Sunset Thunder Read Online Free PDF Page A

Donald.
    “It’s never a problem Susan. Thanks again.” Ryder knelt down beside his dad, whose focus had been so consumed with his task, that he hadn’t heard a word pass between them. Ryder gave his dad’s shoulder a squeeze, hating the feel of fragile bones beneath his fingers. “I’ll see you later Pops. Love you.” Ryder kissed the side of his dad’s head, before dragging himself away and toward the house.
    Eleven-year-old Sabin, a chocolate brown Great Dane, stood alert at Ryder’s movement. His head darted between Donald and Ryder, debating whether to walk his old composed and collected self by Ryder’s side to the house or...Sabin chose to curl down beside Donald, his owner.
    Ryder ruffled his head. “Good boy,” he said, before turning to leave. He wasn’t surprised when Tank, the newest member of the family, a light colored Bullmastiff who was just over six months old, clumsily jumped up from the bone he’d been chewing on and ran circles around Ryder all the way to the house. They pup carried the oversized bone up the winding staircase to Ryder’s bedroom.
    Ryder hadn’t been able to take his parents master bedroom, but there were five large bedrooms on the upper floor to choose from. Ryder chose the grand “Sailor’s Room,” as his mother had once called it. The landscaped sea oil paintings hanging on the beige walls added a nautical feel to the room, but his mother hadn’t named the room because of the decor. Positioned in the middle of the house, the glass doors that led to the balcony, overlooked the backyard of flower gardens, and large maple trees which lined the edge of the river, and from this room only, you could see right through the break in the trees to the dock where his dad’s boat was tied.
    Ryder paused at the window, taking in the beauty and wishing he had someone to share it with...like his parents had found in each other.
    Tank found his usual spot on the rug at his feet. As the afternoon came around, it would cast a beam of sun through the window warming his fur. He continued to gnaw at the bone as Ryder jumped in the shower.
    It wasn’t even a fifteen minute drive to the resort, but after a morning spent in the chilly air, Ryder needed a shower and a change of clothes. 
    As the warm water from the faucet pelted against Ryder’s back, he couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his mouth. At the very least, watching the Ice Queen in action was going to be entertaining, and Ryder could use a little entertainment in his life. Day after day passed and he found he was working more behind the security of his office walls in the city, or hiding behind the walls of his house, away from people and their questions...away from life.
    Violet Caliendo did not like Ryder. He would go as far to say that she detested him, which again made him smirk. How many women did Ryder know that detested him? Zero. All women liked him, whether it was his money or that Donald had passed his wide, broad body down on him and his mother had passed her good looks. Either way, no woman detested Ryder Carlex.
    Ryder would be the first to admit that he’d been a jerk at her wedding, but he’d also attempted to make it up to her after he got his life sorted and was left with the guilt of his behavior. She’d declined dinner invites, or gala events and the few times in the last two years when he’d attended Eliza’s social events, Violet had made it abundantly clear she was avoiding him. It only proved the nickname Joel had assigned her was accurate: Ice Queen . Joel’s description of Violet: a heartless, cold, and rigid lover.
    Amusement was what Ryder was going to be awarded with out of today’s events, not the pleasure of wedding planning, but the satisfaction of watching the Ice Queen with her faultless posture and vigilant eyes in an absurd situation. Excitement was already stirring in Ryder...and it felt good.

Chapter Three
    HOW COULD TWENTY-five minutes pass by so swiftly, while one was