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“Take your pick. I think every single one of those fuckers is sitting there waiting for breakfast.”
Slowly what he was trying to tell me dawns. “Every single one?”
He nods. “Every single one. Every single person who lives in this godforsaken town. I swear, I moved here after I retired thinking I’d found people like me—vets, truckers, bikers. People who know how to mind their own fucking business. But no, turns out I moved into the middle of a fucking sorority. Fuckers gossip worse than any bunch of bitches I ever met. I swear to fucking God, if one more of those assholes—”
“Ted, Ted...stop!” I hold my hands up and don’t know if I should cry or laugh. “Are you saying there are customers waiting at the diner right now?”
“Customers, my ass.” He snorts all flustered. “Bunch of busybodies, every last one of them. But yup, every last person in town showed up for breakfast today.”
Alarm starts moving through me. “So, you’re telling me the diner is full of customers and the only two employees of the diner are up here? In my bedroom?”
“Yep. That’s what I’ve been trying to fucking say.” Ted’s impatient gaze moves to Ryder. “Since you’re the one who entertained our girl and is keeping her hostage, I’m making you responsible for getting her up and dressed and down to the diner before those shitheads tear the place apart. I left Theo pouring coffee for everyone, but God help us all if he decides to try his hand at cooking. Whole fucking state of Vermont will be in flames.”
With that Ted turns on his heel and marches out of the apartment, slamming the front door with a disgruntled bang behind him.
My shoulders start quaking as I hear him stomping down the stairs. I turn my gaze to Ryder. “So, that was Ted.”
Ryder bursts out laughing, his whole deliciously naked body shaking with it. Happiness bubbles up fast and furious inside me watching him. I still can’t believe my Ryder is here and in my bed. I never thought I’d see the day.
I get the sense laughter and joy are not Ryder’s typical default mode anymore. So I doubly enjoy watching as he lets his mirth break free.
Three days.I give myself the sharp reminder, not for the first time since Ryder and I came to our agreement. I can’t get too attached, can’t allow myself to feel too many emotions for the man I once loved. He’s going back to his big corporate world Monday and I’ll stay back as the small- town country bumpkin. Our worlds no longer mix.
Sure, I’m lucky fate threw him in my path, but I know it’s only temporary. And I’m not going to make the mistake of losing my heart to him again. Fool me once...
I slip out of bed and over to the dresser. I nab panties, a bra and slide into them. My gaze wanders over to Ryder as I snatch a t-shirt out of a drawer.
Naked and stretched out across my bed like it’s the place he’s been waking up every day for ten years. He rests his cheek on his fist, his elbow buried in the bed, and watches me get dressed with a small smile playing over his lips.
I try not to feel self-conscious with his eyes on me as I pull on my shirt.
As I straighten it, I notice his smile grows wider. A quick glance down shows me the orange t-shirt I blindly picked has a graphic of a car and a wrench that readsI might be a mechanic but I can’t fix stupid.
Ugh. Wasn’t I just super sexy?
I roll my eyes, yank the shirt off and opt for another one; purple this time with Kandy’s Diner across the front in a splash of orange. With his heated eyes tracking me, I reach for a black skater skirt from my closet. Probably too late to worry about looking like a supermodel at this point. I mean, I was wearing a wedding dress the first time he saw me, and that didn’t seem to deter him.
I flick my eyes over to him as I sit in the chair by my window and pull on socks and boots. At least these are cute with a sexy zipper up the side. Nothing like the big city girls with their fancier clothing choices, but it will have to do.
I squint a little as I try to imagine just what kind of woman he usually dates. I mean, he is handsome but still rough around the edges. I can only imagine his days in the Marines only helped make those edges a little more jagged. But he is gentle with me, caring even. But there has always been something about him that makes it clear most women would be more than happy to drop their panties around him.
Case in point. Me. Ten years gone and less than three hours back in town and I hand over my virginity on a silver platter.
I hurry into the bathroom to untangle my hair and brush my teeth. I have to get my head out of the clouds and remember I have things to do that have nothing to do with the man in my bed.
I dash back into the bedroom to find Ryder sitting on the side of the bed in a clean pair of jeans and pulling on a black Henley over his head that clings to every groove and bump.
God what a delicious morsel of eye candy.
I shake my head. “Sorry I have to head out so quickly and that we didn’t get to finish,” I offer as I step past him. I think better of it and step back over to him. I stand between his thighs and place my hands on his shoulders before leaning down to give him a good morning kiss. I made it quick, thinking of what might be happening to my diner right this minute, but I enjoy the heck out of it. I might need to remind myself not to fall for this man, but that doesn’t mean I can’t indulge myself a little for the next day.
Ryder’s hands come to rest on my hips, and he gives them a squeeze as he kisses me back, obviously as intent as I am to enjoy every second. After a minute, I reluctantly pull back. “I’ve got to go make sure my diner’s still standing. If you get hungry, come down and I’ll fix you breakfast. Otherwise, I’ll see you later—”
Before I got my last word out, Ryder stands, forcing me to take a step back. I tilt my head to look up at him, squinting in confusion.
Strong arms pull me into his muscular body and pin me in place, those dark eyes of his holding my gaze.
“I’m going with you. Wait for me. I just need to wash up the beard and clean up real quick.”
