Chapter 17

UNEDITED

River heads back to the dining room to let her mother know she was leaving, but before she could make it, she's grabbed by her forearm and hauled into the kitchen. Ryan pulled her in front of the sink and positioned her very close to himself. He also maintained his firm grip on her arm as he glared down at her seriously.

"What are you doing?" She breaths.

"Is there something going on between you two?" He edges his teeth together.

"Who?" She looks down at his hand still holding hers and then meets his eyes again. It was a signal, like hey, you're still gripping my arm... can I have it back?

He didn't seem to get it. He pulls her half an inch closer. "Between you and Landen."

How is she supposed to answer this? "Would that be wrong?"

He looks away from her for a moment, seeming to assess his anger. "Do you want to be one of them?" He interrogates.

She began twisting her arm until he slackened his grip and released her. "I don't." She replies simply. She knew exactly what he meant. If she wanted to be one of Landen's random women.

"Did I hurt you?" He notices her gently rubbing the spot he just held. Instinct made him reach out and take it again for inspection.

She shakes her head. She was rubbing because of the tingling sensation residing from his touch. And it was coming back. She pulls her hand away and creates distance between them quickly.

"Do you know what you are getting yourself into?" He fills his pockets.

Part of her wanted to enjoy this, but the other part of her knew it was brotherly. He was naturally a caring, considerate, conscious, careful person. "Nothing is happening between Landen and me." She lets her glare fall to the ground as she ends any more unintentional enjoyment from his concern. "You don't have to worry about me. If there is one thing I force myself to do, it's to be careful when it comes to the men I bring into my life. No repeat of ancestral mistakes." When she met his eyes again they sucked her in. That magnetic pull was forcefully tugging at her. It was the way he was looking at her.

He was either at a loss for words, or paralyzed because he just stared, and it was making her weak in the pit of her gut. It felt like things were getting jumbled up and mixed together uncontrollably. Holy hell. Her knees were about to buckle.

Then, his mouth opened. "Men?" His voice could melt her on the coldest of day. It was the softest, smoothest tone. What did he say?

"Hey." Ana walks in and nonchalantly and spots her fiancé. "There you are."

That snapped River out of it. The sight of Anastasia should be enough to get her not to feel anything. Unfortunately, nothing is ever easy for her.

Ryan's fiancé approaches him and places her palm on the upper chest near his right shoulder. "Are you ready?"

The moment he was touched is when he looked away from River. His next move was a nod of his head and then a footstep toward the exit, but he was held back.

"Going somewhere?" Landen walks in unexpectedly. He goes nearer River, leans against the counter, and makes sure to press his biceps against her, and his brother notices that move.

That comforting feeling came over her again. What the hell is this? She thinks.

"We have prior engagements," Anna replies. "Daddy needs Ryan to assist with some business-related issues. Actually River." She turns to her. "I wanted to know if you would like to come with. They're going to be busy all night, and I don't have many friends, I thought it might be nice to have some company. Plus it's going to be mostly men there."

"Oh." River's brows shoot up. The literal last place she wanted to be was in between those two, but for the life of her, she couldn't think of a reason to say no.

"Anastasia." Ryan groans out a low warning. He didn't seem to like her idea either.

"Actually" Landen inserts. "I am taking Ree out tonight."

Big brother grinds down at his jaw again.

Ana begs. " Oh but you get her all the time. Please; I'm in need."

"Yes, sure I'll go." River decides. Landen's move just sealed the deal. She was going to torture herself tonight. Besides that, Ana really seems to be desperate.

After a quick goodbye to the family, they jumped in Ryan's car and got on their way. "We need to get dressed, so we're going to our place first," Anastasia explains from the passenger's seat.

River nods lean back and gazes out of the back seat window. She cant believe that she was third-wheeling with them. It's probably the best way to get past this because whether she liked it or not, they were getting married. Her eyes inadvertently find Ryan's in the rearview mirror. Even his concentration on the road was alluring. The definition of his facial growth made him more appealing. Everything about him was brain-stopping.

As she sat there mesmerized in his subtle movements, his eyes found hers unexpectedly. She snapped her neck and felt like a moron while. This was going to be a fun night. She could tell already. Fifteen minutes later, and not allowing a glance In the driver's direction, she was searching through dresses in a gigantic walk-in closet.

"What about this pink one?" Ana asks

"Yeah, that's nice." River said that to the last three dresses but Anastasia just kept changing her mind. She has dressed already, in an all-white, low V-neck number, but she couldn't decide on River's dress.

"No." Ana bites her lips. "Not this one, but I think I might have something that might be on the perfect side. One second." She runs out of the room and comes back with a short, tight, eye-popping, yellow stunner. This dress looked like it could blind the eyes of the viewer.

"Wow." River was in awe. "Something like this exists?"

"That's the reaction I was hoping for," Ana admits satisfyingly.

When River puts the dress on, she notices right away that there was a crescent moon shape cut out of the deep lower back, a small slit on both sides, and a low cut in the cleavage area. "I've never worn anything like this." She admits.

"I don't think anything like this has ever worn you either." Ana checks her out. "I got it as a gift. It's not my color but its definitely yours. Amazing really."

"Thank you."

They added some finishing touches to their hair and makeup before heading into the living room to meet Ryan. He was already dressed in a black tux and caught up working on his laptop, not evening seeming to notice their arrival.

"We're ready," Ana announces and blocks River from his view.

He looks up, and she steps aside.

He doesn't blink. His features were kept neutral as he briefly raked his penetrating gaze along River's entire body. All her hairs stood on end. She was highly aware of his attention to her. She looked away and began nervously curling her loose hair behind her ears. She could hardly stand it. She turns around and puts her attention on the pair of heels she had in her hands that needed to be on her feet. She started to plant herself on one of the white leather sofas but Ana pulled back up straight.

"What do you think?" She questions her fiancé.

He says nothing, simply nods. Original for Ryan.

"Whatever." His fiancé waves a hand at him. "Let's go."

On the car ride, Ryan was acting strange. First, he kept adjusting his tie, and then, he started getting hot. He stripped off his jacket and even unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt. He wound the windows down and kept clearing his throat uncomfortably.

"Are you feeling better hun?" Ana rubs his back as he turns in and out of the streets. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive?"

"I'm fine." He adjusts his driving position for the fifth time.

River was as cold as ice. All the cool night air was flowing directly towards her in the back. She hugs herself and tries not to let her chattering teeth annoy them. Then, without warning, she sneezes. Her sneeze causes her lips to tremble and to begin singing an uncontrollable song. Like a little child would when they're out in the cold for too long.

Ryan glances at her in his rearview mirror. "Shit." He mumbles and sends up the windows. "Why didn't you say you were cold?" He greets his teeth.

She couldn't stop trembling to answer him.

"Don't yell at her." Ana scolds. She found it unusually how worked up he was getting.

Unexpectedly, he turns the heat on blast roughly, then angrily bangs his hand on the steering wheel.

Anastasia was shocked and confused. This isn't the man she has known for the last two years. The man she knew, wanted nothing to be like his father, but she could see that his father's temper coming out of him.

"I'm sorry. " River finally calms down enough to speak. "I should have said something"

They didn't reply to her. As a matter of fact, no one spoke for the rest of the ride.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you're enjoying 😁