9. Ridge
Nine
Ridge
W ith every breath I took, the intoxicating scent of fresh flowers and citrus enveloped me. Emma lay close beside me, her eyes puffy and bottom lip trembling, yet she remained breathtakingly beautiful. Gently, I brushed away a stray tear that had escaped down her cheek, my fingers lingering against her soft skin. For a fleeting moment, I found myself drawn to her plump lips, the selfish desire to claim them as my own nearly overwhelming me. But I pulled back, restraining myself from acting on those forbidden thoughts.
Turning my gaze back towards the vast expanse of the night sky, I waited as Emma mumbled a quiet “thanks.” Her voice, laced with a vulnerability that tugged at my heartstrings, carried a weight I couldn’t quite place. “She doesn’t like me better than her own dad, by the way,” she added, shuffling slightly to face the celestial canvas above us.
I took the opportunity to study her profile, drinking in the delicate curve of her nose, the gentle sweep of her lashes against her flushed cheeks. “Yes, she does,” I replied, the words escaping my lips before I could stop them. “I am boring, strict, and always working. My kids haven’t stopped talking about you, even Avery, who barely speaks.” A soft chuckle rumbled from deep within my chest at the thought of my littlest one, already enamored with Emma’s presence.
Emma turned her head, our eyes meeting in a charged gaze that seemed to rob me of breath. “You are not boring, and you are the only parent, Ridge. You have to be strict and working to keep them happy and healthy, and they see that,” she said, her voice carrying a conviction that left me stunned.
I felt the weight of her words settle upon me, a familiar ache spreading through my chest. “I just wish I had more time to make them happy,” I confessed, the words tumbling from my lips before I could rein them in. “Take them to the lake to play or just do something fun, but I’m just stretched too thin.” It was a truth I had never voiced aloud before, but in Emma’s presence, I found myself disarmed, my carefully guarded walls crumbling with each passing moment.
Emma turned her body towards me, her eyes shining with an understanding that both comforted and unnerved me. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as her pinky finger brushed against mine, the featherlight touch sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. I allowed our fingers to remain connected, the barest of touches, yet in that moment, I felt a sense of peace and contentment that had long eluded me.
The world seemed to fade away, the constant hum of responsibilities and worries that usually plagued my every waking moment fading into the background. All that existed was the warmth of Emma’s skin against mine, the steady rise and fall of her chest, and the mesmerizing depths of her eyes that threatened to swallow me whole.
I knew, in that moment, that I was treading dangerous waters. The pull I felt towards this woman, this enigmatic creature who had so effortlessly woven her way into the fabric of my life, was something I couldn’t quite comprehend. But as I gazed into her eyes, watching the infinite cosmos reflected in their depths, I found myself powerless to resist her gravitational pull.
“You’re doing the best you can, Ridge,” Emma whispered, her voice carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken truths. “Your kids see that, and they love you for it. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Her words washed over me like a soothing balm, easing the constant ache of self-doubt and guilt that had become as familiar as the air I breathed. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to believe her, to let her words seep into the cracks of my weary soul and mend the wounds that had festered for far too long.
But even as I basked in the warmth of her presence, a niggling voice in the back of my mind whispered words of warning. This was dangerous territory, a path that could lead me down a road I might never be able to return from. Emma was a fleeting moment in time, a shooting star streaking across the sky, bright and brilliant but destined to fade just as quickly as she had appeared.
And yet, I found myself powerless to resist her pull, like a moth drawn to the flame.
“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. “I needed to hear that.”
Emma’s smile widened, her eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that made my heart flutter. “Anytime,” she replied, giving my pinky a gentle squeeze before withdrawing her touch.
A pang of loss shot through me at the absence of her warmth, but I swallowed it down, determined not to let my turbulent emotions show. Instead, I turned my gaze back towards the heavens, letting the vast expanse of the night sky ground me once more.
We lay there in comfortable silence, the sounds of the night enveloping us like a gentle embrace. The chirping of crickets, the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze, the distant call of an owl – it all blended together into a soothing symphony that lulled my frayed nerves.
As the minutes ticked by, I found myself acutely aware of Emma’s presence beside me, the rise and fall of her chest, the soft puffs of her breath. It was as if every fiber of my being had become attuned to her, like a finely calibrated instrument vibrating in harmony with her very essence.
Within moments, I could tell Emma had drifted off to sleep, her chest rising and falling in a steady, hypnotic rhythm. Instead of following my usual routine of cleaning the house, washing the dinner dishes and tending to the left over ranch work, I found myself indulging in the rare opportunity to simply watch her.
