“I have a terrible feeling about this. About her. There’s something you’re not telling me.”
I sigh. “There is. But I can’t tell you right now.” She starts to interrupt, but I cut her off, “Soon, Bree, just not right now. I can’t. But I’ll give you fair warning.”
“Give me fair warning? Is this going to be big?”
A sarcastic laugh escapes my lips and I sit back in a chair, staring up at the ceiling. Catastrophic big. And yet, I can’t stay away from her.
“Let’s say, you’ll be busy.”
Chapter Thirty
Aspen
Tap.
A noise at the window pulls my attention from the TV. I stare at the curtain-framed window from my bed, darkness blankets it from the second-story bedroom and I wonder if I imagined it.
Tap.
Tap.
My heart beat picks up at the realization that I did, in fact, hear something. I glance at my bedroom door, debating if I should get Halli. It’ll probably be something stupid like a tree branch hitting the glass and would only make me look silly. Instead, I scoot off the bed and slowly put one foot in front of the other, and then drop to the right of the window so I’m not in plain sight.
Tap. I startle and cover my yelp with my hand. This is ridiculous, I’m on the second floor. No one can get up here. Peeking around the drapes, I peek down at the lit yard and relief fills my lungs. A grin spreads across my face when I see Ryker waving his hands in the air. Butterflies flood the fear in my belly, staring at the gorgeous man wearing dark jeans, a gray sweatshirt and a backward ball cap with his signature sexy crooked smile.
I can’t believe he’s here. Another tap snaps me out of my dreamy state. He points to the window and puts his palms up. Oh, yeah, he might want to talk instead of staring at me, like I am him. I slide open the window and I’m met with a cool breeze. The sheer curtains dance to my sides. I stretch my head outside when he disappears and my eyes widen when I see him climb a ladder leaning against the house.
“I’d tell you to drop your hair, but wrong princess,” he jokes, coming into view. I roll my eyes, he’s been hanging around Donnie too much. I’m not a princess, more like a secret no one wants to deal with. Our faces are inches apart, my unknown world falls into an abyss of darkness as I focus on his face. For a moment, everything seems right. “You going to invite me in?”
“Oh, sorry. Yes,” I say, stepping to the side to allow him space to crawl through the window. “How did you get past Secret Service? And where did that ladder come from?”
He slides in and stands tall, hovering over me. Would I seem too eager if I dive into his arms? “I know people.” He wags his eyebrows and I laugh at his typical arrogance, taking a step backward so I don’t act on impulse and attack him out of desperation.
“Then why did you just sneak into my room?” Not that I’m complaining.
He shuts the window and turns toward me with a mischievous grin. “Your people trump my people and I was afraid they wouldn’t let me in.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” My voice is soft.
He pulls in a ragged breath as his eyes roam over my body. Heat flickers in his eyes, lighting my entire body up with just one look. He takes two quick, long strides and pulls me into his chest. His lips fuse to mine and I melt in his arms, not even caring how desperate I seem. I am desperate.
He moans into my mouth and breaks the kiss. “Sugared whiskey. My favorite flavor.” My heart hammers looking at his eyes gleam like I’m truly his taste of choice. “You’ve been baking.” I nod, smiling, but then it falters when his expression morphs to regret. “I’m so sorry, Aspen.”
“It’s not your fault.”
He jerks backward and steps around me. I can feel the tension as he brushes by and it rocks me at my core.
“How can it not be? I put all this in motion. I brought you here.”
The pain in his voice makes my stomach coil. I swivel on my heel, angry that this is putting a wedge between us. Even if we don’t work out, I can’t have him thinking he ruined my life. He didn’t. He’s made me feel more alive in