Authors: Angela Verdenius
Who’d have thought Ryder could be so romantic? It had to have cost him a fortune.
Picking up the little envelope from the kitchen table where she’d dropped it, she drew out the little card and read it. On it was simply written ‘Babe.’
Looking back up at the roses on the kitchen table, Dee’s lips trembled as she suddenly realised something else. Ryder never called anyone else ‘babe’, it was a nickname he’d only ever used with her, a nickname that had always made her feel a little special. Just as this huge bouquet of roses, this extravagant gesture, made her feel special.
Cripes, he’d never done this for any woman. Only for her.
The warmth that filled her now had her smiling, her thumb idly caressing the card in her hand.
Okay, maybe Ryder was a dumb arse at times, and she still wasn’t completely certain that he truly did more than care for her, but this…this was unexpected, yet something that he’d do for someone he, well, cared about. But cared about a whole hell of a lot more than ‘just care’.
Impulsively, she picked up the phone and dialled the ambulance station.
“Gully’s Fall Ambulance Station,” a deep voice answered.
That deepness trickled right through her. “Ryder?”
“Hey, babe.” The smile in his tone was clear.
“The roses arrived.”
“Glad to hear it. Now I won’t have to shove my boot up someone’s arse.”
She burst out laughing. “Very romantic.”
“It was meant to be.” He paused. “The roses, I mean, not my foot up someone’s arse.”
“I kind of got that.” She grinned. “Thank you so much. They’re beautiful.”
“The roses fade in comparison to you.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Did you get that out of a book?”
“No, babe, that was all me.”
There went that shiver of warmth again. Pretty soon she’d need a fan. “I’m impressed.”
“It’s only the start. I intend to impress you more tonight.”
Her hand tightened on the phone. “Tonight?”
“I’ve reserved a table at the restaurant.”
“You mean the pub.”
“Let’s go with the word ‘restaurant’. It sounds more romantic.”
She started twining the phone cord around her finger. “Is this a date?”
“Absolutely. I’m going to wine you and dine you.” His voice dropped unexpectedly, becoming huskier. “Then I’m going to make love to you all night.”
Cripes, now she needed an air conditioner. A fan just wasn’t going to cut it.
Play cool, don’t let him know he has you panting like a dog
. “A little sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“I know what I want, babe, and I’m coming for you.” His breath was a whisper down the phone line, but she could swear she felt it scorch her skin. “Be ready for me at eight. I’ll pick you up.”
“You don’t knock off until eight. Maybe you should reconsider the date.”
There was a barely discernable pause, but the huskiness was still evident when he spoke. “Fine. Be ready in your nightie and I’ll bring take away. We can still eat, drink, and make love.”
Dee looked at the roses, some part of her raising its head. Oh wait, that was the devil her mother insisted rode on her shoulder. “Why don’t we just eat and drink?”
“Pardon?”
“You know, chat about things, get to know each other.”
“We already know each other.”
“So this is just a date to get me in the sack?”
“What? No!” She heard the sound of his boots thumping onto the floor.
Obviously he’d been leaning back in his chair, booted feet propped on the corner of the desk as she’d seen him do a thousand times, totally at ease and so sure of himself.
Time to shake this stud up a bit. “You know, wine, dine, shag.” She couldn’t help it. “Like you always do.”
“Wait. What? No, Dee, this is different! I don’t expect you to just-”
“But that’s what you said. Wine, dine, make love.” Oh yeah, she was really starting to enjoy keeping Ryder on his toes. The town stud was way too cock-sure of himself. Cock being the operative word.
“Dee, babe, we don’t have to-”
“Make love?”
“Jesus! Of course we need to make--”
“So not even worth the wining and dining. Straight to shagging.”
“I didn’t mean-”
“We could just cut the food and drink.”
“Dee-”
“How about you come over at eight after you knock-off and I’ll just be waiting on the bed, naked, legs sprawled out? You can just jump on and away we go.”
There was another pause, then, “Really?”
The man was an astounding arse. “No, you moron. Not really.”
