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For a brief moment, our eyes met from across the room Ryan was the only one I wanted to look at He had the lorious smile on his face as he stood to watchthat he could realize that this song was for hi ovation when I finished I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as the embarrassment washed over me I briefly covered ain; he was still standing and clapping with a huge s back and forth

I politely thanked everyone and quickly turned thePete was standing by the front door, clapping frantically His cheers were definitely the loudest

"Miss Taryn Mitchell everyone!" Frank yelled into the microphone I took a brief bow and quickly stepped off the stage

It was hard to walk back to the bar through the thick crowd Hands I didn’t know touched me and pattedand for a moment I wondered if this was how Ryan felt all the ti from ear to ear I tried to return the smile but I was too flustered to even look at him He reached for me but I didn’t stop I was almost at a run when I ducked into et my nerves in check

I onlydown to put my head in my hands My heart was about to burst out of my chest and it was hard to breathe

My eyes shot up when I heard my stairwell door open Ryan slipped around the corner and shut the door quickly behind hihtly to hi at

"Well, that depends," he said "Are you referring to the extreme embarrassasped in a few deep breaths of air

"Either way… yeah!" He nodded

"Hey, cohis strong arently aroundup there," he whispered, reassuringto be embarrassed about"

His hand held my head to his chest and he softly kissed ly natural to hold hiether around his waist and pressed my face deeper into his chest The soft scent of his skin was like an aphrodisiac,me crave him evendohile he ran his hand over my back to sooth me

"It’s okay, sweetheart Just breathe with me," he said softly

Chapter 6 - Respite

"I have off on Sunday and Monday and I’d really like to see you… that is if you don’t already have plans with one of your admirers," Ryan teased