Because of that, he made a point to go a day or two without exposure to her sweetness. It was also the reason he had yet to bring her to his house. They only had sex in her bed.
But, he was beginning to realize that wasn’t fair. And that it put a selfish spin on their fun.
“Wait a minute.” Jeremy reeled back. “Who said I’m not getting any?”
Ben smirked. “Does that mean you’re giving the pretty author something to write about besides parking tickets?”
Ryder’s chuckle mixed with Ethan’s, and this time it was Jeremy who waved his middle finger.
“I think that’s a negatory.” Ethan grinned.
“That’s too bad,” he said, holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers. “Because a date with Rosey Palmer and her five sisters doesn’t count.”
Jeremy snorted. “Fuck you, Ryder.”
“I wouldn’t want to make Rosey jealous.” He laughed and the others joined in.
“Or Sophia,” Ben said.
Ethan nodded. “You’ve been seeing her a lot, Ryder. And that’s a good thing.”
“Yeah.” Ben’s tone turned serious. “She’s good for you. You’re happy. Content.”
Jeremy leaned forward and held his gaze. “They’re right. All kidding aside, it’s good to see you giving yourself a break. It’s about damn time.”
Not one for touchy feely moments with the guys, especially when they’re directed at him, Ryder lifted his beer in a mock toast and drank. It was much safer to keep his feelings buried than to confront them. The last time he’d done that he’d gotten burnt.
Yeah, it was definitely much safer to keep things light and physical with Sophia.
The Fourth of July was in a couple of days. It was time for some fun that wasn’t so selfish. A special plan started to formulate in his mind. With luck, they’d make that holiday memorable, too.
Chapter Eleven
Phoebe wasn’t sure what to expect when she received a text from Ryder to meet him at the dock behind Ethan’s house, with a bathing suit and an overnight bag. The invitation and mystery sent a scintillating shiver down her body. Nothing was ever dull with him.
Smiling, she grabbed her bag and headed downstairs for breakfast with Phoebe and Ethan, wearing her bikini under one of her summer dresses.
“Morning, sunshine,” Phoebe said, then narrowed her eyes. “Ooh, what’s that smile for, and the overnight bag?”
She greeted her hosts then told them about Ryder’s invitation as she sat down at the table and started to eat her plate of eggs and bacon.
“Well…I’ll be.” Ethan stopped buttering a bagel and grinned. “He’s going to take you to his house.”
“His house?” Her heart tripped. She thought maybe there were going to spend the day on the lake, then perhaps camp in the woods or something.
Ethan nodded, continuing to butter his bagel while she continued to eat. “To my knowledge, he’s never taken a woman there before. This is a good thing.”
A strange fluttering filled her chest.
“Good?” Phoebe’s brows rose and face lit up. “It’s a great thing. You’re really loosening him up, Sophia. I haven’t known Ryder as long as the Wynes, but it doesn’t take a genius to recognize he’s a closed-up workaholic.”
That broke her heart. Mostly because she’d noticed the same thing her first day here.
“You brought fun back into his life,” Ethan said. “Ben and I were talking about it last week.” He lifted his glass of orange juice in a toasting manner. “Great job, Sophia. Keep doing whatever you’re doing.”
Other than working together, laughing a lot, and sleeping together, she wasn’t doing anything special. Just having the fun he’d mentioned.
“I think it’s safe to say it goes both ways.” Phoebe glanced from her husband to her. “Seems to me Ryder’s brought some fun into your life, too.”
She smiled. “Yes, it’s safe to say that.”
And a lot of heat, too.
“Well, since we have today off for the holiday, I think it would be great if you took tomorrow night off too,” Phoebe said. “Your assistants can take care of any prop mishaps, and you’re already way ahead on the Grease renderings, so enjoy yourself. That’s an order.”
Sophia sat up straight and saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
Laughter echoed around the table, and it wasn’t long before she received another text from Ryder with an ETA of five minutes. She finished the last of her bacon and the rest of her coffee, then stood.
“I’d better get to the dock. Thanks for breakfast,” she said, grabbing her dishes.
“Leave them.” Phoebe waved. “I’ll clean up. Just go have fun.”
She nodded. “Thanks. And as for taking tomorrow night off, I don’t know. It depends on Ryder. I’m not sure what he has planned. Maybe he’s going to bring me back in the afternoon.”
Ethan chuckled. “Trust me, he’ll be happy to have you stay another night.”
“So, there.” Phoebe nodded, smirk twitching her lips. “I’ll see you on the 6th.”
With a smile on her face, she left the Wynes and rushed through their yard, down to the dock. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky. Picnic perfect weather. She stood with her hand to her forehead, shielding her eyes while she scoured the lake for Ryder.
Several boats were already criss-crossing the water with people eager to get a jump on the holiday. She was kind of eager to jump something else.
Lordy, she was so easy when it came to Ryder. No other man made her want to have sex all the damn time. It was exhausting and amazing, and she was definitely going to miss him when she got back to reality and her life in New York City.
Dropping her hand from her face, she tightened her grip on her bag and smiled as a boat neared the dock. Right now, reality could go jump in the lake. An amazing, mysterious day lay ahead of her, and dammit, she wasn’t going to let anything ruin it.
