Page 45 of Broken Butterfly
“That wasn’t half as bad as stealing the McClaren. I thought for sure those guys were going to shoot our asses.”
They both laugh at the memories and I decide not to ask for clarification. Perhaps ignorance truly is bliss.
“We worked for this guy until high school,” Ryder continues.
“By that time, the fun of it had worn off, so I gave him enough money to disappear and live the rest of his life comfortably in a non-extradition country. Just in case.”
“The both of you are shitting me, right?” Fallon merely smiles and Ryder ducks his head, not meeting my gaze. “Again, how did I not know any of this?”
“People see what they want to,” Fallon blithely states.
“Damn.” I really was clueless back then. Ryder had been helping Fallon steal cars for years. I should be upset about it, but for some reason, I’m not. Old Elizabeth would have been outraged. Good thing I’m not her anymore. Ryder hasn’t smiled once, and I can tell he’s ashamed of his part in it all. In contrast, I’m strangely and oddly excited. “Did you guys ever have to hotwire a car?”
“A few times,” Fallon says.
“Why do you ask?” Ryder says.
“Think you could teach me?”
Ryder’s mouth drops open as Fallon laughs maniacally.
“Hot damn! I really like this New Elizabeth,” Fallon shouts and stands up. “Enough secrets for now, kitten. I’m going to leave you two to enjoy the rest of your day. Don’t break the bedsprings. Make as much noise as you want, though. Eduardo sent all the staff home yesterday.”
I choke on my orange juice. “Where are you going?” I manage to ask.
Fallon picks up his plate. “There’s a Tramontana I want to take a look at in town. I’ll bring something back for dinner.” He kisses the top of my head and leaves.
I put my fingertip to my mouth, biting the tip as I grin at Ryder. “I can’t believe you were a little hoodlum. You’ve always been this knight in shining armor to me.”
He counters with, “I can’t believe you want me to teach you how to hotwire a car.”
“I can’t believe I never noticed what you were up to.”
“I’m sorry if you’re disappointed in me.” Ryder leans back in his chair, chest and arm muscles stretching his shirt taut, which apparently is a cue for my hormones to go haywire as my greedy eyes devour his innate masculinity. I know I’m totally screwed if the simple act of him sitting in a chair turns me on this much.
“No, it’s not that. Honestly, if I had known what you were doing, I would have helped. Just like you had Fallon’s back, I would have had yours.” Old Elizabeth wouldn’t have condoned what they were doing, but if she couldn’t have stopped them, she would have joined them and been their lookout. At least that’s one positive quality of my old self that I can agree with.
“Like Bonnie and Clyde?”
“Without the machine guns.”
“I love you, Elizabeth.”
“I love you, too. I know I’ve said this about a million times, but I’m so happy you’re here.”
Ryder slides his chair over to mine and nibbles on my neck. “Want to get naked?”
“Hell, yes. But aren’t you tired?”
“Between sleep and my sex with my girlfriend, my girlfriend always wins.”
I melt when he says I’m his girlfriend.
“I’ve never had pool sex before. It’s heated and there’s a lazy river attached to the back,” I tell him, stripping off my hoodie and leggings and rushing off to leap in the pool before the cold outside air penetrates my naked body. Ryder makes a vocal whoop and soon follows.
I’m so incredibly happy. I get to spend another ten days traveling with the man who saved me and became a friend, and the man who was my childhood best friend and became the love of my life.
Chapter 13
