Ryan's Love (Sawyer Brothers #1) (4 page)

Chapter Six

Amber

“Oh my God.” I leaned my forehead against the edge of the door. “Just shoot me now. Seriously, just finish me off,” I groaned.

“What’s wrong?” Bailey taunted, her voice oozing with amusement.

I looked back at her, narrowing my eyes. “How long did you stand there and allow me to make a complete fool of myself before you put a stop to my ridiculous show?”

“Mr. Tall, Dark, and Lickable didn’t think it was ridiculous. In fact, I’m pretty sure he was enjoying every little shake of your ass. His eyes were following your every move.” She smiled brightly. “He seriously had no idea I was even standing behind him.”

“I want to hurt you right now.” I shoved off the door and walked toward the kitchen. When I got to the window just off the bathroom, I peeked out through the blind, trying to get a view of him.

Ryan was hunched over at the waist, crossbar in hand, loosening the lug nuts on my wheel. His butt was up in the air, and his defined arms flexed beneath the tight T-shirt that covered them.

Bailey stepped up next to me to watch. “Mm,” she cooed. “Now that man is very yummy.” I elbowed her side and she giggled. “You are so into him,” she declared as she stepped back to observe my face.

“How can I be into him? I just met him last night.” She was being ridiculous. I barely knew the guy.

“Okay, maybe I should say that you’re crushing on the sergeant.” She wiggled her brows in a suggestive manner. “Maybe you could put in a request for him to strip-search you. After the look on his face earlier, I’m sure he would be more than happy to serve and protect.”

“You’re foul.” I pushed her back and walked out of the bathroom.

She giggled, following behind me. “Nope, I’m just honest.”

She was enjoying my misery entirely too much.

***

In attempt to try to redeem myself, I straightened my clothes, slipped on a pair of sandals, and repositioned my ponytail on my head. I was loading some freshly baked cookies into the display cases when the front door opened. I allowed myself one last calming breath before I turned to face Ryan. Immediately my lungs deflated and my rapid heartbeat returned. He honestly took my breath away. His eyes were amazing, and he had a strong jaw and the most alluring set of lips. Everything about him was a sensory overload. I felt like a pent-up housewife who’d gone without sex for a year whenever he was near me. The saliva in my mouth thickened, and I immediately became speechless.

“You’re all set, Amber.” The way he said my name gave me chills. He almost whispered it, as if he was testing it out, seeing how it felt to say it out loud.

“I really appreciate you fixing it and putting it back on. Do I owe you anything?” I asked.

His face relaxed just a bit, and his lips lifted in a smirk. “No, sweetheart, you don’t owe me anything.”

My heart beat faster at that endearing name.

“You opening up today?” he asked.

“Yeah, actually with all the festivities this afternoon and tonight, we thought today would bring in a crowd.” I shrugged. “Hopefully anyway.”

“Well,” he began, looking around the room, “everyone around town adored Helen. She was an amazing lady. I’m sure this place will take off.”

“Yeah,” I replied. “I hope you’re right.”

“I usually am,” he said, confidence rolling off him. As he turned and walked toward the door, my heart pounded at the idea of him leaving. I wanted to ask him to stay, offering a cookie, something, anything, but my mouth wouldn’t move.

He paused at the door, his hand resting on the handle. As he looked back over his shoulder, his gaze fell to my feet. “I prefer the cute fuzzy slippers.” He winked just before pushing the door open and walking out.

My body sagged back against the countertop, still holding the tray of cookies in my hand.

“Smooth, Amber,” Bailey said from the doorway of the kitchen, a huge grin stretched out across her lips. I wanted to strangle her. Instead I settled for picking up a cookie from my tray and heaving it in her direction. She moved just in time for it to smack against the wall behind her and fall to the floor.

Her laughter was contagious.

I had to find my voice around that man. If I didn’t, he was sure to think I was missing the ability to function around men. I was puzzled at the effect he had on me. Sure, he was unbelievably attractive and appealing, but he had a kindness about him that almost made me feel safe. It was a strange thing to feel, considering we had just met, but it was a feeling I couldn’t ignore.

Men from Montana were definitely nothing like the men I was used to.

Chapter Seven

Ryan

“I was gonna go down by the docks with Charlie,” Olivia pouted when I told her to climb up in the truck. “Dad!” She stomped her foot to gain my attention when I didn’t answer.

Charlie Whitfield. Just the name made my blood boil. He was seventeen, and he was interested in my fifteen-year-old daughter. That shit didn’t sit well with me; in fact, it pissed me off. I was a teenage boy once, and I know where the mind of a seventeen-year-old boy wanders 90 percent of the time.

Knowing my Olivia starred in some of that boy’s fantasies made me sick to my stomach. I’d had thoughts of putting the fear of God into him—a fear that involved my shotgun and a dark, deserted road.

