Touch by Touch (Riggins Brothers #4) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,50
and toss the trash.
“I’ll leave these in the fridge. You can have them for lunch tomorrow.”
“Why not breakfast?” I fire back just to mess with him.
“When you make treats as good as yours, you don’t eat Chinese for breakfast.” He tosses the trash and makes his way back to take a seat next to me on the couch.
“Maybe that’s why I want to eat it for breakfast. I didn’t make it.”
“I’ll make you breakfast any day. You just say the word.”
“Right.” I chuckle. “I’m up and in the bakery no later than 4:00 a.m. every day. You’re still snoozing while I’m working my life away.”
“I’ll have you know I was up and at the gym by five this morning.”
“I was up at three thirty.”
“I was up most of the night,” he counters.
I don’t ask him why. I don’t want to hear the answer. I cover my yawn before I can think of a reply. I’m exhausted, and with a full belly, it’s going to be lights out for me soon.
“Come on.” He stands and once again lifts me into his arms as if I weigh nothing.
“You know, my legs do work.”
“I’m aware of that. But you’re exhausted, and I like you in my arms.” It’s a simple statement, but I feel it deep in my core. “Which one?” he asks.
“This one.” I point to my bedroom door.
He pushes inside and places me on the bed. “I’ll be sure to lock up when I leave. You can set the alarm from your phone, yeah?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Let me go grab it. I’ll be right back.” He disappears, and I’m thankful as I suck in a deep breath to try to calm my nerves. “Here you go. I’ll make sure everything is locked, and I’ll text you once I’m outside.” He leans over, and I lick my lips, thinking he’s going to kiss me, and I know without a doubt that I’m going to let him. There is nothing better than this man's lips when they are pressed against mine.
However, his lips don’t land on mine. Instead, they press to my forehead. “Night, beautiful,” he whispers. His voice is low and husky and hot as fuck.
“N-Night,” I stammer.
Gripping my phone tightly in my hand, I listen as his footsteps retreat. I hear the sound of the door closing, but I don’t move a muscle. I wait, gripping my phone like a lifeline. When it pings, alerting me to a message, I’m quick to swipe at the screen.
Conrad: All locked up. Set the alarm.
Me: Thanks for dinner.
Conrad: Anytime. Get some rest.
Closing out of the messaging app, I pull up the one for the security system and set the alarm. I’m not scared to stay here on my own, but I do like the added security that the system provides. Plugging my phone in, I place it on the nightstand and close my eyes. It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep, Conrad the last thing on my mind.
Chapter 18
Conrad
“Conrad, how are things?” Sawyer asks. She’s sitting on the couch with a paper plate filled with pizza resting on her baby belly.
“Living the dream,” I tell her, taking a drink of my sweet tea. My pizza has long since been devoured. I was starving.
“Come on now, you know we want all the details,” Layla chides me from her place in the rocking chair. My nephew sleeps peacefully on her chest. He was cranky as hell and only wanted his momma. Once she cradled him against her chest and began to rock, he was sound asleep. Layla is a natural, as I’m sure Sawyer will be too.
“There are no details. I showed up at her place Monday night and brought her dinner. We ate, and I left. I’ve been to the bakery every morning, as you all already know from the goodies I’ve been bringing to work with me.”
“I must say that you and Grant are keeping the office stocked with yummy treats,” Layla comments.
“More like keeping them in business,” Marshall jokes.
“Hey.” I glare at him. “I’ll have you know the business is thriving. They don’t need Grant or me to keep them afloat.”
“Sorry.” Marshall holds up his hands in defense.
“Nothing? You have nothing to report?” Sawyer asks, and is that disappointment I hear in her voice?
“Sorry, sis.” I finish off my glass of tea just to give me something to do. I wish Carter was awake so I could use him as a buffer.
“Did you send her flowers, as I told you to?” Marshall