Hunter sighed. “Jo thinks something’s going on between you and Annabeth.”
Ryder met his brother’s stare.
“Then you’re one lucky son of a bitch.” Hunter stared at him, long and hard. “But she and Cody have been through a lot. She comes with a kid, a big job, her grandmother... Makes things harder, when so many people are involved, if things don’t work out. A lot of people can get hurt. Like me and Amy—a lot of hurt there.” Hunter shook his head. “I was damn lucky to get a second chance with Jo.”
“Guess I was hoping not to talk about the end of something that hasn’t started yet.” Ryder felt his temper rising. His brother’s mess of a first marriage and nasty divorce was nothing like what he and Annabeth were facing. Yes, he’d messed up more times than not, but—just once—it’d be nice not to get a lecture from his family.
Hunter nodded. “Just don’t screw things up.”
“I don’t plan on it.” Ryder sighed, his chest heavy. “But it’d be a hell of a lot easier if I knew what to do next.”
“Start with telling her how you feel. Then show her what she means to you.” Hunter grinned. “Then do it again, every day.”
Hearing his brother say it out loud made it sound easy. He suspected it wasn’t, but at least now he had a place to start. It was something he’d make damn sure he stayed on top of. Ryder picked up the cookie and popped it into his mouth.
Chapter Five
Annabeth parked her car and rested her head on the steering wheel. This had been one of her all-time longest days—wrapping up one of the longest weeks of her life. She’d been so busy she’d lost track of time. Once Greg’s parents had picked up Cody from school, she’d had team meetings, campus improvement council and a mountain of certificates to review and sign before the academic awards ceremony next week.
This weekend she planned on sleeping, if she wasn’t too nauseous. She’d never once thrown up when she was expecting Cody, but she’d been fighting to keep every bite down for the past few days. She’d gone through an entire box of crackers and a few bottles of ginger ale, but neither had done much good.
She turned off Lady Blue and climbed out of the car, tugging her briefcase and laptop bag out with her. It was only as she opened the door that she realized the front porch light was on. And the kitchen light was on. And music was playing.
“Hello?” she called out, too exhausted to be scared. It was Stonewall Crossing, after all—folks looked out for each other. If she had something to worry about, one of her neighbors would have let her know.
Ryder walked out of the kitchen, all smiles. Her lime-green-and-lemon-yellow-pattern apron looked downright sexy over his skintight black T-shirt and jeans. “You work long hours, Princess.”
She stood frozen, surprised, as he took her bags and helped her out of her coat. His thumb brushed the base of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine and jolting her into action. “Cody’s spending the weekend with Greg’s folks, so I wanted to wrap up all the loose ends before I left.” She followed him, unable to resist the view of his perfect butt encased in snug, work-worn jeans. “A little surprised to see you here—” Her stomach roiled as the mingling scents of garlic, rosemary, and...freesia filled her nostrils. She pressed her hand over her mouth and swallowed.
“You okay?” His smile dimmed as he looked at her. “You look a little green.”
She shook her head, swallowing repeatedly, as she stared around the kitchen. The small table was covered in her best tablecloth and set with her mother’s china. Candles flickered invitingly beside a massive bouquet of flowers. And a bottle of sparkling grape juice sat beside two wineglasses on the counter. “What’s this?” she murmured.
“Dinner.” He pulled a chair back for her.
She cocked an eyebrow at him, too bewildered—and tired—to argue. She sat, her mind racing. She should be mad at him. She should be yelling at him for running for the hills. She should kick him out and crawl into bed. But she was too tired. All she managed was “Why are you cooking me dinner?”
“To apologize.” The uncertainty in his voice drew her full attention. She’d never seen him look so...nervous. Her stomach tightened, apprehension filling her.
“For?” She forced the words out.
“Acting like a dick.” He knelt in front of her, taking both her hands in his. “You deserve better, we both know that.”
She was speechless.
“It’s not like we’re strangers.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“You and Cody are important to me. You always have been.” He cleared his throat. “Let me take care of you?”
Important to him. She knew that. She knew he would be there if she needed him. “Ryder...” Her voice was husky. She pulled one of her hands from his to take a sip of water. “What are you saying?” Her head was spinning. “Exactly?”
“Marry me.” His gaze traveled over her face. “Will you marry me?”
Marry him? “What?” she croaked. Emotion and nausea had her stomach churning.
He smiled. “You heard me.”