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By the time we pull into the driveway of the beach house, the idea slams into me, making me chuckle.
"Stay here," I tell her, popping the door open and stepping out into the salty air.
"Where are you going?" She tilt’s her head to look at me.
"Back in a sec," I promise, leaving her with a wink.
I run up to my bedroom to find my old guitar case. It feels like holding a part of myself that's been quiet a little too long lately. I flip it open, and there she is—my six-string confidant. I pluck a string, and the sound vibrates through the space.
"God, I feel like a sap," I mutter under my breath, shaking my head. This is so not me.
Guitar in hand, I stride back to Jayden. Her eyes widen as I sit on the front bumper of my Jeep. I position the guitar, take a deep breath, and start playing. Not some sappy love ballad, but a heavy metal riff that's all fire and brimstone—because if I'm going to pour my heart out, it's going to be on my terms.
"Ryder,” she says as she gets out of the jeep and comes in front of me. “What are you—" she starts, but I cut her off with a raised hand and keep playing, the notes tearing into the night.
When the last chord dies away, I look up at her, feeling exposed, raw. "So, uh, that's new for me."
"Playing your feelings instead of saying them?" Her lips twitch.
"Something like that," I admit.
"Ah, so I'm your muse now?" She slides off the truck, standing before me with that smile that punches straight through my armor.
"Looks like it." I hop off my Jeep and close the distance.
"Behind all that sarcasm..." She reaches up, stroking my face so soft that the tenderness feels like it's etching directly onto my soul. "I see you—the real you. And I'm falling pretty damn hard."
Her admission catches me off guard me—in a good way. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and that's not something that happens often. I’m used to throwing body checks, not catching feelings. However, with this woman, everything's upside down.
"Jayden," I breathe out. "I'm not good at this... feeling stuff. At some point though, you got under my skin, and hell if I don't want you there—all the time."
She smiles in return, and we stand there, just looking at each other.
"Does this mean we're doing this? Like really doing this?" Jayden asks.
"Yeah." I nod, surprised at how much I mean it. "We're doing this, Jayden. For real."
Then, I'm leaning in, and she's rising on her toes, and our lips meet in a kiss that's all heat and promise. A kiss that says we're more than just a fling, more than late-night texts and casual dates. This is the real deal.
Without breaking the kiss, I scoop Jayden up, one arm under her knees, the other around her back. She gasps against my mouth, making her laughing.
"Ryder Raines, what are you doing?" she manages between breaths.
"Something I should've done a long time ago," I say.
With Jayden hoisted over my shoulder, her red hair flying around, I stride toward my bedroom. Each step is filled with a newfound certainty. I'm Ryder Raines, and I'm no longer alone. I've got a fiery, five-foot-four reason to believe in something more.
"Welcome to the cave, babe," I tease, kicking open the door to my room.
Chapter 11
Jayden
Everything with Ryder has been going good this past week, almost too good. It scares me.
"Jayden, something is going on with you. I can tell. I didn’t come to Sand Dunes on your night off just to talk to myself like I’ve been doing for at least fifteen minutes now," Mimi says. She's stirring a strawberry daiquiri with her tall red straw.
"Yeah," I say, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "It's just... Ryder."
