Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,96

I stand still, enjoying the feel of his rough, callused hands as they tenderly roam over my heated skin.

“Your turn,” I say once I’m rinsed off. I return the favor, taking my time, running my hands over every muscle, tracing every tattoo. That’s my favorite thing to do, but I think doing it in the shower tops all other locations.

We stay there until the water turns cold. Ridge hops out and grabs a towel, wrapping it around me. “I’ll go get our bags.” He kisses me quickly, grabs a towel for himself, and pads out the door, dripping water everywhere.

By the time he’s back, I’m dried off with my hair up in a towel. “Do we have to wear clothes?” he asks, roaming his eyes up and down my body.

“Nah, I’m sure the neighbors won’t mind me flashing my girly bits as we grill our steaks,” I say casually.

“Fuck that.” He digs in his bag, pulls out one of his T-shirts, and hands it to me. “This should cover everything.”

“I have clothes, right?” I ask because, honestly, I’m not sure. He said he had Dawn pack me a bag.

“Yeah, but you don’t need them when you have mine.” He pulls on a pair of boxer briefs and a pair of jeans that are ripped, worn, and sexy hell. Just seeing them on him makes me wish he were taking them off, not putting them on.

“I’m going to start the grill.” He pulls me in for a quick kiss and then he’s out the door.

Considering he wants me in nothing but his T-shirt, I don’t bother too much with my appearance. I quickly brush my hair, dig in my bag for a hair tie, put it in a topknot, and call it good.

I find Ridge in the kitchen, pulling out the makings for salad. Standing behind him, I place my hand on his back. “Can I help?”

“Yep.” He turns, lifts me up, and sits me on the counter. “You can keep me company.”

“How do you think they’re doing with the little guy?” I ask.

He smiles up at me. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

“Can we call her?”

Drying his hands, he reaches across the counter, grabs his phone, and dials Reagan. Putting it on speaker, he hands it to me with a quick kiss before going back to the salad.

“Hello,” Reagan answers, laughing.

“Hey, sister,” Ridge says. “How’s our boy?”

Our boy.

“Adorable. Tyler is making these crazy-ass faces and his grin is cracking us up. He’s talking up a storm.”

Ridge lifts his head and he’s smiling from ear to ear. “That’s great. Let us talk to him.”

“Sure, hold on a second. Hey, Knox. Daddy and Kendall want to say hi.” I hear rustling, and then his little baby babbles come over the line.

“Hey, buddy. Daddy misses you,” Ridge says into the phone.

Knox coos and babbles some more.

“Say hi,” he whispers to me.

“Hey, little man. Hope you’re being good for Aunt Reagan.” I wait to hear his baby talk back to me, but there’s nothing.

“Hey, who was just talking to him?” Reagan’s back on the line.

“Kendall,” Ridge says.

She laughs. “You should have seen him. He was looking around everywhere, like you were going to be hiding behind him or something. Here he is again.”

“All right, bud. You be good. Daddy and Kendall will see you tomorrow,” Ridge tells him. Greeted with silence.

“Same thing. Kendall again?” Reagan asks.

“Nope. It was me.”

“You two have this little guy spoiled rotten.” She laughs. “All’s good on the home front. He’s getting ready to have his last bottle for the night before we put him down.”

I wait for Ridge to ask if Tyler is staying too, but he doesn’t. I’m sure once it hits him he’ll be wanting answers. It is one of his best friends and his little sister, after all.

“Sounds good. We’ll be home early afternoon, in time for the cookout at Mom and Dad’s,” Ridge tells her.

“Gotcha, brother. You two kids behave,” she says, and the line goes dead.

“He sounded happy,” I whisper.

“He is happy. He’s loved.” Ridge kisses me slowly. “I need to go check on the steaks.”

Chapter 39

I could not have asked for a better trip. Kendall and I spent the entire time wrapped in each other’s arms, exploring each other’s bodies. It’s a night that I’m sure to never forget.

We left a little earlier than what I planned, but when I woke up this morning with my girl in my arms, something was missing—my son. It’s like she could read my mind, because