I didn’t run to him, exactly, but I performed a decent twenty-yard dash.
He watched me approach with a boyish grin on his face while he shook his head.“I told you I’m fine on the phone, Ivy.”
I slid my hands along his neck.“Well, you’ll have to forgive me for being worried about my man being at a drive-by today.”
He kissed me fast, turned so we were side-by-side, and we headed into the clubhouse.
Volt wandered toward us from the end of the corridor.“Church first thing in the morning.”
Ryan nodded, and guided me up the stairs with his hand at the small of my back.
Once we were in his room, I turned to him.“Are you sure you’re okay?I mean, being shot at has to be traumatic no matter how it—”
He stepped into my space and kissed me silent.His tongue slid inside my mouth, while he wrapped one arm around my waist and the other around my shoulders.I slid my hands under his cut and up his back.
He pulled away, but kept hold of me.“No, it’s no fun having my day ruined by a coward like Rusty.”
I narrowed my eyes.“How do you know it was Rusty?”
His lips pressed together for a beat.“Who else would do it?The location is well away from downtown.And he was there the night before telling us the bar’s days were numbered.The upside is that the bar’s closed for now, and your mom’s dinner isn’t a problem.”
My eyes darted to the side.“I’m guessing a drive-by means you’re still going to keep me from going to my place, aren’t you?”
He shook his head.“No, tonight we’re staying at your place.”
I couldn’t hold back my beaming smile.“No matter how much I want to question you, I’m not going to, because I love that sound of that.”
He nodded.“I’m hitting the shower.”
Mom’s house was in the heart of the Town of Orange Park.She lived in a ranch house built in the late seventies with a kidney bean pool in the back.The driveway was L-shaped and Ryan pulled his bike up the drive in a huge arc so it was parked parallel to the garage.
“Are you trying to block Mom in?”I asked jokingly as I got off the bike.
He swung off and smiled.“No.I’m trying to make it less obvious there’s a bike in her drive.”
He really wasn’t fooling around about safety.
After he grabbed a bottle of wine from his saddlebag, we walked around to the front door.Mom opened it before I could dig out my keys.
“I don’t mean to seem eager, but your motorcycle announces you,” she said.
Ryan chuckled.“That’s the idea, Mrs.Brummis.”He held out a hand, introduced himself, and offered Mom the wine.
“Thank you for this, you shouldn’t have.It’s great to met you, Ryan.Come in.”
Mom led us through the living room.“I didn’t know what you like, but I went to Costco today and got their shrimp cocktail and there are spring rolls coming out of the oven soon.”
Mid-way to the kitchen, I stopped, stared, and felt my heart lurch.I hadn’t been to Mom’s house since late August.A decorative mirror had been replaced by seven pictures printed on square canvases.All of them pictures of Mom and Jeff, and three of them from a trip the three of us took shortly after Jeff’s cancer diagnosis.The images were so bright and vibrant – at once they felt like both a betrayal and a comfort.
“Mom, when did you get these printed?”I asked.
“A month ago, sweetie.Chad helped me hang them on Labor Day.”
I couldn’t believe Chad hadn’t told me about that.
Mom’s face was filled with concern.“Darlin’, I loved him.I always will, and honestly, I wished I’d thought to do something like that years ago because we all need a reminder of the good times.”
I nodded and fought against my tears.
