Chapter Ten
Ten
Ryan had just stepped out the door to head to the stables when a familiar SUV pulled up to the house. He made his way to the drive that separated the house from the path to the main stable as Jayden stepped from his vehicle.
“Hey, man. What are you doing out this way?”
Jayden adjusted his sunglasses and stopped at the edge of the yard. “Had to run some errands for Zanai and was going by. Just thought I’d stop and see why I haven’t heard from you in over a week.”
Ryan really didn’t know where to start with his friend, but he did know he shouldn’t share everything. Not quite yet.
“I’m sorry,” Ryan told him. “I meant to get back with you yesterday, but then we had a stillborn foal and the entire day went to hell.”
“Hate to hear that. Is there anything you need?”
Ryan shook his head. “We’re all good here.”
“Well, the main reason I wanted to talk was to tell you Zanai and I are getting married.”
Ryan smiled. “Congratulations. When is the day?”
“We’re looking at spring. Zanai is in a hurry, but she wants better weather. I really don’t care when we do it, so long as she knows she’s mine forever.”
Forever. That was what marriage was all about. Not love or feelings or all of those up and down emotions. Ryan wanted this family and he wanted his own forever. He longed for a stable, secure relationship for himself and his child. Those things were far more important than love.
“I’m there,” Ryan assured him. “Can you stick around? Maybe come in and have a drink? This is worth celebrating.”
Jayden shrugged. “If you have the time, but I don’t want to intrude.”
Ryan slapped his friend on the back and gestured toward the house. “Come on in. I’ve got a twenty-year bourbon I’ve been saving for a celebration.”
“You don’t want to save it for your own celebration?” Jayden asked as they reached the door.
“Don’t worry, I have plenty of other bottles.”
As soon as they stepped inside, Jayden started laughing.
“Since when did you become so festive?” he asked.
Jayden turned and his eyes landed right on a pair of cowgirl boots by the front door.
“And since when did you wear a tiny boot?”
Jayden’s eyes came up to meet Ryan’s and he realized his mistake. Ryan should have offered anything else other than coming inside.
“No wonder you couldn’t return my calls or texts.” Jayden rested his hands on his hips and raised his brows. “Well, who is she? The same woman who caught your eye at the Masquerade Ball?”
No need to lie about the woman in his life, especially since most of the town saw him and Morgan leaving that party together.
That didn’t mean he had to go into the whole baby situation, though.
Some things were still too fragile to discuss and Ryan still struggled to grasp that hard nugget of reality, as well.
“Yes, it’s Morgan.”
Jayden stared for another minute before a bark of laughter echoed in the foyer.
“I should have known. Man, you two work fast. We just had the Masquerade Ball a month ago. You went from dancing and kissing to living together? No wonder you didn’t want to give me relationship advice when I asked you weeks ago.”
Yeah, well, Ryan still was in no position to discuss relationships or dole out any advice on the topic.
“So, you’re serious?” Jayden asked. “I never thought I’d see the day you finally settle down. After Margie—”
Ryan held up a hand. “She’s long gone and I’m in a good place.”
Physically, not emotionally...or sexually.
“Well, I’m glad you found a way to move on and Morgan is one beautiful woman. You two look good together.”
Ryan motioned toward the front living area. “Come on in and have a seat. Let’s talk about anything but relationships.”
Jayden settled into a leather club chair as Ryan pulled out the bourbon and two Glencairn glasses from the mini bar in the corner of the room.
“Want to discuss Heath putting my family through the wringer or the fact that old survey says oil isn’t there and yet he’s still not backing down?”
“I’m not surprised.” Ryan took the glasses and headed to take a seat across from Jayden.
“He believes your families have something that belongs to him. And there’s no dodging the guy.
His brother is marrying Morgan’s sister in a couple weeks.
Those two have started mending whatever fences they’ve torn. ”
Ryan set the glasses on the round table between them and eased back in his seat.
Everyone in town seemed shocked that Heath was persisting.
Most people had assumed that once the old surveyor’s report turned up in the investigation, Heath would give up.
But instead he’d hired his own surveyor.
Ryan honestly didn’t want to get caught up in the chaos considering he had his own issues to deal with.
“Chelsea’s wedding is going to be awkward as hell.” Jayden picked up his glass and swirled the contents. He took a sip of his bourbon, then another. “Damn. That’s good. I’m glad I stopped by.”
Ryan laughed and tipped his glass up in a mock cheers. “You’re always welcome here, my friend.”
Jayden relaxed into his seat and rested his elbow on the arm. “So, let’s get back to Morgan.”
Ryan knew Jayden wouldn’t let this topic go. But some things had to be kept private and everything going on between him and Morgan was best left between them.
“How about we discuss the bachelor party?” Ryan suggested. “Vic and I will make sure you have the bourbon you want.”
Jayden nodded and just like that, the conversation shifted and the weight lifted from Ryan. He knew it was only a matter of time before everyone knew just how serious he and Morgan had become. They couldn’t hide forever.
Morgan pulled into the drive and waited for the gate to slide open.
She still wasn’t used to coming here after work.
She had never lived with a man outside of her own family before.
This unique situation was certainly not one she’d ever planned on, but she’d told her parents the truth and they fully supported her decision to stay with Ryan.
Pregnant from a one-night stand, living with a man she barely knew, and trying to keep a secret from the town seemed like just the gossip she never wanted to be a part of. Yet here she was.
Part of Morgan thought she’d miss the home she grew up in, but she couldn’t deny how much she loved her room and the little touches Ryan had added to make her feel special.
