Broken Love (Broken #4)(9)
Ryder took me by the arm and turned me around. Before he even had a chance to talk, I began poking him in the chest with my finger.
“How dare you. How dare you take me home and undress me and god knows what else you did when I was passed out. Then for you to just act like nothing happened and whisper things in my ear making me go all crazy … and … and …”
Ryder was staring at me like I had two heads as I continued to fly off the handle.
“And what?” he asked in a sexy as hell voice.
My face flushed. “I just need to know if we had sex last night.”
Ryder’s eyes widened in horror as he dropped his hand down to his side, causing me to instantly want his touch back. “What? No, we didn’t have sex last night. What in the hell, Ava? What kind of a guy do you think I am?”
“Well gosh, Ryder, I have no clue seeing as I’ve only seen you three times in my entire life and one of those times I was drunk out of my mind.”
Ryder pushed his hand through his hair and sighed. “I brought you home, you changed into a T-shirt and passed out in your bed. I slept on the sofa just in case you needed anything during the night. After I made a pot of coffee for you, I got your lousy friend’s number off your phone and texted her.”
“Lousy friend?” I said as I put my hands on my hips.
“Yes, you heard me right. You were drunk out of your mind all she cared about was having a good time. She couldn’t have cared less that I was bringing you home and she certainly didn’t try and stop me. So, excuse me for being a gentleman and wanting to make sure you arrived home safely, and that you were okay through the night.”
I began chewing on my lower lip. “So, no sex?”
Ryder narrowed his eyes at me and sighed. “No. Besides, you would have felt the aftereffects this morning if we had had sex.”
All the air left my lungs as Ryder turned and headed back into the house. I placed my hand over my stomach to calm myself and tried to push his last sentence from my mind.
Two weeks later
“RYDER, STOP PACING the floor. Why are you so nervous?”
I came to a stop and turned to my mother. She was sitting in her favorite rocking chair knitting something for my sister Dani’s baby who was due Christmas day.
“I’m not nervous. Why do you think I’m nervous?”
My mother gave me that look. The one that said I knew damn well why she thought I was nervous. “You’re pacing. You don’t pace … ever.”
With a shrug of my shoulders, I sat down and picked up a magazine. “Nah, I’m not nervous. I just want to make sure everything goes well this weekend with Layton Morris and Reed Moore.
“It’s going to be amazing. From what your brother said, it’s already a done deal.”
I let out a curt laugh. “Yeah, well Nate isn’t always right, Mom.”
“Don’t be hating on your brother, Ryder. It is unbecoming of you.”
“You’re right, that’s Nate’s way of doing things.”
She dropped her knitting in her lap and slowly shook her head and giggled. “Oh, how the two of you used to fight. I’m so glad those days are over.”
With a crooked smile, I nodded. “Well, we don’t have anything to fight over anymore.”
Janet, my parents’ housekeeper, walked into the room. “Mr. Montgomery, the guests have arrived.”
With a quick jump up, I smiled as I walked up to Janet and kissed her gently on the cheek. She blushed each and every time. “Thank you, Janet.”
“Oh, stop that, boy!”
My mother chuckled from behind me as she walked up and laced her arm with mine. Janet had been working for my parents for as long as I could remember. She had been like a second mother to me growing up.
“Janet, darling, would you mind asking MaryLou to get some tea ready and bring it into the parlor?”
With a warm smile, Janet nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Lucy, right away.”
I guided my mother out of her sewing room and headed to the front door. “I can’t wait to meet this family. I’ve heard so much about them.”
“It’s two families, remember, Mom.”
Giving me a friendly swat on the arm, my mother said, “I know it’s two families. I may be getting older, Ryder, but I’m not that old.”
With a toss of my head back, I shook my head. “No ma’am, you are far from it.”
As we stepped outside, the first thing I saw was Nate helping Ava with her bag.
That bastard. The way he was smiling at her boiled my blood. Neither one of us brought up Ava after we left Layton’s house two weeks ago.
“Welcome! Oh, welcome to the ranch,” my mother called out as she headed down the stairs. “There is a baby! Oh, how exciting!”
I couldn’t help but smile as my mother took Nickolas out of Liza’s arms.
“How did he do on the plane?”
Liza grinned from ear to ear as I walked down the stairs and headed to the back of the second car.
“He did amazing. The perfect baby!” Liza gushed.
“Come, darling, let’s you and I make our way into the living room while they get the luggage all situated.”
Liza smiled as she glanced over her shoulder toward Ava, who stood there with a stunned expression.