Always His (Crazed Devotion #1) (18 page)

“Melanie is pregnant,” she said as she watched me, waiting for a reaction. “Elle overheard her telling Rachel in line at Carson’s Grocery last night.”

I didn’t have to ask who the father was. Tyler had been sleeping with Melanie on and off for the last two years. She was his go-to girl. She of course was holding out for something more, but I knew she’d probably never see it.

“Maybe he’ll be a better father than he’s been to Tori,” I said.

“I think we both know the chances of that happening are pretty slim.”

Silence settled over us as I thought about the fact my daughter would now have a half brother or sister that would also know what it felt like to be abandoned by Tyler. It made my already-nauseated stomach lurch.

“I just hope for her sake she puts her child first. She’s gonna need to grow some tough skin for the life she’s just signed up for.” It was the only thing I had to offer. I mean, what could I say? Did I wish Tyler had claimed the daughter he already had before he created more offspring? Yeah, maybe a little. Did I wish he’d stay sober enough for a moment to realize his children were the ones that would suffer for his poor choices? Yeah, that would be a godsend. But I also knew Tyler enjoyed his immaturity a helluva lot more than he valued his daughter, so I wasn’t about to hold my breath.

I hadn’t seen Ryker since early that morning. He left to meet his friends at the airport, and we planned to meet up again at Jonah’s Steakhouse that evening. He told me to let my dad drive me and Tori there because he was driving us home afterward. Something told me tonight was about more than just everyone getting a chance to meet a couple of the guys Ryker had called his brothers. Things just felt too planned out for that.

“Knock-knock.” My father’s voice carried down the hall, followed by Tori’s loud squeals as she rushed off to meet him. “There’s my angel,” he said as I rounded the corner to find him holding Tori in his arms. “This sure is a pretty dress.”

“Nana May made it for me,” Tori announced proudly as she pulled at the hem of her dress. “It’s purple because that’s my favorite.”

May Berfield was always making cute dresses and matching headbands for Victoria. She complained that neither of her daughters would ever settle down and give her any grandbabies, so Tori was hers to spoil.

“Well, Nana May made a beautiful little girl even prettier. I didn’t think it was possible.”

When I was growing up, my dad always told me I was beautiful. He made sure to make me feel special and never hid his love. He did the same for Tori, and I knew just how those compliments made her feel. He truly is an amazing man.

“We need to get going or we’re gonna be late,” my dad said as he turned around and walked toward the door. “And if we get there later than six, Ryker is liable to come looking for us.”

And there was that feeling again. Something was going on.

The restaurant was about fifteen minutes from my apartment. On the way Tori entertained us with stories of Millicent and how she hated her vegetables. Her animated movements were always so fun to watch.

We pulled into the parking lot at two minutes after six, and my father’s predictions were true. My cell began to ring as Ryker’s name flashed across the screen. Smiling, I turned the screen toward my dad so he could see, and a deep chuckle fell from his lips.

“I told you,” he said as he shook his head.

I answered the call and lifted the phone to my ear. “Keep your pants on, Eager Eddie, we’re on our way in now.”

“Well hurry the hell up, woman, I’m going through withdrawal,” Ryker said with a chuckle as he ended the call.

After I climbed out of the car and rounded it to meet up with my dad and Tori, I pushed just enough to see if I could confirm my earlier suspicions.

“So, ole man, you mind telling me what tonight is really about?” I bumped my hip against his, and he tried to hide his grin. “And don’t give me the
I don’t know
line.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, sweetheart. Tonight is just people getting together for a nice dinner, nothing more.” But he walked a little faster into the restaurant, and that was the clue I was looking for.

“You are such a bad liar,” I hollered after him as he and Tori hurried off toward the front entrance. I took in one last, deep breath and followed, alerting myself to my surroundings in preparation for whatever was about to be thrown at me.

“S
o this gorgeous woman is the one I’ve spent the last four years hearing you go on and on about?” the tall guy with a goatee said with a smile. “I must say, Ryker, you didn’t really do her justice. She’s a knockout.”

“Back off, Ben,” Ryker growled, which only made Ben chuckle.

