Chapter 16
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Rain
It’s been a couple of days since Ridge went on that run, and I totally lost it. I woke up in his bed the next day feeling embarrassed. I snuck out before he got the chance to see me, not sure what I would say to him. After cleaning up my mess, I was grateful when he acted like it was any other day.
Still, that night changed something between us. Every look and touch feels more intimate. Now it’s time for our date, and I’m nervous.
Turning, I stare at myself in the mirror.
The black leggings are new and do awesome things for my butt.
On top, I have on a black sports bra with a black zip-up jacket that came with the leggings.
The outfit is tight but hides all of my insecurities.
In fact, it makes me feel hot, in a good way.
I should probably go online and order another set.
It’s not what I would typically wear on a date, but it’s what Ridge recommended.
“What the hell does he have planned for us?” I mutter to myself.
My mind comes up blank when I try to think of a reason why he would tell me to wear workout gear. Nothing, and I mean nothing, comes to mind, which is concerning.
A knock on my bedroom door makes my heart race. This is it. Ridge is on the other side, ready to take me out. How is this even real life? It almost feels like a dream. One I never thought would happen or thought I wanted to happen.
Walking over, I open the door, and my breath catches when I see him.
Ridge has on a pair of loose gray sweatpants and a T-shirt that looks well worn. He’s not dressed up by any means, but he looks relaxed, happy, almost as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, and there’s something sexy about it.
“You look beautiful.” He smiles.
I can feel my face heat at his compliment. “Thank you.”
“Ready to go?”
“Yeah, one sec.” Leaving him at the door, I go to my bed and grab my go-bag with a change of clothes and a swimsuit.
Something else he told me to pack.
When I reach him once again, he takes the bag from my hand.
“I can carry that.”
He shrugs. “I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you have to.”
In the living room, he grabs his bag, and we head to the door. After locking up the house, he takes me over to his truck and opens the passenger door for me before tossing the bags in the back seat.
I watch as he rounds the hood, and I run my hands along my thighs.
As fucked up as it is, this is already the best first date I’ve been on.
The tone of it is unlike anything I’ve experienced.
I’ve never had a guy meet me at my door, carry something for me, or let alone open a car door.
Even though I’m more than capable of doing all of those things myself, it’s nice that he wants to do it for me.
It’s the little things.
When he gets in, he starts up the truck and starts to drive. The music plays softly, and I watch as he drums his fingers on the steering wheel. The silence should be uncomfortable, but it’s not.
“I’m surprised you haven’t asked me where we are going yet,” he says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I figured you would tell me when you were ready.” I shrug.
A beautiful smile crosses his face, making my heart race.
“Not wrong. Are you okay with it being a surprise, or would you rather I tell you?”
I hum, thinking it over. I want to know, but I do love a good surprise.
“Or another option. It’s technically a two-part date. I could tell you one and then leave the other one as a surprise.”
“That. Let’s do that,” I say quickly.
Ridge chuckles quietly as he merges lanes.
“Okay, then. The first part of our date, we are going indoor rock climbing.”
I suck in a breath. “I love rock climbing.”
“I know,” he says as a cocky smirk covers his face.
“How did you know?”
“Babe, I’ve heard you talk about it for years.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Based on things he’s said in the past, I knew he paid attention. I knew he knew more about me than I did him, but I guess I underestimated exactly how much he knew.
“I know it’s not the most conventional date, but I knew you would like it.” He shrugs as if it’s not a big deal.
“No, this is awesome, but do you like rock climbing? Have you ever been?” I ask.
“I actually picked it up years ago after listening to you go on and on about it. I fell in love with it and do it every chance I can now.”
“Have you climbed outside yet?” I ask, turning toward him.
He nods. “I have a couple of times. Nothing too challenging, though. There’s a place I want to check out that’s here in Colorado.”
“Oh, is it the one over in Serenity Valley? I keep wanting to go out there and do that, then hit up the hot springs.”
“It is.”
“We should go,” I say without thinking.
Ridge smiles. “We will have to wait until this spring or summer, but I’ll book it tonight. We can make a weekend of it.”
“I’d love that,” I tell him quietly.
We are making plans for the future. In the past, that would have scared me, but it only makes me excited with him.
“I’ll make it happen.” He reaches over and squeezes my knee. “Have you looked at rock climbing outside of Colorado? There are some pretty sick places. Some not that far from us.”
My mind is still on the heat of his hand on my knee as I answer.
“Like Yosemite?”
He hums. “That’s one.”
“It’s on my list, but I haven’t had time,” I admit.
“We will have to check it out,” he tells me. “There is also one I’ve been eyeing, a place in Greece. It’s supposed to be one of the best in the world.”
My heart races at the possibilities. “I’ve never thought about traveling outside of the States to do it.”
“Think about it. If you want to do it, we could make it happen. It shouldn’t be too hard to plan.”
I swallow hard. “I’d like that.”
He slows down and turns on his blinker as he pulls into the parking lot for the rock climbing gym.
After he parks and shuts off the truck, he turns toward me.
“Now, are you ready to go kick my ass?” he asks.
A smile crosses my face. “I’ll race you to the top. Loser buys dinner.”
“You’re on.”
Ridge
She kicked my ass each time we raced to the top, and she hasn’t stopped smiling since. Most guys would hate being beaten by anyone, and I’m no exception, but with her? I don’t mind. I’ll let her tease me about it as long as she wants because she’s having a good time and she’s happy.
