Page 70 of The Model

“Me too, but she knew that our place isn’t exactly hospitable right now, and I think she wanted us to enjoy our first Christmas together with just the two of us.”

“I love your mom.” Seeing her and Ryder together made me long for the mother I’d never had, but Catherine had taken me under her wing and treated me like a daughter. Better than my dad had ever treated me when he was in my life.

“Come here.” His voice was like a caress to my soul. I moved into him until I was wrapped snuggly in his arms with one of his legs between mine. It was unnatural for us to lay any other way when we were together. “She loves you too, you know.”

I swallowed down the emotion. I wasn’t used to having people care for me the way they did. “I’ve never had that kind of acceptance before. Not until I met you and now your mom. It feels good to be loved.” The emotions that built up in me were too much. I’d been deprived of them all my life, and maybe that was why I’d always been with men who treated me badly. I never thought I was worthy.

Cupping the side of my face, Ryder’s thumb caressed my cheek before he leaned up and kissed me breathless. Rolling on top of me, our mouths broke apart with a sigh as he entered me. Ryder’s lips brushed against mine with every word he vowed. “I’m going to make up for all those years you felt alone. Not a day will go by that you will doubt my love for you.”

And for the rest of the day, he proved to me how much we were meant to be together.

27

Lexie

4 Months Later

“I miss you,and that beautiful belly of yours,” my husband said sadly through the phone.

“We miss you too. I’m counting down the days until you get home.” I tried to hold the tears back until we got off the phone.

“Only two more days and then I’ll have you in my arms again.”

Some days, I couldn’t get over how incredibly sweet he was and that he was mine forever.

“You’re staying off your feet, aren’t you?” he asked, knowing I’d had a photo shoot earlier in the day.

“Yes,” I sighed. “I did my shoot earlier on the rolling stool. It was quite entertaining when Raine had to push me around.”

Ryder’s low chuckle trickled down the line. “I wish I could have seen that, but I seriously can’t wait for us both to have some time off.” I couldn’t wait to have him all to myself for a few months. “By the way, you were right about Lars. He’s great.”

“I’m glad you like him. I think he’s the best photographer in New York, and he knows how to get what he wants.”

“The same as someone else I know, and for the record, I’d much rather work with you.”

“I love working with you too, but don’t let Lars here you say that.” Too bad that wasn’t possible. I’d settle for my husband to stay in the states instead of working all over the world.

“I hate to say it…”

“But you’ve got to go.” I hated how little time we had to talk, but I loved that he called me any chance he got.

“Yeah, sorry, I just wanted to hear your voice.”

I couldn’t stop the cheesy grin from spreading across my face. I loved that my man had no problem expressing how he felt. “Hey, never say sorry for wanting to talk to me.”

“Why is this trip so much harder than the others?” I hated how sad he sounded and wanted to reach through the phone and hug him.

“Because I’m as big as a whale with ankles so swollen they resemble softballs.” It was true, though. This trip was unbearable, but I understood why Ryder felt the need to work. We were in total nesting mode, and he wanted to do his part.

“I hate that I had to leave you, but please don’t have our baby before I get back.”

“I’ll see what I can do. I love you, dimples.” Once the baby was here, I wasn’t about to let my sexy husband out of my sight. If he had to go out of town for work, we’d go with him. Luckily, he had taken my advice and found a new agent that took his wants and needs into account. She’d found Ryder a few choice jobs that had put him on the radar even more.

“I love you, sexy Lexie.”

I wasn’t sure how he still found me sexy when I couldn’t even see my own feet, but remarkably he did. With my pregnancy hormones, I found him even more undeniable than ever.

He made a kissing sound before he sighed. “I’ll call you tonight. Bye, baby.”

---