Page 18 of Ryder

I was driving his luxury BMW SUV, and I was in love. I didn’t think he was getting his car back. “I’m just letting you know now that by Monday night when I’m back from Dad and being at the base, this baby is going to be mine. Arron can have my old car. I’m claiming this.” I caressed the steering wheel. The car practically drove itself and with its plush leather seats and every technological advancement, I was in heaven. Sure, I had no idea what a good eighty percent of the stuff did, but it all looked so cool.

“If you want it, it’s yours.” I glanced over at Ryder in time to see him shrug, like giving me a car that was more than my wage for a couple of years was not a big deal.

I shook my head. “You do realize how crazy that is? You just giving me an expensive car. Normal people just don’t do that.” Groaning, I sighed loudly. As much as I wanted to have the car, I knew I couldn’t. Sure, I’d drive it every chance I got, but I couldn’t just take something like this no matter how much I might like it. I wasn’t with Ryder for his money. Sure, it was nice, but I wouldn’t care if he didn’t have any. I’d learned to save and work hard for what I had.

“I’d give you anything Divinity. I want you happy. When you’re happy. I’m happy. If this car makes you happy it’s yours. It’s not like I don’t have the money to buy a new one if I wanted to. I have lots of cars though.”

“I don’t want it. I love the car, but I don’t need it to make me happy.” I reached over and grabbed his hand and linked our fingers. “I don’t care about your money. I love pretty shiny things and name brand stuff, but I worked hard for everything I own. I know that money doesn’t grow on trees. I’ve lived on a budget and can honestly say I was happy. I am happy now, but I just want you to know.” I squeezed his hand. “That I’m not with you for your money. I could care less for it. I’m with you because you stormed into my life and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I’m with you because, every time you’re close my stomach flutters and a calm soothing feeling washes over me. I’m with you because you, not the guards you have on me, make me feel safe. I’m with you because every time we touch I get tingling coursing through me and I throb for more. I’m with you because you listen to me, and lastly I’m with you because you’re you, Ryder, who is becoming someone very important to me.”

His moan had me giggling. “Mmm, if you weren’t driving right now I’d so have you pinned and showing how much I want you after that little speech. You’re beyond amazing and I know you don’t want my money.” He brought our entwined hands up and kissed my knuckles.

“Thank you.” I concentrated on the road going over the directions of where I needed to turn in my mind. I didn’t want GPS on as where we were going was a surprise for Ryder.

“So where are you taking us?”

He’d probably been to where I was taking him at least a hundred times, with it being so close, but I hadn’t ever been and a friend told me there was a lot of carting the devices around and lifting them up and down stairs. So I was taking my muscle man so he would carry things for me. “Wet’n‘Wild. I know you’ve probably been there a lot, but I haven’t e—”

“Not a lot. Maybe two times.” I caught his shrug in my peripheral vision. “I haven’t been in years, maybe a good ten or so. We went overseas for our holidays and we always had a pool at home, so didn’t see much value in coming and waiting in lines.”

“Oh. Lines. I didn’t think. Um…” It never occurred to me that lines would be an issue. Aussie guys, well Aussies in general, weren’t big on waiting and lines. I wasn’t a fan either. “I was hoping that us coming during the week and when it wasn’t school holidays or boiling hot, might help with the lines. What do you think? Should we chance it or do something else?”

“No. I think that was great thinking and Wet’n‘Wild sounds fun.”

I bounced in my seat. “Yay! I have it all planned out. I printed a map and a battle plan.”

“We need a battle plan?”

“Of course. There is a certain way to do theme parks, and if not done right the adrenaline doesn’t reach its highest.” I nodded eager to let him in on my plan of attack. “First, we do the small rides, like, Super 8 Aqua Racer, and River Rapids, then we move on to middle ones, Mach 5 and Blackhole. Then we relax before lunch by Calypso Beach, eat and then move on to the harder, more edger rides like, Kamikaze and Tornado, but we save for close to or last, AquaLoop.”

I liked his deep laugh. It always sent a shiver of warmth through me. “You have our day all planned out?”

“Totally. I just hope we have enough time to do everything.”

We’d been at Wet’n‘Wild since nine forty-five, in time for it to open at ten. Three hours later I was starving. Ryder had gone to get us food and I had found us a table with an umbrella.

“Hi baby.” The deep gravelly voice wasn’t the one I was expecting, and Ryder never called me baby. I shivered in disgust. I hated when people used that as an endearment. I mean, I wasn’t a child or baby, why would I, or any woman want to be referred as one? My father, when he was in a good mood, called me his baby girl. That was alright because I was his child but for a man to use it to refer to me made me cringe and put me off them as soon as they spoke.

I turned towards the voice and was surprised to see not one, but two big guys covered in tattoos with a wicked glint in their eyes. I’d seen that look before. I must look like an easy target. Sitting on my own, looking relaxed and with not a care in the world. I just bet, these guys thought I was with a girlfriend or the guy I was with was some preppy cute young collage kids. Ha. Boy were they in for a shock that not only could I kick their arses, but I was sure Ryder could take them on without breaking a sweat.

“I’m not a baby, and you’re in my boyfriend’s seat.”

Both guys chuckled like I’d said something funny, I had a feeling they had been in the sun for too long and might have a bit of heat stroke. “I’m sure a pretty little thing like you could handle real men like us. What do think about leaving your little boyfriend and coming and trying us? I promise you’ll have fun.” I was sure now that the heat had gotten to them, because they were talking like cocky idiots.

“Are you two for real? Is this some kind of joke?” I saw out the corner of my vision, Chad and Leo, two of Ryder’s bodyguards and guys who watched me move in. I was surprised to see them. I hadn’t realized they were with us today. I laughed the closer they got and I noticed how white Chad’s legs were to the rest of him. They were both wearing board shorts, I guess to blend in.

“Want to tell me why you’re seating in my seat and leaning so close to my woman?” Startled, I almost jumped out of my seat at Ryder’s grumbling, growly voice. The sound sent a shiver of need straight through me to tingle at my core. Damn. The man was potent.

“Silverman. We were just introducing ourselves.” The man with eyes so brown they almost looked black spoke.

I turned back to Ryder who didn’t seem bothered at all. He picked me up, sat down in my chair and placed me across his lap. It happened so quick I didn’t even react. I just settled against him. “Razer and Darkness, what a nice surprise. Are you here for fun or business?”

“I was here for fun. Imagine my surprise when I spotted you. I called the Prez and Darkness here decided to come and join the fun.” Razer, I knew now, was the guy who had first spoken to me. Darkness was the one with the eyes that matched his name. “The Prez wanted us to tell you something.”

I wished for a moment I could see Ryder’s face, but I didn’t want to turn my back on these men. Now I’d heard them talking I was sure that that wouldn’t be a good idea. “Now isn’t the time. I’m off duty and with my woman.”

Darkness smirked down at me and I was sure I felt ice flow through me. “It won’t take long and you can have your time with your pretty little lady. You have two weeks to find out who the new guy is who’s honing in where he shouldn’t, before we start war to get rid of him.”

I felt Ryder tense beneath me, but only enough so I would know. I was sure if I wasn’t on him and didn’t know him the way I did, I wouldn’t have caught it. “Noted,” he snarled. “Now, let me finish my day with my girl.”

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