3. Ridge
Three
Ridge
T he morning started off like most others these days - rushing to get Cody and Lily ready for school while trying to ensure they had a decent breakfast. By the time I had prepared some eggs and bacon, the kids were already dressed and eager to start their day.
Lily plopped down at the kitchen island, eyeing the plate in front of her warily. I could see the beginnings of a pout forming on her face and braced myself. She’s been so finicky about food lately - one day scarfing down her favorites, the next pushing it away in disgust. “I don’t want to eat this, Daddy,” she said, pushing the plate away.
Cody, dragged his plate closer and dug in. “It’s tasty!” he said between bites, earning a grateful smile from me.
“Lil, sweetie, please eat up. We need to get going to school soon,” I pleaded, but she stubbornly shook her head.
“I can’t,” she said, bottom lip jutting out.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Come on, honey, this is what you’ve been asking for. Please, just eat a little bit?”
“No,” she said firmly.
“Alright, well what do you want to eat then?” I asked, trying to keep the exasperation out of my voice.
She shrugged noncommittally. “I don’t know.”
Before I could try another approach, there was a soft knock at the door. Cody immediately perked up. “I’ll get it!” he chirped, hopping off his stool and heading to the front.
“Do you want leftover soup from yesterday?” I asked Lily hopefully, but she just sighed.
I heard Cody’s voice carry from the entryway. “Who are you?”
My head snapped up, ready to scold him for being rude to a guest, but the words died on my lips as a honey-smooth voice replied. “Hey, sweetie. I’m Emery, but you can call me Emma- I live in the vineyard over there. Who are you?”
That voice…it wrapped around me like a cool breeze on a summer day. I found myself frozen, unable to move as a vision of long legs, perfect curves, and mesmerizing hazel eyes materialized in my doorway. Emery - no, Emma, as she’d introduced herself to the kids - was breathtaking.
“I’m Cody,” my son replied, and I watched in amazement as the stunning woman greeted him with a wide, dazzling smile that had Cody giggling like a little schoolboy. I couldn’t blame him - if she looked at me like that, I’d be eating out of the palm of her hand.
“Hi Cody,” Emma purred, her voice like rich whiskey. “Is there a grown-up here? I’ve got some vanilla pancakes for you guys.”
At the mention of pancakes, Lily came barreling out from behind me, slamming into Emma’s legs. “Can I eat the pancakes?” she asked eagerly, looking up at the newcomer with wide, hopeful eyes.
I was just about to scold Lily for running to strangers and hugging them without any warning but Emma just laughed, ruffling Lily’s hair affectionately. “Of course, sweetie, if your mommy or daddy says you can.”
Lily’s face fell, and she took a step back, staring down at her shoes. “My mommy left. She doesn’t care if I eat them, so can I?”
Something in Emma’s expression shifted, and she crouched down, pulling Lily into a warm hug. I watched, Clenching my jaw at the hurt in my daughter’s voice, “Don’t be sad sweetie sometimes moms have a weird way of showing that they care. Everyone expresses their feelings in different ways. It doesn’t always make sense, but that doesn’t make it any less real or meaningful. My mom does it by yelling at me.” Emma responded.
“My Dad shows the same way!” Lily says and a slow smile appears on Emma’s face and a soft chuckle escapes her. I sag against the wall beside me at Lily’s playful tone.
She glanced up at Cody, giving him the same dazzling smile. “Can I get a hug as well?” Cody asked, and Emma readily complied, enveloping him in her arms.
Lily finally turned back to me, eyes pleading. “Daddy, Emma bought pancakes, can we eat them?”
Reluctantly, tearing my gaze away from Emma, I focused on my daughter and pulled her away from Emma and rested my hands on her shoulder as I kept her close to me. “I’m sorry, but who are you and why are you bringing pancakes to my house?” I asked, perhaps a bit more gruffly than I’d intended.
Emma’s expression faltered, and I instantly regretted my tone. “Oh,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “I’m Emery Harrison, Ethan’s sister. Mum made pancakes and we had extra, so she sent me to give them to you.”
Ethan’s sister. Of course. Ethan was my best friend, the one who had been there for me through the divorce and the aftermath. He had come to Crestlake three years ago buying the property next door and turning it into a Vineyard. I felt a pang of guilt for not recognizing her sooner - Ethan had mentioned his sister a few times, but I’d never actually met her. And here she was, standing on my doorstep with homemade pancakes, clearly trying to make a kind gesture for my family.
