Chapter Eleven
chapter eleven
KIRA
“You know you don’t work on the weekends, right?”
I turn around and find Ryder standing in the kitchen, leaning against the wall. He’s in a pair of basketball shorts and a white T-shirt, stretched taut across his chest. His brown hair is messy from sleep, his eyes still slightly hooded, and when he rubs his stomach, his shirt rises, showing off that goddamn happy trail that has starred in quite a few of my fantasies as of late.
“I know,” I tell him, spinning back around to focus on what I’m doing. “But eating has nothing to do with working.”
“I meant you waking up and taking care of Addie for me.”
I shrug him off and turn back around, grabbing the bag of chocolate chips. “I was up anyway. Changing a diaper and feeding one more child breakfast isn’t a big deal.” Especially not after everything Ryder’s done for me.
I think back to our conversation last night. The way he listened and then promised to help me. When I went to bed, it was the first time in a long time that I truly felt like maybe everything would be okay. And it was because of him. Sure, there’s a chance that he’s full of shit, and it won’t be the first time I’ve been wrong about a man, but something about Ryder makes me feel like I can trust him. And if I’m wrong about him, it’s not as if I gave him my heart or anything.
As I pour the chocolate chips into the batter, I feel his warmth behind me, and when I glance back, he’s standing over me, his masculine scent enveloping me.
He reaches around, and for a second, I assume he’s about to wrap his arms around me—and crazily, nothing in me even thinks to stop him.
But then his finger dips into the batter, and he brings it to his lips, moaning, “Damn, I love your brownies.”
The girls and I made brownies the other day, and Ryder damn near ate the entire pan himself after everyone went to bed. The next morning, he told me with a teasing smirk that I wasn’t allowed to make them anymore because he couldn’t control himself.
So, that day, we made a cake. And after he ate several slices, he told me I should open my own bakery and that I was banned from baking in this house anymore.
“Get out of here!” I playfully scold. “These aren’t for you.”
Ryder slides around next to me and leans against the counter. “Who the hell are they for?” He pouts like a petulant child, making me laugh.
I’ve learned the past couple of weeks that Ryder is as immature as he is mature. He’s got many sides to him—the serious businessman, the doting and loving father, the sweet and caring confidante, and the side I’m seeing more and more of … the playful friend. And the more I get to know him, the more I like every part of him.
“Ana,” I tell him. “In case you forgot, you’re going to visit them today. I’m making a couple of dishes for you to bring over. The lasagna is already done.”
I remember how hard it was to juggle everything after I had Violet. I’m sure they have plenty of help, but nothing beats a homemade comfort meal. So, after I made the girls breakfast, I got to work on making lasagna and brownies for Ana and her family.
“Thank you. She’ll love it.”
He leans over and gives me a quick kiss on my cheek, which does something to my insides that I refuse to acknowledge.
“Any plans for today?” he asks, opening the fridge and grabbing a water bottle.
“Nope. I’m sure Violet will beg to go in the pool.” I glance back at him and roll my eyes. “Wherever we move will have to have a pool. Living here is spoiling her.”
I expect Ryder to laugh, but instead, he frowns. “Are you planning on leaving?”
“What? No. I mean, not unless you decide not to extend my contract after the ninety days are up.”
“That’s only for you,” he says, encroaching on my space. “To make sure you’re comfortable. I’ll gladly sign a contract for however long you want.”
“I think twelve months is good.” I go back to mixing the batter. “And obviously, if anything changes and you want to break the contract, as long as you give me a little bit of notice, I’ll understand.”
“Why the hell would I want to do that?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “What if you meet someone and decide you don’t want Violet and me crashing your mansion anymore?” It’s supposed to come across like a joke, but the humor gets lost in my words.
“That’s not happening,” Ryder says. “And there’s nothing wrong with Violet being spoiled by my pool. For too long, it never got used.”
“Dada!” Addie calls. “Up!”
Ryder lifts her into his arms and gives her a kiss on her forehead. “Morning, Chunk.”
“Mommy, can I have a brownie?” Violet asks.
“No, these aren’t for us,” I tell her, pouring the batter into the pan and then popping it in the oven. “But you can lick the spatula.”
I hold it out for her, and she runs over, her eyes lit up in excitement.
“Thank you!”
“Me! Me!” Addie squeals.
“Okay,” I tell her with a laugh. “You too.”
I grab a spoon and swipe a small amount of batter from the mixing bowl onto it, then hand it to her. Addie pops it into her mouth, and the look of awe and wonder on her face at having tried brownie batter for the first time is so adorable that I have to snap a picture.
“More, more!” She thrusts the spoon my way. “ Pease ,” she adds.
“Okay, one more,” I tell her, swiping a tiny bit more and handing it to her.
She pops it back in her mouth and grins, in chocolate heaven.
“I think someone likes chocolate,” I say to Ryder with a wink. “Like father, like daughter.”
Ryder chuckles. “Great. Soon, I’ll be fighting over those addictive brownies with another person. At this rate, I’m going to have to bribe you to make me my own batch.”
“Dramatic much?”
I take the spoon from Addie and drop it into the sink with the bowl and spatula that Violet licked clean before running back into the living room to watch another show. Addie wiggles around, and Ryder sets her on the floor so she can toddle back to Violet.
“You and Violet should join us,” Ryder says, coming up next to me at the sink.
