“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yeah, Sade, seriously.”
“Thanks, sissy,” Ryder said. “I’ll see you later.”
“’Bye.”
Ryder slipped his phone back in his pocket and grinned. “See?”
“I’ll take you up on that offer, honey. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
He kissed me quickly. “My pleasure.”
“I haven’t been stalling so you’d loan me your car.”
“I know that, Sadie.”
“Just checking.”
Ryder laughed. “Baby, the day you’re able to play some kind of womanly game will be the day the world ends, so you never have to worry about what I think your motivations are.”
I climbed into the driver’s seat. “I should probably practice my womanly ways.”
“Don’t.” He slid in beside me and shook his head. “I love you just the way you are.”
“Because I can’t lie to you?”
“Yep.”
“Good to know.” I started the car and drove us to the store.
The rest of Ryder’s limited time with me was spent shopping and doing other general domestic chores. It was one of the best days I’d ever had.
* * *
Sadie
Friday morning, I had the blissful opportunity to sleep in for an extra half an hour and it was awesome. Even though I felt stressed driving in (it was my second time driving alone), at least I wasn’t stressed and tired.
By the time the end of day bell rang, I was surprised how quickly the time had flown by.
“Miss Ross?”
“Yes, Hayley.”
“There’s a man here.” Hayley pointed to the door and my heart skipped a beat to see Ryder standing in the doorway.
“Hey, baby,” he said.
“Is he your boyfriend?” Hayley asked.
“Yeah, sweetie, he is.”
“He’s super hot, Miss Ross.”
Ryder chuckled, and I rolled my eyes.
Oh, nine-year-old girls who are going on twenty-one.
“Hayley, we really need to get out to the bus,” I said.
She grabbed her backpack and took one more wistful look at Ryder. “Okay, Miss Ross.”
“I’ll be back in a sec,” I said to Ryder.
He grinned. “Okay.”
I gathered the kids and walked them outside, passing them off to Marci, who walked them down to the awaiting busses. I stepped back into my classroom and smiled at Ryder. “What are you doing here?”
He closed the distance between us and gave me a sweet but somewhat chaste kiss. “I’m whisking you away.”
“Oooh, that sounds amazing. Where?”
“Beach. You and I are gettin’ out of town for the night.”
He slid his arm around my waist. “We’ll stop at your place, pack a bag, then we’re on the road.”
“What about the bar?” I challenged.
“Reese is on it. And Ollie’s on Scottie duty.”
“Okey doke.” I followed Ryder to the car and we took off for home.
Sadie
OUR DRIVE TO Cannon Beach could only be described as idyllic. The weather was overcast and chilly, but not cold, and the traffic was almost non-existent. Very unusual for a Friday evening. We laughed, I sang out loud (badly) to the few songs I knew, all the while watching Ryder’s face soften as he’d glance at me while he drove.
“You good with one room, baby?” Ryder asked as we pulled up to the historic boutique hotel near the beach.
I smiled. “I trust you, yes.”
“Good, ’cause that’s all I booked.”
I giggled. “Figured.”
We climbed out of the car and he grabbed our bags, following me inside. Once we checked in, we headed to our room and I was a little in awe. A fireplace took up almost an entire wall, while a flat-screen TV, and huge four-poster bed sat in the spacious room, with comfy chairs turned toward the window that overlooked the ocean. There was a tile bathroom with double sinks, marble tiled shower and a separate room with a clawfoot soaking tub. “Oh my gosh, this tub is awesome. How long are we staying?”
“Just one night.” I wrinkled my nose as Ryder slid his arm around me from behind and said, “Too bad it’s not our wedding night, huh?”
I turned to face him with a nod. “Couldn’t agree with you more.”
“We’ll come back.”
“I’m sorry I’m making us wait.”
“Sadie, don’t apologize, it’s fine. You’re worth the wait and we’ll have our time.” His knuckles slid gently down my cheek. “We’ve gotten to know each other in a way that means it’s forever, and I love that we have that foundation.” He smiled. “I already know the rest is gonna be good, so I’m not worried.”
“It’s just going to be good?” I challenged.
Ryder chuckled. “It’s gonna blow your mind, but I don’t want you obsessin’ on your mind being blown.”
I ran my palms across his chest. “Any obsessing would only be about how we need to get it on sooner than later.”
He dropped his head back and laughed. “Get it on?”
“Isn’t that how the kids are sayin’ it?”
“Shit, baby, you’re funny.”
“Thank you.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed the base of his throat. “I’m hungry.”
“Well, then, I better feed my woman, huh?”
“That’d probably be a good idea.”
He kissed me gently and then led me out of the room.
Bundling up, we walked down to the intimate restaurant and were led to our table, which had a beautiful view of the water. The table was romantically laid out and the sun was beginning to set on the horizon. Ryder pulled the waiter aside after we were taken to our seats and returned quickly, reaching his hand across the table to take mine.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
“You know, for an ex-nun, you ask a lot of questions.”
“Nuns don’t ask questions?” I challenged.
He chuckled and shook his head.
