Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
RYDER
I hold our daughter as I watch Eve load up some paperwork from the office to take home. I love how excited she is to be a part of the business. Jimmy would love what I have done here and would be smiling to know that his business made an impression on Eve. I got to admit it’s hot as fuck whenever she got excited about a car we would work on. I remember how it felt to have her watch me while I worked. If Jimmy hadn’t been there, my hands would have been on her instead of the car. We did a lot of making up for it later, though, when we were alone.
I see her go through the invoices with her glasses perched on her head. She’s got a glow to her cheeks that wasn’t there when she first arrived. The love I have for this girl makes up my very existence. I feel like I’m here for the sole purpose of loving her. Maybe I was sent here for that. She sure as hell hasn’t gotten it from her family, which is unfathomable to me since she’s the easiest person to love that I’ve ever met. I’ve always felt my parents had a hand in bringing her to me. It’s a nice thought that maybe they sent her to love me because they couldn’t be here to do it—a gift they gave us both.
She stops what she’s doing and looks over at me. Tilting her head to the side, a small smile plays on her lips. “What are you thinking of right now?”
“How I’m going to spend the rest of my life loving you and our family.” Her cheeks turn pink, and a beautiful smile appears on her face, making my heart thud loudly against my chest.
“I love the sound of that because I am for sure going to love you for the rest of mine.”
“What are your thoughts on buying a house once the summer is over? We need a bigger place, especially when our family grows, and Ryland needs a yard to play in. We could get her one of those swingsets with the princess castle on top…” I laugh when she runs over and throws her arms around both of us.
“I take it you love the idea?” I grin down at her.
“I love it so much.” Her eyes dance with joy, and I love that I’m the one to bring it there.
I reach down and bring my lips to hers. “Kiss!” Ryland giggles and claps her hands.
Laughing, we break apart, and I smother my baby girl’s cheeks with kisses as she squeals with laughter.
I set her down and let her wander over to the sofa. She drinks from her sippy cup while still clutching the toy car in her hand that I gave her.
“It’s nice having someone to help with Ryland,” she says, looking at our daughter. “I was so scared when I first had her that I would somehow not know how to take care of her. I didn’t have the best role model,” she laughs nervously. “As soon as they placed her in my arms and she looked up at me with your eyes, all the fear was replaced with love. I saw so much of you in her, and without you realizing it, you gave me the strength I needed that day to get through it alone.”
The hurt is different this time that simmers under the surface when I think about all I missed. It’s not rimmed with anger towards Eve anymore. We both got handed a shitty situation because of her parents and did the best we could to survive.
“You won’t ever have to be alone again,” I say, taking the sides of her face in my hands. “You are an amazing mom, Eve. Our daughter never went a day without feeling love, and even though I wasn’t there physically, she felt me through you. You took on both our roles and shielded her from your parents. I’m so proud of you. It took a lot of strength to do what you did.”
She nods her head, and I catch her tear with my thumb before bringing her lips to mine. She sighs against me and runs her hands up my back. I turn us slightly to shield her body with mine to give us some privacy as I deepen the kiss. She’s always had the ability to make everything around us cease to exist when I have my lips on hers.
I reluctantly break apart, both of us breathing hard and trying to reign in our emotions.
“I love you,” I whisper, our foreheads pressed together.
“I love you, too,” she breathes. Lifting her head, she gives me that blinding smile that always makes me want to drop to my knees and give her any damn thing she could ever fucking want.
“God, you’re so beautiful. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know it, too.” I run my hand through her auburn hair and watch the sunlight through the windows catch the golden strands hidden in there. Her cheeks get pink as I trace the light freckles across her nose before running my thumb across her full bottom lip. The ocean blues have me in such a trance that I don’t see Ryland come up to us until I feel something tug at my pant leg.
“Daddy.”
I grin down at my beautiful daughter and scoop her up. I don’t think my heart will ever get used to her calling me that. She giggles when I tickle her stomach.
“Daddy and Mommy love you so much, Rybug.” I rub my nose against hers in an Eskimo kiss.
“I do,” she smiles, holding my face with her little hands before laying her head on my shoulder. I rub my hand along her back and enjoy every second of this moment.
I hear a click and see Eve lowering her phone with a smile on her face.
“My new screensaver.”
“I think I can do better.” I hold out my hand, and she gives me her phone. Ryland lifts her head when Eve puts her arm around my waist and runs her hand through Ryland’s soft curls. “Say cheese, Rybug.” I hold my arm out and frame us in the selfie.
“Cheeeeeese,” she grins at the phone I’m holding, and we both laugh. I take a couple and hand her the phone back.
“Our first family photo.” She traces our faces on the screen. I watch her as she sets it to her screensaver.
“It’s perfect.” I smile at my beautiful family on the screen, my whole world captured in one moment.