“What?”
I start rinsing the dishes and fill the dishwasher.
“To see the baby,” he clarifies. “Ana asks about you all the time. I’m sure she’d love to see you. When she found out that you were living in your car, she felt horrible for not knowing.”
“I don’t want anyone’s pity,” I murmur, focusing intently on the dirty dishes.
“Nobody’s pitying you,” he says. “It’s called caring. There’s a difference.”
When I don’t say anything back, he tries again. “Come with us to their house. It’ll be fun. They’re hanging out by the pool, so Violet can go swimming. And you said you were dying to meet the baby.”
“I don’t want to crash.”
“You wouldn’t be. But if it’ll make you feel better, I can text them and make sure they’re up for two more people.”
“That’d put them on the spot,” I argue, shaking my head even though I’d love to see the new baby. I mean, who doesn’t love holding a newborn and sniffing their newborn scent? “No, we’ll stay here. Maybe another time.”
“All right.” Ryder sighs. “But if you change your mind, text me. I can come get you guys anytime. They don’t live far.”
“Thank you, but we’ll be fine here. Promise.”
I pour the soap into the dishwasher, close it, and press Start. “The brownies will be ready in about thirty minutes.”
While they’re baking, I throw in a load of laundry and then run up to my room to get my suit on since I already know Violet will beg me to join her. I’m grabbing my suit from the drawer when my phone goes off with an incoming text. Since Ryder’s the only one who knows and uses my number—since he’s the one who bought me the phone after hiring me and I can’t contact my mom in case her phone is somehow being monitored by Brian—I glance at it, expecting to see a text from Ryder.
Instead, I find a message from Unknown.
Hey, Kira! It’s Ana. Ryder gave me your number after he called Julian to let him know he’ll be over soon and said you and Violet aren’t coming. Then, when I asked him to please invite you, he said you would think he conspired it and it was a pity invite—which, by the way, is ridiculous. So, now, I’m texting you to let you know that I’m inviting you to come over with him. I thought it was a given since you and Violet live with him, but I shouldn’t have assumed. Please come over. I’d love for you to meet the newest Parker and catch up with you.
I sigh after reading her text, knowing I’m going to have to go whether it’s a pity invite or not since it was so heartfelt and I would look like a complete bitch if I said no.
Hey, are you sure you’re up for so many people? You did just have a baby …
Unknown
I am more than sure. I’m lying on the couch, relaxing with Emilia. Kingston and Julian are about to go swimming. Because we were in the hospital on Kingston’s birthday, we’re celebrating today. We would love for you guys to join us.
Okay, but if it gets to be too much, we can leave anytime.
Unknown
See you soon!
After creating a contact for Ana, I grab my bathing suit and cover-up and then go to the girls’ rooms to pack for them. Once everything is ready to go, I head back downstairs, just in time to take the brownies out of the oven.
“Mommy, can we go swimming now?” Violet asks.
“Change of plans,” I say, glaring at Ryder, who doesn’t look the least bit concerned. “We’re going to see Ana, Julian, Kingston, and their new baby.”
“Oh, yay!” Violet exclaims. “I love babies!”
“Oh, you decided to join us after all?” Ryder asks with a smirk.
“You know exactly what happened,” I mutter.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says nonchalantly.
“Oh, yeah? Well, it looks like I have no idea how to make you any more brownies,” I volley.
“You wouldn’t dare.” He glares.
“We’ll see.” I shrug, sauntering past him.
Because my back is to him, I don’t see him come up behind me and grab me by my waist. I shriek in surprise when he lifts me off my feet and drops me onto the couch, and then I start to half scream, half giggle when he proceeds to tickle me. Of course, the girls think it’s hilarious and immediately join, helping him to tickle me.
“Stop!” I beg through my peals of laughter.
“Take it back,” he says, tickling me under my armpit. “Tell me you’ll make me all the brownies I want, and we’ll stop.”
“Yes!” Violet agrees. “I want brownies.”
“No,” I hiss defiantly. “No brownies for you!”
The tickling doesn’t stop.
“That’s the wrong answer,” Ryder says with a smirk. “Agree to make us brownies, or it’s only going to get worse.”
He glides his fingers down my body and then squeezes my knee, eliciting a loud shriek from me, which only makes the girls laugh harder.
And because I’m damn close to peeing my pants, instead of telling him to go fuck himself, like I want to, I nod in agreement.
“Fine! I promise, I’ll make you brownies.”
“Pinky swear?” he replies.
“Yeah!” Violet, the damn traitor, agrees. “Pinky swear!”
“Okay!” I breathe. “I pinky swear I’ll make you all the brownies.”
Ryder stops tickling me, and the girls thankfully follow suit.
While they’re running around, chanting, “Brownies,” repeatedly, Ryder extends his hand to help me up.
I take it, allowing him to pull me into a sitting position, and when our faces are only inches apart, our lips only just not touching, I murmur, “Just remember, payback’s a bitch.”
His eyes widen in shock, and for a moment, I wonder if I took it too far. Until his hazel eyes shimmer with mirth and he throws his head back with laughter, exposing his throat—which I shouldn’t imagine running my nose along and inhaling his scent, but I do.
Once he’s calmed himself, he shoots me a flirty wink and then says, “I can’t wait to see you try.”
Game on.