“Thank you. As I said, I usually write for myself now, but when Ryker James calls you for a collaboration, you don’t turn it down.
“So, what is it you do, River? How do you know our Ridge?”
River spent the next few minutes talking about herself. Something she hated to do especially when she mentioned her grandmother’s deteriorating condition and how that was what brought her to Carson.
Grady and Dylan disclosed that they were only in town for the weekend because they needed to get back to their pet pig, Petunia. But Dylan agreed to join River at the knitting club she had been tricked into attending. Ryker had laughed at her wariness of joining the club, but he explained that Norah went as well. And that more times than not the women drank a little too much and gossiped even more.
River could tell that Ridge was reluctant to leave, but he had been working nights all week and his eyes were drooping with tiredness. It took Grady pointing it out for Ridge to concede that he was exhausted. Delilah had long since fallen asleep in River’s lap, one of her favorite nap positions.
As they were leaving, River and Dylan made plans to meet up at the studio in town Ryker was using to record the song. It was strange for her to consider that a handful of celebrities lived in the small town, but after dinner with Ryker, she realized that he was just a regular person. However, she was still a bit starstruck.
At Ridge’s house, River helped him ready Delilah for bed, who barely opened her eyes as he put her in her footie pajamas. River leaned over the crib where Delilah slept with her teddy bear and wished the little girl peaceful dreams when Ridge came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“I like that you care for my daughter so much.”
“She’s pretty amazing, just like her dad,” she told him truthfully, leaning back against his body.
Ridge tilted his head to nip at her neck, then soothed the pinch with his tongue.
“Did you have fun tonight?”
“I did. You have great friends, Ridge.”
“I do.”
Turning in his arms River pressed her mouth against his as she draped her arms around his neck.
“If you find Penny, have you considered moving back to California?” It was a question that had been plaguing her for a while. Keeping his daughter safe was the motive for his move. If his ex was no longer in the equation, there was no reason for him to stay.
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but no, I don’t think so. My family is here and Delilah seems to like it here, and. . .well. . .you’re here.”
“I thought we agreed to keep things casual, Ridge.”
“We did, but that doesn’t mean I can’t care about you and enjoy the things we do together.”
“That’s true.”
“Want me to show you what some of those things are?”
River brushed her lips against his, pressing her body closer until not even a sliver of paper could pass between them as she said, “I’m sure I could be persuaded.”
Chapter Thirteen
He didn’t think he’d ever tire of waking up with River in his bed. She tended to steal all of the covers and press her body against him all night. Her skin was like a furnace, but there was something remarkable knowing that she sought him out even in her sleep.
Turning his head, he couldn’t fight back his smile. She was lying on her stomach, her arms tucked under her pillow while her slumbering face was directed toward him. She had one leg draped over him, unable to sever their connection completely.
Ridge was truly afraid of the feelings he had for her. He felt like he was a spinning top about to fall off its axis.
As quietly as he could, he extracted himself from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. Delilah would be waking soon and he wanted to give River a morning to relax. A short shower later, Ridge stepped into a pair of sweatpants and went to check on his daughter, who was still sleeping away in her crib. It was rare that she slept past 7 a.m., but he knew that she was a bit overstimulated with the later dinner the night before.
He was surprised to find River standing in front of the coffee pot in the kitchen, pouring two mugs of the delectable liquid.
“I was trying to let you sleep in,” he told her as he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“That’s okay. I have a hard time sleeping once the sun comes up.”
“Me too.”