“And who is this pretty lady?” he asked as he knelt in front of Tori.

“I’m Victoria Lucille Russell,” my little girl, sounding much older than she was, announced proudly.

He took Tori’s hands in his. “Well, Victoria Lucille Russell, I’m Benjamin Matthew Keaton, but you can call me Buzz.” He ran his hand over his buzzed haircut. “It’s what all my friends call me.” He placed a kiss on the tops of her hands.

“I’m here, I’m here.” I turned to face the entryway behind me. They had placed us in a room by ourselves because we had such a large party. My best friend hurried in, her hair flipped in every direction as if she’d just gone through a wind tunnel. “Sorry I’m late, but I got hung up and I got here as quick as I cou—” Her gaze was locked on something behind me. Confused, I turned around to find out what could have possibly made my loudmouthed best friend grow mute. Ben was staring as well. He slowly stood from the floor where he was still kneeling before Tori, and on the way up his gaze scanned over Liz from her toes to the top of her head. An appraising smile spread over his lips as he locked his gaze with hers.

“Hey, Wildcat,” he said with a smirk. “You wearing something lacy and see-through underneath that skirt?”

I felt like I was interrupting some intimate moment. But I was also confused because I knew this was the first time they’d met.

“Soldier, if I do recall, you told me the lace only got in the way, so I should forgo the undergarments and save you time to get to the real prize,” Liz taunted back, and I suddenly felt a little warmer.

I looked over my shoulder, and my gaze met Ryker’s. “Why do I feel like I should cover Tori’s ears?” I fanned my face, and Ryker narrowed his eyes as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my body back against his.

“That right there is mild compared to what I have planned for you later tonight,” he whispered in my ear.

Chills covered my neck and shoulders. “I can’t wait,” I whispered as he kissed the base of my neck, and those chills spread out over my arms and covered my back.

Dinner turned out to be really fun. Ben and Luke shared stories of Ryker and their tours together. They talked about the good times and left out the times they clearly still had trouble coming to terms with. They made us all laugh as they taunted and teased each other. It was really great getting a glimpse of the man Ryker was during the years he was away.

But they also shared some more serious stories too, like the time Ryker helped a woman through grieving for her only son, who was killed in combat. He stood by her during the funeral of a man he barely knew because she was his only living family and he didn’t want her to face that day alone. I was in awe of the man I continued to fall in love with more and more each day. He had such a loving spirit, and the immensity of his love and compassion was enough to bring the strongest person to their knees. I placed my hand on his thigh under the table and rubbed gently. My throat burned from the emotional impact that story had on me.

What I didn’t expect was for Ryker to stand in the middle of dessert, surrounded by his family, mine, and our friends. He pulled my chair out and turned me to face him before lowering one knee to the floor.

My heart raced as the entire scene began to unfold, and my hand shook as he took it in his own and looked up at me with such love. “If I know you as well as I think I do, you already figured out that tonight was about a little more than just introducing my friends to our families.”

I let out a gentle laugh, and he beamed. I nodded, assuring him that he did in fact know me as well as he thought.

“You were right,” he continued. “Tonight was about me having everyone I care about in one room when I ask you to spend the rest of your life allowing me to love you.”

As if those words weren’t enough to make my heart melt, his next gesture left me with no hope of holding myself together.

He reached out his hand to Tori. “Come here, Princess.”

Christina, Ryker’s mother, helped Tori climb down from her chair and walk toward Ryker. When she reached him, he curled his arm around her waist and handed her a small box. “Open it up, sweetheart.”

Tori looked up at me, waiting for me to indicate it was okay to do what Ryker had said. I nodded, and she smiled as she lifted the lid off the box.

I leaned in to see what it held, and when it came into view, I covered my mouth with my hand.

Ryker smiled as he looked back up at me. “I’m not only asking you to marry me, I’m also asking Tori if she would be okay with it. Because it isn’t just you that I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want her too, all of it.” He lifted the smaller ring from the box and took Tori’s hand, then slid it over her finger. The look of happiness that overtook her features broke the dam and my tears began to fall.