Ryder (Sinners and Saints, #1) Read online

  “Direct me to your new school and we’ll start there,” he said after he’d closed me in.

  I did as he asked and was relieved to find the lot was completely empty. He smiled at me from the driver’s side and squeezed my hand. “Ready?”

  “No.”

  “Come on, baby, you’re gonna do great.”

  I swapped places with him and he gave me a tutorial on how to adjust the seats (I had to move them forward a lot, since he was six-one and I was five-four), and then he walked me through the basic information of what everything did.

  “So the left pedal is the accelerator and the right is the brake?” I asked.

  “No, the—”

  “Kidding,” I joked, interrupting him.

  Ryder grinned as he shook his head. “Cute, baby.”

  I really loved it when he called me “baby.”

  Was that weird? That was probably weird.

  “What?” he asked.

  “What, what?”

  “You have a funny look on your face.”

  “I thought I was cute,” I challenged.

  He laughed. “Always, but you looked a little weirded out.”

  “I really like it when you call me ‘baby,’ and I was thinking it was kind of weird that I liked it so much.” Yep, I just spit it out like that... I really was weird.

  “It’s not weird.”

  “No?”

  Ryder shook his head and kissed me gently. “Nope.”

  “Okay,” I whispered.

  “Okay,” he mimicked, and sat back in his seat. “Start her up.”

  “Um, how?”

  “Foot on the brake, then press this button.”

  I pressed the button and then pressed it again. Nothing.

  “It’s okay, Sadie, you don’t have to press it twice. Once turns it on, twice turns it off.”

  I nodded and did as he instructed, the car humming quietly at his direction. “Oh, that was easy.” I slid the car into drive and pressed the accelerator... and was not prepared for the car lurching forward. I slammed on the brake and squeezed my eyes shut at the sound of Ryder’s expletive. “Sorry, sorry,” I rushed to say.

  Ryder laid his hand on one of mine, tugging gently. I released the death grip I had on the steering wheel and my hands lost their white pallor.

  “This is never going to work,” I complained.

  “It’s gonna take some time, baby. You’ll get it.”

  “Before or after I ruin your car?”

  “Hopefully before,” he admitted.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” He smiled. “Ready to try again?”

  “Nope.”

  “After you put the car in drive, let your foot off the brake slowly. The car will move forward without the accelerator, then you can add speed as you need it. Got it?”

  “Nope.”

  He chuckled and lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my palm. “You can do it.”

  I grumbled my disagreement as he released my hand and I tried again.

  We spent close to two hours in the parking lot and I almost cried when Ryder said we were done with the lesson. I slid the car in park and faced him. “How bad?”

  “Baby, you did great.”

  I bit my lip and shook my head. “You’re being really gracious right now.”

  He stroked my cheek. “You hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  “How about we hit a drive-through and head back to your place?”

  “I love that idea.” I raised an eyebrow. “But only if there’s kissing later.”

  “Oh, there’ll be kissing. You can count on it.”

  “Okay. I vote Burgerville,” I said, and climbed out of the car.

  We swapped places, and before hitting the drive-through, Ryder wanted to go shopping so he could stock my place with beer and a few things he liked to eat. This both scared and excited me, because it meant he’d be at my apartment often enough to drink said beer and eat said food.

  Errands run, we arrived back at my apartment and I couldn’t have been happier to get out of the very tame sedan. We walked inside and I fell onto my sofa.

  “You gonna help put this stuff away?” Ryder asked.

  “Not if I can avoid it,” I admitted, craning my head to look at him.

  He grinned, closing the distance between us and leaning down to give me the sweetest upside-down kiss I’d ever had. Well, the first I’d had, but still no less sweet.

  “Did I tire you out?”

  “Little bit, yes,” I said, reaching up to cup his face.

  “Sorry.”

  “Forgiven... if you feed me.”

  “I’ll put the beer away and then feed you, yeah?”

  “I see where your priorities lie,” I retorted.

  He chuckled and headed back into the kitchen. I reluctantly hauled my butt off the couch and joined him. Since he’d put most of the groceries away, I unpacked our dinner, grabbing plates and napkins and setting them on my small table.

  “We’re eatin’ fancy.”

  I giggled. “This is fancy?”

  “Yeah, baby, this is fancy.”

  “Stick with me, buddy. I’ll pull you into the high-class world.”

  He sat in the chair next to me and chuckled. “Lookin’ forward to it, Sadie.”

  “May I try your beer?”

  “You bet.” He slid the can toward me.

  I took a swig and sighed with pleasure. “Oh my word, that’s delicious.”

  “Yeah?”

  I took another sip. “Yes.” I read the label and smiled. “Guinness, you might be my new favorite.”

  “You drink that, I’ll grab another one.”

  “Thanks, honey.”

  He pushed away from the table, but before heading to the kitchen, he leaned down with a smile. “FYI, I love it when you call me ‘honey.’”

  “Um...I’ve never called you ‘honey’ before.”

  “Yeah, babe I know. Just makin’ sure you know I like it.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

  He kissed me quickly, then grabbed a beer and took his seat again.

