Sunlight caught in his dark hair, flickering against the random strands of copper and blond, and setting off the gold of his tanned skin. He wore a clean white T-shirt that clung to his chest and lean stomach and a dark green flannel rolled up at the elbows to show off his thick, muscled forearms. The jeans were worn down and faded where they curved over his strong thighs. His steel-toed boots were scuffed and practical since he spent a lot of his time either on build sites or as acting reserve officer for the force.
But it was his smile, soft and warm when he caught me staring at him, that lit up his face with so much relief and happiness, I wanted to push the sun out of the sky so I could soak up his light alone.
The way he walked, that comfortable rolling stride that was all confidence with a little challenge, drew my eyes to his hips, the twist of his waist, and his broad shoulders.
Everything in me went tight and warm and wanting.
Mercy me.
I couldn’t stop staring at him, wanted the taste of him on my lips, the warmth of his skin pressed against mine, the weight of his hands touching me everywhere, holding me.
He’d been turning my head since before we were in middle school and now that we’d admitted we wanted each other, I couldn’t look away from him. Didn’t want to waste any more years trying to.
“Hey, Delaney.” He reached out for me, and I drew forward easily, folding into his arms, pressing my face against his shoulder, breathing in the scents of him: spice and wood shavings and the under-sweetness of his cologne that mixed with a smell that was all his own.
His arms wrapped around my back. Thick, muscular fingers caught then slid into my back pocket. His other palm drifted up to cup the back of my head.
We’d just seen each other yesterday evening before Old Rossi had shown up. Even so, it had been far too long since we’d touched.
We had years to make up for.
“Hey, snuggle boo-boos!” Jean called out. “Smoochy-smoo later. Worky-work now.”
Ryder grunted so softly, if my head hadn’t been on his chest, I wouldn’t have heard him. His arms tightened, then released.
I stepped back and grinned up at him. “Just like that? Are you gonna let her boss you around?”
“Yes. I know better than to argue with a Reed.”
I didn’t know I could smile any brighter. “Smart man.”
We started toward the lighthouse. Jean stood waiting at the door–Myra hadn’t been kidding they were going to keep an eye on me at all times. Then Ryder stopped as if a rope around his waist had just pulled him up short.
“Problem?”
He scowled at the police cruiser. Specifically at the tires.
“Ryder?”
“What?”
“Something wrong?”
He tightened his hands into fists, then relaxed them with what looked to be applied effort. “No.”
“There’s plenty of parking,” I said. “It’s okay if she’s a little over the lines. The park is going to close pretty soon.”
“I know. Closed an hour after sunset.” He said it in monotone as if he were reading it off the back of a brochure.
“Yeah, that’s right. So…you want to come inside?”
“I….” He wiped his palm over his mouth then dragged fingers across his jaw and scratched at the stubble there. “Yeah. I’m coming.”
He couldn’t seem to look away from the slightly crooked parking job.
And sure, things had been weird lately, but this was double-weird.
“Tell me.” I closed the distance between us, crowding into him as if our contact would explain what his words could not.
