Page 81 of Follow My Heart

Faith stood and handed the cup to Ryder. “I’m going back out.”

“We’ll watch from here for a bit,” Ryder said as she waved at us.

Another girl around her age skated up to her and started talking. Within seconds, they were laughing and skating next to each other.

“What are you thinking about?” Ryder asked me.

“How nice this is.” I sipped the hot chocolate, and a bit of froth stuck to my upper lip.

“You have something—” Ryder pulled off his glove to rub a thumb over the whipped cream.

He sucked his thumb, and it was like he’d touched my clit.

I squeezed my legs together. “You can’t do that in public.”

“What? Eat whipped cream off your face?”

I nodded my head. “Yes.”

Ryder leaned in close. “You can’t resist me.”

“You know I can’t.”

He grinned at me, but his eyes filled with heat, a promise of what was to come later tonight. His hand landed on my thigh, and he squeezed. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”

My lips twitched. “You’re teasing me.”

“It’s so easy, though,” he said with a wink.

I shook my head again, my lips curling into a smile.

The heat of his palm warmed my entire body. I couldn’t believe Stacy walked away from him. Ryder Calloway was the full package. It was like she’d never unwrapped him to see what was inside.

It was a sensitive, protective man who enjoyed taking care the people in his life, and I hoped I’d be in his life for a long time.

He flipped his hand so it was palm up, and his gaze lifted to mine.

It reminded me of the moves the high-school boys did at the theater to hold a girl’s hand. But my heart flip-flopped like it was the first time it had ever happened to me. I rested my hand in his, and when his fingers interlaced with mine, a tingle ran down my spine.

Ryder was the one for me. I just hoped he felt the same way. Because if I lost him and Faith, I wouldn’t know what I’d do.

I’d return to my solitary existence, working and visiting Grandpa. But now that I’d seen there was so much more to life, it would be hard to go back.

When we’d finished our hot chocolates, we went out on to the rink hand in hand. This time, it was because he was claiming me as his, not to stop me from wobbling. I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

We skated until it was late, well after Faith’s bedtime. When the rink closed, we returned our skates, then drove home. I was content to listen to music and watch the streetlights go by.

Ryder veered off to a neighborhood here and there to see the lights. We stopped at one that had music coordinated with the flashing of the lights. Faith was delighted.

When we got home, we were exhausted. Ryder got Faith into bed, and then he pulled me against him. “Stay the night.”

“You don’t want me to leave before Faith wakes up?” I asked him, needing to know what he wanted.

“Stay. Please. I want to wake up next to you.”

I turned in his arms. “If you think Faith will be okay with it.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

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