Seized by Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders, Book 1): Blue Ryder (12 page)

“There’s a pie-eating contest in five minutes. Want to try?”

“Really?” She was already dragging him toward the tent. “I love pie. Will you do it with me?”

“Sure, but you can’t possibly eat more pie than me. I’m twice your size.”

“Watch me,” she said with a challenging stare.

Donning plastic bibs, they joined a long table full of hungry spoon-yielding contestants.

“I’m
so
going to beat you,” Lizzie declared. “Even if I don’t beat everyone else, I’m still going to eat more pie than you.”

Blue laughed. “I could eat you under the table.”

She rolled her eyes. “Promises, promises.”

The whistle sounded, signaling the start of the contest, and while Lizzie gobbled down blueberry pie, Blue tried to pull his slack jaw up from the table.

“Hardly fair,” he said, before digging in.

“I have a Lick-It list, too. If you’re lucky, maybe you can help me work through it.” She shoved more pie in her mouth.

“Lick-It list?” His fork paused on the way to his mouth. “Is that…?”

“Things I’d like to lick off a man’s body.” She licked her lips and gobbled down more pie. “And things I’d like to have licked off mine.”

“Holy…” The dichotomy of the heat in her words and the flicker of innocence in her eyes made his body fully alert again. “I think I found the perfect woman.”

They finished their first pies at almost the same time. Lizzie leaned closer to Blue as they started on their second. She lifted the spoon to her mouth and made a seductive show of licking the sweet filling off of it.

The hell with the contest.

He pushed his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her into a blueberry kiss, which he intensified until he drew a lusty moan from her lungs and left her breathless. “Paybacks are hell.” He finished his second pie slowly, savoring every bite as she recovered from their scorching-hot kiss.

When the whistle signaled the end of the contest, he dipped his finger into the sugary blueberry and brought it to her lips. “I won’t leave you hanging, babe.”

She swirled her tongue around his finger, then drew his finger into her mouth and sucked it like she was sucking the very aroused part of him below his waist.

“No, but I will,” she said as she rose from her seat. “That’ll teach you not to cheat.”

“Cheat?” He scooped her into his arms as she giggled and squirmed. “You just got even hotter, but be warned. Second-time-around paybacks are even worse.”

“I’m
so
looking forward to it.”

He kissed her again before setting her feet back on the ground. “I love that you’re not bashful about eating like most girls are, and I love that you challenge me back with the naughty stuff.”

“I think you’ll find I’m nothing like most girls.”

He pulled her against him again. “Sweetheart, I’ve known that since the day I met you.”

“I have no idea how. I’m nothing special.” She gazed up at him with the most innocent expression of disbelief in her eyes, and his chest tightened.

“How did I get lucky enough for you to finally agree to go out with me? You’re not just special, Lizzie. You’re unique in every way. You make rules about kissing, and sometimes you catch yourself enjoying us too much, and I see you trying to pull away, but I can feel how much you don’t want to. You have a personality that lights up a room. You’re smart and funny and sexy as hell. How can you think you’re nothing special? I’ve never met a woman like you.”

She wrinkled her brow. “You can feel when I’m enjoying myself
too
much?”

“Not today, but I did last night and this morning. I thought you were just getting used to giving in to your emotions, the same way I was.”

“And you think I light up a room?”

“When I got back home this morning after dropping you off, my cabin felt like it had less life in it. Your absence was tangible, like part of me was missing. I realize that might be the craziest thing I’ve ever said after two dates.” He searched her softening gaze, seeing the disbelief slowly melt away. “It’s true, Lizzie. We spent a year building a friendship. A foundation, as you said. It makes sense that we’d fall hard and fast.”

She clutched his shirt just above his waist, and her eyes went serious again.

“You make me want to give in to what I feel and not worry about how complicated my life is.”

He touched his forehead to hers, basking in the knowledge that she wanted to give in to the emotions between them. “We’ll uncomplicate it together. Nothing is too much for us to handle.”

“I want to believe you.” Her grip tightened, snagging his skin in her clutches.

