Chapter 22
Heather
Ryker somehow talked me into staying with him the whole week.
I didn’t even remember how that came about, but safe to say, the man was very persuasive.
I’d worked out of his apartment, except for a morning I went into headquarters to talk to Danielle about Hank.
She was just as in the dark as I was and advised me to forget about it and focus on my article.
“Damn, how did this week go by so fast?” I asked Ryker on Sunday evening.
“Time flies when you’re in great company,” he said. We were in his master bathroom, each at a sink. He’d just finished shaving and was now applying aftershave. I was pulling my hair into a ponytail.
I grinned in the mirror, elbowing him lightly. “You’re a bit too full of yourself, you know that right, Flirt ?”
“You mean I don’t deserve the moniker?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. I think I need some time to make up my mind.”
I lowered my eyes to the sink, washing my hands carefully. We hadn’t spoken about what would happen once the week came to an end. I had to pick up Avery from JFK in two hours, and then what?
“Well, why don’t I convince you some more over dinner. Steaks?”
“Oh, I can’t. I’m picking up Avery soon.”
I phrased it as neutrally as possible, not wanting him to think I had any expectations.
I was still washing my hands under the warm stream of water, though there wasn’t any soap left.
When Ryker turned off the tap, I snapped my gaze up, wincing when I met his eyes in the mirror. It was hard and focused, determined.
“ We’re picking Avery up.” He came right next to me, bringing one hand to my face, tilting my head up, watching me, his eyes unwavering.
“I didn’t… I didn’t want to assume,” I whispered.
“Heather, this wasn’t just a week of fun for me. I want to be part of your life. Avery’s life.”
I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to, but I didn’t. I wanted to listen to this man forever.
“You mean it?” I whispered. Damn, why did I have to sound so insecure? I was a grown woman, and I’d come through even when life had thrown huge curveballs my way.
He whirled me around, cupping my cheek, looking straight at me, as if the eye contact through the mirror wasn’t enough and he wanted the real deal.
“Fuck, yes, I mean it. What we’re doing here means a lot to me, Heather. I know it’s not what either of us was expecting, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. It fucking is—the most real thing that’s ever happened to me—the best. You’re mine, Heather.”
I was speechless. I had no idea what to say back.
My whole body was vibrating with awareness, with the need to be even closer to him.
I tugged at his shirt, bringing him an inch closer.
I caught a glimpse of his smile before he kissed me so hard that I had to grip the sink for support with one hand.
I wrapped the other one in his shirt, not particularly caring that I was wrinkling it.
I just wanted him to feel how much his words meant to me, how desperately I wanted this to work even though I was still terrified I might end up brokenhearted.
Ryker’s kiss was feral. He bit my tongue lightly before exploring me further. He was kissing me as if he wanted to claim me right here, right now, and I wanted nothing more than to surrender.
How could he reduce everything around us to background noise every time? Wipe every thought away, erase any fears? He had so much power over me that it scared me.
I was trembling lightly in his arms by the time we both came up for air. I was still fisting his shirt. Ryker had me trapped against the sink.
My heart was beating at a lightning-quick rate. He wanted to come with me, to spend more time with me and my girl. The light tremor intensified as this sank in.
Ryker watched me with a satisfied smile, skimming his thumb from my shoulder down to my arm, where goose bumps broke out on my skin.
“And you still think I don’t deserve the praise?” he teased.
I rolled my eyes, playfully pushing him away. “Let’s go. If we’re late, Avery won’t be your number-one fan anymore.”
“Impossible.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
He held up his hands in defense. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
On the way to the airport, I was full of so many emotions that I felt as if my chest was about to explode. I couldn’t put everything into words, but Ryker seemed to feel that I needed his touch, because he pulled me in a half hug, keeping me against his chest the whole cab ride to JFK.
I just loved being squeezed against his hard, toned chest. I moved my hand all over it, right until Ryker caught my wrist, stopping me.
I grinned against his arm. When I looked up, I was startled by the heat in his gaze.
Holy hell, this man had three intensity levels: hot, hotter, and inferno.
Right now, he was on the latter, and I had to find a way to bring him down.
In other words, I had to behave. Easier said than done.
I just wanted to feel part of him. As if I was here to stay and he couldn’t shake me away even if he wanted to.
We arrived at the airport too soon for my liking. Ryker got out first, keeping the door open for me. He took my hand, helping me out, but then kept our fingers interlaced as we headed inside.
JFK was extremely crowded on Sunday evening. New Yorkers were returning from their weekend trips. Tourists were leaving. It was absolute madness. Ryker didn’t ease his grip on me. I was so nervous!
My fears stemmed from a couple of things. This was the first time my mom was going to meet him. And Avery would know, just with him accompanying me, that something had changed. I hoped I was doing the right thing. I didn’t want my daughter to feel as though something or someone had come between us.
This felt so perfect though, as if I was supposed to be exactly here… trusting him with my heart and my happiness… as well as Avery’s. I couldn’t be that wrong, could I?
Ryker must have felt my tension, because he looked at me over his shoulder, bringing our hands up, kissing the back of mine.
“Babe, I’m right here with you, okay?”
I smiled at him, even though I was still a little afraid of this huge step we were taking.
