She didn’t like being shut out, but he seemed determined. Ryder grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the framework building.
“I’m rebuilding my job, my life, myself right now, and this is where it started.” Ryder pulled her in front of him and rested his hands on top of her shoulders. “Wes and I are starting up a business called Big Flight ATV Tours.”
“Really?” she asked, floored.
“Yeah. We have twelve ATVs we are fixing up for clients. This will be the office where the tours are booked, and we are leasing the land behind this property to build trails. We’ll do a beginner trail and an intermediate one. We’ve already scoped out the best places for scenic views of the Smokies and photo-ops. We have the company incorporated already and everything. Once we finish building the office, we’ll be able to immediately start booking tours.”
“Ryder,” she breathed, scanning the lush green woods. “This is going to be incredible! With all the tourism around here, an ATV excursion is such a good start-up. I can make up flyers for you and give them to the concierge at Smoky Mountain Paradise Cabins. Our clients will eat this up!” Excitement zinged through her as she looked at the building again. She could just imagine it. Rustic office, rocking chairs on the porch for the clients waiting for tours, snacks and waters inside, maybe a little shop with T-shirts and promotional water bottles and keychains.
“Come here,” Ryder said excitedly, dragging her behind him around the side of the building. “The bathrooms will be here, and the gear room will be here where we fit clients with helmets and the right protective clothes if they don’t come prepared. Back there in the shade, we’ll have a few picnic tables. Wes is building those right now. We still have some woods to clear and to get some gravel on the road.” He flicked his fingertips to the road she’d come in on. “A welcome sign still needs to be built over there, but look.” He gestured to a massive garage in the woods. The doors were open, and there were rows of quads sitting ready in there.
“And you won’t have to work those crazy welding shifts anymore!”
Ryder rounded on her and cupped her cheeks, his eyes feverish with excitement. “Yes,” he whispered. “I knew you would get it. I knew you wouldn’t think this was silly.”
“How could I think this is silly? Ryder!” she looked around at what he and Wes were creating. “I have a really, really good feeling about this.”
His smile was genuine again, stunning. White, straight teeth and dancing eyes that were morphing back to a happy blue color. He’d shaved today, so she could see his dimples and smile lines clearly.
“You want to go for a ride? I want to show you something.”
She gripped his wrists to keep his hands on her cheeks and beamed up at him. “Yes! But can we bring the picnic I brought? I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
His face went serious, and he dropped his voice an octave. “You brought food?”
She giggled and nodded. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“You’re tryin’ to get yourself boned, aren’t you?”
“Stop,” she said, shoving off him.
In a rush, Ryder hefted her over his shoulder so fast her breathless laugh got caught in her throat. He pulled the hem of her tank top up and bit her side.
“Ow!” she howled, smacking him hard on the butt. She wished she could stop giggling, but she loved this. She adored how playful Ryder was and was so relieved he wasn’t sad anymore.
“Did you bring my baby?”
“My baby, and no. I left Sprinkles resting at home. I want you all to myself tonight.”
“What color are your panties?” Ryder pulled the waist of her jean shorts to the side.
Lexi swatted at his hand. “None of your business.”
“Purple with pink polka dots? I fuckin’ love that. Does your bra match?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yes. Yes, I would.” He set her on her feet by her Jeep and hooked one finger into the low scoop neck of her tank top. He arched his red eyebrows high, daring her to stop him from pulling it down.
With a put-upon sigh, Lexi pulled down the neck of her tank top until it rested under her bra, which did, in fact, match her panties.
“Sheeeyit, woman,” Ryder said, standing back to admire. “That’s the best set of tits I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
He reached for her, hands cupped and ready, but she danced away from him and pulled her tank top back into place. “Feed me before you fondle me.”
Ryder squared up to her, hands on her hips and head ducked down. He lowered his voice. “I want to high five your pelvis with my pelvis.”
“Ryder,” she warned, trying hard for a straight face.
“I want to touch belly buttons.”
“Stop.” Now she had to bite her lip hard not to laugh.
Ryder lowered his voice to a seductive whisper. “Let’s make our nipples kiss.”
Lexi peeled into giggles and hugged him up tight. Ryder lifted her off the ground and squeezed her ribs. She could feel his smile against her cheek as his warm chuckle reverberated right next to her ear.
“I missed you big time, perv,” she told him.
Ryder leaned in and sucked her neck hard until she peeled into another fit of giggles. “I missed you, too.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Hell yeah, trouble. I pumped the python, like, a dozen times since I saw you last.”