Affection pulled at my chest. “He’s always loved those.”
“Reminds him of my grandma’s.”
“That makes me happy.”
“Well, you make a whole lot of people happy, Dakota. I hope you know that. What you’ve created here is something special.”
She slowed as we stepped out into the store where a ton of people milled around, waiting for their names to be called since the dining room was already full for lunch.
Pride swelled, and I couldn’t help but remember how it’d been made possible.
And maybe that should have been enough.
His care for me.
But with Ryder, being friends with him…or family…or whatever we were? It just had never been enough. I wondered how I hadn’t recognized it all along because a moment later, that energy pulsed through the air.
The ground shifted.
It wasn’t a slight tilting.
It was an earthquake below my feet.
A crack right through our shaky foundation.
I’d worried it was going to be awkward or weird when we saw each other again, or worse, he was going to freak and totally shut down since he’d been gone this morning when I’d awoken.
But instead, an easy smirk pulled to the severe contours of his face, and he sauntered forward, all cool and casual the way he usually wore himself.
If I didn’t know better, I would have thought nothing had happened between us last night.
Except the glint in those gunmetal eyes promised he wasn’t soon to forget.
“Paisley-Cakes,” he drawled, slanting Paisley a grin as he eased up to us.
“Hey, Ryder, what have you been up to?” She fully exaggerated it.
God, she was obvious, and Ryder’s gaze skated my way, the hint of something playful edging his mouth. “Just hanging out with Dakota here.”
His voice twisted through me like the knitting of greed.
“Oh, you don’t mind her and Kayden hanging out at your place? I was just telling her she should come and stay at the ranch instead, just until Ezra finds this creep. You know we have a ton of extra rooms. That way they can get out of your hair.”
And I was the liariest liar ever?
Hardly.
Still, I tried not to let go of the laugh that wanted to erupt with the way she was toying with Ryder.
Or maybe I just loved the way a growly sound rumbled from him, and he stuffed those tattooed hands into his jeans as he cocked his head. “Nah, I think Dakota might want to stick around. It’s closer to the café and all.”
“The offer is open.” She shrugged, though I could see her internally dancing with glee.
Ryder looked at the specials board before he leaned in close to me. “Besides, how am I supposed to get myself more of those Midnight Temptations if you aren’t there to offer it?”
It was gruff and smooth as silk.
Then he pulled back like he hadn’t just left my knees weak, voice easy as he said, “I better get going. Ezra is already waiting for me at a booth. Nice to see you, Paisley. Dakota.” He drew my name out a little longer before he turned and strolled through the open double doors, leaving me standing there gaping behind him.
Paisley was suddenly there, whispering at the side of my face. “There it is. The good D. I see it in your future. I sure hope you can handle all of that.”
She waved a hand in the direction of where Ryder had been.
Jostled from the daze, I swatted at her. “Would you stop it?”
She laughed too loud. “Absolutely not. Not until my Doodle-Boo gets all the good stuff she deserves. And judging by that? It’s going to be good.”
TWENTY-SIX
DAKOTA
I pulled up in front of my mother’s house at just after four. I should be dead on my feet, but there was enough anxious anticipation pulsing through me that I thought I could run a marathon and it still wouldn’t be enough to escape the buzzy need that pounded through my veins.
But I wasn’t distracted enough for my heart not to pang when I started up the walkway and saw Kayden’s little face pressed to the mesh, his nose and lips smooshed as he grinned out at me.
Love pressed hard against my ribs.
Joy profound.
“Mommy! I see you!”
“I see you, too,” I called back, my footsteps light as I climbed the steps. Mom was already unlocking the screen door in welcome by the time I made it there. I went right for Kayden, scooping him up, tossing him high without letting him go before I brought him down to smother his chubby cheeks in smacking kisses. “There’s my sweet boy. I missed you.”
He giggled and squealed, arms and legs flailing as he tried to wiggle out of my hold all while fisting both his hands in my hair. “Mommy go work?”