“Oh my goodness. I can’t even imagine how scary this all must be for you.” Reaching over, Peyton placed her hand over Helen’s. “Is everything scheduled already?”
“It is. I’m going to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. We’ll be staying in the area for a while so we’ve been looking for a house there. I want to be as close to the hospital as possible.”
“That makes sense. Plus, being able to sleep in your own bed makes all the difference,” Peyton commented. “You’re already going to be uncomfortable so I’m sure it will help your recovery to be surrounded by familiar things.” She offered a warm smile. “I know luxury hotels are wonderful, but there’s something to be said about being home, right?”
“I, um…” his mother began before looking away. “I don’t know how much of a home it will be. A rental is hardly the same as my actual home.” Her words were quiet and sad, and Ryder realized how much of a burden she was carrying.
“Mom, I realize the Mayo Clinic is one of the best hospitals, but…isn’t there something closer to home for you?”
Her laugh was equally quiet and sad as she looked at him. “Where even is home anymore?”
Peyton looked between the two of them. “You know, I imagine even if you rent a place that is furnished, you could ship some of the things from home that you want with you–like your bed and a favorite chair. It’s not much but maybe that would help?” Before she could say anything else, her cell phone rang. “Drat. It’s the café. Please excuse me for a moment.” She stepped away and walked into the house, leaving Ryder and his mother alone.
There was an awkward silence that he wasn’t sure how to fill. Luckily, he didn’t have to.
“She’s lovely, Ryder,” she said softly. “And you really didn’t do her justice when you said how different she was from the women you’ve dated in the past.”
“Mom…”
“She’s far better than any of them,” she interrupted with a small smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who showed as much compassion and grace as she has tonight.”
All he could do was nod.
“Even after the way I treated her at the café, she showed up here and was friendly to me. That takes real class.”
“She pretty much knocked me off my feet since the day I met her,” he admitted. “I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I know I can’t live without her.”
Reaching over, she took his hand in hers, an uncommon gesture. “I’m tempted to say she’s too good for you.”
He laughed. “You’d be right. But I don’t plan on letting her go.”
“Good for you.” She squeezed his hand. “I like seeing you happy, Ryder. I’m glad you have Peyton in your life. I think she’s exactly what you need.”
“That she is.” Behind them, the sliding doors opened and Peyton stepped back out with a smile that made his heart race. She was so beautiful and just…everything.
“So I was thinking,” she began as she sat back down. “When you feel up to traveling after the surgery, you should spend some time here in Magnolia. I think it would be a wonderful and healing atmosphere. You can sit out on the deck and listen to the waves and just focus on healing.” Looking over at Ryder, she added, “Of course I don’t know what your timeline is with the lease here, but even another house on the beach would work as long as it had an elevator and a view, right?”
Ryder didn’t confirm if it was a good idea or not, mainly because they’d never done anything like this–offered to spend an extended period of time together.
“I’ll think about it,” his mother said after a moment. “But it does sound wonderful.”
“Helen! I think it’s time to head back to the hotel,” his father called out from the house. He didn’t offer a word of thanks for dinner or dessert, nor did he say goodbye. Part of Ryder wasn’t the least bit surprised, but when he saw the sadness on his mother’s face again, he knew he needed to say something.
“Mom, is everything okay with the two of you?”
As she slowly got to her feet, she waved him off. “You know how your father is. I think he’s just concerned about me not overdoing things.”
“That’s not what I mean,” he corrected.
Instead of answering him, she walked over and kissed him on the cheek before doing the same to Peyton. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner. Everything was delicious.”
Together, they all walked back into the house and to the door. His father was already out in the car, and Ryder chose to ignore it. Once his parents were gone and he and Peyton were alone again, he cupped her face and kissed her thoroughly.
“You’re amazing, you know that, right?” he asked gruffly.
“Me? What did I do?”
“Everything,” he told her. “You do everything and make everything better. Thank you for persisting and being here tonight. I wish things had gone better…”
“I think your father is hurting, Ryder. And scared.”
That made him laugh. “Somehow I doubt that.”
“Well…think about it. His wife is facing something he can’t fix or control and it has to be hard for him.”
He still wasn’t so sure, but…it sort of made sense.
“I don’t want to think about him right now. All I want is for us to clean up the dessert dishes and go inside where I plan on thanking you properly.”
“Ooh…I like the sound of that.”
Looking around, an idea formed in his mind. “Actually, change of plans,” he murmured before picking her up and placing her on the cool marble countertop.
“Ryder!” she shrieked with a laugh. “What in the world?”
“I don’t want to go inside,” he growled against her throat before lightly biting and kissing her. “I want you right here. Right now.”
Her nails gently grazed his scalp as she held him close. “I definitely like that even more.” And with a throaty moan, Peyton arched against him. “Touch me,” she begged. “Please.”
And he did.
Everywhere.
Everywhere he touched made her breathless and he loved it. Peeling the clothes from her body took longer than either of them liked and when they heard fabric tear, neither seemed to care. Only when he had her gloriously naked did he step back to take care of his own clothes. When he was just as bare as she was, Ryder stopped and looked at her.
“Peyton Bishop,” he murmured darkly. “You look like a total goddess right now.” Reaching out, he went to touch her and noticed his hand was shaking. Her hair was tousled, her eyes were slightly glazed with passion, and her skin was flushed. “So sexy.” Moving in close again, he kissed her cheek. “So beautiful.” He kissed her shoulder. “And all mine,” he growled before claiming her lips in a brutally raw kiss.
This need for her only grew every day.
The sight of her left him breathless.
And the feel of her was more intoxicating than the best champagne.
Ryder knew he’d never have enough of her–never. And the way she was wrapped around him and begging for more, he had a feeling it was mutual.