So fucking happy, and it looks good on her.
“What’s this?” she asks as we pull into our next destination.
“Have you ever heard of a beer spa?” I ask as I put the truck in park.
“No…”
“Well, I booked us a private couples spa. We will have our own room where we will have a bath. There’s an infrared sauna and a shower. They will have beer and one of those cheese, meat, and cracker boards for us.”
“Charcuterie board,” she corrects.
“Sure.”
She looks at the building in front of us with a small smile on her face. “So that explains the bathing suits. I didn’t even know this was a thing.”
“I didn’t either until I found it online,” I confess, making her laugh.
I jump out of the truck and round to her side. After opening her door, I grab our bags from the back seat. Without overthinking it, I take her hand in mine and lead us toward the front door. We check in, and the lady behind the desk, whose name tag reads Harmony, leads us to the private room.
I can’t help but smile as Rain’s breath catches. I might have warned her what we were about to do, but I didn’t tell her I got us the couples package where they cover the room in flower petals and candles. The room screams romance.
The rock climbing could have been considered two friends doing an activity together, but this screams date. It sets the intention of what I want to happen between us.
“This is too much,” she says quietly.
“Do you not like it?”
She shakes her head rapidly before I can even finish my question. “No, I love it. I just know this must have cost a fortune.”
“You’re worth it.” I shrug.
I set our bags down, and we grab our swimsuits. She steps into the shower stall to change while I do it out in the open. Grabbing the two beers that were pre-poured, I move them over to the tub and get in. I can’t help but hiss as the water touches my skin.
It’s hot as hell, but somehow I know she will love it. When she steps out of the shower stall in her little blue bikini with white stripes, I bite back a groan.
Don’t get hard. Whatever you do, don’t get hard.
“You okay?” she asks, smirking.
“I’m good,” I lie, holding out my hand.
Rain places hers in mine and carefully steps into the water. She sighs as she sits down.
“This feels amazing.”
“It really does, doesn’t it?” I ask as I pass her beer over to her.
As she takes a drink, her eyes flutter shut. Pure happiness crosses her face as she sinks lower into the water across from me.
“This is really something,” she says quietly after a few minutes.
“I’m glad you like it.”
She turns to me, taking my hand. “No, Ridge, I don’t like it. I love it.”
“Not a bad first date?” I ask as I lift my beer.
She kicks my leg and rolls her eyes. “Please, you know this is a great date. You don’t need me stroking your ego.”
Before I can say anything, there is a knock at the door.
“Come in,” I yell out.
Harmony peeks her head in. “So sorry to disturb you, but we realized the chocolates and charcuterie weren’t placed in here ahead of your arrival. As compensation, we brought extra beer along with your goodies.”
“Oh, yes, please,” Rain says as she sits up.
Harmony slips inside, pulling a cart and parks it next to us.
“I will just leave this here for you two. If you need anything else, please call the front desk,” she says softly before slipping out of the room.
“Chocolate or charcuterie?” I ask.
“Let’s go charcuterie first,” she says.
I grab the tray and rest it on the ledge next to the tub.
“How are your hands feeling?” I ask as I place some meat on a cracker.
“Fine. They will probably be a little sore tomorrow since we climbed longer than I typically do, but I’ll be fine. You?” she asks, opening her mouth as I feed her the cracker with meat I just made.
My dick ignores my commands and hardens as she moans around the food.
I clear my throat. “I’m good.”
She nods as she grabs another cracker. “You probably have it better than I do. You have callouses on your hands.”
“I never thought about that,” I say, grabbing another cracker with meat for her.
“You’re a man,” she teases, bumping her knee into mine. “If you keep feeding me, you won’t have anything to eat.”
“Maybe I enjoy feeding you, Viper,” I tease.
“Really? Is that the nickname that’s going to stick?” she asks.
“I think it’s fitting for you. You are feisty as hell. Can kill with one strike, yet you are such a magnificent creature that I can’t help but want to keep you all to myself.”
Her breath catches as she stares at me. “Ridge.”
Her tone is low. I’m pushing too far, too fast. Not wanting to ruin things, I change the subject.
“Are you ready for the party next weekend?”
“I don’t know. Will there be any more surprises?” she asks, raising a brow.
“The only surprise I know of isn’t really a surprise.” I shrug.
“Oh, do tell…if you can,” she says, leaning forward slightly.
I have to force my eyes to stay on her face and not drop down to her breasts, which are right there. So close, yet so far away.
I clear my throat and pick up my beer, taking another drink before I respond.
“We are going to put it up to a vote to decide where to go for your dad’s memorial ride. Oh, and announce that the bar is reopening,” I tell her.
Her eyes flare. “What are our options?”
“Texas and Florida were mentioned, but we also discussed going to Canada this summer. It’s a matter of timing. Do we want to do it now or wait?” I tell her.
“Canada would be awesome. I don’t think any of us have ever been. Dad would have loved it. He always wanted to travel more,” she admits softly.
I shake my head. “I remember. It’s why I suggested it. Give him a true send-off, the way he wanted. Is that your vote?”
“Maybe. I’ll have to think about it.” She smirks, making me chuckle.
I already know her answer. It is her vote because she knows Mustang as well as I did.
The conversation shifts once again. Rain opens up and talks more than I’ve ever heard her. She asks about things I like, where I like going, and when I speak, she listens—really listens.
It’s hands down the best date I’ve ever been on, and even though it’s not over yet, I can’t help but be excited for the next.