Chapter 4

FOUR

Ryder

"Oh my god," Maple groans next to me, and I blink my eyes open, watching as her hands come up to scrub at her face.

I smile as she stretches and sighs.

"Good morning to you, too," I say, my voice sounding rough with sleep.

She gasps, her big green eyes widening as she spots me in bed next to her. A second later her whole face turns as red as her hair.

"Oh my god!" She yelps.

I watch in amusement as she buries her whole head under her pillow. I'm guessing that she regrets drinking so much last night, and I scoot closer to her as I lift the corner of her pillow to peek down at her.

"Is this how you wake up every morning or…" I trail off, and she groans.

I laugh, and she pops her head out, giving me a sheepish look.

"I'm so sorry about last night," she starts, and I tense, wondering if she regrets getting drunk, oversharing, or inviting me over altogether.

"I had fun," I tell her honestly, and she looks at me like I'm insane.

"Your idea of a good time is watching someone embarrass themselves?" She grumbles, and I laugh.

"You didn't embarrass yourself. You were adorable. It was nice getting to see you with your walls down for a bit."

"I don't have walls," she protests, and I snort.

"You have walls and a whole damn moat."

She sighs, pulling herself up in bed until she's sitting, and I follow suit.

"I don't mean to have walls," she says softly, and I nod.

"I know."

We share a look, and I wait to see what she'll do next.

Does she want me to leave? Should I ask her out now?

The blanket sits down, and I see that damn lingerie. I was hard as soon as the door swung open last night, and my erection didn't go away until I was falling asleep next to her in bed.

I had carried her to her room after she fell asleep on the couch and tucked her in, but then she had reached for me and pulled me closer. I had laid down next to her on top of the covers, but sometime during the night, I guess I found my way under them with her.

Her breasts are spilling out over the top of the red silk, and I bite back a groan, shifting away from her in the bed.

I had never planned on sleeping with her last night, but when she answered the door and I saw that she was tipsy and on her way to drunk, I knew that it was definitely not going to happen. I meant what I said last night. I want Maple for more than one night. I want her forever.

"I'm sorry again about last night. I mean, I invited you over for sex, bored you with all of my ramblings, and then fell asleep on you," she says, her cheeks heating with a blush.

"No apology necessary. I wasn't bored, and like I said last night, I never intended on sleeping with you last night. I just wanted to spend time with you."

"Still, let me at least make you breakfast," she insists, crawling out of bed.

Her cheeks heat even more when she realizes that she's just wearing the babydoll lingerie.

"Sure, I'll just… head out there."

I climb out of bed and head out to her kitchen to wait for her. I grab her wine glass from last night and start to clean up. I toss the empty wine bottle and then wash the glass, leaving it to dry in the sink.

"You didn't have to do that," she tells me as she joins me in the kitchen.

She's changed into black yoga pants that mold to her thick thighs and a knitted white sweater. She looks sexy and reserved, just like always.

"It's no bother. Why don't you let me take you out for breakfast? I know that you have to get to work soon."

She seems surprised as she glances at the clock and then nods.

"Yeah, grabbing breakfast would be better."

We both put our shoes on and then I hold the door open for her as we head out onto the street. We head over to the Nosh Diner, and I wave at Ford, the owner, as we head to a booth in the back.

"Hey there!" Cameron greets us.

"Morning," Maple says with a warm smile.

The Baker sisters made a lot of friends when they moved to town. I'm not surprised. It's hard not to like them.

Ford comes over and wraps his arm around Cameron's waist, pulling her in and dropping a kiss on her cheek.

"Take your break soon?" He asks, and she nods.

"Yeah, I'll meet you in your office," she says with a smirk.

Maple's face is a light shade of pink as she watches her friends flirt in front of us, and I smile at her.

"What can I get you two?" Cameron asks as Ford heads back behind the counter and disappears into his office.

"I'll have the pancakes," Maple orders, and I nod.

"Same, with a side of bacon, please."

Cameron nods and heads back to put our orders in, and I turn to face my girl.

"How are you feeling?" I ask her.

"Hungover," she says with a little laugh, and I grin.

"I bet. You'll have to drink lots today," I tell her as Cameron sets two glasses of water and two cups of coffee down in front of us.

I reach over and add two creamers and three sugars to Maple's cup and she blinks, seeming surprised.

"I've been paying attention," I tell her, and she nods.

"I can see that you have."

She looks like she doesn't know how to feel about that. I give her a moment to process it, grabbing my own coffee and taking a sip.

"Have dinner with me tonight," I say, and she chokes on her coffee.

"I… I," she stutters, her green eyes wide and locked on mine.

I bite back a smile as she swallows a drink of coffee and then she straightens in her seat and nods.

"Alright. Dinner."

"It's a date," I say as Cameron drops off her food.

"I'm headed on break now, but here's the check when you're ready."

"Thanks," I say, grabbing the check before Maple can try and pay for breakfast.

She gives me a look, and I just give her a wide smile in return. She rolls her eyes, but I can see the beginnings of a smile at the edge of her lips.

We both dig in, and I nudge the plate of bacon closer to her. She smiles sweetly as she takes a piece and bites into it.

I ask her about what she has to do today and listen as she tells me about a shipment that's coming in for work.

"And we're decorating for Halloween a bit more. I ordered more decorations, and they came in last night."

"Sounds like fun."

She eyes me dubiously, and I wonder what that's about.

"You hate Halloween," she says, and I shake my head.

"I don't hate it."

"You don't celebrate it," she argues, and I shrug.

"I never wanted to, I guess."

She raises a brow at me, and I shake my head.

"I like it," I tell her.

I don't think that she believes me, though.

We finish eating, and I pay the bill and offer her my hand as we stand and head for the door. As she slips her small hand in mine, tingles race up my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I pray that she doesn't notice them.

"I'll wake you to the shop," I tell her, and she shakes her head.

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to."

She doesn't argue after that, and we walk to Wet and Wild in companionable silence.

"Thanks for breakfast," she says as we stop outside the doors.

"Anytime. I'll pick you up for our date at six," I tell her, and she nods, her cheeks turning pink as I smile down at her.

"Until tonight," I whisper, leaning down and brushing a kiss against her cheek.

I hear her sharp inhale as my lips brush against her soft skin, and I smile as I pull back and head down the street.

Now, I just need to nail this first date and win my dream girl.