Chapter 14
Claire
I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve been railroaded by my own parents and a man I met two days ago, and now I’m in his car riding up to the mansion.
“Stop smirking,” I grumble.
He chuckles and reaches over to set a hand on my thigh. “I’m feeling pretty smug. Sorry.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you orchestrated an elaborate charade to get me in your bed.”
He shoots me a narrowed glance. “Baby, this all might have worked out in my favor, but I assure you it wasn’t worth you getting manhandled so hard that you have bruises on your arms. I certainly didn’t send your ex-boyfriend to attack you to get you to move in with me.”
I sigh. He’s right, of course. He didn’t even know who Smith was.
“Do you think the sheriff will keep this secret?” he asks me.
“I’m not sure. Maybe.”
Sheriff Johnston secretly met me in the kitchen like my father organized. He was shocked, but he took my statement and several pictures. He said I don’t have to press charges, but he will leave the file open in case I change my mind.
Ryder gives my thigh a squeeze. “If not, we’ll deal with it.”
I stare out the side window and mumble, “I should’ve stayed and helped my parents today. That’s two days in a row I’ve left in the middle of the morning and not returned.”
“They said they could handle it, baby. They care about your safety as much as I do. They won’t be taking any risks.”
I sigh. “I could’ve driven to your place after we closed.”
“That would’ve put you in the same dangerous situation you were in last night. Until I’m certain this Smith guy isn’t going to ambush you again, you’re not going anywhere alone.”
I have mixed emotions about that. On the one hand, Ryder can take his high-handedness and shove it up his ass. On the other hand, I like the fact that he’s intensely overprotective. It makes my heart race when he gets all growly and demanding.
It’s not as though he’s ordered me to strip, kneel before him, and suck him off. His demands revolve around my safety. Besides…I might not mind if he ordered me to strip, kneel, and suck, either.
“Has he ever behaved this aggressively before, Claire?”
I shake my head. “Never. A part of me knew he harbored the idea that we might get back together someday, but I always blew it off. It’s not my fault he pines over me. We broke up two years ago, and I’ve never led him on since then.”
Ryder pulls around to the back of the mansion, parks, and turns off the engine. He jumps out and rounds the car so fast I don’t even have a chance to get out before he opens my door and holds out a hand.
As I exit, I look back at the car. “I have to say, I didn’t imagine you being the sort to drive a thirty-year-old Cadillac.”
Ryder chuckles as he opens the trunk to grab my bags. “I found this in the garage. I’m just glad the keys were in the ignition and it runs. I don’t own a car at all. Neither does Tiago. No need for me to own a car in the city, and Tiago travels in his RV.” Ryder nods toward the truck I first saw him arrive in and the RV. “I’m going to need to get reliable transportation soon. I’ll have Tiago take us back down to get your car at some point if that’s okay.”
“Mine’s not particularly reliable either. It needs some work,” I murmur.
Ryder shoots me a narrowed look. “Like what?”
“The check-oil light keeps coming on.”
“And you ignore it?” His feathers are ruffled again.
I want to be mad at him, but again, his intensity revolves around my safety. It’s kind of hot. I never dreamed of meeting a man who cared this much.
“Smith’s father owns the automotive shop. Smith works there. I haven’t been eager to drop my car off, so I’ve been adding oil for a while.”
Ryder has all my bags in his hands now. “Well, I can’t fault you for that. You’re certainly not going there again. We’ll have to see about car repairs in a neighboring town.”
I follow Ryder. I’m carrying nothing. “I could take some of that,” I point out.
“Yep. You could. But you’re not going to. Let’s go.”
We enter the mansion through the back and step into the kitchen.
Gretchen is at the sink, and she turns toward us. “Good morning.” She smiles cheerfully before noticing the bags. Her mouth opens, but she doesn’t comment. Instead, she purses her lips, and I swear she’s hiding a smile.
Good. At least she’s not judging me.
Ryder looks at me with a raised brow. I appreciate his silent communication. He’s letting me decide what to tell Gretchen. I’ve known Gretchen my entire life. I trust her.
I decide to be blunt. “I had an altercation with Smith Winston last night. He seems to think he owns me. Ryder and my parents think it’s best if I stay here.”
Gretchen’s eyes go wide. There was no reason to continue with the charade of the sweater, so I left it at home. “Oh goodness. Are you okay?” She rushes up to us, spotting my biceps as she gets closer. She gasps, her hand coming to her mouth. “ Claire . That boy is a bully. Did you call the sheriff?”
“I spoke to him this morning. I’m keeping it under wraps for now. I don’t feel like dealing with the fallout of accusing Smith of attacking me. If you don’t mind…”
Gretchen nods rapidly. “Of course, dear. I won’t say a word to a single soul.” She waves toward the back stairs. “That must be heavy. Go get Claire settled in.”
I follow Ryder up the stairs and into the pink room. “You really moved your stuff into here?”
