“I want something just for you.” He pushed my hair to one side. I felt his breath on the exposed skin behind my ear.
“Choose something, Heather. Or I’ll choose for you.”
By the way his voice had taken on a rougher edge and his fingers pressed on my belly, he’d choose something dangerous. I wasn’t sure in what way, but I wanted to find out. I just wanted to be surprised, and that was saying something, because I usually liked to be on top of everything.
“You choose,” I said.
He laughed softly, moving his fingers in the shape of a small eight on my belly. I sucked in a breath, hoping to steel myself against the contact. Somehow, it had the exact opposite effect. Goose bumps broke out on my skin. How on earth could that touch affect me like this?
“Fine. A few rules.”
“There are rules to getting a gift?”
“Yes. You’re not allowed to refuse it, or to return it.”
I whirled around, looking him straight in the eyes.
“Will I regret this?”
His mouth curled in a devastating smile. “Probably.”
“Give me a hint. So I can brace myself.”
“That wouldn’t be a surprise now, would it?”
I pouted, holding up my thumb and forefinger. “Just a tiny little hint?”
“You belong to me, Heather. Every part of you. I want everyone to know that. Our families, friends, strangers.”
Oh, wow. I didn’t even know what to say.
“Am I scaring you?” he asked.
“A little,” I admitted.
“You trust me?” he asked.
“Y-yes.”
“That was a stutter. Not very encouraging.”
That devastating smile was back.
“Should I give you tips?”
He laughed, looking at me incredulously. “No. It’s a surprise. Turn around. Go down to Avery. I’ll come get you later.”
He placed his hands on my shoulders, actually turning me around, then walking me in the general direction of the escalator. I was so giddy with anticipation. Couldn’t I just watch him buy it? Come to think about it, that would probably take away half the fun. But what if he bought me something outrageous? Or just something that didn’t fit me at all?
“I can’t believe you’re bossing me into accepting a gift,” I teased.
“This isn’t bossing, Heather. This is me being on my very best behavior. Wait until we’re home and I have you naked in my bed.”
“Ryker! You can’t say those things when we’re out in the open.”
“Yes, I can. You’re mine, Heather.”
I licked my lips. My body was already humming with anticipation... and not about my gift.
Ryker only let me go when I stepped on the escalator. I looked at him over my shoulder, intending to tease him, but the sheer intensity he was emanating was magnified by a factor of ten when I made eye contact.
I waited at the edge of the playground, glancing toward the escalator every few minutes. Avery was too busy playing to pay any attention to me. Ryker finally joined us half an hour later.
“Ready,” he announced.
“So, where’s my gift?”
“Hidden in one of the shopping bags waiting for us at the entrance. I’ll give it to you at home, when we’re alone.”
I groaned. “I knew it. You bought me something totally inappropriate.”
“You want something inappropriate? I’ll make another trip upstairs. I’ll be real quick.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Isn’t it?” His eyes raked over me playfully. I averted my gaze, because who knew what I’d say if I kept eye contact for too long.
Avery barreled toward us right away.
“Let’s go, young lady,” Ryker said.
We walked out of the store with what felt like a million bags. The Uber we ordered gave us the side eye when he picked us up, but I couldn’t care less. Ryker was happy, my little girl was happy, and so was I.
Avery was wedged between the two of us on the ride home. The excitement of the past few hours had been too much for her. She fell asleep in a few short minutes. My heart flipped when I noticed she was holding my jacket with one hand, Ryker’s with the other. A small knot formed in my throat. When I felt Ryker’s fingers nudge my shoulder, I realized he’d been watching me. He gave me a smile that made the knot instantly loosen.
Avery woke up the second we arrived. She always did that, almost like she had an internal clock.
As soon as Avery entered the apartment, she announced, “I want all the toys in my room. Ryker, can you help me?”
She darted toward her room before Ryker even answered.
“I think I’m her favorite person,” he said as we stepped in the enormous living room. We placed the bags next to the couch to give our hands a short break.
I grinned. “I wonder why.”
A strand of his dark blond hair fell over his forehead. I pushed it back, craving to touch more of him. But I had a plan, and I needed to be alone to put it in motion. I was hoping he wouldn’t take all the bags to Avery’s room right away.
“Off you go,” I encouraged. “Wouldn’t want you to lose the favorite status.”
Ryker tilted his head to one side, studying me. “You’re going to rummage through the bags for your gift, aren’t you?”
Oh my God. That was so spot-on that it was scary.
“Yes,” I admitted, because there was no point denying it.
“You keep wanting to change the rules.”
“You didn’t say anything about not looking in the bags at home,” I pointed out.
“You’ll get it when we’re alone,” he repeated, voice strong and determined. My entire body hummed. I wanted to rile him up a bit but didn’t get the chance, because Avery called out from her bedroom.
“Ryker?”
He grabbed the bags, walking backward, keeping eye contact until he left the room.
Even though Avery specifically asked Ryker for help, I ended up joining them too. Between the three of us, we got everything unpacked and put together in no time at all. I’d never seen Avery so excited. She spread out her toys everywhere and insisted on having the new sheets on the bed right away. I liked to wash bedlinen before using it the first time, but when Avery looked at me with wide eyes, saying, “Pleaaaaaaaaase, Mommy,” I gave in. Guess I wasn’t that good at saying no either.
Ryker ordered dinner to be delivered, but Avery fell asleep before the food arrived, and I decided not to wake her up.
I stood in the doorway even after I turned off her lights, remembering that evening when she’d asked me if it could be just the two of us. And yet here she was, starfished on the bed as if determined to occupy as much space as possible. She loved it here, there was no denying it. She was a kid. Giving her heart away was natural for her. It was my job to look out for her... and yet I was head over heels in love with this man. I couldn’t even guard my own heart, let alone Avery’s.
“Babe, I can feel you overthinking this,” Ryker whispered, startling me. I hadn’t realized he was behind me. Taking my hand, he led me to the living room. My heart was beating at a million miles an hour. Yes, I was still a little afraid that we were just jumping into this, and I was still not sure if we quite fit in his life.