Page 13 of Christmas Wish
When they turned down a hallway, Ryder stood in the doorway of a room tapping his foot.
“Timmy had to finish his juice,” she said softly. He jutted his chin and went into the room.
“This is your room,” he said to Timmy.
“Are those real arrows?” Timmy asked pointing at a framed collage of arrowheads.
“Yep.” Ryder went over to the window and opened the shutters then took the display off the wall. “Come over here and you can see them up close.”
As Timmy and Ryder talked about the Native American artifacts, Savannah glanced around, marveling at the exquisite craftsmanship and cozy feel of the room. Several beautiful quilts and afghans were either displayed on the walls, thrown over two plush chairs, or folded and stacked on top of a large chest at the foot of the bed.I wonder if he’s ever been married. I can’t see him going into a store and buying these. Someone made them for him.
“I’ll show you your room.” His gruff voice interrupted her thoughts, and she looked over at him and nodded.
Timmy was still fascinated by the arrowheads, so Savannah quietly followed Ryder to the room next door. A large four-poster bed with a stunning quilt spread over it was the first thing she noticed when she entered the bedroom. An overstuffed chair next to the window looked like the perfect place to curl up with a good book, and a well-crafted rocking chair sat in a corner on the opposite side.
“You have such a beautiful home. I love all the details in the woodwork.” She walked over to the bed and ran her hand over the quilt. “This is exquisite. I always wished I could quilt, or even sew.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you buy it in Pinewood Springs?”
“No.”
Savannah put her fingers against her lips and watched him open the curtains and then put the suitcase on top of the mattress.
“There’s nothing in the closet, and you can use the first three drawers of the dresser.” His dark brown eyes burned into hers.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, unable to break contact.
Ryder’s stare washed over her, head to toe … dripping slowly, and the heat of his gaze burned holes right through her, sending shockwaves straight to her core. Savannah could feel her face flushing but couldn’t turn away; she just stood there rooted, feeling magnetically drawn toward him. A sexually charged silence sizzled between the two as desire sparked inside her.
“Your room’s big, Mommy.” Timmy’s voice snapped her out of whatever was happening between her and Ryder, and she was grateful for it.
Dragging her eyes away from his penetrating ones, she ran her fingers through Timmy’s thick hair and looked down at him. “It is large. Why don’t we unpack your things and get settled in.”
Timmy darted over to the suitcase and she followed hesitantly behind him. Ryder hadn’t moved an inch nor had he averted his eyes away from her. Savannah unzipped the case, trying to focus on what she was doing rather than on the simmering desire crackling between them.
“Where are we gonna put everything?” Timmy asked.
“Uh … in the closet and drawers, I guess.” Ryder’s scent tangled around her, making her dizzy.Stop it! Don’t you dare go there.She cleared her throat, threw back her shoulders, then began taking the clothes out of the bag.
“I’ll leave you two. Let me know if you need anything,” he said, fastening his hand lightly on her shoulder, his thumb sliding over the nape of her neck.
Savannah gasped, then warmth rushed through her from the twinkle in his eyes and the twitch of his lips. “Okay, and … thanks again,” she said softly.
With that, he was gone and she instantly missed his presence. How crazy was that? Savannah barely knew him, yet his effect on her floored her. When she looked into his ardent, burning eyes, all of her insecurities and loneliness faded away in that moment. She’d never had such a magnetic attraction to any man in her life.
“Bluto is looking at us.” Timmy’s voice brought her out of her reverie, and she looked up and saw the German shepherd standing in the doorway.
“He’s just checking us out,” she said as she gathered her son’s clothes in her arms and walked toward the door. “And his name isBrutuswith anrand au-s. Can you say it?”
By the time they were done practicing, the dog had laid down and put his face on top of his paws, his eyes never wavering from them.
“I’m sure we drove Brutus crazy.” Savannah laughed.
“Can I pet him?” Timmy started to saunter over to him.
She reached for his arm and held him back. “I don’t feel comfortable with you doing that without Ryder.”
