Chapter 14 #2
“Yeah… but I kind of like it.” I couldn’t believe how earth shattering this had been. Ryker had made it so. He chuckled, sitting up straight. “You okay?”
I nodded, smiling. “Better than okay. Just not too sure I can get up right now. Or even sit.”
Ryker took my hand, kissing it. It was the third time tonight my heart felt about to explode, and I was certain it wouldn’t be the last time.
“Come on, let’s clean up and head back out there,” he said.
Holy shit! I’d completely forgotten about Avery and the ball and everything else. Adrenaline kicked in. I bolted upright so fast that my vision swam. I tightened my grip on Ryker’s hand for support.
“Oh God, how long were we gone?”
“Heather, relax. We’ll go out in a few minutes.”
“It’ll take me a bit longer to put myself together.”
“Okay. Let’s clean up, and then I’ll go out first while you finish touching up. There’s a small bathroom in that corner. How does that sound?”
“Like a plan.”
Ryker gathered his clothes off the floor and went first into the bathroom.
I hurried to the mirror, checking my phone.
The sitter hadn’t called me. I exhaled sharply, then assessed my appearance.
There was no hiding what had just happened.
My hair was rumpled, and there was no way I could style it back in the elegant do from before.
My cheeks were flushed, my lips a little swollen.
There was also no erasing that smile on my face. I didn’t even try.
Ryker came out of the bathroom the next second, fully dressed. He walked behind me, kissing my bare shoulder, looking at me in the mirror again. His eyes still smoldered.
“I’ll wait for you outside.” He spoke against my skin, feathering his fingers up my arm. I simply nodded.
After Ryker left, I hurried to finish cleaning up. My body was still humming from his touch. What would his love feel like? I smiled just thinking about it, even though I had a small knot in my throat. I’d set rules for myself, and I’d already broken them.
The ball was still in full swing. I searched the kids’ corner for Avery, but she was nowhere to be seen. Then I noticed her curled up on one of the couches, sleeping. One of the sitters was next to her, along with Tess, who was speaking with Ryker. I headed their way.
“She just fell asleep a few minutes ago,” the sitter said.
“Thanks. Did she ask for me?”
“Not at all. Just came directly to the couch and lay down on it.”
“Thanks a lot.” She went back to the kids’ corner, which was when I realized Tess’s gaze lingered on my rumpled hair, and her lips curled into a smile. Could she tell what had just happened?
“I’m taking her home. She does this when she’s excited. Plays until she’s exhausted, then immediately falls asleep.”
“I’ll take you home,” Ryker said.
“We can just uber.” My face heated up just at the sound of his voice.
“We have a car service for our guests waiting outside,” Tess said.
“I’m coming with you,” he repeated in a tone that brooked no argument.
“But you still have to mingle with the guests,” I said.
“Oh, please, do let my brother play the white knight. Otherwise, I’ll have to deal with him. You’d be doing me a favor.”
I laughed, looking between the siblings. Ryker was glaring at Tess, who just elbowed him in the ribs.
“What? It’s true. I love you, but you know it’s true.”
“Did I or did I not help you get rid of that schmuck who followed you around at the last gala?”
“Ouch. Low blow, brother.”
“Just pointing out that my skills can be useful.”
Turning to me, Tess said, “ Please, please, please take him away.”
“Okay, then,” I conceded. “Tess, this has been a wonderful evening. Thank you so much for everything. Is Skye still here? And Cole? I’d like to thank them too.”
“They’re here somewhere, but I can’t see them right now. I’ll give them your thanks. And you’re welcome.”
“Ten o’clock at the store tomorrow?” Ryker asked Tess.
She nodded. “Thanks. We have about a million boxes to sort out.”
“I can come and help too,” I offered.
Tess waved her hand. “No need. Between my siblings, and our cousin and his wife, we’re gonna be fine. Now, off you go before someone chats Ryker up.”
After she left, I tried to lift Avery in my arms, but she woke up. Her eyes widened, but it was clear she was still sleepy.
“Are we leaving, Mommy?”
“Yes, we are. Ryker is taking us home. Remember him?”
Avery nodded.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Avery,” Ryker said.
Her eyes widened. “You did?”
“Yes. That you’re a smart girl and like to collect coloring books.”
I felt as if my heart was about to explode again . He’d listened to all that?
