Chapter 6
As much as Madison loved her in-laws, having them living with her, Ryan, and their family was a challenge at times. The situation was temporary until a room opened for them at the Heart Falls Seniors Lodge, but for now, sharing a house meant accepting all the good and a bit of bad.
Grandparents who loved their grandchildren and adored getting to help care for them? Win.
Ryan and Maddie giving up their bedroom and sleeping in the living room? Not as much fun.
Challenging, Maddy reminded herself. Which made the tough parts a problem, and she was the queen of problem-solving. Especially this morning.
Part one of her creative solution to the problem—she’d invited their friends Yvette and Alex to join her and Ryan at Buns and Roses to have breakfast and catch up.
The meal done, the chatting enjoyed, they’d walked down the block to the hall’s building site to witness the final roofing materials being laid in place.
“I’m going to miss being able to see the forward motion,” Yvette said. The pretty veterinarian leaned into her fiancé Alex’s side as she kept her gaze focused upward. “Every day I drive past, and it’s been so neat to see the changes over the past two months.”
“Still tons of changes to come, but you’re right,” Maddy agreed. “It’s mostly tucked away now for the duration. We’re really pleased with the progress. I’m scared to say it out loud, but if things keep on track, we could be in there for Christmas.”
“Wouldn’t that be amazing?” Yvette said.
“Community gathering then instead of July first for Canada Day?” Alex asked.
“We’re still doing Canada Day,” Ryan shared. “It’ll look a little different than in the past, but it’s still on. We’ll figure out how to make it special.
“Still, we’ll miss knowing what’s happening next in there.” Alex pointed at the hall.
Maddy tucked her hands into her pockets.
It was a warm day for early March, but still wintry.
“Aiden wondered if we could set up project cameras to document the interior progress. Let people watch from their screens, but the laws around it are stricter than we wanted to deal with for the enjoyment factor.”
“Shoot, that would have been neat,” Alex offered before making a noise. “But I get it. Don’t think I’d like to be on camera twenty-four seven at work either.”
“Oh, come on,” Ryan teased. “I hear you love the camera.”
Alex twisted toward him in confusion.
“Especially when you’re flying off the back of a horse…”
Alex swore softly. “I’m going to kill Ashton.”
“It was a great clip,” Ryan insisted. “You need to work on sticking your landing a little better before trying for the Olympics, but the bounce was a great option.”
Maddy exchanged a glance with Yvette. “Know what’s up?”
Her friend tried to hide a smirk. “New horse at Silver Stone. Decided to get a little antsy on Alex.”
“That horse is a real puzzle,” Alex insisted. “Kelli rode her. Dustin rode her. Heck, Sasha rode her, all without any problems. I was headed out to do some chores when Tucker told me to saddle up Shady Dame. No problem, she’s settling in well. Spent an hour on her back then suddenly, boom.”
“You get hurt?” Maddy asked.
“Just my pride.” Alex shook his head. “I was with Ashton at the time. We’d finished fixing one of the shelters, and he was taking pictures when I got back on the horse and immediately came right off again. Only turns out he had his phone set to video and caught the entire thing.”
Ryan made grabby hands. “Let Maddy see.”
“You’re a mean one, Ryan Zhao.” But Alex pulled out his phone and cued up the video. “Fine, witness my attempt at flying, and if you see any reason for why she got mad, let me know. It’s not a trick she can keep doing. I’m an experienced enough rider. I don’t think I set her off accidentally.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Yvette reassured him.
“They won’t keep her around if she’s randomly tossing riders.” Because Maddy knew he was okay, the clip was amusing. Alex went from relaxed to airborne without a single clue it was coming.
“Not a chance. Luke’s exceptionally worried since Kelli rode her the day before.” Alex sighed. “Shady Dame is a sweet-tempered creature otherwise, so I might have to keep riding her until I figure out what’s wrong.”
“As long as you stay safe,” Yvette warned. “And try not to get too bruised up before the wedding.”
Alex caught her fingers up to his lips. “That’s a promise. I’ve waited too long to get that wedding ring on your finger to do anything to muck it up now.”
The beeping of a delivery truck backing up to what would be delivery doors at the hall cut through their conversation. “Work goes on, for us as well,” Ryan offered before nodding at Yvette and Alex. “We’ll catch you two later this week.”
“Dancing at Rough Cut as planned,” Yvette agreed. “See you there.”
They took off in different directions.
