Sweet as Pie (Spring Hills Book 1)

by Brisa Starr

  I move around to the side of her and kneel on the floor. Dagny hops over to me and lets me pet her. I think she’s finally figured out I’m a permanent fixture. And that I won’t eat her. Aspen peers down at both of us, and I say, “If Dagny could talk, she’d say to you,” I pause as I turn on my cartoon bunny voice, “Aspen, please let Ryker help you. The sooner he does, the sooner he can make you scream his name.”

  She laughs and shakes her head. “First of all, Dagny would never say that. Second? You’re weird.”

  She’s right on both counts. At least I got her to laugh.

  I stand up, serious now, and say. “Aspen, I’m here for you. I want to help you. Please let me. I can make this easy, and you can focus on the stuff that only you can do. It’s the wise business decision.”

  She looks at me under her long black lashes, her red cherry lips in a slight pout and says, “I know you can snap your fingers and make this problem go away, and I know you want to. But this is something I have to do on my own. To me, it’s the doing it that counts, not the having it done.”

  I hadn’t thought of it that way.

  “But I love having you here,” she continues, with an upbeat tone. “It’s helping just having you around me. Especially when you rub my shoulders.” I narrow my eyes at her and shake my head.

  “Really! You’re in my life now, Ryker, and I’m very happy. It’s more than I ever thought I would do. I was determined to be manless for at least another couple of years and, well, here you are. Please let it be enough.”

  I understand what she means. She has let me into her life to share her journey, not to take a shortcut to the finish line. But I still want to support her. Not just for her, but also selfishly, because I want her to be relaxed and more available. I don’t want her working all night when I’m here.

  An idea hits me.

  “I actually have a way you can help me, which will help you. My assistant, Patrick, is very technical. And, frankly, I need to give him stuff to do. I haven’t been able to give him much since I started working at the law firm. And so, I’m already paying him, but I’m afraid he’ll eventually start looking for another job if he gets bored, or if he feels like his talents are going to waste. Right now, you could help me a lot by giving him a few projects to work on.”

  She squints her eyes at me, full of skepticism, and I take my index finger and make the sign of a cross over my heart. “I swear.” And it’s true, I do need to give him more to do.

  She still doesn’t seem convinced, but I see the gears turning in her mind because she doesn’t want to be building a website either. When it comes to her work, she’d really rather be baking.

  “And another thing, he’s asked to take on projects like this. So again, you’d be helping me. In fact, I can’t even make any promises the site will be great, but at least it’ll get you started,” I say, with a hopeful smile.

  Her lips tighten, her eyes narrow, and she’s scrutinizing hard while she thinks. She looks like she wants to laugh, but I know she won’t. Ms. Serious is all business.

  So I play my last card. “And if you don’t let me send him a text right now to get him on it, then I’ll get on my knees under this table and distract you by making out with your pussy.”

  Her eyes go wide, and she blushes, but she knows I’m dead serious. “I’ll lick your juicy cunt so well that your eyes will roll back in your head, and you won’t even be able to look at your laptop.”

  This elicits a huff-like laugh from her.

  “Fine, I wave my white flag,” she sighs. “But only because Patrick needs something to do. Well, and because you threatened to maul my pussy.”

  Damn, I’m good. Maybe I should go into litigation.

  I grab my phone from my pocket, and I send Patrick a lengthy message giving him his marching orders. He replies promptly with a simple thumbs-up emoji. I love that. So efficient. Then, I send him Aspen’s contact information, so they can take it from there.

  And now, I want my woman to know who’s boss. I reach down and grab her hand and yank her out of the chair. I squeeze my arms around her, enjoying her curves, hot against my body, and my cock gets hard, seeking release.

  She looks at me and says, “Thank you.”

  “No. I’m the one thanking you.” She gives me a playful smile, and she knows I got my way.

  “Now that I have your attention…” I say as I bend down to kiss her beautiful lips, “I expect you to make good on the naughty text you sent me.”

  She looks puzzled. She sent me a lot of naughty texts today.

