“I need you to go be home with your wife and kids. I’m safe and I have the distinct feeling that Ryder isn’t going to let me out of his sight.” I see Ryder stalking outside the door.
He laughs. “Yeah I can totally see that and I like it. Being an overprotective caveman bastard myself I understand it.”
I smile. “Thanks Cade. I’m so glad I threw a fit with Gable like a five year old to go meet you.”
He smiles and shakes his head.
Cade and I spend a little while longer talking. We set up a visit in our near future and I send him on his way. Telling him to be careful and call me when he gets home.
The rest of the day is filled with Annabelle’s craziness. Ryder’s overprotectiveness. My momma’s concerns. Dustin’s apologies. A visit from Nelson, Naomi, Greer and Nana Pearl. The highlight of my day a phone call from Gable telling me he would be home within a week.
After the crazy day has past I’m exhausted, Ryder slides in the chair next to my bed. I look over to him. “Ryder?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you lay with me?”
“Are you sure babe? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’ll be fine. Just get up here.”
He winks. “Yes ma’am.”
I turn on my side so that my arm with a cast is draped over him and fall into a secure peaceful sleep.
Chapter 34
Ryder
It has been two weeks since Scarlet came home from the hospital. She is about to go crazy to get her cast off or at least get it changed. She says that it itches like crazy and she’s afraid it smells. She feels like she can’t take care of herself. Although one of the perks for me is that I have to help her take a bathe since we have to keep her cast wrapped up. Thank God most of her soreness went away after a few days because we have definitely been making up for any lost time that may have occurred in the sex department.
I can’t wait until tomorrow its Christmas Eve. I have invited her mom, Gable, Ivie, Annabelle, Naomi, Nelson and even Dustin. Dustin and I have come to have a new respect for each other. I can’t be angry for the rest of my life with him. He was just a scared little boy deep down inside, just like I’ve been. He wanted acceptance and Brandon was the only person who would give it to him. Even though his acceptance came with a price and some emotional damage.
I can honestly say my dad would always love me no matter what I’ve done to embarrass him. Actually he’s already proven that time and time again. I don’t understand how Dustin’s parents could just turn their back on him. Which his coming out and Brandon’s arrest churned up a huge shit storm of press for their families. I let him hide out for a week or so at the cabin in Waycross. Nelson and I have had to have more than a couple reporters thrown off the property trying to catch a glimpse of Scarlet.
I had my attorney contact SCAD about her turning in her assignments and making sure she got full credit for the semester. Considering if they hadn’t been holding a mandatory lecture in a building that forced students to walk around to a dark side entrance she probably wouldn’t have been as easily caught off guard by Brandon. They gladly accepted her assignments and gave her full credit. I also made sure they got a nice donation for better lighting on all their campuses. I know her and she’s going to want to go back. I can’t handle the thought of her or any other woman getting attacked like that.
My dad called me in his office the other day to inform me that he was going to have to go stay in Atlanta for six to eight months to get the mess straightened out up there. I am going to have to do more of my part with the business side down here. I’m not looking forward to it, but I understand it. Plus in talking to Dustin I found out that Scarlet is really good with financial books and organization. He said when she worked for his dad she did a great job, that was one reason his dad was angry with him when they broke up. He had to find a new assistant. Not that his dad would’ve ever accepted her as more than an assistant.
So that brings up the most exciting part. Tomorrow night when I give Scarlet her promise ring I’m asking her to move in with me. I know she is going to flip out, but I really want her here all the time. I thought maybe I was just getting ahead of myself a few weeks ago, but after her attack and being with her these past two weeks, I can’t live without her.
~*~*~
Waking up this morning it’s like I believe in Santa all over again. I’m so excited to have my first Christmas with Scarlet. I roll over and kiss her behind her ear.
She giggles. “Didn’t you get enough last night? I think you’ve broken my vagina.”
I laugh into her neck causing her to squirm. “Just for the record I can never get enough of you.”
