Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
He chuckled reached out with one hand and grabbed the back pocket of her jean shorts. “You and your curves are fucking delectable. And if you want to be Santa tomorrow and let all the screaming, kicking kids on your lap I will be happy to change places with you.”
She angled her head up to him so he could see her eyes and he was again grateful she wasn’t hiding them behind contacts today. “No screaming and kicking kids in your life?”
Her eyes widened as she realized her question and she struck off once more, not looking at him. Using his hand in the back of her waistband he tugged her to a stop before pivoting in front of her.
“Look at me.” He waited until she complied with his demand. “Not unless our time against the wall results in two pink lines. And I hope it does.”
Ryker didn’t have it in him to lie to her. He wanted her. No questions, no hesitations, and definitely no excuses.
Despite her having darker skin he could still see the flush that scampered up her cheeks making them glow in the afternoon sun. Pushing down his amusement at her discomfort he tapped her on the end of her nose with his index finger before turning her back into the direction they were headed.
For couple of blocks the only sounds were either one of them saying hello to townsfolk. No words were exchanged between them, however he did maintain his hold on her needing to touch her in some manner.
As they headed to where the cabins were and got closer to the final destinations he slowed to a stop before once again putting them face-to-face.
“Holly or Tinsel?”
Her face scrunched up she tried to ascertain the meaning behind his question. Ryker waited not in any rush to end the connection between them or the time that he spent with her. Besides, he hadn’t lied there were dirty nasty plans the two of them had to take care of.
She shrugged shoulders popping briefly. “I’m sorry, I have no idea what you talking about what’s Holly, what’s Tinsel and why are those my two choices?” She shifted her stance not enough that his fingers left the grip on her pants but putting slightly more distance between. “Because I have to say as far as food choices go neither one sounds appetizing. As for dirty nasty things to do to the hunky Santa, I have to say, tinsel I could understand but Holly, now that just sounds painful.”
He tipped his head back and roared with laughter. This woman he would never have enough.
“I’m all for tying you up with tinsel if that’s what you’d like. I love that you’re adventurous. What I meant though, was the names of the cabins and whose are we going to?”
His phone rang before he could her answer and with a frustrated groan he released her pants pocket and dug his out to find Preston’s name on the screen.
“I have to take this, just a moment.” He kissed her lightly on the lips step back once more and swiped accept. “Everything okay, Preston?”
“We need to talk.”
Swallowing back his irritation, he stepped further away from Rayla keeping the phone to his ear. He didn’t pause until he was on the porch in front of his own cabin.
“I’m clear. What do you got?”
“There was some activity on his card. Ryker, it’s not good.”
Dread filled him at the thought of his brother in trouble in him being unable to do a thing about it. Fisting his hand, he took two deep breaths and forced himself to relax. In his periphery, he watched his future wife walked off to her own cabin.
“Tell me everything. First off have you found him?”
Preston’s uneasy sigh told him more than he ever wanted to know. His brother was in serious trouble. Listening to his friend and teammate he tried his best to stay objective to the words he was hearing which painted his brother in the least flattering way possible.
“None of this makes sense Preston. My brother was a lot of things, he goofed off didn’t take things seriously, but I can imagine he would ever get in bed with the people that you talking about crime syndicate, murder, drugs. It’s just not the guy that I knew growing up.”
“We all know people change, Ryker. This isn’t set in stone, but this is what we found. I know you said not to look that your brother would reach out, but we also know that were family and you needed this handled is you’re doing it from your end we can do it we can from here.”
Raking his hand through his hair he stared off into the mountains. “I would beat his ass if he was in front of me.”
Preston released a wry chuckle. “There is one other thing.”