  So I clarify. “The one about your tongue working magic on my cock, like you do when you a tie cherry stem into a knot.”

  27

  Aspen

  My relationship with Ryker is moving so fast, it makes me think of that crazy bullet train in Japan. Scratch that, make it a rocket.

  Every time we make love—which is almost every day, sometimes twice—it ties us tighter together, as though we’re being pulled together by a force we can’t resist. Don’t want to resist. I wake up and turn to see the beautiful man sleeping in my bed. I still can’t believe he’s here. My very own man, lying beside me. My heart smiles with reassurance, and I snuggle into him. He stirs, and pulls me in. And every couple of days, he finds his way deeper into my heart. This is my life now. I take a deep breath.

  The website is progressing, and Patrick is doing an amazing job. The dude is a rockstar; I can see why Ryker wants to keep him at all costs. For someone who’s never created a website before, Patrick sure is doing a good job. I’m grateful Ryker offered, and I’m grateful I allowed myself to accept the help. Every time he does something for me, my heart gets bigger, making more space for him. It seems like a thousand years ago that I was so closed off and scared.

  He likes to tease about marriage, but I think he’s dead serious. It makes me smile, but he must wait. I intend to keep my promise to myself. I’m going to finish doing what I set out to do before I even entertain an idea like that. For now, it’s enough that I’ve let him into my life. And into my heart.

  I tickle his chest with my fingers, gently tugging on the delicious, sexy patch of brown hair in the middle of his hard pecs. He squeezes me tighter.

  It’s Sunday, and I’d like to take this as a lazy day, but there are still so many things to do at The Rose. “Time to make the donuts!” I exclaim, and I’m about to hop out of bed, when he pulls me back into his arms.

  “Aaaah!” I protest. “I’m going to help Popster paint today. Everything is on schedule.” I screech while he pins my hands above me. “Ryker, I’m serious,” I say, laughing. “I have boldly declared to the whole town that we’ll be open for business in less than a month!”

  “I boldly declare you open for business right now,” he teases. He releases my hands and scoots under the sheet and trails kisses to my chest. “Oh, Ryker… mmm…”

  Then, he sucks on my sensitive nipples, instantly making them hard. He makes his way south and tickles my tummy with his tongue as he finds his way between my legs.

  “This is where I belong,” he says from under the sheet.

  “Don’t suffocate down there.” I laugh, and I lie back, letting him work his magic on my throbbing pussy.

  “If I die down here, I’ll be the happiest man in the world.”

  After a delicious orgasm, I return the favor.

  “Now, that’s a proper breakfast,” I say. “Who needs cream in their coffee with that?” I giggle, and he smacks my ass as I slide out of bed. I head to the bathroom to get ready. He follows me in there and wraps his hands around me from behind as I brush my teeth. He cups my breasts in his strong hands as he drops kisses down the back of my neck, making me tingle.

  He gives my ass a squeeze before he gets in the shower, and when I’m done brushing my teeth, I swipe on some mascara and my red lipstick. I throw my hair into a bun at the nape of my neck and put on old, ratty clothes that I don’t mind getting splattered in paint.

  I go downstairs
and make a cup of coffee. I’m sitting at the counter in my kitchen, scrolling through my phone and my never-ending to-do list. I call Popster to talk about our plan for today.

  He picks up on the first ring. “Hi, Popster! I’m finishing my coffee, and I have a few emails to take care of, but I’ll head over after that. See you at The Rose in an hour or so?”

  “Mornin’ lazy bones! I’ve been at it since the crack of dawn. I cleaned up, moved furniture so we can paint, washed a load of linens, and started clearing out the old storage room to see what’s what. I’ve been running errands, got caught up at the hardware store… you know how I like to talk,” he says and laughs. “I’m heading to the bistro to pack a lunch for later, and then I’ll head back to The Rose.”

  I smile. He’s been at it for hours already. “Great! Thanks for the early start. I’ll see you soon.”

  I end the call and start thinking about what I’ll work on there today. Ryker is coming, too, which will be great. Not only fun, but I can really use the extra hands if we’re going to open on time.

