Page 64 of Wild Fires

The streak of jealousy caught me off guard. I tried to take the last sip of my drink and choked on it.

Jennifer pounded on my back and raised my arms over my head. It triggered an old memory of my mother doing the exact same thing.

I didn't think about her often, but when I did, it gutted me.

She should be here right now helping guide me through this mating shit. I didn't like being a hormonal emotional mess. Yet that was what I was becoming, and it was all Ryan Davenport's fault.

“Are you okay, Gracie?”

“Fine. It's just been a long day. I should probably head home.”

“Okay, well it was great to see you.”

“You too.”

I gathered up my trash and took it with me.

“It's okay, just leave it on my desk and I'll take care of it,” Jennifer surprised me by saying.

When I turned back to look at her, she had taken the garbage bag from Ryan's trash can and was locking his office door.

“Something tells me you guys do not want people seeing that board in there, but I also always lock his office up when he leaves for the day. I'll lock the door to this suite on my way out too.”

I had no idea why she was telling me this.

“Great. Um, thanks. I'll see you later I guess.”

“Bye Gracie.”

She was watching me with this look that seemed to say she knew everything. Or maybe that was just my paranoia. I knew damn well that Ryan didn't want anyone to know about us.

As I was leaving the office, deep in thought about how to handle the Ryan situation, I ran smackdab into his sister.

“Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry,” I told her.

“It's fine. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just thinking and not paying attention.”

She nodded. “The mating stage can be ridiculously stressful and confusing. It does get better once you seal the bond though. Is Ryan still in his office? Oh, and did you enjoy the burger? He did give it to you right? Because I will beat him if he kept it for himself.”

“Uh, what the hell are you talking about?” I blurted out.

He told his sister about us mating?

Why?

Why would he do that?

It felt like my whole world was just thrown off its axis.

Gia gave me a knowing look. “You really think we didn't notice Ryan go missing after the show you put on at the fire the other night? Found him curled up sleeping in his old bedroom closet at Mom and Dad's just like he did as a kid anytime something was bothering him. Pretty sure watching you do your phoenix thing completely freaked him out. But I was so happy when he told me he was meeting you this afternoon. Please tell me it went well.”

My jaw dropped. “He actually told you?”

“I mean, it wasn't all that hard to figure out. I was just pissed that I was amongst the last to know. Kim and Elias should have told me.”

“Kim and Elias know?” I practically yelled and then looked around us to see people starting to stare. “Shit.” I grabbed her arm and dragged her over to the side of the building.