Sunset Thunder (25 page)

He wanted to kiss every last inch of her. Violet wanted every last piece of his clothing off and was working at his button and zipper. Her hands slipped inside his pants and it was his turn to moan. Violet’s lips crashed against him, as she rose on her knees above him, still rubbing underneath his denim.

Her tongue trailed a path to his ear and she whispered, “Get rid of the rest of your clothes.”

Then her body pulled away. Ryder stared in amazement at the beauty of the woman in front of him. Still on her knees, she backed to the edge of the table and climbed off. As she turned away from him, she stripped off the last piece of her clothing and tossed her panties at him. As he caught the material, she glanced over her shoulder and smirked.

Where was she going?

Ryder wasn’t waiting around to find out. He slid off the table and shed the remainder of his clothes, following her across the distance to the window. Ryder stopped. Slowly she walked across the distance of the window and her silhouette was captivating. She stopped at the edge of the window and curled her finger at him, beckoning him on.

Ryder didn’t waste any time. He crossed the distance and pulled her naked body against his, kissing her thoroughly and taking every last taste of the sweet wine in her mouth. It wasn’t until Violet pulled him down, onto an edge, that he realized there was a window seat across the length of the window.

Ryder was resistant. “Violet, people might see us.”

She smiled at him, wickedly, and he loved the sinful glimmer the moon reflected in her eyes. “Then we better give them a show worth watching.”

Ryder glanced one last time into the darkness outside. It was all bush and didn’t appear to have access to the resort’s trails. If Violet wasn’t worried, he didn’t have anything to be worried about. And if she wanted to give a show, he would give a show...but it wasn’t going to be for any other woman except her.

“THIS IS WRONG,” Violet heard Ryder’s voice follow her as she crossed the ballroom and stole the linen tablecloth off the cake table. “No. Not that table,” Ryder said.

Violet wrapped the silk material around her hot, warm, and aroused body.

“You did it.” Ryder laughed, and she turned, catching him shaking his head in the moonlight.

From this distance, the silhouette of his body warmed the area between Violet’s legs all over again. Waiting for her on the window seat, his naked body was stretched out on his side and one arm propped on his elbow, holding his head.

Violet giggled and ran across the room feeling like a caped crusader moving through the darkness, but the only person she was rescuing was herself.

“It was the emptiest table,” she defended, stopping in front of him.

He stared up at her, but she didn’t notice as her eyes trailed over his taut muscles. Up close, the light displayed each groove of his body and it was amazing.
He
was amazing. They were amazing...together.

“Didn’t your mom teach you it isn’t nice to gawk?” he teased, reaching under the material wrapped around her and pinching her leg. “Get over here.”

Violet snuggled into the crook of Ryder’s elbow, as he wrapped the “blanket” around them. Leaning on his side, his legs tangled in hers, he traced his finger along her throat, watching her.

“What are the odds that we are going to get caught?” Ryder asked.

She shrugged, a little tease, at him, but they weren’t going to get caught. No one stepped into her ballrooms the night before a wedding, without consulting her first. No one.

“We could go back to your place,” Ryder said and Violet felt herself stiffen, even though she tried not to. Ryder must have felt it too, because he said, “I
want
to go back to your place.”

Violet didn’t believe him and she didn’t want to ruin this perfect night. There was so much attraction between them but their differences continued to get in the way, even today. She didn’t want anything to get in the way of how she felt right now.

The best solution was a topic change. “You know, I wasn’t referring to our last visit to this room,”

“Was there another time?” he asked, then mortification filled his face and she thought maybe for a second he remembered. Then he said, “Please don’t tell me this has something to do with my drunkenness at your wedding.”

Don’t tell me?
He didn’t remember.
Why did that bother her a bit?

“I guess in a way, it did. It was the night of my wedding.” His blank face stared back at her. “Apparently, I’m unsuccessful at jogging the memory of a heart-broken, drunken fool,” she said.