A part of me recognized the inherent creepiness of my actions, but I couldn’t seem to tear my gaze away from her slumbering form. The soft moonlight danced across her tanned skin, casting an ethereal glow that left me utterly captivated.
Emma looked so peaceful in that moment, her features relaxed and unguarded, devoid of the weight that seemed to perpetually rest upon her shoulders. A stray lock of hair fell across her face, rising and falling with each gentle exhale, and I found myself fighting the overwhelming urge to reach out and tuck it behind her ear.
Just as I was about to give in to the temptation, the sudden wail of Avery’s cries erupted from the baby monitor, shattering the tranquil spell that had enveloped us. Emma stirred beside me, her eyes fluttering open as she was abruptly pulled back into the waking world.
Reluctantly, I shuffled to my feet, my muscles protesting the movement after having remained so deliciously still for who knows how long. Emma mirrored my actions, a sleepy haze still clinging to her like a gossamer veil.
“I should go,” she murmured, her voice thick with the remnants of slumber. She took a tentative step forward, but her legs seemed to betray her, causing her to slip precariously.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I surged forward, my arms encircling her waist and drawing her flush against my chest. The sudden proximity sent a jolt of electricity coursing through my veins, setting every nerve ending ablaze.
Emma let out a soft gasp, her warm breath fanning across my neck as she instinctively clung to me for support. For a heartbeat, we stood frozen, our bodies intertwined in a delicate dance, my senses overwhelmed by her intoxicating presence.
“You’re too groggy for that,” I whispered, my voice a ragged whisper as I fought to regain control over the tempest of emotions raging within me. “I’ll bring you down, and you can take my guest room. Your shed is a long walk.”
Emma didn’t protest, didn’t even seem to have the energy to argue. Instead, she simply snuggled deeper into my embrace, letting out a contented sigh that sent tremors skittering down my spine.
Taking her wordless acquiescence as consent, I cradled her in my arms, lifting her with a surprising ease that belied her delicate frame. Emma’s head lolled against my shoulder, her breath warm and gentle against the curve of my neck, and I had to force myself to focus on the task at hand lest I become hopelessly lost in the moment.
With careful, measured steps, I made my way down from the loft, navigating the dimly lit staircase with the utmost care. Each step felt like a tightrope walk, the weight of Emma’s body in my arms both grounding and dizzying all at once.
The journey seemed to stretch on for an eternity, each second ticking by with an agonizing slowness that only served to heighten my awareness of the precious cargo I carried. By the time we reached my bedroom, my heart was thundering against my ribcage, a staccato rhythm that threatened to drown out all other sound.
Gently, reverently, I deposited Emma onto the rumpled sheets of my bed, taking a moment to simply drink in the sight of her sprawled across the expanse of crisp cotton. She looked so small, so vulnerable in that moment, and a fierce surge of protectiveness welled up within me, threatening to consume me whole.
With trembling fingers, I reached for the thin blanket folded at the foot of the bed, carefully draping it over Emma’s prone form. Even in the throes of slumber, she seemed to instinctively burrow deeper into the cocoon of warmth, a soft sigh of contentment escaping her parted lips.
I lingered for a moment longer, my gaze tracing the delicate curve of her cheek, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, committing every detail to memory. It was a moment frozen in time, a fleeting glimpse of perfection that I knew could never truly be mine to keep.
But in that instant, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the woman lying before me, a beacon in the darkness that had become my life, a constant reminder that even in the bleakest of moments, beauty and wonder still existed.
Forcing myself to tear my gaze away, I turned and slipped from the room, leaving Emma to the peace and sanctuary of her slumber. Avery’s cries echoed through the empty hallway, a persistent reminder of the responsibilities that still awaited me.
With a heavy sigh, I made my way to the nursery, my steps weighted by the burden of unspoken emotions that seemed to cling to me like a shroud. As I crossed the threshold, the sight of my daughter’s tear-streaked face tugged at my heartstrings, instantly shifting my focus to the task at hand.
“Shhh, Daddy’s here,” I murmured, scooping Avery into my arms and cradling her against my chest. Her tiny fists clenched and unclenched, seeking purchase against the fabric of my shirt as she fought to quell her sobs.
I paced the length of the room, swaying gently from side to side as I hummed a soothing melody, the familiar tune ingrained into my very being after countless nights spent soothing Avery’s cries. Gradually, her whimpers began to subside, her body slowly relaxing into the comforting rhythm of our dance.