I kiss him lightly. “However the situation turns out, whether I am or if I’m not, I love you Ryder Cole Davenport.”
He starts to respond but his phone begins to ring. He kisses my forehead before reaching for his phone. His brows furrow as he glances at the screen.
Ryder
It feels like time is stopped, as I wait for her to take in everything. When she finally does, I can tell she is nervous and a little scared. Funny thing is the only thing scary to me isn’t a baby, it’s the thought of losing her or her not wanting my baby.
This may not be a planned pregnancy, if there is one, but it’s definitely a baby made out of love. Even if Dina’s not pregnant now, I look forward to one day watching her belly grow from my seed.
When my phone rings, I desperately want to ignore it. Recent events at work make that impossible; so I quickly kiss her and then reach for my phone. I take one look at the caller ID and see that it’s Brayden.
Shit! What a way to ruin yet another morning. Answering my phone, I can’t keep out the harshness in my tone.
“What?”
“Can we meet up, man?”
“Give me half an hour to get to the shop.” Before he can respond, I click off the phone.
Kissing Dina’s forehead, I give her my apologies. “I’m sorry, baby, I have to go back to work.”
She shrugs, “Ryder, I honestly didn’t think you would stay overnight; this has all been a bonus. I understand the demands of your job. We’ll have our time together soon. Go do what you need to, call me if you want dinner later or stop by if you want.”
Getting up, I head to the bathroom. Taking a quick shower, I leave the bathroom door unlocked in case Dina wants to join me. We both could use a few minutes to breathe and take everything in, so it’s okay when she doesn’t join me.
After dressing in my jeans and a t-shirt, I leave my damp hair to air dry as I go in search of Dina, who I find in the kitchen. To wake up and begin every day with her in our kitchen making coffee or breakfast would be pure bliss to me. I know it would be moving too fast, but I want nothing more than to share my house with her or if she wants to stay here, for us to share this house.
Taking the coffee mug she’s handing to me, I lean down and kiss her. Holding her for a moment, I whisper in her ear making sure to breathe on her neck.
“I love you, Dina Renee Fowler. I wish I didn’t have to go.”
I can’t help but smile as she shivers and sighs in contentment. Pulling away, I set drink some coffee and set the cup down in the sink. Going to the door, I put on my boots and get ready to leave. A quick kiss to her forehead, I back away. As I walk out her door, I hear her call out to me sweetly.
“I love you, Misterman.” That right there is music to my ears.
Chapter Fourteen
Settled
Dina
After Ryder leaves, I call Maggie back. She answers quickly and eagerly. Her tone is deliriously happy as she’s talking about her trip.
“Ok, so he didn’t propose, but he did say he wanted to get married.”
We chat excitedly about her and Brayden before I give her a brief rundown of my time with Ryder, leaving out the potential pregnancy. I don’t want to burst her bubble that Brayden lied about the accident. I stay silent but I’m full of concern for my best friend.
I take the rest of the weekend to relax. Ryder and I see each other as much as he can fit it in with breaks at his shop.
The daily grind of the working week comes around. Maggie and I spend the week working on a few upcoming events. We both are settled in work and our relationships. It feels good.
Since we’re steady at work and not overwhelmingly busy, I ask for something I’ve been toying with in my mind for a few days now.
“Maggie, the car show is coming up, Cruisin’ the Coast in Mississippi. Ryder is delivering a car there. I’m thinking, even though I haven’t even asked if he wants company…about going with him. Can you handle work if I take the few days off for the trip with him?”
She laughs at me. “Dina, you’re the boss. Why are you even bothering to ask me? And of course I can handle it. Go have some fun with your man, girlie.”
Step one done, work is covered. Now, step two, asking Ryder if I can tag along.
Ryder
I arrive at the shop and Brayden is waiting out front. I walk up give him a fist bump and head inside.
Brayden immediately begins like he can’t hold it in. “Man, I’m sorry about everything. I just got overwhelmed and exhausted.” He sighs almost in defeat, “Ryder, Maggie wants to get married.”
I laugh, “And what’s wrong with that? You two have been together for four years. You love her, and you live together, why not get married? Come on, man, are you really surprised?”
He rolls his shoulders like he’s really uncomfortable, “I love her. I want to marry her, but it just feels like so much pressure. I’m no good for her. Hell, look at how I fucked up with you. She deserves better.”
“Stop stressing about everything, man. We’re good, you’re still my boy. Just don’t ever talk about me and Dina like that again, man. Put a ring on Maggie’s finger and move forward. Now are you ready to get your ass back to work?”
He visibly relaxes. I guess he needs reassurance about more than just things with me.
“Hell, yeah. I have a ring to buy.” He responds seeming to settle down now.
We begin working in companionable silence. Jake arrives and quickly gets started on his current project.
Seeing Brayden, he asks in a laugh so Bray will know everything is okay. “You finally pull your head out of your ass man?”
Brayden answers in a laugh. “Yeah man, I did. Sorry about making more work for everyone.”
After a few hours of solid work, we take a break to eat. Brayden seems like he had a lot to get off his chest today since he keeps opening up more and more.
