Page 107 of The Moment He Saw Her

“He’s got a meeting today he needed to be in Piedmont for.”

“Right. Because the implosion of his daughter’s life is clearly not as important,” Ryder said. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked into his little brother’s eyes.

“It’s going to be okay, but maybe rein in the ugly Duke and be good Ryder again for a while. You can let him out later.”

“My father is a busy man,” Samuel stated and then winced because raising his voice clearly hurt his head.

“And again, more important than his daughter?” Ryder said slowly.

“What is between you and my sister?” Samuel asked. “Red and Delores alluded but wouldn’t say anything outright.”

“None of your business. All you need to know is that your dear daddy cut her off and her ex behaved like an asshole, and from what I’m seeing, there was no sibling support,” Ryder said.

And you turned on her too.

He and his siblings were pissed with each other on a weekly basis, but never, not once in his life, did he think they wouldn’t be there for him.

“Look, I don’t know you, and quite frankly my sister is my main concern right now, but you need to back off insulting me and my family,” Samuel said.

“At least you’re showing some backbone now,” Ryder said. “It must be Red’s clothes rubbing off on you.”

He watched Samuel’s fists clench.

“I think we’re done here,” Dan said, shoving Ryder hard in the spine. “Move it.”

“Stop pushing me,” Ryder snarled as he was maneuvered away from Samuel Caldwell.

“Calm down. Whatever this shit between you and Libby is, it’s nothing to do with him… okay, maybe indirectly, but provoking him is not ending well for anyone. Especially if that man could be your relation one day.”

That last sentence didn’t shock Ryder as much as it should.

They reached the start line and found Brody and Sawyer there.

“What the actual fuck are you doing?” Dan asked as the eldest Duke lunged.

“Stretching. I’m older than you lot. I break easier,” Sawyer said.

“There is that,” Dan added.

Looking around, Ryder searched faces and didn’t see Libby.

“She’s not here.”

“What?” He spun back to face his big brother.

“Libby. I haven’t seen her.”

“I’m not looking for her.”

“Sure you’re not,” Brody drawled. “I hope you’re feeling better than you look,” he added, studying Ryder. “We got shit to win today, and the whole town is counting on you in the curling. So, get your head in the game, and you can start groveling later to Libby.”

“I have nothing to grovel for,” Ryder said, looking for Libby again. But he did need to apologize… they both did. “And this is meant to be a Lyntacky event, and suddenly it’s a win at all costs thing including teams from other towns?”

“Apparently the Facebook page got a lot of views,” Dan said.

“All contestants for the relay, please take your places down the course!” Tripp yelled.

“I told Uncle Asher it was a bad call to buy him another megaphone, but no one listens to me,” Dan muttered as it screeched out a sound.

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