Page 43 of Laying it Bare Biker Style: Ryder

“I love you, too. Thanksfor bringing me food.” I patted the spot beside me. “I hope Graysondidn’t feel bad that I didn’t want to eat out there.”

“He knows you need time todecompress. And I think he was just trying to offer his help.”Ryder carefully sat down and then placed the makeshift tray ontohis lap. “He was pretty exhausted as well so I’m sure he wolfedsome food and will be dropping into bed soon.”

I ate while Ryder ran his handsthrough my hair and up and down my spine in soothing passes. When Iwas finished, he set the skillet on the nightstand. Gathering me inhis arms, he slid the two of us down in the bed. Then he locked hisgaze on mine, searching for, what I was pretty certain, clues aboutmy mental status.

“I want your lips and handsall over me, Ryder.” I slid my hand up his chest to rest it abovehis heart. “I know you love me and want what’s best for me. And youare what’s best for me, always. Even right now.”

He stared at me for another momentbefore his lips found mine. After relieving me of his t-shirt, hismouth and hands trailed over every inch of my body before he madelove to me. Then in the shelter and loving warmth of his arms, Ifell into a peaceful sleep.

Over the next several weeks, wegradually slipped back into our normal routine with work, datenights, Ryder taking care of club business, and him taking me tothe shooting range – even though we had cut it back to weekly now.And when I was about six months pregnant, Misti and Angel did throwus a baby party at the club which Ryder grudgingly attended, butended up having a great time. Even though the girls had tormentedhim endlessly over the weeks leading up to it with their talk ofbaby games, the picnic ended up being just that – a gathering withhis brothers. Although there was so much food I don’t know how itall got eaten; a beautiful cake congratulating us on our new babygirl – confirmed by ultrasound – and an endless mountain ofgifts.

And my stomach continued to expandwhile I rode the highs and lows of pregnancy. I was so excited forour little girl to join us, but at the same time still fretted abit since I was carrying another man’s child. Even though thatmonster was completely gone from our lives and Ryder had assured mefrom the beginning that he considered the child his in every way, Istill worried he was only saying that for my benefit because heloved me.

However one evening after we steppedinside the house after work, I was shocked to discover the babyitems that had been piled neatly in the corner of the living roomwere gone. I twisted to look up at Ryder. “Where did all of thebaby stuff go?”

“Oh, aboutthat.”

My stomach churned as tears welled inmy eyes.

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, hegrabbed my hand and led me back the hallway, while I had troubleforming words.

When we stopped in front of the doorto the spare room and he pushed it open, my eyes widened as thetears dripped down my cheeks while I took in the room’stransformation. Tilting my head back, I gazed up at him.

“Grayson and I spent thelast two days while you were at work getting rid of the few piecesof furniture that were in here and then repainting the walls andreplacing the carpet. Then he helped me set up the room for ourlittle girl. What do you think?”

I blinked up at him like anidiot and my mouth gaped like a fish. “Our little girl?” I didn’tcompliment him on the beautiful selection of peach for the walls orthe amazingly soft crème colored carpet under my feet. No, my braincouldn’t move past the comprehension that hedidin fact consider this babyhis.

His arms came around me and hesnuggled me into his chest. “I knew you still harbored some doubtas to my true feelings about the baby. But Sage, she’s a part ofyou and that’s all that matters to me. I love every part of you andthat includes the baby.” He kissed the top of my head. “So I’mhoping your lack of enthusiasm over this mind-blowing room isbecause you are still coming to grips with that truth and notbecause you don’t like our room design.”

“It’s beautiful and ourdaughter is going to love it too. Thank you so much for surprisingme with this. You and Grayson did a wonderful job. It’sperfect.”

Stepping out of his embrace, Isnatched his hand in mine and we walked around the room. My fingersitched to touch everything. The wooden crib all decked out withjungle animal sheets and a blanket. A matching changing table. Asmall white dresser and a plastic toy box filled with toys shewouldn’t be able to use until months after her birth. Most of theitems were gifts from his brothers and Misti and Angel, but Ryderand I had bought some things as well. But the rocking chair in thecorner was my favorite since Prez had crafted it himself for ourdaughter.

Then my eyes were drawn to the brownteddy bear sitting on top of her dresser. It wasn’t so much thebear – because that would be a gift for a baby – but the fact thatsomething twinkled on the ribbon tied around its neck. Heartpounding in my chest, I padded over to get a closerlook.

Ryder had stepped up behind me, so Itwisted to face him.

“There’s a – ” I couldn’tget the words out around the tears clogging my throat.

Reaching around me, he picked up thebear, untied the ribbon, and set the furry animal back down ontothe dresser. After removing the princess cut diamond ring from thetie, he took my hand and slipped it onto my finger. “Sage, you cameinto my life in the most crazy way, but I wouldn’t trade it foranything in the world. And you put up with me while I was trying tocome to terms with falling in love again when I didn’t believe Ihad it in me. You changed that for me and I’m so thankful you’remine. Would you make it official and become my wife? Sage Ribbons,will you marry me?” He dropped down on one knee and gazed up at mewith heat and tenderness burning in his eyes.

“Yes.” I choked out afteranother onslaught of tears. “I would love to marry you,Ryder.”

“I think you did thatbackwards, Ryder. The ring was to go on after she said yes.”Grayson chuckled from the doorway.

“I had hoped wearing thering first would help convince her to say yes.” Ryder smiled up atme before standing and taking me in his arms.

“I had no doubt she’d sayyes, Ryder. You had nothing to worry about. Congratulations youtwo.” Grayson shot me a wink before stepping into thehall.

“You were worried Iwouldn’t say yes?” Leaning back, I stared up at him inconfusion.

“I knew you loved me, butyou have been through so much since I met you. I wasn’t sure youwould be ready to agree to a commitment like that so soon after allyou’ve endured, so I waited as long as I could. So when Grayson andI decided to remodel this room into a nursery, I found the perfecttime.”

“Any time would have beenperfect. Angel and Misti are going to go crazy. You know how theywere with the baby party.”

“So let’s avoid them for afew days and just enjoy us.” He waggled his eyebrows at me, a hugegrin on his face.

“We can try. But I’m notsure how long they will let that slide.” I giggled. I loved my twobest friends. I never had close friends or siblings and the two ofthem were like my sisters. “I’m sure another baby shopping trip ison their radar soon. Speaking of, where is the rest of herstuff?”

“We stacked the packages ofdiapers in the closet as well as her clothes and bath stuff. I canhelp you start washing her stuff to fill her dresser then. Wheneveryou want to start, just let me know.”

“We are going to be asready as we possibly can be. I can’t wait to meet ourdaughter.”

“Me neither.” Kissing mytemple, he wrapped me in his arms as we soaked in the magnificenceof the room he lovingly prepared for our new daughter.

I never in a million years would havepictured myself in this moment, figuring I was destined to live adismal life as property in a club where I didn’t matter. But fatehad other plans for me and I would forever be grateful it droppedme in Ryder’s path.

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