Free The Wedding Affair (The Affair Series Book 2) by Suzanne Halliday Page B

eight-point-five, but that’s the best I can do, Mr. Charming.”
    “Ah! Mr. Charming, is it? Why thank you very much. You’ve earned some bonus cheese.”
    She smirked. He wanted to pin her to the table.
    “Go ahead, then.” Her sigh of indulgence sent his libido soaring.
    “A guy could waste a lifetime waiting for a girl like you.”
    She squinted and stared at him real hard. “Are you messing with me?”
    “No. And that would be the point. I can guarantee you, Ms. Evers, that nowhere in my world of experience have I ever encountered anyone like you.”
    “Is that a. . .good thing?” she asked quietly.
    Ryan smiled indulgently. Was it a good thing? Sheesh.
    “You’re embarrassed when you think you’ve said the wrong thing. You’re a loyal friend. When faced with it, you had no problem insulting what I do.”
    She gasped, shook her head in denial, and tried to pull away. He just chuckled some more.
    “You know damn well you did, which is why I spent two hours locating this delightful vacation outfit. No one besides my mother has ever had the balls to ask if I get high.” Plowing on, he just kept going with a bullet list of their previous encounters. “And you took a noogie like a pro. I don’t do wedding guest sex was a nice touch, by the way.”
    The pink blush went full rose.
    “Now, I’m not stupid. We each chose our outfits carefully for this meeting.”
    He eyed her critically and gave her a wink. “Boutique, I’m guessing. Right?”
    “Andi,” she groaned.
    “All that taken into consideration, why wouldn’t I be fascinated?”
    Ryan played with her hands and stroked her fingers in silence.
    “But I do have one question. I’m a pretty good judge of people, but you threw me a curve with the triskele comment. Not that I’m complaining.” He shrugged and smirked. “To each his own—but that seems like odd knowledge for you.”
    Samantha laughed merrily and squeezed his hands. “You, sir, are underestimating the street knowledge a girl can pick up in a town like Hollywood.”
    “What the fuck does that mean?” He knew his reaction was harsh and fierce, but he couldn’t help it. Even the slightest suggestion that the delightful fresh-faced woman across from him was dabbling in such things in a place known almost exclusively for excess and debauchery made his blood boil.
    “Chill, okay? Let me explain. I handle the scheduling for a craft services business. We regularly juggle multiple clients. Film, TV, video. More times than I can count over the last two years, the rather serious BDSM community in L.A. consulted on or were the balls-out subject of a project. They insist on themselves, by the way.”
    His expression mirrored his confusion.
    Her tone was hushed and low when she explained. “I just mean they take their stuff seriously. It’s no entertainment joke to them.” Beaming as if she’d won the Olympic floor dance competition, she proudly declared, “I learned how to tie some pretty cool knots along the way. And don’t get me started on the sheer number of leather stores in L.A.”
    He saw her eyes dip to his wrist. Took him a good few seconds to get the message. She liked leather and probably didn’t even know it. This kept getting better minute by minute. A girly girl who got off on a testosterone vibe. The fucking universe better not be clowning him.
    Their damn waitress was making her way to the table. Shit. The conversation was just getting good. He had one chance to drop something meaningful into the space between them. Something she’d think about all day. He went with comical and from her amused snort knew his instinct was right.
    “Shit, Samantha. Leather? Really?” He released her hands and sat back. “Now where the hell am I supposed to find a leather getup on Maui before tonight?”
    The sound of her sweet laughter filled the air around them. He was sure she had a comeback but didn’t get a chance to set it free as their breakfast arrived and their