But I have Ryker now. And I really don’t want him to go to Seattle.
“No. Please don’t go, Ry.”
He scowls down at me in concern. “Hey, I won’t be gone long. Just a day or two, so I can check in with the authorities, my penthouse—”
“We need you here.” I don’t even care that I’m being needy as fuck and that I sound a little unhinged. I straddle his lap and wrap my armsaround his neck, almost clinging to him. “Ineverask you for anything, Ry, but I’m asking for this. You have the police, the team, and even Gid helping with the mess in Seattle, but Aiden and I need you here at the ranch. I know I’m asking a lot. Iknow. But if you leave right now, I’ll fall apart, and that’s your fault.”
God, I’m so close to tears. The adrenaline from dealing with Aiden has worn off, and now my emotions are all over the place, andI do not want him to leave me.
He lifts an eyebrow and runs his hand up and down my back. “Why is it my fault?”
“Because you made me love you and depend on you, and he’s hurt, Ry. Under literally any other circumstances, I would tell you to have a good trip. I would even offer to go with you, but Aiden—”
I feel a tear slip down my cheek, and he smooths it away with his thumb.
“I have done it by myself for all these years, and Ican’tanymore. Not now that I know how fucking good it feels to do it with you, and if you go away for a few days, I might lose my mind.”
“Okay, take a breath. Deep breath for me, sweetheart.”
I do as he asks, and he breathes with me. I’m on the verge of a panic attack. His hands ghost up and down my back, and he’s soothing me with that deep, calm voice.
“That’s it. You’re doing great, baby. It’s been a shitty day, but Aiden is safe upstairs, and he’sfine.”
The tears keep coming. I held it together until Ryker said he wants to go to Seattle. And it would make sense for him to go. If I were in his shoes, I’d want to as well.
But I can’t deal with it right now.
“I hate sounding weak like this.”
“No. You don’t sound weak at all. I’m glad you’re asking for what you need.” He wraps his arms around me and hugs me to him, and I bury my face in his neck, clinging. “Always tell me what you need, baby. And if this is what you need, I’ll stay home. You’re right, everyone’shandling everything for me, and I can ask Mac to get eyes on the penthouse.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry.” He’s peppering my shoulder with kisses. “I like that you need me, and I’m happy to be here with both of you.”
“Today scared me.”
“I know. It scared me too. I’m usually the one getting injured, and I can take it. I don’t like it when it’s my family.”
His family.
Just when I think my heart can’t melt any more, he goes and says something like that.
“It’s been a rough week,” he adds, still hugging me close.
“I’m ready for boring now, please.”
He huffs out a laugh and tugs my face up so he can see me. “Me too. There will be press surrounding the Andy shit. There’s nothing I can do about it, but the team will help keep it to a minimum.”
I nod and kiss his chin. “It’ll die down after a while, and something else will be interesting.”
“That’s how it works,” he agrees as his dark eyes skim over my face. “Everything’s going to be okay, sweetheart. I promise.”
“I know. But please, stay here, okay? Even if it’s just for the next week or so, and then we can reevaluate.”
“That works.” His hand cups my cheek. “Whatever you need, Trouble. You’re the priority.”
I close my eyes and rest my forehead against his. “Thank you.”