“Morning,” she said, as he slowed to a crawl and maneuvered his sleek boat close to the dock.
He was sheer perfection in jeans, a navy T-shirt that hugged his perfectly toned muscles, and a pair of aviator sunglasses that were sexy-as-sin and gave him a hint of danger.
Damn, he was hot.
Tough, powerful, he appeared almost unapproachable, but she still harbored that rebellious streak, and it gave her the courage to be brave, bold, to tread where others backed off.
“Good morning.” He smiled, and damn, it outshined the sun. “Toss me your bag.” He kept one hand on the wheel, and held out the other.
She did as she was told, her heart starting to hammer in her chest. “You’re not going to tie it down?”
“Nope.” He grinned. “You’re going to hop in.”
Yeah, probably gracelessly into the water.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you.” He held his hand out to her.
Well…let the fun begin, she thought as she leaned down, grasped his hand and jumped.
Of course she landed without incident in his boat. The man was too capable to let anything else happen. And very hard and warm.
She slid her hands around Ryder, who caught her with his body. “Good morning,” she said again, softer this time, tipping her head back in an open invitation.
“It is now,” he murmured before capturing her mouth for a slow, thorough kiss that knocked her off-kilter. When he released her mouth, he smiled down at her. “Ready?”
For anything. “Yes. Where do you want me?”
His grin increased. “I have a few places in mind, but for now, you can sit there.” He motioned to the chair next to him.
Turned on beyond measure, she was happy to sink onto the cushions, since her legs were suddenly rubber.
“Here. These are for you.” He handed her a pair of sunglasses and a life-jacket.
She put the glasses on, but frowned at the vest. “I can swim.”
“You can also drown.” His tone turned serious. “Not with me.”
“You’re not wearing o
ne,” she pointed out.
He folded his arms across his chest and lowered his chin. “Please put it on.”
She smiled at him and shrugged into the vest. “Since you asked nicely.”
His lips twitched. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “You can make it up to me later.”
“Count on it,” he said, with more heat in his tone than was blaring down on her from the sky, and her good parts perked up in response.
She loved his potent, commanding side.
Once she was secured, he maneuvered the boat backward and away from the dock, before heading the way he’d come. She watched him from behind the protection of her glasses. Potent was too soft a word. A force of nature maybe? Definitely intoxicating, because just looking at him made her dizzy with need and turned up the flame on slow burn in her belly.
Too noisy for conversation since he opened up the throttle, she sat back, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the feel of the sun on her face while her mind remained on Ryder.
He was fast becoming her favorite addiction. A necessity. Which wasn’t smart for a not forever thing. But it was what it was. She felt what she felt. And she wondered if perhaps he had the same thoughts about her.
As the boat started to slow down, she opened her eyes and nearly lost her breath. Miles of pristine woods met her gaze, and nestled between the trees was a wooden structure too large to be considered a cabin, and too gorgeous for words.
A boathouse sat on a long dock with steps that led to a huge deck running the length of the house. Gorgeous, floor to ceiling, two-story windows reflected the sun. Two smaller, private decks hugged the side of the house where she assumed the bedrooms were located on the second floor.
After backing the boat into the boathouse, Ryder cut the engine and secured the boat to an inner dock. “Give me your glasses,” he said, then stowed both pair in a compartment in front of her seat, before tossing her bag onto the dock. “I’ll get out first, then help you.”
“Okay.” She watched the muscles in his arm bunch as he grabbed a post and jumped out. He made it look so easy. She reached for the buckle on her vest but he shook his head.
“Leave it on,” he said, thrusting his hand toward her.
He was very protective, very worried about her wellbeing. Unable to fault him for that, she kept it on, and embraced the warmth his caring created as she took his hand and he hoisted her next to him.
“Welcome to my house.”
Chapter Twelve
Her heart shifted in her chest. Ethan was right. Ryder had taken her to his home, and not someplace he rented for the night.
Maybe she was starting to mean more to him than just sex. Great sex.
For something that should’ve been bad, considering her temporarily-in-the-Poconos status, it felt damn good.
She smiled. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
His gaze was friendly and a little bit heated as he unhooked her buckle and brushed her nipples as he slowly removed her vest. “My pleasure.”
The way her nipples pebbled at his touch, it was obvious it was her pleasure, too.
He dropped the vest back into the boat, then ran his finger along her temple and down her jaw before lowering his mouth to hers. It was one of his long, slow, thorough kisses, that stole her breath, melted her bones, made her ache for him.
Breaking the kiss, he stared into her eyes. “I can’t think when my mouth is on you. We’d better save that for later. I want to give you the tour.”
Happy for the promise of later, and for the tour, she smiled. “Lead the way.”
He hoisted her bag on his shoulder, grabbed her hand, then led her out of the boat house and onto the main dock. Standing there, looking up at the house, she lost her breath again.
It was even more magnificent up close.
“You built this too, didn’t you?”
His head turned to her, and a flash of wonder entered his eyes. “How can you tell?”
