Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Ryan
Rose sat cross-legged across from me, dead serious as she painted the fifth rabbit's ears with blue acrylic. Lately, she'd gotten obsessed with drawing rabbits, insisting every single one needed long eyelashes. Luna lay tied under the little cedar tree, staring at us with those mournful eyes.
I'd been squatting too long, feeling a bit dizzy, so I rubbed my temples.
"Ryan, is your head still hurting?" Rose dropped her stuff and lunged over, grabbing my arm.
"No, baby. Just dizzy from squatting."
"Really?"
"I wouldn't lie. It's fine now." I pulled her into a hug. "If I'm lying, may my Easter eggs shatter."
Rose narrowed her eyes, saw my sincere face, and nodded.
I couldn't help but chuckle. This kid was a far cry from the scared little girl hiding under blankets a few months back. Now she chattered like a player with no pause button.
"Rose." I pushed the paints toward her. "You really planning eyelashes on all these rabbits?"
"Yep."
She rinsed her brush in the water. "Ryan, can you grab me a fresh cup from the kitchen? This one's all dirty."
Okay, she was trying to shoo me away. I barely straightened up when a warm little hand grabbed my wrist from behind.
"Ryan. I'll get it." Rose shoved the brush into my hand. "You paint for me."
"Baby—"
"Deal." She popped up, her skirt smeared with colors. "I'll get Emily to turn on the faucet." Then she bounced off.
After eleven long-lashed rabbits, Rose and I spread out a "battle map" on her bedroom carpet. She clutched a red pen, marking spots dead seriously, while I followed her lead.
"Under this big oak, hide two eggs." She poked the tip, then pointed at a nearby flowerbed, eyes sparkling. "And here, pink ones—three!"
"Why an extra pink?"
"'Cause pink's the prettiest!" Rose tilted her head, all confident. "White bench underneath, one egg. Deep in the rose bushes, five!"
"But the bushes have thorns."
"No biggie. Daddy'll find them."
"Rose." I cleared my throat. "What do you mean?"
She looked up, a sly glint in her gray eyes. Like something out of a scheming drama. On her baby face, it was kinda adorable.
"Ryan." She stared at me. "I just wanna see if Daddy can find them all."
"Baby, that seems a bit off..."
Rose thought for three seconds, then slashed another mark on the rose spot. "Nothing off about it."
"Rose, thorns in there. Ronan'll get pricked. Don't you feel bad for Daddy?"
She pondered, head cocked. "If Daddy gets pricked, he's just being dumb."
"How's that?"
"I didn't say no gloves!" Rose looked innocent as hell.
On Easter, the sun shone perfectly. I followed Rose's orders, shoving the last egg deep into the rose branches.
Those roses flew in from Naples, an old variety with sharp, tough thorns.
Even with gardening gloves, my fingertips stung red.
I worried, so I had Andrew grab thicker protective ones just in case.
After hiding it, I stepped back, double-checked the pink-and-white egg was invisible, then headed to the decor table in the yard.
Rose wore bunny-ear headbands, crawling under the long table to tie the last ribbon bow. She emerged with a smudge on her face.
"Ryan. What time?"
"Almost ten."
"I'll get Daddy." She dusted her skirt and stood. "Ryan, remember, rose bush is Daddy's."
"Got it, little princess."
Ronan stepped out from the study. Before I could speak, he grabbed my hand.
"What's this?"
"It's... no break, nothing serious."
"You got hurt. That's serious."
His serious face, those earnest eyes, made me blush hard. Rose peeked from behind him, tugged his sleeve, and held up a rabbit egg with long lashes right to his chin. "Daddy, for you!"
Thanks, Rose! I yanked my hand free. Ronan eyed the egg, his mouth twitching into a stiff grin, trying not to laugh.
"Ronan, hold it higher."
"Why—" He looked up puzzled, and I snapped the shutter before he finished.
"Ryan, delete that photo."
"Why?" I stuffed the phone in my pocket. "Relax, it's my private collection."
"Ryan, you—"
"Daddy, let's play egg hunt!" Rose yanked his hem, dragging him to the yard center, babbling rules—whoever finds most wins, the winner picks tomorrow's dinner.
For the next hour, Rose and I held Luna's leash, watching Ronan climb trees or rustle bushes.
Ronan sucked in a tiny breath. Rose and I looked up, bolted toward the rose bush. His right hand back had a scratch, blood beading.
"Daddy, I'll grab the first aid kit!" Rose spun and dashed inside.
I tied Luna, rushed over, and grabbed his hand to check the two-centimeter cut.
"Weren't there gloves?"
"Minor scrape. No big deal."
Only when he spoke did I realize how close we stood. I caught his patchouli scent clear as day. He just watched me, and my face burned red.
"Daddy, kit's here. Huh? Ryan, why's your face so red?"
I snatched the kit quickly. "Huh? Is it? Maybe the heat."
"Heat?" Rose looked doubtful.
