Ryker even answered.
“I think I’m her favorite person,” he said as we stepped in the enormous living room. We placed the bags next to the couch to give our hands a short break.
I grinned. “I wonder why.”
A strand of his dark blond hair fell over his forehead. I pushed it back, craving to touch more of him. But I had a plan, and I needed to be alone to put it in motion. I was hoping he wouldn’t take all the bags to Avery’s room right away.
“Off you go,” I encouraged. “Wouldn’t want you to lose the favorite status.”
Ryker tilted his head to one side, studying me. “You’re going to rummage through the bags for your gift, aren’t you?”
Oh my God. That was so spot-on that it was scary.
“Yes,” I admitted, because there was no point denying it.
“You keep wanting to change the rules.”
“You didn’t say anything about not looking in the bags at home,” I pointed out.
“You’ll get it when we’re alone,” he repeated, voice strong and determined. My entire body hummed. I wanted to rile him up a bit but didn’t get the chance, because Avery called out from her bedroom.
“Ryker?”
He grabbed the bags, walking backward, keeping eye contact until he left the room.
Even though Avery specifically asked Ryker for help, I ended up joining them too. Between the three of us, we got everything unpacked and put together in no time at all. I’d never seen Avery so excited. She spread out her toys everywhere and insisted on having the new sheets on the bed right away. I liked to wash bedlinen before using it the first time, but when Avery looked at me with wide eyes, saying, “Pleaaaaaaaaase, Mommy,” I gave in. Guess I wasn’t that good at saying no either.
Ryker ordered dinner to be delivered, but Avery fell asleep before the food arrived, and I decided not to wake her up.
I stood in the doorway even after I turned off her lights, remembering that evening when she’d asked me if it could be just the two of us. And yet here she was, starfished on the bed as if determined to occupy as much space as possible. She loved it here, there was no denying it. She was a kid. Giving her heart away was natural for her. It was my job to look out for her... and yet I was head over heels in love with this man. I couldn’t even guard my own heart, let alone Avery’s.
“Babe, I can feel you overthinking this,” Ryker whispered, startling me. I hadn’t realized he was behind me. Taking my hand, he led me to the living room. My heart was beating at a million miles an hour. Yes, I was still a little afraid that we were just jumping into this, and I was still not sure if we quite fit in his life.
“Don’t know how to stop doing it,” I admitted.
He caressed my cheek, looking at me intently. “How about I distract you from it?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Grinning, he searched his pocket, taking out a gorgeous watch. The face was round, with a dark blue background that showed the mechanism.
“Ooooh, my present. Thank you.”
I bounced up and down on my toes as he clasped it around my wrist. I loved it.
“Time for some adult fun. I’m proposing something decadent,” I announced, nudging his shoulder. One of the perks of a huge apartment? We didn’t have to worry about Avery hearing us. The living room was separated from the guest bedroom by a corridor and two doors. The master bedroom was upstairs.
“I’m all ears.”
And hands, and lips. He pounced on me the second we stepped inside the living room.
“I meant we could order some dessert.”
“I already did. Ordered pizza and dessert.”
“Wow! Right now, you’re my favorite person.”
“I see. So ordering dessert is the way to win that title?”
“One hundred percent. You have a talent for picking out delicious treats.”
Ryker’s gaze turned from playful to intense. He closed the distance between us, pressing the back of my thighs into the armrest of the couch. He kissed from the corner of my mouth up to my cheek before moving on to my ear, biting the shell lightly.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Reminding you of my other talents.”
“Oh, by all means. Go ahead.”
He laughed in my ear, continuing his ministrations. God, I loved having his mouth on me, and his hands. I considered telling him that I’d been waiting for hours for this moment... but I had