“It’s not a bad idea. We can go straight to the important part.”
“My girlie bits?”
“I like girlie bits.”
“You’ve had plenty of practice.”
“I like your girlie bits more than any other.”
“Ryder, this is sounding worse by the minute. Have you been comparing my girlie bits to other women’s girlie bits?”
“No. I’d never do that. I-”
“But you did mention my girlie bits in conjunction with other girlie bits.”
“Conjunction?” He actually laughed, low and deep. “That gives me naughty images.”
Two could play that game. “So the thought of me with another woman tickles your fancy, huh? That’s what turns you on?”
“Babe, the only thing that turns me on is the thought of you with me.”
“Uh huh.”
“Tell you what.” The huskiness was back in his voice. “You be waiting for me, I’ll get there soon after eight.”
“Naked?”
“Oh babe, don’t torture me. No, not naked. Not right away. Be dressed and waiting.” He hung up.
Placing the receiver in the cradle, Dee realised her heart was pounding a little, her hands trembled a little, and her body was a whole lot hot. Teasing Ryder might be fun but it certainly left her wanting more. Cripes, he’d done more than taken her virginity, he’d awakened her body to sensations she’d only ever read about. Just the thought of them together in bed, the memory of their bodies sliding together, hot skin to hot skin, was enough to make the pit of her stomach roll with remembered carnal pleasure.
Taking a deep breath, Dee tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and headed back down the stairs. She had a job to do, a shop to run, and a date that night. How that date was going to start and end was predictable, but it was with Ryder and that was something to which she looked forward.
Mrs Montague picked up her handbag as soon as Dee approached. “Okay, dear, there were only a couple of customers. Get Ryder to bring you over for dinner soon.” She gave Dee a kiss on the cheek and walked out the door.
Cripes, could the day get any weirder?
By the time she locked the front door she was a little nervous about the coming date. True, she knew Ryder, knew him well, now knew him more intimately. But it was an intimacy she wasn’t used to, one she’d never thought she’d have with him. Just the thought of being in his arms again was enough to make that delicious shiver go through her.
Five thirty, six by the time she finished doing the end-of-day balances and did a little cleaning. Her cleaning lady would come in the following night and do the vacuuming and mopping after hours, but she still had to sweep.
Two hours until date time. That meant she had time to do some unfinished business.
By six, she had her car keys in hand and was locking the back door.
Del walked out of the back of her shop, shutting and locking her own door. She looked at Dee. “You didn’t call me.”
“No. Really?”
“Don’t be a bitch. What did Mrs M want? Did she warn you off her baby boy?”
“No, she told me she liked the thought of me being her daughter-in-law.”
Rather than be surprised, Del just nodded. “She always did have a soft spot for you.”
“Mrs M? I doubt it.”
“Trust me, she did. Still does, obviously. Anyway, you’ve got mummy’s approval to shag her son, so you’re good to go.”
“I don’t know if that’s sick or just weird.”
“Take what you can.” Noticing the keys in Dee’s hand, a calculating look came into her eyes. “Going hunting?”
Not at all surprised by her cousin’s astuteness, Dee raised an eyebrow. “Coming?”
“I wouldn’t miss this bloodbath for the world.”
“You might be disappointed.”
“I’ll take my chances. Let’s take my car, that saves you having to get yours out of the garage.”
Seconds later, Dee was pulling the seatbelt across her chest.
“What if Yvonne’s not home?” Del started the car.
“She’s home.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I rang her.”
“Then she won’t be home, trust me.”
“I didn’t tell her it was me. I’m not that stupid.”
“Matter of opinion. So what did you say?”
“Nothing. I just hung up.”
“Creepy phone call. Way to make her feel good.”
“I’m not here to make her feel good. I’m here to sort out what the hell is going on and put a stop to it.”
“You know that’s what the cops are for, right?”
“They didn’t get anything from her. Besides, I like to deal with my own problems.”
Del cast her a sly glance. “You could get Ryder to ask her.”
