Page 35 of Ryder

“Thanks for not telling me the truth.” She sighed. “Give me my panties. I need something to help contain you.” She gazed around the room. “I wish there were tissues.” She glared at me. “If I had my handbag in here I would have tissues.” I handed over underwear and she quickly got them on and eased off the table. “Come on. Let’s go out there and face the music before I chicken out and send you while I see if there is a back way out.” Circling her waist, I to od the lead as we exited the office. “You’re lucky I love you,” she mumbled.

I had gotten my cast off just in time for Ryder’s birthday. His birthday would be exactly two weeks before any wedding anniversary we had. I was surprised I wasn’t nervous considering my wedding was only two weeks away, but I wasn’t. I guess it was because I was sure I was doing the right thing marring Ryder.

“What did you think of the movie?” I asked Ryder as we turned down the country road that had now turned into just dirt. I was in the SUV BMW. I loved this car and had pretty much claimed it.

“I liked it. What was there not to like? There was action, adventure and even a little romance.”

“I enjoyed it too. There could have been a lot less blowing up of things. I mean, I bet in real life if someone’s house exploded like that and you just made it out you would at least have broken something.”

“You’re right vixen, if that really happened you’d be a lot more hurt than the hero was, but it was just a movie.”

I nodded and we were quiet for a moment or two. I loved with Ryder that I could just be, that we didn’t need to fill the silence. When we were close to my surprise I asked, “What do you think so far of your birthday?”

“I’m loving it. Any time I spend with you always makes my day great.” He had the perfect answer until he added, “One of the best is I’m getting you all to myself. No little trouble maker puppy.”

I shook my head. He really didn’t get on with Teddy and I thought it was hilarious. That was why I was getting him this present though. The only problem would be that his brother Tyson would have to pick it up and have it for a little over a week as we would be on our honeymoon.

I turned left down a winding driveway that was basically rocks and mud and was glad we had an SUV. When we’d been on the road for a good five minutes, we came to gates that were open with Chad waving us on past his SUV on the side, with just enough room for me to squeeze past on the rock road. The road straightened and we could see the huge farm house, sheds and kennels.

“Where the hell are we?”

I parked the car at the side as we came up on the house and saw Joel there with an older woman in her late fifties. “Your surprise. Now get out of the car.”

We got out and Ryder came to me and circled my waist as we walked to Joel and the woman. She stepped forward. “Hello. It’s nice to put a face to the lady I’ve been talking to. I’m Rose Benchwood.”

I shake her hand. She was the owner of this working farm and trainer of the German Shepherd dogs she breeds for police and the military. I hate to admit it, but the Silverman name went a long way, and when Rose heard it was for Ryder, a detective, she offered him first pick of her new litter. “Mrs. Benchwood.”

“Rose, please.”

I nodded my thanks. “Rose, this is my fiancée, Ryder. It’s his birthday today so that’s why I wanted to come and meet today.”

“Happy Birthday.” She smiled at Ryder.

“Thank you. I’m sorry though, you have me at a disadvantage as I don’t know why I’m here.”

“If you’ll just follow me, my daughter Ruby has everything set up.” We followed Rose around the back of the house and as we turned the corner, we heard the little barks and growls. In a small fenced in area were eight little German Shepherd puppies. “They’ll be four weeks old in two days.” We stopped at the fence and she handed us antibacterial cream. “Please put this on before going in. The puppies are little and haven’t had all their vaccinations so this will help to make sure they don’t get anything from you before they get the rest.” Ryder and I both did our hands and I started to worry when we entered the fenced in yard and Ryder hadn’t said a word to me since the car. “Ryder, as I discussed with your fiancé, you can have the pick. I have agreed for you to come once a week for lessons on how to train, too. It all depends to on how well you want your dog trained. I train dogs for the police and help with the Army.”

“Holy shit, vixen, did you get me a real dog?”

Rolling my eyes at his ‘real dog’ comment—Teddy was real he was just little—I nodded. “Yes, I got you a dog that, if you want, you could train and maybe use for your work if you ever decided to leave the force and go out on your own.”

“Damn, I love you.” He turned and tilted my chin up and his lips claimed mine in an all-consuming, forget-about-where-we-were kiss.

“I’ll take that as he’s happy,” said Rose quietly.

“Yep.” Joel replied softly and then raised his voice and added, “Although they’re always doing stuff like this and acting like they’re the only two people around.”

Easing apart, I knew I was bright red as I turned to Rose. “I’m sorry.”

She waved my apology away. “No need to apologize. Come. Meet the puppies. This is my eldest daughter, Ruby.”

I looked at a girl a little younger than me, sat on the ground, surrounded by toys. Behind her was a small play gym obstacle course. Tiny black, tan, and white covered puppies played. They were so cute.

Ryder sat on the ground and I smiled at the sight. He looked huge and too big to sit on the ground. As soon as he sat he was greeted by two puppies, one that was almost all black but with tan paws, and another that was what you picture your typical German Shepherd dog looking like.

“Can you tell already who’s going to be best to train?” Ryder looked up at Rose.

“They are starting to show their personality more and more. The two that you have with you are very curious and inspect everything. They are both very close and doing almost everything together so, I’m watching but I’m thinking they may have to stay together.”

---