Falling For You (Love In All Seasons #2) - Frankie Love Page 0,52
believe.
“He cut down all those trees Miss Helen Ottenbagh had saved. He clear cut a hundred acres or more.”
While we care about the native lands, we here at EXPOSÉ, really want to know the dirty details of Luther Morris because late this morning, when the police force was on route to Ryder Ottenbagh’s property two hours north of Anchorage, Luther took his private plane to the property that he knows very well, usurping law enforcement and upsetting everyone involved, causing everyone to question his motives.
When our EXPOSÉ reporter asked about what Luther does in his free time, the anonymous neighbor replied, “Everyone says he’s down at the bar most nights trying to pick up women on that Fire Starter app.”
Maybe everyone in Alaska isn’t quite up-to-date on Tinder, but after talking to several women who have come forward admitting to having slept with him, we got a clearer picture of this highest bidder.
“He handcuffed me to the bed and I told him I don’t like that sort of thing. So, he kicked me out!” said a 23-year-old student at ASU.
“He seemed nice until he brought me to his torture chamber!” a 21-year-old waitress told us.
“He seemed so handsome, but then he asked if he could defecate on me. In the backseat of my car!” complained a 20-year-old Uber driver.
“He left me on the side of the road with no cab money and no phone. I walked three miles in the dead of night. He is a piece of sh*t!” said another 22-year-old date.
Well, ladies! The consensus seems to be swipe left!
Chapter 21
Justine
Maybe it’s wrong, but the moment Ryder holds me in his arms, I pray to God he will never let me go.
Does it make me weak? That I feel safe in the arms of a man I’ve only known for such a short amount of time?
Or does it make me strong, being able to give myself, my heart, and my soul, over to a rugged stranger after only one day together?
It doesn’t matter, because when Ryder carries me out of the house, with the afternoon wind whipping my hair, I cling to his neck, inhaling his strength and his courage.
I know it doesn’t matter who thinks I’m weak or who thinks I’m strong.
All that matters right now, is us.
Him and me and our hearts pounding in perfect harmony.
“I was so fucking scared something happened to you,” Ryder says. We cross the front lawn, heading down a hill into a secluded area. “I mean, I know something did happen to you. That’s not what I meant ––”
“I know what you meant. And I know what you mean. I’m so glad Luther didn’t…” I can’t finish the sentence because tears flood my eyes and I sob into his chest.
I should have trusted Ryder.
Now I know. Now I always will.
“The police will be busy with Luther for a while,” Ryder says stopping under a big tree; its heavy branches filtering the light. “I thought you could use a minute to breathe. To calm down before we go to the station, before you decide what you want to do... with me... with all of this. I’m sure your parents are worried.”
I look around, expecting him to set me down. But instead, he looks up. I follow his gaze and see where he has brought me. “A tree house?”
“Built it with my dad when I was a kid. You want to go up?” he asks.
I bite my bottom lip, knowing that I’m wearing nothing but panties and Ryder’s oversized coat. Knowing that if I climb that ladder I won’t just be calming down. I will be asking him to forgive me.
But I vow to ask him very nicely.
“What are you thinking?” he asks, carrying me to the base of the tree.
With my foot on the bottom rung, I answer. “I’m thinking about how I can thank you for rescuing me.”
When we get to the top of the tree house it is sparse, with a cot, a pile of books, and collected arrowheads on a table; there’s a lantern on the floor. I turn, expecting to see Ryder with a smile, or at least with a hungry look in his eyes.
But his face looks worn, beaten, bruised. He looks sad, humbled. Lost.
“I don’t deserve your thanks, Justine. I fucking put you in this position. I should have gone to that auction like a real fucking man and bid on you. If I’d done that, I could have saved you from this mess.”