Read Online Ties by Steph Campbell, Liz Reinhardt - Free Book Online

It’s one thirty!”
    Ryan checks the bulky watch on his wrist. “It is. Are you late for something?”
    “I am!” Genevieve has all the acting ability of a silent film star. She throws her hands to her cheeks and widens those pretty snake eyes. “My husband needed me to pick him up and take him to...a doctor’s appointment.”
    I raise one eyebrow. “Really? What’s wrong with Adam?” I ask in my most syrupy “concerned” voice.
    “He has...corns. On his...feet,” Genevieve says, grasping at straws and trying not to glare at me.
    “That sucks,” Ryan says with true sympathy. “My grandma has the worst corns. You can’t even walk, they get so bad.”
    “Right. They do. And he can’t,” she says, gathering her purse. “But I hate dragging Hattie to the...foot doctor...Adam is so embarrassed, you know? I wish she’d brought her car.”
    “Bummer. Me too,” I deadpan. “Looks like it’s an afternoon of outdated National Geographics at the podiatrist’s for me. Well, it was nice to meet you, Ryan.” I stand, my hand out, ready to shake and say good-bye.
    Genevieve kicks at my ankle under the table.
    “No,” Ryan says, shaking his head. “C’mon, you can’t spend this gorgeous afternoon in a doctor’s office. I’ll bring you back home when you’re ready. Here.” He holds out his phone to Genevieve. “You put your number in and call yourself, so you know you have my number. I swear, I’m not some shady character. You text or call whenever you want.”
    Genevieve’s gray eyes zoom to my face, all desperate and full of stupid hope.
    She did give poor Adam corns to arrange this.
    “Okay.” I cross my arms and turn to Ryan. “But I don’t want to put you out. You looked like you were working hard on your boat.”
    He waves a hand, dismissing the idea of hard work.
    “Nah. I’m waiting for the boat I’m going to race to dock where I can take it out. That was just me being anal retentive on my day off. You can head back to the beach and just walk over when you’re ready. I’ll be happy to take you home.”
    “Oh,” Genevieve squeaks out, upset that all her best-laid plans about a romantic date are washing away like a sandcastle in the waves.
    I should leave her thinking that I’m really going to spend the rest of the day laying out while Ryan scrubs his boat. But I like her too much, and her whole match-maker thing is kind of adorable. Plus that, I know damn well Ryan Byrne would find a few reasons to interrupt my laying out anyway.
    So I play a good game in front of Genevieve, just so she won’t worry.
    “If you weren’t busy, maybe we could grab a bite?” Maybe I sound a tiny bit airhead, but aren’t we all playing a part in this little production? “I’m just visiting, so I don’t really know the area.”
    “I’d love to,” Ryan says, and, when I glance her way, Genevieve is smiling like the cat in the cream.
    “Well, I feel better now. And it’s getting late, so I’m off!” she says, giving me a tight hug before she breezes to the door. “And thank you so much , Ryan!”
    “It’s my pleasure.” He raises a hand and waves as her Jeep pulls out. I can imagine her humming to herself as she heads home to not go to a corn appointment with her husband.
    “So. Corns?” Ryan asks, chuckling.
    “She laid it on pretty thick, right?” I feel like a traitor, but Gen so deserves it. “Sorry about that.”
    “It’s fine. Beyond fine.” He sticks his hands in the pockets of his battered shorts. “I just feel like an ass. Is my game really that off? Your friend had to go giving her husband corns just so I had a chance of getting a date with you?”
    I full on laugh. “It’s all me,” I confess. “You really weren’t going to get a date until poor Adam’s bad feet hobbled onto the scene, but don’t take offense. It’s just...I’m only visiting. I’ll only be here for a few weeks. So...”
    “So, you can’t eat with anyone you meet while you’re here?” he