  I’m drinking my coffee, when the sexy devil himself strolls down the stairs, his T-shirt draped over his shoulder. He knows what it does to me when he walks around half-naked. My knees go weak. I often find myself dropping down on them, in front of him, worshipping. I can’t help it.

  As usual, one peek at his perfect body, and I’m ready to climax again. He winks at me. I think he knows. And my heart turns to sticky goo because his wink is a special gesture that spins my heart. When he does it, it tells me everything I need to know about how much he cares for me. How playful he is with me. And how he wants me and needs me. All in a single wink.

  It’s no wonder I find myself so eager to do anything he asks.

  My romantic thoughts are interrupted when my phone rings. It’s the real estate office. Strange. I answer the call on speakerphone. “Hi, this is Aspen.”

  Ryker carries his cup of coffee over to me and stands on the other side of the counter.

  “Aspen, it’s Becky!” she shrills in a frantic voice.

  “Becky! What’s wrong?”

  “Your hotel! It’s on fire!”

  28

  Aspen

  My veins fill with terror, and I shake in my seat at the kitchen counter. I stare, unblinking, at Ryker, and I yell to Becky, “What?!”

  I pick up the phone and hold it closer to my mouth, even though she’s on speaker phone, and she can hear me. “What are you talking about?”

  “I was on my morning run, and I saw flames coming out the window of The Rose! I called the fire department! And then I called you. Get down here!”

  I can’t move.

  I’m in shock.

  My passion, my project. I was almost there. I was so close. What is happening? What does this mean?

  No words escape my mouth, and Ryker yells into my phone. “Becky, we’ll be there in ten minutes! Tell the fire department there shouldn’t be anyone inside.” Ryker ends the call and throws on his shirt as he comes around the counter where I’m sitting, rigid. He grabs my hand and says in a calm, reassuring voice, “Everything will be OK, Aspen.”

  It hits me, and I start to shake again. He grabs my shoulders and squeezes them hard. “Aspen!” he barks. My eyes flick to his. “I promise you,” he says, his voice solid steel. “I promise this will be OK. Now, put your shoes on.”

  I still can’t process what’s happening… I’m in a daze. But I do what he says and put on my shoes. We get into his car, and Ryker is saying something, but I don’t know what… all I see are the trees going by. The next thing I know, we’re at The Rose. Firetrucks are there, and thick, black smoke is billowing out of the windows on the south end of the building. Ryker hasn’t even come to a complete stop, and I’m trying to get out of the car, but the doors are locked.

  Everything is in slow motion as he puts the car in park, and I throw open the door, running to the building. He runs after me, catching me in two strides. “Aspen! Stop! You can’t go in there.” A fireman runs up and waves us off.

  “Ryker!” I cry his name, and it hits me as I see my dream going up in flames. I fall to my knees, and I start to cry. Wailing, I drop my head into my hands. I can’t stand the sight of it. Everything I’ve been working for. He squats next to me and wraps his arms around my trembling body. “Aspen. You don’t have to worry. I promise it’ll be OK.”

  I look at him, and another wave of tears crashes down my face. “How can you say that?”

  He pulls me up, and holding me, we walk off to the side, behind the emergency vehicles, watching the firemen work to put out the fire. I’m helpless. I’m dizzy and I feel like I need to throw up. I would’ve fainted and cracked my head on the pavement, if it weren’t for Ryker standing by my side, holding me up.

  Just then, Mom and Popster pull up, and I can’t believe I didn’t think to call them. I have no idea who told them. Ryker? Becky? Everything is a blur. They run over to me and wrap me in hugs. Ryker steps aside, now that my mom is here, and he heads over to talk to the fire chief. I’m relieved he’s here, taking control of everything.

  Because I’ve fallen apart.

