Page 33 of The SEAL's Duchess
She touched the brim of her hat in farewell and headed out, the deputy trailing behind her with a bag of pastries. Ivy stood frozen, the card warm in her hand. She’d committed herself to another evening inside Ryder’s orbit—sitting across from his sister, pretending her world hadn’t shifted on its axis in the space between one kiss and one terrible decision.
The memory of the falls surged up—mist on her skin, Ryder’s hands on her waist, his mouth on hers. What had she done?
The irony wasn’t lost on her. She’d agreed to another evening inside the life she claimed she couldn’t have—drawn deeper, even as she kept telling herself she needed to walk away.
Maybe I don’t have to decide everything right now. I can just see what happens.
The thought was both liberating—and absolutely terrifying.
15
Ryder’s palmswere damp as he turned toward town, heading for Ellie’s preschool.
In his rearview mirror, Ivy was a still shape fading into the snow.
Fuck.
He dragged his gaze away from her to the road ahead.
The image of her face behind the waterfall burned in his mind—water droplets studding her hair like diamonds, her lips parted, looking at him like he was something worth wanting.
The way she’d shut him out afterward, eyes going distant.
She’d tasted of mint and rain. His body hadn’t recovered—skin still buzzing where she’d touched him, lungs pulling in short breaths. His hands remembered her waist, how perfectly she’d fit against him. He clenched the wheel until his knuckles burned.
What the hell was I thinking?
He’d crossed a line he’d sworn never to cross again. After Miranda he’d made a promise to himself—no more complications, no more women who could walk away and shatter the life he’d built for Ellie.
No.
He couldn’t risk anyone hurting Ellie like that again.
Wouldn’t.
He should be relieved she’d put the brakes on. Should be grateful one of them had sense. Instead, he wanted to go back to that waterfall and prove to her it wasn’t a mistake at all.
Which was exactly why he needed to stay the hell away from her.
The preschool parking lot was nearly empty when he pulled up, his hands still unsteady as he killed the engine. Double doors opened and a wave of small children surged out. The moment Ellie spotted him, her face lit up with the pure joy that never failed to level him.
“Daddy!” She barreled into his legs, shoving her face between his knees.
He scooped her up and landed a kiss on her cheek.
“Daddy, look.” She pressed a bedraggled painting against his chest.
“Did you do this?” He unfolded the paper and admired a two-legged purple explosion encrusted in glitter. “Wow, bug, this is amazing.”
“Dinnysawr, Daddy. Dinnysawr.” She made a face and roared.
He studied her masterpiece. “This is the best dinosaur I’ve ever seen. Does it have a name?”
“Twirly.”
“Amazing.”
As he drove to the store, Ellie chattered about her day—how Ben had eaten some of her purple paint and she’d helped feed the class hamster. Her voice washed over him, centering him in ways nothing else could.
