Ryan

Ryan got his surprise when her dress slid off her body. What stood before him was perfection. If he lived to be a hundred, he didn't think he would have his fill of her.

She had confided in him sex with her ex was unfulfilling, but Ryan loved her in a way that left no doubt he had completely satisfied her. He was feeling smug and completely sated, for the moment.

He woke with her head on his chest and her beautiful hair spray everywhere. He remembered the morning in her cottage when she thought she looked awful, but he thought she was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. That was before last night, first in the gown and then without it. In the morning light, he thought nude and bedhead may be the winner.

Unable to hold back, he kissed her hair. He smiled when she stirred. She could sleep at home, but he had plans for every minute they were together. When she looked at him and smiled, he thought his heart might explode out of his chest.

Then she shifted, so she was straddling him. "How did you know what was on the top of my to-do list today?"

"I was going to check the cucumber, but I don't think I need to. It's obvious. it's definitely firm."

"I might have decided I loved you the minute I saw that shriveled up cucumber."

"Clearly, I was mistaken." She laughed.

Ryan groaned. "I don't want to leave this bed, but neither of us ate much last night. I'm starving."

"Can I borrow a shirt?"

Ryan smiled and wondered what she'd do if he told her no. He knew she had absolutely nothing but her dress. He pulled a shirt out of his drawer and smiled as she smelled it.

"It's clean."

"I know, but it smells of you. I might steal it."

"You can have anything I own. You already stole my heart."

"Who the hell are you and what did you do with Ryan Harris?" She screamed as she slipped his shirt over her head.

Once out of the muted bedroom, it was bright and sunny. It would be a nice day. Ryan watched with fascination as she opened her handbag and slipped on a pair of underwear.

"I see you came prepared. You certainly came."

He watched as her cheeks turned red and she cast her eyes down. She was an enigma to him as she was his equal in every sense in the bedroom, but in the light of day, she was embarrassed. It was one more adorable thing to add to his ever-growing list.

"Sorry, but my coffee sucks."

"You're coffee might but you don't you're very, very good."

He shouldn't have, but he loved to see her blush. "You're very, very good when you suck too."

Lana groaned and hit him, then her face turned serious. "How am I going to leave you?"

"Don't! stay! You can join that choir and work or don't work. I don't care."

"I'm supposed to be watching your construction."

"My father can. He's been going over every day."

"What about all my other cottages?"

"We could ask him. It might just interest him. You have Oliver, though."

"I would need to give him notice and help train a replacement."

"How do you feel about eloping?"

Lana laughed. "Do I know you?"

"I said I'd never get married and suddenly all I want to do is marry you and give you a baby."

"I figured it out. You're an imposter. I just don't know what you did with the real Ryan Harris."

Ryan laughed because he felt like this was real and the last sixteen years an imposter had been controlling his life.

Heidi and Cam stopped by. Heidi had Lana's overnight bag she had left at their house and Cam lugged the infant carrier. Lana was sitting on the sofa with her legs tucked under her and Ryan answered the door wearing just shorts and a t-shirt. They had showered together and both had damp hair.

Heidi walked in. "I knew it! It took you long enough!"

Ryan asked, "What are you talking about now, woman?"

"You two had sex didn't you?"

Ryan watched as Lana's face turned red again. Ryan was confused. "You think this is a good thing? You repeatedly told me to stay away from your friends."

"I know you, Ryan Harris. You always do the opposite of what I say. No one was buying your just friends line the two of you kept spewing." She walked over to the sofa and sat down. "So Lan, was it amazing? Tell me everything!"

Lana still embarrassed just shook her head and whispered. "I love him."

"This is just perfect! I knew you two were meant for each other."

Cam said, "Don't tell me you want to live in Maine permanently."

"No." Ryan said looking straight at Lana hoping she'd agree. "I hate the winter, but I definitely think I want to spend my summers there. Can we make it work, if we're both out of town?"

Cam laughed. "You know those two women run our office. I don't think they'll even complain."

"Oh my God, Lan, are you really going to move to Virginia?"

Lana nodded. "I have some things to take care of first, but I think I am."

Heidi turned to Ryan. "You had better stop being a prick and marry her."

