Page 85 of Rear View
I turned the screen her way. “How you feel about meetin’ her now?”
Eyes widening, she smoothed out the material of her dress, and I couldn’t stop my damn stare from following when she grazed those flawless breasts. She took a steadying breath. “I’d love to.”
Her gaze flicked down to how her body mounted mine. She sucked in a gasp, and scrambled off my lap.
I laughed, then leaned back and draped an arm over the leather sofa behind her, my knee touching her thigh as I lined up the camera, then accepted the video call.
“Hey, Ma!” I said.
She sat at her kitchen table, the sound of the ocean filtering in. Her head cocked, blonde hair down as hergaze tracked from me to Ryah and back. Her brows shot up her forehead and her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. Is this her?”
I tugged Ryah tighter to my side. “Yeah. This is her.”
Ryah’s face turned that pretty shade of pink as she smiled. “Hi there.”
Ma’s eyes watered as she sniffed, then frantically combed her fingers over her hair and scolded, “Xavier Axel Bosch! You could have told me we’d have company on this call.”
I huffed a laugh while, beside me, Ryah ducked her head to hide her own.
Fussing with her clothes a few more seconds, Ma shook her head and swiped at a tear. “She’s gorgeous, sweetheart.” Her attention moved to dream girl. “You should know, you’re special to him, Ryah. My son’s never introduced me to anyone he’s seen before.”
Ryah’s gaze rose to mine, a question in her eyes.“Is that true?”
Seeing my ma was too damn vulnerable, I’d never been comfortable doing it. But with Ryah, it was just…different.
My lip tugged up as I gave her a wink.
She tucked tighter into my side, her small, warm hand landing over my stomach.
“What else is new, dear? Tell me everything!”
I tensed, my visit from Castillo shooting to the front of my mind.
Ryah’s fingers traced a soft line down my abs. A message, letting me know she was there. And fuck if it didn’t help.
I dropped my arm from the back of the couch andlocked it around her waist, readying. The time had come. “Hey, Ma.” My stare found hers. “There’s something I need to tell ya.” My hold flexed against Ryah. “It’s about Dad.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Ryah
The pub was conveniently located across the street from the hotel, a fact that made walking in my heels infinitely easier. They were pretty, but built for comfort, they were not.
The place was noisy, but the upbeat kind. A band played in the far corner, and there was a small dance floor in the middle. The walls were dark-stained wood, the old sort, with nicks and names carved into them from patrons of years past. The air was warm and thick with the scent of fried foods and alcohol. The surrounding booths and tables were mostly filled with the team, who were still riding their high off the stages from earlier.
Xavier, me, Alec and Sheila stood at the bar, chatting and watching the crowd while we waited to order.
The bartender tapped the counter. “What can I getcha?”
Leaning in, Xavier set his mouth to my ear. “What would you like, darlin’?”
A warm shiver ran up my spine as I bit my lip. I pressed closer. “A vodka cranberry,” I declared, my tonehigh with an entirely disproportionate amount of enthusiasm.
He ordered, and the drinks arrived right away. I drank the first one quickly, so he ordered a second on the heels of it.
Sheila wiggled closer, taking up post on my other side. “Us girls need to stick together.”
I clanked my glass to hers. “How’re the wedding plans going?”
