Free The Trouble with Sexy by Codi Gary

the wooden planks to the whitewashed front door. Gregg was about to knock when Ryan reached out and turned the knob.
    â€œWe don’t have to knock,” she said, pushing the door open and hollered, “Mom? Dad?”
    â€œIn the dining room!” a merry voice called.
    Ryan led him through the entryway to a large room with a long oak table and high ceiling. Her mom appeared and held out her hand to Gregg. “I’m Brianne. One thing Ryan forgot to mention was what a good-looking man you were.”
    Ryan rolled her eyes. “No, actually I didn’t, Mom . . .”
    Her mother turned to look at her and gasped, “Ryan! You cut your hair!”
    Ryan shifted uncomfortably. “I just got a few layers.”
    Her mom looked her over, and Ryan relaxed when she smiled. “It’s very becoming,” her mother said. “Is that a new top?”
    Ryan had pulled on a purple long-sleeve blouse that bared her left shoulder. It covered everything important, but still she could hear the touch of disapproval in her mother’s tone. “Yes, my friend Gracie and I went shopping for some new clothes.”
    Her mother clucked her tongue. “Well the color is very nice on you.”
    Ryan was disappointed by her mother’s lack of enthusiasm, but her attention shifted when her dad came around the corner. “Was that my baby I heard?”
    Gregg laughed as Ryan’s face flamed. “Geez . . .”
    Ryan’s dad pulled her into a tight bear hug. She hugged him back, inhaling the cedar smell that always seemed to cling to him. She loved her parents deeply and enjoyed the close relationship they shared.
    Her father set her back from him and gave her a critical eye. He whistled low and said, “Well well, now I could have sworn you were my little girl, but I see I was mistaken. What have you done to yourself, dear heart?”
    She thought that if there was ever a time that lightning should strike and incinerate her, it was now. She glanced at Gregg, who seemed oblivious to her humiliation, and said, “I just got a haircut and put on a little makeup. Do I really look that bad?” Home ten minutes and both of her parents had already made her feel like an eight-year-old who had raided her mother’s makeup drawer.
    Her father gave her another hug and patted her back. “I think you look lovely. It was just a bit of a shock, that’s all.” He turned to eyeball Gregg. “And who might you be?”
    â€œI’m Gregg, sir.” He held his hand out to her dad, and she sighed in relief when her father reached out to take it.
    â€œGregg, you can call me Zach.” He released Gregg’s hand quickly and asked, “So you’re Ryan’s boss?”
    Gregg nodded. “Yes sir. She’s a great asset to my studio.”
    Ryan beamed with pleasure and her dad grunted. “I suppose business is good, since you can afford to keep her?’
    Ryan ground her teeth. “Dad . . .”
    Gregg gave her a smile and said, “We do really well, sir. We have plenty of repeat clients and I run specials every month to bring in new ones.”
    Her dad stroked his square jaw. “Well why don’t we head into the living room and talk, Gregg?”
    â€œAbsolutely, sir.”
    Ryan sent her dad a warning look as he passed, which he returned with a wink. Gregg took her hand and squeezed it, making her insides turn to goo, before following her dad out of the room.
    Once the men disappeared, Ryan turned to her mother and rolled her eyes. “Dad is so ornery.”
    Her mother laughed. “Oh, let your dad have his fun. He wouldn’t tease you so bad if you didn’t rise to the bait every time.”
    She followed her mom into the kitchen and her stomach growled at the array of smells wafting around her. “Hmm, so what’s for dinner?”
    Her mother pulled down the oven to peek at something, and shut it gently