She sits up in bed. “I have to get up. I have to help Nana with the food for tonight. Now come on and help me in the shower and if you’re a good boy I’ll let you check my vagina to see if it really is broken while we are in there.”
I jump up out of bed and meet her in the bathroom. She holds out her arm while I use the small garbage bag to pull up over her cast and tape it to her arm. She laughs. “This is super sexy huh?”
“Babe if I had to wrap your entire body in a garbage bag, it’d still be sexy as hell.”
I smack her on the ass as she steps in the shower. She giggles. “I guess it’s time for you to check my vagina Dr. Abbott.”
I smirk. “I guess so Ms. Johnson.”
After spending a little while in the shower giving each other physicals. We get dressed and make our way down to the kitchen where Nana is baking a cake.
“If you two don’t stop spending so much time undressed in that bedroom I’m going to be a great-grandmother before you know it.”
Scarlet and I glare at each other. She shakes her head. “Nana it’s okay trust me I’m not pregnant I take my pill every morning like clockwork and I’m on the one that you take for three months straight, so I can’t even ovulate but like three times a year.”
Nana shakes her head. “Well y’all just be careful. You have your whole lives ahead of you and you need time to be with each other.”
I hug her. “We know Nana that is the reason we are so careful.”
She chuckles. “Alright. I love you both and I just want y’all to be happy.”
Scarlet hugs her. “Thanks Nana I don’t know what I would’ve done without you guys.”
“No problem baby.” Nana says as she hugs her back.
I open the refrigerator to grab our steaks and shrimp for tonight. I need to get them in the marinade. We don’t do your normal southern Christmas dinner with several meats, a thousand sides, bread and twenty different desserts. We do steak, shrimp, baked potatoes, salad, fresh rolls and my Nana’s famous seven layer chocolate cake.
Scarlet looks over at me as I’m getting all the steaks out. “Jeez Ryder how many damn steaks are you guys gonna eat?”
I’m still trying to keep it hidden how many people are coming. “We just do a bunch at one time babe.”
She smiles. “Oh okay I was wondering.”
~*~*~
A few hours later everyone starts arriving. The doorbell rings and I get Scarlet to answer it. She screams when she opens the door. “Gable!!”
I hear Gable. “Is mom here yet?”
“No. Not yet.”
I step into the foyer to see Gable and Ivie standing there, with Scarlet wrapped around his neck. I step over. “Hey guys how’s it going?”
Gable steps over to shake my hand. “Good man. It has been a long trip.”
“You wanna come out back with me the steaks are about ready to take off the grill? My dad, Nelson and Dustin are out there.”
“Sure man. Ivie you wanna come out with me or do you want to hang out with Scarlet?”
She speaks softly. “I’ll go with Scarlet.”
He smiles. “Okay good.”
Scarlet and I look at each other Ivie seems distant, not like the girl we saw in Hilton Head. You can tell Gable doesn’t want to leave her side, but he trusts Scarlet.
After Gabl
e and I step out back I hand him a beer. “So is Ivie okay?”
“Yeah this is just a bad time of year for her. Her mom took off at Christmas and her dad was locked up right before Christmas. So you know it just sucks.”
“Ah yeah. I don’t eat Chocolate Chip cookies. Ever. My mom used to make them for me. Even when she was so sick from her treatments. After she died I just could never eat them again.”
He nods. “Well I’m glad you’ve been there for Scar. She looks great. Cade told me what she looked like. I was trying my damnedest to get on a plane here even after they told me not to. Ivie kept my ass on lockdown.”
“So what’s up with you and Ivie are you a thing or what?”
“Man it’s complicated. Not a topic for Christmas.”
I laugh. “Okay man lets go get these steaks.”
Chapter 35
Scarlet
Sitting around the dinner table we are eating some of Nana’s cake. When Ryder sits small box in front of me I look up at him with huge eyes.
“Scarlet. It’s not what you’re thinking calm down.”
