Holiday Baby Scandal

Laney’s words should have terrified him. But damn if her fire wasn’t the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

“I’ll consider myself warned.”

Her eyes narrowed. “If we weren’t in so deep with this traitor mess, I’d show you right now how much I love you. That will have to wait.”

Ryker’s body stirred. He’d never put his work second to anything or anyone before...but right at this moment he was seriously considering doing just that.

“Get that look out of your eyes.” She laughed. “How about I keep working and you go see what you can find in the kitchen?”

Ryker came to his feet. “Because I’m all for equal rights, I’ll cook for you. But I expect you to open doors for me and buy me flowers.”

Laney laughed, the exact response he was hoping for. He couldn’t handle tension...not with her.

“That wasn’t sexist at all,” she said, grabbing a throw pillow and smacking him.

That smile lighting up her face never failed to warm him in spots only she could touch. Guilt slammed through him. There was no way in hell Braden and Mac were going to allow their baby sister to have a relationship with Ryker, even if he thought he could risk it. No, Laney’s brothers were looking out for her, and they would be justified by telling her hell no when it came to Ryker.

Baby or not, the O’Shea brothers wouldn’t budge in this area. They’d had him follow Laney’s boyfriends over the years. Ryker had investigated worthless jerks, and he’d scared off the ones who posed any threat to Laney or the O’Sheas in general. Each time he’d had to intervene, Ryker had selfishly felt relieved that Laney wasn’t going to be with some jerk any longer.

Now here he was taking that role...and Mac and Braden were going to have to be the ones to talk some sense into Laney because he sure as hell had no willpower where she was concerned.

And she was wrong. This baby did change everything.

Ryker knew he’d never be the same again.

* * *

Dinner consisted of chips, salsa and, surprisingly, a taco salad. Apparently Ryker’s favorite food was Mexican, and he’d made it happen. She hadn’t known those ingredients were in her kitchen, but Ryker had worked a miracle and produced something amazing.

Hours later, Laney’s eyes were crossing. She closed the laptop and glanced across to Ryker, who was on his phone, leaning against her newly decorated mantel.

“I’m waving the white flag,” she told him around a yawn.

He straightened, shoving his cell in his pocket. “It’s nearly one in the morning. You need to sleep.”

“What about you? You need sleep, too.”

Looking at him in her living room, all dark and menacing, he actually seemed to fit. Amid the sparkling tree, the garland, the Nutcrackers and especially the new ornament, Ryker worked perfectly in her living room, in her life. He’d been a sport and had hung the rest of her ornaments and even added the newly fluffed wreath to her front door. He did draw the line sprinkling the iridescent glitter across the silver and white decor on her mantel..

But he’d stayed. He’d brought her living room to life with Christmas, made dinner and put the empty storage boxes back in her attic. There was something to be said about a man who put his woman’s needs first. And she was his woman. He’d figure that out on his own soon enough.

Ready to make good on that promise to fight for what she wanted, Laney set the laptop to the side and came to her feet.

“You need sleep, too,” she repeated, slowly closing the space between them. “It would be ridiculous to go out in this weather.”

His half-lidded perusal of her body from head to toe and back up sent shivers racing over her, through her. The man’s stare was nearly as potent as his touch. She practically felt him when he licked his lips as if she were a buffet. And he could devour her anytime he wanted.

“I’m not afraid of snow,” he told her.

Taking a risk that the hunger in his eyes was his weakness, Laney gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, tossing the garment to the side. His eyes remained fixed on her, exactly where she wanted them.

“But why take the chance?” she asked, reaching around to unhook her bra.

In a flash, Ryker reached out, wrapping those strong hands around her upper arms. For a second she feared he was going to stop her. Then she focused on his face. Clenched jaw, thin lips, desire staring back at her.

“You want me to stay?” he growled. “Then I’ll be the one doing this.”

He tore away her bra, jerked down her pants and panties. She had to hold on to those broad shoulders as he yanked the material over her feet. Standing bare before him sent another thrill through her. He stood back up, his hands roaming up the sides of her body, over the dip in her waist, cupping her breasts. His thumbs brushed against their peaks.