I shut the hood to the Maserati and glance up when I hear Eve’s sweet laugh ring out in the garage. Her hair is in a ponytail, the auburn waves still long enough to flow down her back. She’s wearing a black Ryder’s Restores t-shirt from our women’s line, and it looks like it’s made for her. The v-neck hugs her, revealing just enough skin to show some of her stomach. Just seeing her with my logo across her chest sends a deep satisfaction flowing through my veins, knowing she’s mine. I roam her long, tanned legs in that black skirt she’s wearing and the heels that drive me insane.
I told her she could dress in sweats for all I care, but she insisted that she look professional while working in the office or meeting clients. I know she still wants to prove to me that she can do the job, but I’ve always known it was her I wanted by my side in this business.
I watch Nick carry on a conversation with her, standing a little too close if you ask me. I’ve had a good, long talk with him, so I know we are on the same page, but it doesn’t hurt to remind him every once in a while.
I walk over, and Eve catches my eye. I don’t miss the way her eyes linger on me a little bit longer before focusing back on Nick. Her cheeks get a slight blush to them, and I know she was checking me out like I was her.
Coming up to them, I place my hand on the small of her back as I grip her hip tightly. Nick steps back with a knowing smile. He’s not dumb. He knows exactly that I’m reminding him to keep his hands off of her. “Eve was just asking me about the parts we were looking for on the older vette we have coming in next week.”
“Remember that guy that Jimmy knew from a few towns over? He found that original part in that older vette you restored in high school. He may be able to help you.”
“I had forgotten all about that guy. How did you even know about him?”
“Jimmy’s cars were like his children,” she laughs. “He loved to tell me all their stories while I watched you work. I remember him being so proud of finding the original door handles and side panels for the sixty-one Corvette.”
I stare at her, amazed and a little in awe that she learned a lot more about cars than I thought she did while she used to watch me work.
“It’s definitely worth a shot. I’ve tried all the other places that are my go-to’s. It’s not easy finding some of these rare parts. Do you think you can track him down for me and give him a call?”
“Of course,” she says, beaming up at me. I could do it myself, but I want her to feel like she’s part of this team. It’s always a rush when you see something brought to life that you had a hand in creating.
“Let me know what you find out, Eve. I’ll give you a list of the other things you were wanting before I leave today.”
“Thanks, Nick,” she says, smiling at him. He glances at me before smiling back at her and returning to work. “You’ve got him so worried that you are going to fire him for just looking at me the wrong way,” she says when he’s gone.
“Good. That’s exactly what I want,” I grin. I release my death grip on her hip and run my fingers through the strands of her ponytail.
“I talked to Miles, and he’s about to put Ryland down for her nap. He’s having a blast with her today.”
“Hmmmm,” I say, trailing my fingers down her slender neck and loving the way her breath hitches at my touch. She says something else, but I don’t catch it as I run my finger along the vee on her shirt.
“Are you even listening to me?” I meet her blues and try to hold back a smile.
“You said Miles is having fun with Ryland.” My hand grazes the side of her breast before finding bare skin above the waistband of her skirt. “I love you wearing my name,” I murmur, fingering the material at the bottom. I step closer, feeling the heat from her body.
She’s been working here for a week now, but this is the first time she’s been able to be here without Ryland. I’ve been watching her all day, sneaking glances at her in the office or talking to new clients who walk in and showing them around. I’ve barely been able to concentrate on anything else, with her light strawberry scent invading my senses. I can’t get enough of her, and judging by the way she’s looking at me right now, she’s feeling the same.
“When’s our next appointment with that new client coming in?”
“Not for another hour, why?” I reach down and take her hand, pulling her with me.
“Perfect.” I walk us across the garage, not even caring when I hear some of the guys snicker as we go by. Let them think whatever the hell they want. It’s my place, and I don’t have to answer to anybody.
I lead us through the lobby and continue to the back until I find the office that we now share. I wanted her to have the bigger office with the view, and I left the smaller office for the guys to use when they need to meet with clients. We are just outside the downtown area and across the street from the marina. Sailboats and other luxury boats can be seen on the lifts. Palm trees line the deep canal that leads to the Atlantic.
I pull us into the office and shut the door. She turns and looks at me. Her eyes widen when I lock the door. I walk over to the windows facing the garage and lobby. I like being able to keep an eye on things, so I made sure to keep everything open. I close the blinds that I’m really glad I had installed. A lot of times, I would work so late into the night that I would crash here and want privacy.
“Ryder, we can’t,” she says, shaking her head. “It’s in the middle of the day, and everyone is out there.” She backs up as I walk toward her. Her butt hits the desk, and I grin down at her as I cage her in.
“Then you better try very hard not to scream, my little sun.”