didn’t have a good relationship. His constant push and my rebellious pull had us at odds most nights.
“What happened to him,” she whispers.
Closing my eyes, I answer, “He was in a car accident. There was a complication with his surgery. I was sixteen.” There are very few people that has heard this story. I’ve always been afraid of people taking my stories and turning them into headlines. But with Aspen, I didn’t even hesitate.
When I hear the creak of a chair, I open my eyes. She steps over and sits on the table next to the chair, laying her hand on top of mine. “I’m so sorry.” I don’t dare move a muscle having her this close to me, touching me. Warmth from her fingers spreads up my arm.
“It’s okay. My mom and I survived. I’m a huge momma’s boy because of it.” I can’t help myself. I lift her hand in mine and kiss the backside. My lips tingle against her skin and my gaze glued to her face, tries to read her. Can I keep going?
She stands straight up, silently answering my question. “I have an idea to make you feel better.” I wag my brows. I know a way. Dipping her head slightly, she adds, “Not that, Ryker. I’ll be back.” She spins on her bare feet and rushes out the front door.
After ten minutes, I splash my foot in the lukewarm water. I shouldn’t have kissed her hand. She probably said she’d be right back as an excuse to get the hell out of here. Rolling my neck to crack it, I push up to change my water.
The door clicks open as I’m dumping the water and I balance on one foot. “What are you doing?” she exclaims, rushing over to me.
I hold out the empty bucket. “Water was cold.”
She winces. “Sorry. It took a little longer than expected. But I have these…” She swings her hands in front of her, presenting me with five wrapped cookies. My mouth waters as I drop the bucket and reach for the sugar greatness. “I heard a rumor you enjoyed these.”
I untie the blue ribbon, all the while still standing on one foot. “Enjoy is putting it mildly. More like addicted.” I shove the entire cookie in my mouth and bite down. I hum as the sweet taste fills every taste bud on my tongue. “These are so fucking good,” I say, covering my mouth full of cookie, trying not to look like a savage.
Her smooth laugh radiates through my hut as she fills the bucket with water. “I’m glad you feel better.” I hop to my chair. “Here you go.” She places the bucket in front of me and stands up. “Sorry, I need to go to work. I’m in a show tonight. Will you be okay? I can have the doctor come by to check on you.”
To cover my disappointment, I unwrap another cookie and shove it in my mouth. I swallow and shake my head. “No need for the doc. My foot is already feeling better. Thanks for taking care of me.” I hold up the couple cookies left in my hand. “And of course, these.” She walks down the stairs to her boat. “Wait, do you know who makes these?”
She bites her bottom lip. “I might.”
“Can you beg them for the recipe?”
She chuckles as she steps into her boat. “I’ll see what I can do, Ball Boy.”
Chapter Eight
Ryker
“Come here often?” I joke as Aspen rows up to my deck. My pulse races with anticipation when our gaze meets. It catches me off guard. It’s a foreign reaction toward a woman.
This morning, my foot felt better, so I went for a run, but I pushed it too much toward the end. The last thing I need is to return injured. I figured soaking it in the pool would help loosen it up.
“It seems I do.” She lets out an awkward chuckle. “I was just coming by to check on you.”
I have half a mind to tell her it still hurts, so she feels bad enough to hang out with me today. I’d take a pity visit, but that would make me an asshole. “It’s good. Seems the doctor was right, I’ll live.”
A flicker of hesitation crosses her face. She twists her lips. Finally, she says, “I saw you out here so I thought I’d ask. Want to go for a ride?”
It takes every ounce of self-restraint not to jump up and dive headfirst into the canoe.