Chapter 12: Making New Friends

The neighborhood announced itself before the house did. Everything looked bigger, better maintained, newer, more expensive. When Nick finally turned into the driveway for the house we were going to, I almost told him to turn around and take me home. The huge two-story house sat back behind a low stone wall and open gates. It was the kind of place that made our rental look like a shoebox, and the driveway was filled with exotic sports cars, each probably worth more than our entire house back in Iowa. I felt small in the passenger seat.

“Jesus,” I said.

Nick parked. We got out. I kept the cover-up closed with one hand, insecurity running through me and a sense that we did not belong here. I felt that we would stand out like a sore thumb and that people would laugh at the two hicks as soon as they saw us.

Nick rang the bell, and I considered telling him we should just go back home, but my words caught in my throat as the door opened and we were met by a shirtless Greek god. Ryan opened the door, and his face broke into a huge smile. He was taller than Nick by a good bit, broad through the shoulders, and sported the kind of muscle that came from actual work instead of just looking at it in a mirror. He epitomized the tall, dark, and handsome stereotype, and he smiled warmly like he had been waiting for us.

“You made it. Good,” he said, and he pulled Nick into a one-armed hug. He turned to me and stepped back to get a full picture of me, which was already embarrassing enough on its own, but then he spoke.

“You must be Sarah. My god, Nick, you did not do her any justice. She is absolutely gorgeous.”

I blushed hard at his comment, and before I could recover and offer my hand as an introduction, he stepped in and hugged me. It was not a quick, polite hug. His arms went around me. I felt the solid heat of his chest in my face as it pressed against one of his pecs and through the thin cover-up that separated me from his skin. His scent hit me—clean soap and something warmer underneath, male and close. My face went hot. I stood stiff for a second, then patted his back because I didn’t know what else to do. When he let go, I looked at Nick. He was smiling. He did not look bothered. That helped a little. Not enough.