“Me too,” I admit. “I work until noon and then have afternoon classes, but I’ll be free at six o'clock.” I’m done playing hard to get. Now, I’m ready to jump into this relationship with Mr. High and Mighty.
“I’ll drive you to school,” Ryker insists. “And pick you up when you’re done.” The determined look in his blue eyes tells me resisting is futile.
“Okay.” His eyes widen when I agree easily. “It’s a win-win for me. I get to see you and I don’t have to take public transportation.” Zippy gave up the ghost at the most inopportune time, and I’ve been dealing with a double whammy when it comes to getting her fixed. I’m both too busy and too poor to take my little car to the auto shop, so taking the city bus has been my only option.
“I’ll drive you from now on.” His firm declaration leaves no room for argument.
“What about your meeting?” I’ve been dying to know what super spy stuff went down yesterday, but he isn’t spilling. “Is everything okay?” God, I hope he isn’t leaving town soon.
“It’s nothing for you to worry about.” Ryker kisses me one more time. “I’m going to be working.” He points at the tiny reception area with two sofas and two chairs across the lobby from us. “Right over there.”
It ends up being the longest work shift on record. Watching Ryker pretend to work while he watches me pretend to work is an endless exercise in frustration.
By the time we finally walk out to his rental, I’m drained. After helping me into the large truck and hooking my seatbelt, Ryker rushes around the front of the truck and hops in next to me. His spicy scent fills the interior of the vehicle, causing my lady bits to wake up. “My sister and brother-in-law would like us to have dinner at their house tomorrow night.” That cools my jets a little. Meeting family is such a big step. I might have met his twin, but I consider that an “accidental” run-in. Ryker takes my hand and places a soft kiss across my knuckles as he drives through the small town. “I want you to meet my little sister.”
Swallowing, I glance over at him. “Okay.” There’s no way I can tell him no. I’m all in. Ryker already owns me, heart and soul.
* * *
As Ryker drives down the winding road, I stare out the window watching the tall trees fly by the truck windows. “So, your sister has triplets?” Oh, man. “Do multiples run in your family?” After all his talk about knocking me up, I’m suddenly worried Mr. High and Mighty is an overachiever.
“Yep.” He glances over at me. “I can’t let my little sister get one up on me, so we need at least quadruplets.” Oh, heck no. He’s lost his freaking mind.
“I hope you’re joking,” I sputter. The smirking smile on his face tells me Ryker is pulling my leg.
“I want to see you carrying my child.” Ryker turns serious. “As long as I have you, I’ll be happy with however many children we have.” He has the power to turn me to mush at the drop of a hat. I’m in so much trouble here.
After he parks in front of the large two-story house, I take several calming breaths and watch him walk around the truck. I rub my sweaty palms over my sweater dress, trying to calm my nerves. “Don’t worry. My family is going to love you as much as I do,” he tells me, and the words echo around my mind for several seconds while I wonder if he really means it.
“I fucking love you.” Well, that doesn’t leave any room for interpretation.
I glance out the window and see his family watching from the front porch and smack his shoulder. “How could you tell me that right before we have dinner with your family?”
“It slipped out.” At least he looks sheepish. As sheepish as a six-foot-six spy can look, but I’m not fooled. Mr. High and Mighty is too precise to let something “slip” out. Happiness overtakes me. It’s been a crazy few days, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Professing our love after just a few days seems normal for this crazy relationship.
Taking a deep breath, I jump in. “I love you, too.”
Ryker’s eyes widen as he pushes me back into the car seat. “Never mind dinner. We’re going back to the hotel to work on our baby.”
“Oh, no.” I shake my head and notice the beautiful woman standing on the front porch with a baby in her arms seems to be getting impatient. “I’m here to meet your family. We can work on our special project later tonight.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Ryker steps back and reaches for my hand, then points over his shoulder. “My sister is going to wear a hole in the porch if we don’t go in soon.”
As we walk up the steps, the tall, handsome man standing next to Ryker’s sister complains, “Have some class. I can’t believe you were attacking her in my front yard.”
“Fuck off, asshole. You owe me for not kicking your ass when you defiled my sister,” he growls at the other man.
“Hello pot, I’m the kettle.” The other man smirks and turns to me. “Since my asshole brother-in-law won’t do the introductions.” Kindness shines from the town sheriff’s eyes. When he wraps his arm around her shoulders, it’s easy to see the love echoing between the two of them. “I’m Dillon Armstrong, and this is my wife, Jules.”
“Nice to meet you.” I smile at them as Ryker’s sister steps away from her husband and slides between Ryker and me. She’s around my height with cinnamon-colored hair, and the humor swirling in her dark brown eyes reminds me so much of her older brother.
“I’m so happy you’re here.” Jules squeezes me tight with one arm, being careful not to squish the small sleeping infant in her arms. “Us sassholes have to stick together, and it’s nice to have another girl around to help counteract all the testosterone these cavemen give off.”
I instantly fall in love with Ryker’s sister, too. “Do cavemen grow on trees in Silver Spoon Falls?” I ask her while the men continue giving each other hell as we walk through the gorgeous home.
“It’s due to the water.” Jules shrugs. “I’ll tell you all about it once we put them to work taking care of the babies.” She winks and turns to her husband. “We have to finish dinner. You two are on diaper duty.”
My heart melts when I watch Ryker lift one of the tiny babies against his chest. “This little angel is going to take it easy on Uncle Ryker. She’ll save all her presents until Mommy is done with dinner.” I swear my ovaries explode at the sight of Mr. High and Mighty cooing down at his infant niece. Fantasies of him snuggling our child against his hard chest run send hunger coursing through my body while I pray no one else notices the red tint moving over my cheeks.