“And you could live in terror for the rest of your life wondering when I’ll strike. Just drive.”
When they pulled into Yvonne’s drive, they spotted her sitting on her veranda in one of her chairs, a tall glass of something cold and filled with ice blocks on the dainty table beside her. Jaci sat on the other side.
Jaci blanched a little when Dee got out, while Yvonne’s lips tightened.
“Hey,” Dee said pleasantly. “Nice night for a confession.”
“Nothing to confess, Miller, so you can go,” Yvonne snapped.
“Now, now, let’s not add fibbing to the list of wrongs.” Smiling, Dee walked up the veranda steps, stopping at the top to lean a shoulder against the veranda post and fold her arms.
“You set the cops on me.” Yvonne’s eyes narrowed. “You bitch.”
“Hey.” Del leaned her shoulder on the other veranda post. “I’m the only one allowed to call her that. Think about it.”
Jaci went whiter. “Please, girls. There’s no need for this to get so ugly.”
Dee glanced at her. “Really? Ugly is when I get run off the road by a car that looks, let see - oh yes! - just like Yvonne’s. In fact,” her gaze cut back to Yvonne, “it
was
your car. Had that ridiculous number plate on that tells everyone you’re some hot female.”
“Sexy Y,” Del added helpfully.
“Apparently.” Dee arched one brow. “Matter of opinion.”
Yvonne scowled but didn’t say anything.
“Not going to deny it, huh? For your information, I didn’t tell that to the cops.”
Yvonne glanced away.
“So let’s continue. Those half dead flowers on my back door with the bloody thorns still on them? That dumb envelope with the prickles inside? I mean, really? How juvenile is that?”
Jaci bit her lip, eyes filling with tears.
Huh. Woman obviously cared about her friend.
“Some people are romantics,” Yvonne muttered.
“You?” Dee laughed. “You don’t have a romantic bone in your body. You live to shag any good-looking man that walks past you.”
Yvonne recrossed her legs, rocking her foot, one white sandal dangling from her toes. “Whatever.”
Jaci picked at her skirt. “Dee, honestly, Yvonne isn’t a bad person.”
Yvonne snorted and looked away.
“She’s not.” Jaci held out one hand pleadingly. “Can we just forget this? It won’t happen again.”
“She’s lucky to have you as a friend,” Del drawled. “You’d have to be about the last one she has left. Cripes, Jaci, she wrecked your date with Ryder and yet you still remain friends with her.”
“She’s a good friend.”
“Oh boy.”
“Let’s cut the shit.” Dee looked at Yvonne. “I don’t want anymore of this crap, Yvonne. Smashing my flower pots ended up with me getting stitches. This has gone far enough. Ryder and you were over, you decided to spread a malicious rumour that ended with your friend getting dumped by him. Stop blaming me.”
Scowling, Yvonne’s foot swayed faster, the sandal dropping to the floor. “Okay. Sure.”
That had been easy. A little too easy, especially for Yvonne. No arguments, no yelling, she just sat there looking at no one, scowling, her posture stiff.
Frowning, Dee switched her attention to Jaci. The woman was pale, fingers gripped together, knuckles white. She was so timid, Dee often wondered how she’d managed to get sucked into Yvonne’s poisonous aura. Even now she was scared, eyes huge, glancing at Yvonne for courage and -
Hang on a minute
.
Dee looked at Del to find her cousin studying Jaci with an odd expression.
Dee looked back at Jaci, her gaze flicking from the nervous woman to Yvonne, who still glared out into the yard.
Yvonne turned that glare on Dee. “Okay. Message received. Nothing more will happen. I’d decided nothing more would after I heard you’d got hurt, it went too far. Lesson learned. Now get in your car and get lost.”
Something wasn’t right. Something was definitely wrong about the whole scenario. Something had to do with not just Yvonne but - “Jaci.” Dee focussed on her.
Jaci’s eyes filled with tears.
Oh crap. It hadn’t been Yvonne. All this time, it hadn’t been Yvonne. No wonder it had been all too easy. “Shit, Jaci, really?
