Blake gave her a playful chuck under the chin and then she turned her toward Ryder who had gotten out of the car and was observing the sisterly greeting, a look of amusement on his face. “Becky, this is Ryder Kent, my escort for today and my…friend.” Blake had no idea why she’d stumbled on the word friend. It was like saying it out loud made her think about what it really meant. Friend. Ryder was all that and so much more. “Ryder, this is Becky, my little sis.”
“Pleased to meet you, Becky.” Ryder gave her an easy smile that had the young girl blushing and smiling back shyly.
Blake glanced up and saw her mother peering through the window. “Come on, guys. We haven’t got all night.” She set off for the house, leaving Ryder and Becky to bring up the rear. She knew this would have to be a super-quick visit. Ryder had several hours of driving ahead of him and she didn’t want to be the cause of an extended delay.
As soon as she stepped onto the porch, Rosie flung the door open wide. “Blake.” She held her arms open and Blake stepped right into them, happy to be holding her mother again. Maybe it was the emotion of the moment, brought on by the strain of having to rehash Jerome’s deception. She found herself clinging to her mother like she would never let go.
Trying hard not to break down Blake released her mother and stepped back then turned to Ryder who had come to stand just behind her. She forced a smile. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Ryder-”
“Yes, the young man you wrote me about. Your friend.” Rosie lifted her hand to shake Ryder’s.
“Mom.” Blake rolled her eyes. Did she have to go and say all that? What must Ryder be thinking now? Quickly, before her mother got it into her head to reveal anything else, Blake changed the subject. “I finally did it, Mom. The statement is in. Now let the chips fall where they may.”
“Good girl.” Rosie gave her a congratulatory pat on the arm even as she ushered them into the house. “You should have done it a long time ago but better late than never.” Then she smiled back at Ryder. “I hope you like roast beef because that’s what I fixed you for dinner.” Then she gave her daughter a not-so-subtle wink and all Blake could do was sigh. So much for not wanting Ryder to find out she’d written and told her mother all about him.
After that they sat down to a delicious meal, albeit a quick one, and much too soon and to her regret, Blake had to bring it all to an end. “We’ve got a long drive ahead of us,” she explained, “and I’ve got to open the restaurant tomorrow.”
“I know, dear, and I’m sorry I was such a chatterbox this evening.” Rosie gave Ryder an indulgent smile. “You forgive me, don’t you?”
He reached out and patted her hand. “There’s nothing to forgive. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
“And I enjoyed having you here.” And from the way she spoke, Blake could tell that her mother liked Ryder. A lot. That was definitely a good sign. But then, when it came to Ryder, what wasn’t there to like?
Later, as they traveled along the highway that would take them back to southwest Texas, Blake couldn’t help but smile. Just before they’d gone through the door her mother had pulled her back to whisper in her ear. “This one’s the real deal,” she said softly. “A true gentleman. If you two choose to go further I give you my blessing.”
Blake knew exactly what her mother meant. When Rosie first met Jerome she’d found him charming but still she’d hesitated. She hadn’t quite come out and said it but Blake could sense her ambivalence. This time, though, there was clearly no question in her mother's mind. As far as she was concerned, Ryder was ‘the one’.
“You’re okay?”
At his question Blake gazed over at Ryder. “Hmm?”
“You just sighed. Tired?” He glanced at her then back to the stretch of road ahead. Although it was almost ten o’clock the highway was alive with vehicles heading to and fro.
“I’m fine,” she said and then spoiled it when she followed her words with a yawn.
Ryder chuckled. “Don’t fight it. Relax. Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we get home.”
Home. He’d said the word so easily, like Beaumont’s was truly her home and his. And she liked the sound of that…very much.
Blake had no idea when she eventually slipped into slumber. She’d felt so safe and comfortable by Ryder’s side that she hadn’t even tried to resist when she felt sleep begin to claim her. He’d switched on the radio and she was listening to John Legend’s, “All of You”, when the music faded away and all went still…
Blake woke to the softness of a kiss, the feel of gentle lips on hers. She gave a soft sigh and tilted her face, all the better to receive the sweet caress. If she was dreaming she didn’t want to wake up. With a soft moan she slid her hand up Ryder’s strong shoulders and as she clung to him she knew this was no dream. It couldn’t be, not when Ryder felt so warm, so real.
The kiss, so soft and tender, soon turned insistent. Ryder reached his hand up to cup her chin, tilting her face ever so gently so he could take full control, kissing her with such passion that the embers glowing inside her threatened to burst into flames.
Too soon he was sliding his lips away, but she gasped when those lips left a trail of butterfly kisses along the column of her neck, across her collarbone and then down, down until they caressed the tops of her br**sts.
It was a sweet, sensual caress that made her shiver in response. When Ryder lifted his head to gaze up at her she moaned, wanting more. So much more.
“You’re so beautiful.” Ryder’s words came out in a ragged whisper that revealed the height of his arousal. She wanted this, so badly, but so did he.
Wanting to give him the pleasure he’d just given her, Blake slid her hands under Ryder’s arms, urging him up until she had greater access to his body. Just as he’d done just moments before, she feathered soft kisses along the line of his jaw then tickled and teased her way down his neck until she reached the open V at the neck of his shirt. Spurred on by the tortured moan that slipped from his lips she ventured further down, trailing soft caresses across the breadth of his chest, seeking that sweet spot that would have him sighing in pleasure.
She’d almost reached her goal when Ryder sucked in his breath and reached down to cup her face in his hands. He groaned then bent and kissed her on the forehead. “You’d better stop,” he whispered, his voice tinged with regret, “if you don’t want us to end up doing a whole lot more than just kissing.” He reached up to brush away the tendrils that had fallen across her cheeks then, with a gentle smile, he moved away, back to his seat on the driver’s side. “It’s almost two in the morning. Let me get you to bed.”