“I heard she’s a handful,” Ryan said. He’d heard all about the little girl who never slept and was slowly torturing her parents.
“My brother-in-law Will has been helping since the start of the season, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. He’s a control freak, but he also handles anything my four kids throw at him.” Marc laughed. The three men went on about their ten combined children.
“Am I good?” Ryan finally asked. He’d promised Bridget a call tonight, and he wanted to be home to do it. Because he had a plan that he prayed she’d get on board with.
They waved him out, and he hurried to his ride. He kept his Explorer in Tahoe and having a second car to use in the busy city traffic didn’t make sense, so he’d opted to hire someone instead. His driver, Pete, sat in the parking garage, waiting for him.
“Straight home?” he asked.
“Yeah, I promised Bridg a call.”
The older man smirked.
“What?” Ryan asked.
“Never thought I’d see the day a woman tamed the beast,” Pete joked.
Ryan rubbed his left pec. Is that what was going on? He didn’t feel different. Until a piercing pain froze him in place and he dropped his arm to his lap.
“Elbow still hurting?” Pete’s green eyes met his in the mirror, and Ryan gave a nod. “Maybe ask your nurse about it.”
Ryan huffed a laugh, and Pete had him home to his apartment on the upper east side just before ten. He was making the call before he’d closed the door behind him.
“Hi, Ry,” Bridget’s voice echoed in his ear. “Give me one second.”
Ryan flopped down onto his couch, listening to her and her son chat. Aidan had been back from college for over a week, and it was fun listening to the two converse.
“Have fun, and don’t listen to anything Aunt Jo says,” Bridget said.
“You’restillmad she let it slip about you and her brother?” Aidan laughed.
“Aidan.”
“Bye, Ma. Don’t worry, I know the rules. Don’t drink and drive, don’t do drugs, don’t do anything that will get me arrested, and don’t knock anyone up.”
“Aidan.”
Ryan chuckled. Aidan was a good kid. He had a sense of humor that kept everyone in the room laughing. Jo had warned Ryan he was protective of his mother, which was the way it should be, but Ryan wondered what would happen when he came back to Tahoe.
“Sorry. I’m back,” she said.
“Don’t apologize. I love listening to you momming.”
She scoffed.
“It’s sexy,” he assured.
“Is it sexy because you want kids and you know I’m capable of being a good mom?” she asked.
That was a loaded question. Because, although his automatic response would have been a hell yes, he also realized she was older than him and had already raised Aidan. She might not want to start again. He paused to consider the answer before he said the words, making sure they were true.
“I’ve always assumed I would have them eventually, but not having kids of my own isn’t a deal breaker for me.”
“Oh.”
It had been weeks, and that “oh” still filled him with uncertainty. By now, he knew she wouldn’t add anything unless he kept talking, and he really hoped she’d get better at opening up.
“But that isn’t why it’s sexy. It’s sexy because the way you raised your son shows that you’re smart, caring, and capable. And those traits are hot. I wish you were here right now so I could show you exactly what you do to me.”