Matchmaker Mayhem

The chaos of the day had finally settled, but Ava still felt the lingering adrenaline from the Omiai challenge. She’d bested Julian—again—saved Kenji and Rika from an awkward matchmaking disaster, and even managed to keep Ryan from causing more trouble. That should have been enough to let her relax.

Yet, as she stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of their suite, Tokyo glittering beneath them like scattered diamonds, she found herself still... restless.

Ryan, fresh out of the shower, towel-drying his hair, noticed immediately.

He leaned against the doorframe, shirtless, sweatpants hanging low on his hips. "You’re thinking too much."

Ava didn’t look at him. "I always think too much."

Ryan smirked, walking up behind her. "I know a way to fix that."

Before she could protest, his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him.

Ava let out a half-laugh, half-sigh, leaning into his warmth. "If this involves distraction tactics, I’m onto you."

Ryan chuckled, his lips ghosting over her bare shoulder. "Not just a distraction. A Tokyo date night. Just us. No matchmaking, no Julian, no chaos."

Ava tilted her head slightly. "Mei and Harold are going to follow us, aren’t they?"

Ryan sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, yes. But that’s why we have an escape plan."