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)
After giving the girls a bath and settling them on the couch to chill out since they’re both exhausted from our busy day, I start dinner, my mind half on the food I’m cooking and the other half wondering if I should cancel my date with Ryder.
I’m taking the macaroni casserole out of the oven when Ryder comes up behind me, scaring the crap out of me. The heavy pan sways in my hands, but I thankfully get it to the counter before it hits the floor.
“You can’t be sneaking up on people!” I hiss, turning around and glaring at him. “I could’ve burned myself or dropped dinner all over the floor.”
Ryder raises his hands in a placating manner. “I’m sorry, but I did call your name three times.”
“You did?”
“Yeah.” He chuckles. “For a second, I thought you had noise-canceling headphones on.”
“Sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “I guess I was lost in thought. I didn’t mean to yell at you.”
“It’s okay. What’s going through your head that has you completely zoning out?”
I debate whether to lie and say nothing, but instead, I go with the truth. The last thing I want is to start a potential relationship off with a lie.
“I met a woman today … well, more like I spilled coffee on her.”
Ryder laughs. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah.” I roll my eyes. “We ran into each other again later, and she helped me shop for a dress for tomorrow night.”
At that, Ryder’s face lights up. “Oh, yeah? I can’t wait to see you in it.”
I must frown because his brows dip.
“Do you not like the dress? You don’t have to wear one …”
“No, I do. I love the dress and heels. But, um …” I swallow nervously, darting my gaze over to the girls.
Addie is playing with her doll, and Violet is immersed in the show she’s watching.
“When she asked who I was going on a date with and I told her you, she was concerned.”
“Why?” He steps closer to me.
“Because I work for you, and if something goes wrong, I’ll be the one to lose my home and job. I mean, technically, this isn’t my home but—”
“It damn well is your home,” he growls, cornering me against the counter. “And what does she think is going to go wrong?” From the sound of his tone, it’s clear he already doesn’t like Marie even though he’s never met her. And that was not my intention.
“It’s not like that,” I say since she’s not here to defend herself. “She didn’t say anything bad about you, but she’s been in a similar situation, so she just wanted me to be careful.”
“You just met this woman,” Ryder murmurs, palming my cheek. “If Ana or Julian thought us dating was wrong, they would’ve said something. Yet both are rooting for us.”
He rubs his thumb back and forth along my jawline, and I lean into his touch.
“You have nothing to fear with me,” he continues. “I would never kick you and Violet out, and unless you did something to hurt Addie—which I know you never would—your job isn’t going anywhere.”
“Okay, but what if we go out and it doesn’t work out? Will you really want a woman you dated living under your roof? And what if you move on and find someone else? The last thing I’d want is to be around to watch you date.” Just the thought of Ryder with another woman makes me feel sick to my stomach.
“Kira,” he says, “there are a million what-ifs in life. And I get where you’re coming from because, like you, I put my faith in someone who fucked me over. I’ve spent the past year avoiding women because of it. But with you, it’s different. You had me hooked from the moment I met you. First with the way you cared about Addie and then with the way you cared about me. I can’t possibly know what the future holds, but if I wasn’t serious about wanting something more with you, I wouldn’t be pursuing this with you.”
He closes the gap between us so our bodies are almost flush, and then he wraps his arms around me so I’m looking up at him. “I’m scared shitless to open my heart up. To let someone else in. But if there’s anyone who’s worth taking a risk on, it’s you. I don’t want to hurt you. I want the chance to be with you. To protect you, to love you.”
“I’m scared,” I admit. “Every time I thought I’d found myself a prince, he turned out to be the villain. And for the first time, I feel like I’ve finally saved myself. I want to let you in, but I’m scared because if you turn out to be like every other guy, I don’t know if I’ll have it in me to save myself again.”