Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
When we turn the corner, we’re met with the most beautiful mansion—yes, mansion because it would be an insult to call it anything less. To the left is a three-car garage. Ryder must press a button because one of the bay doors begins to rise. He pulls in, and the door shuts behind him.
And because I have no idea what to do, I stay in my seat, staring at the exquisite home in front of me, wondering what the hell I was thinking, following Ryder here.
To most, the idea of wealth is a turn-on. I’ve witnessed how envious and jealous women can be of other women—of the house she lives in, the car she drives, the designer bags she totes around, and the clothes she wears. I must admit, I was one of those women … before.
Now, it sickens me. Because while money has the potential to do good—to cure diseases and feed and house the homeless—it’s rarely ever used for things like that. Instead, it’s wielded around like a deadly weapon, those having it being able to do and get away with damn near whatever they want while leaving those without it in its wake.
And judging by the ridiculously expensive home in front of me, Ryder has a lot of money. I hate to lump him into the same category as other people, but I’ve learned the hard way that giving people like Ryder the benefit of the doubt only leads to devastation. And I would be stupid not to proceed with caution.
Just as I’m considering taking my chances and bolting, Ryder emerges from out of nowhere. As he saunters my way, I can’t help but notice how good-looking he is with his bright hazel eyes, which are always aware and assessing, and his chiseled jawline, which is more prominent today due to his neatly trimmed beard. His brown hair is freshly cut, and his suits always fit him like they were made for him, showcasing his broad shoulders and muscular thighs.
He’s one hundred percent sex personified from head to toe, and him sporting a diaper bag on one shoulder with his daughter on his hip only adds to his appeal. There is nothing sexier than a man who puts his child first. I don’t know what happened with Addie’s mom, nor is it my business, but from what I’ve seen, Ryder’s best feature is how good of a dad he is.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t realize that Ryder’s standing right in front of my window, waiting for me to roll it down.
When I do, he bends slightly, and his eyes find mine. “You can park here for tonight,” he says. “If you have laundry, bring it in so you can wash it.”
I nod, but make no move to get out. His intentions seem pure, but then again, so did his. I fell for the white-knight routine once before, and he turned out to be nothing more than a villain, hidden under Armani.
As if sensing my hesitancy, Ryder sets Addie down, who toddles toward the front door, and leans in closer, giving me a whiff of his scent.
Jesus, even the smell of him is sexy and masculine.
“You okay?” he asks, his voice calm and patient.
“Hey, Ryder!” Violet says. “Mommy said we’re having a sleepover! Can we go swimming?”
Before I can tell her again that it’s probably not happening, Ryder answers her, “Sure. How about we order a pizza and have it by the pool?”
“Yes!” Violet flings her seat belt off and pushes the door open, running over to where Addie is trying and failing to open the front door.
“Hey,” he says, forcing me to look back at him. “You’re safe here, I promise.”
If only he knew that those words do nothing to calm my pounding heart. If anything, they scare the hell out of me because I know all too well how easy it is for a man to fling promises around and not mean a single one of them.
“I’d better grab our stuff,” I mutter, turning the vehicle off and getting out.
After gathering our dirty clothes and sheets so I can wash them—because I would be an idiot not to take advantage of having a free washer and dryer at my disposal—I follow Ryder and the girls inside.
The inside is just as beautiful as the outside, but I’m surprised to find that it looks lived in. While the living room furniture is clearly high-end, it’s all been baby-proofed, and there’s an entire corner dedicated to Addie, complete with a princess carpet, a child-sized reading chair, and a bookshelf filled with children’s books.
“The washer and dryer are this way,” Ryder explains, guiding me to the massive laundry room. “I’m going to order the pizzas and get Addie into her bathing suit. Do you guys prefer any toppings on your pizza?”