This Time Around

Stealth has never been Ryan's strong suit.

I threw him a sideways glance, trying to buy myself some time.

"Why do you want to know the real story?"

"I'm Ryan Seacrest! It's my duty to the public to give them what they want...and there are many inquiring minds that would like to know, including mine," he smirked, still waiting for my answer.

I giggled, then grew silent for a moment, trying to figure out just how I was going to handle this question. Could Ryan really see it? Or were we really that obvious? Hell, it seemed everyone was speculating about our relationship lately, so apparently we really were that obvious.

I leaned against Ryan's car and looked up at him, trying to decide what the real story actually was, and how to explain it.

I opened my mouth, but then closed it again, letting out a frustrated groan and covering my face with my hands.

Ryan just pulled me into a close hug as I buried my face in his chest.

"How am I supposed to tell you what the real story is, Ryan, when I don't even know?"

Ryan just chuckled and rubbed my back in a friendly gesture.

"It's okay, Pauls, I understand. Cowell himself is hard enough to explain, much less the relationship you have with him, right?"

Giggling, I just nodded, then shook my head, turning around to open the car door.

"You know what I think drives him crazy about you?" Ryan asked after he and I were both seated in his car and making our way onto the freeway.

"What?"

"You're the one woman he can't have. Any other woman with a sensible amount of estrogen in their system would have been in bed with him a long time ago, but you haven't. You play those mind games with him, you tease him, you love him, you hate him. You boggle his mind."

I sat in silence, allowing what he said to sink in as I concentrated on the license plate of the car ahead of us.

"So that's why he's with Terri then?" I asked finally.

"Why?"

"She doesn't boggle his mind."

"She's low maintenance," Ryan stated matter-of-factly.

"And I'm high maintenance?"

"Well...yes. But that's not always a bad thing."

"How so?"

"Paula, you know the answer to that. You're independent, you're strong willed, you've made a name for yourself...versus Terri who..."

"...made a name for herself because of Simon and his career."

"Exactly. Simon's the leader in that relationship," Ryan continued. "I'm not saying Terri lets him...run over her, per say, but she is basically at his beck and call all the time. I just don't know if Cowell thinks he's ready for you and your...stature."

This wasn't really what I wanted to hear.

I sighed and leaned my head back on the headrest, closing my eyes.

"What is it Pauls?"

"Is that what keeps all guys away, Ryan? The fact that I am high maintenance and independent?"

"I didn't say it was keeping Simon away, Paula."

"What do you mean?"

"Just because he's not ready for your stature, doesn't mean he doesn't want you. Trust me. He does. And there's not much that can keep him from getting what he wants."