Fresh flowers each day really went a long way to making her feel more at ease.
She couldn’t be bought into a marriage, but she wasn’t going to turn down being wooed.
Wooed? Did that word seriously just roll through her mind?
Clearly she needed more sleep or something.
None of this was about romance. Even Ryan would agree to that.
Neither of them cared about love or any other deeply binding emotion.
She wasn’t sure of his backstory or what made him so adamant on marriage, but whatever happened in his past had nothing to do with her or what was happening now.
As she approached the house, she stopped her car and just stared at the sight ahead of her. Then she laughed. This man was confusing the hell out of her with his opposing views on the holiday.
Morgan pulled on up and killed the engine. She grabbed her bag and stepped from the car.
“Now you decide to do exterior lights?” she called out.
Ryan glanced down from his position on the ladder. “You wanted lights. Here you go.”
“I would have helped you had you waited until I got here.”
She almost said home, but this wasn’t her home. This was only a temporary arrangement.
“And I’m sure you have guys who would have done this,” she added.
Ryan hooked the last bit of the strand in the fastener and started to climb down. He wiped his hands on his jeans as he took a step back to survey his work.
“I’m sure I do, but I’m also capable. I had to go into town and buy the damn things so I hope this is what you like.”
Even in his growling, Morgan knew he’d done all of this because he cared. But how deep did that care run?
Yes, they were having a baby together, but she couldn’t let that be the only reason she stayed with him.
A child was no reason to declare your entire life to one person.
..who could very well be the wrong person.
Caring and loving were two completely different things and one day, he might want to fall in love and do this marriage thing for real.
Morgan crossed the yard and stood beside Ryan. The twinkling white lights across the porches and banisters, combined with the garland and gorgeous wreaths on the windows and doors, brought a tear to her eye.
“It’s magical,” she murmured. “For someone who doesn’t want to go all out, you did just that.”
“Carmen at the supply store guided me,” he confessed. “She’s been here before so she told me exactly what I should do and I bought everything she said because I didn’t want to screw this up.”
And that statement right there tugged at Morgan’s heart in a way she’d never known possible. He must have spent the entire day doing this for her after going through such a bad day on the ranch yesterday. He’d turned right around and put her wants ahead of his healing.
Morgan turned to face him and rested her hands on his shoulders.
“Thank you.”
Ryan reached up, swiping a tear from her cheek. “Are those good tears? I never can tell when women cry.”
“Definitely good tears.” She wrapped her arms around him and held tight. “This was the best surprise. I don’t know the last time anyone surprised me.”
Ryan’s strong arms came around her and Morgan closed her eyes, wanting to lock this moment in her core memory forever. Ryan was more than a wealthy rancher or good-time guy. He had a giving heart, which made his mood yesterday all the more concerning.
Not only that—to experience this side of Ryan really tugged at something internally for her. How could he be even more tempting than before? Seeing him go out of his way with such a sweet gesture only added another layer of temptation she didn’t know if she could resist.
Morgan eased back and held his face in her hands. The coarse hair from his beard tickled her palms, but she was finding that she loved the tickling sensation.
“What happened yesterday?” she asked. “And don’t blow me off.”
Ryan’s lips thinned and he reached out, curling his fingers around her wrists as if holding on for support.
“We lost our foal.” He blew out a sigh and added, “We tried everything and I had our vet there, too. Nothing we did could save her.”
Morgan knew that ache of losing an animal. Ranches were full of so many, but losing even one was a painful experience.
“I’m really sorry,” she told him. “I know that doesn’t change the situation. Even though I gave up ranch life, I still grew up on one and I understand what you’re going through. I remember the first animal we lost when I was little.”
Morgan turned her hands and held on to his between their bodies as she recalled the memory.
“Dad wanted all the kids in the barn to watch the birth because he was determined that we saw everything, good or bad, at the ranch. We had no idea the calf would be stillborn. Honestly, maybe that’s what turned me off to that lifestyle.
I was only eight, but I remember thinking I didn’t like pain and I didn’t like the darkness that seemed to overshadow us that day.
I only wanted to see the good and the pretty of the world. ”
Ryan’s soft smile had her heart doing a flip. “And here you are making the world, or at least Royal, beautiful.”
Morgan’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t thought of her life that way. She just knew she loved fashion and she had a smart business sense about her. You couldn’t grow up on a successful ranch and not be business savvy. But she’d never put all of that together until just this moment.
“Do these decorations make you want to marry me?” he asked.
Morgan tried not to cringe because even though he offered her a grin, she knew he wasn’t entirely joking.
“Not even going all out on Christmas decorations will make me marry you,” she informed him. “But you did earn yourself an invite into my bed.”
Ryan released her and shook his head. “I’m pretty sure you would have let me in there no matter what.”
“True,” she agreed. “But now I’ll let you have all the control. I could just...you know, lay there and let you have your way with me.”
Ryan’s eyes closed and he rested his forehead against hers. “You could tempt a saint, I swear.”
“Is that a yes?” Morgan slid her arms around his waist. “You don’t have to be noble on my account.”
He chuckled and shifted to look her in the eye. “Oh, I’m not noble. I’m just planning for the future and what’s best for this family. Say yes to marriage and I’ll let you have control in the bedroom.”
She didn’t want control enough to give up her freedom or to be trapped. Morgan stepped away and adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder.
“I guess we’ll both just have to stay in control outside of the bedroom.”
Which was a shame when they were both so, so good inside.