Healing Her Soul (Mayflower Series #2)

Chapter 5

Ryder made a left turn and they pulled into the Smith’s driveway. The darkened house before them signalled that everyone else on the farm was asleep. Ryder placed the car into neutral before pulling on the handbrake and finally shutting off the engine. The immediate silence of the vehicle made Julia all too aware of how alone they were together. Neither moved from their seats.

“If there’s anything troubling you, Julia, you can always come to me,” Ryder spoke gently, breaking the silence. “Even if it’s just a listening ear, I’m here.”

Julia felt a tingle of warmth from his offer, and for a moment, it made her want to tell him everything; all of her burdens and troubles. She fiddled with her fingers, nervous at the thought. Ryder drove her nuts most of the time, but she had always felt safe with him around.

He waited patiently, yet no words left her. There just wasn’t anything she could tell him. She had decided to forget her past, and the incident earlier with the black SUV was probably her mind overthinking. It wasn’t an easy task to let go of such nightmares that scarred her for many years. It was, however, a work in progress. There was just no use going back to those days any more.

Hesitantly, she took her eyes away from her hands to look at him. Instantly, she knew she had made a mistake.

The moment their eyes locked, it was as though the world around them had disappeared. She could hear each heartbeat as it pounded against her chest. He had the most intense eyes she had ever seen, ones that seemed to tell her he would go through hell and back to keep her safe. She felt drawn to him, like a moth to a flame, and it was overwhelming.

Without realising it, she began to lean toward him. At the back of her mind, something nagged at her, telling her that this was a bad idea. This was a very very bad idea. But… What if it was just a taste? Just a tiny taste to quench her thirst. A fog clouded her mind as he, too, inched closer toward her.

His lips were soft, a stark contrast to the man before her. She could taste a hint of the sweet essence of the e-cigarette flavour he had puffed; Berry blast.

She felt a tremble run down her spine and nestle in her core as she felt the warmth of his hands gently cup her cheeks. His tongue darted out, tracing her lips, seeking permission, and she willingly gave it.

Tongues battled as her hands held onto the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. Her fingers slowly ran across his pectorals, feeling every inch of solid muscle that sent tingles right through her belly. He was a sweet addiction, one she wasn’t willing to let go of. Her finger tips grazed across his taut n*****s, eliciting a growl from deep within him as he reached his hand out to pull her even closer.

Whether it was the low rumble of his voice, or the sudden hunger he displayed as his hands reeled her in, reality hit her. What the hell was she doing?

Instantly, she yanked herself free of him, bumping her back against the passenger door. The loud thud snapped them both out of the fog. The air thickened with tension as neither of them spoke, each panting from the make-out session.

Julia could see the hunger that lingered in his eyes, mixed with confusion. His intense gaze made her feel….naked. She had made a big mistake, and no matter how hard she tried, she knew she could not hide the guilt displayed on her face. She darted her eyes away from him, too scared to find out what he thought of her.

“This…..this was a mistake. I’m sorry,” Julia barely whispered before she pulled on the door handle of the passenger side and scurried out of the car.

She could feel his eyes on her even as she made the short walk down the pathway to her cabin, making her nether regions tingle even though her mind was still in a panic. Neither the loud sounds of her shoes crunching against the dirt road nor the chirping of the night crickets could distract her. Only when she had closed the front door did she hear his engine start and his car pulling out.

She bit her lip as she leaned her back against the front door. What the hell was she thinking? That’s right, she wasn’t, and now everything was a mess. For months she had managed to dodge all of Ryder Cooper’s advances even though she wanted nothing more than to run her hands against the heat of his bare skin. Yet, just twenty minutes in the car with him and she messed everything up. What if he took the kiss as something more? What if he started pushing her into a relationship she just wasn’t ready for?

“Julia? Is that you?” Called Maddie from her bedroom on the second floor. Immediately, Julia stood up and gathered herself. The last thing she needed now was for Maddie to find out that there was something between Ryder and her.

“Yep!” Julia squeaked, surprising herself. She cleared her throat, “Yeah it’s me! I just got home.”

“Alright. Good night!”

“Good night, Maddie!”

It was a good thing Maddie was already in her room. Julia huffed. She needed to work harder at resisting Ryder Cooper. It was just a few more months before Maddie would be independent. Surely she could resist him until then. Although, she wasn’t so sure she would be ready to face him even after her responsibilities were done. But! She would cross the bridge when she got there. With a new-found determination, she squared her shoulders and marched up to her room for the night.

Only… It was easier said than done.

The next morning Julia had woken up and gone to the bakery like a woman on a mission, on a mission to keep Ryder Cooper at arm’s length. When Ellen had bid her farewell and left her alone at the front, however, her confidence started to falter.

