Page 57 of Squad Ghouls

He held up his now paint-splotched hand.

“And they are not for you to enjoy!” Another voice joined in and Ryan appeared in the doorway still half-dressed, a tank top plastered to his ripped body and jeans slung low on his delicious hips. “So I’d not touch him like that again if I were you.”

Seth looked him over head to toe and curled a brow at him. “And you are?”

“His boyfriend—”

“My new handyman—” I said at the same time, clamping my mouth shut when I realised what he’d said.

Heart! No! I told it, but it was too late. It flounced across a flowery meadow into the sunset followed by a kaleidoscope of butterflies and a string quartet playing in the background.

Bugger.

Silence stretched, awkward and tense around us.

“Well which one is it?” Adriana asked.

“Both,” I said. “Ryan helps me run the place as he’s quite handy.”

“In more ways than one,” Ryan said, coming to stand next to me and wrapping his arm around my waist. I tried to relax into his touch, sell the story of us being a couple. Seth had to believe it or he’d turn into the obnoxious jackass I once thought was cute. “I got the key to room three so they’re next to one another.”

“That works,” I said.

Ryan tossed the key to Seth with a glare.

“You’re one slip-up away from not having a room,” he said to him, and I squeezed his hand.

“I’m sure Seth will behave now that he knows I’m taken.”

“Never stopped you before,” Seth said through his teeth.

I shook my head. It made no sense to rehash old issues. “Dinner will be served at five. You can ring reception if you need anything until then. Have a pleasant stay.”

“Thank you,” Adriana said, scowling at Seth.

I walked out of the room, Ryan hot on my heels as we closed the door. He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward his own room without a word.

ten

Booty appreciation day

Ryan

Ispun him around in place in front of me, running my hands down his arms and bending in half to get a closer look at his waist and his thighs.

He was unmarked by that arsehole. There wasn’t anything that would suggest he had been touched, but just the image of those slimy arms near him made me lose my mind.

“Are you okay? I should have ripped that fucker’s hand off his arm! In fact, wait here while I do just that,” I growled, spinning for the door in a rage.

Owain held on to my arm to stop me. “You don’t have to do that.”

He was trying to put on a brave face to hide that he was shaken.

I took his chin in my hand. “You don’t have to lie to me. That was a disgusting thing to do. You’re allowed to feel uncomfortable and I’m allowed to rearrange his face as the price for causing it.”

“But it’s pointless. That’s just how Seth is. We broke up like six months ago so I guess he felt like it wouldn’t be a big deal.”

My head was steaming. “Maybe he needs to be taught differently.”