Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
He’s older—in his late sixties, if I were to guess—but he’s in shape. He has the same hazel eyes and mesmerizing smile as Ryder. I imagine he was handsome when he was younger—probably looked just like Ryder, and I’d bet Ryder will look similar when he’s older—but with all the work Mr. Du Ponte’s had done to evade aging, he almost looks fake.
“I’m Kira,” I tell him. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Du Ponte. And thank you for allowing us to attend your event.”
“Of course,” Mr. Du Ponte says. “And please, call me Henry. Eric and his wife brought along their nanny as well.”
Just as he finishes his sentence, another door opens, and out walks a couple dressed like they’re going to the country club and not to the beach.
“Eric, son!” his dad says. “Perfect timing. Your brother and his nanny just arrived.”
“Dad,” Ryder hisses, “Kira is not—”
“Ryder, I’m glad you could make it.” His brother gives him a one-armed hug that forces Ryder to let go of me. He’s the spitting image of Ryder, only a bit older, and his wife is gorgeous. “And you must be Kira, right? I’m Eric, and this is my wife, Patricia.”
“Nice to meet you both,” I say. “This is my daughter, Violet.” I gesture toward my daughter, who’s too focused on the video on my phone to notice anything or anyone else.
“I was just telling her that you brought your nanny as well,” Henry says, glancing at his watch. “You should introduce them and let the cousins spend some time together while we go to lunch.”
“Dad!” Ryder barks, making his dad stop talking. “Kira is not my nanny. She’s my girlfriend. And if you keep this up, we’re going to leave as quick as we came.”
Henry rolls his eyes. “Stop being dramatic. I get it. You’re lonely, son, but don’t worry. Isabel Buchanan is here. Do you remember her? Her father is—”
“Seriously?” Ryder hisses. “Stop!”
He looks at Eric for help while I uncomfortably shift from foot to foot, having no idea what to do or say.
“Stop him, or I’m leaving,” Ryder demands. “You asked me to come to this shit, and I’m here, but I’m not going to spend the weekend listening to this crap, and I’m not going to let him pull this shit right in front of my girlfriend. I love her, and if I have it my way, I’ll be marrying her sooner rather than later.”
My heart swells at Ryder’s admission. I mean, I already knew how he felt, but I love that he’s not ashamed to admit it to anyone. He loves with everything in him, and I feel so blessed to be loved by him.
“How?” Henry accuses. “She’s still married, son. Or are you so blinded by a beautiful face that you didn’t bother to look into her past?”
What the hell?
“Of course you had her investigated,” Ryder growls.
“Well, one of us needs to think with the correct head. After what happened with that last woman.”
“Enough!” Ryder barks in a tone I’ve never heard him use before.
Instinctively, I jump back and trip over the wheel of the stroller. Before I hit the ground though, Ryder catches me. His eyes meet mine, and they morph from angry to apologetic.
“I’m not doing this with you,” he says to his dad, his voice low. “You asked me to come to the company picnic, and I’m here. Can you for once in your life act like a normal dad? You haven’t even met your granddaughter yet.”
“A normal dad?” Henry spits. “Do you hear yourself? This is why you—”
“Dad, stop,” Eric finally says. “Ryder knows what he’s doing, and he’s not going to make the same mistakes he made with Nora.” He looks at Ryder. “Dad is just trying to help. Let’s start over. In case you guys forgot, I’m in the middle of a campaign, and we need to put on a united front in public, so you two can’t be at each other’s throat.”
Oh my God. Did he just make this about him?
I hold back my groan, not wanting to draw attention to myself, and wish I hadn’t convinced Ryder to come this weekend. Ryder warned me about his family, but I didn’t fully grasp what he was saying until now.
“Okay,” Henry says. “Why don’t we go have lunch, and we can talk about this in private?”
“No,” Ryder says. “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m done.”
The way he says it sends a chill up my spine because he’s no longer angry—he’s over it.
“Ryder,” Eric warns, but Ryder ignores him.
“No,” he repeats calmly. “I’ve had enough. We haven’t even been here five damn minutes. This”—he jerks his chin toward his brother and dad—“isn’t a family. It’s a fucking business transaction, and it’s not the way I want to live my life.” He looks at his dad with an expression that backs up his words. “We haven’t even made it to our room, and you’ve already alienated the woman I love. I can’t do this anymore. Growing up, all I wanted was for you to love me, but you’ll never see us as anything more than business, and while Eric is okay with that, I’m not.