“Connor,” he breathed, and for a moment, we just stared at each other, both frozen in place. I hadn’t expected to see him here, and clearly, he hadn’t expected to see me either.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, setting his box down on a nearby table.
“Pete’s idea of community service,” I replied, placing my own box down. “Trying to repair his reputation after everything that happened.”
Ryder snorted, rolling his eyes. “Of course he is. Always thinking about himself.”
He looked good. Actually, better than good. There was a new confidence in the way he carried himself, a steadiness that hadn’t been there before. Working at Nelson Ranch clearly agreed with him.
“You look great,” I said, unable to stop myself. I glanced toward the stairwell, making sure we were alone. “How have you been?”
“Good,” he replied, taking a cautious step closer. “Really good, actually. Jesse’s teaching me the business side of ranching, and Cole’s showing me some new techniques for managing the herd. And I’m actuallyhelpingthem run the place. It’s nice to just… I don’t know… do something useful for a change.”
The pride in his voice made my chest tighten. This was what he deserved, people who believed in him, who saw his potential.
“I got your notes,” I said quietly. “From Evelyn.”
He smiled, and God, I’d missed that smile. “I got yours too. It’s not enough, though.”
“No,” I agreed. “It’s not.”
We stood there, a careful distance between us, though every cell in my body was screaming to close the gap. It had only been a week since our day at the cabin, but it felt like months.
“How bad is it?” Ryder asked, his voice dropping lower. “At the ranch?”
I shrugged, trying to downplay it. “Your father’s on the warpath. Watches us like hawks. But Larry’s doing what he can to run interference.”
Ryder’s face darkened. “I’m sorry. If I’d known he’d take it out on you guys?—”
“Don’t,” I interrupted. “This isn’t your fault. None of it.”
Before he could respond, we heard footsteps on the stairs. Ryder immediately stepped back, putting more distance between us. A moment later, Pastor John appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
“Ah, Ryder! Good to see you, son,” he said warmly. “I see you’ve met Connor.”
“Yeah,” Ryder nodded, his face a perfect mask of casual indifference. “We’ve run into each other at the ranch before.”
I marveled at how easily the lie rolled off his tongue, how quickly he could slip into that role of casual acquaintance. It was a reminder of how good he’d gotten at hiding his true self.
“Well, since you’re both here, would you mind bringing up those boxes of Christmas decorations?” Pastor John asked, pointing to a stack in the corner. “Someone donated their entire collection, and Mrs. Thompson is making a special trip here tomorrow to buy some for the elementary school.”
“Absolutely,” I nodded, grateful for the legitimate excuse to spend more time with Ryder. “We can handle those.”
“Perfect. I’ll leave you boys to it then,” Pastor John said, heading back up the stairs. “Just bring them to the Christmas table when you’re done.”
As soon as his footsteps faded, Ryder’s carefully constructed mask slipped away. He moved toward me with purpose, grabbing my wrist and pulling me behind a tall stack of boxes where we couldn’t be seen from the stairs.
“We have about two minutes,” he whispered, his eyes darting to the stairwell before returning to mine. “Please kiss me.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I cupped his face in my hands and pressed my lips to his, feeling him melt against me instantly. The familiar taste of him sent electricity racing through my veins. His hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer as he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. It was desperate and needy and perfect.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, I rested my forehead against his. “God, I’ve missed you,” I murmured.
“Me too,” he replied, his fingers tracing the outline of the key beneath my shirt. “I’ve been wearing your ring every day.”
The thought of him walking around with my cock ring, a secret reminder of who he belonged to, made heat pool in my groin. I was about to tell him exactly what I wanted to do to him when we heard voices at the top of the stairs.
We sprang apart just as Pastor John appeared with Cole and Jesse in tow.
