally never texted me before in her entire life?"
    Cody shrugs. "That's not the only reason. Mom wants us all over for dinner."
    "We have dinner there every week," Ryan says. "Why does this one need a special invite?"
    "Mom was really adamant about it," Cody says. "Have you heard from Hunter recently?"
    I vaguely remember Hunter. He wasn't Ryan and Cody's brother, but it seems like he was always with the Jacobsens. Maybe he even lived with them.
    "No, I never hear from him," Ryan says. "Why? Do you think this is about him?"
    "Maybe," Cody says. "Mom was acting weird, made me wonder. You know how she is when she's trying to hide something from us. I thought maybe you heard something."
    "No, but you can tell Mom I'll be at dinner," Ryan says. "I'll text her. And you could have just called me."
    Cody leans against a little table next to the door. "I know, but I was out and about."
    Confusion swirls in my mind. Had Ryan been about to kiss me? Did I want him to? I mean, hell yes, I wanted him to. There’s a part of me that wants to launch myself at him, put my hands all over that amazing body. Let him put his hands all over mine. But what does that make me? I just got out of the only relationship I've ever been in. Jumping into bed with a guy I barely know is definitely a terrible idea.
    Isn’t it?
    I pick up the black case and nod toward the door. "I should probably get back."
    "Hey, don't leave on my account," Cody says.
    "No, no, you're fine. I was just picking up some lights." I lift the case a little. "I'll see you later, Ryan."
    Ryan runs a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I'll probably talk to you tomorrow."
    I feel as if I’m walking through a dream as I cross the studio to the front door. Ryan jogs a few steps to get in front of me and holds the door open. "Do you need any help with that?"
    "No, it's not heavy," I say. "I'll just put it in the back seat."
    "Okay. Thanks for coming by."
    He meets my eyes for a second. My body screams for him to touch me. A quick hug, a hand on my arm, anything to give me a clue as to whether that moment in his studio had been real.
    His forehead furrows again and he steps away, his arm extending to hold the door open. I walk out toward my car and hear the door close behind me. I tell myself not to look back. I want so badly to see him standing there, the closed door between us and his brother for one more minute of privacy. Glancing over my shoulder, I feel my heart sink. He's inside.
    I blow out a breath, wanting to kick myself for being such an idiot, and put the lights in the car. It’s been so long since I've been single, my radar is completely off. He was probably just looking at the view. Sure, he was friendly, but he wasn't flirting. Not really. Hell, do I even know what flirting looks like anymore?
    I get into my car and drive down the long driveway, telling myself in a very stern voice that I am imagining things. Nothing happened. Ryan isn’t even into me.

I close the door, hesitating with my hand on the dead bolt. I want to go back out there, shut the door behind me, and give Nicole and me a few minutes of privacy. Actually, I want a lot more than that. Her scent is so intoxicating; my head is still swimming with it.
    Of course, it’s likely I