Don't Forget Me Tomorrow(91)
Except she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
And he knew if he was going to take this where he wanted it, where he was desperate to go, he had to fix it.
End it.
Because he understood the feeling that had taken him over. What had been simmering in him for years.
He was in love with Dakota Cooper.
So, when he went into Dare’s office late that night, he didn’t let old fear stop him. He simply strode in and spat, “I want out.”
Dare rocked back in his chair, chuckling under his breath. “I thought you would have learned your lesson the last time you came in here spouting off about walking away.”
“Yeah, I did learn something, and that’s that I don’t give a fuck about what you have to say any longer.”
Dare tsked, so fucking pompous when he drawled, “Awful brave.”
Ryder planted his hands on Dare’s desk. “I figure one of us is going to end up dead. You shouldn’t be so confident which one of us that’s going to be.”
Dare laughed again, so low that it curdled Ryder’s blood, but he refused to stand down.
Sitting forward, Dare stubbed out his cigarette. “I’ll tell you what, Ryder, I have a job. It’s big. Bigger than anything I’ve ever done before. You get this shipment to the East Coast, it’s 250k in your pocket and a whole fucking ton more in mine. You do it, and we’ll call this thing even.”
Alarms went off in every one of his senses. Warnings clamoring through his cells. Shaking him to his core.
He knew it would be a risk. One bigger than he’d ever taken. But Dakota was worth it.
Dakota who dreamed and believed and with every day that passed made him want to be something better.
He wanted to give her that dream, too.
That fucking diner that had broken her heart when she didn’t have enough cash to put down to get the loan.
So Ryder leaned forward and sold his soul again.
Just for a little while more.
“I want half right now. When it’s complete, I walk. You forget you ever fucking knew my name.”
Dare bit down on his lip before he grinned. “It sounds like we have a deal.”
THIRTY-NINE
DAKOTA
I wondered what people would think if they could see into my mind as I stood at the chalkboard writing today’s specials on the board.
It wasn’t the chicken breast stuffed with cheese, artichokes, and capers that had me blushing and grinning all over the place.
It was the Sugar Cookie Addiction that had my thoughts traipsing into the obscene. What had heat flaming across my skin and my stomach tightening with desire.
The way Ryder had taken me once we’d gotten back to his place Saturday afternoon while Kayden had been taking his nap.
He’d licked every inch of my body, murmuring that I tasted of sugar and vanilla, promising he wanted to eat me for every meal.
He’d made me come four times like that before I’d slumped onto the mattress, begging for mercy. That night and all day yesterday he’d come back to me time and again, then I’d woken this morning with his head between my thighs, the man driving me to oblivion with his tongue.
He’d popped up with a smirk on his face, wiping his mouth clean with the back of his hand, claiming I was his new favorite addiction.
You weren’t going to find me complaining. I didn’t think either of us were ever going to get enough.
I started back for the main dining room to check on things when my phone buzzed from the pocket in my dress. I pulled it out, and a giddy grin spread across my face when I saw it was a text from Ryder.
Ryder
I wish you were in my bed right now.
I wondered if I might float away from the joy that had taken me over, the swell of euphoria that ballooned, filling me with a lightness unlike anything I’d experienced.
I glanced around the dining room like I was going to be caught doing something salacious before I quickly tapped out a response.
Me
And what would you do to me if you had me there?
Ryder
Tie you to it, that way you can’t get away from me.
I moved around the high counter and leaned on it since no one was sitting there.
Me
Who said I wanted to get away? But I think I might get a little bored if you simply tied me to your headboard. Surely you could come up with something better than that.
I could almost hear the lust smack the air, a thunderclap that echoed all the way from his shop. The only thing I could do was picture him there amid all that metal, pressing his fist to his mouth like he was trying to control himself.
I loved being the one who got him unhinged.
Ryder
You’re making it tough to stay gentle with you, Cookie.
Me
What made you think I wanted you to be gentle?
I couldn’t help but prod him, wondering if I had half the effect on him as he had on me.
Ryder
I have half a mind to come down to that restaurant and show you exactly what I’d do to you.