AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ryder tugs me into his side. “Looks like I got here just in time, Beautiful. Isn’t life funny as hell.”
His arm tightens around my shoulders, and his other hand comes up to gently tilt my face up to his. “Look at me.” He pauses like he’s searching for something before saying, “Just in time, baby.” He lowers his lips to press against mine in a sweet way you see in those holiday movies. Not burning or too-hot-to-handle, but just right to warm a girl all the way down to her toes on a cold autumn day.
Fear that he can see everything I am feeling—the love, the lust, the hope—if he looks in my eyes surges through me.
“It’s okay, Beautiful. I need you, too.” His words are gentle and his eyes convey so much more.
My lips part as my breath leaves me in a rush. I stare at him in confusion as I try not to hope too hard. “What—what are you saying? You’re leaving this afternoon. That was the deal we made, Ryder.”
“I think it’s time we reopen negotiations. Let’s start with me sticking around here a little longer than planned. You’ve failed to comply with pie so I’m going to give you another opportunity to try out all the flavors on me. I saw the new menu options you want to add. I’m not too fond of blueberry, but I’m willing to try again as long as it’s made by you.”
I blink up at him, equally eager to have him stay and terrified if he does I'll be completely lost. “How much longer do I get for all this pie baking? And what do I get out of this deal other than time in the kitchen? This all seems a little one-sided if you ask me.”
“How about forever? And you get everything in my power to give you—me, a home, my name...” He pauses and places one large, warm hand on my belly. “A family.”
My breath sticks in my chest and I blink back tears. “You want to stay forever? With me?”
“Who else, Beautiful? I love you. I think I’ve loved you since that first kiss back in grade school when you gave me your piece of pie your momma packed special just for you.”
“Pumpkin. Oh my god, I forgot about that.”
“It’s been my favorite ever since.” He strokes my cheek with the back of his thumb.
“You love me?” My voice is a whisper filled with the wonder at his words.
“Who else can make me laugh like you do? Make me crazy like you do? Make me want to fuck you even when you’re making me crazy?”
“Don’t mind me,” Tommy breaks in from behind Ryder.
Oh my God.I totally forgot we are not alone. Hell, I think I forgot my own name there for a minute.
But Ryder isn’t done. “So what do you say, Kandy? Do we have a deal? You and me? Forever?”
I stare into his dark eyes and see everything he feels for me as plain as day. And deep inside them, I see our future. Together.
“We have a deal,” I whisper, solemn as any vow.
“Should we seal it with a kiss?” he asks, his voice tinged with laughter and mischief. “Oh, no. I remember what happened last time you made a deal. I’m not falling for that again.” I wink at him. “At least not with an audience. What kind of girl do you think I am?”
And with that, he scoops me into his arms. “You’re my girl. Later, Tommy. I’ll leave you to take out the trash and lock up for us? We have a cozy fire waiting back at the apartment and some pumpkin pie in the fridge.”
“Can we try the new whipped cream I made?”
“You know we will, baby, as long as I get to eat my Kandy.”
Epilogue One
Ryder, three years later
Iease into the house as quietly as I can. I drop my helmet on a chair in the living room and shrug out of my black coat with its reflective yellow stripes. I turn off the lamp on the table by the stairs before heading up. Kandy always leaves that light on for me if she goes to bed before I get home.
On the landing, I turn left and move through the dark hallway. Thankfully, I don’t get home after bedtime too often. I was usually here to help put our two-year-old son to bed with Kandy. I push the door to his room open and stand over his crib. I lean down and smile, still in awe that I helped create something so tiny and amazing. He sleeps with his head turned, fist in his mouth, his little rump sticking up. I rest my hand on his back and in the light from the moonlight, watch him sleep for long moments as I feel his tiny chest moving up and down with each breath.
Kandy teases me mercilessly about this habit. I can’t help it. I have two of the most precious creatures in the world in my care. I learned in the last years that my protective streak runs deep.
I tug a light cover over my son and gently move my fingers over the dark curl at the nape of his neck before I make my way to my own bedroom door, thinking how Kandy would really giggle if she knew I did the same thing to her some nights while I watched her sleep.
I knew I loved her from the moment I stepped back into Pineville and laid eyes on her all dolled up for a wedding that never happened.