The waiter brought a basket of bread and glasses of water before walking away again. I studied the menu, but I was distracted. Ryder was up to something, and since I wasn’t a fan of surprises, even good ones, I kept glancing at him over the menu.
“You want me to order for you?” he offered.
“No, I want you to tell me what you’re up to.”
“All in due time, babycakes.”
I snorted and lowered my menu. “Babycakes?”
“Tryin’ it out, what do you think?”
“I think you’re trying to distract me.”
Before he could respond, the waiter returned, setting a plate with a silver dome on top on the table. He left again and then Ryder rose to his feet. I held my tongue, even though I wanted to pepper him with questions.
“Want to lift that lid for me?” Ryder asked.
I did as he asked. A red leather box sat in the middle of a round, white plate and I gasped. Ryder snagged the box and knelt in front of me. “Sadie Anna Ross, will you do me the honor of marrying me? Your aunt has already given us her blessing.”
“She has?”
Ryder nodded.
“Yes, yes, yes,” I said, excitedly.
He opened the box and I couldn’t stop a quiet squeak at the sight of the platinum and diamond ring with a princess-cut diamond surrounded by round pave-set diamonds. “Ryder, it’s amazing.”
He slid the ring on my finger and it fit perfectly.
I heard applause and glanced around the small restaurant. Blushing, I smiled at the other diners as they joined in our joy. Rising to his feet again, Ryder kissed me and then I had the chance to study the rock. Rows of pave-set diamonds on the ring had an intricate milligrain design around the entire band. “This diamond is huge.”
“It’s three carats, baby, but we can always take it back for something smaller.”
I bit my lip and shook my head. “I know i
t’s hard to take the nun out of the girl, but I love, love, love this. I don’t want anything smaller.”
“Good.”
“I thought we agreed nothing public.”
He grinned. “I needed a couple of witnesses.”
“Fair enough,” I conceded. And secretly, I felt quite proud that he was my fiancé. I might not be the type to scream it to the world, but I liked that a few people saw him being romantic.
He slid my hair behind my back, fisting it into a ponytail, and kissed me again. “Short engagement, yeah?”
“Most definitely.”
I smiled. “I love you, Ryder Carsen.”
“Love you too, Sadie Ross soon to be Carsen.”
“Mmm, Sadie Carsen sounds awesome.”
“I agree.”
The waiter returned with congratulations and took our order. Ryder ordered wine, insisting I try it since it would go perfectly with our meal, and I was pleasantly surprised I liked it. “You’re keeping your promise.”
“I am?” he asked.
“You said you’d expand my alcohol palate.”
“I guess I did.” He chuckled. “Your eloquence is far better than mine.”
“In what way?”
“I’m pretty sure I said I’d corrupt you, so you’d have to go to confession every day, but expanding your palate works too.”
I broke a piece of bread and buttered it. “So far I’m holding onto my virtue... at least when I’m awake.”
“That doesn’t bode well for me.”
“How come?”
“Think back, baby. You’ve been having nightmares quite a bit since...”
“And your point?” I asked, popping a piece of bread in my mouth.
“You wound me.” Ryder sat back a little with a smug smile. “But that’s okay, Sadie. I’m lookin’ forward to givin’ you somethin’ to dream about in real time.”
I swallowed with a shiver and bit my lip. “This is unnecessary torture, Ryder.”
“No,” he countered. “Unnecessary torture would be if I told you everything I plan to do to you on our wedding night.”
“Like what?” I challenged.
His finger traced a line down my breast toward my nipple. “Like, running my tongue—”
“Got it!” I said, cutting him off. “Oh my gosh, Ryder, you’re so mean.”
He grinned. “I’ll make it up to you, baby. Promise.”
I squirmed in my seat. “That doesn’t help.”
“Let’s set a date.”
“Tomorrow.”
He laughed. “Works for me.”
“I really don’t want a big wedding, but I would like to get married in my church, and I’d love Michael to officiate.”
“Can he?” Ryder asked.
“He’s performed several weddings since he’s been at the church, so I’m guessing that he can,” I said. “But we can find out for sure.”
“I’m good with that.”
“Even with Michael?”
“Yeah, Sadie. He’ll be marrying us.” He leaned forward and took my hand again. “Until death do us part... he’ll say those words. So, yeah, I’m fine with it.”
I smiled, squeezing his hand. “You’ve obviously thought about this.”
“I’m the romantic in this, remember? Yeah, I’ve thought about it.”
I giggled. “Well, I have too.”
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “I found my dress.”
“No shit?”
“Yep. About a month ago. Online.”
“Did you order it?”
I blushed and shook my head. “It’s more than I expected to spend.”
“You got the money?”
“Technically, yes. But it’s not really part of my budgeted spenditure for the year.”
“Then get what you want, Sadie.”
“You think?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m takin’ care of the rest, so you get the dress you want.”
I grinned. “You’re taking care of the rest?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t expect you to do that, Ryder.”
“Sadie, in the end, it’s our money, right?”
“I guess so.”