In the end, Ronan won. But we all voted Rose the best designer, handed her dinner pick.
That night, I videoed Lulu.
"God. That man smiles like he's got facial paralysis."
"And get this," I held the phone closer. "Ronan hunted eggs a full hour today, got a scratch on his hand, and his face was just—"
I cracked up mid-sentence, nearly dropped the phone laughing so hard.
"Ryan, I win that fifty bucks."
"What?"
"One word: all Ronan." Lulu shoved her face at the camera. "I recorded it. Listen yourself."
My ears burned. "Lulu, wait—"
"Fifty! No welching!"
Was it that obvious? I tossed and turned in bed.
"Ryan! For you!"
"What?"
"A gift!"
I eyed the cute little box. "Rose, why the sudden gift?"
She tilted her head, all casual. "Just felt like it."
"Ryan!" She poked my hand. "Open it!"
I unwrapped the pink paper. Inside, a handmade friendship bracelet. Pink, blue, and green threads twisted, with a round white pearl in the middle.
"I made it myself." Rose beamed. "Put it on!"
I tied it on my wrist. The knots were crooked, but it was the best gift ever.
"Ryan, you crying?"
"No."
"But your eyes are red."
"Just steam from the coffee earlier."
Rose nodded, half getting it. I hugged her tight. Then a knock sounded, and Ronan came in, box in hand. He walked up and handed it over.
"A gift for you."
Weird, what was up with this father-daughter duo today?
"Ronan, this..."
"A thank you. You saved Rose, and I never properly said it."
Was that it?
"Yeah, yeah!" Rose nodded like a bobble head beside him. "Ryan saved me and Luna. We gotta thank you big time!"
Okay then.
"Oh, one more thing." Ronan paused, choosing words. "I wanna take Rose to Long Island for fun. Invite you along, just three days."
"Ronan, I have classes."
"Friday's free all day, no weekend classes."
"You checked my schedule?"
"Yeah."
Ronan stood hands behind back, eyes on the wall painting. "Rose stuck in the manor gets boring. Getting out helps stabilize her mood."
"Then... what time are we leaving?" At that, his tense shoulders eased.
"Nine AM."
"Fine."
The vacation house perched on Long Island's south shore, white clapboard walls, blue shutters, a crooked-neck oak by the door.
Car barely stopped when Rose jumped out, bolted for the beach.
Luna got hauled from her carrier, neck looped with Marco's custom leash.
Marco thumped his chest, swore it was tough as hell, no breaking free.
Rose chased waves in the shallows for forty minutes. Luna got yanked, legs splayed, face all pissed off trailing her. I sat on a sun-warmed rock watching them, when Ronan strolled over barefoot, suit pants rolled to his knees.
Rose bounced up and grabbed my hand. "Ryan, come on!"
"Where?"
"Run!"
She dragged me into the surf, hair whipping wild in the sea wind. I waved back at Ronan.
"Ronan, join us!"
He stood still, gray eyes reflecting wave light, soft in a way that didn't suit him.
"Mr. Valerius!" I drew it out. "Come on!"
Finally, he came. Rose yanked him, nearly dumped his ass in the water. Before I could laugh properly, a wave hit, I stumbled, and he caught me by the waist. I leaned into his chest, his heat burning through, making the sea breeze feel like nothing.
"Careful."
"Thanks."
"Daddy, Ryan, quick! Big crab over there! The three of us together can catch it."
The three of us. The words hit soft in my chest. Left hand in Rose's grip, right brushing Ronan's fingertips. It felt like touching something good.
Rose played all day, crashed out the second she hit the bed. I changed her into PJs, wiped sand from her feet with warm water, and tucked her in. Good thing we brought Emily to watch Luna. It curled by her pillow, eyes resentful, probably still mad about the bath.
I shut the small bedroom door, stepped out. Living room was quiet, balcony glass door cracked, sea wind fluttering white curtains in soft arcs. Following a faint rose scent, I pushed the door open.
Ronan leaned on the railing, staring at the night sea. Sleeves rolled to forearms, cufflinks tossed on the side table. Crystal vase in the center held nine deep red roses, next to iced white wine and two goblets. Candle flames danced, warming the whole balcony.
"Rose asleep?"
"Yeah, out cold, clutching that shell."
"Tomorrow she'll wake asking for it first thing."
"I'm already plotting how to pry it from her and wash it again."
We both laughed.
Ronan lifted the bottle, filled both glasses, slid one to me, and picked up the other. We clinked rims without a word.
"Ryan. Happy birthday."
Today? My birthday? It was!
"Ronan..." I couldn't hold back the sob. So this father-daughter pair planned it all. "I forgot myself. Thank you."
"No." Ronan leaned in and gently wiped my tears. "I should thank you."
"Speaking of, maybe you know Rose changed because she saw Natasha die. But not the real reason she died."
My hand tightened on the goblet, breath held, waiting.