I’ve only been in Virginia Beach for a month. I’ve spent the better part of it feeling alone and sleeping on a couch. And now? In the course of just a few hours, I have a home. God, it feels like forever since I’ve been able to call someplace home.
“Welcome home, Ember.” Amelia smiles.
Ryder follows suit. “Yeah, welcome home, Ember.”
Amelia’s arms wrap around my legs in a tight hug. Christ, I hope Ryder doesn’t jump in. I don’t think I could hold it together if I felt his arms around me again.
“Why don’t we give Ember some time to settle in?” Ryder suggests, with his hands on Amelia’s shoulders, trying to guide her from the room.
“No, really, it’s okay. “
“Yay. See, Daddy. Can we watch a movie? I want to see Encanto? Can we, Daddy? You promised.”
“I’m in if you are,” I say.
“Okay, but I’m making the popcorn.”
“Only if you put extra butter on it.”
“Is there any other way?” he asks, looking at me like I’m a crazy person.
“Let me just take my bag to my room,” I say. I head toward the living room and grab my bag. Ryder appears at my side, his hand reaching for the bag as well. “That’s not necessary.”
“Drop it,” he orders me.
His commanding voice makes my thighs clench so bad, all I want to do is disobey him. Something tells me his punishments won’t be anything like Devlin’s. Christ, the man exudes sex appeal. Eyes locked, we wage war, each gripping the handle of the suitcase.
“Ember.”
“Ryder.”
“Hey, Amelia,” he calls out.
I let go of the handle and turn to face the little girl—who is nowhere to be seen. Ryder now has a firm grip on my suitcase and a pleased grin on his face.
“Oh, this isn’t over.”
“Really?” He starts up the stairs. “Looks like it is to me.”
“Is this going to be a problem?” I ask as we ascend the stairs.
“Is what going to be a problem?”
“You and me.” When he faces me, I’m standing in the hallway, hands on my hips.
“I’m not sure what you mean.” He may not be sure, but I know exactly where his mind is going. To us. To our night together.
I take a step toward him and poke his chest and immediately regret the decision. The feel of the muscle beneath his clothes is even better than I remembered and that was only my finger. My mind wanders to what my hand would feel, even my body. I pull my mind from the glorious gutter of envisioning Ryder’s naked body and return to our fun banter.
“You, picking on me.”
“Picking on you, huh?” Ryder steps into my bedroom, his laughter floating through the air.
“Yep. If we continue down this path…” I shake my head.
“Then what?” Ryder’s voice is huskier, and it makes my body tingle.
“There’s going to be trouble.” The statement sounds innocent enough, but we both know the feelings behind them make them mean so much more.