“I’m not afraid.”
He cocked a brow.
“Okay, I am. A little.”
“I can’t tell you not to be. Just know that we’re in this together.”
My cautious smile morphed into an explosive grin all on its own. Despite our best efforts, we arrived a little late. Mom and Avery were waiting by arrivals.
Avery squealed so loud when she saw Ryker that several people turned to look at us. My girl made a beeline for us—correction—for Ryker.
She hugged him hard, squealing some more before hugging me too.
The little traitor. She was already hugging him first?
My mother was looking between the three of us with a curious expression, but she wasn’t as taken aback as I’d expected.
Avery must have told her about Ryker. He held out his hand to her.
“Ryker Winchester, Mrs. Prescott. I’m glad to meet you.”
“Avery told me about you.” She looked pointedly at me.
“I meant to tell you,” I began, but she waved away my words.
“We don’t have time to chat now. Plane’s leaving soon, but call me.”
“Mom, are you sure you don’t want to stay? At least one night to rest?”
I didn’t understand why she was always so stubborn. It was a long journey. She always insisted on picking up Avery, so Dad drove her to the airport in Phoenix, then she flew to New York and made the return journey the same day.
“No, no. I’m going to sleep on the plane anyway. And I can’t be away too long from the animals. It was nice meeting you, Ryker.”
They shook hands again before Mom hugged Avery. She then turned her attention to me, pulling me into her arms, speaking in a soft voice.
“He’s a fine man. A detail obviously Avery didn’t mention.”
“Umm, thanks.”
Mom continued, “Just be careful.”
“I am.”
I could practically feel Mom trying to assess the situation, but lucky me, she didn’t have too much time.
After walking Mom to the departures terminal, Ryker grabbed Avery’s bag, and we all headed toward the exit.
“How was your week?” Ryker asked her while we fought our way through the crowd.
“Amazing. My pony isn’t tiny anymore, Mom. He grew up.”
“I know. Gran sent us pictures, remember?” I said.
“Yeah, but he’s even bigger than in the pictures.”
“You have a pony?” Ryker asked. “What’s his name?”
“Tony.”
“Tony the pony?” Ryker asked on a laugh. I smiled to myself. Avery nodded proudly.
“Do you have other animals too?”
“Yes. A chicken and a rabbit. And Gran said she’ll buy me a goose this summer.”
“My mom is basically luring her to Arizona with animals to make sure she spends every vacation there,” I explained.
Ryker nodded. “Sounds like something Mom would do if she had grandkids living in another state.”
We flagged a cab, and after we loaded Avery’s luggage in the back, we all slid onto the back seat. Avery was in the middle. Ryker kept asking her about her vacation, and my girl sure didn’t keep anything back.
“And then we went to the mall, and Gran bought me everything I wanted.”
She loved talking to Ryker even more than she loved talking to me.
“Avery, I want to take you and your mom to dinner tonight. What would you like to eat?”
Avery squealed again. The cabbie glared at us in the rearview mirror.
“Can I have ice cream?”
“Real food,” I answered, voice firm.
Avery pouted. “But Gran gave me ice cream whenever I wanted.”
Right… factory settings were definitely back on. Truthfully, I’d eat ice cream all day long too, but eh… I had to be responsible for her sake.
“How about steak?” Ryker asked.
Avery sat up straighter, nodding. Interesting… if I had suggested this, she wouldn’t have been so keen.
I looked at Ryker suspiciously, asking, “Did you conspire with her again?”
“No, I guess I’m awesome enough that she wants to spend more time with me.”
I laughed but didn’t give him any shit, because he had a point. He reached out over Avery’s shoulders, touching my arm. That euphoric feeling was back in full force, just threatening to spill out of me.
Ryker took us to a restaurant on the Upper West side that looked like one of those fancy wine cellars, with red brick arches and diffuse lighting.
We stopped in front of the sign that said Wait to be Seated, but there was no one behind it.
“I’m going to ask a waiter for a table. It’ll be quicker this way,” Ryker said.
“Thanks.”
After he left, I asked Avery, “So you like steaks now?”
She shrugged, playing with her fingers. What was going on?
“Avery?” I prompted.
“I like burgers more… but if I impress Ryker, do you think he will like us more?”
I swear, I could feel my heart cracking. I lowered myself on my haunches until I was level with Avery and took her little hands in mine, holding them tight.
“Love bug, Ryker likes us just the way we are. You don’t have to impress anyone.”
She frowned, looking at the floor for a few seconds, as if she was mulling over my words.
“Are you sure?” she whispered.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“So you think he’ll like us even if I have a burger?”
“Yes, lovebug.”
When I looked up, I realized Ryker stood just behind Avery. He winked before saying, “They have a table for us.”
The three of us walked toward the back. When we sat down, Ryker looked straight at Avery and said, “Avery, I don’t know about you, but I’m more of a burger guy.”
My girl practically lit up. So did I, barely able to hide my grin behind a menu.
I pressed a palm to my belly. I always felt every emotion in my stomach: angst, fear, euphoria, excitement.
I’d just realized something very important: Ryker was going to make me fall head over heels in love and break all the rules I’d set for myself.