Page 36 of Rookie’s Redemption (Iron Ridge Icehawks #5)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Mia

T he shower steam swirls around us like our own private cloud as Ryder's mouth works magic between my thighs, my back pressed against the cool tile wall of our newly renovated bathroom.

"God, you're so beautiful," Ryder murmurs against my inner thigh, his voice rough with morning desire as he drops to his knees on the shower floor.

The hot water cascades over his shoulders, steam rising around us as he looks up at me with those hazel eyes. His hands grip my hips, holding me steady as his mouth finds my core again.

"I love starting our mornings like this," I breathe, my fingers tangling in his wet hair as pleasure builds low in my belly.

He responds by sucking my clit between his lips, his tongue lapping and licking me in that way that makes my entire body tremble.

"Ryder, yes, right there," I gasp, my head falling back against the wall as he increases the pressure of his tongue.

"I love eating this pussy," he grunts, nibbling my folds, tasting the flood of juices that escapes me.

His hands slide up my thighs, thumbs pressing into the sensitive spots that make me arch against him. He knows my body so well now, knows exactly how to make me come undone in minutes.

When the orgasm crashes over me, I moan loudly, my legs shaking as waves of pleasure pulse through my core. He works me through it with gentle strokes of his tongue until I'm boneless against the wall.

"I could stay like this forever," I whisper as he kisses his way back up my body.

"Good," he says against my mouth, that secret smile playing on his lips. "Because I have something special planned for tonight."

I pull back to study his face, noting the nervous energy underneath his casual tone. "Oh really? Special how?"

"You'll see." He reaches around me for the body wash, his hands gentle as he starts washing my skin. "Just... dress warm and meet me at six?"

"Ryder Scott, are you planning something mysterious?"

"Maybe." His grin is boyish and secretive. Then again, when isn't it? "Can't a guy surprise his girlfriend?"

"Fine, keep your secrets," I tease, stealing the soap from him. "But I'm holding you to that six o'clock timeline."

We finish in the shower and soon, I'm stealing pieces of bacon from the plate while Ryder finishes scrambling eggs in the kitchen.

The morning sunshine on what appears to be the perfect day in Iron Ridge streams through the windows we finally got around to cleaning, making everything feel bright and possible.

"So the shelter renovations are officially complete?" he asks, sliding a perfect pile of fluffy eggs onto my plate.

"As of yesterday. Officially done." I can't keep the pride out of my voice. "It looks incredible, Ryder. Like a real, professional facility."

"It always was a real facility. Now it just looks like one."

I bump his shoulder with mine as he settles beside me at our small table. Through the back window, I can see our swing moving gently in the morning breeze, and beyond it, the town of Iron Ridge waking up to another perfect day.

"You know what's crazy?" I say, cutting into my eggs. "For the first time in years, I'm not stressed about anything. The shelter's thriving, the animals are healthy, we have enough funding to actually plan ahead instead of just surviving day to day."

"And?" Ryder prompts, clearly fishing for a compliment. At least some things around here don't change.

"And I have you." I lean over to kiss his cheek. "Everything feels... perfect. Like all the pieces finally fit together."

"Good," he says simply. "You deserve perfect, Mia."

There's weight behind his words that makes my chest warm, but before I can examine it too closely, his phone buzzes with a team message.

"Practice?" I ask.

"Just a quick skate. Coach wants to run some systems before our next home game." He stands, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "But I'll be home by four to get ready for tonight."

"Get ready for your mysterious surprise plan?"

"Exactly." He grins, grabbing his gear bag from the counter. "Six o'clock, I'll pick you up. Not a minute later. And Mia?"

"Yeah?"

"Dress warm, but..." He pauses, that nervous energy flickering across his face again. "Maybe wear something special underneath."

Heat floods my cheeks as he disappears out the door, leaving me to wonder what exactly he has planned for tonight.

The day flies by in a blur of final construction paperwork and satisfied animals.

Zoe has been bouncing around like she's had too much caffeine, clearly excited about something but being mysteriously tight-lipped when I ask what has her so wound up.

By five-thirty, I'm standing in front of our bedroom mirror, adjusting the emerald green dress I chose for whatever Ryder has planned tonight.

