Page 18 of The Moment He Saw Her

“What did you order?” she asked him.

“Meat loaf and apple pie.”

“That could work,” she said as Linda reappeared. “I’ll have what he’s having,” she added.

“Two of each like him?” Linda asked.

“Which sibling is coming to your house for a meal?”

“None. I like to eat, so sue me,” Ryder said.

“No need to get testy. It was a logical question considering how many of you there are,” Nina said.

“Whatever.” Ryder took the order Linda handed him, ready to get out of the diner before she brought up Libby Gulliver again and Nina heard. “See you around, Cleopatra.”

“Who?” Nina asked.

“Cleopatra, Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC and its last active ruler?” Ryder said.

“Still none the wiser,” Nina said.

“She would have been mummified after her death, and you look like a mummy all wrapped up like you are,” Ryder added patiently.

“Is Ally studying Cleopatra?” Linda asked, joining the conversation.

“Yes, and I had to help her study for a quiz,” Ryder said. “But honestly, Nina, you need to read more if you don’t know who she was because if your next boyfriend is smart, he’ll know stuff and you won’t.”

“I know stuff!”

Ryder smiled and walked out the door. Job done. He had a sister who he could annoy just as easily.

Getting back in his car, he started it but left it idling.Where is Libby Gulliver staying tonight?

Chapter5

After Sawyer Duke had dropped her at the Circle Left, Libby had gone inside to book a room, but they were renovating and had none available. Nancy, the owner, had told her to “just wait right there” while she called around and found Libby a bed for the night, but seeing as her main focus was being independent, she’d called her thanks to the woman, saying she was fine, and left.

It hadn’t been the brightest move on her part, but then she’d not been thinking clearly since she’d run out of her wedding. She’d then walked in the cold weather back to town, dragging her suitcase, where she’d asked directions to any lodgings of the first person she saw. The man had said to head on up to Do-Si-Do Diner and talk to Linda because she’ll know if there’s anything, as she’s the nosiest person in town.

Linda from the Do-Si-Do had told her to sit tight and she’d call around. She’d drunk two cups of coffee and eaten really good fries and waited, but Linda couldn’t find anywhere for her. But she did tell her to go ask Ryder Duke, as he had plenty of spare rooms.

She’d rather sleep in a tree than do that, so Libby had nodded politely and left. Wandering along the main street, she stopped at the notice board, but most of the bulletins were about something called a Lynpicks event that was happening soon—whatever that was.

Passing a thrift store, she stopped and looked in the window.

Never, not once in her lifetime, had she stepped inside one, which was nothing to be proud of. She’d donated things, but her father’s staff had dropped them off.

Entering, dragging her suitcase behind her, she saw shelves filled with household goods and racks of clothes. More shelves held shoes.

“You looking for anything special?”

The woman coming toward her looked like everyone’s favorite grandmother. Her tracksuit was bronze velour, and her hair a silver bob.

“That jacket doesn’t look very warm,” she added.

“Just looking around, thanks,” Libby said.

“You follow me. We’ve got a jacket in that I think will be perfect.”

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