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)
And I’m willing to as well. Maybe in the end, he will hurt me—after all, we can’t predict the future—but I don’t believe for a second that he’s anything like the men from my past. Ryder has a good, pure heart, and I want nothing more than to be on the receiving end of his love. It’s scary, giving someone your heart and hoping they don’t break it, but Ryder is worth the risk.
Reaching out and taking his hand, I entwine our fingers and step closer to him. “I want to stay and fight with you,” I tell him, knowing he needs to hear those words.
His mom never fought for him, his dad—from what he’s told me—was barely around, and Addie’s mom didn’t give a shit about either of them. If my biggest fear is being hurt—emotionally and physically—then his is not being worth sticking around for.
I take another step into his space and glide my knuckles down his cheek, wanting all the connection I can get with him. “I want to go out on a date with you.”
The smile Ryder gives me is equivalent to fireworks going off on the Fourth of July. It’s beautiful and magical and breathtaking. It’s a smile he usually reserves for his daughter, but right now, it’s all for me. Because I’ve agreed to go out with him.
He tugs me into him, so our bodies are flush, and then his mouth descends on mine. And as our lips mold around each other, I can feel every one of his promises deep in the marrow of my bones. Now, I just have to hope that Ryder is a man who keeps his promises.
“C’mon,” Ryder says when the kiss ends. “Let’s go inside. We have a book to finish.”
When he sits on the couch, like the last several times he’s read to me, I snuggle into his side, resting my head on his shoulder. He opens to the page we left off on, where the heroine’s ex is causing problems for the heroine, and the hero’s promising he’ll handle it.
He reads page after page, and I stay awake, engrossed in every word. I feel like I’ve started on a journey with this woman, and I’m invested in finding out what happens, if she’ll get her happily ever after.
When Ryder reads the final page, happy tears slide down my cheeks.
“I always thought romance was cringy,” I admit, sitting up and wiping my tears.
“And now?” he prompts.
“I felt like I could relate to so much of that story. Being a single mom, wanting to find love … finding it in the wrong place and then being overly cautious when she met the right guy.”
“Oh, yeah?” Ryder shifts in his seat. “Does that mean you think you’ve found the right guy?”
“My heart is telling me it’s definitely a possibility,” I tell him honestly. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
“I guess we will,” he agrees.
He closes the book and sets it on the end table, and I sigh, already missing the couple.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel like I know them,” I say, nodding toward the book with a laugh. “I’m going to miss them. I know that sounds crazy but—”
“No, it doesn’t. I know exactly what you mean. When a book is filled with emotions, it’s easy to feel like the people are real. Their love and situations and heartbreak are real.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Now that it’s over, I’m like, what do I do with my life?”
I bark out a laugh, and Ryder smiles.
“We start the next book.” He shrugs.
“There’s another book about them?” I whisper-yell, not wanting to wake the girls.
“Not them, but their kids. The first book is about their son. I picked that book for the book club next month.”
“Oh my God, yes! Where do I get it?”
“You’re in luck,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “I already own it.”
“Can we start it now, or do we have to wait until next month?”
“Technically, we should wait until after we discuss the first book, but if you don’t tell, I won’t.”
He shoots me a panty-dropping wink, and then after a tender kiss to my lips, he pulls out the book and starts reading.
chapter sixteen
KIRA
“Mommy, can I get whipped cream on my milk?” Violet looks at me with hopeful eyes.
“Sure.”
I push the stroller into the coffee shop that’s conveniently located near the local park that Ryder reminded me about when he insisted that I get out with the girls after three days of not driving anywhere despite him buying me a beautiful, over-the-top SUV.
It’s not that I didn’t want to go anywhere or that I’m not appreciative, but it’s hard to accept handouts, even with Ryder insisting there are no strings involved. I’ve always been independent, and after what I went through with Brian—allowing him to strip me of my independence—I never want to be that woman again.