Page 84 of Tempting Miles
Because the Ryans aren’t just rich.
They’re old-money rich.
The kind of power that destroys people quietly.
Chapter 21
Miles
The second Penny got into that asshole’s car, I lost my damn mind.
Every instinct in me screamed to follow them, drag her out of that fancy piece of shit Maserati, and tell that douchebag she was off-limits.
But she followed him willingly.
And at the end of the day, Pennyand I are… nothing.
Biggest fucking lie I’ve ever told myself.
Because if we’re nothing, why does the thought of another man touching her make me feel borderline homicidal? Why do I suddenly want to stand in the middle of town and announce that she’s mine?
I pace the length of my office for what feels like the hundredth time. By the time I notice the trail of melted snow and ice covering the floor, I decide I either need to start working or punch a wall.
Whichever comes first.
“Miles.”
Her soft voice cuts straight through my murderous thoughts.
I turn slowly, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor because if I look at her too fast, I might say something stupid and territorial.
“Eyes on me,” she says quietly while walking toward me.
My gaze lifts to hers before I can stop it.
Her eyes look glassy.
Every protective instinct inside me detonates at once.
I close the distance in two strides and wrap my arms around her before I can even think twice about it. “Are you okay?” I ask softly, brushing my bare hand against her cold cheek.
At this point, I don’t give a single fuck if the crew talks. All I care about right now is making sure Penny’s okay.
“Yes, of course.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
Bullshit.
I want to push harder. Want to demand she tell me exactly what happened with that jackass.
But something tells me whatever happened already took enough out of her.
“Can you at least tell me why that man came all the way here to see you?” I ask quietly before brushing my mouth against her ear, earning a tiny shiver from her.
“We’re friends. He wanted to catch up.” She shrugs.
I narrow my eyes. “Did you parade him around here to make me jealous?”
Before I can nip at her chin, she leans back enough to look up at me.