“Right okay,” I said, trying to soften my tone. “Please, come in. The kids would love the pancakes.”
Emma’s face lit up with a smile, and she stepped inside, carefully handing off the container of golden, fluffy pancakes to Lily. “Here you go, sweetie. I hope you enjoy them.”
Lily beamed, immediately setting the container on the counter and rummaging through the drawers for plates and utensils. Cody hovered nearby, eager to dive in as well.
I turned my attention back to Emma, suddenly very aware of how disheveled and harried I must look, still in my pyjamas with my hair undoubtedly a mess. “I’m Ridge, by the way.” I extended my hand, and she grasped it firmly, her touch sending a spark of electricity through me.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Ridge,” she said, her gaze holding mine for a moment before she glanced away, a faint hint of a blush coloring her cheeks.
“And who might you be?” Emma asks bending down to Avery strapped in her baby seat at the island. “She is Avery, she is my little sister,” Lily says just as Avery reaches out and pats her fat little hand on Emma’s cheek and giggles. “You’re so cute.” Emma says, kissing the little palm that was on her cheeks. And I almost fell in love with her at the softness in her tone and the tender look in her eyes. She turns and our eyes lock making me falter on my feet, I adjust the hat on my head and so I turned my attention to the other two kids of mine.
“Alright, you two, slow down and actually taste the food, huh?” I chuckled as Lily and Cody stuffed their faces
Lily looked up at me, her mouth full of pancakes. “Mmm, these are so good, Daddy!” she exclaimed, bits of food flying from her lips.
Cody nodded enthusiastically, swallowing his bite with a contented sigh. “Yeah, they’re the best!”
Emma laughed, “Slow down, little hurricane,” she teased, her voice warm and affectionate.
I couldn’t help but smile at the scene, feeling a sense of comfort and ease that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I reach over to dab at the corner of Lily’s mouth with a napkin. It was as if Emma’s mere presence had managed to soothe the constant low-level stress and anxiety that had been weighing on me for a long time. “Please, have a seat,” I said, gesturing to the kitchen island. “Can I get you a cup of coffee or something?”
“No I..uh Got to go.” She says “But it was nice meeting you.”
Giving me a last smile and throwing a “see you around” over her shoulder she left, I watched the empty space where she had been, still able to catch a whiff of her fresh, citrusy scent. I let out a soft sigh, then turned my attention back to Lily and Cody, who were both staring at me curiously. I cleared my throat, “Let’s go, into the truck.” I say as Cody grabs his bag and lunch while Lily grabs her bag and run out. “Don’t forget your lunch, Lily.” I say.
As I strapped Lily and Avery into their car seats, Cody bounced excitedly in the passenger seat, already chattering away about his plans for the school day. With a final check that everyone was buckled in safely, I slid behind the wheel and pulled out of the driveway, heading first to Lily and Cody’s school. The drive was filled with the kids’ lively conversation.
Once we arrived at the school, I turned around to give Lily and Cody each a quick kiss on the forehead. “Alright, you two, have a great day. I’ll be back to pick you up later, okay?”
“Okay, Dad!” Cody chirped, already unbuckling himself and reaching for the door handle.
Lily’s face lit up with a bright smile, and she leaned forward to plant a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Okay, bye Daddy! I love you!”
“Love you too, Lil,” I murmured, watching as she bounded out of the car, Cody hot on her heels.
With a contented sigh, I turned my attention back to the road, Avery’s soft coos providing a soothing backdrop to my thoughts.
Carrying Avery with me, I make a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up some essentials. As we weave through the aisles, Avery gurgling happily in the cart, I can’t help but let my mind wander to the long list of repairs that need doing back at the ranch.
We’re just about to hit the checkout when my phone starts ringing. I fish it out of my pocket, rolling my eyes when I see who’s calling.
“Hey,” Ethan’s over-eager voice greets me.
“Hi, Ethan,” I drawl, purposefully using his full name just to rile him up.
He groans, right on cue. “Seriously, Ridge? How many times do I have to tell you - call me Ten.”
I chuckle, unable to resist poking the bear. “What’s that? I didn’t quite catch your name… Ethan, was it?”
“You’re the worst kind of asshole, you know that?” he grumbles, but I can hear the grin in his voice. “Any reason you called me, Ethan?” I ask, purposefully emphasizing his name once more.
