Page 26 of Ryder

“I guess we eat, that’s what you invited me over here for, right?” I ask, looking up at him.

A wicked grin spreads across his face as he looks down at me. “Well, I know what I wanted to eat,” he says, licking his lips suggestively.

My cheeks redden as blush warms my face. My panties go wet at the thought of Ryder eating me in any way.

“I mean dinner,” I say, glaring at him.

“Me too,” Ryder grins.

After enjoying a sunset dinner on his patio facing the beach, I was full from the filet mignon and scalloped potatoes Ryder had made for us. I appreciated that he had hired a private chef to come in and cook for us. It was a nick cock block for him as he had to keep his hands to himself during dinner.

When I left that night, my body was in a heated frenzy as the lust for Ryder was driving me wild. He kissed me goodnight on my cheek before walking me to my car. It took all of the willpower in me not to chase him back inside of his house and jump his bones. I would just have to fantasize about him tonight in my dreams. That would be the only way I would be able to be satisfied in the way I so deeply desired to be by Ryder. As much as my body had defied me tonight, nothing right now could happen with Ryder. Maybe we needed a little space?

Chapter 14

Ryder

“You are going to have to repeat that to me again,” Axel says, as I hear him chasing behind my toddle niece.

Chuckling, I sit down on my leather sofa and straight out to my gorgeous view of the ocean. The television above my fireplace has on ESPN, but it is muted as I just watch highlight reels from a hockey game.

“Which part?” I ask.

“Start with the part about you and Scarlett hooking up,” Axel orders.

I hear a sweet child laugh and then Ivy’s voice before the chaos on the other end of the line goes silent. All I hear now is Axel’s heavy breathing.

“We didn’t technically hook up, but I did kiss her and I think I’m finally showing her I’m not some playboy she thinks I am,” I explain.

I get up and walk into my kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and black cabinets. When I purchased the house, I didn’t have any furniture or personal items to decorate it with. I had hired a designer to furnish the house and I liked her style. It was modern and masculine, but still felt like home.

“I never thought I’d see the day that Ryder Raven would want to settle down,” Axel laughs.

“Ryder is what?” I hear Ivy shout in the background.

“Am I on speaker phone?” I ask, as I pour myself a glass of water.

“Yeah. We are picking up the kids toys, so I had to put the phone down,” Axel explains.

I can just picture him with his tattoos and leather jacket, picking up Barbies and other kids toys. I wish I was there to give him hell about it.

“Wow, you two live a wild life,” I joke.

“Sounds like you might living this life soon,” Ivy giggles.

“I never said anything about getting married or popping out a bunch of kids like you guys did, but I do like her. She’s not like the other women around here that only want me for my money and fame.”

Even as the words slip past my lips, I can’t believe I’m saying it. Maybe seeing my brothers happily married has changed my perspective on dating?

“Trust me, when you find the right woman you will want things you never dreamed of. I mean, look at me, Drake, and Blaze. None of us ever thought we would settle down, but we did.” I can hear the smile in Axel’s voice and that warms my heart.

“Well, I have to get her to like me first. She’s coming around, but Scarlett isn’t the type of woman who will fall at my feet. I have to prove myself to her,” I tell them.

We talk a little while longer before I hear a crying baby and they have to get off the phone.

Moving back to my sofa, I can’t help but sit there and think about what it would be like to have Scarlett in my life as mine. I want to show her that she can be happy with me. Maybe, just maybe, I can get the happily ever after my brothers found, too.

Chapter 15

---