“We were here?” He sounded so surprised, if she hadn’t remembered it so clearly, she might wonder herself. “On your wedding day?”

Violet nodded. “Wedding night. Most of the wedding night. While the guests were dancing and celebrating, we were in here, celebrating our pity.”

Ryder didn’t look happy about that.

“Let’s just say, you were a source of my hard liquor and when it was time to thank the guests, Joel had to balance me.”

Ryder’s face fell and he searched her eyes trying to confirm she wasn’t making the story up. When he realized she was telling him the truth, even more mortification crossed his face. “I got you drunk? On your wedding night?”

Violet touched his cheek, thinking he might pull away from her. “No, you didn’t.” She reached up and kissed him. The lips that spun her world were tightly pinched.

“No wonder you’ve been mad at me all these years. First I ruffled your sister’s dress, then I intoxicated you.”

Violet laughed. He had intoxicated her, but it wasn’t because of the alcohol. “You are taking blame that doesn’t belong to you. I drank because my dad told me not to. I also wouldn’t share with you, and when you tried to take your flask back, I knocked you off the table.”

Ryder stared at her. He was skeptical.

“Yes, that’s right. I knocked big, muscle man, Ryder Carlex right on his ass. And it felt incredible. Then I chugged the flask and tried to help you back up.”

“Tried?”

“You’re all muscle and when you’re dead weight, you are heavy as cement. We stayed on the floor. Hung out. You and I spent the beginning of my happily ever after together.”

Ryder’s eyebrows knitted together. “Happily ever after?” he asked.

Violet covered her face, embarrassed as he said it out loud, like it was the fairy tale everyone thought. “Yes.” She uncovered her eyes to find him still staring at her. “It’s what I tell couples who are getting married here,” she explained. “That their wedding day is the beginning of the rest of their lives together. That day is their ‘happily ever after’.” She sobered. “I know, it sounds silly, but couples gobble it up.”

“And you?”

“What about me?”

“Do you believe in happily ever after?”

She shook her head, her eyes falling to where his hand was outlining each of her fingers. She ended in a shrug. “I did and then I didn’t. Now, I don’t know.”

Could she find her happily ever after with Ryder? After all these years, was it possible?

“I was young then and the term is so appropriate with my clients. They smile and love the idea.” Violet smiled. “Do you believe in happily ever after?” she asked him.

It was Ryder’s turn to shrug. “I guess that depends on the definition of happily ever after. My parents, for example, were madly in love while they were married, but their happily ever after was cut short when my mom died.” His tone changed as he said it. “My dad loved her every single day she was gone, until the day he couldn’t remember. Is that his happily ever after?”

Violet had never thought about it like that.

Ryder sighed and squeezed her hand. “Anyway, we should go.” He sat up and Violet pulled him back down, this time to settle on top of her.

“I don’t want to go.”

He kissed her. “I don’t want to get caught.”

She kissed him. “We won’t.”

“Violet...”

“There’s only two ways to get in here. One through the main french doors and the other through the corridor that leads to the kitchen. For both you need a key card to get in.”

“If it’s so impossible, then how did I get in here on your wedding?”

“Well, because of the amount of guests my parents had invited not only was the gold ballroom kitchen packed with staff preparing meals and cleaning up afterwards, but so was the silver ballroom. From the platter of food you had in here when I found you, I assume you came in through the kitchen.”

He chuckled and she was glad to hear the blame he held for himself was gone. “And, did we sneak back out that way?”

Violet pressed her lips together. The kitchen staff had been long gone by the time her mother had wandered in, finding Violet and Ryder passed out on the window seat...exactly where they were right now. “My mom found us. Sleeping.”

“No.” Shock coursed through his chuckle.

“Yes. She had to sober me up, as much as she could, before taking me back to the gold ballroom. We left you here and I honestly don’t know what my mom did about you. I was sent to my bedroom like a child after the last speech and the party went on without me.” Violet searched his eyes. “Do you really not remember?”

He shook his head.

