“Do you want to read it for me, or would you like me to read it to you?”
“I’ll read it. I don’t think we have this one at home,” she ponders, her pointer finger on her chin as she thinks. I smile, nodding my head.
Sienna reads the book. I’m watching her the entire time, thinking about how she is the perfect blend of Melody and who I’m assuming is her father. Her dark brown hair is in a plaited braid, and she has long eyelashes that most women would do anything for to have naturally. Believe me, I would. Instead, I deal with a blow dryer, an eyelash curler, primer, and mascara. It’s so not fair. She has an olive tone to her skin yet still has rose-colored cheeks while she gets flustered with a word every now and then. I allow her the time to sound it out, not rushing her or taking over.
“There you go!” I clap my hands, giving her praise. The smile she gives me says it all. Sienna gets back to reading, both of us lost in what she’s doing until she says, “The End,” and we hear clapping coming from the doorway.
Sienna places her book on the shelf before darting off towards the man I not only didn’t think I’d see again, but who is also not for me. Not that I can blame Melody. He’s a tall drink of water. I refuse to catalogue further everything he is.
“Uncle Ry-Ry!” Sienna greets him, which has me sucking in a gulp of air. No freaking way, I think to myself. There’s no way that he’s Sienna’s uncle. I didn’t allow myself to think about him for the past month—not the way he seemed to hold me even after I had stopped choking, not the way he squeezed my hip, multiple times, and definitely not about how adamant he was about me being taken care of.
“How’s my favorite niece?” he questions. That’s when I take him in. He’s tall, taller than my five-foot-six-inch frame, even with the highest heels I had on that night.
“Uncle Ryder, I’m your only niece, silly.” He picks her up, holding Sienna under her booty, making sure nothing is showing under the floral dress she’s wearing today. My eyes drink up everything that is Ryder and just how fine he is, and I mean that with a capital F, I, N, E. I’m feeling the need to FaceTime with all the girls tonight. If not all of them, then definitely Aspen. The men in Texas sure are made differently than back home. Ryder’s hair is on the short side, buzzed and cropped close to the top. His angular jaw and chiseled high cheekbones are the whole package. And clearly, Sienna carries Melody and Ryder’s genes when it comes to those deep brown eyes of theirs. The fitted navy-blue shirt he is wearing outlines his muscular chest and arms, tapered waist, slim-fitting jeans, and I’m definitely thinking about the bulge I felt against me not so long ago. Well-worn boots pull his outfit together.
“Give me a few minutes with your teacher, princess,” Ryder tells her.
“Sure, I can read another book, but then you owe me a snack, plus grocery shopping,” Sienna barters.
“Like I could ever deny you those requests.” They meet each other’s foreheads, a silent answer for them both. He places Sienna on her feet, then she’s scurrying past me to the book nook. Ryder looks at me, something playing on his face, but I’m not sure what. What I know as well as I know myself is that this man is going to be my downfall. The way he looks, how he carries himself, how he interacts with his niece. Yep, I’m done for, I think the entire time as he saunters towards me, all while I’m trying to regain my composure.FourRyderFuck, she’s even more beautiful than the last time I saw her. She might be covered up literally from neck to ankle, but that doesn’t stop my eyes from roaming over every square inch of her body. Her hazel eyes gave off every emotion, lust, need, and then the one I hated the most—defeat. I’m not exactly sure why she had that written on her face when I held Sienna in my arms, but if that’s a deal breaker for her, it would really fucking suck.
“I guess we should formally meet.” My body is already moving towards hers.
“We should. I’m Berkley Jennings.” Her face is soft now, showing me the slight dusting of freckles that have no rhyme or reason, dotting her face here and there.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ryder Price, Sienna’s uncle.” She purses her lips. I’m thinking she had something else playing through her mind.
“Oh, of course you are. I mean, she ran right into your arms and called you Uncle Ry. I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together sooner. She’s a very bright young girl.” I can see she’s nervous. My eyes move to Si. She’s firmly entrenched in her book, giving me the opportunity to stake my claim on Berkley.