Page 116 of The Moment He Saw Her

“You want to be a Lyntack, baby?”

She stilled, looking up at him. “I think maybe I might,” she said when he leaned in to kiss her again, “but I need to find myself first, and that means doing the job I’ve always dreamed of and planning for a future that I want.”

“I’m hoping that future includes me?” Ryder said.

Her smile was so sweet, he had to swallow the lump in his throat. “I think it does.”

The awards ceremonytook place in the Rollaway. Everyone was pink cheeked from the cold. Food and drink flowed as they discussed how much better they would do next year, because this was now going to be an annual event.

Libby got her certificate and looked happy about that as she stood with her team for a photo that would soon be on the Lynpicks Facebook page.

Lyntacky A got theirs, and Jed Knox won the archery simply because he managed to hit the target, so everyone thought it was fair.

“And now we have one more certificate to hand out,” Tripp said from on top of the bar, where Red had told him he could stand.

Ryder stood behind Libby and enjoyed the feel of her back pressed to his front as she leaned on him.His girl. It felt good and right.

“Everyone has left town.”

Ryder turned to face Samuel Caldwell, who still wore Red’s clothes behind him.

“Why are you still here?” Libby demanded.

Ryder put a hand on her shoulder as she moved to stand before her brother. “Easy, sweetheart.”

“I know I was hard on you, Libby, and I wasn’t there when you needed me, but I want to try harder. This town,” Samuel said, blowing out a loud breath. “It makes you think about other things like family and friends.” He looked confused about that, which was a normal reaction for anyone who spent more than a day in Lyntacky.

It really was a crazy little microclimate of weird. Ryder had lived here all his life, and he still didn’t understand it.

“It does,” Libby said.

“So I want to stay for a few days, just to talk, Libby,” he added.

She looked at her brother for long seconds and then nodded. “All right, I’d like that too.”

“The winner of the twirling is Larry Limpet, because he’s the only one who didn’t throw up his breakfast afterward!” Tripp said to a round of cheers.

“Not sure what to add to that other than you can stay in my spare room,” Ryder said to Samuel. “Because your sister is staying with me in mine.”

Chapter34

Ryder watched his girl tweak a bow she’d tied on the small arch Libby had made him carry in here. Her dress was fitted with a square neck and came to mid-thigh. It was deep green and was the perfect foil for her lovely hair.

She was now nothing like the scared, pale woman he’d met here the first day she came to town. He caught her hand, drawing her into his arms.

“I need to?—”

“Lib, it’s perfect,” Ryder said.

“I want that for them.”

“I know, baby, and it will be.”

She sighed and laid her head on his chest—a place she spent a lot of time. Ryder wondered, as he often did, how he’d gone through life without her in it.

“I love you,” he said to the top of her head.

“I love you too, but now I need to check my chocolates.”

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