Page 27 of The Moment He Saw Her

“I only get four?”

“You just ate all that food,” Libby said.

“And?” Ryder took his coffee and a biscuit. “I’m still growing.”

“I have a brother….” Her words fell away.

“Nice. Older or younger?”

“Older,” she said before taking a mouthful of coffee.

“Any other siblings?”

“Two sisters.”

“Where are you from?” Ryder said, looking at the screen as the game came back on.

“You wouldn’t know it,” she said, attempting to stop the questions.

“Try me.” With the family he had, persistence was often the only way you found out things. “After all, you’re living in my house, and I’ve been really nice to you today. The least you could do is tell me where you live.”

“All right. I’m from Oklahoma. Happy?”

“You’re right, I’ve never heard of Oklahoma,” he drawled. Ryder stored away in his head that if he wanted information from Libby, he had to annoy it out of her. “Where in Oklahoma?”

“Piedmont.” The name sounded like she was choking.

“I’ve heard it’s nice.”

She didn’t add anything to that, and they watched the game in silence. Libby took a cookie and nibbled. This Ryder knew, as he could see her out the corner of his eye.

“Yes.”

“Pardon?” he looked at her as the game finished.

“I’m happy the Warriors won,” she said, getting to her feet. “I will wash these dishes and then go to bed now, Ryder. Thank you again for your generosity today, especially as I’m a stranger.” She walked away from him to the kitchen.

He stayed where he was and watched the postmatch interviews.

“Good night, Ryder.”

“Libby,” he called as she reached the hall leading to the bedrooms.

“Yes?” She was pale, scared, and trying to be brave.

“I promise you are safe here.”

She gave a jerky nod and left. He gave it twenty minutes and then did the same. Stopping outside her door, he heard her crying. Aw, hell. He tapped on the wood softly, but there was no answer.

Ryder liked to fix things if they were broken, and if one of his people were hurt, he was there for them. Libby wasn’t his person, but she was in his home.

“I’m coming in, so if you’re naked, get under the covers.”

Pushing open the door, he saw she’d put the side lamp on, and the soft glow showed him Libby curled in a ball on the bed with the throw blanket his sister had insisted he needed over her entire body, even her head.

“Hey.”

“Pl-please leave.”

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