Page 35 of All Because I Found You

“Aren’t you going to a fundraiser tonight?” She’d only talked about it a dozen times during dinner. She tried inviting him multiple times, but he managed to change the subject every time. He’d dodged the bullet, but it had him thinking about how he could help the community recover from the recent hurricane. He’d been lucky, and he was grateful, but so many hadn’t been. He might not have been a social participant in the community, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care.

“Yes, I am.”

“Perfect. Donate it.”

Her eyes widened. “All of it?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s awfully generous of you.”

“I’m sure there are a lot more people who could use the money more than me.” Between his inheritance, the income from the different facets of the farm, the house being paid off, and basically not going anywhere and not doing much of anything for the last eleven years, he wasn’t exactly struggling. If anything, he had more money than his modest lifestyle would be able to spend in a lifetime.

“Fine,” she said, but there was a slight lilt to her tone. “I’ll donate it all to the fundraiser.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Now are we done here? I need to finish getting these barrels out of my truck.”

“Why, do you have a hot date later?”

If she counted the chicken he’d be putting on his grill then yes, but if not, then no. “I just have shit to do.”

“That makes two of us then. I have no idea how I’m going to do everything before getting ready for the fundraiser.”

“Then why are you still talking to me?”

Her pouty bottom lip pressed into the top one. “That’s a really good question. It’s not like I enjoy our conversations.”

No idea what came over him, maybe it was the sexy shape of her mouth, or the fact that he knew she was lying, but he snaked his hand out, grabbing her waist and yanking her toward him. A surprised gasp slipped between those very lips he suddenly couldn’t stop staring at. “You and I both know that’s not true.”

She tilted her head, a challenging glint in her brown eyes. “Do we now? How so?” Her voice was silky smooth, filled with confidence like a seductress baiting her next conquest. He wouldn’t mind falling victim to her if she’d only let him taste those lips she kept moving.

“You’d ignore me if you didn’t want to talk to me.” He moved into her until her back was against the fender of the truck. She arched, pressing her center to his growing erection. She knew exactly what she was doing.

“Mmm, looks like someone else wants my attention,” she purred.

His body tightened at her words, and he reached deep for control. It had been a long time since someone was able to affect him like this. He’d pretty much had been a shell for the last eleven years, going through the motions even when it came to getting off. But now, with her hot body against his, those damn lips curving up at him, and those pretty brown eyes looking at him with high expectations, he didn’t know how long he was going to be until his control shattered.

Her eyelashes scanned down over her cheeks before popping back up. “What are you going to do, Ryder?” She wiggled against him, teeth sliding over her lip.

God, he wanted to grab her face and crush his lips to hers, thrust his fingers into her hair, and feel her body wrap around him while she moaned in ecstasy, but that’s what she expected. A woman like Raelyn got what she wanted, and he didn’t want to be like any other guy she’d been with.

“Time’s ticking.”

He held onto his control with every ounce of his being and stepped back. “You’re right. I better unload the rest of the barrels.”

He heard the perturbed huff from behind him as he jumped into the bed of the truck, and it was all he needed to know he’d just beaten Raelyn Shaw at her own game.

Chapter 11

The local high school cafeteria had been transformed with the help of round tables and tablecloths as well as long tables filled with a large variety of raffles. Bunches of balloons were tied throughout in blue and white with blue ribbons. The front of the cafeteria was a stage, the space a multipurpose setup to allow school plays and assemblies to take place within the building.

Not much had changed inside since Raelyn had walked these halls, but she had. She had found her calling in the world. She had her own place, her own business with a career she loved, and she, for the most part, was happy.

A smile tugged at Raelyn’s lips when her eyes immediately drifted to the place where Ryder and his friends used to sit. It was like they were the royal court, and everyone’s attention would always drift in their direction to see what they were up to. Ryder had been full of life back then—never without a smile or that sparkle in his eyes. She felt like that sparkle was still there; it had just been dimmed for so long. He just needed a little more joy in his life to brighten it again.

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