Reveal (Wicked Ways #2)(62)

Because this . . . this is insane.

“You rented out a castle for her.”

“Technically, just the terrace. They don’t allow people to rent inside the actual castle.” His laugh rumbles against my lips as he presses them to mine.

“You’re crazy.”

“Perhaps.”

“This is too much.”

“She deserves this.”

“But . . .”

“Don’t try to figure it out. Just let her enjoy it.”

And she’s doing just that—enjoying it. Lucy is talking animatedly, her hands flying to her slack jaw every few seconds as she takes it all in—the rack of princess dresses I can now see, the vanity loaded with makeup and hair supplies, the snacks stacked on platters.

“But . . . why?”

When I turn to look at him, he angles his head to the side, and I try to rationalize the man before me. The one who says he’s heartless and unfeeling but loves me with a violent desire I can’t explain. And love he does.

I may have told him he can’t say it to me. I may have not allowed myself to say it to him either. But we both feel it. There’s no denying that.

And in turn, he loves Lucy.

Ryker frames both of my cheeks with his hands and leans down so that his lips are a whisper away from mine. “Because I can.”

My mind reaches back to our first conversations. To his question asking me what would impress me. To my answer: the unexpected.

How is it he keeps giving me the unexpected time and again?



“She’s on cloud nine. I’m never going to be able to bring her down to earth.” I rest my head on Ryker’s shoulder where we’re sitting together on the sunbed. Wine has been drunk. The charcuterie board has been devoured. The fabric draped on the canopy above us gives us a small bit of privacy.

I know how Lucy feels, because I feel the same way. The fact that he did this for her—for me—shouldn’t surprise me when it’s at the hand of a man who continually does just that—surprise me.

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

“Hmm.” It’s all I say, but I fear bringing her back to the clinical facility after she’s been made to feel like one in a million here. “Thank you for this.” I motion to everything around us.

“You can stop saying that,” he murmurs and takes a sip of wine. “I have to say it’s been quite the experience.”

My own laughter rings out, and Lucy looks our way and waves ecstatically. “If Lucy would have had her way, you would be wearing sparkly lipstick right now.” My smile widens as I picture Ryker sitting at the small vanity as Lucy demands to give her own princess makeover to the two of us.

“There’s only one place I allow lipstick on me, and your shade of red would look lovely in a ring around it right now,” he murmurs against my ear, causing me to snuggle in against him. My head on his shoulder, my hand on his chest, my body wanting him . . . but then again, when does it not want him?

“Watch me!” Lucy says to us as she follows the ladies to the middle of the terrace. She has a new princess dress on, her hair is done and adorned with a tiara, and the ladies are demonstrating some kind of “royal dance” they are going to teach her the steps to.

“She’s nervous,” I murmur.

“How do you know? She looks happy to me.”

“She keeps reaching for her necklace.” We both watch her as she reaches up several times over a short period to grab the key on the chain around her neck. “That’s her tell.”

“What’s with the necklace?” he asks after she does it again.

“It was Sam’s. She used to wear it all the time when we were teenagers. I forgot about it, but after she died, I found it in some of her stuff. Lucy thinks it’s the key to her mom’s heart. It’s her way of coping, of thinking she has her mom near.”

“What does the key belong to?”

“My sister used to tell everyone it was the key to her secrets.” I laugh and hear her voice saying it to friends. “It was really the key to our old house. The last one we lived in with our mom before she died. That’s all.”

“I like her story better,” Ryker murmurs, pulling me back into memories of another place and time.

Of laughter before the darkness. Of the bed we shared together and the late-night giggles we’d try to hide. Of innocence shattered and a past I don’t want to think about.

“Come back to me, Vaughn.”

“Sorry,” I say and lift our joined hands to my lips and kiss his, more than grateful I’m with a man who can read me so well.

“Don’t be.”

Lucy’s giggle carries over the distance, and I study Ryker out of the corner of my eye as he watches her. His smile is soft, his eyes kind, his body relaxed.

“You’re good at this, you know.”

“At what?” He looks over to me and then back to Lucy.

“The dad thing. Have you ever thought about having kids?” I say the words and then realize what they sound like. And of course he responds at the same time I realize my gaffe.

“Are you offering?” His laugh rings out.

“No. That’s not what I meant. I just meant . . . you’re good with kids. Surprisingly good—”