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CHAPTER NINETEEN

RYLAN

Rylan sat across from Ruby in the busy downtown Denver restaurant and they had been speaking for hours about Rylan’s designs.

“So how did you meet your husband?” Ruby asked.

Cameron.

Rylan didn’t hide his smile as he told Ruby how they’d met, fallen in love, and had gotten married almost three months previous. Surprise was clear on her face as Rylan explained his whirlwind, yet essential relationship he had with Cameron, but she gave his hand a squeeze and a soft smile by the end.

He watched as Ruby flipped through his third portfolio. It was the most updated one with the newest designs from the fashion show. Smiling, he remembered how Sophia called him a week after the event to learn how much of a success it had been.

And while he contributed his success to his hard work, his happiness came from both his work and having Cameron in his life.

While he had Issa and Suzy, he also had the trio and his and Cameron’s friendship with them have moved beyond friendship into almost a family.

They were there during their most important moments.

Along with his in-laws, he’d never felt so complete in who he was as a person and the happiness from knowing people loved him.

As Ruby surveyed his portfolio, asking him questions about why he chose one color over another or why he’d designed an outfit the way he had, Rylan took a moment to glance around the restaurant.

The dark wood paneling, matching booths with high backs, all displayed a place where power lunches took place without the worry of disruption. Although he could hear the drone of voices around him, he couldn’t hear the exact words of those conversations. Next to him, there was a tinted window that showed a view of the 16thStreet Mall and the people milling about, allowing enough sunlight in to make the room feel warm.

Downtown Denver reminded him of New York City. The hustle and bustle of people all coming from somewhere, crowding the street and the sidewalk, enough to make Rylan feel anxious. He knew Cameron was somewhere nearby, but when the meeting ran longer than he expected and Cameron being out of sight, his anxiety rose.

“Why did you prefer the cream over the white?” Ruby asked.

Rylan opened his mouth to answer but paused when someone slid into the booth next to him. An arm landed behind him, not quite touching, but threatening. He didn’t spare a glance to his side. Instead, he moved his eyes to Ruby and noticed her brows draw down and her mouth pinched as she stared at their uninvited visitor.

With a slight movement, he looked next to him and a wave of unease washed over him.

Tristan.

Tristan smirked at him, catching his quick glance, and moved his arm down. The moment Tristan touched him, Rylan scrambled closer to the window and away from Tristan’s disgusting touch. He moved his feet onto the bench, keeping his distance from Tristan any way he could.

Although every instinct in his being wanted to look away from the one person in the world that scared the shit out of him, he refused. Tristan sneered at him, ignoring Ruby across the table and the restaurant packed with patrons despite it being closer to the end of the workday.

“You’re a hard man to find,” Tristan growled, “where’s your guard dog? Did he leave you so soon, realizing your much more trouble than you’re worth?”

Rylan didn’t respond. No matter what he said, Tristan wouldn’t see reason. He should have known not to drop his guard. Deep down inside, he knew Tristan wouldn’t give up after the brick through their front window, but he allowed himself to believe it for a few weeks.

Unable to keep the fear from making his hands shake, he glanced down at his phone and texted Cameron.

Tristan is here. HELP!

His stalker didn’t notice as his fingers moved over his phone, happy he turned off the click of the keyboard the moment he setup his phone because that would have given him away as he alerted his husband.

“So, what’s going on here. I didn’t think you swung this way, Rylan. You going for pussy now?”

Rylan flinched at the insult to Ruby, but again said nothing. He didn’t glance at Ruby, not wanting to give Tristan more information about the situation than he’d already assumed. He noticed Ruby hadn’t said a word and relief swelled in his chest.

Tristan reached for his glass filled with iced tea and took a long pull from it. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before he turned his gaze on Rylan.

“You think you can ruin my life and move on like its nothing. There are consequences for leading me on and ignoring me like you did.”

Rylan froze.