Page 41 of Stolen
“Before you leave can I ask you something?” Blossom heard SynTanner turn the engine on his bike.
“What?” SynTanner asked.
“Do you love her?” Ryder questioned. Blossom held her own breath. What would he say?!
“Don’t be ridiculous Ryder, I just met the woman,” SynTanner replied. Blossom’s hope deflated.
“That was the Deputy answering that question. Now can I get an answer from just SynTanner?” Silence ensued between them. The garage door rattled and jumped to life, lifting. Blossom heard SynTanner’s bike revving.
“I don’t know if we’re at love yet, Ryder. But if she was taken out of my life right now, I wouldn’t take it lightly. I keep seeing my future and it all includes her. I even let her meet momma.” Ryder gasped loudly.
“You let her meet momma Santana and you’re confused about loving her?”
“I didn’t say I was confused! I said I don’t know if we’re at that stage yet. But I’m falling for her. I want her. Whatever me and her has right now, I’m ready to fight for it. That’s the only answer I got for you.” SynTanner revved his bike again, powering it up before he was riding out of the garage.
She ducked away from the door quickly before Ryder reentered the kitchen. He shut the door behind him and sighed. Blossom looked at him.
“So, Blossom. Are you in love with my good friend?” Ryder asked after a moment of silence. Blossom snickered, knowing that’s exactly what he had asked SynTanner before he left.
“I’ll keep you in the dark. Maybe one day we won’t ever see each other again, or maybe one day I’ll be round with his twins with a ring on my finger,” Blossom shrugged. Ryder’s mouth fell open.
“I’m gonna go upstairs and work on a few things,” Blossom told him as she left the kitchen. She needed to communicate with her insurance company and also answer the thousands of emails her clients had been sending her since they heard of the shooting. She hated to have to postpone any events but after something as heinous as the shooting she just couldn’t bear putting anyone else in danger.
She’d already received permission to use his laptop, so Blossom grabbed his MacBook and jumped onto his large bed. Settling comfy in its depths. When she opened the laptop, she became immersed in her work.
Time elapsed quickly as she worked. Downstairs, she could hear the TV on. it actually comforted her to hear the TV and Ryder’s voice as he rooted for whatever sports team he was a fan of. She smiled as she remembered what Ryder had asked SynTanner. He was a man that got straight to the point. Blossom liked that. With the sound of the TV on downstairs, and the work drowning her, Blossom found herself being lulled to sleep. Giving in, Blossom closed the laptop and snuggled into the mounds of pillows on the bed. Snuggled under the covers that smelled of her man. Blossom smiled. Her man.
The thrill sound of her cell phone cut through the serenity Blossom had created under SynTanner’s comforter. She didn’t know how much time had elapsed but all she did know was that she had been drowning in the most blissful of dreams. Groaning, she snuggled deeper into the covers. Letting the phone ring out, she thought that her sleep could be returned to her. Unfortunately, her phone only began to ring again. Wait. What if it was SynTanner calling to check on her? At the thought of it being her man, Blossom fumbled with the phone, sliding it up to answer it quickly.
“Tanner?!” she asked sleepily.
“Not quite, my Blossom.” Shards of ice pierced her heart, chilling her with fear at the sound of Chance’s smooth yet sadistic voice.