Free The Mighty Quinns: Ryan by Kate Hoffmann

he did seemed to put out the flame. “Tell me about Ben,” Ryan said. “How did you meet him?”
    “We played opposite each other in a film called
Solstice,
” she said, staring up at the night sky. “We had a typical movie-set affair. I fell in love with his character and he fell in love with mine. After the shoot was over, we decided to keep seeing each other. As fate would have it, our schedules lined up, and one thing led to another.”
    “And you love him?”
    “Sometimes, I think I do. And then other times, I’m sure I don’t. I’m still not sure who he is.”
    “I don’t understand,” Ryan said.
    “It’s as if we’re still playing our parts. We never stopped.”
    Ryan frowned. “And you’re marrying him?”
    Her feet dropped into the water and she stood up in the middle of the pool. “Yes. It’s all planned.”
    “But don’t you want more?”
    “Like what?” Serena asked. “I know we’re not going to have a perfect marriage. But who does? I don’t expect a fairy tale. I think it’s better to be realistic about it all.”
    “I don’t understand. Why are you so willing to settle?”
    “I lived through my parents’ multiple marriages. They destroyed each other because they expected so much from the other person. And then they both moved on, still expecting a perfect relationship with the next person. They never found it and they were never happy. So I think it’s much better to accept the fact that marriage is never going to be everything you want. You have to learn to accept it for what it is.”
    In truth, Ryan could see her point. She was walking into this marriage with her eyes wide open. And maybe it would be easier to make it work. But he couldn’t help but believe that she deserved more. She deserved a man who didn’t need to pretend to make her happy. A man like—
    Ryan cursed inwardly. No, not a man like him. As much as he wanted to believe in the fantasy, Serena was right on that count. Though there was an intense attraction between them, there was no future for them.
    Serena swam over to the steps and got out of the pool, running her palms over her wet hair as she walked toward him. Ryan reached for a towel from the stack sitting beside him and handed it to her. Serena wrapped it around her, beneath the T-shirt, then slipped the wet shirt over her head. A few seconds later, she skimmed her thong down over her calves and kicked it aside.
    Ryan groaned inwardly, imagining the naked body beneath the thick cotton towel. He slowly got to his feet and walked back to the chaise, then sat down. It would take so little to just tug the towel free, to seize the chance to touch her and seduce her, to finally act on the desire that pulsed between them.
    Serena sat down next to him, pulling the towel over her bare legs. She drew in a deep breath and sighed. “I love the smell of frangipani.”

4
    S ERENA SIGHED SOFTLY as she curled her body into the warmth. Birds sang on the early morning breeze, the melodies dragging her from slumber. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring across the smooth expanse of Ryan’s chest. She was tucked against his body, his left arm holding her close. Holding her breath, she tried to move, but the moment she did, Ryan stirred.
    She could feel the heat of his skin against hers and realized that the towel she’d wrapped around her body last night was gone. The warmth of him seeped into her limbs, and she enjoyed the sensation for a long moment, drawing her leg up over his.
    Squinting at the sky, she tried to determine the time. The girls had probably returned late from their night out and would likely sleep until noon. But there was always a chance they’d come down to the pool to let the sun bake out their hangovers. She’d insisted she hadn’t slept with Ryan, but this scene wouldn’t do much to confirm that fact.
    “Quinn,” she whispered. “Quinn, wake up.” She smoothed her hand over his chest, then reached up to touch his lips.