  “Do you date a lot?”

  Ryder shook his head. “One-woman man, Sadie. Always have been.”

  “Did you date a lot? Before me, I mean.”

  “Had a few women I spent time with over the years, but no one I could see goin’ long-term with.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “’Til you.”

  “You see this going long-term?”

  “Don’t you?”

  Did I? I hadn’t really gotten that far yet, I was still trying to process all the emotions that flooded me every minute of every day.

  “You don’t have to answer that, Sadie.”

  “No, I want to. I’m just trying to figure it out.” I leaned my chin in my palm and studied him. “I like you. A lot. I think you’re gorgeous, you’re easy to talk to, and I’ve never felt more comfortable with anyone than I do with you. I feel like I can be totally me and, since I don’t really know myself all that well, it’s helpful, you know?”

  “Yeah, baby, I do.”

  “So, long-term? I kinda feel like we’re in this and it’s working, and I really like it, but I also wonder what’s going to happen when we’re tested. Do our spiritual, emotional, and physical core beliefs match up?” I sighed. “I don’t know if I’m saying any of this right.”

  “I hear you, Sadie,” he said, and took my hand. “And I think they do.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Says the man who won’t go to church. Do you even believe in God?”

  “I used to believe in God. Not sure where I stand currently, but I’m workin’ it out.” He shrugged and went back to his food. “And you don’t need to go to church to be spiritual.”

  “No, you’re probably right.” I took a bite of my burger and forced down my opinion.

  “Spit it out, Sadie.”

  I swallowed. “My
burger?”

  “Babe, say what you were goin’ to say.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t want to have an argument with you on a subject we’ll have to end up agreeing to disagree on.”

  “You might be surprised,” he countered.

  “Pretty sure I won’t be,” I grumbled.

  “Now who’s putting words into whose mouth, babe?” he said, his voice low and irritated.

  “Okay, fine.” I jabbed a fry at him. “I think it is important we go to church because God says we should. There’s a verse in Hebrews that specifically says we shouldn’t give up meeting together because it’s important to encourage one another as the end times draw near.”

  “And I think organized religion, particularly in the western world, isn’t quite what God had in mind. You’re right, we should meet and encourage each other, but I’m not overly interested in sitting in a building with other sheeple, listening to some egomaniac priest, reverend, or clergyman, who may or may not be a child molester, tell me when to sit down or stand up. Pastors in this country, in my experience, tend to have a king-of-the-world mentality, touting the importance of whatever the hell they’re speaking on that week, all the while sticking their dicks where they don’t belong and stealing from the very people they’re supposed to love and protect as Christ loves the church. So, no, Sadie, going to church isn’t really my thing.”

  I felt sick. Partly because I knew he was right, but also because this was obviously going to be an area we’d never see eye-to-eye on. “Father Denton isn’t a child molester. He’s also not an egomaniac. He’s actually a bit like you, but like I said, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree.”

  “Guess so.”

  “And by the way, I’m not a sheeple.” I stood and gathered my trash. “Unlike a sheep, I have a mind that I use on a daily basis and I don’t trust someone’s word as law unless I test it against what the Bible says. The people I choose to have in my life are people who do protect me, and I include Michael Denton in that group. He might be a priest, but he’s a really good guy and an even better friend.”

  “Sadie,” he ground out as I walked into the kitchen. He followed me, setting his plate in the sink.

  “Don’t, Ryder. You don’t have to explain yourself or try to backtrack—”

  “Wasn’t gonna do either, babe.”

  “Oh.” I shrugged. “Well, good. You’re entitled to your opinion.”

  He took the plate I was holding and dropped it in the sink, pulling me against him and pinning me to his chest. “I know you’re not a sheep.”

  “Coulda fooled me.”

  “I’m sorry if I was a little passionate in the delivery of my opinion.”

  “A little?” I challenged.

  “I love that you stand up to me and that I don’t scare you. That’s new for me.”

  I settled my cheek to his chest and closed my eyes. “I’m sorry that’s new for you, Ryder, because I see your heart and I understand your passion. But I won’t allow anyone to bully me, you have to see that.”

  “I see it, baby. I just wonder where I fit if I can’t protect you.”

  “Holy mother of...” I stared up at him. “Seriously? If you’re looking for a damsel in distress, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”

  He grinned and kissed my nose. “Woof.”

  “Dork.” I giggled and settled back against him. “Did you or did you not take care of that guy in the bar?”

  “I have a feeling Bethany would have taken him out eventually.”

  “You might be right about that.”

  “How old’s this priest guy?”

  “Wow, talk about a subject change,” I said.

  “Just answer the question.”

  “Michael? I don’t know, maybe thirty.”

  “And just how close are you? How long have you known him?”

  “We’ve known each other for about two years. That’s when he was placed at our church.” I cocked my head. “Why?”

  “Keepin’ a finger on the pulse of my competition, baby.”

  “What?” I pushed away from him with a frown. “He’s a priest, Ryder. Not competition.”

  “He’s still a man, Sadie, and you’re you, so he is most definitely competition.”