“You’re not being fair,” she mumbled as she climbed up into the cab of my truck.

“I’m your dad, Liv, it’s my job to be unfair.”

I chuckled as she continued to complain throughout the entire drive into town. If I had to be the bad guy, I would happily take that role. If it meant protecting my daughter’s virtue, I was more than happy to have her think I was being a difficult jerk. One day she would look back and love me for saving her from actions she would have regretted.

Pulling into town, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing to the bakery at the left side of the road and grinning as I remembered walking in to find Amber dancing to the loud, girly music.

“What are you smiling about? Do you think it’s funny that you’re ruining my plans?”

I shifted my stare to my grumpy daughter. The scowl on her face only made me laugh, which of course only fueled the already tense situation.

“This is not funny, Dad. You’re being unreasonable,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Lips pressed firmly together and nostrils flared in anger, she turned away from me and stared out the passenger-side window.

The moment I pulled in to the parking space in the center of town and placed the truck in park, she got out and darted for the one person she thought could save her.

“Gran, will you please tell your son how ridiculous he’s being?”

I chuckled as I walked toward my mother. My dad was sitting in a lawn chair at her side, hiding his grin beneath his hand. He had always told me,
“One day, your time will come when I can sit back and watch your child drive you crazy.”

“Ryan, what are you doing to this poor girl?” My mother said, playing the
I’ll fix this
card.

“Ain’t doing nothing,” I stated as I took a seat at my father’s side and pulled a beer from the cooler between us.

“He won’t let me go to the docks with Charlie,” Olivia whined, looking up at my mom with her big doe eyes. “All my friends are going, but he won’t let me go. I’m gonna be the only one that can’t go. That is
so
embarrassing.”

“Ryan, you need to cut the reins a little bit. If you don’t, she’ll rebel,” my dad said just beneath his hand, low enough only I could hear.

“I remember a time when you’d run off every chance you got to those docks,” my mother pushed a little harder, pulling Olivia closer to her side.

“Not helping, Mom.” I lifted the beer to my lips and took a big swallow. I remember the docks very well. It was the first place I kissed Claire. It was also where Claire and I first experienced the pleasures our bodies created when we became one.

I shuddered at the thought of Olivia taking those same risks. “Nope.” I shook my head, and my dad’s chuckle grew deeper. “No docks.”

Olivia huffed and threw her hands up in the air. “You make me so mad sometimes.” She stomped her foot.

“Enough, Liv,” I warned, and she narrowed her eyes at me. Now she was going overboard, and her fit was grating on my nerves.

“Why don’t we take a walk, honey?” My mother said, attempting to alleviate the stress of the moment. “The bakery is open again.”

My heart felt like it jumped in my chest at the mention of Amber’s place. “Between you and me, the new owner may have her grandmother beat in the baking department.”

I watched as my mother dragged Olivia off toward the bakery, my heart pounding in my chest with each step they took. I gripped the bottle a little tighter, fighting the urge to chase after them just for the chance to see Amber again. A strong desire raked through me to get one more glimpse of her shy smile. That smile had haunted me every passing moment since this morning. I wouldn’t mind seeing that ass of hers once more too.

Just before they entered the front door of Heavenly Temptations, Liv turned around and offered me one last glare. She was a little spitfire, and her attempt at pushing my buttons only made me chuckle along with my father.

“Ryan, you do understand what keeping such a tight hold on that girl will end up causing, don’t you?” he asked.

“Don’t lecture, Dad. If I’m able to hold on to my little girl, keep her safe and out of the hands of some horny-ass teenage boy, then I’m gonna do it.” I was pretty lenient with Olivia, but I drew the line at Charlie. After the things I heard about that kid, thinking of Liv alone with him made me crazy.

After about fifteen minutes, my mother and Olivia exited the bakery and walked back in our direction. Once they were close enough, Liv held out a small baggie, still attempting to glare. “Here,” she grunted. She wanted to relay the message that she was still upset with me, even though she had brought me back a treat.

“Stop acting like you hate me. One day, you’ll thank me.” I took the pink paper bag from her hands. I could smell the contents before I even opened it. The cookies inside smelled like pure heaven. The first one I pulled out was still warm. I took a bite, and my eyes rolled back. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a good old-fashioned peanut butter cookie.

“It’s good, right?” my mom asked.

“Damn good,” I stated before shoving the rest of the cookie in my mouth.

***

I spent the day with family and friends as people around us grilled and got set up for the fireworks that would take place at dusk. Mom had assigned Jackson, Noah, and me to keep our area secure. She and my father were a couple of busybodies, roaming the area as they talked with old friends. I caught sight of Olivia sitting off to the side, staring at nothing in particular. She seemed sad and lonely, and the idea of that made me feel sick.

I leaned forward in my chair and tapped Jackson on the knee as he talked to Uncle Greg.