I laugh. “Okay.”
“First I want you to know that you are my forever.” He opens the box. “But this is a promise ring, I want to show you this is my promise of forever.”
I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. “Thank you. It’s beautiful. I love you so much.”
Greer stands up and walks over to me. “Now Scarlet I have to say I’m proud of my son. That is one beautiful ring for one beautiful girl. I’m glad that you’ve hung in there with my son while he gets his shit together.” He steps back. “Everyone lets go sit in the den.”
We all get up and go to the den. My mom sits down by me and across from Gable. “Kids I want to talk with you about something. I’ve been seeing someone up in Augusta. I met him on one of my retreats. He’s a very nice man, the first man I’ve been interested in since- well your father. I think it’s time that I move on. He’s asked me to move in with him.”
“Oh wow mom that is great.” Gable stands up to hug her.
I smile. “Mom that is awesome. I’m so happy for you. It is time that you moved on.”
Ryder stands up and gives my mom a hug. “Well that kinda works out for me too. I wanted to ask Scarlet to move in here. Dad is going to be in Atlanta for most of the next year and this big house gets lonesome. Plus I really don’t like the idea of her staying in town by herself.” He looks up at Gable. “Man you are welcome to stay here too. I’m tired of this house being so empty.”
Gable smiles. “Well I was going to wait to tell you guys this, but they have asked us to join in on the USO shows overseas at the end of this tour. So I was going to let you guys know I’ll be in and out of the country for the next year.”
My mom smiles. “That is wonderful Gable congratulations.”
I hug him tight. “That is awesome. I will miss you like crazy, but I know this is a great opportunity for you.”
Ryder leans over and shakes his hand. “Hey man maybe you’ll be able to get up with my buddy Judd.”
“Yeah man maybe so.”
Naomi jumps up and hug my brother who she barely knows, with tears in her eyes. “You be careful over there. I know you guys are supposed to be safe, but just take care your sister needs you back here. If you happen to run into my son you tell him I said the same to him.”
Dustin stands up. “Well I guess since we are all sharing. I’ve decided I’m moving down to Florida. I need a fresh start and I have some friends down there.” He shakes Ryder’s hand. “Thanks for letting me stay out at your place and inviting me over here. I’m gonna head out now and try to talk to my parents before I leave town.”
We all nod and say our goodbyes. Gable, Ivie and my mom head home. Nelson and Naomi leave dropping Nana by her house on the way out. Greer excuses himself to his study. That just leaves Ryder, Annabelle and me.
Ryder looks over at Annabelle. “What’s really going on with you and Judd? You guys are both vague and giving bullshit answers. I saw how you were with his parents tonight. You wanted them to like you, but you wanted to keep your distance.”
“It’s nothing Ryder. We are just friends and I’ve been worried about him that’s all.”
“I told you he’d be out of touch for a little while.” Ryder says.
“I know it is just a feeling.” She says sadly.
I sit down by her. “Annabelle are you sure you’re okay. You’ve been acting distant from me too. You’ve been looking so sad and kinda pale. I’m worried.”
Annabelle stands up. “Look guys I’m fine, but I do need to get home. Santa still runs at my parents’ house you know.”
I laugh. “Give them my love.”
She gives me a hug. “Good night you two and Merry Christmas I’m happy for both of you.”
After Annabelle is gone Ryder looks at me. “I’m going to talk to dad for a few minutes before bed.”
I smile. “Well that works for me I need to go upstairs and get your gift ready.” I wink.
He grins. “Mmm sounds like I’ve been a good boy this year.”
I throw my arms around his neck and kiss next to his ear. “You’ve been a very good boy.”
I run upstairs and change into the red nighty that I bought with the Santa hat. I’m giving him his normal gift tomorrow like we originally agreed but he decided to surprise me tonight.
I pose myself in the bed to look as sexy as I can with this damn cast. He whistles when he walks in the room. “Merry Christmas to me.” As he jumps on the bed with me.
