Not Paisley, though.
Paisley had threatened to punch Mason in the nose. Dakota had kind of wanted her to.
She hugged her knees tighter and whispered, “I think everyone just wants me to disappear. Go away. Forget all about me.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen, Dakota. I could never forget about you.”
Her heart did that throbbing thing where it felt like it might blow up from the pressure.
“You have to say that because you’re like my family.”
“No way. I’m saying it because you’re probably my favorite person in the whole world.”
She peeked out at him, trying to catch his lie. “Not better than you like Cody,” she challenged.
“Ha. I like you ten times better than I like Cody.” He smiled at her with his big red lips.
That was always when the butterflies fluttered the hardest. Well, that and when he was eating something she’d made.
“Why do you think I came looking for you and left him inside playing Xbox?” He knocked his shoulder into hers. “Forget that idiot Mason. You’re way too awesome to be out here crying by yourself.”
She sniffed and ran her sleeve over her face again.
Without climbing down, he hopped off the branch and landed right on his feet. He stretched out a hand for her, and his black, black hair blew in the breeze. “Come on, I’ve got you, Cookie.”
And she knew she didn’t want to be out there alone. She wanted to be with him.
So she reached out and took it.
TWELVE
DAKOTA
Sunlight brightened the window, nudging me from a deep, restful sleep.
With a groan, I rolled onto my back, and I blinked to pull myself out of the grogginess. I was honestly surprised I’d fallen asleep at all, let alone that I’d sank like a boulder to the bottom of the sea.
Both heavy and weightless.
But I guessed I felt safe here, as if whatever was going on back at my house couldn’t touch me, though with the clarity of the morning, I was pretty sure the entire thing had been an overreaction.
I sat up, ran my fingers through the knots that had taken to my long hair, then slipped off the bed.
Kayden was still out, which brought a soft smile to my face, a tug at my heart that he was so comfortable he’d yet to even notice anything amiss.
The rest of the house was silent and still as I crept out and headed for the bathroom. I was thankful I managed to avoid Ryder when I found it empty.
It was one thing for him to see me in the middle of the night like this. It was a whole different story for him to see me in the light of day.
I used the restroom then washed my hands and splashed water on my face, deciding I would head home to take a shower and get ready for work. Still, I rummaged into the toiletry bag Ryder had left sitting on the counter so I could brush my teeth.
I tiptoed back out, though this time the house wasn’t still.
That energy hummed.
Alive.
I followed it to the doorway of the bedroom where I’d slept.
Ryder was in the room, wearing the same pair of gray sweatpants he’d had on last night, though he’d pulled on a tee-shirt. I couldn’t tell if I was mourning the travesty or breathing a sigh of relief.
My stomach fisted at the sight of him, so rough and menacingly beautiful.
The angles of his face sharp and hewn in severity.
His lips so red.
A cool, dark king.
But it was the sight of him lifting my son from the playpen that contracted my chest in a need so intense that I felt like I was being crushed.
Midnight eyes flashed to me where I stood just outside the room.
I swore, he dragged them over my body, riding from my face, all the way down to my feet, and back up again.
Searing and singeing every spot they passed.
My skin buzzed, and I shifted on my feet, unable to stop the old insecurities that flared when he looked at me that way.
I had on sleep shorts and a long-sleeved matching tee. The black fabric was loose and draping at the shoulder, but it didn’t do a lot to conceal anything.
Long ago, I’d accepted my body.
No longer saw it as an imperfection or a blight.
Had come to love it.
But the one person in this world I’d ever wished I looked different for was Ryder.
He had a type, and I definitely wasn’t it.
He might have stuck up for me when I was growing up, but it’d been because he truly cared about me. Loved all the things that were on the inside…but the outside?
Unease rippled.
I’d once thought that he maybe could get over that. See me for me, the way his words had always expressed.
But there’d always been a wall.
An obstacle.
I’d tried to knock it down, and I’d taken the chance, placed myself at his feet.
He’d rejected me.
I’d never forget his words.
Sweet and tender and so horrifyingly painful that I still carried them like a scar.
I love you, Dakota. So fucking much. But not like that.
Which was why it was time I moved on, but God, it was hard when his expression softened as he pulled my son closer to him and sent me this smile that trembled through me.
“Good mornin’, Cookie.”
I cleared the memories that had manifested as jagged rocks from my throat. “Good morning.”
Kayden pointed his little index finger at me. “Mommy, I see you!”
Affection rushed, so acute it pulsed in every cell. “I see you, too, sweet boy.”
Ryder hooked Kayden to his hip. “Guess who I heard calling for you while you were in the bathroom?”
“Me!” Kayden smacked his chubby hand against his chest. “We go Uncle Rye-Rye’s house?”
He dipped his head in one of those cute nods.
He definitely approved.
“We did.”
My son snuggled deeper into Ryder, pressing his head on one of those pecs. “I stay wight here.”
You could say my son was obsessed with Ryder. I didn’t blame him for the affliction.
Ryder kept hugging him, though his attention was on me. “Why don’t you get dressed while I take him downstairs to get him something to eat?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“You say it like spending time with my little K-Bear is putting me out.”
“Don’t you need to get to work?”
Something grim sobered his expression. “Going to take the morning off. Was hoping you’d do the same.”
I fidgeted through the sudden disquiet. “Did you hear something?”
Ryder’s thick throat bobbed when he swallowed. “Let’s get this guy fed then we’ll talk. Ezra called and said he’s going to swing by and give us better details.”
“Oh.” It wheezed out. Surprise riddled with a shot of dread. I didn’t like the feeling of whatever he was implying.
He came my way, and he paused where I stood, angling in close as he grazed his fingertips along the edge of my hand. “It’s going to be okay, Dakota.”
Then he wound around me, and I shifted to watch them as they headed down the hall.
Kayden peered at me from over his shoulder, waving his little hand, his brown hair a total mess, his chubby cheeks red and oh so sweet. “I go my Rye-Rye. Bye, Mommy!”
I choked out a rough laugh, waving, too, before I rushed into the room. Nerves rattled through my senses, and I went for my phone on the nightstand. I stared at it in contemplation for one second before I sent a text to Beth.
Me
Hey, something came up this morning and I’m going to be a couple hours late. Can you handle the morning rush?
My cooks and baker would have arrived super early this morning to get everything prepped for opening, and I always planned the menu and prepared the next day’s desserts as best as I could the previous afternoon so they could go right into the oven first thing, so I didn’t have to worry about that.
It was when things got crazy with the customers that made me feel like I was leaving my employees hanging.
It took Beth a minute to respond.
Beth
Have you even met me?
Amusement shook my head, and another text came in quickly behind it.
Beth
Please tell me what came up was a delicious man who kept you up all night and you’re so sore this morning you can’t get out of bed.
Rolling my eyes, I tossed her words right back at her.
Me
Have you even met me?