When Ryan would have led her to their truck, Maddy caught him by the hand and tugged him toward the bar instead. Time for part two of her plan. “We need to stop at Rough Cut for a minute.”
He frowned but joined her, pressing a hand to her back then stepping in time at her side. “Delivery to unload I don’t know about?”
“I forgot there were a couple things I wanted to do, and we both have time right now. If that’s okay?”
“No problem,” Ryan offered happily. “I don’t mind watching you work. It’s my day off, you know.”
She planned to take full advantage of that fact.
He unlocked the door, stepping to the right to enter the security system codes. That gave Maddy enough time to pull two remotes from her pocket and quickly hit On for the next part of her plan.
By the time Ryan turned back to join her, soft yellow light glowed from inside the main bar and the low beat of music drifted on the air.
“What’s that?” he asked.
She covered the light switches beside them with a hand so he couldn’t turn them on. “My surprise for your morning off.”
He eyed her, a smile slowly growing. “Are you being all sneaky and romantic, Maddy?”
“Hopefully,” she admitted, slipping close and pressing her body to his. “Maybe even sneaky and sexy, if you’re into that kind of thing.”
“With you? Always.”
He tucked his fingers under her chin and lifted her face to his. A soft brush of lips that quickly grew more intense as they twined together. Pressing closer, held together with his firm grip on her lower back.
Maddy slid her hands under his shirt and skimmed her palms up his chest. Warmth from his skin and the anticipation of pleasure blended as their tongues danced. As they both took what they wanted. Gave what was needed.
She was already breathing hard, heart racing with anticipation, when Ryan broke them apart for long enough to tug her onto the main dance floor.
“You’re amazing,” he said, glancing around as he led her to the air mattress she’d placed in the middle of the room.
LED candles of various sizes were scattered over all the nearby surfaces, on the floor, the high-top tables at the edge of the open wooden dance floor, and on the few chairs she’d strategically arranged to create a circle of enticing light that pooled on the soft quilt she’d brought from home.
Ryan met her gaze steadily. “It’s very romantic.”
“Good.” She scratched her nails gently down his chest. “Also sexy?”
“Very.” He unzipped her coat, pushed it from her shoulders, and tossed it toward the door. “Planning ahead, which you had to do, always turns me on. But you know what I’m really glad we get to do right now?”
His fingers were on the buttons of her blouse, knuckles teasing over her breasts. “I think I know.”
“You don’t, though.” He removed her top and it joined the coat somewhere off in the dark. His gaze drifted over her skin, following the finger he teased along the edge of the pretty lace bra she’d deliberately worn.
For him—only for him. “Tell me.”
Even as she spoke, she tugged at his shirt, and he moved instantly to help. He shed his coat then reached over his head to drag his T-shirt forward and reveal gorgeous lean muscles covered with skin that glowed golden brown in the twinkling lights.
Then his hands were back on her body. Fingertips trailing over the line of her neck, palms skimming down the sides of her waist and then up until he skimmed the rigid peaks of her nipples.
A groan escaped, and Ryan growled his approval.
Bending his head, he nipped through the fabric of her bra, busily undoing her pants at the same time as he lavished attention on her. Pushing aside the fabric of her underwear, he slicked his fingers through folds that were already wet.
“Oh God, yes,” Maddy whispered. She gasped again as he stroked her. “I need this. I need you.”
“That’s what I want,” Ryan told her. “That and more. Tell me what you want, tell me what feels good. There’s no one we have to hide from, so let me hear you.”
A shudder shook her as he teased her clit and his words whirled her around. Yes. That and more.
They’d made love in the dark quiet of the living room, but always aware, always ready to freeze and be still if anyone left their room. Two adults being responsible even as they craved the connection and the need to be with each other.
Now? She could scream the bar down and no one would hear.
Maddy’s core clenched at the idea.
Ryan chuckled as he skimmed off her underwear and bra, stripped himself naked, and had her under him on the mattress in no time flat. “You like that idea.”
“Love it, hotshot,” she admitted. “Do your worst.”
He was already in motion. He kissed her.
Commanded her. Took her lips hard before working his way down her body.
Her breasts were heavy with need before he left them to skim over her belly and settle between her thighs.
Another kiss, soft and sweet to the apex of her sex before he turned ravenous.
Opening her to his fingers, his tongue. Humming with pleasure as he licked until she squirmed.
Raising her hips toward him, needing a little more pressure, and little more—something. “Ryan. I need you inside me.”