He covered her hand possessively and reassured her. “Trust in me, Lizzie, like I trust in you. We belong together. I’ve known it since we first met, and it’s only gotten stronger every day since.”

IT WAS AFTER eight by the time they left the festival. The sun had long ago kissed the horizon, leaving a chilly evening behind, but Lizzie was warm and happy sitting beside Blue on the drive home, tucked beneath his arm. She’d already decided to forgo trying to end their relationship—because in the space of a day that’s exactly what it had become.
A relationship
. She struggled with how to tell him about the
Naked Baker
, because she knew Blue trusted her, and the guilt of hiding that part of herself was eating away at her. Maybe it was selfish that she didn’t want to ruin this beautiful day by blurting out something that might totally turn him off, but as she snuggled closer and he kissed her temple, she knew she would never get enough of him. How could she? Blue was everything she’d always known he’d be, and so much more.

“I would really like to see the place you bought out on the bluff. You’ve talked about it, but I’ve never actually seen it.”

“I’d love to show it to you.” He squeezed her tighter against him. “How about if we make a fire and we can chill on the beach for a while?”

On the way to Bowers Bluff, Blue’s brother Jake called. Blue put the call on speakerphone. “Jake, good to hear from you and to know you’re alive.”

“Dude, do you expect anything less? It was a hell of a mess. Sorry for not being in touch.” Jake’s voice was as deep as Blue’s. “We got about two hours’ sleep each night before heading back out. Am I on a squawk box?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m driving, and keep it clean. Lizzie’s with me.” Lizzie had met his younger brother last summer, when Jake had come to visit. He was tall and fit, like Blue, and a total flirt.

“Hi, Jake,” Lizzie said.

“Hey, Lizzie. How’s it going?”

“Great, thanks.”

“What’re you doing with B? Slummin’ because I’m not in town?” Jake asked with a laugh.

“I can still kick the shit out of you,” Blue teased.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jake scoffed. “We’ll see if that’s true when we get together at Cash’s wedding. Are you going, too, Lizzie?”

She said, “No,” at the same time Blue said, “Maybe.”

“Okay, then,” Jake said. “Listen, I was just calling to let you know I’m okay. I’ve got to give Duke a ring. He’s called me about fifty times. I’ll see you at the wedding. Have fun, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Great. No restrictions, then. Love ya, bro,” Blue said casually.

“You too.”

Blue was smiling when he ended the call. Lizzie had seen Blue with Duke and Jake, and she knew how close they all were, but hearing Blue say he loved his brother struck her in the center of her chest.

“I like that you guys say you love each other,” Lizzie said.

“Family’s everything,” Blue said. “Don’t you tell your family you love them?”

“All the time. But I’ve never heard guys say it so freely.” She glanced out the window as Blue pulled down a dirt road. “This is really private.”

“Just the way I like it.”

He parked the truck in front of an adorable white cottage with a red roof, set at the edge of a sandy beach streaked with long dune grasses whipping in the wind. There were no trees or bushes to buffer the breeze as it swept off the water. To the right of the house stood a stately white lighthouse with a balcony around the top and a peaked black and glass cap.

“This is beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Blue lifted Lizzie from the truck.

Lizzie had never been the type of woman who felt like she needed taking care of, but being with Blue, having him lift her to and from the truck, watching his eyes dart around them, like he was always making sure she was safe, felt good and made her feel special. She’d put so much energy into hiding part of her life for so many years that she’d forgotten what it felt like not to feel so alone. And she hadn’t even realized she’d been lonely, but Blue touched a part of her that made her see how lonely she’d been. Every minute they spent together brought them closer, magnifying the reasons they were meant to be together.

“I can’t believe you bought a lighthouse. This is so different from your cabin.”

“I know. But as I said, it spoke to me. The inside still isn’t quite finished.” He unlocked the cottage door and moved aside for Lizzie to walk in.

She slipped off her sandals and stepped onto the shiny hardwood floors. The wide foyer opened to a dining room to the right and a great room straight ahead. A stone fireplace graced the center of the back wall, flanked by two glass doors that led to a deck. Lizzie walked through the living room, taking in the decorative moldings and dark cherry mantel over the fireplace. A stone surround led up to the cathedral ceiling. A railing overlooked the living room from the second floor. Knowing Blue’s capable hands had brought this place to life, she felt him all around her.

