Ryan's Rules

‘I’m beginning to think it’s some sort of genetic thing…’

Ryan!

She stopped dead as her feet hit the cold slate of the kitchen floor. ‘Wh…what are you doing here?’

He wiggled the mug he held. ‘Drinking coffee. You want one?’

She wasn’t sure if her initial reaction to seeing him sitting at the table was shock or horror, but in the face of his calmness confusion was paramount. It was Friday, wasn’t it? Surely she hadn’t slept for over twenty-four hours? No, of course she hadn’t! So why wasn’t he at the office? Forget that! Why wasn’t he asking why she wasn’t at the office, demanding an explanation for her tardiness? Heck, maybe it was Saturday!

Ryan watched the parade of emotions across K.C.’s face, wondering how she could manage to look both childishly bemused and sexy at the same time. Then he decided that the plunging neckline of her robe and the way it parted as she moved hesitantly towards him was a contributing factor to the sexy part. As was her sleeptousled hair and the way she gnawed at her bottom lip.

‘Is today Friday?’ she asked.

‘Yep. All day.’ Grinning at her confused expression, he held his coffee-mug towards her. ‘Since you’re up, you want to pour me another?’

‘What?’

‘Sorry. Could I get you to pour me another cup of coffee, please K.C.?’ She blinked then shook her head as if to clear it. ‘On second thoughts,’ Ryan said, getting to his feet, ‘it’ll be quicker if I get the coffee.’

‘OK, Ryan, you win,’ she said.

He turned back to see her propped against the refrigerator, her arms folded. ‘Win what?’

‘If this isn’t The Twilight Zone, how come you’re asking for coffee and not explanations as to why I’m not at work?’

‘Because I know why you’re not at work. Want me to pour you one?’

‘I want you to explain why you aren’t frothing at the mouth and telling me how irresponsible I am.’

‘For what?’

‘For sleeping in!’

‘You only slept in because I turned off your alarm. It’s hardly your fault’

She crossed the room in a flash and, heedless of the mug he held, grabbed his shoulder. ‘You unplugged my clock?’

‘Hey, watch the coff—’

‘Forget the coffee and look at me!’

He obliged. It was no hardship looking into her wide, dark-lashed green eyes first thing in the morning, even when they were flashing fury and bore evidence of slightly smudged mascara. All in all the effect was disturbingly sexy.

‘Why, for God’s sake?’

‘Because you were exhausted and needed the sleep.’

‘Damn you, Ryan! I’m not a child. I can decide for myself if I need sleep or not; I don’t need your help! I’ve survived on less than three hours’ sleep before and not collapsed from physical exhaustion!’

Her face was flushed with anger and frustration, but he’d anticipated no less a reaction from her. Kirrily prided herself on being self-reliant and resented unsolicited help from anyone. She resented his help so completely that she never bothered to solicit it; others did so from time to time on her behalf, but since Ryan never revealed as much it was he whom she perceived to be interfering. So be it, he thought; this time her behaviour demanded his intervention whether she liked it or not!

‘It wasn’t your physical exhaustion which concerned me, K.C.,’ he said, matching her glare with one of his own. ‘You were an emotional mess