Secrets Behind Those Eyes by S.M. Donaldson

hungry?”
    I start laughing. “What can I say? You
     really make me a starving man.”
    We laugh and talk for a
     couple more
hours. When
     the rain finally decides to let up, I glance down at the now empty
     picnic basket. She looks as well and we both start laughing
     again.
    As we walk out to the
     bike.
“Ryder, I’ll never regret you being my first.”
    I pull her to my chest. “I don’t know
     what to do with you sometimes. You stormed into my life with a ton
     of spitfire and took over my every thought.”
    She giggles again. “Well, if you don’t
     know what to do with me, I can definitely ask you to keep doing
     what you were doing early. You can do that with me.”
    “I think I can manage
     that.”
    “And as far as where it happened…
     Sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned.”
    We settle on the bike and head off to
     her house. She holds me tight as we drive through the night from
     Tybee Island. Once we get to her house as we are getting off the
     bike she grabs her phone and we both hear it chiming. She opens the
     message and looks angry.
    “Damn it. What in the hell are they
     thinking?” she asks.
    “Is everything okay?”
    “Yeah just pain in the ass. Look, I’m
     kinda tired and I’d really like a hot shower. I’ll explain this
     later. If that’s okay?”
    I really want to know more, but I’m
     not going to push. “Yeah sure. But if you need me, let me know. I
     don’t know what this is about, but I care about you. If you need
     help in the shower, I’d be more than willing to help there,
     too.”
    She pops me on the arm. “I’m sure you
     would. Thanks for a wonderful night. I really had a great time
     tonight, it’s been awhile since I could say that.”
    I press her back into the
     door frame.
“Good. I hope it’s the first of many.” I take her lips with
     mine. “You have to be the sexiest creature God ever put on this
     planet.”
    She smiles, turning and opening her
     door. “I’m going to go take a hot, soapy shower.”
    She did that shit on
     purpose . “Well, I guess I’m going home to
     take a shower and think about your shower, while I beat off like
     I’m in ninth grade.”
    She looks back at me serious before
     she shuts the door. “Ryder, thank you for a great
     night.”
    “Anytime.”
    She shuts the door and I text
     Judd.
    Hey man. Date was a
     success. Thanks again for your help. But I think I’m in trouble. I
     think I’m falling in love.
    I shove the phone in my pocket and
     take off for home. I know it’ll be a while before he reads it with
     the time difference. I wish he were here.

Chapter 15
    Scarlet
    What in the hell are Cade and Daria
     thinking? I read over their texts again.
    Cade: Hey so Daria told me about your wreck and that you were
     worried about coming here for the baby to be born. I want you here
     and I don’t want you going back to work so late at that bar. ---Yes
     I talked to Gable and I did some research on the place. So in the
     morning my old car will be sitting in front of your house I’ll have
     the keys dropped in the mailbox. Don’t argue with me about this,
     I’ve already put it in your name. I’ll see you when the baby is
     born. I mean it call and quit that bar, the insurance is paid for
     the year and you have an unlimited gas card in the glove box. I
     want you to go to school.
    Daria: Sorry my husband can be a bit of a bully when he’s trying to
     protect people. But I do want you to take this offer. He’s just
     found you and he loves you. That is just Cade he couldn’t be your
     big brother growing up so he wants to be one to you now. Trust me
     one day I’ll get a chance to tell you our story and you’ll
     understand just how protective he can get. Can’t wait to see you
     when the new baby gets here. Be careful We Love You.
    I guess I should respond to them, but
     I’ll wait until the morning when I see exactly what kind of car
     Cade sends over here. If he sends some brand new