20. Chapter Nineteen
“You’re going to love the new building. You’ll have an actual office instead of a desk in the corner of the showroom.”
Cara handed baby Rose into Olive’s willing arms and pulled her phone from her bag. She flipped through some pictures and held the phone so Olive could see. The red brick exterior with black window and door trim was beautiful. There were two large windows in the front and several smaller side windows for making displays.
The interior was sleek and modern, with hardwood floors and industrial-style lighting fixtures.
“Here’s your office.” Cara smiled excitedly.
“It’s a loft!”
“It’s your loft. I’m thinking it’s time to hire you an assistant so you can focus on helping me expand the business.”
“Seriously?”
She didn’t know what to say. Now that she didn’t have to worry about what she’d do if Cara sold the old building, moving the boutique into a new one was fabulously exciting. Cara squeezed Olive’s hand. Everything was happening so fast, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was a beautiful day for Rowan and Bunny’s wedding. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky to block the majestic view of the mountains behind the lodge. The impressive log mansion against the purple and gray hues of the mountain range looked like something from a bougie real estate website.
The pergola that Fox and Ryker made was decorated with white and pink peonies and green vines. Alongside the white runner that led to the pergola, the Mitchell men stood in attendance, Rowan’s sons on one side, Bunny’s on the other.
Ryker looked amazing in anything, but that man in a tuxedo was next level. She was conflicted on whether she wanted him to keep it on, or if she wanted to take her time stripping it off him. Maybe a little of both.
“Coming through.”
Allie Mitchell, Dax’s wife, made her way between the chairs, trying not to hit anyone with her baby belly. Her twin toddlers waddled along behind her, holding hands, and looking sticky sweet in little button-down shirts and khaki pants. Allie’s dad Benjamin Rowe, shuffled along behind his grandsons.
They sat next to Cara, followed by Lulu, and Kora. Olive frowned as both women covered their mouths with their hands, looking a little sick. Lulu grabbed a bag of crackers from her purse and offered one to Kora who took it gratefully, then held out her hand for more.
Cara pegged Kora with a look. “Hang on. Why are you eating saltines?”
Never one to mince words, Kora Mitchell stuffed another cracker in her mouth. “Because Lulu and I are literally due on the same day and morning sickness sucks. Oh, yeah, by the way, family, Desi, and I are also expecting.”
The Mitchell women exploded into cheers and congratulations. Kora had suffered life-changing trauma when she lived in California and the resulting post-traumatic stress disorder made her unsure if parenthood was a good choice for her. Desi said she’d been working hard to heal her past, and it must be working.
Every single woman in her row had a story. All of them working through something they’d rather forget. Look how well she fit in for the same thing. Estes Park was a healing ground. It was a place where strong, patient men worked through their own issues while doing whatever it took to help their women flourish.
She ran a finger over Rose’s chubby, pink cheek. Ryker had told her everything about his father and their childhood, and his struggles in making peace with it all. They were working on their issues together, and she’d never felt more heard or supported.
Olive realized everyone was looking at her while she bounced the baby gently on her knee.
“What?”
Cara raised her brows. “You’re the only one without baby news.”
They all raised their brows as if waiting for some juicy confession.
“Seriously, we’ve only been together like a week.”
Allie made a dismissive sound and gestured to her protruding belly. “Ryker is a shifter. They get you pregnant by looking at you funny. It’s just a matter of time.”
Her cheeks burned. It’s not like they hadn’t been having fun practicing. It was a little early for babies and all that… except he informed her that their mating bond had increased her libido and hormones, which is why she’d been feeling so hot and needy. He’d certainly been willing to help her out with that, and if they weren’t careful, there might be another baby Mitchell added to the clan.
Warmth spread across her chest. It was just one more thing she never thought she’d have that Ryker was making possible.
Music began to play softly as the ceremony began. Rowan walked down the aisle in his bespoke tux, salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, his beard perfectly trimmed. Ryker and Fox left their positions, reappearing a minute later, one on each side of their mother as they walked her down the aisle.
