Page 87 of Daddy's Heart

“What do you think he’ll do now? He’s stuck in Chicago, right? ’Cause of the accident?”

Ryder took a deep breath. “Randall’s not a problem anymore, Samantha. He didn’t make it out of the hospital.” And he would forever remember the moment that fucker’s lights flickered off.

“He’s dead?”

“Yeah, baby. He’s gone.”

“Anderson?” she asked with worry.

“He’s fine. But I don’t want to talk about him anymore. I want to talk about you. About me. About us.”

Chapter 31

Randall was dead.

She should feel something. A pang of regret, hurt, something…right? He was human, after all. A disgusting pig of a human, but still, he’d been alive and now he was dead.

But there was no emotion. Just relief.

“Sam.” Ryder’s demand for her attention snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Us?”

“Yes, us.” He nodded. “First, get into bed.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to lay down anymore. I want—” She blew out a long breath, fighting back the grimace of the pain.

“What? What do you want?” His voice dipped. She looked up at him, waiting to see the angry scowl of a man scorned. But what she found was warmth, caring, and love. She could see it, feel it, sense it in his words, his gaze.

This wasn’t a temporary thing with Ryder—this was the real deal. The ingredients of forever.

“I want you,” she said firmly, staring up at him. “I don’t want to think this is only for right now, that we’re only playing around while I’m staying here. I want this to be…I deserve this to be…more.”

His eyes narrowed, making her breath hitch. Maybe she’d gone too far, read him wrong.

“You deserve everything you want in this world, Samantha.” He stepped closer, taking up the buffer of space between them. With a light touch to her chin, he tilted her head back. “And I’m the luckiest bastard in the world because you want me.”

His lips brushed across hers, gentle at first, then with all the power she’d come to crave and love from him. His tongue lashed against hers, taming her beneath him until she succumbed to the heat he brought to her. Melting into his arms, his kiss, she gave up the tension in her chest.

He wanted her too. Her Daddy wanted her.

“Fuck,” she muttered when he released her, tapping her nose with his before standing to his full height again.

“That’s enough with the language, Sammy,” he whispered, then kissed her again.

“You pick the weirdest things to be upset about.” She gave a soft laugh.

He grinned down at her. She would never get used to how easily he could settle her heart and warm her to the core with one upturn of this lips.

“Do you think I should cancel the apartment showing?” she asked, the fluttering of doubt starting to rise again.

“I think that’s a decision you’ll have to make on your own. I mean…” he looked around the guestroom, “this room isn’t really available anymore. If you do stay here, you’ll have to bunk in my room…”

“Oh?” She bit down on her lower lip.

“In all seriousness, Sam. I’d love if you stayed here, but I’m not making that call for you. You’ll have decide—”

“I’m staying,” she blurted out before he could finish his sentence. “I mean, the location is great for work and the beach.”

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