Page 95 of Call Sign: King
“Thanks, man. That means a lot to me that you trust me with the job.”
“I trust you with way more than that.” Looking down at his wife sleeping in his arms, Ryder added, “I trust you with my life.”
The door closed and Torch started the drive back to the Condor.
Ryder announced to the team traveling with them the words he’d been dying to say for the last few hours.
“Let’s go home.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
RYDER
The following Sunday…
He’d filled the mug too full. Doing his best not to spill coffee all over the bedroom rug, Ryder slowly made his way to the ensuite bathroom he shared with his wife at The Ranch.
A wall of steam greeted him as soon as he opened the door, proof Khloe had already been in there too long.
“Have you turned into a prune yet?” he called out, setting her hot coffee on the counter next to the long row of expensive lotions, oils, and potions she lathered on morning and night.
“Not quite, but close,” she called. Opening the sliding glass door to the shower, she peeked out at him, her hair still covered in the deep conditioner she used as often as possible.
“The scabs on my knees finally fell off. It felt great to finally be able to shave my legs again.”
Leaning his ass against the bathroom counter, Ryder crossed his arms over his chest and grinned.
“Thank goodness,” he teased. “I was getting worried about you letting yourself go.”
“Ha ha,” Khloe said, smiling back. “Don’t just stand there. Get undressed and join me.”
“I already took my shower, sleepyhead. You were sleeping so nicely, I couldn’t bear to wake you.”
“And I appreciate that, but I’m awake now and more importantly, I’m finally done with my period.”
Laughing, Ryder answered. “Since when does that make a difference? I’ve taken care of you many times this week without that stopping me.”
“True, but you know it’s always more fun when we don’t have to work around tampons and the mess.”
Ryder pushed up, ready to undress and have some fun. “Baby, I’ll take any chance I can get to play with that body of yours.”
Ryder’s phone ringing in his pocket interrupted his undressing. He recognized the ring tone. Hesitating, he’d been waiting for the call.
“What?” Khloe’s face fell, adding. “Is it bad news?” when she noticed he’d stopped undressing.
“Not at all. In fact, I’m hoping it’s good news, but I do need to call back to find out.”
“Fine, but I’m not happy about this. Are you still gonna go for a bike ride with me around the lake this afternoon?”
“Absolutely. Allie and Thunder already got Sunday brunch started for the whole gang. Finish up in here while I make my call. I’ll meet you for lunch downstairs in a half hour and then we can find the bikes after we eat.”
Khloe’s eyes lit up with that sunshine she carried around inside her. He was so grateful Vlad hadn’t extinguished that light.
He was almost out of the bathroom when Khloe called out to his back. “Tell Santa Clause hi and ask him to hug Maggie and the kids for me.”
Glancing back, he found his wife grinning. “What? I recognize his ring tone too.”
Of course she did.
