Free The Holly Project by K.A. Sterritt

laughing, despite my instincts screaming that spending more time with him was a bad idea. However, the fighter in me was temporarily knocked out. My heart was winning.
    The afternoon went by quickly and I left the office around five with the rest of the staff. Ryan asked me to text him the details of where to meet. It felt an awful lot like a date, even though my friends would be there. What the hell was I doing?

Chapter Thirteen
    I couldn’t help smiling on the train ride home as I thought about Ryan. Watching him in action at work was like foreplay. He commanded the room, had the respect of all his employees and was exceptional at his job. It was a major turn on. Perhaps that was it. I was attracted to Ryan Davenport the powerful CEO, not Ryan Davenport the man. But that didn’t make sense. When I met him at the café I’d had no idea who he was, but I was drawn to him, both physically and mentally. One thing I knew for sure was that this man was leading me down a dangerous path, yet I couldn’t seem to make myself turn around. If anything, I felt the urge to start running faster.
    Audrey, Zara and I caught a cab to Surry Hills. I had told them Ryan would be joining us, issuing strict instructions not to make a big deal out of it. It was not a date. We were friends.
    We sat at the bar while we waited for Ryan to arrive, and ordered three glasses of white wine.
    “So what’s going on here? Are you still trying to sell the ‘there’s nothing going on with Ryan’ line to us?” Zara asked as she sipped her wine.
    “We’re just trying to work it out,” I replied, a little defensively.
    “I’ve never seen you so tied up over a guy before. You’re usually so… I don’t know… cold and detached?” Audrey said.
    “Ouch.” I knew she was right, but it still hurt a little to hear it. I was trying to protect the guys I dated by not letting them get too close. But Ryan was different. I knew it. They knew it. I stared into my wine glass. “Okay, well, I admit I’m attracted to him, but how could I not be? He’s gorgeous, incredibly sexy and on top of that, you should have seen him in the staff meeting today. I had to go to the bathroom to freshen up afterwards – he made me so hot and flustered.” I glanced up to see Audrey and Zara looking behind me and smiling nervously. “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”
    They both nodded, unable to control their chuckling.
    My face flushed immediately. I couldn’t bring myself to turn around.
    “So I make you hot and flustered. Good to know,” Ryan said, sitting down on the bar stool next to me. “Hi, I’m Ryan. You must be Audrey and Zara.” He leant across me and shook their hands. “It’s nice to meet you.”
    “You too. Holly has told us a lot about you.” Zara winked and Audrey laughed.
    I really need to find some new friends!
    Ryan got immediate attention from the bartender, who I’m fairly certain had been checking him out. While he ordered a beer, Audrey, Zara and I had one of our epic three-way silent conversations using eye movements, lip shuffles and eyebrow raises. In less than thirty seconds, they confirmed his hotness. I confirmed my desperation for them not to embarrass me, and that I was happy he was there. Then they confirmed their happiness at my happiness. We needn’t have bothered – Ryan’s phone started ringing and he excused himself to take the call.
    “You’re smitten, Holly Rose,” Zara said, as soon as Ryan was safely out of earshot.
    Feeling an immediate flush in my cheeks, I gave her a half smile. It was true. For the first time in my life, I felt my fragile heart was in serious danger. It was terrifying.
    “And that, my friend, is a man in love,” Audrey said, pointing to the door.
    “Don’t be ridiculous. Please don’t even say that. I’m already freaked out enough, and I really don’t want to overthink it.”
    “Good. The only thing you should be overthinking is how many different ways you can have sex with