Only You (Love In Montana Book 6)

It was evening and Renée was about to get ready to go to Anastasia's house when she saw an excited Ryder, striding out of his room wearing his favorite tee shirt.

"What? You're not ready yet? Hurry," he said, pulling a strand of her hair as he walked past her.

"Where are you off to wearing that?" Asked Renée curiously. 'Please God! Don't make him come along with me,' She prayed in her mind.

"Why? Didn't your friend tell you that she's invited me too?" Asked Ryder with surprise. Renée's jaws dropped.

"No way. You might have invited yourself over, " shrugged Renée, walking towards her room grumpily. Ryder chuckled since he knew that his sister knew him too well.

"Whatever, I'm going. Be ready in five minutes. We'll go together, " he yelled after her, going to the living room to wait for her.

Afterwards when Renée walked out of her room, she saw Sawyer standing broodingly, leaning on the doorway to the dining room, looking at her with a look of longing in his eyes. His piercing eyes scanned her from top to bottom, taking in the black dress that she was wearing. It made her skin look creamier, her legs smoother and longer and the figure hugging dress clung to her figure making her look so delicious that he could hold her in his arms forever!

The whole family were getting ready to go out and he looked so lonely that Renée didn't wish to go anywhere, leaving him alone at home. There were people to look after Ebony. So she had no idea why he didn't go to dinner with their family.

She walked up to him instead of following Ryder out. "Come  with me Sawyer? Even Ryder's going, " she coaxed him. His eyes widened like a child's, as if he had been wanting to go with her.

"I don't want to be an unwanted guest," he told her softly.

"You won't be. We'll be picking up some gift for her from the marketplace. Just give her a little gift and she'll be happy, " said Renée, catching hold of his hand to pull him along but Sawyer caught her soft hand in his and walked out with her.

"Ma I'm going with Ryder and Ren," he yelled as they left. "Are you sure that you want me to go with you? I'm not adequately dressed, Ren. You'll be ashamed of me," he said, looking at his jeans and plain white tee shirt.

"Shut up Sawyer. You look good in anything you wear," she said with an eyeroll. A slow grin spread on Sawyer's face on hearing her.

"You too are coming along, bro?" Asked Ryder with a grin.

"Yeah, I forced him to come along. He'd be bored all alone at home," said Renée with a shrug. Renée sat at the passenger seat while Sawyer sat with Ryder in front. They first went to a gift shop to buy something for Anastasia.

"Have you noticed that the man isn't around today?" Asked Renée as they checked out the gifts.

"Yeah, I noticed. Why don't you go ahead to Anastasia's house. I'll just ask around and join you, okay?" Asked Sawyer. Renée shook her head.

"No Sawyer. It could be dangerous. We'll all go to enquire with you. There's no hurry to get to Ana's house. We have time, " she insisted. Sawyer nodded. There was no winning against his Ren. She might be young but she was a stubborn  little thing.

"Okay, I won't go alone. You can get the gifts packed while Ryder and I go and enquire, " said Sawyer with a smile on his face. He loved the way she cared for him.

So they quickly paid for the stuff they bought and while Renée got them gift-wrapped, Ryder and Sawyer went to enquire about the strange man.

"You should have informed uncle Kevin and grand dad, Saw. He could be dangerous, you know, " said Ryder after hearing about the strange man.

"I will. Let me first get to know who he is and what he wants from me, " said Sawyer. They walked to the motel, located diagonally opposite to the gift shop and asked the receptionist about the strange man. Sawyer described him in detail. Since they were local boys and she knew Joe Wilson well, she agreed to help them.

"As per our register, his name's Antonio Cruz. He hasn't provided any other information, Mr Wilson. The phone number registered here is all I can give you. He has checked out two hours ago," informed the receptionist after checking her customer register.

They took the mobile number and thanking the receptionist, walked out of the motel. "Will you call this man, Antonio?" Asked Ryder with apprehension.