~*~*~
I roll over this morning to find Ryder staring at me. I chuckle. “Okay that is kinda freaky.”
He smiles. “I’m just so glad I know I’ll be waking up next to you every day.”
I snuggle into him. “Hmm that does sound nice.” I kiss him. “So let’s go downstairs I want you to open your present.”
We get dressed and head downstairs. Nana and Greer are already up and eating breakfast.
I smile at Greer when he hands me a cup of coffee. He speaks softly. “I’m glad you are staying here with him. He loves you and you’re good for him.”
“Thanks Greer. He’s good for me and I love him too. Now come on you two I want to give y’all your gifts at the same time.”
After we are around the tree I hand them all their package. “Now open them.”
Ryder stops as he tears the paper off his. “Baby this is- I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you like it I was nervous about it?”
“Baby I love it. It makes me love you even more.”
Nana looks at it. “Oh my word. It is a beautiful picture of Lillian.” She says as she looks at the picture of Ryder and Lillian together that I drew.
I look over to see tears on Greer’s face. “Scarlet this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He’s hold the picture I sketched from an old wedding photo of he and Lillian.
Ryder looks at Nana. “So Nana what did you get?”
“She sketched a picture of me sitting on the porch watching to sun go down and my house and it’s just wonderful.”
Ryder pulls me into a tight embrace. “Scarlet I love you. This is the most wonderful gift anyone could’ve given me. You make me a happy man every day that I’m alive knowing you.”
I smile with tears in my eyes. “Ryder Abbott you are the most wonderful, amazing, smartass I know. I love you forever.”
He gives me a knowing look. “Come help me find a spot to hang this picture in my room.”
I hear Nana as we make our way up the stairs. “There they go again. I swear Greer you better be ready to be a grandfather.”
We both laugh as he shuts his bedroom door and we start tearing each other’s clothes off.
He looks at me serious for a moment.
“Scarlet, when I met you, I could see that you had hurt hidden in those eyes. I’m so glad that when I look there now, I don’t see so much hurt.”
I smile. “Ditto.”
>
Epilogue
Four Months Later
Ryder
Living with Scarlet for the past three months has been great. We have both been busting our asses to make sure that the farm and the business side of it are ran good while dad is gone.
She is a freaking whiz with numbers. I beginning to wonder if there is anything she can’t do. She’s been going to SCAD and she even talked me into taking a few general business classes.
So when I knew spring break was coming up I really wanted to do something special for her. Gable had also confided in me he’d be in town that week and wanted to surprise her. I called up Cade and he planned a trip for us all to go to his wife’s beach house in Destin.
So we drove down yesterday and met everyone at the house. She was thrilled to see Gable and Ivie. She’s come to be a peace with whatever is going on with them. No one actually knows, I’m not even sure if they do.
I hear the bathroom door open. “So what do you think of my new swimsuit?”
I turn around to see her beautiful body in a skimpy hot pink bikini.
“I think it’s still not a gorgeous as the girl wearing it, but I don’t want other men looking at it.” I pull her tight against me. “See it does things to me.” I grope her ass.
“Why are you grabbing Aunt Scarlet’s hiney like that?” Madison asks with a grossed out look on her face.
We both look at each other lost as to what to say. All of a sudden Daria comes to our rescue. “Come on Madison, let’s go get bubba’s sunblock on and then we’ll get some ice cream.”
She turns and runs. “Yay!”
Daria looks at us. “I’m sorry, we’ve been getting on to her about just opening doors.”
Scarlet shakes her head. “It’s okay.”
Daria smiles. “See you guys down at the beach.”
We both can’t help but laugh when they leave.
Scarlet smiles. “I’m so glad I take my pill every day. I don’t think we are ready for those kind of interruptions.”
I laugh. “Yes please keep taking that pill for a little longer anyway. Now come on I want to show you something.”
Secrets Behind Those Eyes Page 15