worries. In two weeks or so, it’ll be done, and then we’ll speak with him.”
“Agreed.” I nibbled on the skin around my thumbnail. “I hope I’m worth it.”
He kissed my hand again. “You’re everything and more.”
A couple of hours after we left the city, Ryker turned left onto a narrow road, then immediately right through a set of black wrought-iron gates. A Georgian-style Colonial house in an ‘L’ shape appeared before us. It was large and spacious, but not over the top. A lawn was laid to the front with borders that in the summer months were probably filled with an explosion of color, but were now empty, a dusting of snow hiding the earth beneath.
Ryker stopped the car and cut the engine. “Ready?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” I pushed down on the door handle then paused. “Wait. Do you have any hand sanitizer?”
Ryker frowned. “No, why?”
“I can’t exactly shake hands with your mother knowing where these have been.” I waggled my fingers in his face.
He burst out laughing and reached across me into the glove compartment. “Here,” he said, handing me a packet of wipes. “Not that I care.”
“But I care.” I plucked one out and wiped my hands, paying special attention to my forefinger and middle finger.
“Happy?” he asked when I’d finished.
“Yes.”
He rounded the hood of the car and took my hand, then we walked up the stone steps nestled between four white pillars—two on either side. Opening the door, he gestured for me to go first. I entered.
“Wow,” I said, greeted by a contemporary glass staircase that traversed to the upper level with a chrome handrail and what appeared to be black onyx treads. “Talk about a statement entrance.”
The floors had been laid with dark oak in a chevron pattern, and modern art adorned the walls.
“You like it?”
“I love it.”
“I’ve been searching for property in this neck of the woods,” Ryker said. “Although haven’t found the right thing just yet.”
“It’s a beautiful part of the world.”
“It is. Come on, let’s go find Mom.”
My heart fluttered, and butterflies swarmed my stomach. Ryker’s mother wasn’t exactly a stranger, but I hadn’t seen her in quite a few years. Besides, coming here as Ryker’s… something… versus my prior role as his best friend’s younger sister felt a lot different.
“Mom,” Ryker called out, striding through the house, towing me behind him.
The house was bigger than it appeared from the outside. We passed through about six rooms, ending up in a luxurious marble kitchen with a twelve-foot center island, an enormous dining table that seated ten, and four sumptuous couches. The room overlooked a huge yard surrounded by tall trees and a rectangular swimming pool which had been covered over for the winter.
“There you are,” Ryker said.
His mom rose from one of the couches, beaming. “Sweetheart.” She held out her arms and he embraced her tightly and kissed the top of her head.
“Mom, you remember Athena, Elliot’s sister.”
I tried not to glower at the uncalled-for statement at the end of his introduction.
“Mrs. Stone, it’s lovely to see you again. It’s been a long time.”
“Of course I remember. Be gone with you, girl, with the Mrs. Stone business. It’s Jessie as you well know. Now come give me a hug.”
She wrapped me in her arms, then drew back and clutched my hands, squeezing my fingers. I caught Ryker’s grin from the corner of my eye. Asshole.
“You’ve grown up even more beautiful than I dared imagine, Athena my darling. You always were a stunning child, but now…” She clasped her chest. “Breathtaking.”
I blushed and ducked my head. “Thank you, Mrs… I mean Jessie.”
“Mom, leave her alone,” Ryker said, moving to stand next to me. He curved his arm around my waist.
His mom’s eyes widened, and she flicked her gaze between Ryker and me. And then her smile built into a broad grin. She touched her neck, plucking softly at the skin. Her attention alighted on Ryker.
“Are you… are you together?”
He nodded. She squealed and pulled us into a group hug. “Oh, I’m thrilled, thrilled for you both. This is so wonderful.” She drew back and narrowed her eyes at Ryker. “You’d better treat this girl like the queen she is, otherwise I’ll tan your hide. You’re not too big or too old to be put over my knee.”
Ryker raised his eyes heavenward. “Put the coffee on, woman. Make yourself useful.”
His mother virtually skipped over to the kitchen area as Ryker led me to the seating area. He nestled beside me and clasped my