Underneath, I'm wearing the red lace set that makes me feel like I could conquer the world. Or at least reduce my hockey-playing boyfriend to incoherent stammering.

The sound of Ryder's truck in the driveway makes my stomach flutter and I peer out of the window just as he honks the horn. I grab my coat and purse, checking my reflection one last time before heading downstairs.

I slide into the passenger seat, immediately enveloped by the familiar scent of his cologne and the warmth radiating from his body.

"Ready for your mysterious evening?" he says, his eyes doing that slow sweep over my dress that makes heat pool low in my belly. "You look incredible."

He backs the truck up and soon we're enjoying easy conversation about our day. As we start the incline up the mountain, Ryder's hand finds mine across the center console, and I can't stop the smile and warm feeling spread in my belly.

But where the hell is he taking me?

The moment the cliffs open up and the view overlooking the small town below comes into sight, I feel a rush of nostalgia mixed with excitement wash over me.

"Lookout Point," I whisper, watching Ryder's smirk grow.

It's been months since we've been up here together, not since that night early in our relationship when everything still felt fragile and new.

Now, as the sun starts its descent behind the mountains, I feel nothing but anticipation.

And when I see what he's set up, my breath catches in my throat.

Our old picnic spot has been transformed into something magical. A thick blanket is spread across the grass, surrounded by battery-powered lanterns that flicker gentle light across the area.

There's a bottle of champagne beside two glasses, and what looks like a full spread of food from the kitchen at Ridgeview Tavern.

"Ryder," I breathe, walking toward where he's standing at the edge of the overlook, hands shoved deep in his pockets. "This is incredible."

"You like it?" He turns, and I can see the nervous energy thrumming through him. "I wanted to recreate our spot, but... better. Turn what was our hangout into something more of an… Adult version."

"Adult, huh?" I wink and settle onto the blanket beside him, accepting the champagne flute he offers. "Well, it's perfect. Thank you."

He laughs nervously, the sound oddly strained. He's fidgetting beside me like something is playing on his mind, and just as I'm about to ask if everything is okay, he shakes his head and sighs.

"God, look at that view, babe. We're lucky to live here."

Iron Ridge spreads below us like something out of a postcard. The town lights are just starting to twinkle to life, and the arena glows green and silver in the distance. Smoke rises from chimneys, and I can just make out the tiny figures of people going about their evening routines.

"Remember when we used to plan our whole lives from this spot?" Ryder asks, his voice softer now.

"You mean when we were seventeen and acted like we had it all figured out?" I laugh, leaning against his side. "We were so na?ve."

"Were we though?" He shifts to face me, his expression serious. "Because some of those teenage dreams are actually coming true now."

My heart does that fluttery thing as I meet his gaze. "Yeah? Which ones?"

"Well, you're running your own animal rescue. That was always the dream, even when everyone told you it was impossible in such a small town." His hand finds mine, fingers intertwining. "And I'm playing professional hockey. Not exactly how we planned it, but..."

"But?"

"But now I see that the important part wasn't the hockey. It was having someone to share it with. Someone who understands what it means." He stares off into the distance. "It was finding my way back here. To you."

The sincerity in his voice makes my throat tight with emotion. "Ryder..."

"Mia, listen. There's something I want to say before I throw up."

"Throw up?" I ask, confused.

"Yeah. Something I've been thinking about recently... the forever kind of next steps," he says quietly, his free hand moving to his pocket.

My pulse jolt in the side of my neck. "Um, okay. What kind of next steps?"

"The kind where I get to wake up next to you for the rest of my life. The kind where we build something permanent together, not just in that house, but..." He takes a shaky breath. "Mia, there's something I need to ask you."

His hand goes to his pocket, and suddenly I can't breathe.

This is it. This is actually happening.

All the fears I used to carry about forever, about trust, about whether love can really last… they're not there anymore. In their place is excitement and the absolute certainty that whatever he's about to ask of me, my answer is yes.

His fingers close around something in his pocket, and he's starting to pull it out when my phone erupts in shrill, panicked ringing.

We both freeze, staring at each other as the sound shatters our perfect moment like glass.

"Ignore it," Ryder says quickly, but the ringtone is the Shelter's emergency contact, and I can't ignore that.

"I'm sorry, I have to—" I fumble for the phone, my hands shaking. "Hello?"