“I told you I did.”
I giggle. “I assumed you were kidding.” I stare at the queen-sized bed. It’s oddly pretty, and I love the look, but… “Maybe I should take a different room,” I murmur. “Or you could…”
Ryder sets all my bags down near the bed and turns to face me. He stalks me with that smirk of his.
I back up, as I always do when he stalks me. “Ryder…” Arousal shoots through my body. I can’t stop it. He’s so intense.
He grabs me around the waist and hauls me in close. “I haven’t had a proper kiss today.” Before waiting for a response, he lowers his lips to mine and proceeds to scramble my thoughts.
I’m panting when he releases my lips. “I can’t think when you do that.”
“You think too hard anyway, baby. I didn’t sleep well last night. I hated that you left and went to sleep somewhere else. You’re not sleeping in another room. From now on, you’ll sleep in my arms.”
“Ryder…”
“I didn’t say I intended to have sex with you yet. We’ll wait until you’re ready for that step, but you will be in the same bed as me.”
His narrow-eyed look doesn’t allow for disagreement on his topic. I can’t imagine sleeping in another room anyway, so I sigh.
He gives a light grunt. “Good. That’s settled. Let’s get your stuff unpacked, and then I need to deal with my truck.” He turns toward my suitcase, lifts it onto the bed, and opens it.
“I can do that, Ryder,” I say as I rush forward.
“I’m just being practical, Claire. It’ll go faster if I help.” He lifts out a pile of my panties and bras and heads toward the drawers. “I left the bottom three for you. If we need more than this dresser and armoire, we can move furniture in from another room.”
I stand next to the bed, hands on my hips. “Of all the things in my suitcase, you felt the need to start with bras and panties? Considering you were the one to pack them also, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
He chuckles. “I’m a guy.”
“You’re a bossy, domineering guy.”
He shrugs as he returns and snags me around the waist. “The fact that I’m bossy and domineering is what attracts you to me.”
I slouch against him. He’s right. Damn him. “It’s only you, though.” I shudder. Smith is bossy, too, but I don’t like him at all. I now loathe him.
“From now on, everything is only me, baby.” He kisses me again and turns to grab more of my clothes.
It takes us about five minutes to empty everything into drawers, and then Ryder stows my suitcase and bags in the closet. It’s all so domestic, as though we’ve known each other for months and decided to move in together. We haven’t even known each other for forty-eight hours.
“This is crazy,” I say as I follow Ryder into the attached bathroom, where he starts putting my toiletries into drawers. He sets my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash on the edge of the tub.
I’m in a stupor. I can’t breathe as he sets my box of tampons next to the toilet. My face heats.
He puts my toiletry bag under the sink and turns toward me. “I didn’t notice any form of birth control.”
My face heat doubles. He’s so matter-of-fact about things people who just met do not discuss.
He grabs me around the waist yet again. “I’m not saying I care one way or the other. I’m just asking if you’re taking anything, have an IUD, prefer to use condoms, or don’t care if you get pregnant.”
I gasp. “You say that like you don’t care if I get pregnant, either.”
He kisses me. “I don’t. I’m forty. If you want to have ten kids, we should get started.”
I swallow hard. “You’re certifiable.”
He grins. “You’ve mentioned that a few times. I’m going to develop a complex.”
“You should. People don’t meet, move in, and talk about having babies so fast, Ryder.”
“Maybe most people don’t, but some do. When you know, you know.”
“I’m twenty-two. I’m not getting pregnant. I don’t have kids on my radar yet.”
“I’m forty. You might have to push up your timeline if you want our kids’ dad to be able to walk them down the aisle without a cane,” he teases.
I groan.
“You didn’t answer me.” He lifts a brow.
Sheesh. “I hope you brought a brand-new box of condoms with you because you’re going to wear two at a time until I can get on birth control. That might take a while since there’s no way I’m going to the town doctor to get it, and there’s no way in hell either of us is going to buy condoms in the local pharmacy. The entire town would assume we’re sleeping together in less than an hour.”
He gives me his signature smirk. “Are we? Sleeping together?”
I shove at him and roll my eyes. “No.”
“But you know we will be eventually,” he teases.
I sigh. “I assume so.”
He grabs my ass. “I’m going to place an order for delivery that won’t come from anywhere nearby. If you want, I’ll add condoms to the list.” He gives me a wicked grin.
I try to wiggle free of him unsuccessfully. “We’re using condoms, Ryder.”
“I’ll let you think about it.”
“Ryder…” How does he get under my skin like this? How on Earth could I possibly be considering having sex without protection? Madness. He has this way of planting a seed and smirking while I stew over it.
Pregnancy? Babies?
He’s definitely certifiable.
Another kiss, and then he releases me. “Let’s go downstairs. You can explore or whatever while Tiago helps unload my truck.”
“I could help,” I say as I follow him. I’m already chuckling because I know he’ll instantly turn me down as if I have two heads.