Ryan POV
The words caught in my throat.
I couldn’t finish the sentence.
For a moment, I wondered whether I was the only one who’d taken whatever was happening between us seriously.
I’d tried to be careful. I’d tried to give her space.
I’d tried not to make myself too easy to take for granted.
And somehow, I’d ended up feeling as though I’d been played.
Scarlett seemed ready to argue that she wasn’t running away.
But after a moment, she appeared to reconsider and fell silent.
I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
I only knew that my earlier irritation had turned into something sharper, and I couldn’t seem to get a handle on it.
I watched her closely, waiting for an explanation.
After a while, she lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Parker.”
I moved my gaze away from
