Don't Forget Me Tomorrow(92)

Me



I hope you plan on making good on it.





Ryder



Oh, Cookie. You are playing with fire. I have four appointments back-to-back, so you’re going to have to settle for me showing you after I get home tonight.





My stomach fluttered with need.

Me



Why do I get the feeling I need to prepare myself for what you have in store?





Ryder



Because I’ve lost all restraint when it comes to you.





Me



Good.





Ryder



Fuck me, Cookie. You’re really trying to kill me.





Another text came in right behind it.

Ryder



I’m going to be late. That sweet ass is mine tonight. I expect you to be ready.





Me



You already have me soaked.





Ryder



Don’t even know how I’m going to make it through the rest of the day.





Me



By thinking about all the ways you’re going to have me.





“What are you doing over there grinning like a cat who just caught herself a big fat rat?”

A shocked yelp escaped when my phone was suddenly plucked out of my hand. My attention whipped up to find Paisley sitting in the stool across from me.

“Give me that.” I reached over the counter, trying to snatch it as she held it above her head.

“Why? Have something you’re hiding?” she teased.

“Ugh, why do you always show up when I’m in the middle of something? I think you’re half bloodhound.”

“Pssh. Bloodhound? Call it a sixth sense.” Her voice lowered as she leaned my direction. “Or maybe it’s just because you didn’t text me the entire weekend, and the last thing you told me was things had gotten a little spicy between you and Ryder, and my bestie intuition kicked in telling me things went from hot to boiling with you two.”

She sat back like she was just going to casually peruse the texts before her green eyes went wide. “Nope. Wait. I stand corrected. Not boiling. Scalding. Holy crap, Dakota.”

She turned the screen toward me and pointed at it.

Groaning, I buried my face in my hands.

“Tell me you two did the dirty deed. Emphasis on the dirty.”

At her prodding, I dropped my hands and glanced around the restaurant, ensuring we were out of earshot of anyone around us. My staff was busy, and the customers seemed satisfied and well taken care of, so I edged forward, feeling a sudden rush of gratitude for Paisley.

That she just knew and was always there for me when I needed her, showing up before I even realized how badly I did.

“We did. So many times, I’ve already lost count,” I admitted below my breath.

Except every one of them was scored inside me. Memories I would forever cling to as the best of my life.

She squealed, and I shot her a look to be quiet.

“Right, right,” she whispered, glee lighting all over her face. “But how in the world do you expect me to stay quiet when my bestie finally got herself some of the good D?” She gripped the edge of the counter. “Tell me it was good. This is Ryder Nash we’re talking about. I mean, those hands.”

Tipping her head back, she issued a greedy groan toward the ceiling.

“If I didn’t know you better, I’d tell you to keep yours off my man.” It was purely a tease.

One that sent that glee striking like a sun flare. “Your man?” she challenged.

All those emotions rushed me at once, and a shudder rocked me through, my tongue growing thick as I whispered, “He told me he’s in love with me.”

Paisley was suddenly holding both my hands from over the top of the counter, leaning my direction as she squeezed. “Of course, he’s in love with you, Dakota. If I had to make bets about it, I’d say he’s been for a long, long time.”

My nod was erratic. “He keeps confessing all these things. About how he’s been since he was twenty-two, but he didn’t think he was good enough. How could he ever think that?”

“I think both of you have walked around for far too long thinking you weren’t good enough for the other while it was plainly obvious to the rest of us that you were meant to be together. But sometimes the heart has to take its time to figure out what that means.”

I warred, usure of what to admit. “He said we have to keep it between us for now. There’s something going on in his life that he’s afraid of. What’s held him back all this time.”

A frown marred her brow, and she squeezed my hands tighter. “Is he in trouble?”

Worry bottled at the base of my throat. “Maybe. I don’t know. He just said he needs to take care of something in his life before we can tell anyone.”

Paisley scowled, not liking the sounds of it. “If that’s a woman he needs to cut loose before then, I will literally chop off his dick and cram it down his throat. I don’t even care how good it is.”