Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
I look around for Casey. “Where's Casey?"
He blushes. “She left with her family... but she gave me her number."
I put my hands to my mouth. “Oh, Brock."
He rolls his eyes. “Don't make it weird, Mom."
I suck in a breath. Right. I gotta be cool. “Sorry."
As we get into the SUV, Brock and Ryker talk the whole way home. We're unloading the tree when Brock's phone rings.
He looks at it. “It’s Dad."
"Go ahead and answer it. We got this."
He walks over to the porch to talk, and Ryker picks the tree up. I run up to the house and unlock the door. "Ryker, I can help you carry it."
He just keeps walking, tree on his shoulder. It's like I have my very own lumberjack.
We are getting the tree set up when Brock comes in.
"Mom?"
"Down here," I call from under the tree. I was setting the base for it to stand on.
“Dad wants me to come to his apartment."
I stand up. “Sure, we can do the tree trimming and the movie tomorrow night.”
He looks at me, unsure. “But we were going to decorate the tree and watch Christmas Vacation."
I keep the smile on my face. I know Brock wants to see his dad. It's been weeks, and he's missed all his games. “It's fine. We can do it tomorrow night."
Brock looks over at Ryker. “Is tomorrow night okay with you?"
Ryker looks surprised to be included but nods his head. “Yeah, tomorrow is fine with me."
Brock looks back at me. "Mom, are you sure?"
I laugh. "Honey, I'm sure. I'll be fine." I look over at Ryker. “We can grab dinner or watch a movie."
Ryker's eyes darken, letting me know exactly what he wants to do later. But he sounds all innocent when he talks to Brock. “Don't worry about your Mom. I'm going to feed her dinner and try to convince her why we should be together."
"Ryker!" I say.
Brock laughs. He's running to his room, hollering over his shoulder, "Okay, I'm going to pack a bag."
It's not thirty minutes later and Brock is running out the door to meet his dad. I stay inside, not wanting to get Allen riled up.
"You okay?" Ryker asks.
I nod. “Yeah, I'm okay."
He grabs my hand and pulls me over to the couch. He sits down and then pulls me to his lap. I laugh and lean into him.
He rubs my back. “What do you think? You want the Peddler for dinner?"
I open my mouth and then close it, but Ryker is not having it. "What is it? Would you rather have something else? I can eat anything."
I bite my lower lip and look into his eyes. I'm not sure how to do this, but what I want is to be with Ryker. I don't know what he's going to think, but if everything he's said is true, then he should be good with it.
"Uh, I think I want to order in... later." His eyebrows lift, and his hand stops caressing my back.
“Okay." He's searching my eyes, and I know I can't do this looking at him, so I lean my head against his chest and start to ramble.
“Gah, this is embarrassing, but life as a single mom—well, there's never alone time, and well, I've learned you gotta take full advantage when you have it. I usually open a bottle of wine, take a bubble bath, and read a book, but..." I let my voice trail off.
Ryker shifts underneath of me and clears his throat. “Uh, so you want to read a book? Is that what you're saying?"
Oh my gosh, I'm messing this up. I lift my head and look into his eyes. "No, I'm not saying that."
He slowly breathes in. "What are you saying?"
I lick my lips. "I'm saying that I want you, Ry... I mean if you want me."
His body shudders around me. "If I want you? Baby, I never stopped wanting you."
I put my hand to his cheek. "And I don't want to wait."
I don't know which of us leans in first, but as soon as our lips touch, my body comes alive.
The kiss is everything, but I want more. I pull away, panting.
I stand up, and with butterflies in my stomach, and I start to undress. He watches my every move.
I kick off my shoes and pull off my socks. Then I grab the button of my jeans, unsnap them, and then slip them down my legs.
I remind myself that this is the same man I lost my virginity to. He's the same man that cherished me and made me feel like I was the most loved woman in the world.
I reach for the hem of my Christmas sweater and pull it over my head. Standing in front of him in only my bra and underwear, I let my hands hang to my sides and wait.