mother. He laughed down at her and moved toward the bed, depositing her on her mother’s lap. He stroked softly over Mia’s thigh, her lithe tanned limbs spread invitingly over the sheets. Something passed between them at that loving gesture, as if he was soothing her.
Ryder leaned over the girls and roughed the boy’s hair lovingly. “Time for a bath, big man,” he said as he picked the boy up as if he were a feather. He threw him in the air a few times, while Mia watched with big eyes. The boy squealed with delight, his shyness forgotten.
“Ryder. Not so rough.” She chided. “His asthma.”
“Sorry. Forgot. But Jamie’s a big boy. He can handle a bit of rough and tumble. Can’t you James, my man?”
Jamie nodded enthusiastically. Clearly Ryder brought him out of his shell.
Ryder high fived him and carried him upside down out of the room , toward the bathroom.
“Lock the door behind you when you leave, Princess.” Ryder called over his shoulder. I got the hint. I was no longer wanted around. He was probably hoping to get the kids to bed early so he could have alone time with the sexy woman in his bed.
The thought of them making love irked me beyond belief. She was everything I wasn’t. She looked like a sex goddess and I was the inexperienced virginal girl. After being with a woman like her, no man would give me a second glance.
Even though I didn’t want him, the realization was like a knife twisting in my gut.
Mia’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. “Don’t go. Please stay a while and chat? I haven’t had anyone to talk to in weeks, besides Ryder and the kids. I need woman talk.” Her doe-like eyes were pleading.
She patted a space on the bed, inviting me over. I hesitated. Did I really want to get into this?
“Ryder clearly doesn’t want me here.” I hadn’t realised that I’d spoken my thoughts out loud, until she laughed.
“You don’t strike me as the type of girl who would care about what a man wants. Anyway, Ryder’s bark is far worse than his bite. Underneath all that tough guy shit, is a caring heart. I know, because I’ve seen it many times. Although he’d kill me if he knew I was telling you.”
“Really? Could have fooled me,” I chuckled. I settled on the bed next to her.
“Yes, really. In fact, the meaner he is to you, the more he actually likes you.”
Isabella crawled toward me and climbed into my lap. I stroked her baby soft skin.
I scowled. “Then he must really like me. He’s been nothing but mean and rude to me.”
Mia nodded toward Isabella. “Have you noticed how good he is with the kids? He can’t help himself. All that love he’s been hiding—since he was a kid and was abandoned by his mother—comes to the surface every now and then.” She winked at me.
My heart twisted for Ryder. So that’s why he’s so unforgiving. Being abandoned as a child would have broken any kid’s heart. I was glad Mia was giving me some insight into Ryder. Besides Harrison, I’d never seen a man that carried so much anger in him. It couldn’t be good for him.
I planted a kiss on Isabella’s head. “Listen, if you ever need help with the kids, I’m usually free in the evenings. I’m happy to help out. Just give me a call.”
I nearly bit my tongue once I’d made the proposition. It was stupid. It would mean I had to see Ryder and Mia as well, not only the kids. Thankfully, I knew most people never took up these kinds of offers. I’d be safe.
“You’re very sweet, Jade. I may just take you up on your kindness. Ryder has your number?”
“Yes. No problem.”
Holy crap. I always got myself into situations like these. Why couldn’t I just mind my own business?
We chatted for a while, mostly about the kids. Mia was so sweet and loving, I had no idea how she could stand to be with a man like Ryder. But the way she spoke about him so lovingly, I knew they had a very special connection. There were so many questions I wanted to ask about Ryder, about
Ryder leaned over the girls and roughed the boy’s hair lovingly. “Time for a bath, big man,” he said as he picked the boy up as if he were a feather. He threw him in the air a few times, while Mia watched with big eyes. The boy squealed with delight, his shyness forgotten.
“Ryder. Not so rough.” She chided. “His asthma.”
“Sorry. Forgot. But Jamie’s a big boy. He can handle a bit of rough and tumble. Can’t you James, my man?”
Jamie nodded enthusiastically. Clearly Ryder brought him out of his shell.
Ryder high fived him and carried him upside down out of the room , toward the bathroom.
“Lock the door behind you when you leave, Princess.” Ryder called over his shoulder. I got the hint. I was no longer wanted around. He was probably hoping to get the kids to bed early so he could have alone time with the sexy woman in his bed.
The thought of them making love irked me beyond belief. She was everything I wasn’t. She looked like a sex goddess and I was the inexperienced virginal girl. After being with a woman like her, no man would give me a second glance.
Even though I didn’t want him, the realization was like a knife twisting in my gut.
Mia’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. “Don’t go. Please stay a while and chat? I haven’t had anyone to talk to in weeks, besides Ryder and the kids. I need woman talk.” Her doe-like eyes were pleading.
She patted a space on the bed, inviting me over. I hesitated. Did I really want to get into this?
“Ryder clearly doesn’t want me here.” I hadn’t realised that I’d spoken my thoughts out loud, until she laughed.
“You don’t strike me as the type of girl who would care about what a man wants. Anyway, Ryder’s bark is far worse than his bite. Underneath all that tough guy shit, is a caring heart. I know, because I’ve seen it many times. Although he’d kill me if he knew I was telling you.”
“Really? Could have fooled me,” I chuckled. I settled on the bed next to her.
“Yes, really. In fact, the meaner he is to you, the more he actually likes you.”
Isabella crawled toward me and climbed into my lap. I stroked her baby soft skin.
I scowled. “Then he must really like me. He’s been nothing but mean and rude to me.”
Mia nodded toward Isabella. “Have you noticed how good he is with the kids? He can’t help himself. All that love he’s been hiding—since he was a kid and was abandoned by his mother—comes to the surface every now and then.” She winked at me.
My heart twisted for Ryder. So that’s why he’s so unforgiving. Being abandoned as a child would have broken any kid’s heart. I was glad Mia was giving me some insight into Ryder. Besides Harrison, I’d never seen a man that carried so much anger in him. It couldn’t be good for him.
I planted a kiss on Isabella’s head. “Listen, if you ever need help with the kids, I’m usually free in the evenings. I’m happy to help out. Just give me a call.”
I nearly bit my tongue once I’d made the proposition. It was stupid. It would mean I had to see Ryder and Mia as well, not only the kids. Thankfully, I knew most people never took up these kinds of offers. I’d be safe.
“You’re very sweet, Jade. I may just take you up on your kindness. Ryder has your number?”
“Yes. No problem.”
Holy crap. I always got myself into situations like these. Why couldn’t I just mind my own business?
We chatted for a while, mostly about the kids. Mia was so sweet and loving, I had no idea how she could stand to be with a man like Ryder. But the way she spoke about him so lovingly, I knew they had a very special connection. There were so many questions I wanted to ask about Ryder, about
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