“Yes. Winnie is my favorite. But I’m a big girl now. I can’t like Winnie anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because big girls don’t watch cartoons.”
Ryker winked. “All the cool people like cartoons. I also like anime and superhero movies.”
Avery’s jaw dropped open. “You do? But you’re so old. You’re like Mommy.”
Ryker jerked his head back. I laughed, patting his shoulder. The contact zinged me. I withdrew my hand so quickly that it was awkward. I patted my hair to give myself something to do.
“Well, yeah. But even old people can enjoy animated comic movies. Tell you what…”
He looked between me and Avery. My stomach flipped. I leaned slightly forward, anticipation coursing through me. He was plotting something, I was certain of that.
“If you give me your permission, I’ll take your mom to a superhero movie that just came out.”
“Why?” Avery asked suspiciously.
“To show her that even old people can like them.”
Avery clapped her hands. “YES! Then maybe she’ll watch Winnie with me.”
Ryker laughed. Avery beamed widely. I loved putting that smile on my daughter’s face, but Ryker deserved all the credit for this.
My heart wasn’t just increasing in size, it felt as if it was about to leap out of my chest. I’d spent two years with a man who hadn’t once put that smile on Avery’s face, and yet Ryker did so effortlessly.
Did he know how charming that was to me? How much it meant to me?
It just came naturally for him. Bonding with those around him, making them feel at ease. After all, I’d felt at ease around him the moment I’d met him, and I’d been fighting with my ex.
“What do you say, Heather? Go to a movie with me? Now that we have permission and all?”
Smiling, I nodded. Avery jumped up and down, and the three of us headed out. I was acutely aware of his hand on my arm as he led us both outside. His grip was possessive, as if I belonged to him. As if we both did.
“I know who you are,” Avery said suddenly before we climbed into one of the cars waiting outside.
“Who?” Ryker prompted, raising both eyebrows.
“You’re Prince Charming.”
Ryker’s eyes bulged. The two of them talked the entire ride home. I kept glancing between them, barely managing to get a word in. It was the first time Avery was so chatty in front of a person she’d just met.
When we arrived in front of my building, I was surprised when Ryker climbed out of the car too. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“What kind of prince charming would I be if I didn’t walk you to your door?”
Avery squealed. Her happiness was contagious. I couldn’t hide my smile as I opened the door of the car. Avery led the way. She had so much energy that it would take her a while to fall asleep.
Then again, it would take me a while too. Ryker went up with us.
As I unlocked the front door, I told Avery, “Say goodbye to Ryker and go straight to the bathroom and brush your teeth.”
Avery sighed. “Do I have to?”
“Yes, it’s late.”
She held her tiny hand out to Ryker again. “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Ryker.”
“Likewise, Ms. Avery.”
Avery formed an O with her mouth, looking up at me, then back at Ryker. “I thought only old ladies are Ms. I can be a Ms.?”
“Of course. If you want to.”
“I want to.”
“Avery. Teeth,” I repeated, fighting laughter.
“Goodnight, Mr. Ryker,” Avery said, nodding eagerly before disappearing into the apartment.
I lingered in the doorway, even less ready to say goodnight than I’d been at the party.
“Tonight was… incredible,” I murmured.
“Yeah, it was.”
He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. My entire body was on edge from that one touch.
“Do you have time for that movie tomorrow?”
“I have a deadline for an article on Sunday. Next week?”
“We have a big project coming in on Monday… it will keep me at work until late in the evening. Next Friday?”
“Yes, that works.”
He trained his eyes on me, and I was overwhelmed by the mix of heat and determination in them.
I had to be honest with him. “Avery asked me if it’ll be just the two of us for a while, and I said yes. I don’t think she wants us to have someone else in our life.”
He cupped my face in both hands. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that little girl feels safe around me. Make sure she’s happy. And then we’ll take it from there.”
Oh, wow. What could I say to that? All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and pull him into a kiss.
“Between you and me, I think my chances aren’t half bad. She gave me her permission to take you out to a movie pretty quickly.”
“That’s because you tricked her. You essentially made her believe I might watch cartoons with her if you take me to the movies.”
Ryker grinned unapologetically. “Hey, I saw my chance, and I seized it.”
“You most definitely did.”
“And I’m not done doing that yet.”
I laughed, and this time I did pull him into a kiss. One thing I knew about Ryker. If he didn’t see a chance, he created one.