I chuckled. “I figured as much, but I actually had a nice time. I haven’t laughed like that in ages, and to be fair, they didn’t go rogue until you arrived back. Between you and me, I don’t know how Tap copes with Will. The guy is...” I hesitated, searching for the right word.
“Utterly adorable?” Ryder offered. “Along with scheming, stubborn, kind, generous, too smart for his own good, and a tornado in a bottle.”
Which made me laugh. “Absolutely. All of those. Come on.” I headed for the kitchen. “It’s almost nine, and I’m famished. Weeding sure takes it out of you.” I turned in the doorway to see why he wasn’t following and stopped dead in my tracks at the stricken look on his face.
I stabbed a finger toward his face. “Now, that right there is a dead giveaway. Come on. Out with it. I know damn well I fucked up in that garden somehow, and if you don’t tell me how, I’m going to continue the good work tomorrow.”
Ryder’s mouth dropped open in undisguised horror.
I grinned and shook my head. “I was only kidding. Come on. You can tell me over dinner.” I crooked my finger and he smiled and followed, the proverbial lamb to the slaughter. I figured that made two of us. Two men dancing around each other like they didn’t want to jump each other’s bones in a heartbeat.
The two of us moved around the kitchen like we’d been doing it for years. I made the salad while Ryder put the leftover lasagna in the air fryer to heat. Ryder called Ziggy into the laundry where I’d already poured some kibble into his bowl. I filled a fresh tui nectar feeder and handed it to Ryder to hang up. And we both set the table.
When everything was ready, we sat down to eat. The conversation began with replaying the visit by Will and Naomi, but when I finally pressed Ryder on the garden, he baulked at an answer until I threatened him with my fork. On learning the truth, I was mortified and couldn’t stop apologising.
That’s when Ryder’s hand landed on mine and I fell into those beautiful blue eyes. “I love that you wanted to help,” he said, his thumb trailing fire across the back of my hand. “And I love that you really put yourself out there to try something new. You don’t have to apologise for that.”
“But it’s yourgarden, Ryder,” I insisted. “Your pride and joy. Your passion. And... I... I... fuck... I’m such a screw-up with practical things like that. Any normal person would know how to weed, for fuck’s sake. I told you, killing plants is my superpower.” I fell back in my chair and stared over his shoulder to where the garden was lit in the soft grey light of a half-moon hanging in a clear sky. “I’m sorry. I should’ve checked with you first. I just wanted to surprise you. After everything you’ve done for me?—”
“Enough with the apologies.” He squeezed my hand, then turned it over and threaded our fingers together. It felt warm and steadying and so fucking good. “Look at it this way. You’ve given me a reason to overhaul the whole thing, which is really a gift.”
I pulled a face. “Don’t be nice. I fucked up.”
He smiled and squeezed my hand. “You are way more important than any garden or a few seedlings that I can easily replace.” Blue eyes drilled into mine. “I care about the fact that you wanted to do something to surprise me. Honestly, I’m touched.”
I pouted. “You didn’t look all that touchedin the hallway. You looked like someone stole your favourite candy. And if you’reabout to tell me that I’m your favourite candy, I might have to hit you.”
He laughed. “Then I won’t say it. But I meant what I said about working with you on something next weekend. If you really are going to head back to Wellington, then I’ll take Saturday off, and we can mess about around the cottage all weekend.”
I cocked a brow. “Define mess about?”
He smirked. “You’re such a tease.”
It wasn’t something I’d been called often in my life, but being with Ryder seemed to free that side of me, which hadn’t seen a lot of daylight in the past. Judd had always been the tease. I was the steady one. Teasing had never been my assigned role and Judd didn’t much like it when I tried.
“Hey.” Ryder squeezed my hand again. “You disappeared there for a minute.”
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Good.” He freed my hand and leaned back in his chair. “Then go put something on your feet and come with me. I want to show you something.”
“Show me what?” It came out deeply suspicious and Ryder snorted in amusement.
He pushed back his chair and stood. “You’ll have to wait and see. Ziggy, you’re staying here. Thaddeus, get your jandals. I’ll grab a flashlight and some towels.”
His words stopped me in my tracks. “Why do we need towels?”
He huffed. “You wanted to see the swimming hole, right?”
I thought about the watery maelstrom I’d sat beside just a week ago and narrowed my eyes. “See? Definitely. Swim? Are you out of your damn mind? It’s pitch-black out there, and what I’ve seen of that river is hardly reassuring. In case you haven’tnoticed, I’m not one of life’s natural athletes. How do I know you won’t throw me in?
Ryder shot me an indulgent smile. “It’s not pitch-black. There’s a half-moon out there, and I promise I won’t coerce you or throw you in. But I’ll take an extra towel, just in case.”
I huffed. “Fine. So long as we’re clear.”
He smiled again. “Crystal.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
