The entire house was unique and manly and oozed his aura so profusely that I felt as if I were wading through a torrent of him as I tiptoed through the living room and into the opening to the kitchen.
Ryder had Kayden propped on the countertop, a hand on his side to keep him safe while he held a spoon with the other, flying it around and making zooming noises as he brought the scrambled eggs to Kayden’s mouth.
Kayden howled with laughter before he opened wide so Ryder could fly the spoon into his mouth. “That was the biggest bite I’ve ever seen, K-Bear.”
“I gwow big,” Kayden said, so proud, his grin so wide.
“That’s right, you are.”
Love rushed, and I suddenly felt rawer than I had in years.
I knew it was because I’d been shaken up. The stir of last night and staying in such close quarters with Ryder had left me feeling unsettled.
But it only swelled higher when Ryder shifted to slant me a look from the side when he sensed me standing there. “You want some eggs, too?”
“No, I think I’ll just have some coffee.”
A frown dented his brow. “You should eat, Cookie.”
“I’m fine,” I told him, deciding I needed to suck it up and stop tittering around him, so I strode into his kitchen like I did it every morning. I went for the rack of black mugs that sat next to his coffee pot and filled myself one, dumping a dose of cinnamon creamer into it. “Thank you for taking care of him.”
“No thanks needed, Dakota. I love spending time with him.”
“Me!” Kayden smacked both hands to Ryder’s cheeks, holding on tight as he curled up his tiny nose in the most adorable way.
“How did you know?” Ryder drawled in his deep voice.
“I a smart boy.” Kayden gave another of those deep dips of his head.
Ryder reached out and ran a tatted hand through Kayden’s hair, affection pouring out. “That’s right. You are a smart, sweet boy.”
The doorbell rang.
“That will be Ezra,” Ryder said.
“Why don’t you get it, and I’ll take over here?” I edged in close so I could put a hand on Kayden.
It put me in his atmosphere.
His scent slamming me.
Leather and decadent spice.
He stayed there for a moment like he was stuck in it, too, before he seemed to peel himself away, and it wasn’t until he disappeared through the opening that I was able to take a full breath. I pulled my giggling son into my arms and carried him to the sink where I shifted him around so I could clean the egg from his face.
He kicked and squirmed and howled like it was pure torture before he was giggling again when I swiped a clean hand towel over his face.
“I all clean.” He beamed at me with his dimpled cheeks.
“That’s right. And with a full belly,” I said as I set him on his feet then poked his stomach with my finger.
A rush of wild laughter left him, and he grabbed his tummy and squeezed. “Mommy, you get me!”
My heart thudded, and I smiled down at him softly before I slowly turned when I felt the tamed disorder ripple through the air.
Ezra followed Ryder in.
I didn’t love the grimness held in his demeanor.
“Hey, Ezra.”
“Morning, Dakota.” His voice was quieter than it normally was, and I knew from experience it was the one he used when he was delivering bad news.
“Let me get Kayden situated really quick.”
“Sure.”
I pulled up Kayden’s favorite show on my cell. “Why don’t you watch your show while Mommy talks to your uncles for a minute? You sit right over here.”
I wound around them and into the living room to a lounger. “Hop up there, sweet boy.”
Kayden climbed up, and I handed him my phone. “You get one show.”
He squealed, puckering his adorable lips, and I reached out and caressed down his cheek.
“Love is on house.” He slurred through the words, and my chest fisted, so tight I thought it might cave, and I leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
“That’s right. Love is on the house. Free and forever.”
Because he would never have to ask for it.
When he was situated, I moved back into the kitchen where Ezra and Ryder were leaned toward each other, their words hushed.
I cleared my throat. “Do you two want to let me in on whatever you’re whispering about over there?”
Ezra scraped a hand through his short hair while Ryder looked like he was about to go on a rampage.
I strolled in as casually as I could, going for the coffee mug I’d left on the counter. I turned to lean back against the counter and took a sip, looking at Ezra point blank. I wasn’t about to tiptoe. “What did you find?”