Page 24 of Promised Summer
Ryan shot me an apologetic look. I mouthed back to him that it was okay. I knew going intowhateverthis thing with Ryan was that Karla would be his priority, and I was honestly fine with that. Hell, I expected it. After everything the precious girl went through, I would do anything to put a smile on her face.
I smoothed back her hair one last time and planted akiss on her head. “Sweet dreams, baby girl. I’m right here if you need me.”
I moved to pull away, only to discover Karla’s little fist clutching my shirt. I gently tried to remove it, but she was holding on for dear life.
Ryan took it all in and laughed. “How about you lie with us until she falls asleep?” he suggested, then used a softer voice to ask Karla, “Would you like that, baby?”
She nodded against his chest, bright blue eyes shooting a sweet look toward me that would have had me doing anything she wanted.
We awkwardly made our way to the guest room like this—Karla’s ear still pressed against Ryan’s chest, and her hand holding onto me so that I had no choice but to shuffle along at Ryan’s speed to accompany her short arms.
It was absolutely the wildest situation I’d been in, but it was absolutely the most perfect as well.
Being with Deke had filled my desire to be needed by someone, but here, with Ryan and Karla? At this moment? Karla needed me, and Ryan wanted me, and it was my desire to be there for them and protect them that had a calmness settling inside of me. The peace was the thing I remembered as I drifted off on the guest bed beside Ryan, Karla snuggled between us with a smile on her face.
The next morning, Karla came out for an early breakfast, giggling, with seemingly no memory of last night. Ryan had braided her black hair around thecrown of her head, but strands of hair poked through the braids. Adding in the yellow dress Karla was sporting today, she looked like a cute little sunflower.
Ryan studied his masterpiece and shook his head. He muttered something about it looking more like coils than braids. Karla didn’t seem to mind and merely giggled harder before running to chase Lily around the living room.
Ryan shook his head again and joined me in the kitchen. He slipped his arms around my middle, his front pressed against my back. “Thanks for letting us stay over and for making breakfast,” he murmured against the ticklish skin there, kissing the back of my neck.
It felt like my heart had swelled inside my chest until it was about to break free. Ryan and Karla were filling it with what I hadn’t even known I wanted until I found them on the hill behind my home. And now that I’d had a taste of this, I didn’t want to let them go. But would they let me keep them?
Would it be moving too fast to tell Ryan to cancel the appointment he made with a real estate agent today and move in with me instead? We could turn the guest room into a paradise of yellow flowers and puppy dogs, or anything that Karla wanted. And Ryan could make himself at home in my bed.
I knew full well that Karla didn’t sleep well without Ryan, but I could wait until she was ready to sleepalone. I’d be there every step of the way, as long as they allowed me to be.
I spun around, made sure that Karla was still distracted and not looking our way, then kissed all the words I couldn’t say onto those sexy lips. Ryan made a surprised ‘oomph,’ then quickly melted into my arms right where he was supposed to be.
After a quick breakfast, I carried Karla to the car while Ryan grabbed their bags. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go view the apartments with you?” I asked, studying how Ryan strapped Karla into the booster seat. She was patient even as he double and triple checked the seat belt, probably used to the routine by now.
“You should go have fun with your friends instead of spending all your time with us,” he replied and turned to me when he confirmed Karla was securely buckled.
“But I like spending time with both of you,” I muttered.
Karla giggled, and Ryan laughed and patted my cheek. “Go to brunch. I’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing you and Lily soon.”
Lily, hearing her name, stood from where she was waiting by our feet and wagged her tail. Karla reached her hands out, and Lily immediately propped herself up against the car to let Karla pet her. I smiled at how in sync these best buddies were.
“Fine, but just know Lily and I will be missing you here. Text me when you get home,” I said, then pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
I laughed at seeing how the innocent kiss made Ryan more flustered than when he was doing way more indecent things with me last night.
Not leaving Karla out, I plopped a kiss on the top of her head. Lily and I watched as the car drove off and waited there until they disappeared behind the trees.
“Guess it’s just you and me now,” I said to my dog.
She whimpered, sounding just as dejected as I was about them leaving. I laughed and gave her a good rubdown before asking if she wanted to go on a walk. The words perked her right up. She bounced inside the cabin and used her mouth to grab the leash I had hanging by the door and brought it out to me.
I laughed again, smothered her with hugs and kisses, then leashed her up for a quick walk through the trails. My steps were lighter after Ryan texted me, reporting they’d made it home safe.
Afterward, I cleaned us both up and drove us to Hector’s to meet up with my friends.
Ryker and Sam were seated at a table outside the diner with ice-cold water already set out. The summer sun wasn’t at its peak yet, and under the shade of the large umbrellas, it would make for a nice brunch outside.
I greeted them both with hugs and whispers of thanks. I knew my friends had chosen outdoor seating since I’d been bringing Lily everywhere with me.
They laughed and said it worked out perfectly since they were able to bring Gray with them as well. It wasonly then that I noticed the sleeping cat lying on Ryker’s lap. The boy was just as clingy as I remembered, though it looked like their walks had him finally losing some weight. Gray didn’t look as rotund as before.
