I match his suggestive look. “I thought you said we were going to be friends.”

One of his eyes narrows. “Friends with benefits?”

He’s inching closer, but I start backing away while shaking my head. “No. That will just mess with my head.”

“What if I want to mess with your head?” He says head, but his eyes scan down my body, saying something totally different.

I put my hand on his chest to hold him away once he backs me into the corner. “Ryannnn.” My tone is a warning.

“Just one more.”

“One more what?”

“Little kiss. Just a peck.”

I should say no. I really should. But I can’t think anymore, because my body is humming too loudly. “Fine, but just a tiny one. A friendly one.”

He rests his hand on the wall behind me. “Last night’s kiss felt pretty friendly to me.” Oh, good god.

I swallow, and my sight zeroes in on Ryan’s lips. It’s not my fault. They are right there in front of my eyes. I don’t mean to, but my hand raises, and I use my index finger to trace his lower lip, remembering what it felt like to have it pressing on mine.

“Okay, let’s kiss now,” I say, sounding like a twelve-year-old playing spin the bottle for the first time. I feel a little desperate for him to kiss me again. I’m on fire, and he’s the extinguisher. But then again, maybe he’s the gasoline.

“Actually,” he says, pulling away. “Never mind. I think I’ll wait.”

“Excuse me?” My hands fall to my sides, pathetically limp.

“Yeah. You’re right. I don’t want to mess with your head.” But I know he’s messing with my head now from that grin on his face. “We’ll wait to kiss again until our date. Keep everything simple like that.”

He’s walking away now, and I’m glancing around for something I can chuck at the back of his head. Ryan makes me so mad I could scream. He’s always in control. Always has the upper hand. He thinks he’s going to torture me by not letting me kiss him?! Two can play at this game, and I have a feeling I’ll enjoy it more than he will.

We’re interrupted by the sound of my doorbell.

Ryan and I both look at each other, and his brows furrow.

“You hear that?” I ask. “It’s called a doorbell. Normal people use it before entering a house.”

And that’s one point for me, because if I’ve learned anything by now, it’s that Ryan finds my sarcasm sexy. Too bad, so sad, Ryan. No kisses for you.

I give him a haughty look as I pass him, but he gives me a smolder in return that makes my knees buckle a little when I try to walk. I manage to make it to the door, though, and when I open it, I’ve never been more disappointed to see anyone in my entire life. Remember when I said my family’s intrusiveness was their best quality? I was wrong.

“Hi, darlin’! We felt terrible about you being all alone over here, so we thought— Oh! Ryan! Look, everyone, Ryan is here!” says my mom with the least innocent face I’ve ever seen and a gift bag slung over her arm.

Jake and Evie (along with my dad, all three of my sisters, their spouses, and their children) are standing behind Mom, looking like the cat that ate the canary.

“Oh! Now I remember him!” says Dad.

And I guess kissing really isn’t on the table today. Wonderful.

Chapter 20 Ryan

“So, Ryan, hun, what have you been up to all these years?” asks Bonnie from where she’s just sidled up next to my elbow by the stove.

I would scoot to my right to get a little space, but I can’t because one of June’s sisters is clinging to me on that side. She has three sisters (Jennie, Julia, and Josie) as well as her sister-in-law, Evie. And yeah, they are all surrounding me. I’m completely circled by Broaden women, and it’s making me sweat. I think that’s their goal, though.

“After high school, I attended culinary school, and I’ve been working as a chef ever since.”

“A chef! Goodness, boy. I had no idea. Based on how you and June used to duel back then, I would’ve thought you’d join the military.”

I laugh and aim a smile down at her. “Oddly enough, that career path never even crossed my mind.”

She uses her hip to bump me. “Probably ’cause you were never actually fighting, right?”

“Well…” I tap the wooden spoon against the pot and set it on the counter before turning around to face all the women. “They do say love is war.”

Each of the sisters physically swoons and awwws in unison. Their choir alerts June that something is happening in here, because in the next moment, she’s rounding the corner into the kitchen. “I should have known you guys would be harassing Ryan. He’s cooking us all lunch. Let the man work in peace.”

“We’re not hindering his work in any way, are we, Ryan?” Bonnie turns her eyes up to me, and I see now that we’re choosing teams for dodgeball. I definitely want her on mine, so I wrap an arm around her shoulder and say, “I love the company.”

June rolls her eyes and turns back around. “Don’t say I never tried.”

The moment she’s out of the room, Evie turns to me and flat out asks, “So, Ryan…how many women have you been with?”

Shocked does not begin to convey how I feel after that question. My mouth falls open a little, but before I can answer, Jennie steps up to the plate. “Do you have a criminal record?”

Julia: “Why did your past relationships not work out?”

Evie: “Are you serious about June?”

Someone help me. They are closing in. How can four small women tower over me like this?

Josie: “Do you want a family?”

Jennie: “Is there a chance you already have a family that you don’t know about?” What the hell?

I glance back to the place where June just disappeared and consider shooting a flare up into the sky for help. Come back! I’m sorry! I’ll never choose your mom over you for dodgeball again!

But I’m a man. It’s time to grow a pair and give these women what they want. I roll my shoulders once and tilt my head side to side. Then, I take turns looking around the gang of women that I would never want to face in a dark alley alone.

I point to Evie first. “I’m not going to answer that because that’s a pretty personal question.” Boom. Moving on to Jennie. “A speeding ticket but no criminal record.” Julia. “Haven’t had a serious relationship because I’ve been married to my job.” Now I look at Mrs. Broaden as I answer the remaining questions, because I feel like her opinion matters most. “I’m more serious about June than I’ve ever been about anything in my life, and yes, I want a family. And no, there’s no chance. I’m always very careful. Big fan of protection.”

They all stand stunned for a full minute, glancing back and forth among one another before smiles slowly crack across their devious faces, and we all laugh. Bonnie claps me on my shoulder. “I always knew I liked you, Ryan. You’re gonna fit in with us perfectly.”

“I think I have to convince June of that first.”

This is the part where Bonnie should smile and say something encouraging like Oh, you’ve got nothing to worry about, sugar. She doesn’t. She actually looks a little apologetic. “You’re right about that. And it won’t be easy. She’s pretty set in her ways. I love my baby girl and will support her until the day I die, but I’ve gotta be honest, Ryan…I hope you can convince her, because I’d kill to see what a baby between you and June would look like.”

We’ve jumped from getting past date number one to wheeling June out of a hospital with a baby in her arms. Moms truly are a force to be reckoned with. But here’s the thing, is it weird to admit I’ve been dreaming of the same thing? Last night, I pictured June in a house of our own, with a kid on her hip, singing and making pancakes. I mean, what the hell, Ryan? I don’t even know if June wants a family—and if she doesn’t that’s fine with me. But I think I’d like one with her.