Broken Love (Broken 4)

Ryder pushed a piece of hair behind my ear before running his fingers softly down my cheek. “I would never ask you to leave the life you’ve worked so hard for either. Please believe that.”

“I do.”

“Then let’s just take this day by day. Nate is fine working on his own with the company, and believe me, my father couldn’t be happier that one of his sons is home to work on the ranch. We can stay here as long as you want.”

My cheeks felt as if they were burning I was smiling so big. “It’s kind of like our own little private hideaway in the mountains.”

Ryder’s eyes danced with excitement as he searched my face. “It’s my version of heaven.”

Jesus, he is perfect in every way.

“Come on, let’s get you inside. I had MaryLou take care of a few things for me to get everything ready for when you got out of the hospital.”

Ryder jumped out of his truck and ran to my side. Opening the door, he carefully helped me out. “Was there a sidewalk here the other day?” I asked as I tried to balance myself with the crutches.

“Nope. I had them put it in yesterday. It doesn’t go all the way to the main house, but it does go to the barn.”

Dropping my mouth open, my eyes widened as I gave him a stupefied look. “W-what?” I shook my head to get my thoughts together.

“You put in a sidewalk … just for … me?”

With a smile that made me weak in the knees, he reached down and picked me up into his arms, eliciting a small yelp from my lips. The temperature had dropped significantly in just a few days. The cool, crisp air felt good on my face as I buried it into Ryder’s chest.

He carried me toward the charming old homestead as the smell of pine invaded my senses. Lifting my head, I saw beautiful flakes begin falling from the gray sky. “It’s snowing!” I exclaimed, as a light dusting of white quickly covered every surface.

“First snow of the season!” Ryder said as he opened the door and walked in. One look and I gasped out loud at the sight before me. If I thought outside looked beautiful, it was nothing compared to the inside of the cabin.

Ryder shut the door with his foot and gently set me down.

My heart had never beat so hard in my chest. “W-when did you do this?”

His arm wrapped around my waist

as he kissed the top of my head. “I made a few phone calls.”

I peeked up at him with a bemused smile. “A few calls? Ryder, you did more than make a few calls.”

I scanned the entire house and took in all the white lights hanging from the ceiling. The furniture had been moved around to make room for a queen bed that had been placed in the corner near the fireplace that had a fire already roaring.

On the other side of the fireplace, the old writing desk that was upstairs was set up with my laptop, sketch paper and everything I needed to work.

“You have a very nice boss at Amour Boutique. She said not to worry; your job would be waiting for you when you got back.”

Oh my. He’s too perfect. He thought to call my job!

“And Maurice was more than thrilled to know you would be laid up in little stone house in Montana for a few weeks.”

A few weeks. Maybe breaking my leg was a good thing after all! Alone in a romantic old home with Ryder every day. Yes. Please.

“He sent over some ideas he wanted you to begin working on.”

“What? He did?”

Ryder smiled. “Yeah, he said something about he could feel your creativity about to flow. He wants you to … damn, what did he say?”

He glanced up toward the ceiling in thought before snapping his fingers and pointing at me. “He wants you to limpressionner.”

My ovaries just exploded. “Impress him,” I whispered. “You know French?”