Every minute that went by made her nervous. Was she anticipating Ryder’s visit? Surely not. She wanted to get the meeting over and done with, that’s all. She definitely did not wonder if she could really face Ryder after what had happened the night before.

Each ring of the bell that hung above their front door made her head snap up, and her heart beat a little faster. Fine, yes, she wondered if each customer that walked in was Ryder.

The sun soon began to set, but her anxiety only grew. Was the bell always that loud? Tick Tock Tick Tock. Was the old rustic clock hanging against their pink wall always this irritating?

BAM!

Julia jumped in her spot and spun her head toward the sound, only to see the kitchen door swinging back and forth as Maria marched into the front area. Her eyebrows were knitted together, and her apron was smeared with flour. She looked pissed, like a raging bull stomping her way to an empty table and plonking herself on the chair next to it.

“Ummm… Tea?” Julia offered timidly. No one dared to face an angry Maria. She was a Sinclaire after all, and everyone knew how dangerous a Sinclaire temper could get.

“An ice-cold beer from my stash,” Maria responded, not sparing a glance at her. “For both of us.”

Julia hurried into the kitchen and pulled out a beer from the staff fridge. She swiped a container of deep fried fish skin smothered in salted egg flavouring, courtesy of Ellen, and headed out. Beer always goes well with fried food, and if it could appease Maria, why not?

“You are the bestest of the best!” exclaimed Maria as she eagerly grabbed the food from her. That was a rather quick… switch. Beer and food goes a long way after all.

“So……” Julia hinted as she sipped from her beer, the cold liquid calming her tensed nerves.

“I am so close to strangling Louise,” Maria huffed in between bites of fried fish skin. “So so soooooooooo close.”

“Did she make a big request?” Julia winced at her words, feeling guilty because she had a nagging feeling it had to do with the Danish Pastry she had recommended.

“As always! She had Noah drop by this morning to deliver a Danish Pastry to her, and less than two hours later she dragged him over to order five hundred pieces for her tea party tomorrow,” Maria complained, waving her hands in the air to emphasise the workload in which five hundred pastries equated to. “And who the hell still does tea parties in this century?!”

“Is that why I haven’t seen you all day? Do you need an extra hand in there?” Julia gestured toward the kitchen.

“Nah… I’m done. They don’t call me the best baker in town for nothing,” Maria chuckled at herself, taking a swig of her beer.

“They call you that?” Julia teased, earning a glare from Maria.

Just then, the bell rang. Both ladies turned their heads to see Ryder standing by the door. Julia could feel butterflies flutter around her stomach as she watched Ryder nod his greetings toward them. No matter how many times she had seen him in his uniform, she could never bring herself to stop ogling at the manliness it made him look.

“You!” Maria pointed an accusing finger toward him. Ryder arched an eyebrow. Maria curled her finger inwards, gesturing for him to come closer. He did so, calmly. When he had reached their table and stood in front of them, Maria crossed her arms and eyed him.

“You are the reason why Louise got on my nerves today with the Danish Pastries,” she huffed. “Don’t think I didn’t know you got Noah involved in this mess.”

Ryder raised his arms in surrender while subtly taking three steps back away from the fierce woman.

“Now now, I only suggested that Noah come and get the pastry. I was saving you from having to see Louise. I didn’t know she’d come down and cause a ruckus after. Besides, it’s good business, isn’t it?”

Maria eyed him suspiciously before a spark lit in her eyes. Julia had a feeling she wasn’t going to like whatever was on Maria’s mind at that moment.

“Fine,” Maria smirked. “I’ll forgive you, only if you give my employee here a ride home.”

“I’d be more than happy to,” Ryder grinned back. Were they both in on something that Julia did not know about? She was going to interrogate Maria about it in time.

“Good. Now off you go. The bakery is closed.” Maria dismissed them both before clearing the now empty beer bottles.

“I don’t….” Julia attempted to change her fate.

“Boss’s orders, Julia. Lock the door on your way out!” Maria sang as she disappeared into the kitchen.

Julia sighed. She could not deal with Ryder right now, not when every time she looked at him, she had an urge to run her fingers across his skin. Just like she had the night before. Immediately, she blushed at the memory. Get it together, Julia.

“We don’t have to talk about it,” Ryder offered, as though reading her mind. “Not unless you want to.”

Was he psychic? Doubt was written all over her face. There was no way he would not talk about it.

“I promise,” Ryder reassured. She eyed him hesitantly, trying to call his bluff, but his expression never changed.

“Fine,” Julia sighed. She would hold him to his promise, because she wasn’t planning on talking at all.