“Hey, I need to cut out for a minute,” I said. His eyes grew suspicious. “My little girl over there has somewhere to be, and her ass of a dad needs to make up for being a knucklehead.”

Without explaining any further, I stood up and walked in her direction. The scuff of my boots along the gravel caught her attention, and she looked up at me with a blank stare. The look she gave me made me feel as if someone had just squeezed my heart. Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I held my hand out to her, and she just stared at it.

“Come on, Liv.” I motioned for her to stand and wrapped my arms over her shoulders as I pulled her alongside me toward my truck. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just worry something may happen and I won’t be there to stop it,” I assured her. “You’re growing up too fast, Liv. I don’t like that.”

She laughed and wrapped her arm around my waist. “Dad, I’m not some dumb girl. Have you forgotten who I’ve had to look up to?”

I stopped at the side of my truck and opened the passenger door.

“You can trust that nothing is gonna happen, Dad. You’ve raised me right.”

I had to trust that the decisions she’d make would be the right ones.

Chapter Eight

Amber

“Come on, the fireworks are about to start,” Bailey hollered through the open front door. She was bouncing around excitedly like a kid in a candy store.

I shook my head and laughed at her giddiness. I flipped the switch to shut the Open sign off and grabbed my keys from the counter before walking to the front of the bakery.

After I locked the front door, we began walking across the street toward the park. The streets were lined with townspeople, and lawn chairs were set up everywhere along the route the parade would take tomorrow. Blankets and strollers filled the empty spaces in between.

As we walked by the residents of Livingston, they would nod or offer us a kind, welcoming smile. We were now recognized as part of the community, and that felt humbling. You would never see something like this in Chicago. Everyone here was so relaxed and friendly.

Bailey found a seat on the edge of a parking block and patted the space beside her. I lowered myself to sit next to her.

The sun had set, and the only light was from the streetlights shining down on the group that had gathered for the festivities. I slowly scanned the area around us, and my stomach fluttered when my gaze stopped on Ryan. A deep chuckle erupted from him as he listened to what the guy to his left was saying, and he ran his hand through his hair before scratching at the base of his neck as he lounged back in a lawn chair.

A woman who had come to the bakery a total of three times today sat at his other side. I remembered her from the conversation we’d had about the loss of her daughter-in-law. She talked about her sudden death and told me that my grandmother had baked something for their family every day for two weeks following the funeral. The idea of the woman I barely knew offering a family her condolences in the best way she knew how made me proud to call her my grandmother.

My breath hitched when Ryan’s eyes caught mine, and his expression changed. The smile that had brightened his face had now become an intense stare. One that made my stomach lurch with excitement.

Bailey nudged my shoulder with hers in an attempt to gain my attention, yet I couldn’t look away from him. The first crack of the fireworks above vibrated the ground beneath my feet, which only managed to make my heart race even faster.

Lifting his beer to his lips, Ryan leaned back in his chair, continuing to watch me. There was so much commotion around me with people gasping as the fireworks went off one after another, yet my eyes remained drawn to his.

I recognized the younger guy sitting near him. He was one of the first men I’d met in town, one who’d helped me move my bedroom furniture into my apartment. I was pretty sure his name was Jarod, or maybe it was Jack. He looked between me and Ryan, aware of how we were studying one another. He leaned in toward Ryan and said something that caused Ryan to suddenly shift in his seat and look away from me.

“What the hell are you looking at?” Bailey asked, shifting her gaze around as if she was trying to figure out what was so interesting. Her expression changed when she found the person who had gained my full attention.

“Oh I see.” She smirked. “He’s
much
better than these fireworks. You wanna go talk to him?” She didn’t even wait for my answer before she began to stand up.

I grabbed her shirt and yanked her back down. “No,” I choked out. “I’m not going over there. He’s with his family. It’d be rude to invite ourselves.”

I refused to look back in his direction. I had to pull myself together. I was coming across as some awestruck girl, and my behavior was even beginning to freak me out.

After the fireworks had ended, we wandered back to our place. I could tell Bailey was hoping I would say something more about Ryan, which would give her the chance to lecture me for being shy, so I remained silent. I didn’t need to know what she thought I should do. Her choices for approaching guys weren’t always the best.

I had trouble sleeping that night. My mind wouldn’t shut off. Continuous images of a tall man with dark hair haunted me. I hadn’t felt even a small tinge of interest in a man for a very long time. Yet Ryan made me so tangled up inside I didn’t know how to handle it. Maybe it was the way he stood with such pride, confidence exuding from every inch of his body. It could have been his intense stare and how I felt like he could see right through me and even read my thoughts.

All I knew for sure was that whenever he was near, I was a bundle of nerves, unable to breathe or even form complete sentences.

***

I woke up with one hell of a headache from the lack of sleep. Throwing the alarm clock through the window as it screamed on my nightstand was sounding like a great idea.