Violet left their conversation at that. If she told him the truth, she knew his guilt would pull him away. They were better together, then apart.

“Let’s make some new memories in this room,” she suggested, moving her legs up and around his waist.

“I think we’ve made plenty,” he said, but his lips found her throat and his soft touch arched her body harder against him.

“I don’t think we’ve made enough,” she whispered hoarsely into his hair.

THE NEXT WEEK went by so quickly. Violet could hardly believe that tomorrow Joel and Missy would be tying the knot...and she hadn’t given either of them another thought in the meantime.

Violet was more excited about the Fright Fest party that evening. Ryder was taking her. It was officially their first date and Violet felt as eager as a teenager on prom night...only it was just past lunch and there were still hours to wait.

She had even talked Emma, Izzy and Kate into hitting the costume shop in town, as if their extensive accumulation of Halloween costumes over the years hadn’t been enough to choose from. Violet had wanted something new, something for just her and Ryder. Plus, convincing the girls hadn’t been hard and they’d made a fun afternoon of it, meeting up with Kate’s sisters Sydney and Peyton. Aside from one Izzy-round of,
your sister sucks
, referring to Abby and directed at the McAdams, Izzy had behaved. And Violet got something extra special for the evening. Sophia and Parker were spending the night at Eliza and Carl’s and there would be no sneaking around.

After finally talking to Joel, and thanks to her good fortune, they were on the same page in regards to the kids. Violet and Joel had sat down with Parker and Sophia and together worked through some of the underlying feelings the kids were having. The smiles it left on their heavy hearts was a relief to Violet.

When Joel spontaneously decided to take them for the weekend, Violet was secretly excited at the opening to go on her first date with Ryder. The kids hadn’t been so excited. Violet’s weekend had been booked solid with weddings in each ballroom, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Plus, there had been two tent weddings at the beach. The mass amount of demands required Emma to step in and help, which alternatively gave Violet the opportunity to ask her to fill in on the Bensen wedding. Emma did so gladly.

“I didn’t mean to just drop by,” Ryder said, when Sophia and Parker disappeared down the hall. After having lunch together, the four of them, in Violet’s suite, the kids took their dessert to the toy room. Violet would have been more concerned and strict had she not been eager to curl up on the couch with Ryder.

“You mentioned they were going to the Fright Fest events this morning, and since you had the day off...I didn’t think they were home. I should have called,” Ryder said.

Violet was glad he dropped by. They were being cautious around the kids. They might have jumped into their relationship fast and it felt amazing, but this was new to Parker and Sophia.

As much as Violet wanted Ryder over every second she wasn’t at work, it wasn’t realistic...not yet. She was glad he understood, but she wasn’t surprised. Ryder’s thoughts automatically revolved around family. Sophia and Parker were Violet’s family, and they were always included in Ryder’s thoughts. Just like his current apology.

“Ryder, if you never come over when they’re home or awake...” Violet grinned at him and watched his shoulders drop from their tense position. “They will never get used to having you around,” she told him.

Even though Ryder had been avoiding spending his days and early evenings with Violet, when the kids were tucked in bed for the night, Violet let Ryder in through the poolroom. With the curtains drawn in the living room, and neither kids bedrooms being on that side of the house, they easily snuck right in through the french doors of her bedroom. Ryder wasn’t tip-toeing around her suite, with access to a bathroom, he stayed all night and when the sun still hadn’t risen, he snuck out the way he came and the kids were oblivious.

“I know. I just don’t want to overstep my boundaries.”
Overstep?
This was the first time, since the supper the evening they spent in the silver ballroom that he’d seen the kids.

“You are not overstepping. I’m so glad you came over today.” She kissed his lips gently and he stiffened until she moved back.

Violet grinned at his caution. Ryder didn’t notice her grin as he glanced over his shoulder toward the hallway to make sure they were alone. He was nervous and it was adorable. She was glad his stress was due to the children catching them together instead of being about Joel. When she’d thought he would never step foot in her suite again, regardless of his promise that she not worry about him, she’d been relieved to find out, he wasn’t only talk, and had made the effort. Now she couldn’t imagine spending one night in her bedroom without him.

