Page 48 of Ryder

“We’ll adjust in the next few days as we figure out our routine.” I pull her closer and kiss her neck again.

She slowly relaxes in my arms, and eventually, her breathing evens out as sleep takes her under.

I stay awake, though. I’m irrationally afraid to sleep for fear she’s an apparition. I can’t believe she’s in my bed. I know in my soul she’s it for me. Perfection. I knew it before I stripped her shirt off and sucked her pussy through her panties. I knew it when I saw her standing by my truck.

I’m grinning so wide my face is tight. I’m not sure I’ll ever stop. I’ve hit the lottery. I’m a seriously lucky bastard.

When I finally close my eyes, worry seeps in. There’s an asshole in town who thinks he can manhandle my girl. I have no idea how I’m going to take care of that in a way that won’t piss her off. Hell, I might piss off the entire town if I have someone arrested on my third day in Wilde.

She’s right about it being her word against his. Chances are, if she breathes a word of her altercation with Smith, the town would believe him over her, especially if he’s the slimy bastard I’m gathering he is.

There’s another problem we’re going to have to face in the morning. Either she’ll have to stay in the kitchen at work, or we’ll have to figure out how to cover the bruises. I won’t have her spending all day in that heat in a sweater.

The thought of dropping her off tomorrow and leaving her to work makes me feel oddly unsettled. Not because of Smith. There’s no way he’s going to walk into her family’s bakery and publicly attack her. It’s that I don’t want to part with her for that long.

I’m suddenly the sappiest dude on Earth. Forty years old, and I feel like a teenager with a crush on the cute girl in school. I’ve never been in a relationship this serious. I’ve never even known it was possible. I’ve occasionally met people who insisted they fell in love with their significant other almost instantly, but I never believed them.

Love?

I’m not sure I know the meaning of the word, but if it’s a thing, I’m fast approaching it.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, willing my body to sleep. Another slow smile spreads across my face as I realize exactly what I’m going to do tomorrow.

Chapter19

Claire

“What? No.” I shake my head as Ryder grabs an apron from a hook on the wall in the kitchen behind the bakery.

My father smirks. “It’s not a bad idea.”

“Dad…”

My mother looks like she’s won the lottery. I’m not sure if I’ve seen her this pleased. She’s humming as she folds towels.

“Neither of you are going to support me on this?” I ask my parents, glancing back and forth between them.

My mother shakes out a towel and chuckles. “Sweetheart, if your boyfriend wants to stay and help in the bakery, who are we to stop him?”

“See?” Ryder says, “Your parents think my idea is splendid.” He has the audacity to kiss me—on the lips. “Suck it up, buttercup.”

I can’t believe I wasted even one moment worrying that my parents wouldn’t approve of Ryder’s age. They’re more smitten with him than I am.

“Have you ever worked in a kitchen, Ryder?” my father asks.

“Nope. Never. I’m a web designer.”

“Oh.” My mother spins around. “How interesting. Isn’t that interesting, Claire?”

I roll my eyes at her. “It’s fascinating,” I deadpan.

Ryder wiggles his eyebrows and proceeds to woo my parents further. “If you’d like me to take a look at your site, I’d be happy to.”

I bite my lip, waiting for my father’s response.

My father laughs. “We don’t have a website.”

Ryder’s eyes widen, “Oh, well, how about if I make you one?”

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