Chapter 288

CARSON STAGGERED AWAY FROM where Alec held the line with Ryan. He'd always been gentle and playful with her. She'd forgotten that under the surface he was a dangerous man. And now she'd made him angry.

Vito grabbed Ryan by the arm and hauled him off Alec. It didn't matter that he hadn't touched her. It was the way he looked at her.

"You don't want to go there, man," Alec said.

"I want to look in her eyes and hear her say it," Ryan snarled.

"You sure that's all you were going to do." Alec held his hands up.

"You think I'd-?" Ryan's mouth gaped open, and he finally looked away from Carson.

"You're pretty pissed off right now. Why don't you walk it off?"

Ryan glanced at Carson. She felt that look more than any kind of physical touch. It went deeper, to her heart.

She'd known this was coming, but she wasn't ready for it.

Ryan turned toward the French doors leading into the sun room.