Bunny was glowing in a white lace gown, with a tiara sparkling against her beautiful blonde updo. Olive couldn’t keep her eyes off Ryker as he walked beside his mother, and she was pretty sure he had a glimmer of tears in his eyes as he passed by.
The baby was sleeping in her arms by the time the ceremony ended, and everyone gathered on the massive lawn for the reception. Trying her best not to wake Rose as she handed her off to Cara, Olive stood and smoothed her skirt.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Spinning to Ryker’s voice, she gasped as he took her hand and ushered her out of the aisle and over the lawn.
“What’s going on?”
“Alone time.”
He led her through a side door at the lodge, and before she could fully gawk at the rustic architecture, hurried her down the hall.
“I’ll give you the full tour later.”
Ryker opened a door and ushered her into the room. She barely registered that it was a bedroom before he picked her up and carried her to the bed. Moving between her legs, he leaned down and kissed her. One small kiss turned into an inferno. Skirting his hands over her breasts and down her middle, Ryker grabbed at her skirt and pulled it up.
“This is a very accessible dress.”
She arched into his touch as his palm fit between her legs and he slowly dragged his fingers along her sensitive skin.
“I have more at home.”
His fingers slipped beneath her panties and repeated the motions, stroking her exactly the way she needed him to.
“Wear one every day.”
“We’re going to get wrinkled.”
He whisked her panties off with one hand and tossed them on the floor.
“I don’t care.”
Olive arched into his touch with a moan, quickly losing her train of thought as the pleasure built.
“Everyone will know we snuck away to have sex.”
Ryker growled low in her ear. “Your heat isn’t over. I saw you eye fucking me when I walked down the aisle. You wanted me, just like this.”
She couldn’t respond. He was so good at commanding her body, so good at making her come apart and forgetting everything but how he made her feel.
“Yes. Yes, I did.”
Ryker leaned back and unfastened his pants. Olive watched, heart pounding, as he kicked out of them and settled between her legs. She had him half in and half out of the tux, just like she’d imagined.
His lips found hers as he thrust into her and pinned her arms beside her head, sliding his palms into hers and entwining their fingers. He’d already had her so close and the way he filled her up pushed her into a blinding orgasm. She tried to cover her mouth with a hand, but he wouldn’t release her and covered her sounds of pleasure with a kiss instead.
Having him like this seemed surreal no matter how many times he was inside her, or how many mornings she woke up in his bed. Ryker Mitchell was finally hers. He grabbed her hips and jutted into her hard with his release, as if agreeing that yes, he absolutely was.
Breathing hard, he rolled onto his side and brought her with him, his tux jacket crunching with their movements and instantly wrinkling. He looked down at himself and inspected one deeply wrinkled lapel.
“I guess there’s no hiding what we were doing now.”
She groaned and covered her eyes with her hand. “We can stay here and hide away from everyone, so they never know.”
His thumb swept over her lower lip. “We do have a lot of time to make up for.”
Olive parted the lapels of his tux and smoothed her hands over his chest, wishing he could ditch the shirt so she could get to the hard, warm flesh beneath.
“We have time for one more round.”
Ryker scoffed. “I was thinking three, four, maybe ten more.”
His eyes were soft, and his body was loose and relaxed. The air of tension he’d carried around for so long was gone and a more content version of Ryker Mitchell appeared. Shuttering themselves in the bedroom indefinitely sounded like heaven, but they had a wedding reception to get to.
“You’re not keeping me in here all day, Mitchell. I want cake.”
“Sure I am.”
“Want to bet?”
She pulled him on top of her and embraced his face with her hands.
Ryker brushed her hair away from her face, looking at her with the love and affection she never thought she’d have, and he never thought he’d be able to give.
Estes Park had a way of healing souls and bringing together soulmates.
Ryker peppered light kisses on her lips. “Go ahead, make all the bets that you want. I don’t have to worry about winning anymore because I already have.”