Chapter 3 #2
She pretty much stopped speaking to me altogether the moment she saw Beckett Paradise and Sadie Calloway walking off the Dempsey cottage porch together months ago.
Never mind that they were in the middle of a crisis—Sadie’s and my best friend from high school, Rosie, had just died, and someone was hunting Sadie.
None of that mattered to Gran. Only that she was hiding at my place.
And more than that, that a Paradise had stepped foot on Dempsey land.
Around here, that’s not just a faux pas. It’s practically an invitation to joust.
There’s a clause in the original town charter, written back in the 1800s when this valley was nothing but dust, gold fever, and bad tempers that says any Paradise found trespassing on Dempsey property could be shot on sight.
And somehow, it still holds. In the sixties, a judge chose not to prosecute our grandfather when he shot and killed a Paradise on our land. That story plays on repeat in my head every time Ryker so much as looks at me.
The whole thing is one tangled mess of hate and pride and history that nobody seems interested in unraveling. And honestly? I’d rather set the whole damn feud on fire and watch it burn. But that’s not how things work in Black Bear Valley. Not when you’re born into a name like mine.
I’m busy all day rearranging and restocking, waiting on customers, and ordering new items I think will sell well.
Mom started the gift shop at Big Bear Winery, and it’s always been her project.
When I came back, Gran asked me to take it over, but sometimes, I wonder if Mom truly meant to step aside.
Because every time she stops by, she rearranges whatever I’ve changed and scolds me like I don’t know the first thing about selling wine trinkets.
That makes today mostly an exercise in futility, but thankfully Gran stays away, so I don’t have to deal with her on top of everything else. Before I know it, I’m rushing out the door. If I hit the traffic lights just right, I won’t be late.
The second I step into Mikey’s, I spot them. Sadie, smiling and waving, and Beckett, relaxed with a beer in hand. I suppose that’s not a huge surprise—they are engaged—but next to him is Ryker, his brother, all dark smirk and sin-stained memories.
My body locks up, ice and fire colliding in my veins. I hate that I still react to him like this, like I haven’t spent six months trying to bury that night under a hundred reasons why it was a mistake.
I shouldn’t care that Ryker’s here, shouldn’t feel like the air’s been knocked out of me. But there he is, like a debt I’m still paying interest on.
Oh hell.
Sadie rises from the booth and comes toward me, her dress swaying like she’s floating on air. She’s glowing. And dammit, that makes it hard to be annoyed.
“He doesn’t bite,” she says, looping her arm through mine.
Behind her, Ryker leans back in the booth, arms stretched wide. His eyes meet mine, and a flicker of heat travels way too quickly through my bloodstream.
“I do,” he calls, “if she asks nicely.”
I pretend I didn’t hear that. Pretend my pulse doesn’t jump. Pretend I don’t remember exactly how that cocky mouth felt on my skin.
“Subtle,” I mutter.
Sadie gives me a look. “Are you going to behave?”
“Depends. Are you playing matchmaker?”
She doesn’t answer, just drags me toward the booth. “You two are going to be seeing more of each other.”
I snort. If she only knew how I’ve been working to avoid that.
Beckett and Ryker stand as we reach the booth, and Sadie and I slide in.
Ryker sits beside me—way too close for someone I’m trying to forget.
His thigh brushes mine, and my body betrays me instantly.
I remember everything. His hands, his mouth, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world.
I cross my legs tightly and focus on the drink Sadie has waiting for me.
“Okay,” Sadie says, bouncing a little. “We have a favor to ask.”
I brace myself for a setup. Maybe a double date. Maybe a new guy Sadie’s found for me who’s “not like the others.” That’s what she always says. But nothing prepares me for what comes next.
Beckett grins and puts his arm around her. “We want you two to be in our wedding.”
I can feel my eyes widen. “Wait, what?”
“Together,” Sadie says, practically clapping. “Maid of honor and best man.”
Ryker snorts. “What, Caleb too busy?”
Beckett laughs. “He’ll be there, giving Sadie away. He’s her brother, so that seems right. But anyway, I always thought it’d be you standing beside me.”
Ryker is silent a moment, and then he nods. For a beat, the cockiness fades. “Of course. Count me in.”
I look at Sadie, her eyes full of hope and excitement. I can feel my resistance cracking. She’s been through so much. The car accident that took her parents? It wrecked her. Changed her. For a long time, she was just…floating. But now, she’s anchored, happy and whole.
All because of Beckett.
And I have to support that, so yeah, I’ll do it. Even if it means standing next to the man who makes me want to scratch his eyes out and rip his clothes off in the same breath.
“I’m in,” I say finally. “But if this one misbehaves—”
“I’ll behave,” Ryker says, voice low. “Unless you don’t want me to.”
I ignore him again, but I’m burning. And this time, I don’t know if it’s anger or something far more dangerous.
With that settled, Beckett and Ryker head toward the bar, and I finally exhale. Ryker makes it impossible to think straight.
Sadie nudges me with her elbow. “I guess maybe I should have asked you this first. You gonna be okay at a Paradise wedding?”
The question lands softly, but I feel it like a punch. I push past all my old instincts, all the beliefs I was practically raised on—We don’t cross the property line. We don’t trust them. We don’t mix blood.—to get to my answer.
“I’m not doing this for Beckett or Ryker or any Paradise,” I tell her. “I’m doing it for you. You deserve a beautiful day and a fresh start. And I can’t wait to go dress shopping.”
Sadie’s eyes get a little misty, and she wipes them with a laugh. “Okay, no crying at Mikey’s. I’ll save that for your speech.”
We both laugh, and she leans forward, lowering her voice.
“I think I want a big dress,” she whispers. “Like, poofy. Ballerina energy.”
“You’d rock it,” I say. “But we’ll go try everything. You might surprise yourself.”
She grins. “True. What color do you want to wear?”
I smile into my glass. “I’ll wear whatever color you want me in. Chartreuse? Neon pink? Bring it on.”
She laughs and opens her mouth to say something else, but the guys return, each with a fresh round. Beckett slides in beside Sadie and hands her a drink. Ryker sets one in front of me, then drops back into his spot at my side—too close again.
I’ve barely gotten my hand around my glass before I feel it.
His hand. On my thigh. Fingertips warm, slow, like he’s got all the time in the world to remind me what it was like the last time we were alone.
My breath catches, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of looking his way.
“You up for a game of pool?” he asks.
I turn my head and meet his eyes. “Never again.”
He grins like I just gave him a challenge instead of a hard no. And maybe I did.
But if he thinks I’m falling into that trap again, he’s wrong. Then again…my pulse says otherwise. And that’s scary. Because I already know what it’s like to fall into bed with Ryker Paradise.
I don’t think I’d survive it twice.