Our money.
Boy, he’s determined. I blush, and he adds with a wicked smile, “I want to see that 7-carat ring sparkling on your finger when your hand is wrapped around my cock.”
My body tingles with need, and he kisses me long and hard, making up for lost time. And I want him. Now.
“Let me go lock the front door and close the blinds,” I say, between kisses.
“Wait, not yet,” he says. “I have another surprise for you.”
34
Aspen
“Another surprise?” I say to Ryker, intrigued.
“Yes. But I’ll need to blindfold you and take you somewhere.”
My eyebrows reach my forehead, but at this point, I’d do anything for him.
“But wait. My pies.”
I look over at the counter, and I hadn’t done more than just pit the cherries, so I can finish them later. “OK, I’m game. Let me put the cherries back in the fridge and go pee.”
We get in his car and he blindfolds me with a navy-blue silk tie. We drive about twenty minutes, and I keep trying to guess where we’re going, but he’s keeping his secret. I finally feel the car come to a stop, and he puts it in park.
“Stay here. I’ll come around and get your door for you.”
He opens my door, and I take his hand as he guides me out. We start walking, and I’m nervous because I can’t see a thing, but he’s holding my hand, and I know I’ll be fine. As if he can read my mind, he says, “Just relax, babe, I’m here. I’m in charge, and I’m guiding you. I won’t let you fall.” And his words seep into my soul.
“Can you just please tell me where we’re going?” I say, my heart thumping erratically.
He ignores me.
“Come on! Give me a hint. Is it something kinky?”
He laughs. “Shhh. We’re not alone.”
My cheeks flame. Fuck.
We stop walking, and he says, “OK, I’m going to remove the blindfold.”
He does that, and I see we’re at a hangar at a small airport. Standing before me are my mom, Popster, Ryker’s dad, and another woman, who I’m guessing is Ryker’s stepmom. They all yell, “Surprise!”
Mom pops open a bottle of champagne, and they all throw confetti. Popster yells, “Congratulations!”
Mom runs over to give me a hug, and then pulls away from me with the biggest expression of excitement I’ve ever seen on her face. “Turn around,” she says, pointing to something behind me. I turn around and see we’re all standing in front of a private jet.
Flushed with excitement, I look at Ryker. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not messing around, Aspen. I am not losing you again. We’re all going to Las Vegas, right now, and you and I are getting married.”
“WHAT? Oh, my god! Are you serious?” My eyes go wide, and I look around at my family… and my soon-to-be family.
He looks at me, a bit of concern in his eyes, wondering if maybe he’s taken things too far. I throw my arms around him. “Yes! Let’s do it!”
Then, I whirl around and look at Mom. “But…”
She sees the questions on my face and says, “I’ve taken care of everything. We’re closing the restaurant for a couple of days. I had Jessica put a sign on the door, ‘Closed for Wedding,’ and she cleaned up. I also have a bag packed for you. We ran to your condo. Dagny is with a friend of mine who also has rabbits.” She winks and laughs, proud of herself for keeping this enormous secret. “When you thought Popster and I were going to The Rose to work today, we were all in on the plan.”
Wow, this is really happening.
“Let’s go make this official!” Ryker says.
We climb aboard the airplane, drinking champagne. As I sit down across from my mom, she reaches for my hand to inspect the giant rock on my finger. “Holy shit, Aspen,” she says and pretends to faint.
“I know. I wonder what it’ll be like to cook with this thing on my finger.” I laugh, though I really do wonder. I can imagine banging it on everything.
A few hours later, we land in Las Vegas, and a limo whisks us off to the MGM Grand. Ryker holds my hand the entire time, and he fills me in on how he planned everything. He tells me about his time in Kauai, and how I now have a house there, too. I laugh, nervous, as this all continues to sink in.
“So, you thought of everything?” I ask. “Like my wedding dress?”
“Everything,” he says.
We check into our penthouse suite, and it has enormous windows overlooking the strip, a separate bedroom, two baths, a bar, and a dining area. The furniture is black and white, with giant, sea green pillows and beautiful accents. It’s unbelievable. The place is the size of my condo.
I walk around the palatial suite, and I spy a dress rack. I count ten wedding dresses—all size six—including a variety of shoes on the floor underneath. I turn to him. “Wow, you did think of everything.”
“I picked out lingerie, too,” he smirks. “I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. All you have to do is try to keep your hands off me until tonight.”
He sets down our bags and says, “You have an appointment at the salon downstairs for massage, nails, hair and makeup, and anything else you want. Remember, anything and everything you want is yours. We’re very rich!” I laugh at that, and I wonder if it’ll ever sink in.
He adds, “Your mom and Nancy will meet you down there, while we boys go do a bit of gambling and swim at the pool.”
I walk around the room, marveling at it all. “I think I’m still in shock, Ryker,” I say and smile at him. “But happy,” I add.
“I know, babe.” He grabs me by the waist and pulls me to him for a deep kiss, which drives both our hearts to top speed.
We haven’t made love since before our breakup, and I’m desperate to have him
