Page 35 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Exactly. So get lost and let me work. Sleep well, bud.”

“Will do, and if you need help with your Libby, you just let me know.”

“I’m not answering that.”

Dan laughed. “The relay isn’t far away, and we need to practice. Sawyer worries me. I don’t think he’s been training.”

“It’s not the real Olympics, Dan, relax.”

“I won’t lose to those shit weasel Kellers. They roped Zach into their team.”

“No way.” Ryder whistled. “He’ll be quick.”

“But you’re quicker. Remember that, Ry,” Dan said. “See you.”

Ten minutes later, JD walked in the door.

“Not you too?” Ryder glared at him.

“Need one of your coffees to get me started for the day,” his future brother-in-law said with a shit-eating grin.

He was Sawyer’s friend who had made Lyntacky his home and then fallen in love with Zoe, which her brothers had allowed after a lot of arguments.

Like Libby, JD was stylish and wore clothes with label names Ryder had only learned about to mess with him. He’d come from money and a family that wanted him to be part of that. He’d turned his back on that life and walked away, also like Libby. However, Ryder was sure she’d find her way back, but hopefully on her own terms.

“In case you and the rest of my family don’t realize it, I’m running a business here,” Ryder said.

“And I’m giving you business. Add two breakfast sandwiches and four of those date and orange scones. Who knew they’d be that good,” JD said.

“I did. But they’re lemon and blueberry today.”

JD thought about that while Ryder put the lid on his coffee. He then moved to look in the cabinets. “I’ll try them.”

“Big of you.”

“So tell me all about this Libby Gulliver, Ryder. Zoe wanted to come and meet her, but she had to get to the shop early today. So here I am because she said I had to sleep in the spare room if I didn’t get all the info about your lodger.”

“I hate my family.” Ryder sighed. “I’m a big, grown boy, and I don’t need this shit.”

“No, you don’t, so spill,” JD said, sipping his coffee. “Nice work on dealing with the bikers, by the way, even if your sister will blast you when she sees you for taking them on alone.”

“Thanks. Now, like I said to the other members of my family, there’s nothing to tell about Libby, and I’m sure you know everything anyway. She broke down. I found her sleeping in her car and made her come home with me. I also gave her a job.”

“My hero,” JD said. “What else you got on her?”

Ryder shrugged. “She’s not a talker?—”

“Can’t be easy when we are,” JD interrupted him.

“And then some,” Ryder muttered. “Can you think of anywhere she can stay in town?”

“I’ll let you know if I come up with anything. Zoe did a search on her this morning but came up with nothing, which is weird, don’t you think?”

“Tell me that’s not true,” Ryder said.

“You really have to ask that about your extremely overprotective sister?”

He sighed again.

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