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I jumped up to meet him. It was then I noticed he was carrying what looked like a comforter he had ripped off his bed, and a bottle of wine and some paper cups, with his guitar case slung across his back. This was my Ryder. My Ryder was sexy too, wearing a plaid button-down that was undone enough to give me a peek at my name across his heart. And those jeans. Oh Mylanta. I refrained from fanning myself, but I surely felt the heat.
“Hey, darlin’,” he held up the bottle of wine, “I brought a taste of home.”
I loved strawberry wine, and even though it meant breaking the no sugar rule twice tonight, first with champagne, I knew Emma would understand. This was for a worthy cause. So maybe I wouldn’t tell her. I knew she could think of several worthy causes to drink Dr. Pepper.
I planted myself right in front of him and stood on my tiptoes. “This is my favorite taste of home.” I skimmed his lips.
“I hope you are planning to indulge tonight,” he whispered in my ear, sending ripples of shivers down me.
I took the wine and cups out of his hands. “Deeply,” I promised.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Where to?”
“The lake?” he suggested.
“I have a better, more private place we can go.”
“Lead the way, darlin’.”
I held the bottle and cups in one hand so I could take one of his. Every time our fingers interlocked, I felt myself bleed into him until it was like we were one. I guided him toward the road that led to Shannon’s Meadow. I knew Emma and Sawyer wouldn’t mind if we made ourselves cozy among the tall grass and wildflowers back behind their temporary housing and their new housing that was being constructed next door. Last time I had been down this way the frame was mostly up.
I looked up at the clear sky and the millions of stars. The stars didn’t shine this brightly in Georgia. “Nice night,” I teased.
“No more using that word,” he growled.
I laughed and leaned into him. “I’m glad you came back.”
“Me too. Where are you taking me, by the way?”
“To a little piece of heaven on earth.”
He pulled me closer to him. “I’m already there, Shelby.”
He had me so choked up a reply escaped me. That was okay; in the silence I felt the truth of what he said and it was better than any old words. I was happy to see the lights were off in the King house and some progress had been made on their new home. It was now the proud owner of a roof. We carefully traipsed through the meadow toward the pond where there was a clearing we could nestle into. The pond didn’t have the stark beauty of the lake, but it possessed a tranquil loveliness.
Ryder picked the perfect spot to spread out the comforter, not far from the water’s edge. He carefully laid his guitar down before helping me sit. He settled next to me and I leaned my head on his shoulder, looking out at the tiny ripples in the pool of water. A sweet sigh escaped me.
“Do you like living here?” Ryder asked.
“I never thought I would, but I do. I especially love the summers here. No June bugs.” I laughed.
He joined me. “I still remember the night you got one caught in your hair. I’ve never heard someone scream so loud.”
“They make an awful noise and you were laughing too hard to get it out.”
“You were such a city girl.”
“I’m finding I like small town life.”
“Do you now?” He pulled me onto his lap.
I snuggled right into him. “I like it a whole lot better now that you’re here.”
His arms tightened around me. “Do you plan to stay in Carrington Cove?”
I let out a heavy breath of disappointment. “That was the plan, but the house I was planning on buying is now out of my reach.” I’d spoken to Mr. Jacobsen yesterday. He apologized, but his children convinced him to strike while the iron was hot and that it would be easier to sell in the summer. I couldn’t blame him.
“That little yellow thing you showed Bobby Jay?”
“Why do you say it like that?”
“It doesn’t seem like your style, and you weren’t all that keen to live in my little house.”
“You know it wasn’t the house. I loved your place. It was the commute, and I wanted something more than a Piggly Wiggly to shop at.”
He chuckled. “Carrington Cove does seem to have more of a selection.”
That it did. “I love that little yellow house. It has charm and a big backyard for babies.”
He nuzzled my neck. “You plan on having those babies by yourself?”
“If I have to,” I stuttered out. Ryder was making it hard to breathe.
“I could give you some options,” he groaned against my ear.
