She gave a much-shortened version of the story, trying to keep her tone light and the details vague. He listened raptly, his lips bunched together, clearly to stop himself from interrupting, his eyes twinkling.

Finished, she shrugged. “Anyway, it’s over now. And I’m a little sad about it. That’s all.”

He immediately stood up. “Uh-huh, Ryann. That’s not all. Come on. Grab your coat.”

“Where are we going?”

“I’m staying here and wrapping things up. You’re going back to Colorado on the next flight.”

“What?”

He stamped his foot, his hands going to his waist. “Are you kidding me right now? Jesus. No wonder Stuart kept pushing you. You’re obviously in love with this woman.”

She laughed. “No, I’m not.”

He stared at her, hard. “You are. And you’re going to get on a goddamn plane and win her back—do you hear me?”

“But why? What good would it do? Next week, after the wedding, I’ll be coming back to New York—”

“Fuck that, Ryann. You don’t turn away from something like this. Not ever. Details come later.”

He was clearly serious, and despite her scoffs and eye rolls, he wasn’t backing down.

“You really mean to drag me to the airport right now?” she asked.

“You’re damn right, I do. Like I said, get your coat.”

She checked her watch. “There’s no way a flight is leaving for Denver this late. I wouldn’t even get to the airport before ten or eleven.”

He pouted. “Fine. But first thing tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

This promise seemed to satisfy him, and he sat back down on his stool, finishing his beer in one long chug. For such a small, slight guy, he could really drink. She was watching him, and he raised an eyebrow when he noticed.

“What?” he asked.

“You were really going to drag me to the airport?”

His lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Hell yes, I was.”

“You really think—”

“I do. Now shut up and finish your drink. Then have another. Let’s at least get a little tipsy. This is a celebration, after all.”

As much as she wasn’t in the mood for it, she decided not to argue, draining her first glass but nursing her next as he continued to finish pint after pint. She was glad for the early hours most pubs had, as he was definitely a little more than tipsy by the time they left just before ten. This time she helped him to his room.

Back in hers, she almost didn’t follow through on what she’d told him, but then, as she lay there in the dark, the time difference was so jarring to her internal clock that she was wide-awake. She finally got up and booked a flight back to Colorado on the plane leaving Heathrow tomorrow at noon. Once done, she fell asleep almost at once.

Chapter Nineteen