“This is gorgeous. Did you take out the second floor above this room, or was it like this?”

Blue came to her side, pride beaming in his eyes. “I removed the second floor here and kept two bedrooms on the other side.”

“This a work of art,” Lizzie said as they passed through an archway into the kitchen, where she admired the custom-built cabinetry. Blue never flaunted his talents. He was as modest as he was generous, and those traits only added to his allure. “I love how you used the muted greens and earth tones. I can just imagine how beautiful it would be with the bay window open and the breeze coming off the water while you’re cooking.” She sighed. “Heaven.”

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you like it. You’re the first to see it, you know.”

“I am?” She turned to face him. “I’m honored that you’d share it with me.”

“I want to share so much more with you, Lizzie.”

A thrill rushed through her at the thought of sharing her life with Blue, but that thrill was chased by a nagging voice reminding her of the parts of her life she couldn’t share. It had become the constant push-pull she’d worried it would, and now she had to figure out how to deal with it.

“When the house is done, we’ll throw open the windows and cook something wonderful. Come on, I’ll show you the upstairs and then the lighthouse.”

They followed the hardwood stairs up to the second-floor hall overlooking the living room, which led to two bedrooms, complete with full baths.

“I just finished the hardwood floors. I’m working on the closets and moldings next.”

“It amazes me how much you can do, and you have such great vision.” She thought about the incredible job he was doing in her kitchen, which brought her mind back to the basement kitchen and to her webcast. For a second she wondered if she really could share her secrets with Blue. If he might be able to overlook what she did. She walked to the window and gazed out over the water, deciding to leave that thought unanswered for a little longer. “This is just lovely. I can see why you were so drawn to it.”

“Wait until you see the lighthouse.”

A few minutes later they stood at the bottom of the circular iron staircase in the lighthouse. The steps had molded iron risers with intricate designs, the type that they could see straight through. Lizzie’s heart beat so fast she felt like she might hyperventilate.

“I’m not great with open staircases like this.” She hated how weak she sounded. She’d forgotten the panic that filled her at open staircases. There was no reason for it that she’d ever been able to put her finger on, but the fear was very real, clutching at her chest and squeezing her lungs.

“It’s okay. We don’t have to go up.” Blue reached for her hand, and she stood stock-still.

“I want to. I
really
want to.”

“Okay, then let’s do this.” He moved to the side with the railing and wrapped one arm firmly around her from behind. His other hand pressed to her belly. She felt secure, safe. “I’ve got you. Are you afraid of heights?”

“No. There’s just something about these types of stairs that freak me out. I haven’t been in many places like this. Otherwise I would have warned you.”

They made their way up the stairs slowly. Blue was patient, taking each step at her pace and not pushing her to ascend them any quicker than she was able. When they reached the doorway to the balcony, he stopped and held her close.

“You never need to warn me. There’s nothing I can’t handle. Are you sure you’ll be okay on the balcony? We’re really high up.”

Nothing you can’t handle?
Again, she wondered if that were really true.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’s just the open stairs that rattle me.”

He opened the door and a gust of cold air rushed over them. Lizzie pressed herself closer to Blue, stealing his warmth as they stepped outside and took in the breathtaking view of the water and the miles of unencumbered shoreline.

“Thank you. I’m sorry about that.”

“Lizzie, you never have to apologize for being scared. We all have fears.”

If only he knew her greatest one. Losing him because of what she did. She tamped down that thought and focused on the here and now—being with Blue in this incredible place.

“Thanks for understanding. It’s crazy that you
own
this. What will you do with the lighthouse?”

“I’m not sure yet. I thought about restoring it to its original condition.”

“Makes sense, I guess. But if it were mine, I’d do something really different. You’ve got this spectacular view. Why not make this into livable space? I’d put a floor between the top and bottom with another balcony and windows. Or maybe that’s not structurally possible, but how cool would it be if it was?”