Page 44 of His to Defend

She was asleep, her arm splayed out on the empty side of the bed.

Where he should have been. Her hair was spread over the pillow but instead of looking at peace in her slumber, her pretty mouth was set in a frown. Her eyes moved behind her eyelids as if she were having a bad dream.

Maybe she was.

Maybe it was his fault.

The idea that Ryker had caused her any pain at all struck him in the chest. Of course he’d caused her pain. He’d left in the middle of the wedding. He hadn’t danced with her. He hadn’t held her or heard her speech to her best friend that she’d been so nervous about. He’d abandoned her without an explanation.

He was an asshole. Of the worst kind.

And she didn’t even know the half of it.

Carefully, Ryker pushed the door open far enough that he could slip inside. Immediately, he grabbed his camera and tucked it carefully into the top of his pack. He’d meant to simply turn away and leave without causing himself any further torture. But he couldn’t.

Nina’s chest rose and fell with each breath, but still she looked as if the dream was distressing her, and no matter what it was that he should have done, Ryker needed to hold her. Still her and even if it was just one, completely inadequate thing, help her through the nightmare that he’d had a part in creating.

As quietly as he could, Ryker slipped off his boots and crawled fully dressed into bed behind her. He ran one hand down the length of her before wrapping his arm around her and holding her tight against him.

Nina stirred, but he murmured gently into her ear and she settled back into sleep.

Almost at once, Nina’s body relaxed, as the nightmare dissipated. Ryker’s presence calmed and comforted her and it broke his heart.

Never before had he experienced anything like what he had with this woman.

He laid awake for hours while she slept deeply. Finally, when the sky outside the window started to lighten, Ryker knew it was time to go. He called upon all of his strength and willpower, but knowing it was the best thing he could do for the woman he loved, he finally pressed a kiss to her cheek and whispered into her ear, “I love you, Nina. I hope you always know that.” He swallowed hard. “I love you and I’m sorry.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Have you decided how long you’re going to stay?” It was the day after the wedding and Nina was alone with Harper’s mom, enjoying an early morning coffee on the deck of the Den. Everyone else was still sleeping, but she’d awoken early, unable to sleep. There was still no sign of Ryker, but her dreams had been filled with him, almost as if he’d been right there with her.

Next to her, Shelly rocked in the large wooden rocker and sipped at her coffee. “I haven’t.” She smiled against her mug. “But I hope for a little while anyway. I just met my grandbaby, after all.”

“And she’s perfect.” Nina grinned. She’d never been much of a baby person but Lily really was a perfect little girl. She was so sweet that it almost made her think about having her own one day.

One day.

It was a crazy thought because it had only been about a week ago when she would never have even entertained the idea of a baby. But that was before she’d found her man.

Her man. Because that’s exactly what Ryker was. Hers. Which was why it both hurt and pissed her off that he’d taken off the night before.

A family emergency?

Nina didn’t care what Natalia had said. A family emergency wouldn’t have taken him away like that. It had to be more serious. But why couldn’t he tell her?

“Everything okay?” Shelly asked her. “I don’t mean to pry,” she continued. “But it really looks like you’re battling with something. Man troubles?”

“How could you tell?”

The older woman laughed. “I’ve seen that very look before. On myself. What’s going on?”

Nina debated telling Shelly anything. After all, she didn’t even know her best friend’s mother, but in the end, she needed to talk, so opening up won out. “There’s this man and we have the most incredible connection,” she started. “I didn’t mean for it to turn into anything, but it just kind of happened. And quickly. I know it sounds crazy, but even after a few days together I just felt like I was always supposed to be with him.”

“It doesn’t sound crazy at all.”

“And I thought he felt the same,” Nina continued. “I mean, I felt it. I just knew he felt the same.”

“And then?”