“Guys, I know I love Maggie, I know I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I don’t want kids right away. Do you think she’s going to start wanting kids if we get engaged? I know she wants a quick wedding, she has said so enough times.”
Jake laughs, “Bray, stop stressing and just ask Maggie what she wants. If this is what has you so wound up lately, you need to have your head examined.”
“Plus, B, sometimes things just happen and she could end up pregnant. Engaged, married, or not won’t stop or change it if it were to happen.” I pipe up without going into detail about my own situation.
Brayden shakes his head, stress pouring off him. “Kids are expensive. I don’t know what we would do. I barely keep up now, and I don’t want Maggie feeling like she needs to pay bills. I want to be the one to take care of her. It stresses me out.”
I look at my friend, “Is that your issue, you’ve been stressing over money since buying Maggie that house? Look, Jake is on full time now, you’re back, I hired Andy Jenkins from the paint shop so we can expand to doing our own paint and body work without contracting him out. We’re going to take on more projects which means more revenue. I’ll get a raise worked out, so don’t stress, bro. All you had to do was talk to me, we could’ve handled this months ago.”
At that, Brayden relaxes and we get on with the day. As the hours go by, I feel the old Brayden coming back.
The week goes by relatively quickly and productively. We’re actually on schedule for all projects and ahead on the Rolls-Royce.
Dina and I manage to see each other almost every day, even if some days it is only for dinner. We spend our nights bouncing between her house and mine. Having her toothbrush and toiletries occupy the other vanity in my bathroom seems like the perfect fit. Things are going well, even with the wonder of the pregnancy.
With the car show coming up I don’t want to be away from Dina. I’m surprised when I ask her to come with me that she has already arranged things with Maggie.
Going away, just the two of us; oh that makes me one happy man.
Chapter Fifteen
> Come Home
Dina
The week passes quickly. Ryder is busy with last minute touches to finalize the Cadillac for delivery. I do manage to spend every night comfortably in his arms, as we’ve been bouncing between his house and mine. While we’re away, I want to bring up living together. I don’t want to push things, but if we aren’t going to spend our nights apart, then it would be easier than moving clothes back and forth.
Maggie helps me shop for a few outfits for my trip. She is confident that Brayden will propose soon. She also told me Brayden finally came clean about the fight with Ryder. I’m glad because I wasn’t sure how to tell her exactly what happened.
Thursday arrives, and Ryder and I leave for Mississippi. We spend the day travelling. Friday morning, we meet with Mr. Poe, the Caddy’s owner. He is exceptionally pleased with the end result. He pays Ryder and goes straight to the registration table to get his car entered in the show.
Ryder and I enjoy the day, hand in hand, going around the event. He introduces me to his clients and friends as his girlfriend. I know my face splits into a goofy grin every time he says it. I can’t help myself, he makes me feel like a giddy teenager again.
After seeing the early arrivals, taking in the vendor tents, we leave the show grounds to go to dinner. We have an amazing meal, followed by a night spent lost in one another. The more time I spend with Ryder, the more comfortable I feel. I know I’m always safe with him. He has my heart and he is my other half that makes me whole.
Saturday morning comes; the official judging day and all the cars are present. We spend the entire day talking cars, talking business, networking for new projects for Ryder, and making our own personal judgments on the numbered entrants.
It takes me back to times with my dad and his buddies going to the shows. It’s so relaxing. Ryder is confident he brought his client an all-around top five trophy winner and by the reactions from most, a people’s choice winner. We happily leave for the hotel looking forward to awards day tomorrow.
Ryder and I wake up extra early to head out for the day’s events. This trip is what exactly we needed, to have time just for us. Yes, we both agree we have something special. We have a leisurely breakfast and then head to the awards. Before we arrive at the show grounds, my phone rings.
I answer, seeing it is Maggie. “Hey girlie, what’s up?”
All I hear is her sobbing and hysterically crying. Between her choking breaths, I manage to make out her repeating to me.
“Dina, I need you to come home now!”
I can’t get her to calm down enough to understand anything else she is saying. Ryder, understanding my need to be there for my friend, immediately helps me to get packed and on the road home. Oh Maggie, what is wrong?
Ryder and Dina have found their way together in a comfortable relationship. What has happened to our beloved Brayden and Maggie?
Salvaged
Copyright © Chelsea Camaron 2013
First E-book publication April 2013
Published by Whiskey Girls Publishing
Cover Design by: Jessie Lane
Editing by: Asli Fratarcangeli
Formatting by: IndieVention
All Rights Reserved: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction in whole or in part, without express written permission by Chelsea Camaron.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This work of fiction is intended for mature audiences only. All sexually active characters portrayed in this ebook are eighteen years of age or older. Please do not buy if strong sexual situations, violence, domestic abuse, drug use and explicit language offends you.
Prologue
Maggie
Excitement courses through me as I head to the office. Dina always spoils me and offering to pay for our vacation is so beyond wonderful. Brayden and I need this time away together. He’s been working so hard in Ryder’s absence, and I can’t wait to be able to reconnect.