"Calm down. I already promised her I'll give her anything she wants because it's what I want, too."

She was smiling up at him and he thought he had never been happier in his life. Unfortunately, she had a flight to catch, and he felt her absence the minute she reluctantly walked away. The only plan they had was they would each tell their own family. He expected he would know that minute Will found out.

As soon as he returned to his empty condo after dropping her off, he called his mother.

"Ryan sweetheart, how was your night?"

"It was good, really good. Mom, I told Lana about Aidan."

"Did you?"

"Yes, I explained why I never wanted to marry and how I changed my mind."

"Changed your mind!"

"Mom, I love her and she loves me."

"Thank God, I was afraid you would let her slip away."

"You knew?"

"Ryan, I think everyone knows."

"I've heard that before. Everyone knew but us, well now we know, too."

"Call your brother. Maddie had been bugging me all day. She keeps texting asking if I heard from you."

"This is so embarrassing!" Ryan groaned.

"No, sweetheart this is the answer to my prayers."

Ryan could hear her smiling.

Lana

Lana walked in for coffee on Monday morning and Rick greeted her. "I heard you had quite the weekend."

She groaned. "Does everyone know?"

"Most likely and it's about time."

She woke up the same time she did most every morning, but nothing felt the same. Her first thought was Ryan, well that wasn't entirely new. Being on the phone with him until she fell asleep was definitely new.

The last thirty-six hours had been surreal. Being with Ryan, just the thought of it made her tingle all over. Walking away from him at the airport was painful. By the time, she landed in Portland, he had told his family. She couldn't put off telling hers and called as soon as she entered the cottage. It was colder in Maine than it had been in Virginia, so she put a sweater over Ryan's tee shirt she refused to take off. He smiled at her when she announced she was keeping his shirt. She did reluctantly take it off before it started to smell like her instead of Ryan.

She spent a good part of the plane ride debating just how she would tell her mother. She suspected that the 'rip the Bandaid' approach might be best.

"Mom, I think you might be happy to hear that I won't be waitressing all winter."

"Did you get a real job?"

"No, and I may not, because I'm moving to Virginia, so you can probably close up the cottage."

"Moving! Why on earth?"

"I'm going to be with Ryan. I love him."

"What? When? You shouldn't be moving and uprooting your life for a man with no promises."

Lana just wished her mother could be happy for her without thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Lana knew no love was foolproof, but she would not let fear ruin her chance for happiness. She never even hesitated when he asked her to move. After the night they had shared, Lana needed Ryan. She needed the feel of his lips and hands on her body. She needed him to make her feel complete.

Before she finished her call, she spoke to her father, who was impressed with Ryan, and Will, who told her she had better marry Ryan so they could be brothers. Once she completed the call, she called Ryan to share the details.

"She'll be happy once she realizes we're serious. I'll prove to her I'm never letting you go."

"How are you going to do that?" Her nervous system was short circuiting just talking to him.

"By never letting you go."

"I miss you already."

"Me too. Are you going to quit the restaurant?"

"It's the only way. What do I do just get in my car and drive?"

"Unless you leave your car for us to use in the summer. I really hate the drive."

"You want a kept woman, don't you? No job, no car. Do you want me waiting for you on the bed at the end of each day?"

"Would you?" He laughed. "No, we'll just buy you a more reliable car. How old is yours?"

"Only about nine years."

"You need a new safe car to drive my children in."

Her belly did a flip. "Like Maddie's Volvo?"

"Exactly! Will is texting me."

"Erik is calling me. My mother must have told him. Talk to my brother. I'll get this over and done with and call you back."

Hanging up, she called Erik. He answered immediately. "Lana, are you really moving to shack up with some guy?"

"Not shacking up and not some guy, I'm moving to be with the man I am going to marry."

"Marry? Did he ask you?"

"Not exactly, but that's our plan. I'm sorry Erik, but I'm in love with Ryan."

"Who is this guy? Did you love him when you spend the night at our apartment?"

"Your apartment, not ours. There is no us or ours anymore. You have to let me go because whether you like it or not, I'm going."

By the time she finished with Erik, Ryan had texted her twice. She called Ryan back. "I think he finally knows I'm never going back to him."

"Finally! Now let's talk dirty!"