Page 5 of Touch Me

“It’s just that I see him on the beach sometimes when I’mout playing with David. And, well, I’m no Jamie Archer, but I can pull off abikini.”

“Not really understanding where you’re going with this.”

“Just that Ryan’s never once looked my way other than apolite wave or greeting. But—” she continues before I can ask her what that hasto do with anything, “—my little guy? Ryan’s got puppy-dog eyes for him. I’mtalking serious daddy lust.”

“Oh,” I say. “Well, like I said—eventually we want kids. Butnot right now.”

She nods slowly. “And you two are on the same page aboutthat?”

“Of course.” I say the words easily, but I know they’re alie. No matter how much I want to pretend otherwise, Ryan wants a baby rightnow. And from what Emery says, he wants it even more than I realized.

But he’s waiting because he knows I’m not ready.

The trouble is, I’m not sure I ever will be.

* * * *

Emery and David haven’t even been gone fifteen minutes whenI pour myself another glass of wine, pick up my phone, and dial Nikki for noreason other than to avoid going inside and talking to my husband.

This is really not a good sign.

I mean, I love Ryan more than I could ever hope to describe.He’s more than my person; he’s my whole life. And I’ve always been able to talkto him about anything and everything under the sun.

Okay, most anything and everything. When I’m notbeing, well, me.

But that was the old Jamie. The new Jamie’s happy in loveand in marriage. She’s just a little uncertain about that baby carriage.

Jamie, girl, you are really starting to lose it.

The phone rings for a third time but nobody picks up. I’mnot surprised. Nikki and Damien took the kids to their cottage at The Resort AtCortez for the weekend. Which means I have to wait through one more day beforeI can sit her down and spew my angst all over her.

I draw a breath. I can make it. Hell, knowing me, by MondayI’ll be off and running on another angst entirely. Like, say, Dead Certain.

We haven’t even started filming, and already the movie hasmassive buzz. Not just because it’s the first movie Carson Donnelly has madesince his debut studio release—Rat Trap—pretty much set the world onfire. I’ve been a fan for years, ever since he hit the big time with his edgyand stylistic indie films that not only killed it across all the streamingservices, but also blew up at the actual box office.

I’d been fortunate enough to meet him at a party, and we’dspent most of the party boring the teeth off of Ryan and Carson’sthen-girlfriend.

At the time, he had just started producing a series ofdocumentaries about stars and directors. He’d seen me on air as anentertainment reporter and asked if I wanted to conduct the interviews.

Naturally, I leaped at the chance.

Not long after that, he saw me in my first—and so faronly—starring role in Intercontinental, which was a massive hit. I’dbeen his top choice for the female lead in Dead Certain, and he’dbecome my new best friend.

Sorry, Nicholas.

“What did you do to Nikki?”

I had no idea I’d said that out loud, and I whirl to findRyan standing behind me. “Eavesdropping much?”

“Damien’s my best friend. If you’re looking to off his wife,we’re going to have words.”

I smirk. “Just thinking about Carson, actually.”

He settles onto the chaise closest to the hot tub. “Nowyou’re making me jealous.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t leave you.” I move to the chaise andstraddle him, so that my knees and calves are on the padding and my thighs aretight against his waist. “I’d hate for you to have to go kill such a talenteddirector in a fit of wild jealousy.”

He cups my neck and pulls me toward him until I have to putmy hands out on either side of his head to keep me steady. “You’re not wrong,”he says. “Anyone messes with my woman…”