She smiled at the clueless man. “It’s as unique as your signature or thumbprint. You have a style, Ryder. An incredible style that…speaks to me. I don’t know, I just feel it.” Goosebumps spread down her arm in confirmation. “There’s a strength, a distinctive approach. Your use of lines, and attention to detail, all of it screams you.”
“A guy who’s addicted to pizza and a certain someone’s kisses?” he teased.
Fighting a grin, she nodded. “Exactly.”
He laughed, and the pure sound reignited her goose bumps. “Come on. I’ll show inside. Maybe you can tell what I like for breakfast by the way I designed the kitchen.”
“You’re on.” She already knew what he liked for breakfast, and it wasn’t food.
All through the tour, his playful manner remained. The open-concept first floor had a vaulted ceiling, with those gorgeous windows, and an amazing stone fireplace along one wall. His kitchen was to die for, with state of the art appliances, granite counters, and a huge walk-in pantry. The man had created her dream kitchen.
It was mouthwatering, like him.
Upstairs were three bedrooms and two bathrooms. One bedroom was dedicated for his nephew Tyler. The other, she assumed, would eventually accommodate his niece…once she was walking. Then there was the master. Large. Incredible. It had a king size bed, that made her stomach flutter, another gorgeous stone fireplace, and an equally impressive bathroom. The double sinks and jetted tub were amazing, but the huge stone wall, walk-in shower, with a bench and a big showerhead in the ceiling made her gasp. She forced herself to exit the bathroom before she gave into the urge to strip him naked then and there.
More floor-to-ceiling windows covered the back wall, and when he slid them wide open, it lent new meaning to bringing the outdoors inside. But the best part of the private deck was the… “Hot tub?”
“Yes.” He brushed her jaw with his thumb. “Had it installed yesterday.”
This made her smile widen. She set her hands on his chest and slid them down to rest on his hips. “Just in time for a holiday.”
“We’ll fire it up later,” he said, pressing his lips to her forehead. “What do you say we go for a hike?”
She reeled back. “A hike? Sorry, I only brought these sandals.”
“No problem.” He grinned, leading her back inside where he opened his closet and handed her a shoebox.
But her gaze was still affixed to the massive walk-in closet, big enough to park a car. Hell, it was bigger than her kitchen in her Queen’s apartment. “Okay, this is another reason I’m in love with this room.”
He chuckled and opened the box in her hand. “I guessed your size. Hopefully, they’ll fit.”
She glanced down at the new hiking boots, which of course, were her exact size. “You know my body well enough to make a great guess.”
His gaze heated, but instead of pulling her close, he backed up. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Sophia stood there, watching him leave, her chest warming with an unknown emotion. It was never more obvious that he wanted to spend time with her, without getting naked. He hadn’t brought her here for a booty call. That realization excited and scared her at the same time.
And as the day turned to evening, and they still hadn’t exchanged more than several heated embraces, she was empowered by the knowledge that he cared about her beyond the bedroom. Although, she was also…extremely turned on.
Dammit.
Enjoying the glass of wine she’d had with the steak he’d grilled, she sat back on the deck and wiggled her now-bare feet. “That was delicious, Ryder.”
He chuckled. “Surprised I can cook?”
“Surprised you knew there was other food besides pizza.”
He pointed at her with his beer bottle. “I discovered that hard truth when I started working at my dad’s diner after school.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “I was roped into the family business as a teen, too.”
He quirked a brow. “What kind of business is your family into?�
��
“Construction,” she replied, setting her wine on the table. “I still work there fulltime, and do set design on the side. When Phoebe called to ask me to help her out this summer, it was a godsend. I needed the break.”
Not just from work, though. From her mother’s never-ending parade of possible fiancé’s…and Gino. Yeah, she needed a break from them, too, but he didn’t need to know all that.
“You don’t do set design fulltime?” he asked, surprise tipping his head.
“No. I’d like to, but…” She sighed, not really wanting to talk about it.
He frowned and something dark passed through his eyes. “But, what, Sophia? Doesn’t your family support your work? I mean, they must’ve to let you go to design school, right?”
She shrugged. “I think they let me enroll so I’d bring my design skills to the family business. And I like it. I do.”
“But you’re heart lies in set design.”
She lifted her gaze to his, shocked at how well he knew her. “Yes.”
“Then do it,” he urged. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t please everyone.”
“I know.” She nodded, her stomach flopping at the pain she detected in his tone. “I have a possible shot at set design for a major Broadway show,” she confessed. “I have a meeting lined up with them this fall. If I get the job, then my family will hopefully see I can make a living from it.”
He didn’t laugh, or tell her it was foolish. Or a pipedream. Instead, he smiled.
“That’s amazing.” Nothing but admiration and support filled his gaze as he raised his bottle for a toast. “Here’s to you nailing it.”
Grabbing her glass, she clinked it against his bottle. “Amen.”
Now, more than ever, she was vibrating with need for the man. And since she also wanted to lighten the mood, she set her glass on the table and stood.
“So, tell me, Ryder.” She pulled off her dress, and removed the tie from her hair. “If I have my way with you in your boat, what would that be considered? The mile…water club?”
Wine and Scenery (Citizen Soldier Book 7) Page 8