Brayden has been distant lately but after four years together I am hoping it’s just work stresses. Ryder is back now and Brayden said he can take a week off. Brayden asked me to go away with him; I think this will be the time he finally proposes. Normally, I wouldn’t want to leave Dina for a full week, but Ryder will take care of her.
We arrive in Miami, check into our hotel, and immediately decide to check out the Miami night life.
Wearing a barely there silver, backless, halter dress and heels I’m ready to dance the night away. At five foot seven inches with my heels, my legs are going on for miles tonight. I put my hair in a loose up do, frame my eyes with a smoky shadow, and add a clear lip gloss to finalize my look.
Brayden is dressed in his typical baggy jeans and t-shirt. He is six foot tall, more of a lanky build with a slight beer belly forming, which is especially noticeable when he stands next to a very toned and muscular Ryder. He’s not fat, but he’s not cut with muscles like Ryder, Jake, or my brother Harrison. His dirty blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, which hold such depth they make me melt every time he looks at me. We both love to go out. We met four years ago at a bar in Charlotte while we were both celebrating another finished semester of college.
We arrive at Cameo nightclub in downtown Miami and immediately hit the dance floor. There is something about the atmosphere of a club that just takes over my senses. The bodies pressed together, each finding their own rhythm as the vibrations from the bass reverberates through the crowd.
Having Brayden up against my back side running his hands all over my body as we move to the music is enough to bring my nipples to attention rubbing against the thin scrap of fabric, otherwise known as my dress. His hands roam, as we dance, moving the back of my barely there dress over the hills of my ass, leaving me exposed. My bare backside now grinding against the erection of his jeans is delightful friction. He then places one hand upon my breast and begins to tease it, while he plunges two fingers, from the other, into my hot core. I’m so turned on I don’t care who sees me. When I’m almost ready to explode, he stops.
Chapter One
Satisfaction
Maggie
After a week of passion, love, and relaxation, I am one satisfied girl. Although Brayden didn’t propose, as expected, he has filled me with the reassurance that we will get married one day. There is something going on with him I just don’t know what exactly.
The day before we left on our vacation, Brayden was injured from, what I thought to be, a car accident. I don’t know how he managed the pain while on our trip but it didn’t seem to slow him down.
Last night, however, he came clean that he was not in an accident. Apparently, he got angry with Ryder, quit his job, and they got into a fist fight. Yes, two grown men in an actual physical altercation. I’m pretty sure Brayden was on the losing end of that altercation. I can’t believe he lied to me. I’m hurt, confused, and on edge.
Ryder is the badass Brayden only wishes he could be. Since he met Dina a few years back, Ryder has mellowed out quite a bit. Even though they weren’t dating, he is changing because of her experiences. Heed this warning though, he is not someone you would want to provoke.
I am confused by Brayden’s behavior lately. He means so much to me, but right now he feels like a stranger. How did we get so lost over the last four years? Where did the ease and happiness disappear to? Where is my Brayden?
Brayden left in hopes of going back to work for Ryder this morning, so apparently they are going to work past their issues. I didn’t ask for details, although I probably should have.
It’s nice to get back to work. Dina and I have a few upcoming events to plan and promote. I choose to push aside the issues in my relationship right now and focus on the job tasks at hand.
Dina, who has not gone away on a trip since before her parents died, has an upcoming excursion with Ryder in a just a few days. They are delivering a finished car to a show for the owner to pick up. I’m so happy she has opened her heart to Ryder.
Dina and I go way back, she has been my friend through the cattiness of high school, the many boys who have come and gone over the years, and growing into an adult, during our college years. We both enjoyed our fair share of parties and frat boys in college, before Dina’s parents died.
For a while there she withdrew. She lost everything she ever knew in the blink of an eye. It got worse after her abusive relationship with Michael and the breakup that Ryder witnessed first-hand. Since getting together with Ryder I see my old friend again; the one full of zest for life, charisma, charm and love for other people. My Dina is back. I’m so thankful because my instincts start screaming that I’m going to need her.
Brayden
I have got to get my head on straight. I’m about to lose everything. Ryder, thankfully, brushed aside my mistake and I’m back to work. Frustration is taking over me, I’m fed up with working so hard and it still not being enough. I hope Ryder really comes through with this raise. I need it more than I will ever share with him.
Maggie has no idea what’s about to happen. I should tell her, prepare her. The selfish bastard I am, I just don’t want to rock the boat until absolutely necessary. Even then, I don’t know if I’m man enough to face it and her.
I’m still sore from the cracked ribs and broken nose I suffered at the hand of Ryder, compounded by my own stupidity. I came clean to Maggie that it wasn’t a car accident. She didn’t ask about my car, so she hasn’t figured out it’s gone yet. That’s another topic I don’t want to face with her. She loves me so much. Maybe because of that, I know she will forgive all the lies I’ve been telling and the many secrets I’ve been keeping. The saying love is blind is true. Maggie is blind to how messed up I really am.
Love and Repair Series Box Set Page 12