Page 14 of The Moment He Saw Her

“They did, and I’m taking that first place. Although I did hear that Neville from Source is good and he’s entered.”

“But you’re better,” Ryder said loyally. The man wore those long gym tights that made his thin legs look like twigs, ear warmers, and a long-sleeved running top.

“You do know it’s hitting thirty-two degrees today out there, don’t you?”

“You young ones have no stamina,” Bart said with a wave of his hand.

Shaking his head, Ryder cleaned the coffee machine while his niece, Ally, who he’d picked up after school, cleaned down the tables.

“Hey, Uncle Ry, can I have my party here?”

“Right, it’s the big eleventh birthday soon. When did you get so old?”

“It happens every year,” she said, rolling her eyes like he was ninety. “You and the others just need to get used to the fact that I’m not five anymore.”

“You have to give us time, though, because you were once so cute and never talked back. In fact, you just thought we were the best.”

She smiled. “I still think you’re the best.”

“Thanks, baby girl, back at you.”

She was starting to fill out a bit now, but for a while, Ally was skinny and short, and now she was just short. Her clothing sense hadn’t changed; she still wore an odd assortment of stuff. Today’s selection was tartan leggings and a pink overskirt. Her sweater was navy, and on her feet were black high-tops. A green beanie was pulled over her dark hair that had pink streaks.

“You want to have it upstairs?” He had more tables up there, and in the summer, people sat on the deck, he and his brothers had built.

“Could I?” Ally jumped up and down, clapping her hands.

“Could I?” he mimicked, as was expected of her annoying uncle.

This kid was the only one in a big family and had melted their hearts from the first day they saw her. Her daddy, Duke number two, had raised her alone and done a good job with all their help.

“Yes, you can have it upstairs,” Ryder said, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket as it rang.

“Ryder, it’s Bob, from the garage.”

“Hey, Bob, what’s up?” Ryder continued to polish the chrome on the coffee machine as he listened to what Bob said. Ally danced away no doubt planning her party.

“The thing is, Ryder, that job for Ms. Gulliver is going to be pricy,” he said.

“And you’re telling me this because?”

“She’s your friend,” Bob said calmly. The man always spoke like that. His wife was a firecracker, so clearly they balanced each other out.

“Nope. Only met her this morning, so you go on and call her.”

“But she’s working for you, right?” Bob persisted.

“Right.”

“I can do the work if I know she has a job and is sticking around, Ryder.”

“Like I said, call Libby Gulliver with all these details, Bob.”

There was a long pause, but Ryder knew the man was still there. He could hear him breathing.

“Problem?”

Bob exhaled loudly. “I opened the trunk to check the spare and found something, Ryder.”

---