Page 54 of His to Defend

“Do you really care what our grandfather thinks?” Luke interrupted. “I thought we were past that. Besides, from where I’m standing, there’s only one person whose opinion should matter and as far as I know, you haven’t even asked her what she thinks.”

He was right and it pissed Ryker off. If the last week had taught him anything, it should have taught him that his grandfather was wrong. Their way of thinking had been wrong. The only thing that mattered was instinct and feelings and a connection that couldn’t be denied.

The only thing that really mattered was…

Nina.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The sun had long set by the time Nina dried her tears and pulled herself together. She needed fresh air. Something that was larger than she was. Larger than her problems or the heartache that threatened to overtake her. Thankfully, no one was downstairs in the Den and she was able to sneak out into the cool September night. She moved automatically, following the path she’d taken on the first night she’d arrived at Grizzly Ridge. She needed to lay in the grass and look up at the stars and lose herself in the vast universe above her.

She found a place far enough from the main house that she wouldn’t be bothered, and laid down in the grass. Thankful she brought a blanket, she wrapped herself in it to protect from the cold ground. The nights were starting to grow even colder up in the mountains. There might even be a frost soon, but Nina didn’t care about that.

Her mind cleared the way it always did when she stared up into the stars. They were almost hypnotic in the way they could relax her. At some point in the evening while she’d been exhausting herself with the tears that didn’t feel as though they’d ever stop, Nina had also felt an overwhelming urge to write.

It was ridiculous to try to write in the dark, but for some reason it felt right. She pulled herself up to a sitting position and opened the notebook she’d brought with her. Letting the words find their way on the page, she trusted herself and let the words pour from her.

When you have something you believe in, something you can’t live without, something that confuses you…well, that’s the type of thing that just gets inside you and becomes a part of you. It’s something you’ll never be able to let go of. Ever.

The memory of Ryker in her bed, talking about the dreams they had, came back to her in a flash. She did have something she believed in. And it wasn’t just her words and the book that was inside her fighting to get out.

It was something more.

Nina smiled, remembering the way she’d posed for Ryker on the bed that afternoon. The way they’d made love.

Something that confuses you.

He was right. When you have something like that, it just gets inside you and becomes a part of you.

Ryker.

For the first time since the wedding, a feeling of peace washed through her at the realization it had taken her far too long to come to. The words came faster as the pen scratched across the paper. It all made sense and finally she could trust because Ryker hadn’t only been talking about their dreams of photography or writing. He’d been talking about them.

She smiled and put her pen down, tucking it between the pages of the notebook before she turned around.

There, illuminated by the moon, just like she knew he would be, was Ryker.

It had taken him far too long to learn to trust his instincts. Longer than it ever should have and he hoped like hell that she’d forgive him. The moment he stopped fighting his bear so hard, his animal had led him directly back to Grizzly Ridge and to her.

He’d call Tyler in the morning and tell him why he wasn’t on the flight to Switzerland. It wasn’t important. There was only one thing that was important and she was right in front of him.

Ryker had watched as she’d left the main lodge and made her way to the grassy field. The same field he’d first laid eyes on her. The exact same spot where he’d inhaled the sweet scent of apples and honey and his bear had recognized for the first time that he’d forever be lost to her. It had just been his stupid human side that had taken so long to come to it.

She turned and looked directly at him, as if she’d already known he was standing there. “It took you long enough.”

He couldn’t have been held back by a thousand men. In two strides, Ryker dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her thoroughly and drank in the scent of her until he was dizzy. Finally he pulled back, but he didn’t release her. “I’m so sorry.”

“For kissing me?” She looked at him. “Or for leaving?” She waited a beat. “Or was it for taking so long to come back to me?”

Her eyes were full of hurt, but also a flicker of humor. He hated that he’d done anything at all to dim the light in her, even if it were only for the briefest of moments.

“Or was it for keeping a big giant secret from me?”

“All of it,” he said quickly. “All of it. Oh, God, Nina. I’m so sorry. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you. I was—”

“Enough.” She took his face in her hands and kissed him slowly. “It’s okay now. You’re here. And if you’re here, it means…”

“There’s no way I could stay away.”