"No, I'm just keeping it in case I need to file an FIR against him. The phone number might be fake, you never know," said Sawyer as they walked up the steps of the gift shop. Renée was waiting for them with the gifts and they drove away towards Anastasia's house.

"Well, what did you find out?" She asked eagerly. Sawyer told her what they found out about the man.

"Thank God that he's gone," said Renée. They reached Anastasia's house in a few minutes. It was a cozy house tucked away in a secured corner amidst pine trees giving the place a feel of a private and secluded oasis. Renée and Anastasia had spent many days lazing on the patio at the back listening to the birds sing. Her granny owned a bakery  shop on the property and Anastasia helped her with it. She sold all sorts of tarts, cakes, muffins and even her homemade pickles, marmalades and jellies. They were so amazing that customers flocked to her little shop like bees to their honey. Staying with her grandparents, Anastasia had learnt the recipes so well that it was difficult to differentiate between her and her granny's cooking.

Ryder parked his truck and Renée jumped out, trudging all the way towards Anastasia's front door. However, before she could knock, the door was flung open and Anastasia came out to hug her.

"At last, she arrives!"said Anastasia, rolling her eyes. "What took you so long?" She scolded her best friend. Then her eyes went towards Sawyer and she widened with disbelief. "Are you two together now?" She whisper asked.

"No, now shhh," said Renée, looking embarrassed.  She just hoped that Sawyer didn't hear her. Anastasia grinned at her in response.

"Hey Anastasia, happy birthday!" Said Sawyer, handing his gift out to her. She grinned happily.

"Thanks Sawyer, " she said, taking the gift. "Come on inside," she said, looking towards the garage as if expecting someone else.

"He's here too," chuckled Renée knowing fully well that she might be looking for Ryder.

"I know, I saw him," said Anastasia with a shy smile. Ryder walked towards Anastasia with a lazy grin in his face.

"Happy birthday Annie," said Ryder with a grin. Anastasia looked at him shyly.

"Thanks," she told him. "What have you got for me?" She asked as they all went inside.

"See for yourself," said Ryder but Anastasia's grandparents came forward to welcome them into their house. Sawyer had also met them before so no introductions were necessary. They sat at the reception room talking to one another.

"See your gifts," prodded Ryder. Anastasia unwrapped the gift that he had bought for her. It was a small teddy bear holding a heart.

"Is that yours Ryde, " whisper asked Sawyer, gesturing towards the heart and nudging Ryder. Ryder grinned.

"Obviously, " he whispered back.

"It's so cute. Thanks Ryder. I love it," she told him, holding the little teddy to her heart while Ryder looked on with jealousy.

"Next time I'll gift wrap myself and land up at your doorstep," he told her. Renée laughed heartily while Sawyer chuckled. Anastasia got up to get some drinks for them, her face flushed with embarrassment. The guy had no filters to his mouth!

She emerged after a few minutes with her granny carrying a tray full of mouthwatering appetizers and drinks. "Yummy, did you make them all?" Asked Renée.

"Yeah," said Anastasia, glancing briefly at Ryder.

"She was at it the whole afternoon," informed her granny. "I only baked her birthday cake!"

"Anastasia, this is awesome, " said Sawyer, devouring a brownie.

"Thanks. I'm glad you liked them so much," she said to Sawyer. Ryder ate quietly without saying a word. What was wrong with him? Renée too liked her fingers clean.

"Heavenly, teach me how you made this brownie, Ana, " she  asked her.

"Sure," said Anastasia. Her granny left the room to make arrangements for cake cutting.

"You didn't like anything that I made for you?" Asked Anastasia, looking a little hurt. Sawyer coughed up a storm.

"You made them all for him?" He asked with his mouth hanging open. Anastasia looked stunned and clamped her mouth shut. Ryder got up from his seat and walked towards her. Renée chuckled and rolled her eyes. Heaven save her from reckless Ryder!