Page 76 of My Not So Wicked Ex-Fiance (My Not So Wicked 2)

I nestled into his dress shirt and breathed in his sandalwood scent. I’d been wanting him all night but hadn’t wanted to bother him while he worked.

Ryder stroked my hair. “I’m sorry about last night. I feel like I keep saying that to you. I have a lot on my plate right now. A lot of people’s livelihoods depend on me.”

“I can understand that.” Though none of my employees would be in dire straits if the boutique closed its doors.

He leaned back and tipped my chin up. “You know I’d rather spend all my time with you.”

I stood on my tiptoes, pressed my lips to his, and just stayed there soaking him in, holding his face in my hands. Anything to remind me that he was real and we were together.

“Chief,” he spoke against my lips, “is everything okay? Are you upset with me?”

“It’s my parents,” I whispered.

Ryder’s face immediately flashed red. “What the hell have they done now?”

I lowered myself back on my feet and released a heavy breath. “I talked to Memaw last night. My parents know we’re together.”

“Good. I hope they do.” His jaw clenched.

I pressed my hands against his tight chest. His pounding heart spoke of how angry my parents made him. “Ryder, I didn’t tell them.”

His eyes narrowed before dawning appeared in them followed by hatred. “Damn them. They’re spying on us.”

I nodded. “It appears so.”

He scanned the cabin as if he would see someone before grinning wickedly at me. “I hope they get a good look at this.” He leaned down and hungrily captured my lips while his hands ran through my hair and undid my messy bun. When my hair fell around us, he deepened the kiss while his fingers glided down my spine, igniting tingles and silently begging me to press my body against his. My hands slid up his chest, up through his hair, drawing us closer, fulfilling his desire and mine. A low moan escaped him when his lips departed from mine. A tiny gasp escaped me before I could catch my breath. His forehead rested on mine. Our breath mingled together and the outside world melted away.

“I love you,” he whispered before raising his head and shouting, “I love her!”

“Shh.” I pressed my finger to his soft lips. “You’re crazy.”

He took my finger and kissed it. “Crazy for you.” He looked around again as if we were being spied on. “Did you get that? I LOVE HER!”

“I know! Now shut up!” Bobby Jay shouted back from his bedroom, disgruntled from being woken up.

Ryder and I broke out into fits of laughter. I snuggled into him. “I love you. I’m sorry.”

“Shelby, you don’t need to apologize. This is all your momma’s and daddy’s doing. If they know what’s good for them, they won’t interfere this time, because I promise you there will be hell to pay if anyone tries to come between us again.”

I nodded against his chest, taking comfort in him.

He kissed my head. “Chief, you and I belong together. You’ve been in charge of my heart from day one.”

His words brought immense joy but a touch of sadness crept in. Tears filled my eyes, wetting his shirt. “Ryder.” I sniffled.

He leaned back, confused and worried.

“I deleted all your ‘Chief’ emails.”

A rush of relief filled his eyes and his mouth tugged upward. “Well, then, it’s a good thing I saved them, darlin’.”

“You did?”

He reached up and brushed away the tears that lingered on my cheek with his thumb. “I tried a hundred times to delete them, but I kept being drawn back to your responses. Wondering if that woman still existed and if she did, why did she leave me? I had to know one way or the other.”

The heartbreak in his voice made me tear up more. I took his hand and held it between my own. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. Thank you for not giving up on us.”

“Just promise me if any new pictures show up with me and a hot chick rolling around the meadow, you will one, know it’s you, and two, you’ll send them to me so I can have my own copies.” He wagged his brows.

I smacked his chest, making him laugh.

He took my hand and pulled me to the small dining area. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

In the middle of the table sat a large bouquet of peach roses.

“Are those for me or Bobby Jay?” I teased.

He pulled out my chair for me. “I don’t make midnight store runs for Bobby Jay.”

“Midnight? What time did you get home?”

“One,” he said as if it were no big deal.

“Why are you even up?”

“I would think that was obvious.”

I rested my hand on his cheek. “This is all very sweet of you, but—”

“No buts.” He took my hand and kissed my palm. “You are the most important thing to me, and when this release is out, the two of us are going to get away. You name the place and we’ll go.”

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