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Ryker’s eyes were full of happiness. I’d had no idea that you could feel joy like a physical force inside you. Only now, I felt as if there was so much of it that it couldn’t possibly fit inside me.
“Define up for anything,” he said playfully. “Does it include naughty trips to my office or sneaking behind the red curtain during galas?”
“That’s a no on both counts,” I said seriously.
“We’ll see about that.”
I laughed, stepping closer again, touching his jaw, tracing his lips with my fingers, because apparently I couldn’t keep my hands off him for even one full minute. I just loved feeling him against me. Bringing a hand to the back of my head, he pulled me into a kiss. It was different than the one before. Hotter, even more urgent. As if in a haze, I realized we were moving through the room. I almost stumbled, and blindly reached a hand backward—there was a wall here somewhere—but Ryker was ahead of me. He’d braced one hand against the wall, pushing me against it with his hips. He needed a hard surface for leverage so he could kiss and touch me the way he wanted to. The realization sent a wave of heat through me. I rose on my toes, needing leverage of my own.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked.
“How to seduce my fiancée tonight.”
“And what are the options? Your fiancée would like to weigh in.”
“Does she now?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Well, then. Can’t deny my fiancée’s first wish, can I?”
***
“This is an engagement ring,” I told Avery later that evening, after we picked up her and Mom from the airport. I was a little nervous but a lot excited to tell my little girl about our plans. We were at our apartment, and Mom had slipped out of the living room to give Ryker and me some privacy with Avery. I’d told her on the phone about the engagement, because I just couldn’t hold back, but asked her to keep it a secret from Avery.
“What’s an engagement?” Avery asked, wide-eyed.
“It’s like a promise,” Ryker explained. “Your mom and I are promising to each other that we’re going to always be together.”
“We’re getting married,” I said. Her mouth formed that adorable O, where her cheeks also went hollow from the effort.
“You’re going to be a bride, Mommy?”
“Yes. And we’re also going to move in with Ryker.”
“Ohh, so I can always play in my big room.” She turned to look at Ryker, speaking in a loud whisper. “Can we tell her now?”
Ryker grinned. “Yes, we can.”
“Tell me what?” These two. I’d known something was up ever since we’d left Phoenix.
Avery straightened up. “I asked Ryker to be my dad. And he said yes.”
I blinked, sure I’d misheard her, then quickly looked away so she couldn’t see that I had misty eyes.
“And you will not just be my dad, but also Mom’s hubband?”
“Yes,” Ryker said.
“Can I get a ring too? So we can also promise to always be together?” Avery asked.
Ryker smiled warmly at her. I reached for his hand behind Avery’s back, squeezing it lightly.
“Sure. We can go buy a ring whenever you want. Or a necklace if you want. Or a bracelet.”
Oh, damn. They were going to buy half the store; I was sure of that. But they both already looked so excited that I promised myself I would just let them have their fun this time.
When Avery yawned, I pointed a finger at her. “Bedtime, Avery.”