“The kids really do enjoy your company.” Maybe not as much as her, but they were being wonderfully supportive about Ryder being part of their lives.

Ryder stretched his arm across the back of the couch, and Violet took the opening to scoot in against him, bringing her plate of dessert with her. Although he tensed at the closeness, he reached down and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you. I don’t want to rush them.”

Violet scooped a forkful of apple pie and ice cream saying, “I don’t think you coming over once a week is rushing it, and maybe you should start coming over a few times a week.”

Violet bit the deliciousness that Kate had dropped off the night before. It was another treat from Mrs. Calvert’s bakery. If Violet was as close friends with the older lady as Kate was, she’d have a whole extra behind for Ryder to grab. The thought wasn’t that appealing. 

“We’ve only been seeing each other officially for a week,” Ryder pointed out. “I don’t want them thinking I am honing in on their territory or trying to steal their mother, or...” He lowered his voice and glanced over his shoulder whispering, “Trying to take Joel’s place.” 

Violet feigned worry, pushing off his chest and twisting to look at him. “Are you using the children as pawns, because you are having second thoughts about dating me? It’s my snoring isn’t it? I know. I’m a loud snorer,” she teased and shrugged. “I don’t know where I get it from.” 

Ryder smiled shaking his head.

Violet wasn’t a loud snorer, but she liked it when he looked at her like she was being ridiculously cute.

“It’s the snoring,” he agreed. “I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep since I started spending the night here.” 

Violet set her bowl on the coffee table, legs folded underneath her she leaned toward Ryder whispering in her bedroom voice, “It’s not my snoring that’s keeping you awake.” 

Ryder’s body stiffened. She loved that she knew what was coming next and she was going to push him to his limit anyway.

He whispered, “Your kids are down the hall.” There it was.

Violet touched the top of his thigh and felt his muscles tense beneath her. 

“Violet...” The low moan of his voice was intoxicating. If the kids weren’t down the hall, she would certainly drag him down there. Unfortunately, they were and that left them with not much else they could do. 

“One kiss,” she begged and teased at the same time. 

As her hand moved up toward the bulge in his jeans he caught it. “You’re torture.” 

“Sweet torture.” Violet licked his chin to his bottom lip and took the wonderful thick padding between her teeth, sucking and tugging. When she couldn’t handle her own sweet torture, she kissed him. Her body moved without permission, lifting her onto her knees so her body was above him, pressing her hand onto his thigh, hard with all her weight.

He wasn’t as much of an objector as he liked to believe. His head moved up with hers and his free hand gripped her neck, pulling her mouth down harder against his. The kiss couldn’t last long or extend to anything more.

Violet wanted to give into her body, pleading her to press the thin material of her dress against him and straddle him so her arms could snake around his neck and she could push her wet panties against his bulge. The whole notion had her wishing maybe she hadn’t initiated this kiss. This wonderful, intoxicating−

“No! Parker! Mom!” 

Violet jumped away from Ryder so fast her neck cracked and pain flared up her back. She ignored it, searching for sight of her kids, only to find Ryder’s horrified face doing the same. There were no children.

Violet let out a breath as she realized the voice came from the toy room. How the joke was on her. 

Sophia screamed for Violet again in a sound of anger and horror, but not pain. They weren’t hurt...except Violet’s neck. 

Violet smiled at Ryder.

He did not smile back and that made her give into a fit of hysterical laughter.

“It’s not funny,” he growled, standing up and pulling the tightness in his pants. When he caught her watching, he murmured a string of curses. 

Violet’s heart was only beginning to settle down. “I don’t think I can handle that again,” she said putting her hand over her pounding heart.

That made him smirk...a little. “Oh it’s not so funny now, is it?”

“Mom!” Sophia snapped from right behind Ryder.

