CEO's Bartender

Epilogue

Three Years Later...

I pace back and forth nervously in front of the couch. Ryder is never late home from the office, never. The front door opens, my gaze snaps to it. Ryder has a grin worthy of the cheshire cat splitting his face. "You'd better have a damn good reason for being late!" I snap.

Ryder goes to wrap his arms around my waist but I step away, crossing my arms over my chest. "I have a good reason for being late if you'll hear me out." Ryder says. "I'm listening." I respond. "All the papers went through, we can pick Melody up this afternoon." Ryder says.

I feel a smile form on my face, "Seriously?" I ask. Ryder nods and pulls me to his chest, I capture his lips in a passionate kiss. He backs me into the couch and crawls on top of me. I moan, arching off the couch as he bites the sensitive spot behind my ear.

My mind clouds with lust and run my hands along the contours of Ryder's chest, his muscles tense. My hand trails lower and Ryder trails open mouthed kisses down my neck. He unbuttons the top half of my shirt and takes my nipple into his mouth.

I let out a breathy moan, "We should really stop...We need to go pick Melody up..." I gasp. Ryder groans, "I haven't touched you in a week. I'm horny and you're a tease." he says. I arch my back off the couch as pleasurable tingles shoot off all over my body.

"We can finish this later...we need to go pick Melody up." I say. Ryder pulls back with a sigh, "Fine." he says. He climbs off of me and helps me stand unsteadily to my feet. I smile up at him and press a kiss to his cheek. "Let's go!" I say happily, bouncing on my feet.

Ryder laughs, a musical sound that warms my heart as we exit the door. We drive the quick fifteen minutes to the children's home and park, getting out in a hurry. We walk up the steps and Ryder opens the door for me. The social security agent waits for us.

"Mister Matthews, a pleasure to see you both." she says. Melody stands shyly in the corner of the room, a stuffed pink bear clutched under her arm and a backpack on her back. She wears a pair of shorts and a white t-shirt with a jacket over it all.

"Hello Mister Sebastian. Hello Mister Ryder." she mumbles. I mentally melt at the sight, "Mister Sebastian and Mister Ryder have adopted you Melody. They're here to take you home." the social security agent says. Melody smiles, "Really?!" she asks excitedly.

I bend down and she barrels towards me, "Thank you Mister Sebastian!" she says. I stand up with her in my arms, Ryder grabs her abandoned teddy bear and hands it to her. The social security pulls out a paper, "Sign this and it will be official." she says.

Ryder signs the papers first and I use my free hand to do the same. The social security lady smiles, congratulating us on adopting Melody. I put Melody down and grasp her hand, Ryder holds the door for us and we walk out. We thankfully drove my car here.

Melody sits in the backseat and I share a smile with Ryder. We're supposed to meet Avery and her current boyfriend at the carnival later tonight and I'm glad we get to take Melody now. Our first stop however is the toy store however because we didn't know what to get.

Melody looks like she's in kid heaven when we walk in. "Pick out any five things you want in here." Ryder says. Melody's eyes widen, she takes off into the toy store. I kiss Ryder affectionately on the cheek before following after her with Ryder behind me.

We find her staring at American Girl dolls, I catch Ryder's eye. I walk over to her and point at one of the baby dolls. "This one, right?" I ask. She nods rapidly and I laugh, tickling her stomach. Melody giggles, Ryder walks over with a giant teddy bear.

"What about this?" he asks. Melody nods, her eye catching on a coloring book. I hand it to her along with a large pack of crayons, she hugs them to her chest. We're walking around some more when she stops and looks at a mannequin wearing ballet clothes.

Ryder bends down to her level, saying something quietly to her. Melody nods shyly and Ryder smiles. "She wants to try ballet." Ryder says. "Of course." I say. Melody smiles up at me and says she's ready to go. So we take her stuff to the register and check out.

We pull back up in the driveway of our house, the one that Ryder bought for me on Christmas. Ace bounds out of the house, his tail wagging happily behind him. Melody drops her teddy bear, "Doggy!" she exclaims. "His name's Ace, he won't bite." I say.

We carry her things into the house and set it all by the door. I call Melody into the house, "Are you ready to see your bedroom?" I ask. Melody nods and we take her upstairs to the second floor. Her room is colored with pastel pinks and purples and blues.

Her eyes sparkle when she sees it, Avery is supposed to take her shopping for clothes tomorrow. Ryder sets her teddy bear down on the floor at the foot of the bed and dramatically offers his hand. Melody giggles and takes it, Ryder walks her around the room.

I glance at my watch and see that we have fifteen minutes until we're supposed to meet Avery and her boyfriend. Savanna had to work and Fin didn't want to go without her, he's spending the night in at home. My father and his husband Mitch are out of town.

I help Melody into a pit of overalls and another shirt. I pull her hair back into two pigtails and she smiles at me in the mirror of her vanity. "You're going to love it here, I just know it." I say. I feel a presence behind me and look up to see Ryder over my shoulder.

He wraps his arms around my waist and leans his head on my shoulder, I place a hand on his and stare at my family in the mirror. I smile at how far I've come...