Page 5 of Christmas Wish
The voice snapped Ryder back to the moment, and he walked up to the two short steps, ignoring the strain of fear etched on her face. “What the hell are you doing on my property?” he asked.
Her eyes focused on the shotgun in his hand then slowly moved to his gaze. “It’s only temporary … until the storm passes.” Ryder put a foot on the step and the woman stumbled back into the camper. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would find us before we left.” She wrung her hands while she kept walking backward. “Please, don’t hurt us,” she said as her gaze looked downward.
“I’m not gonna hurt you. It’s fucking cold out here.” When he pulled himself up the stairs, he noticed the familiar look of surprise masking her face. He’d seen it more times than he could count since he’d lost his leg, and the sting of discomfort never went away. “Come on, Brutus,” he said.
“Not the dog. I don’t want it in here,” she said, raising her eyes to meet his.
“You’re the one trespassing, so you don’t get to call the shots,” he snarled. Brutus padded up the stairs, and the woman rushed over to the table. Ryder slammed the door behind him and looked around the place. The small boy now sat in the corner against one of the cushions around the table. His mop of dark hair and shining brown eyes reminded Ryder of Colt, but he’d be damned if he was going to think about him at that moment. Ryder shook his head and made the memories of a long-lost son scatter into the dark shadows of his mind.
“Can I pet your dog?” the boy asked in a small voice.
The woman slid in behind the table and scooted over to him then placed a protective arm around his shoulders. “Timmy, you shouldn’t ask that,” she said softly, her gaze darting between Ryder and Brutus.
“Why the fuck not?” Ryder knitted his brows as he walked up to the table and plopped down on the seat. “His name is Brutus and you can pet him in a minute. He’s got to see that I’m cool with you both.”
“He’s a police dog, right?” The boy’s gaze stayed on the dog.
“A German shepherd. The badges use that breed a lot.” Ryder was keenly aware that the woman watched him. He turned to her. “What’re you looking at?” Redness crept into her cheeks and he thought she looked even prettier when rattled.
“Uh … nothing. I mean … I was listening to what you were saying to Timmy.”
Ryder grunted and pointed a thumb at the small boy. “I know his name now. What’s yours?”
“Savannah,” she said softly, but she didn’t ask his.
He tipped his head. “Ryder.” He snapped his fingers and pointed to the floor and Brutus immediately laid down. “So you got caught in the storm?”
Savannah nodded then lightly thrummed her fingers on the table. The noise drove him fucking crazy. “Stop that,” he ordered, glaring at her. “There’s no need to be nervous. I’m not gonna hurt you or your boy. I just wanted to know who was homesteading on my land.”
“We weren’t homesteading. I have every intention of leaving as soon as possible. I don’t think the storm will last too much longer, do you?” Savannah’s gaze met his and she smiled weakly.
“How the hell should I know?” Her face fell and Ryder almost reached out and tucked her hand into his.I don’t need to be feeling sorry for this chick or her boy.He pushed himself up and Brutus rose. “When the storm clears, I want you the hell off my land.” Ignoring the stunned look on her face, he put the shotgun under his arm and walked out.
As he lumbered away, he glanced back and saw Savannah watching him. When he locked his gaze on hers, she quickly dropped the shade.
Good.He trudged over to the jeep and let Brutus jump in before he slid onto the seat. As he drove to the cabin, he imagined how silky Savannah’s hair would feel wrapped around his fingers. He shifted in his seat as her image filled his mind. During most of the time he’d been in the trailer, her arms were folded across her chest like a shield, but when he got up to leave, she dropped her guard, and his gaze fell on her rounded breasts. Very impressive. There was no doubt about it—he was a tit man. A fine ass, shapely legs, and nice rounded hips got his blood pumping, but a decent rack made his dick jump to attention every time. To him, a work of art was a pair of natural breasts that filled his hands just right.
“It’s really coming down,” he muttered under his breath as he increased the speed of the windshield wipers.I bet her nipples are pink just like her lips.Damn … he wanted to slide into her warm bed and feel those naked curves, snug and yielding against his flesh. “Fuck!”
Brutus whined and put his head down on his paws.
“It’s cool, boy. I’m just pissed ’cause I’m getting hard thinking about that sexy woman.”I’m gonna have to get over to the clubhouse once the storm passes and spend some time with Brandi.She was the club girl he liked the best because when they were together, she acted like shereallywanted to be with him rather than it was just a mercy fuck.
The cabin drew near, and Ryder hit the remote and watched the garage door slide up before driving in. When he opened the back door, the heat from inside washed over him, and he walked into the kitchen and set down the three bottles of whiskey on the counter. He was glad he’d bought the booze since he was positive he was going to need it to get through the night. The unwanted tenant and her boy stirred up a whole lot of feelings and memories he didn’t want to deal with.
Grabbing one of the bottles and a glass, he went into the family room and started a fire. He sat down on the couch and turned on the television in a desperate attempt to find a channel which would confirm that the storm would be over by the following day. But none of the stations did that—another day or two until it was over.
Ryder snapped off the television and stared at the flames curling and dancing over the logs. It seemed to him that the pretty woman and her son were running away from something. An abusive husband?Maybe, but there’s no damn way she’s living in that small ass trailer with her boy just for the hell of it.Long-buried emotions passed through the darkness of his heart, and he realized that something about her pulled him in, and he wanted to help and protect her.And the boy … fuck … I’m not even going to go there.Ryder couldn’t. He needed the safety of the wall he’d built around his emotions. His self-imposed limits of not letting anyone get too close protected him from losing more than he already had.
His forehead creased in a scowl.The sooner they get the fuck off my property, the better.
Ryder picked up the remote and turned on the television again then poured the whiskey into the tumbler and brought it to his lips.
