With a quick grin, I said, “Let me change really quick and I’ll meet y’all downstairs.”
Liza stood up and stretched. “Man oh man. Nothing like family-weekend drama to wear you out!”
Dani laughed as they made their way over to the bedroom door.
After throwing on some sweatpants, a long sleeve T-shirt and a light jacket, I found my hiking boots and laced them up. Something outside the bedroom window caught my eye as I moved the curtain and sucked in a breath of air.
“Oh … holy … shit.”
My father and Ryder were walking back from the barn. Leaning in closer to get a better look at Ryder, my head hit the glass.
“Shit!” I yelled out as I strained to see if Ryder was limping or showing an
y signs of trauma.
Tripping over my untied shoelace, I rushed to get my boots on and ran to the door and threw it open as I waited for Ryder to come up and change.
“Hurry up, son! We’ve been waiting on you two for the last forty minutes!” Nate Sr. yelled out.
My thumb went to my mouth were I promptly started chewing on my nail. Ryder ran up the steps two at a time and flashed me a smile that took my breath away.
“Hey,” he softly spoke as he took me into his arms. “I didn’t mean to just blurt that out. I wanted to make that moment special and I wasn’t sure if you thought me saying it was too soon or maybe it wasn’t romantic enough or—”
I placed my finger over his lips and shook my head. “I love you, too. And it was beyond perfect.” I closed my eyes and frowned before opening them again and saying, “No … it would have been perfect had Nate not been there.”
Ryder grinned as he dipped me back and kissed me fast and hard on the lips. “I need to change. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
My stomach felt like I was on a roller coaster as I returned his smile and nodded. “Kay,” was all I managed to get out as Ryder lifted me quickly. Slapping my ass, he headed to his room.
“Wait!” I called out. “What did my father say to you?”
Ryder turned and walked backwards. “That if I hurt you in any way, or have sex with you ever again while he is within a five-mile radius, he will kill me. That’s all.”
With a shrug, I said, “Oh good! Well, not good that he would kill you, but good that he didn’t try to kill you already.”
Ryder stopped at his door and then dashed in while I practically skipped down the stairs.
I finally met my prince charming. I can’t wait to tell my mother!
“IT’S SO INCREDIBLY beautiful up here,” Jase said as he walked behind me.
“I agree. I’ve never seen the sky look so clear or so blue.”
Liza and Walker brought up the rear, and I knew it was because they wanted to steal a kiss or two along the way. I couldn’t blame them. It was rare for them to not have little Nickolas with them.
“We’re almost to the top. The view is like nothing you’ve ever seen,” Ryder called out as he looked back at me.
My heart raced with excitement as I continued heading up the trail.
“You get you some action last night?” Jase whispered from behind me.
Stopping, I hit him on the chest. “Seriously? Stop acting like a child.”
He lifted his eyebrows and replied, “I’ll take that as a yes you did. No wonder your dad was in an uproar this morning.”
“I’m not talking to you about this, Jase.”
Jase roared with laughter as he walked by and headed closer to Ryder.