I’m ten minutes deep into my favorite Bravo reality show when I notice the shower water is no longer running. I immediately try to settle into a casual seated pose and focus on the screen—but that proves difficult when Ryan walks out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a deep gray towel.

His hair is pushed back and off his face, dripping small droplets of water onto his shoulders and his cut chest. He’s fit but not overly so, looking athletic but not like one of those guys who goes to the gym at an extreme level and has bulging muscles.

He’s a guy you just know will have an amazing dad-bod someday. Like, when he takes his kids to the beach, moms will look at him and think...maybe he trained for the Olympics at some point in his younger life. I mean, he probably didn’t get into the Olympics, but still, maybe he participated in the qualifying rounds.

“Sorry, I left my bag out here,” Ryan says.

“I’ll get it.” I push up off the couch and grab the bag, which is a couple feet away. A second later, I’m standing directly across from Ryan’s half-naked body.

This is totally fine. Completely normal.

I reach out to pass the bag over, and as I do, his hand brushes against mine.

In one of my books, I could milk a hand graze for at least a page, but in reality, I’m not sure if the contact holds any weight at all.

“Thanks,” Ryan says with a smile before walking back into the bathroom. He shuts the door and I cover my face with both of my hands.

Pull yourself together! This is business!

I take a breath and am the picture of composure when Ryan walks back into the living room a couple minutes later, wearing navy basketball shorts and a white short-sleeved undershirt. He looks...gross. I’m choosing to believe he looks gross.

“Are you hungry? We can order something if you want.”

“No, thanks,” he says. “I’m pretty tired so I think I’ll just crash.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” I walk past him as he heads for the couch and turn back around to face him once I’m standing in my bedroom doorway. “So, does Duke go into the bathroom now or will he meander in later?”

“He’ll stay with me for a bit, then head in when he’s ready to sleep.”

“Got it. Can I ask why you brought him with you to New York? Wouldn’t it have been easier to get a dog-sitter and leave him home?”