Chapter 27 #2
“You want something inappropriate? I’ll make another trip upstairs. I’ll be real quick.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Isn’t it?” His eyes raked over me playfully. I averted my gaze, because who knew what I’d say if I kept eye contact for too long.
Avery barreled toward us right away.
“Let’s go, young lady,” Ryker said.
We walked out of the store with what felt like a million bags. The Uber we ordered gave us the side eye when he picked us up, but I couldn’t care less. Ryker was happy, my little girl was happy, and so was I.
Avery was wedged between the two of us on the ride home.
The excitement of the past few hours had been too much for her.
She fell asleep in a few short minutes. My heart flipped when I noticed she was holding my jacket with one hand, Ryker’s with the other.
A small knot formed in my throat. When I felt Ryker’s fingers nudge my shoulder, I realized he’d been watching me.
He gave me a smile that made the knot instantly loosen.
Avery woke up the second we arrived. She always did that, almost like she had an internal clock.
As soon as Avery entered the apartment, she announced, “I want all the toys in my room. Ryker, can you help me?”
She darted toward her room before Ryker even answered.
“I think I’m her favorite person,” he said as we stepped in the enormous living room. We placed the bags next to the couch to give our hands a short break.
I grinned. “I wonder why.”
A strand of his dark blond hair fell over his forehead. I pushed it back, craving to touch more of him. But I had a plan, and I needed to be alone to put it in motion. I was hoping he wouldn’t take all the bags to Avery’s room right away.
“Off you go,” I encouraged. “Wouldn’t want you to lose the favorite status.”
Ryker tilted his head to one side, studying me. “You’re going to rummage through the bags for your gift, aren’t you?”
Oh my God. That was so spot-on that it was scary.
“Yes,” I admitted, because there was no point denying it.
“You keep wanting to change the rules.”
“You didn’t say anything about not looking in the bags at home,” I pointed out.
“You’ll get it when we’re alone,” he repeated, voice strong and determined. My entire body hummed. I wanted to rile him up a bit but didn’t get the chance, because Avery called out from her bedroom.
“Ryker?”
He grabbed the bags, walking backward, keeping eye contact until he left the room.
Even though Avery specifically asked Ryker for help, I ended up joining them too.
Between the three of us, we got everything unpacked and put together in no time at all.
I’d never seen Avery so excited. She spread out her toys everywhere and insisted on having the new sheets on the bed right away.
I liked to wash bedlinen before using it the first time, but when Avery looked at me with wide eyes, saying, “Pleaaaaaaaaase, Mommy,” I gave in.
Guess I wasn’t that good at saying no either.
Ryker ordered dinner to be delivered, but Avery fell asleep before the food arrived, and I decided not to wake her up.
I stood in the doorway even after I turned off her lights, remembering that evening when she’d asked me if it could be just the two of us.
And yet here she was, starfished on the bed as if determined to occupy as much space as possible.
She loved it here, there was no denying it.
She was a kid. Giving her heart away was natural for her.
It was my job to look out for her… and yet I was head over heels in love with this man.
I couldn’t even guard my own heart, let alone Avery’s.
“Babe, I can feel you overthinking this,” Ryker whispered, startling me.
I hadn’t realized he was behind me. Taking my hand, he led me to the living room.
My heart was beating at a million miles an hour.
Yes, I was still a little afraid that we were just jumping into this, and I was still not sure if we quite fit in his life.
“Don’t know how to stop doing it,” I admitted.
He caressed my cheek, looking at me intently. “How about I distract you from it?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Grinning, he searched his pocket, taking out a gorgeous watch. The face was round, with a dark blue background that showed the mechanism.
“Ooooh, my present. Thank you.”
I bounced up and down on my toes as he clasped it around my wrist. I loved it.
“Time for some adult fun. I’m proposing something decadent,” I announced, nudging his shoulder. One of the perks of a huge apartment? We didn’t have to worry about Avery hearing us. The living room was separated from the guest bedroom by a corridor and two doors. The master bedroom was upstairs.
“I’m all ears.”
And hands, and lips. He pounced on me the second we stepped inside the living room.
“I meant we could order some dessert.”
“I already did. Ordered pizza and dessert.”
“Wow! Right now, you’re my favorite person.”
“I see. So ordering dessert is the way to win that title?”
“One hundred percent. You have a talent for picking out delicious treats.”
Ryker’s gaze turned from playful to intense. He closed the distance between us, pressing the back of my thighs into the armrest of the couch. He kissed from the corner of my mouth up to my cheek before moving on to my ear, biting the shell lightly.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Reminding you of my other talents.”
“Oh, by all means. Go ahead.”
He laughed in my ear, continuing his ministrations.
God, I loved having his mouth on me, and his hands.
I considered telling him that I’d been waiting for hours for this moment…
but I had a hunch that meant I’d have an even harder time getting him to keep his hands to himself next time we were out in public.
The sound of someone knocking at the door interrupted our moment. I pursed my lips when Ryker pulled away.
“What’s with that pout?”
“Just let them go away and come back to what you were doing.”
Ryker laughed, running his thumb over my lips.
“Don’t say that twice, or we’re going to starve.”
I grinned. “Oh, that’s right. Our pizza and dessert! Can’t believe I forgot about that.”
“I kissed you that well, huh?”
“You know you did.”
The sheer intensity in his eyes told me he was seriously considering not opening the door.
“What’s this? Ranking me above dessert?” he asked.
I laughed, stroking my chin in an exaggerated gesture. “I’m conflicted. If I say yes, does that mean I’ll get more kisses? Or more dessert?”
“Whatever you want.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “Dessert it is then.”
Ryker lunged for me again, but before he could reach me, the doorbell rang.
“No, no, no. That’ll wake up Avery, and I’m still hoping for adult fun.”
His gaze smoldered on the word “adult.” Oh, yeah… we weren’t going to sleep much tonight. Avery was going to my parents’ again in two weeks. Memorial Day was coming up, and she’d spend an extended weekend in Arizona.
I could already envision Ryker and me not sleeping much the entire time. Ryker went to open the door, thanking the delivery guy. We ate at the kitchen island, straight out of cartons.
“This is delicious. Hands down the best pizza and doughnuts I’ve had,” I announced, licking my fingers once I was done. To my surprise, Ryker laughed.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re cute. I’d rate it as good, but not the best.”
I shrugged one shoulder playfully. “Maybe I’m just in a good mood.”
“Or maybe it’s the company.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Still in competition with the food, I see.”