You?
”
“I’m sorry!” She burst into tears.
Disgusted, Yvonne rolled her eyes.
Surprised, Dee could only stare at Jaci.
“I’m so sorry!” Jaci wailed. “I didn’t mean for you to get hurt!”
Leaning against the veranda post, Del shook her head and sighed.
Dee frowned. “What the hell did I ever do to you, Jaci? Yvonne I can understand, but you? Why?”
“Because you took Ryder!”
“Oh, come on. Ryder goes where he wants, you know that.”
“He might have come back to me if you hadn’t come along and seduced him.” Jaci drew a shuddering breath.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Yvonne ground out. “Get a grip, Jaci. Dee couldn’t seduce a sack of potatoes.”
Dee couldn’t argue that, for once she was in agreement with her arch enemy. “So those half dead flowers and the prickles in the dramatic black envelope were your way of warning me off? I have to say, that was dumb arse.”
Jaci sobbed.
“I didn’t even know they were from you. I thought it was Yvonne.”
“I’d have done worse than that,” Yvonne said.
“Which is why at first I didn’t put them to you.”
“But you thought it was me when you came burning up my driveway.”
“I came to put a stop to it. Vandalising my stuff makes me see red. However, you’re not the culprit.”
“And yet you were going to take the flack for Jaci,” Del pointed out.
“Jaci’s a twit, but she’s still my friend.” Yvonne picked up the glass of iced drink and took a sip. “I knew she was doing dumb things, I told her to make it a bit more obvious so you’d know who was sending you the message, but no, she had to go around being the mystery romantic with the broken heart, sending mysterious romantic messages.”
“Thorns and prickles aren’t romantic.” Dee frowned at Jaci. “Stop snottering, for crying out loud. You dropped right down into vandalism, broke my pots deliberately and I ended up cutting my arm on them. That’s not harmless, that’s bloody ridiculous.”
“I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.” Jaci dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “When I heard you’d cut your arm and the cops were looking for the culprit, I panicked and came to Yvonne. She said not to worry, she’d sort the mess out.”
Surprised, Dee looked at Yvonne, who shrugged. “You took the flak. You didn’t dob Jaci in.”
“She’s a weak-arsed ninny, but still my friend.”
“Jesus, I’d never have thought you had a decent bone in your body.”
“Shows how much you know about me.”
“Shows how much I care.” Mainly because she wouldn’t trust Yvonne as far as she could kick her. Dee stabbed a finger in Jaci’s direction. “I’m willing to let this go and say nothing to the police, but only if you cut the shit.”
“Okay. I will.” Jaci nodded, blew her nose, took a shuddering breath. “I can see Ryder’s in love with you. He’s lost to me now.” She started crying again.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Yvonne said impatiently. “Stop your whining, Jaci, there’s plenty more fish in the sea.”
“Poor bastards,” Dee said. “Well, this has been a pleasant chat, girls, but I have to go.” She turned away.
“Was Del your muscle?” Yvonne asked snidely.
“I don’t need muscle,” Dee replied mildly. “I can take you down on my own.”
“I’m here to make sure she doesn’t end up on the cop’s most wanted list,” Del stated.
“As if.” Yvonne sneered, only to shrink back against the chair when Dee swung around on the spot and started back up the steps. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding! Geez, you take everything so personal!”
Stopping right above her, Dee shoved her finger perilously close to Yvonne’s nose and spoke through her teeth. “You and your moron friend stay away from Ryder. You stay away from my friends. You don’t even consider fishing the sea for Simon either, he’s off-limits to you slags. Got that?”
Clearly furious, but not stupid, Yvonne nodded, Jaci doing the same when Dee cut her eyes her way.
“I even hear that you’re sniffing around any of my friends or Ryder, or causing a hint of trouble for them or us, and I will hunt you down and finish this once and for all. Got it?”
“Then I’ll be her muscle,” Del drawled pleasantly.
“Got it?” Dee growled.
“Got it,” Yvonne said angrily, but definitely cautiously.
