Summer Lovin’ (Costas Sisters #2)(31)
Author: Carly Phillips

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RYAN WAS FURIOUS. He couldn’t look at Zoe without wanting to strangle her. Signing adoption papers was just a formality? Since when had she deleted him from the equation, without a thought? That lack of thought was the key to his anger. Throughout this painful process, they’d developed a respect for one another that she’d completely trashed in one split second.

He clenched his fists, then turned to his uncle. "Excuse us for a minute, won’t you?" Ryan stood, grasped Zoe’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen.

The door swung shut behind them and he immediately turned, backing her toward the counter. He stared into the green eyes capable of bringing him to his knees.

He couldn’t afford to lose focus now. "Care to tell me what that was all about back there?"

"What was what all about?" She braced her hands against the Formica and leaned back. Away from him.

"That nonsense about Sam. The cold way you’re deliberately distancing yourself from me. When we need to help each other most."

She blinked. "Are you for real? You show up on my doorstep right after I had to break my parents’ hearts, wearing your stuffy suit and bringing your equally stuffy uncle in what has to be a show of power and— "

Ryan didn’t know what possessed him, but one minute she was hurling accusations that clearly told him how scared and hurt she really was, and the next minute all he could think about was kissing her. He watched those full, sensual lips moving and all he could hear was the blood pounding in his ears propelled by the desire coursing through his veins.

He’d missed her and now he had to taste her or go completely insane. He grabbed her forearms and pulled her close, then pressed his lips against hers. He was hard and demanded everything and she immediately responded, kissing him back, her mouth willing and open, all the pent-up passion and desire and need spilling forth.

He tangled his hands in her hair and angled her head so he could get deeper access into the warm, wet recesses of her mouth. She trembled under his assault and he turned his head so he could trail moist kisses down her cheek and slender neck, inhaling her fragrant scent.

Zoe loved the taste and feel of him. Sensually he lit her on fire, and emotionally he filled the cold, scared places. The intensity between them grew stronger each time they laid eyes on one another. Not even distance or anger could remain between them for long.

His impulsive, take-charge kiss was obviously meant to be a resolution of sorts. She’d seen it with her parents too often to be wrong, and she reluctantly pulled out of his embrace.

"We can’t do this." Shaking, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "Especially not now."

"Because?" He inclined his head, obviously confused.

She combed her fingers through her hair, trying to smooth the messy strands. "A kiss can’t fix our problems. There’s too much between us."

A muscle ticked in his jaw and she had to stifle the urge to stroke his skin. "It’s a start."

"Sam ran away."

He reared back, her words obviously hitting him hard. "Dammit," he growled, his initial shock giving way to palpable anger.

He swung around and walked toward the kitchen sink. Bracing his hands on the counter, he glanced out the window overlooking the yard. "Because she found out the truth?"

"Yes. She came home unexpectedly and overheard us talking. She stormed off to her room. She was there at bedtime— I know because I checked on her— but this morning she was gone."

"What about that state-of-the-art alarm system your mother promised she’d use?"

Zoe touched his shoulder lightly when she really wanted to grab him and pound him for his innuendo.

He swiveled around to face her.

"Sam likes cool air when she sleeps so my mother bypasses her window so she can open it at night. Would you like to arrest her for making Sam more comfortable?" she asked, her sarcasm deliberately biting.

"I didn’t mean it that way."

"The hell you didn’t."

"I don’t think your fighting is going to help find Samantha."

Zoe turned, shocked to see Ryan’s uncle standing in the kitchen doorway. She wondered how much he’d witnessed, then decided she didn’t care.

"He’s right." Ryan threaded his fingers through his hair.

"My family’s out looking for Sam." Zoe didn’t want either of these men thinking her family wasn’t worried about the teen, or worse, that they were neglectful in caring for her.

"I’m sure they are. Tell me, has anyone checked her room for clues to her whereabouts?" Uncle Russ asked.

Zoe narrowed her gaze. "Well, no. We immediately spread out to check places she’s gone to before or might be likely to go to now." Zoe hated that this smug man thought of something her family, including Quinn, had missed. But he had a good point. "I’ll go up to Sam’s room now."

At that moment, the telephone rang and Zoe jumped to grab it, in case someone had found Sam. "Hello?"

"Hi, Zoe. It’s Connor."

"Hey. Any news?" Since Connor had the emergency rooms on his list, she fervently hoped not.

"Not a thing."

Zoe let out a deep breath of air. Covering the phone, she glanced at Ryan. "She’s not in any of the local hospitals," she reassured him.

"Thank God." He lowered himself into the nearest chair, looking too pale for her peace of mind.

"Would it help if I gave her room a cursory glance?" Uncle Russ asked.

Zoe waved him away. Let him do whatever he wanted as long as he stayed out of her way. "Connor, thank you for calling. Let me know if you hear from Quinn."

"Will do."

"Thanks." Zoe hung up the phone and strode over to where Ryan sat. "Are you okay?" She was hesitant to touch him in a way that offered support or comfort.

One minute they were adversaries, the next desperate lovers and after that uncertain allies, both concerned about Sam. Zoe wasn’t certain what category they fell into right now.

"Did I ever tell you about the day Faith ran away?" Ryan asked, taking her by surprise.

Zoe shook her head. Until this moment, the parallels hadn’t occurred to her. But Zoe understood now that Ryan was reliving a painful time in his life.

She pulled a chair up beside him and covered his hand with hers. "I’m listening." Not only because she relished details of his life, but because it gave her something to focus on while she manned the house.

"Faith was a typical older sister. She rarely wanted me around. That is, until the night before she left." His eyes clouded over and Zoe could tell he was remembering vividly.