  Black smoke is no longer billowing from the windows, and it’s been replaced by plumes of white steam as the firemen continue spraying in water, advancing closer to the building, while another team enters through the front door. In a few minutes, they turn off the hoses, and more of them enter the building. I resist the urge to run inside after them… I know it’s not safe, and they have work to do. But I just need to know… if my hotel is…

  Ryker and the fire chief walk over to me, and the chief introduces himself. Something snaps me out of my stupor, and I’m suddenly alert enough to introduce myself and listen to what he has to say.

  I’m relieved to learn that very little actually burned, just a small part of one exterior wall. The sprinkler system did its job and helped suppress the fire. Fortunately, the firefighters didn’t have to use the fire hoses very much, just enough to make sure there was no fire inside the wall. But there will still be water and smoke damage.

  Ryker asks the fire chief, “Any idea what might have caused it?”

  “We’ll know more soon, but according to Mr. Kingsley, the kitchen wasn’t in use yet, and the electrical had all just passed inspection. And since no one was supposed to be there, we’re still unsure, but we might have an idea,” the fire chief says, and then he turns to me. “Aspen, the fire was in the laundry room. Did you, by chance, use the dryer today?”

  “No, I wasn’t even… wait a minute… Popster did. He said he washed a load of linens. Why?” I ask, confused, but sensing trouble. I swallow to ease the burning in my throat.

  “Have you used the dryer before that? I mean, is it new, or did it come with the hotel?” he asks me.

  “I think Popster has used it a few times. And it’s not new. The appliances came with the hotel when I bought it. The dryer’s been there for years, but it works. Well, it did.”

  The fire chief grimaces. “Yeah, well, did you happen to have anyone clean the lint trap and vent hose before using it?”

  “Well, I don’t know. I think Popster would clean the lint trap between uses, but I’m not sure about the… lint hose? What’s a lint hose?” Dread seeps into my gut.

  “Vent hose,” he corrects. “It’s too early to say for sure, but dryer vent hoses are a common cause of fires. They’re those big, aluminum tubes coming out of the dryer that vent hot air out of the building. They need regular cleaning, and it’s anyone’s guess when the last time that happened here, right?”

  “Fuck,” I whisper, and close my eyes as I feel my heart breaking in slow motion. It breaks for Popster, who will feel awful and take the blame because he left the dryer unattended. And my heart breaks, because, well, my dream just went up in flames.

  The chief continues. “As soon as it’s safe, the inspector will get to work and verify the cause, whatever it was. When you’re ready, give us a call, and we’ll send someone over to wa
lk through a fire safety checklist. It doesn’t cost anything, and it might keep us from having to come out again sometime,” he says dryly. Just another day at work for him, I suppose.

  I thank the chief, and he walks away.

  Ryker turns to me and says, “Shit.”

  “Vent hoses? Fire safety checklist?” I say, dumbfounded. “What else don’t they tell new hotel owners?”

  I shake my head. “Popster will feel so bad, even though it’s not his fault. He’ll think he’s responsible, not only for leaving the dryer unattended, but also because he’ll figure the vent hose was his job.”

  “Want to tell him together?” Ryker asks. “He’s going to ask what the fire chief told you.”

  “No!” I shriek my whisper. “I can’t tell him!”

  “Jesus, Aspen, what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Put off telling him as long as I can. I’ll tell him after some time has passed, when everything is up and running.”

  “If you say so,” he says, but I can tell he’s not sure about my plan. Then he asks, “You have insurance, right?”

  “Yes, that part I knew about. It was required to get a loan.” My eyes look back at The Rose, and my heart continues to sink. I dread going inside and seeing how bad the damage is. A crowd of people have gathered, and I’m grateful Mom and Popster are handling them.

  “The insurance will take care of everything, Aspen, you don’t need to worry.”

  Then I realize something, and I start to cry. “It will take months to get paid by the insurance company! I don’t have the money right now for repairs. I’ve already maxed out my credit cards just getting the hotel ready to open. I’ll have to wait to get reimbursed before I start on fixing this! That means I can’t open on schedule, and that means no bookings, and that means I won’t be able to make the payments on the loan!” He tries to calm me, but I don’t think he understands. “Ryker, I’m going to lose the hotel!”