Challenging Ryker (Kringle Security #2)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

One Month Later

"Are you sure this is the one?"

They had looked at over a dozen houses the past few weeks but this was the one Amelia kept coming back to over and over again. He figured it was the one she wanted but something was holding her back.

"I think so."

He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her back so she was leaning against his chest.

"Sweetheart, I don't want you to just think so. I want you to be sure. This is the house we are going to spend the rest of our lives in. The one I carry you over the threshold in. The one we raise our children in. I want to make sure it's what you want."

She turned around in his arms and looked him in the eyes. "You want to marry me? And have kids with me?"

And there it was. The root of the problem. He sucked at communication. Sometimes he didn't realize just how dense he could be.

"I told you I would mess this up," he sighed. "Of course, I want to marry you. Forever, sweetheart. That's what we have going for us. And I would love for you to have my kids but only if that's what you want."

She rolled up and placed a gentle kiss against his lips. "I want all of that. I just wasn't sure you did. We haven't talked about our future past buying a house."

Silly woman. Buying a house was his way of telling her he wanted forever, but sometimes he forgot she needed the actual words as well.

"Then consider this your warning that I'm going to propose to you one day and I expect you to say yes."

That got him the laugh he wanted. It also got him a slap to the chest, but he would take it.

"Then yes, this is the house." She looked him right in the eyes. "I'm positive."

He called the realtor and told her to make the offer and then he guided her into what would be the living room, once they bought furniture, and set his phone on the mantel. A set of slow songs started as he pulled her into his arms.

This had become their thing. Any time they had a hard day or dealt with a big decision, they would dance together. It gave them time to just be themselves without the world crashing in.

Over the last month there had been a few hard days and a few celebrations. They had flown out to speak to his father. There weren't quite as many tears as there had been with his mother but it was still an emotional time. With any luck his father was dealing with the guilt better now that they talked.

They also took a trip out to see Amelia's parents. That had been tense but he stood by her side as she explained how sorry she was for shutting them out and the mistakes she made with Gavin. They had been more than willing to forgive her and would be visiting next month.

He had every intention of asking her father for her hand in marriage. He was old-fashioned like that.

Amelia was finally settled into her new role as a financial advisor. It had taken him a week of going to work with her every day before he felt comfortable allowing her to go alone. Dom might have had something to do with him finally backing off.

His friend reminded him Gavin was gone, and if he wanted any future with Amelia, he needed to give her space to breathe. Sure enough, his friend wasn't wrong and that night over dinner, he and Amelia talked about it. She hadn't wanted to say anything but Dom was able to see what he wasn't.

They danced that night too and then went to bed knowing everything would be alright.

"I love you, Ryker."

"I love you too, sweetheart. Forever."