Jaci nodded.
“Then we’re done here.” Dee straightened and walked back down the steps, Del following.
They were just getting into the car when Yvonne yelled, “And stay the hell off my property, Miller!” Then she bolted indoors, the door almost slamming shut on Jaci who was following on her heels.
“Huh.” Feeling much better, Dee slid into the passenger seat and buckled on the seat belt. “I don’t think she likes me.”
“No idea why.” Del started the car.
“And I’m so sweet, too.”
“You’re the best, cuz.”
They looked at each other and grinned.
“This calls for iced chocolate,” Del declared.
“Ahhh…”
“What?”
“Well, I kind of have a date tonight.”
“And when were you going to tell me this?”
“I wasn’t.”
“You bitch.”
“Yep.”
“So, is it you and Ryder?”
“Yep.”
“I hope there aren’t any more heartbroken sheilas hanging around. Do you need a bodyguard?”
“I’ll keep you on speed dial.”
They were almost to the back of the shops when Del murmured, “Jaci. Never would have picked her.”
“It’s embarrassing,” Dee confessed. “We’re slipping. We have to stay on top of our game.”
“Honey,” Del grinned, “you just concentrate on Ryder staying on top of you.”
Dee felt her cheeks go warm.
“Oh my God, you’re blushing.” Del started laughing.
Dee looked sourly at her. “Sometimes you can be such a pain in my fat arse.”
Del just laughed harder.
~*~
Ryder parked the motorbike behind the shop, turning off the engine and kicking the stand on before swinging off and unbuckling the helmet. Looking up at the light in the flat window, he felt a tingle of anticipation. He’d been looking forward to seeing Dee again all day.
Especially after the cracks she’d had at him on the phone. The woman seriously needed some lessons on manners. Good thing he loved her just the way she was.
Grinning, he knocked on the back door.
When it swung open, Dee looked up at him. “Wow, so polite. I thought you’d just let yourself in with
my
key that you
stole
from Del.”
“You always underestimate me,” he said.
“Uh huh.”
“And that sassy mouth needs to be occupied.” In a fast move, he stepped right up to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Here, let me do it.”
She was still gaping up at him in surprise when he swooped down and kissed her.
Kiss, hell. He ravaged her mouth. He’d meant it to be a nice kiss, kind of sweet, but one taste of her, one sniff of her perfume, one touch of her plump, silky lips and he was lost.
He really wanted more, so he took more, forging inwards without any preamble, sweeping through her, taking in her taste, the honeyed sweetness of her mouth, pressing those soft, plump lips against his firmer ones.
Dee moved, pressing forward, leaning into him, and then holy crap, she was kissing him back, just as hot, just as decadent, and it made his temperature shoot up about ten degrees.
His shaft jumped, started to stiffen as he slid his hand down to the generous curve of her bottom. Grabbing one well-rounded buttock, he jerked her into him, almost wallowing in the combined sensations - her smell, her taste, her touch, the warmth of her body pressed so eagerly to his, the way the softness of her gave to his harder frame, moulding them together like two perfect halves of one whole.
She was his perfect other half, they made the perfect whole. Always had done, always would do.
When he finally lifted his head so that they could both suck in a ragged breath, his blood was pooling hotly in his loins. God, he wanted to take her right then and there, push her to the floor on her hands and knees and just mount her.
Well, of course he would do that another time, but right now, as he looked into her passion-filled eyes, the pale blue backlit by a fire of desire, he had to forcibly drag his senses back to sanity.
“Ready to go?” he managed to ask, admittedly a little huskily.
“Sure.” Her reply wasn’t so steady, either, and she still clung to him.
Nice, very nice. He squeezed her bum cheek.
Very
bloody nice. Maybe he should forget sanity, it sucked anyway, got in the way of immediate gratification, and he was so into gratification with the pretty blonde in his arms.
Unfortunately, his motion of bum squeezing had obviously rallied her own senses. Dee stepped back, smoothed her hand over the bodice of her dress, and looked him up and down.