Page 54 of Christmas Wish
With his gaze fixed on hers, Ryder paused for a few heartbeats then said, “Why don’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what? How insensitive and cold Bret was to his own son?”
“Why you ran away from him.”
Blood rushed to her head and her heart pounded so loudly in her ears that she was sure he could hear it. Covering her face with her hands, Savannah breathed in and out deeply until the panic clawing at her subsided. Ryder didn’t bombard her with platitudes or ask what was wrong, he just sat there, and his silence comforted her. Slowly, her fingers slid down her face.
“He raped me,” she said in a soft, steady voice. Then she told him about her assault, the details spilling out of her like gum-balls from a broken candy machine.
As she told him about her marriage and how Bret had see-sawed from charming to manipulative until the cruel side of him took over after Timmy was born, it was like she was dissolving layers of anger, numbness, shame, and hate. It was liberating. Ryder was the only person she’d opened herself up to completely. Deep down inside, she knew he wouldn’t blame her for not pleasing her husband enough or not being the required perfect wife of a rich financier.
After several tissues, she leaned against the arm of the sofa, worn out. At some point during her monologue, Ryder had scooted over and placed Savannah’s legs on his lap, but he gently pushed them down and then drew her close as he encased her in his arms. She tilted her head back and gazed into his eyes.
“The pussy you’re married to doesn’t appreciate you one fucking bit. He’s a goddamn asshole. You deserve good things—like love, support, and happiness.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks again, but he wiped them away and planted a tender and loving kiss on her lips. His unconditional understanding buoyed her and helped to loosen the stranglehold of humiliation. He put his hands on each cheek and kissed her again, only this time it was more passionate, more possessive.
Ryder pulled his mouth away from hers. “I’d like just thirty minutes with that fucker to teach him a lesson. Goddamn sonofabitch,” his said in a low voice.
Savannah curled her fingers around his wrists. Every time he held her face between his hands, it felt like he was untying all of her knots.
“I just want to move on with my life, but I’m so damn afraid of him and his money. I’ll never let him take Timmy from me.”
“Come here,” he whispered.
Savannah pivoted around. Ryder put his arm around her, and she settled into the hollow of his neck. His body radiated warmth.
“I know he doesn’t give a shit about Timmy, but Corinne, his mom, is such a mean bitch. She won’t let this go.”
Ryder kissed the side of her hair. “You gotta face this. I’ll help you, and Cara can guide you with legal advice. No one’s taking Timmy from you—I won’t let them.”
Savannah wanted to ask about his son and why he let the mother of his child take Colt away, but she didn’t have the strength for it; she’d used up all her energy reliving that horrible day.
“I’m so happy I met you.” Wrapping her arm around his waist, she squeezed it. “I know this sounds cheesy, but I really feel like you are our Christmas wish come true. I don’t know what would’ve happened to us if you hadn’t come into our lives.”
Savannah didn’t expect Ryder to say anything—that wasn’t his way, but the way he held her tight and peppered kisses on her hair spoke volumes.
She burrowed deeper into the crook of his arm and closed her eyes.