Ryder’s glower returned, not daring to turn around and meet Sophia.

Violet tried to shake away her grin as she moved around Ryder and his distracting bulge, to peer at her daughter’s flustered face. Only the horror that greeted her extinguished Violet’s grin faster than she’d jumped away from Ryder.

Violet’s eyes didn’t make it past the center of Sophia’s purple chiffon flower girl dress soaked in a circle of rainbow ice cream.

Violets smile dropped. “What did you do? Why do you have that on?
What did you do
!” 

The wedding was one day away.
One day away!
And the dress...the dress! 

Take a breath. Pull yourself together. 

What did you do!
Screamed on repeat in her head and Violet wished her kids had walked in on her kissing Ryder. It would have been so much easier to fix. These dresses were custom made, months in advance. Violet knew, she’d taken Sophia to plenty of fittings to make this dress perfect for Missy’s vision.

A sickening bunch of bile was pushing its way up Violet’s throat. She was going to have a panic attack. Her chest constricted tightly, and her breath was lost to her.

One day. One day!

“Parker did it,” Sophia said, as her guilty-faced son walked into the living room objecting with a, “She started it.” 

Who cared who started what. This was a disaster. 

“You go take that off,” Violet instructed Sophia, as her voice came back to her and her mind went into overload. She turned to her son. “And you, go get the ice cream bowls, rinse them and put them in the dishwasher. I want you both to meet me in the foyer immediately.” 

They took off like little puffs of smoke at their mothers tone. 

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no! 

While Ryder helped Parker with the dishes and ice cream, Violet Googled
ice cream and silk stains,
and a half hour later after trying everything, the stain looked worse.
A lot worse. 

Sophia needed a new dress. ASAP. 

“I have to go to Secret Wishes Weddings in town and get a new dress for Sophia,” Violet told Ryder. Would Lana Morris, owner of the shop, be there on a Thursday right after lunch? Would she be reachable if she wasn’t? And would she be able to either fix the stain or make her a new dress?

“I can drive,” Ryder offered. 

That sounded wonderful. Violet’s trembling hands thanked him.

Fifteen minutes later the four of them walked into Secret Wishes Weddings. It was a cute little boutique on the main street of Willow Valley.   

Violet was relieved when she caught sight of Lana’s stark black hair behind the counter. As Violet approached, Lana greeted her with a smile. Her jade colored eyes pulled shades of green out of the blouse she wore under her striped black blazer. 

“Good evening Violet,” she greeted with a smile that dropped when Violet laid the dress on the counter, stain facing up. Horror widened her eyes and her painted pink lips fell open. “What happened?” 

“Ice cream and kids.” Violet was as disgusted as Lana. “I need a new one.” 

“In two days?” Lana had dressed the entire wedding party, unfortunately she had the date off by one day. 

Violet shook her head, slowly, feeling awful for the job she was about to require. “Tomorrow.” 

“Violet,” she breathed as if it was impossible. It almost was impossible, but with the right amount of money, she would make it possible. She couldn’t imagine the look on Joel’s face if he saw what she’d allowed to happen to the dress. 

The vision was horrifying.

“I will pay you greatly for your service,” Violet whispered.

“I don’t doubt it,” Lana said, but she still didn’t look convinced she could pull it off. “Let me get Sophia measured up for a quick recap.”

Lana rushed around the counter, ushering Sophia toward the change rooms in the back. Parker followed behind, explaining how the ice cream on her dress wasn’t really his fault. Her darling children...she could string them in the air by their ankles. 

Violet rested her back on the counter and closed her eyes. She rubbed the back of her neck, which was growing tenser with each movement. She needed a muscle ointment. She wondered if Kate’s soap shop had an all-natural one for sale.

When she opened her eyes, she found Ryder leaning against the flat side of a belt rack, arms crossed and sending her his cocky look. She knew immediately he wasn’t thinking about the dress at all, and rather the thrill of being caught in her living room.