  “What the heck is that supposed to mean... I’m me?”

  “Gorgeous, confident, sexy as hell. No man can resist you.”

  “You’re insane.”

  He pulled me back to him with a grin. “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

  “Michael is not competition, Ryder. Trust me.”

  Ryder stroked my hair as he held me. “I do trust you... it’s him I’m gonna watch.”

  “I think you need psychiatric help,” I said, wrapping my arms around his waist, trying not to sigh out loud at the blissful feeling his hands in my hair created.

  “I think I need to stretch out on the sofa with my woman and make out while we pretend to watch a movie.”

  This time I did sigh out loud. “Perfect.”

  Ryder chuckled and released me, so we could deal with our dishes and grab more beer. As promised, he delivered on the making out, but we also managed to stream and actually watch a movie as well. All in all, it was a perfect date, sans the driving lesson.

  Sadie

  TWO SUNDAYS FOLLOWING the driving lesson from Hades, I caught the bus down to Beaverton, guilt swarming since I’d been too tired to attend mass the weekend before. Admittedly, this was the first time ever I’d wished I’d had the thirty minutes a car would have saved me to sleep. I was exhausted. Ryder didn’t leave until well past one (the same happened the previous Saturday which is why I skipped mass) and even then, it was tough letting him go. I was falling hard and fast for the man and didn’t know how to stop it... not that I wanted to. We’d had another blissful week of togetherness and I loved every second. Well, every second that wasn’t spent driving. He’d insisted on two more lessons, which had gone better, but still, ugh. I hated driving, hated it.

  Arriving at the Abbey, I let myself in and headed to my aunt’s office. I heard a man’s voice mingled with hers, so I knocked even though the door was open. It sounded like Michael’s, but he was out of town, so I was intrigued.

  “Good morning, Sadie,” my aunt said, and rushed to hug me.

  Father Michael stepped into my line of sight with a grin. “Hey stranger.”

  “Hi!” I said in surprise, and walked into his hug. “I thought you were still in Florida.”

  “Got back yesterday,” he said, and released me. “How are you doing on the outside?”

  “Not bad, I think. I start my new job in seven weeks, so ask me then.”

  “You’ll have to give me your new number in order for me to do that.”

  “You’ve lost your power of telepathy?”

  He chuckled. “It only works when you’re wearing your habit.”

  “Dang it, I forgot that rule.” I giggled as I pulled out my phone and sent him my number. “Just texted you, so now you have it.”

  “Thanks. I better go spend some time in prayer. It’s a heavy sermon today.”

  “I’ll try not to fall asleep.”

  Michael grinned. “Me too.”

  He left my aunt’s office and I hugged her again. “I really hate not seeing you every day.”

  “I feel the same way, sweetheart.” She smiled and cupped my cheeks. “You look beautiful.”

  “I do?”

  Auntie nodded. “Happy.”

  “I am happy. Ryder’s amazing. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

  “Me too.” She released me and grabbed her Bible. “Let’s get inside. Mass waits for no one.”

  I followed my aunt from the abbey across the courtyard and through the side door of the church. She had a few things to tend to before the service started so I left my Bible on the pew and headed to the restroom. As I turned on the faucet, it attacked, and I bit back a curse as water splashed onto my shir
t. Grabbing copious amounts of paper towels I did my best to blot myself dry, but then the bells sounded, so I knew I had to get inside.

  I continued to dab as I headed from the lobby toward the sanctuary, unprepared for strong arms to lock around me like a vice.

  “Hey!” I squirmed but the arms held me tighter and I looked up to find Ryder grinning down at me like an idiot.

  “Hey yourself.”

  I gasped and turned to hug him. “What are you doing here?”

  “A really smart lady told me it was important to go to church, so I wanted to surprise you.”

  “Or size up the competition?”

  Ryder chuckled. “I thought you said he wasn’t competition.”

  I squeezed him harder. “Touché.”

  He chuckled, leaning down to kiss me chastely. “More of that later.”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Why are you wet?” he asked, glancing at my chest.

  “Attack of the ladies’ room faucet. I’ll tell my aunt after service. We better get inside.” I grabbed his hand. “Coming?”

  “I’m following you.”

  I led him to the seats I’d saved and saw my aunt give me an enquiring eyebrow rise. “Auntie, this is Ryder. Ryder, my aunt, Mother—”

  “Just call me Sister, Ryder,” she interrupted. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

  “You too.”

  Ryder took his seat to my right and, with my aunt on my left, I felt like all was right with the world. Ryder linked his fingers with mine and we stayed like that through most of the sermon, which as Michael warned, was a heavy one. He spoke on integrity and how most of us, Catholics and Christians particularly, were missing the mark in being honest. There was far too much financial and sexual immorality at the highest level of churches, and it needed to stop. I thought it was interesting considering the argument I’d had with Ryder the week before, but I chose not to give him a “told you so” look... at least not until later.

  “Will you join us for lunch, Ryder?” my aunt asked as we filed out of the church.

  “I don’t want to intrude on your time with Sadie, Sister.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’re more than welcome. It’ll give me a chance to scrutinize you.”