Page 32 of Reckless Abandon
I handed her the box and could see the surprised look on her face. “What’s this?” she asked.
“Well, usually when someone hands you a box to open, it’s a gift,” I said sarcastically.
“Nathan, really?” she said almost sounding disappointed.
“Just open it. It’s honestly more for me than you anyways.” That caused her to lift her eyebrows at me.
She opened the box and found the sleek red helmet just for her. I saw the instant smile appear on her face. “Really? For me?” she asked.
“Nope. It’s for Damon. I just thought I’d show you first,” I joked. I took the box from her hands and placed it on the ground, pulling her in close to me. “Of course it’s for you, butterfly. I want any excuse to have your body pressed up against mine. You are sexy as hell. This bike is also quite sexy.” She laughed. Not being able to control myself, I lowered my lips onto hers and kissed her sexy mouth. “And together the two of you are going to make me fucking crazy.”
“Sounds hot,” she whispered back, and leaned down and grabbing her helmet. She walked over to my bike, threw one leg over and climbed to the back. That right there was the best fucking thing I saw all night. Instant hard-on. “Well are you going to take me for a ride?” she asked.
“Do you want to go straight home?” I had an idea up my sleeve if she wasn’t too tired.
“Not anymore,” she replied.
I climbed on my bike, started the engine, and felt Ryann’s arms cling around my waist. I seriously wanted to fuck her right then and there. But I decided it probably wasn’t the best thing do in the parking lot of a strip club. Instead we made a quick stop at a local coffee shop, filled up my thermos, got some muffins and took off. We rode for about thirty minutes until we hit my quiet spot out in the desert.
“Okay… Middle of the desert wasn’t really what I was expecting this morning,” Ryann said as she pulled off her helmet.
“Last time I tried to take you somewhere it backfired on me, remember?” Grabbing the thermos and the food , I motioned her to follow me. We climbed up the back of a large rock and made ourselves comfortable. “I found this spot a few years back on a ride. I just needed to get away. It was about sunrise when I stopped to have a smoke. I climbed up here and watched the sun rising and thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.”
“Smoke?” she asked quizzically.
“Yes, mom,” I once again replied in my smart ass tone. “Once in a while I smoke a joint to relax. Like now.” I pulled out the joint I had thrown in the muffin bag without Ryann looking. She scrunched up her face and gave me the cutest disapproving look. “I will take that as you do don’t smoke,” I laughed.
“I did a little in college, but not since. Wasn’t really my thing. But I'm not necessarily against it,” she defended herself.
“I'm going to take a few hits. Would you like some?” I wasn't a pusher but I'd definitely offer. I could see the look of contemplation in her eyes.
“Why not,” she said with a shrug. “Reckless abandon has been my motto this summer.” We took a few hits, drank our coffee and ate breakfast almost silently as we watched the sun come up. Well, Ryann watched the sun come up. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off her. I wanted to ask her about her show and what her plans were after the summer hiatus but I figured she would tell me when she was ready. I thought this might be a good time to tell her about Ella.
She interrupted my thoughts with her question, “Have you ever brought any other girls to this spot with you?”
“Just one,” I answered.
“Jordyn?”
“Hell no. I didn’t find this spot until long after her. No. Ella Marie is the only other girl I have brought here.”
“Are you ready to tell me about the tattoo?” she asked.
I nodded. “Ryann,” I took a deep breath. “Ella is my daughter.” I watched the surprise play across her face. “She was the only good thing that happened from Jordyn and me. She’s nine. She’s beautiful. And she will be here next week.”
“Well, okay then.”
“Please tell me you are okay with this,” I pleaded.
She cupped my face in her hands. “Nathan, I will admit it’s a bit of surprise at six a.m. when I'm slightly stoned to find out you have a daughter. But I'll be fine. We will be fine.” I hated that word fine.
“Let’s go to my place and get some sleep for a few hours before I meet your family,” she suggested, standing up and leading us back to my bike.
As soon as we got back to Ryann’s place, she crawled in bed and fell right asleep. I could see the exhaustion in her face, and now I’ve just hit her with another ton of bricks. Maybe I should have waited to tell her about Ella until after she met my sister since I knew how nervous she was about that. But something told me I needed to tell her this morning, and I wasn’t going to lie when she asked me if I had brought any other girls to my sunrise rock. Ella is my world and always will be. I wanted Ryann to be a part of my world but it had to include Ella.
The shower was already going, when I woke up late that morning. Ryann was in there quietly singing some country song on the radio I didn’t recognize. God even her voice was“Good morning, butterfly,” I said as I snuck in her bathroom.
“Hi, handsome. You going to join me?” she seductively asked.