I could hear the shower running through our thin walls, which meant Bailey was already awake. Knowing I had no time to waste, I forced myself out of bed and began to get dressed.

We opened at seven, and I still had to get coffee started for the customers. I slid my feet in my fuzzy slippers and trotted downstairs to start the pots. I then had just enough time to do something quick with my hair before it was time to open. I sure didn’t want to scare off the customers with my extreme bed hair. At the moment I had a slight resemblance to Medusa. I had a natural wave to my hair that most girls would kill for. Most of the time, I could just throw it up into a high ponytail and call it a day. After failing to tame the wild beast, I decided this was a messy-bun kind of day. I changed into a pair of sandals and rushed back downstairs, where Bailey was just flipping the Open sign on the front door.

“Day two of our new life,” she said with a wink.

We weren’t even open five minutes before the customers began to filter in. I assumed they were all heading to Sunday services at the church just down the road. Things slowed down around nine and remained that way for close to two hours, probably because church was now in session. This gave us time to refill the displays with fresh-baked muffins, rolls, cookies, and an assortments of other pastries.

I was in the kitchen, removing the last batch of brownies, when the door flew open and a wide-eyed Bailey rushed in.

I stared over the counter at her, waiting for her to explain what was going on.

“Our waiting area is swarming with so much hotness right now, I feel like I have a fever,” she squealed. “Yummy cops, men in suits, and a few in cowboy hats and boots. Men, Amber.” Her eyes grew wide, and she fanned her face. “Lots of lickable men, and I feel like a kid trapped in a candy store with entirely too many flavors of jelly bellies to choose from, my head is spinning. I don’t know where I should start, because damn it, I want to taste-test them all.” She sagged back against the door with a dramatic sigh.

I stood up on my tiptoes, peeking out through the small circular window in the top of the door. She wasn’t lying. Five men were in the lobby, including the one that had been the cause of my insomnia the night before.

“Come on.” She motioned for me to follow her.

“I’m coming. I just need to cut these into serving squares and I’ll be right out,” I assured her.

After she left, I focused my attention back on the hot pan I held. My hands were shaking from the idea of seeing Ryan again. I was always so nervous around him.

Once I had all the brownies placed on a serving tray, I took in one last breath before pushing open the door and entering the front of the bakery. As soon as I walked in, I could feel his eyes on me. It was like the temperature of the room raised and the hairs on the back of my neck stood tall. Acting like I was unaffected by him was almost impossible, but I did my best.

“Damn, those look good.” I looked up just as the guy I thought was Booker leaned over the counter. He was scanning the display and taking in the aroma of the fresh brownies as I slid them on to the dish behind the glass. “With you in town, I think I’m gonna have to visit the gym more than once a day.”

I smiled. “Oh yeah?” I didn’t want to come across as if I didn’t appreciate his compliment, but I honestly had no idea what to say.

“Nothing like a beautiful woman who can bake, and bake well.” He winked and pointed toward the brownies. “I’ll take two of those.”

He hovered over me as I pulled them out and placed them on to a serving dish. “Is that all?” I asked as I slid the glass shut. Turning toward the cash register, I then tapped in his order.

“How about your phone number?” he asked, and I immediately looked up. A grin pulled at the corner of his lips. “I’d love to take you out to dinner or a show.”

I opened my mouth to answer, only to stop when I looked over his shoulder and saw Ryan stepping up behind him. His eyes were narrowed in on Booker’s back, and he looked irritated.

“You harassing this pretty lady, Book?” he asked.

Booker didn’t even turn around. “Nope, just trying to figure out what time I can pick her up for dinner is all.”

My eyes connected with Ryan’s as his jaw muscle ticked with frustration. “Well,” he gritted out, “that would be kind of hard to do, considering she’ll already be at dinner with me.”

My eyes grew wide at his words. He noticed my look of surprise and chuckled. I tried to clear the shock off my face as I wondered if he was actually being serious.

“You?” Booker asked as he spun around to face Ryan. “Hell, you don’t date. You’ve never even considered it since Claire—” He stopped immediately, and Ryan’s expression shifted from amusement to a fiery rage that even had me cowering.

“Sorry, Ry, I didn’t mean to.” Booker ran his hand through his hair. “Shit, man, I’m sorry.”

The atmosphere in the room had just shifted. Those who had heard Booker’s comment were now turned around, staring at the two men as if waiting to see what would happen next. I wondered if a fight was about to break out, and the idea made my stomach drop. I wasn’t sure why Claire wasn’t an okay topic or why Ryan’s once-cocky demeanor had done a complete one-eighty when Booker mentioned her.

Ryan leaned past Booker into the counter and laid a twenty next to the register.

“That’s for my tab.” He paused, running his hand over the light stubble covering his chin. “Keep the change,” he said just before turning to leave.