Don't Forget Me Tomorrow(28)

“It’ll be rough,” I told her, loving the way she got flushed anytime we went to teasing like this.

Then she rolled those cinnamon eyes, even though they were flashing with warmth. “It’ll be a breath of fresh air, is what it’ll be. Get out of here, I’m already sick of you.”

Low laughter tumbled from me, and I sent her a cocky grin. “Whatever you say, Cookie.”

I started out, only her voice froze me, all the teasing gone as she looked at me from across the space. “Thank you, Ryder. I don’t know how I’ll ever fully repay you.”

I knew what she was referring to. That it wasn’t just her staying here while she was in need. The money I’d given her. It’d been my biggest pleasure and my greatest downfall.

But I knew, standing there looking at her right then, that I’d do it a thousand times over.

“What’s that you always say? Love is on the house.” Then I tapped the heel of my fist on the doorframe before I walked out.





FOURTEEN





DAKOTA





On Saturday morning, I was on the enormous rug that took up half of Ryder’s living room, playing dinosaurs with Kayden.

I’d finally gotten the café to the place that I didn’t work on the weekends.

I loved it.

The time to spend with my son.

The time to breathe.

The time for myself that I’d had to sacrifice to build the restaurant to what it was today.

It’d been worth it, but I was definitely relishing in the reward of it.

Roaring, Kayden clashed two dinosaurs together. “I get you,” he shouted, banging them together again.

“Don’t you think the dinosaurs should get along and be friends?”

“No! Fight!”

Soft laughter rolled. Apparently, Kayden couldn’t be bothered with my lesson about cooperation and unity.

Yesterday, I’d ended up taking off the rest of the day, and Ryder had gone with me to pack more of our things before he’d insisted we go to Wal-Mart to purchase a bunch of stuff for Kayden’s temporary room.

Whether it went against my better judgment or not, I’d decided to stay here for a while.

The thing was, when I’d gotten to my house and had seen the old door that had been removed and sat propped on the wall as the carpenter installed a new one, I’d had zero regrets about agreeing to spend a little more time here.

All it’d taken to get me firmly on Ryder’s team was seeing the way the wood had been torn up at the edges, deep grooves gouged into it where a metal object had been shoved in and the actual lock had been pried out.

I’d realized that person could have come the rest of the way in, that my son was there, that we were vulnerable, and I’d known I was making the right choice.

Ezra would find whoever was responsible and everything would go back to normal.

Plus, last night after I’d put Kayden down to sleep, Ryder had sat at the table in his kitchen with me and had designed a metal security door that he was going to fabricate and install.

Once we had that extra security in place, we’d go home.

Taking extra precautions to protect my son didn’t make me weak.

It made me smart.

I grinned when the raucous rapping suddenly sounded at the front door. There was only one person I knew who could create a stir as wild as that one.

Paisley had texted me yesterday demanding to know what had happened Thursday night before we decided she was going to come by to start planning Caleb’s party this morning.

She was only ten minutes late.

She deserved a medal.

“I’ll be right back,” I told Kayden, pushing to stand before I walked to Ryder’s front door.

I peeked out the window and onto the front porch.

Paisley frantically waved back at me like a goof.

I worked through the lock and let her in, and she came flying at me, long hair so blonde it was almost white, wearing a red tank and cut-off shorts and her signature cowgirl boots.

She threw her arms around me and swayed me back and forth, squishing me and making me laugh as she clung to me like she had thought she would never see me again. “Doodle-Boo.”

Then she released me so quickly to take me by the outside of the upper arms I thought I’d get whiplash. She gave me a small shake. “Why in the world didn’t you call me? I’m so mad at you right now.”

My brows rose to the sky. “And you wanted me to call you in the middle of the night, when you’re all the way out in the middle of nowhere?”

“Um, yes, isn’t that what I’m for? To come running when you need me? But okay, fine, I know Ryder is closer and it was the actual wise choice, but I’m still mad.” It was a pout and a tease.

Then her expression deepened as she searched my face. “Are you okay? I can’t believe that happened.”

“I’m fine. I mean, it was scary while in the middle of it, but I know Ezra’s going to find whoever it was.”

“I’m glad Ryder was there.”

My stomach tipped, and I tried to ignore the fact that I could hear his footsteps echoing from his room above. The way I constantly felt him, his movements and his breaths.

The way he was all bristly and rough.

The way he was so caring and sweet underneath.