I twisted my fingers into interwoven knots. “How much longer?” I couldn’t take being separated from him for much longer. I was lonely.
“Strange you should bring that up,” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice, and a matching smile stretched across my face. I loved playful Ryker.
“Why’s that?”
“Because there will be a private plane waiting for you at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at two in the afternoon tomorrow. Do you think you can find it in your heart to clear your schedule?”
“You’re not playing with me right now, are you? Because I might reach through the phone and strangle you if this is a hoax.”
He chuckled. “Good thing I’m absolutely serious.”
I curled my free hand into the hem of my skirt. “I missed you. It feels like it’s been months instead of weeks since I’ve talked to you.”
“I know. I wanted to call you every single day, but I couldn’t. I had to make Ignacio and Emanuel think I was done with you.”
“I realize that, but it didn’t make it any easier.” I slipped the elastic band out of my hair and leaned back on the bed. “Are you sure it’s safe for me to come?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t have arranged a flight for you if it weren’t.”
My brows knitted together. “But you said you were still working out some details,” I pointed out.
“I am, but it’s nothing that you need to worry about.”
I nodded before realizing he couldn’t see me. “Okay.”
“Can I expect you to get on that plane tomorrow?”
I smiled, the tension in my chest easing for the first time in weeks. “It shouldn’t be a problem. I’m already packed.”
“Why’d you do that?”
I propped my hand behind my head as I chewed on my lower lip. “If I didn’t hear from you in the next day or two I planned to go find you.”
“Hmm. Good to know.” I heard a hushed male voice in the background. “Hold on a second,” he said. I heard his phone brush against his hand, muffling the conversation.
I tapped my finger on my thigh waiting for him to talk to me again. Seconds felt like hours. I stared at the empty white walls of his apartment. I listened to the faint hum of the air conditioning unit. Then, he was back.
He sighed. “I have to go. I need to take care of a few things.”
“Oh,” I said, sitting up. My mood shifted and suddenly I felt melancholy. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Tomorrow,” he said softly.
“Sounds good,” I replied instead of saying goodbye because I wasn’t ready to sever the connection yet. I wanted to squeeze as many words as I could out of him.
“I’m sorry. I wish I had more time to talk. I miss hearing your voice and talking to you whenever I want.”
“I understand.” My voice wobbled.
“Hey, don’t get all sad on me. I don’t have anything planned after I pick you up at the airport except for spending every moment with you.”
I smiled. “I love that.”
“I love you,” he responded.
A shivered ran through me and my smile came back. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Hattie
A salty breezed shuffled through my hair as I paused at the bottom of the stairs of the private jet. I scanned the area, looking for Ryker. A smile split across my face the instant I spotted him. He was leaning up against the wall with his legs spread, and his hands stuffed deep in the pockets of his linen pants. The top two buttons of his gray polo shirt were open, his eyes trained on me.
I broke into a sprint, my turquoise ballet flats slapping against the asphalt, the wheels of my luggage bellowing protest. I halted about a foot away from him, suddenly feeling shy. My eyes trailed down his wide chest to his narrow waist and back up again.
“Come here,” he said, crooking his finger at me, his lids heavy.
I closed the distance between us and his strong hands immediately circled my hips, pulling me flush against his body. I could feel the heat radiating from his body right through my clothes.
“Hi,” I whispered.
“Hi,” he said, a lopsided smile on his heavenly lips.
I brushed his smooth jaw with the pads of my fingertips and my skin tingled. “I can’t believe I’m finally here. It seemed like I’d never find my way back to you.”
Tenderness washed over his face, and his eyes crinkled at the corners, softening ever so slightly. Like magic, I swayed into him, burying my head in the crook of his neck. His familiar scent filled my lungs and I smiled like a kid on Christmas morning.
“The car is waiting for us. Are you ready to go?”
I dragged my hands up his chest. “When are we going to the Vargas compound?”
He framed my jaw with his hands, tilting up my face. “Tomorrow.”
“Where are going now?”
He kissed the corner of mouth. “It’s a surprise.”
I narrowed my eyes, but I couldn’t erase the smile on my face. I was too happy. “What kind of surprise? It better be good.”
“I think it is, but you’ll have to let me know what you think,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
“I’ll do that.”
He stared at me for a second, then he brushed his hand down my face. “How’s the baby?”
I slid his hand from my hip to my belly. “I think I’m showing a little.”
“Maybe a little.” He pressed a soft kiss on my temple. “We need to find you a doctor.”
I nodded. “Tomorrow.”
Grabbing my suitcase from me, he threaded his fingers through mine and pulled me toward a black SUV with dark tinted windows.
***
An hour later, we stopped in front of a large white stucco bungalow with a thatched roof. It sat on a nearly deserted stretch of white sandy beach bordered by the clearest blue water I’d ever seen. Orange and pink brushstrokes painted the sky where it met the ocean. A few boats dotted the horizon, but other than that, it looked like our private paradise.
“What do you think?” Ryker said as he opened my door.
“It’s beautiful.” I climbed out of the passenger seat and tilted my head to the side. The faint roar of the ocean mixed with the soft swish of the trees swaying in the wind brought a smile to my face.
“You’re not disappointed. We can go somewhere—”
“I love it,” I cut in, then I shook my head. “What is this place? How’d you find it?”
“Somebody gave it to Ignacio a couple of years ago in exchange for a debt. He has never used it.”
“He doesn’t care that we’re here?”
He slipped his fingers through mine. “He doesn’t have a choice.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Do you want to explain?”
“Not today. I want today to be about us.”
I hesitated for a second, not sure what to say. He’d hid the truth from me in the past. I didn’t like being in the dark. It made me nervous. “Ryker,” I said, drawing out his name. “Don’t keep secrets from me.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. I promise.”
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. “You’re not hungry, are you?”
“No, I ate more than enough on the plane, but I think you already know that since you arranged the whole thing.”
“Then, let’s catch the last few minutes of the puesta de sol.”