“Yes, Reginald,” he retorts, putting an exaggerated emphasis on my own first name. “I actually called for a reason.”
Aha, so that’s how it’s going to be. I smirk, leaning against the cart as Avery reaches for a box of cereal. “Well, by all means, Ethan, enlighten me.”
He sighs, all put-upon drama. “James was supposed to take Avery off your hands today, but he got called into work. I figured if you wanted to get some shit done at the ranch without having to cart her around, you could drop her off at the vineyard.”
I consider his offer, my eyes automatically drifting towards the direction of the checkout lines. Part of me desperately wants to take him up on it - any chance to knock some items off my mountainous to-do list without having to juggle a toddler is a godsend. But then, my gaze lands on an all-too-familiar figure, and my heart stutters in my chest.
Emma.
Of course, she’s here, looking effortlessly gorgeous in a flowing sundress, her chestnut hair tumbling over her shoulders in soft waves. I watch, mesmerized, as she walks out of the store, the fabric of her skirt stretching deliciously over the curve of her ass.
Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to run my hands over that lush body, to bury my face in the crook of her neck and inhale her intoxicating scent. Just the thought of it has my blood heating, desire coursing through my veins like liquid fire.
“Yo, earth to Ridge! You still with me, buddy?” Ethan’s voice crackles through the phone, snapping me out of my trance. Fuck, how can I think like that about his sister while I am on the phone with him?
I blink rapidly, suddenly aware of how flushed I must look. “Yeah, sorry man, I’m here. The vineyard, you said? Yeah, that would be great,” I finally say, trying not to sound too eager. “I’ve got to get that house shed roof fixed up before winter sets in.”
“Cool,” Ethan replies, and I can practically hear the grin in his voice. “My sister’s gonna be at the reception desk, so she can keep an eye on the little rugrat,” Ethan confirms, and just the sound of her name is enough to make my throat go dry.
For three long years, I’ve managed to keep my distance from any and every woman, and Ethan’s gorgeous younger sister, one little conversation and, that carefully constructed distance has been wearing thin, hormones raging and my brain short-circuiting at the mere thought of her.
It’s pathetic, really - me, a grown man in my late thirties, reduced to a hormonal mess by a girl who’s clearly off-limits. Not only is Emma my best friend’s sister, but she’s also fresh out of college, bright-eyed and full of potential. She’s got her whole life ahead of her, while I’m just a washed-up divorcee stuck in the never-ending rut of ranch life.
Soon I am back in my truck and driving back towards the Ranch after stopping for ice cream that Avery wanted with Avery tucked into the car seat. As I turn onto the road that leads to the Ranch, I can’t help but wonder just how old Emma is.
Ethan had mentioned that she’d just graduated, which means she can’t be older than her mid-twenties. The thought sends a shiver down my spine, equal parts exhilaration and shame. She’s at least a decade younger than me, barely out of school and just starting her life. And here I am, a grizzled, world-weary single father, fantasizing about her like some kind of creep.
I curse under my breath, forcing myself to concentrate on the road. But even as I try to push the thoughts of Emma out of my mind, they keep creeping back in, unbidden and impossible to ignore. I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to be near her, to catch a glimpse of her warm, disarming smile and those deep, soulful eyes.
And then, before I can stop myself, my mind begins to wander further, conjuring up images of Emma that are decidedly less than innocent. I picture the curves of her body, the way her thick thighs would feel under my calloused hands as I knead the soft flesh. I imagine burying my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent as I trail kisses along her collarbone and down, down, down…
I slam on the brakes, jolting myself out of my vivid fantasy with a start. What the fuck am I thinking? This is Ethan’s sister, for Christ’s sake. Off-limits doesn’t even begin to cover it.
With a shaky breath, I force myself to focus on the road ahead, realizing with a start that I’ve missed my turn. Cursing under my breath, I hastily execute a U-turn, my heart still pounding in my chest as I try to regain my composure.
As I finally pull into the vineyard, I can feel my palms starting to sweat, my body betraying me with a sudden rush of nerves. Get it together, Ridge, I chide myself, taking a few deep, steadying breaths before hopping out of the truck. Keep your distance be your normal Stoic self and this ridiculous crush will be gone sooner than you know.
The moment I step through the door, I’m greeted by the sight of Emma behind the reception desk, her long, glossy hair falling in loose waves around her face. She looks up, and our eyes meet, and suddenly it’s like all the air has been sucked out of the room.