“So, you gonna buy that dress tomorrow?”
“You really think I should?”
“Yep.”
“Ryder,” I whispered. “It’s two thousand dollars.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s a lot to spend on a dress I’m only going to wear once.”
“Do you love it?”
I bit my lip.
“Sadie? Do you love it?” he asked again.
“Yes. I really love it.”
“Then buy it.”
I giggled. “Okay then.”
“That’s my girl,” he said, and squeezed my hand again.
Dinner arrived, interrupting any more discussion about the dress, so we ate then we headed out for a walk on the beach.
“What else do you want?” Ryder asked as we stopped for me to take off my shoes.
“For the wedding?”
“Yeah, baby. If we’re puttin’ plans in motion, I want it to be perfect.”
“Simple, Ryder. I just want everything to be simple. I don’t need fancy.” I smiled. “Just you, me, Scottie, Molly, and my aunt... um, Laura and Bethany... and anyone you want there, of course.” I’d worn shoes with laces, so I tied them together and took Ryder’s hand. “You’re not going to take your boots off?”
“Too cold.”
I bumped into him gently as we walked. “Wimp.”
He faced me and cupped my cheeks. “I love you.”
“I know.” I leaned against him with a frown. “Are you okay?”
“Just got a bad feelin’.”
“Well, please stow that feeling until after our romantic night away. I don’t want anything to ruin this.”
He chuckled. “Nothin’ is gonna ruin this.”
“Yeah, I know, because my man’s gonna smile and make out with me on the beach.”
“Yeah he is.”
I reached up and stroked his beard. “Are you worried about something specific?”
“Honestly? Yeah, a little. Char has never been this quiet. I don’t like that I don’t have eyes on him.”
“But he’s not here, right?”
“No, baby, he’s not here.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Which is why we’re here.”
“No, Sadie, we’re here because I had a plan to propose.”
“I wouldn’t be mad if it was all rolled into one, Ryder. I’m just asking.”
He smiled. “I hear you, baby, but no, this has been planned for a while. The Char shit just happens to coincide.”
“Okay then, for tonight, I call dibs on your mind and body.” I tapped his cheek. “We’ll deal with the rest when we get back to reality.”
“Fair enough.” He leaned in and kissed me gently.
“How fast can you run in those boots?”
“Pretty fast.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Race you to the water,” I yelled after I’d already taken off.
I almost made it (and I’m pretty sure he let me), before he’d grabbed me around the waist. Despite the fact I somewhat expected it, I let out a squeal when he lifted me off my feet and threatened to drop me in the ocean.
I locked my arms around his neck. “You wouldn’t.”
“Make it so you have to strip down to nothing?”
“Okay, you would.” I smiled and attempted to bat my eyelashes. “But I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t.”
“Do you have sand in your eyes?”
“No!” I said on a groan.
“Well, then what the hell are you doing with your face?”
“I was trying to flirt.” At his laugh I scowled. “I’ll remind you that in section four-point-one of the fiancée handbook you’re required to think I’m cute at all times.”
“There’s a handb
ook?”
I nodded.
He dropped his head back and laughed again. “I love you, you strange, strange woman.”
I grinned, leaning forward to kiss him. “Love you too.”
“How do you feel about ice cream?”
“Ryder,” I admonished. “You are very aware that if it were legal, I’d marry ice cream, so that’s kind of a dumb question.”
He chuckled, but before he could tell me why he asked the question, the heavens opened up and proceeded to dump water on us. I couldn’t stop a frustrated growl.
“Jump up, baby,” Ryder ordered, and pointed to his back.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, I can get us back before you can even get your shoes on.”
“Okey doke,” I said, and jumped onto his back.
Ryder piggybacked me the entire way back to our hotel, and he was right, we got back quicker than I could have put my shoes back on, however, we were soaked through and I was freezing.
Ryder set me down inside the building and we rushed to our room. “You get your clothes off, baby, and put the robe on in the bathroom. I’ll run the bath.”
My teeth chattered as I nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”
I did as he suggested and stepped out of the bathroom and into the little room with the tub. Ryder ran his hand in the water and smiled. “I’ll shower while you’re soaking.” He stepped out of the room and closed the door.
“We never got that ice cream,” I called as I slid into the water.
“I’ve got your back,” he promised “I’ll have someone bring it up.”
“I love you!” He laughed and then I heard the shower start. I didn’t get out of the tub until Ryder informed me the ice cream had arrived. I hurried to pull on a robe and joined Ryder back in the room quickly.
“Warm?” Ryder asked, wrapping an arm around me and kissing me gently.
“Very.” I slid my hands up his chest. “I love this shirt.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s soft and it matches your eyes.”
“Good to know.” He smiled. “You ready for ice cream?”
“Definitely.”
“I hope you like cherry.”
I screwed up my nose. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“You don’t like cherry? Damn it. It’s what we’ve got.”
“You can have it.”
Ryder laughed. “I would never do that to you, Sadie. What kind of monster do you think I am?”
Ryder (Sinners and Saints, #1) Page 21
