Page 47 of The Moment He Saw Her

“I’m actually trying to find a place to stay, and I was wondering if you might know of anywhere.”

“I thought you were staying at Ryder’s?”

“I think he needs his space considering he has a special friend.”

Delores frowned. “What special friend?”

“Never mind. Do you know anywhere, Delores?”

“Not sure there’s anywhere vacant right now. There are those idiots here doing the team building. I ask you,” she said, going to a large slow cooker on the bench behind her. She then ladled a cup full of liquid into a mug. “Who goes team building in this weather? Have this—it will warm you up from the inside.”

Opening her bag, she pulled out some money to pay, but the woman waved it away. How did anyone make a living in this town if they were always giving stuff away?

“So maybe just stay with Ryder. He’s got the room.”

“We have a room,” a deep voice said, making her turn. The man wore a thick gray sweatshirt and cap. He had a day’s worth of stubble and held a beer in one hand.

“She’s not staying in your?—”

“What accommodations do you have?” Libby cut Delores off.

“We have an RV.”

Delores scoffed. “That thing hasn’t moved in years and it’s not fit for human habitation, Fox Gleeson, and you know it. It’s colder than the Yukon and moldy.”

“You shut up now, Delores,” the man said. “It’s a fine lodging for this here young lady.”

“I’d like to see it,” Libby said. She couldn’t afford to be picky. Shooting Delores a look, she noted the woman had moved away to serve someone, which was a good thing.

“I’ll just call Ma to get it ready for you. Don’t pay Dee no mind. She’s just like that.”

“Like what?”

The man looked left and right. “Annoyed about most things,” he said so the woman couldn’t hear. “But scary as hell when crossed, so we don’t try to do that,” he added. He then wandered away, and she sat and sipped her hot cider, which was surprisingly good.

“I just tried Dr. Hannah because she sometimes takes in people, but there’s no answer. You can find her in the hall,” Delores said. “Out the door, first left, and straight ahead. Can’t miss it,” she added. “And don’t even think about staying at the Gleeson house. They got mice bigger than my kid’s cat. Come back here if you don’t find anything, or just go on back to Ryder’s. No point in not, seeing as you’ve already been there nearly a week.”

“Thank you so much, and this is delicious, Delores.”

“I hear you’re an accountant by trade even though you’re working in the cafe,” she said.

“I am, yes,” she said, not sure how that piece of information had made it around town too.

“Want to look at my books? I’ll pay you. Red does them, and I’m not gonna lie, he’s shit at it.”

“Heard that, and I don’t see you doing better.”

Libby watched the big man she’d met in the cafe come up to his wife and kiss the top of her head.

“We all know I can’t add worth shit either.”

“I’m hoping one of our kids has brains, but there’s only a small hope,” Red said, which had them both laughing. “Good to see you again, Libby,” he added.

Love, Libby thought, it came in all shapes and sizes. It also made her realize again that what she’d felt for Andrew had been comfortable and nothing more.

“I can take a look at your accounts if you like, but I would need to use your computer,” Libby said, thinking the extra money would go a long way to ease her financial strain.

“No need. Stay right there.” Delores disappeared and returned minutes later with what looked like a reusable grocery bag. She then hefted it onto the bar. “Thanks, Libby. You’re a star.”

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