Mission Love - Chasing Mr. Right ✓

Thirty

Recap: Ryan was standing half naked.

"You know, it's rude to stare," Ryan drawled, his voice lazy and measured-or was it just my sluggish brain struggling to keep up? The words finally registered, snapping me out of my daze as a flush of heat crept up my face.

"I-I wasn't staring!" I stammered, my words tripping over themselves as I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, as a shield or so I thought.

He exhaled a quiet laugh.
"Really? Because it looked like you were about to write a thesis on my abs."

"Oh, for God's sake," I huffed, avoiding his smug gaze. "This is your fault! Why did you say 'come in' when you're... like this?" I gestured vaguely at his towel-draped form, instantly regretting it when his smirk deepened.

I flailed, helplessly.
"You knew I was coming in!"

He shrugged, flicking ash into the tray beside him.
"You knocked. Sounded important."

"It is important!" I snapped, glaring at him. "I need help getting something off the top shelf in the bathroom."

Ryan tilted his head, pretending to ponder. "So let me get this straight-you interrupted my alone time to ask for a favor, and now you're yelling at me?"

"I'm yelling because you're..." I clicked my tongue, already regretting this entire interaction. "you're standing there like... like-"

"Go on! Like?" he pressed, stepping closer, his tone playful.

"Like a freaking Calvin Klein ad," I muttered under my breath, hoping he didn't hear.

But of course, he did. His grin turned downright wolfish. "Flattering."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Just... can you help me or not?"

Ryan exhaled slowly, his smirk softening as he stubbed out his cigarette. "Yeah, yeah, I'll help. Give me a second."

He disappeared into what I could only assume was his walk-in closet, leaving me standing there.

Seriously, was there a guidebook for handling someone this insufferably cocky? Because I'm going to need it.

.
.
.
.

Ryan who was now wearing a plain grey t-shirt and matching sweatpant followed me into the bathroom. As soon as we reached, I pointed at the offending shelf.
"It's up there."

He glanced at the shelf and let out a soft chuckle. "This? You couldn't reach this?"

I stiffened, whipping around to glare at him. "Not all of us are as long as you."

"What?"

"What?" I echoed, gulping and pretending nothing had happened, though my brain was already staging a full meltdown.

Crap! Crap! Crap!
I really just said that. Out loud. To his face. Of all words, why not tall, giant, pole-heck, even Eiffel Tower would've been better.

"Long?" he repeated, one eyebrow shooting up in amusement.

"I-I meant tall!" I blurted, my voice an octave higher than intended.

"I mean you're long like...you're tall!"
I hurriedly added, hoping to recover, but the damage was done. The words were out there, and no amount of backpedaling was going to make them disappear.

His amused chuckle only made it worse.

"I'm long?" he repeated, his voice laced with mock disbelief, barely managing to contain his laughter.