Ridge

Fun In The Sun

Fucking reporters. From my office, I can monitor any part of Silversage’s 250,000 acres, but right now I’m focused on one area—the front gate. Fifty or more reporters and photographers are milling around on the road two miles from the main house. What they think they’re going to see from out there I have no idea. There isn’t a telephoto lens long enough to see that far and even if they could, it would be the front of a house, nothing else, nothing to do with me.

And that’s why they’re there—to snap a picture of me and slap it on the front of one of their magazines to go along with a scandalous story about me hiding out for five years because I felt guilty for being acquitted of all charges filed by Livi Fox.

Well, they’re going to be very disappointed to learn I’ve left out a secret entrance to go to the airport. I wonder how long they’ll sit there before they get tired and go home. Will it be days? Weeks? I hope it’s soon, so Ash and Stella don’t have to deal with them. I feel like I’ve brought the black plague to their home, and now I’m leaving them to clean up my mess.

But, they have a security system here, and the ranch is huge and secluded. Allison and David have no one in New York to protect them from the madness of the press. They need me more, and since it’s my shitty past that has brought the paparazzi to their door, it’s my responsibility to keep them safe.

I call Ash to make sure it’s okay with him if I send the jet to New York, and I ask about staying in his new house in Malibu. I feel guilty asking to use the house he recently bought, and it’s going to be a surprise for Stella when he is done renovating it. But Ash is gracious and generous as always. “Oh, go ahead, please. It’s just sitting out there empty. Somebody may as well be getting some use out of it.”

When the arrangements are made, I lie down in bed fully dressed and close my eyes to think about seeing Allison again tomorrow. I figured the long-distance thing would be hard, but I never imagined it would be this hard.

The second she’s out of my sight, I mourn the loss of her warm hand in mine, her kind eyes on me, and her curvy body pressed against mine. There’s an emptiness inside me when we are apart, a void that only she can fill. I not only want her by my side, but I also need her there.

Twenty minutes later, I receive a frantic call from Allison. She’s worried about meeting in Montana and rightly so after she defended me to the reporters outside her apartment. We decided it best to meet somewhere neither of us has been before, and that’s when Ash’s new California vacation home came to mind. No one will look for us there, and we could all use a real vacation.

In the morning, I consider calling Allison to make sure plans are on schedule, but I’m sure she has a million other things on her mind. A call from me would just slow her down. I packed the night before, so I head down to make sure no one needs anything from me before I go.

Ash is in his office sitting behind his computer, but he’s dressed to be on the land today. “I think you may have confused your attire today, looks like you’re supposed to be on a horse and not at your desk,” I say strolling in and taking a seat opposite him.

“Nope, I forgot I had some reports to send out this morning. I’m only here for a few minutes. Are you all ready for your trip?”

“Yes, but I’m concerned about the gathering of reporters out front. I don’t feel right leaving you to deal with all that when it’s my fault they’re here.”

“Well, don’t. I don’t have a lot of places I need to go for a while. Lord knows there’s enough work around here to keep me busy. Not to mention Stella is back to studying while she takes care of Lydia and Cannon, so she’s not going anywhere either. They could sit out there for weeks and not disturb any of us.”

“Okay, as long as you’re sure.”

“I am. Go take care of your lady and check out my new investment.” Ash is going to try to pay me for taking a vacation in his new house. He claims I will be surveying the property and providing upkeep while we are there. But he’s crazy if he thinks I’ll accept a dime more than my vacation pay. He’s given me enough.”

I stop to say goodbye to Stella in her office, kiss little Lydia on the forehead, and side hug Cannon before leaving for the airport. I’ve always felt at ease with Stella, but now that I’ve delivered her baby, I feel like a big brother, and Lydia is my niece. The Pride family is just as much family to me as my own, maybe more.

Outside, I take a deep cleansing breath before getting behind the wheel. It’s time to get my girl and spend some serious time in the sun with her and her brother.